Jean and Scott: Second Verse

[x-jeangrey.livejournal.com]

After their meeting with Xavier and Warren, Jean comes to formally introduce herself to Scott.



It was like a boarding house, of sorts. Or a permanent hotel. People all living together, yet separately. It reminded her somewhat of living in the dorms.

After the talk with Charles, Warren, and Scott, Jean had noticed Warren and Scott, Xavier's right hand man, talking. Warren looked upset, naturally, and Scott seemed to be trying to comfort him. She gave them their space.

Charles had spoken to her afterward privately. Something about staying there permanently. It was an idea she hadn't thought of. This place had always been off limits to her, though purely as a result of her father's request. Now that she was an adult she could make her own decisions. The argument was for her safety, and the fact that the teams would be working out of there now, rather than be scattered like they were before.

If she wanted to work with X-Corps, she had little choice.

Night had fallen, and Jean figured it'd be a good idea to introduce herself to the man who was working with Charles. She would probably be working with him a lot in the future as well. Especially with everyone all under the same roof.

Just like a dorm. Except...with violence.

She went to his office first, but when he wasn't there she decided to go to his room. But unlike the others, his room seemed to be in the attic. Being the right hand man meant some perks, more than likely.

The stairs creaked as she walked up them, and she paused at the door a moment before giving it a knock.

Scott was finally getting used to the feeling of oddity in his apartment, like it was the same place, but subtly different. He had almost accustomed himself to it, almost, but today both Warren and Jean arriving at the mansion together like that the feeling was back with a vengeance. So Scott had escaped out onto his balcony ignoring the cold to just be out of the apartment. Or at least he had until the knocking on the door. "Come on in, it's open," This was the mansion, he was pretty sure he was safe not locking his door while he was inside here.

Opening the door, Jean's boots echoed across the floor before she stopped in the living room area, noticing the starkness of the space. It was decidedly masculine, with a lot of white and solid colors: blacks, reds, greys with touches of organic elements. Just enough to live on. Very much like something out of an Ikea catalog. In fact, almost exactly like something out of an Ikea catalog. The balcony doors were open, flooding the room with a chill that made her fold her arms and rub them in an attempt to keep warm.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude. I can come back later, or during office hours. I just wanted to formally introduce myself," she said.

She knew who Scott was in name only. Charles had talked about him before, but the two of them had been so busy with their own lives, his leading the X-Men, her with X-Corps, that they'd never met. The complexity of the organization Charles had built never ceased to amaze her. So many people coming together to try to achieve one thing. And Scott was at the center of it all, helping to lead beside him. He seemed like the rock star of the X-Men.

Scott glanced back at the door, his eyes flicking forward after a glance to take in the view of the grounds from his balcony, "Jea...Ms Grey, you work with X-corps right?" Scott turned around slowly to face the redhead, "From earlier with Warren, "that was a good find, if the sentinel program had managed to sneak up on us that could be really bad."

"Dr.Grey, actually," Jean casually corrected, then shrugged. "But Jean works fine, honestly. I figure since we're going to be working together we don't have to have that formality." She paused.

"Unless you'd prefer it." She knew some people were all about business. She wasn't sure what his stance was on it yet, though.

She smiled. "And thanks. It was all one of my contacts. She knew I had some dealing with the mutant underground so she thought I might be able to help. I hope it does."

That way betraying and completely alienating a person to verify that information would be worth it.

Glancing around the apartment, Jean slipped her hands into her pockets. Spartan. That was another word for it.

"So do you like it here, the mansion?" She had a good feeling about it. It seemed...homey.

"I'm sorry Doctor Grey," Scott turned to glance at out the grounds, "I honestly can't imagine myself anywhere else. The mansion, the X-men, it's what I grew up with; that and Charles's vision." a shade of anger tainted Scott's voice, "It's a nice...sanctuary, but it's hard to forget that's what it is."

Doctor Grey. So he did prefer it. Jean made a note of that. She also noticed the tinge of emotion, falling silent for a few moments.

"A light in the darkness," Jean said quietly. She knew they had been through a lot, from what she had heard, so she wouldn't presume to think anything she said would be of any comfort. It'd likely come off trite. And what she said probably did.

She glanced away, folding her arms. "I'm sorry...I--I don't want to bother you. I'm sure you're got enough on your mind. I should probably go," she said, but still managed a soft, warm smile as she turned to leave.

"It was good to meet you, Mr. Summers. I've heard great things. I look forward to working with you."

"It doesn't need to be, you know," Scott said. "A light in the dark, one day it could be more. An example for the whole world to live by." He wasn't sure if he was talking to her or himself anymore.

"One day," Jean echoed with a faint smile.

She was optimistic, but also a realist. It wasn't going to be that way tomorrow, but like he said, they could be an example until then. Pave the road. She knew Charles talked about his dream a lot to her, and to her teammates. But she had never been under the same roof with him, or around others for an extended period of time who believed the same way she did. It was...nice. Or, at least it sounded like it was going to be. She hadn't even been there long enough yet.

Scott knew he was being rude to Jean, had come off cold but she just reminded him so much of...Jean. This was going to make his head split apart. "I'm sorry, it's been one of those days. It was a pleasure meeting you, Dr Grey. Charles has told me a lot about you. I'm looking forward to working with you in the future. I'm glad to have you at the mansion." And surprisingly even to himself, Scott was being completely honest.

Nodding with a look of sympathetic understanding, Jean paused at the door, turning to lean against the door frame. She brushed a few strands of red hair behind her ears.

"It's no problem at all. I should have waited until morning. And thank you. I hope to make a worthwhile contribution. It's...going to be different. But good, I think."

Despite all the places she'd lived she'd always felt at home in New York. It had a certain charm. The grand melting pot.

She smiled again, a little wider this time. "Good night, Mr. Summers," she said, then slipped out the door, making her way down the stairs.