xp_logs | Clea & Amanda: Surprise Visit Home

xp_clea posting in

Clea makes a surprise visit to her favorite teacher on the plant: Amanda. [Backdate to December 20th, 2023]

The golden hues of magic fell away, leaving no trace of a portal that was once opened for only a couple of seconds. Now standing in the hallway was a young woman in an oversized coat, and a duffel bag. The large cat that was resting on her shoulders jumped down without a sound, ran towards a closed door, and let out a loud yowl while scratching at the handle. "Cata! You're going to wake the whole bloody building." Clea lowered her hood as she walked up to the door, "Shush." She gave a little knock on the door and waited.

There was a pause - a long pause - and then the shuffle of feet. "Midnight, if that was you yowling..." came a sleepy voice and then the door creaked open. "'S a bit early for visits, Topaz," Amanda paused mid-sentence and blinked at the figure on the doorstep. "Clea?"

"In the flesh." Clea smiled and held out a bag, "I thought I would drop in to see how my favorite teacher is doing. Coffee or tea?" Clea held out two small pouches, "I nicked them from the kitchens before I left."

"Tea," It came out automatically as Amanda shuffled aside to let Clea and Cata in, bending to scritch Cata between the ears as the cat passed. "I'll put the kettle on, grab a seat." Questions could wait until she was a bit more awake.

Clea set down one of the pouches on the table and began to take off her jacket and dropped it on top of her duffle bag, "So, how have you been? Letters can only say so much." Clea sat down and looked up at Amanda, "You are looking great."

Considering Amanda was in a pair of faded Xavier's sweats and one of her band shirts with the usual messy braid she slept in, this might have been an over-generous assessment. "'M doing all right," the older witch allowed as she pulled out mugs and turned the kettle on. "Same old thing - missions, research, half the mansion getting knocked down by some random kid..." She chuckled. "How about you? How are things with Baldy?"

"New students?" Clea asked as Cata hopped onto the table, purring. "Same old thing - training, research, half of Karma-Taj getting knocked down by some random sorcerer or sorceress." Clea gave Amanda a playful smirk, "The easy training stuff I've graduated from. The old man wanted to know that the basic training was done before moving me on to the more advanced stuff. Not everyone that goes there moves on. They master enough to help protect Earth from whatever idiot decides to come knocking. But some do, and they've been at it for bloody years. I have a sling ring now that I know how to use it properly. So I'll make sure to make unexpected visits from now on."

"A few. No new magic users yet, touch wood." Amanda paused to rap her knuckles on the counter once. "Julio's taking some classes with us any way - poor kid was brought up thinking he was a mage, but it turns out he's a mutant, and a teapot besides." 'Teapot' was Amanda's personal slang for non-magical, as in "as magical as a teapot". "It was like reverse Harry Potter, having to tell him that everything he believed about himself was wrong. But he's doing all right here." She continued the process of making tea, bringing out the teapot for the good stuff Clea had brought and rinsing it out with hot water. "And it's good to know I actually taught you something worth knowing. The "Old As Fuck" One gave me the impression he didn't expect a lot from the training you had."

"Poor bloke. At least the truth will set him free. I would hate growing up thinking one thing, and then it turns out it was the complete opposite." Clea crossed her arms and wrinkled her nose a bit, "That is the thing with the old people. They always think they know the best. I mean, don't get me wrong, Ancient One is, well, Ancient, and likes to do things the old traditional way. He says it has something to do with respect to the mystic arts. Most of the Masters are full of themselves though. I could probably write a book on each one."

"I may just take you up on that - well, not books but a dossier on each one. Just so we know who we're dealing with." Amanda came out of the kitchenette bearing a tray with the teapot, the milk carton, sugar bowl and two mugs, which she set down on the coffee table. "And respect for magic isn't a bad thing. It's like playing with lightning and there's always a price." She grinned, a little abashed. "But you know that, for the amount of time I spent drilling that into your heads."

Clea's eyes widened. "That's an idea. I can have those written, just give me a month and you'll have something on your desk." Clea waited until everything was placed on the table before she poured the tea into the two mugs, "That you did. But your approach was more...human-like. These approaches are more, preparing for anything that will cross over and pose a threat onto Earth itself. It is like a little army. But even with their methods, I am glad to have learned from both you and from the Masters, even if you are my favorite."

"Flattery will get you everywhere, padawan." Amanda grinned and there was a touch of fierceness in the expression. "And we'll consider you our eyes and ears in Kamar-Taj, if that's all right? I know they're on the side of the angels and all, but armies tend to lead to war. And that's definitely something we want to avoid."

Clea nodded, "I can do that. I am all for avoiding interdimensional wars. But if anything comes up, I'll let you know." Clea then poured some milk and added a little sugar to the tea, "So, does this mean I could come back to XF?"

"Did you leave?" Amanda asked with a twinkle in her eyes as she reached for her mug. "But seriously, you've been on a leave of absence, of course you can come back, if that's what you want. Roving agent, that sort of thing - that way you can keep tabs on Kamar-Taj and continue your studies and we'll grab you for the odd mission that fits you. That work?"

Clea smiled and wiggled in her chair like a little girl. "I would love that. I've been itching to get out of the temple for some time. This would work perfectly." Clea couldn't handle her wiggles as she jumped out of her chair and hugged Amanda.

Amanda laughed as she returned the hug warmly. No matter how much she "complained", her students were her ducklings, and she loved all of them. "Welcome back, padawan."