Jean, Marius: An Arrangement

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Jean and Marius meet again for the first time, and during the course of a routine blood draw a bargain is struck.


"Bit odd having my blood drawn by you again for the first time," Marius said as he rolled up his sleeve for the tourniquet. He gave Jean a broad smile. "The not-so-familiar faces aren't as bad as expected. The benefit of time, I suppose."

"Again?" Jean echoed as she wrapped the tourniquet around his arm, then paused. "Right...the other, other me. Been a lot of recollection about that lately." Mostly from supervillains.

Marius waved his free hand. "Merely a note. I dislike starting any sort of relationship with an elephant in the room. It's why I've been going door to door with apology gifts to those unfortunate enough to encounter me in a less than civil state."

"And how's that going?" Jean said.

"Truthfully?" Marius' mouth quirked in a wry smile. "Better than it has any right to, considering I ran through half a dozen of the residents and contributed to millions of dollars in property damage. But this lot always was a bit too forgiving for their own good."

"If you weren't in your right mind and it wasn't your actions...What did you want them to do to you?" Jean said. She picked up the needle, rather at the opportune moment. "Granted, if you turned out to be like Laurie and just went batshit evil on principle I would have made you regret it..."

Marius grimaced a bit at the mention of his former classmate, although part of him was grateful for Laurie's existence. It made him look better by comparison.

"I wouldn't call it 'want,' precisely. More to say . . ." He turned away as she swabbed the crook of his elbow in preparation for the venipuncture. "Since the day I came here people've given me the benefit of the doubt. The circumstances of my mutation meant 'not in my right mind' was a semi-regular occurrence. Perhaps a more accurate sentiment would be that I wish I didn't give others so much cause to forgive."

"I think there are quite a few people here who feel the same way. Seems to be a haven," Jean said. She was silent for a moment.

"Okay...You're going to feel a small amount of pain but it'll only be a few seconds." She never liked to use that spiel about pressure. Everyone knew that it hurt. She wanted to be kind about it, but also realistic in expectations.

Marius chuckled. "When I was 17 a teleportation accident burned away 75% of my skin. Various medical procedures since. Not much bothers me anymore. Just . . . some negative associations, that's all."

"Happens a lot," Jean said. "I used to work for a hospital that specialized in mutants. A lot of them were weary too. The medical community as a whole is a few decades behind in knowing how to work with mutants."

The Australian visibly brightened. "Ah, but our systems are so varied, right? One might be an excellent neurologist, but did your residency ever afford you the opportunity to differentiate between precognition and schizophrenia? What if you're a Type 1 diabetic who then manifests energy projection, a mutation famously hard on the metabolism? And that's to say nothing of internalised biases amongst providers and the socioeconomic inequities that make mutants as a population less likely to seek and receive timely--" Marius recognised himself working towards Too Much and reined in his enthusiasm. "My apologies. Before 'Horseman' was added to my CV I managed a medical charity out of Brisbane. It's a bit of a passion of mine."

That got Jean's attention. "For mutants?" she said curiously.

"Correct. My initial manifestation was passive, you see -- bone marrow failure was the first outward expression, and I spent three months in hospital so sick they thought I'd not make it. It wasn't until the orifices on my hands developed as a secondary adaptation that I received any kind of diagnosis. Fortunately my family had the advantage of obscene wealth to rely upon; these resources allowed me to survive long enough to be transferred to Xavier's. This, however, is a rare privilege." Marius rolled his opposite shoulder in a shrug. "Australia's social policy in this area is somewhat lacking, and you needn't have a medically complex mutation to have difficulty finding your needs met as a mutant. After I left the team I had quite a bit of free time, hence the Foundation."

Jean nodded slightly. "Hm," she said, a note of...jealousy in her eyes. "That's great. I had to leave that hospital when it got a little too political. I miss working with the community. I did a little with District X but now that it's in shambles I--" she glanced up at him.

"Sorry."

Marius gave her a smile that didn't reach his eyes, but made a noble attempt. "No worries. I didn't know District X had a hospital, though. Must've been after my time."

"They don't. Claremont's a few blocks away. I run makeshift check ups in a reserved room at the community center once a week," Jean said.

Marius seemed to consider this for a long moment. Then:

"Would you like one?"

After removing the needle from Marius's arm and covering it with gauze medical tape, Jean stopped dead in her tracks, caught completely off guard. "I--"

What do you say to something like that?

"What's the catch?"

She'd been around too many people with ulterior motives.

Marius' smile returned. This time he couldn't bring himself to pretend it was anything other than hollow.

"It's as close to aid work as I can get for the time being. I had to leave the Foundation after my relapse. Executive Director is a public-facing position, and you saw the state Arthur was in after I fed on him. I have a crash and do that to someone in chemotherapy, or post-op from a major surgery -- I could kill them." He shook his head and added more lightly, "Besides, after so thoroughly trashing the area I feel a bit of amelioration is the least I can do. Perhaps not a whole hospital, I admit, but a clinic? Locate a bit of medical office space, or retrofit a property to required specifications, source some quality equipment . . . that is quite achievable. And of course there are local organisations whose services we might engage for additional support. This, too, I may assist with." Marius' smile regained a little of its characteristic cockiness. "You'll find I can be quite persuasive, given the opportunity."

"I--" Jean found herself stammering again, as a rush of feelings flooded her mind. It would be amazing to have something like that, a big help just after the district had gone through so much hardship.

"Are you sure?"

Marius pressed a hand to his chest and inclined his head to her. "We're not yet acquainted, but in time you shall no doubt discover my poor judgement is equalled only by the fervor with which I pursue the appropriate restitution. I haven't much to offer other than my respectable family fortune. Kindly allow me to put it towards a good cause."

Sitting down, Jean was silent for a few moments. Finally, she nodded a little. "Okay---that, that would be wonderful. I know of a lot of people who would really appreciate this."

"Brilliant." The Australian clapped his gloved hands together, smiling broadly. "I'm sure this all seems very noble of me, but rest assured that whilst my intentions are pure I cannot deny I look forward to the opportunity to expiate even some small percentage of my sins. And, of course, it's something to occupy my time, for which I am sure Kyle will be eternally grateful."

Jean arched an eyebrow. "I thought he was....dating Terry?" she said carefully.

Marius blinked once, then burst out laughing.

"Ah, I see your confusion. No, Kyle and I have been mates since we were students here -- he's appointed himself my minder until we've a better idea of my health status. Even were this not the case the nature of my mutation means I've never been one to entertain suck entanglements with fellow mutants." His amber eyes crinkled at Jean with genuine amusement. "No worries. I am merely flamboyant, not a homewrecker."

There was more careful squinting. "Suck entanglements?" she repeated curiously.

Marius started to open his mouth, then shut it.

"How very Freudian of me. That was meant to be 'such'." He decided to err on the side of caution. "In the interest of avoiding a charge of sexual harassment I shall abstain from the obvious jokes until we have better made each other's acquaintance, but as the honest answer is medically relevant . . ."

The Australian hooked a thumb beneath the edge of one glove and peeled it from his hand, turning it inside-out in the process. A shiny substance was smeared across the interior. He rotated his palm to face her. The teeth that ringed the mouth were bowed outward, glistening.

"Autonomic response to being in close proximity to another mutant," he explained. "I personally do not find it to be especially erotic, but to each their own."

Jean unconsciously took a step back, suddenly reminded of the movie Pan's Labyrinth, except there were mouths instead of eyes. "Well. That's new. And explains a few things," she said. Especially with a few of the other mansion residents' injuries.

"It's how I extract marrow. Or stem cells, more properly. Would you be so kind as to share a few of those alcohol wipes? Once it's dried the anesthetic is a bugger to clean off." Marius didn't take offence at her reaction; it was quite understandable, after all, and he'd experienced far worse.

Just one more pebble crumbling from the cliffside that separated him from the rest.

Being a doctor who specialized in helping mutants meant Jean was around more mutants than others, but there were still times she could be surprised.

"Sure," Jean said, grabbing a handful of alcohol wipes and a trash can before offering them to him.

"I'm sorry. I was caught off guard."

Marius accepted the wipes gratefully. "Truly do not concern yourself with the reaction. They are unsettling little buggers, aren't they? I'm hoping they're back to being strictly ornamental, but, well . . . you saw the state feeding left Arthur in. It's not worth taking the chance."

"That is...understandable," Jean said carefully. "Do you still have a primary doctor outside of the mansion or will you be needing one here?"

Marius wiped at his palms with clinical efficiency, avoiding her eyes. He could feel every muscle in his neck and shoulders beginning to tense like cables under tension.

"It was my last doctor who subjected me to the tender mercies of Clan Akkaba. So no, I'm not particularly keen to renew that relationship." Hands clean, he tore open another packet and began on the inside of a glove. "At any rate Dr. Voght was around back when first I arrived; she's familiar with my condition. Even saw me through the odd respiratory collapse and losing my first two layers of skin . . . ah, wait, I shed after the transplant, too, so that'd be three. At any rate she can take point, if it comes to that. No offence, but for the foreseeable future I'd prefer to be handled as little as possible."

Jean's eyes fluttered a little and she quickly nodded. "Of course," she said. Glancing away, she nodded again.

"Um...well, we're finished if you'd like to leave."

Noticing the shift in tone, Marius glanced up to flash her a smile that was at once reassuring and conciliatory.

"Forgive me for bringing down the mood; as a rule I strive not to possess the emotional depths required for morose self-reflection. I meant only that the Medlab and associated procedures elicit unpleasant memories. This, I'm sure, will ease with time, particularly in such pleasant company."

"I understand. You want to be who you're comfortable with," Jean said. She had been around her share of so many people who had been in horrible situations. Far be it from her to make someone feel uneasy.

"If you ever need anything else let me know, otherwise I'll make sure to inform Dr. Voght and the others of your preference for future rotations. Perhaps she could arrange for your appointments to be somewhere else in the mansion, to help with the anxiety."

That did make Marius laugh. "Dr. Voght, concerned for a patient's emotional well-being? Somehow I doubt circumstances have changed that much in my absence. I inconvenience her only when left with no other choice. For general work-ups I've no preference. And you, it must be said, are by far the more engaging interlocutor. To converse with Dr. Voght is much like holding a conversation with a steel beam, and one that dislikes you at that."

"I won't tell her you said that," Jean said, then squinted. "Not that she'd really care."

She shook her head. "Okay, whichever you prefer in the future just let us know. We'll figure something out. But let the others know if you want things outside the medlab. I'm sure we can accommodate. Within reason."

"An offer which is most appreciated." Marius got to his feet and gave Jean a mock-bow. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Grey. Regardless of the length of my stay here I am serious about that clinic. I'll make a few calls, sound out some local realtors. The process may take some time, but happily I find myself with little else at the moment."

Jean paused. He was still interested in the clinic, even after the turbulence. "Oh. Okay. That would be great," she said, sounding more surprised than she wanted.

Marius gave her another smile as he tugged on his gloves. "We all have our little ways of dealing with things. I could concentrate on finding a good substance to abuse, I suppose, but I think I like this better. Thank you for that. It's been some time since I last had a worthwhile project to turn my hand to."

Not quite sure how to reply back to the first part, Jean nodded a little. "Um...you're welcome."

Jean seemed unsure, Marius noted, but he was too preoccupied to give it much thought -- particularly since this was a common reaction amongst those encountering him for the first time. He was already spinning strategies in his mind. Terry should surely be his first call; she might be able to suggest a starting point, and if not her, then he thought Kyle had mentioned a few other residents volunteered at the local Community Centre. Sooraya and Angelo were two names that immediately sprang to mind -- Marius recalled they had both done a turn at Elpis. Jean-Phillipe, too, perhaps. He'd been involved with X-Corps. Once he had a few contacts lined up he could contract a suitable EDC for a jurisdictional review. District X had its own infrastructure and politics, and the residents would know best what was needed. After all, if all went to plan the community would ultimately be the ones to staff and manage the clinic. Better to engage it at the start than reinvent the wheel . . .

With a start Marius discovered he was genuinely energised. For more than a year he'd felt nothing but the press of his own life closing in around him, only to have Akkaba strip him even of that. It had been a long time since he had felt much of anything at all.

It had been a long time since he'd been able to see a future.

Marius gave his hands a decisive clap.

"Right, then. I shall start directly."