xp_logs | Log: Kane/Jean(Amanda)

Kane and Jean finally get around to their first date. It goes about as well as expected for them.

Pixel Paradise was an arcade in Manhattan that was set up to be more for adults who wanted to be kids again by playing retro style arcade games...while holding a beer. But that didn't mean people couldn't bring their kids, and did. A large building had been converted into three floors with games, mini golf, and laser tag in the basement. As far as first dates went, it was a good place to see how one might be with competition.

Jean waited just outside wearing a dressed up casual outfit consisting of an oversized green sweater, simple gold chain, comfortable black jeans, a lined black leather jacket, all weather boots, and a black beanie. She watched her breath mist in the cold air, mingling with the lights from passing cars on the street.

While Kane had been mostly on medical leave for weeks now, he'd had an appointment in the FBI field office earlier, and showed up in a work suit and tie, only just unclipping his ID from his jacket and slipping it into his pocket as he stepped out of the cab and up to the sidewalk to meet her.

"Sorry, we ran a little late. I get the feeling Fred misses me." He said with a slight shrug. "You look nice."

Jean glanced down at herself, then smiled. "Thanks..." she said. She motioned to him. "You too" It felt a little awkward because of the implied knowledge behind the entire reason for their being here. Clearing her throat, she changed the subject.

"Did he try to talk to you for an hour and a half about nothing?" Jean mused. "I ran into one of my old bosses a couple of months ago. He did the same thing."

"Mostly the Cubs off-season. Which has been up and down." Kane said, giving a motion with his arm as they both stepped away from the snow and into the entrance. "This was your choice. What am I walking into tonight?"

Jean smirked. "A candy coated daydream," she mused as they went from the dazzling lights of the city to the dim and neon colors of the arcade. The walls were covered in various nostalgic paraphernalia, complete with old movie posters, lunch boxes, weird knick knacks, and more. Those who weren't playing were seated at a booth or table. The bar, shaped like a giant UFO, sat in the middle of the main room.

"Figured we might want to have a little fun and fight pixel monsters instead of real ones," Jean added. She nodded to the woman at the front. "We pay a flat fee for the games, but the beer and food are separate. The games dispense tickets. If you get enough tickets you can claim a prize."

"Huh. OK, that sounds like fun." He paid the woman at the front for both the flat fees and the coat check, passing everything over before getting their hands stamped and stepping in. "Should we start with a drink before... ok, confession time. I didn't play a lot of video games. I'm not sure where to start."

Jean laughed. "Me either. At least, not a lot of these. I say we pick what we think looks fun. After a drink, yeah. Or two."

"OK, drinks, that is what I know." Kane said and then winced. "I also just realized telling that to a doctor and a normal woman isn't a brag. So, what can I get you?"

"Since when are either of us normal?" Jean said with a smirk. She took a seat at one of the booths.

"Rum and coke."

"See, that! That I can do!" Kane joked and headed to the bar. He collected a rum and coke and a pint for himself and headed back to the table and put her drink in front of her. "I ordered cheese fries, They suggested we start with a classic. Do you know Mario Kart?"

"I know OF it but I never played. We pick someone to play, right?" Jean said.

"So I'm told. I guess it will be an education for both of us." Kane said with a grin.

After a couple of rounds of Mario Kart it was down to the basement for laser tag.

"This feels like the Danger Room but for civilians," Jean said as they fitted her with the equipment that registered the laser.

"I'm concerned about the sights. I don't trust-" Kane was saying, looking over his lazer when the host broke in.

"So, put your gun in the air and repeat after me. We will follow the rules. We will not run, crawl or lie down. We will not physically interact with any other player. And we will adhere to the code of conduct at all time!" He said and waited for the rowr of agreement. "Welcome to the Thunderdome."

Jean squinted thoughtfully, leaning over to Garrison. "Pretty sure this guy doesn't even know who Mel Gibson i--" she cut off her words after spotting the back of someone's head as they disappeared around a darkened corner.

"This is fight ti-" Kane turned to her and then swore as his chest indicated a hit. "Jacob Rosenblatt, I am coming for you!"

Ignoring him, Jean carefully followed the figure, her stomach lurching slightly. The laser tag area was essentially a maze with multiple winding areas and levels for people to be able to hide from others. She could smell the lingering scent of something amidst the dry ice being pumped through a vent to provide 'atmosphere' along with the black lights, strobe lights, and brightly lit neon colors painted on the walls. There was a hint of fire, smoke.

"Hey, are you-" Kane said before his chest buzzed. "Oh, fuck you guys!" He stretched out and fired a dozen times, earning a collection of complaints. "Are you ok?"

Jean blinked a couple of times, glancing over. "I--" she looked around. There was nothing there but something out of an old episode of American Gladiators.

"I thought I saw someone," she said. She shook her head.

"Must be seeing things."

"Wait. Can I be heroic? Beat the terrible Jewish kids?"

"I don't know if that'd be called heroic but--Have at it," Jean said. "I have your back."

"Got it." Kane said, although paused long enough to make sure she was alright. He'd more than enough experience to know that little things with psions often hinted towards bigger things. Still, he had a post-bar mitzvah party to ruin, as he hit the edge of a wall and spun to the opposite side, getting just enough of a look to lean out with just his gun available and tagged a cluster of four kids.

Something laughed beside Garrison, a low familiar laugh, followed by a flash of flame in the corner of his eye, like someone lighting a cigarette.

He paused, turning. "Jeanie?"

The face he found was decidedly not Jean, but Olivier himself, glancing Garrison over like he were anticipating a hearty meal. He smiled, as smoke poured from his lips.

"Time for another round?"

"No." Kane said, stopping the fist he made. "You're gone. You're not here." He stepped forward. "Go away, ghost. I beat you. And you have no power over us." He hissed, slightly diminished by Jacob Rosenblatt scoring a chest shot on him.

"I'm not a ghost. Weirdo!" Jacob shouted before dashing off like an arrogant precocious child from a 90s movie.

With another blink, Olivier was gone. Around the corner came an angry yell from Jean, followed by a few heavy thuds.

Kane was around the corner in a heartbeat, finding her even without his powers.

He'd find Jean using her laser gun to beat the crap out of one of those big cushy walls to try to prevent people from hurting themselves when playing. The smell of brimstone lingered in the air.

"Try it. I'll make you regret it!" she shouted.

"Jean! Stop!." He caught her arms and pulled her close. "Just stop."

Startled at first, it took Jean a moment to realize who it was before she met his eyes. "It's him. He's here! He's here..." she insisted, glancing around wildly to make sure that they wouldn't be ambushed.

"He's not here. I promise you that."

"I know what I saw," Jean said, from behind narrowed eyes and clenched fists. "I saw him. He spoke to me. I can smell the--the fire."

"He's not here." Kane said. "It is his echo. His corruption..." Kane bit his lip. "I saw it too but it isn't real."

"And if it is?" Jean said, glancing around. "We should...probably go."

"Probably for the best." He said, hoisting off his gear and waving at one of the 'umpires'. "I've got an inner ear issue. We need to leave now."

"Yeah, sure." The umpire wasn't much older than most of the customers, but he waved them towards a side door that led into a stairwell. They were able to drop off their gear before heading up and into the lobby.

The drive home was uneventful, save for an air of unease. As the car's headlights illuminated the mansion's gate, Jean drew in a breath. "If it's something, the wards will go off right? And Amanda's aware to keep a 3rd eye out?"

"I asked her specifically. We're protected. If he could come back, which he's thousands of years from doing, Amanda would be the first one to know."

Jean was silent a moment, save for a small grunt of acknowledgement. "Okay," she said.

The gates opened with the push of a button, and as they entered the mansion's walls, she waited. And waited, and waited.

"That's promising," she mumbled.

"I think you're safe here, Jean," Kane said, a little heartsick seeing the look in her eyes.

Jean caught his expression, looking away almost with guilt, and confusion. "Why aren't you worried too?" she said. "It--" She let out a breath. She wasn't quite sure what to say.

"Worried? Sure. But I'm more angry. If he's here, at all, I'm going to go to my grave with my teeth in his fucking throat. I've got no fear left. Just rage." For the law and order Canadian, it was a big omission, but Kane's look was resolute. "Look, let's get you to your place. If it's alright, I'll take the couch. I sent Amanda a text to keep an eye on the wards. If anything happens, I'll be right there. I promise not to misuse your Netflix."

"Hopefully there won't be any rats in the closet this time," Jean said, cracking a soft smile. She wanted to feel rage about the whole thing, but she couldn't. She wanted to burn like the firebird inside of her, but she felt lost in the woods at the thought.

The only consolation was that she wasn't alone.

"Thanks, that'd be great. Though I don't know if I'll be doing much sleeping. So you're welcome to catch up on Squid Game next to me...if....you want."

"I support some squid battles. Nothing like watching tentacles at war." Kane joked, although he assumed it was a tv show. "I have a frozen pizza to contribute."

"That actually sounds amazing. I'm starving," Jean said. She hadn't eaten much before going out, expecting to try some of the food at the game place. Unfortunately that didn't work out like they planned.

"I have salad and a brand new pack of Oreos for dessert."

"OK, back in five, you fire up the television." Kane was true to his word, back in a few minutes to put the pizza in her oven, arranging her on the couch with drinks and food, even with it not being his apartment. She had just started 'Squid Games' as he slid out and sliced the pizza, piling it on plates already full of salad and carried them over to join her on the couch and dig in.

After the first episode it became clear what kind of show Squid Game was, and Jean hit pause. "I think that's enough murder competitions for tonight...how about something a little more light hearted?" she said. Most ordinary people had mundane lives, making certain shows more exciting. To them, or her at least, it felt like something she needed to take notes on in case it ever happened in real life.

"I thought that was a little darker than I expected from you." Kane said, having demolished the pizza and salad. "I've got charming examples of Canadian life if you want?" He said, flipping over to 'Kim's Convenience' for her. "I actually know the intersection this is on."

It was easy to blow through more than a few episodes of the show before sleep won out, though in Jean's case it came in the form of falling asleep on the couch. Night soon turned into day, with sunlight pouring through the windows. The plates and bowls from their impromptu dinner were piled in the sink.

Kane was sneaky good at cleaning up as she slept and as she started to make waking up noises, was on the couch next to her as she came out of sleep.

Jean lifted her arms over her head, stretching before stifling a yawn. "Guess we missed the bed," she mumbled with a laugh.

"Hey, I need to be wined and dined lady. I-" Kane said, joking and suddenly froze. The figure on the couch gave him a skull faced smile, fire trickling off him. Olivier. Kane's fists clenched until his brain caught up to his reflexive anger. "Jean? Jean?"

Startled at Garrison's reaction, Jean blinked at him, sliding back away from him. "What? What is i--" she said, the last bit insistent before glancing down at herself. The sight of a business suit, and male hands greeted her, causing her to jump up off the couch, knocking over a nearby vase, which shattered to the floor.

Catching a glimpse of herself in the reflection of the coffee table, she saw it, saw him. Letting out a gasp, she quickly looked away, covering her face.

"No, no... I don't believe this. I refuse to believe this." Kane all but snarled, especially as he heard her voice. He grabbed his phone and quickly texted Amanda to come up immediately. "I don't know what this is but it isn't him." He took a deep breath and took what he could only see as Olivier by the arms. "You are not him." He said to her face.

The door abruptly opened to reveal a disheveled witch in t-shirt and underwear and a spectacular case of bedhead. At the sight of Garrison and Jean she paused, confused. There was nothing untoward, both of them seemed fine... "I got a text?" she said, confused. "What's wrong?"

Jean looked between Garrison and Amanda incredulously, then pushed Garrison away. "Get back, I don't want to hurt you!" she said, scrambling to widen the distance from both of them as far as she could. "I'm--I'm in Olivier's body somehow. If he's in here too...We need to get everyone out." All the little knick knacks around the apartment seemed to shudder, as if feeling Jean's feelings.

"We keep seeing him. Is that on the wards? Or something he's hit Jean with. Or... fuck, does he have a hold on us? I thought I cut him off for good."

"Wait, just hold on a minute." Amanda scrubbed at her face and pushed her hair out of the way. "The wards are fine. Olivier isn't here - I only see you two and I'm not sensing anything. Just breathe, okay? Tell me what happened."

"We've been seeing Olivier. All the time." Kane said, reaching out to steady Jean. "What about you?"

Jean folded her arms, trying her hardest not to look down at herself. "What are you talking about? How are you not seeing this? I'm seeing him right now. I smell his aftershave...his breath. Brimstone...I'm him! He--he was at our date. And I'd been smelling things for a few days now...shadows out of the corner of my...I thought it was Kurt's sulphur or...But then we both saw Olivier."

"Okay." Amanda pulled her shirt down to slightly most modest levels and took a breath. "I'm not seeing or sensing him here, either in the room or in the mansion. But let me try a general counterspell to be sure." She closed her eyes and lifted her hands either side of her, murmuring something under her breath. There was a strange humming in the air and a shifting in the pressure as she raised her hands above her head. Then she dropped them and their ears popped as the air pressure abruptly returned to normal. Amanda sighed a little tiredly, and lifted her head. "Right. That should have taken care of any illusion spells or whatever. What do you see now?"

Carefully walking over to a nearby mirror, Jean took a look, then immediately glanced away. She shook her head. "Still there," she said, covering her face with a hand.

"So...if it's not magic, or demonic...What is it?" She started to pace a little, trying to push down the headache that had been gnawing at her since she woke up.

"If it was just me I'd just say I'd gone insane, but we're both seeing it," she said. She made a face, glancing to Garrison. "I think I'd be the higher one with a chance for crazy than you."

"Let's put crazy as the last possible option for now." Kane said. "I saw him clearly too, and it was him, not someone else's idea of him. So I think whatever problem we're having has to be linked to us directly. Curses maybe? Done those before."

"Except you're curse-proof these days," Amanda pointed out. "If someone had tried, it would just rebound off the chaos aura thing. And it's definitely not the bastard himself. There's no way he could hide his whole hell lord energy thing from all of the magic users here, even if he had managed to get past the wards. Which he hasn't." Then she rounded on Jean. "Wait, what you said about being the higher one with a chance for crazy... There's something messing with the psis. Angie and Artie have both mentioned something and I think Topaz as well."

Jean was silent for a few moments, taking what she said in. "So it might be my powers," she said finally, disgusted at the thought. It was better than the alternative, but it meant she was tormenting herself, and Garrison.

Sagging, she let out a breath before sinking onto the couch. "It makes sense," she mumbled.

"OK, I'll the be beard with an idiot attached. How does it make sense?" He said, actually befuddled.

Rubbing her forehead, Jean shook her head. "I already make a firebird appear out of thin air...Maybe it's...some new fucked up side effect of having the Phoenix? I don't know. I've dreamed about him before, constantly. Why not have it unconsciously come into the real world when I'm having a good time? Not that many people know about him in the mansion. And no wards have gone off.... If it's not magic, and other psis are impacted, what else could it be?"

She brushed her hair behind her ears, doing a double take at her hands, then a quick laugh of acceptance at noticing she looked like herself again.

"Maybe he broke your powers in some way too? I mean..." Kane held out his hands. "Look at me. Amanda, could his magic have done something to Jean's powers?"

Amanda opened her mouth to point out that two years was a long time for that sort of effect to simply appear, but looking from Garrison to Jean, she closed it again. They were upset and stressed and they didn't need blunt facts. "Maybe?" she said instead, hastening to add: "We can take a look at it. No point ruling anything out until we're sure and I might be totally wrong about this psi thing. Jean, is it alright if I mention the broad strokes to the Trenchcoats? Darcy is already tracking incidents like this and I don't have to tell her exactly what you two are seeing."

Jean nodded, closing her eyes as she rested her head on the back of the couch. "Sure," she said, trying to think nice, calm, happy thoughts.

"I'd rather it be psi weirdness than something evil." They'd already had enough of that to last a few lifetimes.

"I'd rather it be a reaction to bad chili-cheese fries at the arcade bar, but the point is well taken." Kane gave Amanda a wan smile. "Sorry to wake you. Needed to make sure. You know, eh?"

"I'd rather you drag me out of bed than leave things to possibly get worse," Amanda replied with an answering smile. "Try not to stress - I've got your backs."