xp_logs | Jono and Illyana | First Impressions

Illyana stumbles upon Jono and leaves him with her card. Backdated to January 23, 2024.

The evening was clear but cold as Illyana made her way out of the Chapel, bundled warmly and ready to take a bit of a wander across the grounds before going back inside. She was rounding the lake when she saw a figure in a dark jacket. Not Namor, and nobody she recognized off-hand.

Curious and wary, she approached. "Do not believe we have met. You are new here?"

Jono held up a finger, silently asking the woman to be patient and pulled out his light writer. As quickly as he could he typed. “Jono. Been here about a month. No jaw, and new to the device, please be patient.”

She nodded, sticking her hands in her jacket pockets and rocking back and forth slightly on her boots. "No jaw is part of your mutation, I am guessing? Otherwise would likely not be new to device. That is unfortunate for you. I am Illyana."

"Boom." Jono typed, and then held his closed fist near his face before opening it quickly, mimicking an explosion. "Wasn't fun. Nice to meet you."

"You exploded." Illyana's voice was flat, and she tilted her head slightly. "Look fairly intact for man who explodes, good job. No visible fire, clothes have not melted. It is not fire then, this explosion?"

“The on fire hole in my body is smothered with fire blankets.” Jono typed. “Not sure what’s keeping my organs in but it’s not skin.”

"Does not seem efficient. I will get Pixie fire resistant demon hide if you would like sturdy piece. The hunt will be good training for my cat, and use of hide will be better than letting rot or reanimate. Pixie does clothing for mutants, can adapt for visible issues. Would offer jaw, also, but human jaw is small, fragile in comparison to most. Teeth and hinges would be wrong." She paused for a moment, thinking. "You would not owe favor for this, because hunt will happen for training even if hide is not used after."

Jono’s eyes widened and shone with clear interest. He quickly typed. “Demon hide? Cat? Tell me everything.”

"Suppose this will make more and less sense with full introduction. Illyana Rasputin, Queen of Limbo. Limbo is hell dimension full of demons. Real demon, not demon in mind. Cat is named Eris. She is Limbo rescue and still baby." She pulled out her phone and opened it to the pictures, quickly finding a picture of Eris with her wings spread as she clawed a cat tree. "See? Very cute, am most proud she was good at hiding until Namor and I could find. But yes. Demon hide. Once she is little bit older, we will start hunting, teach her what she would have learned from big cats."

“Is hell truly separated into rings? Or is it more a world of its own? A mirror of ours? Your cat is very cute, I’m glad you’re helping her grow according to her needs. Have you read any demonological texts written by humans? Are they accurate?” Jono wished he had a notebook with him to take in everything Illyana was saying. He wanted to know everything.

Illyana's eyes were wide at the barrage of questions. "That is so many questions. No, do not apologize, it is okay. Think you are speaking of Catholic hell, which is not the same as hell dimensions. That is religious thing, I do not know how it works. Limbo is pocket dimension, part of splinter realms. They brush against this world, other realities. Have not read many texts by humans unless they were magic and encountered a dimension. Topaz might know about safe books for you to read, if it is interest."

"Definitely of interest." Jono typed. "So as queen of this Limbo, is it safe to assume that you're magic? How does that work? Is your power innate or must you draw on something in order to produce effects? I also have not met Topaz, but would be willing to if it means I can learn more."

"Yes. Magic is stronger in Limbo because that is where I was raised. Can do magic here, but it is things that come easiest to me in Limbo. Scrying, seeing magic. Simple spells. I draw on ether, and it is thicker in Limbo. Thin up here, so it is more work and scarce as resource. Are you magic, or just have strong interest? You ask smart questions. I like that." Illyana gave him a small, actual smile. "Topaz is librarian for mansion. She is smart about magic, good at research. If she does not know good books, she will know who to ask. There are good magic resources here, some are just not safe without experienced user."

Jono blushed just a little bit and then typed. "Just a strong interest. I enjoy studying folklore and have a strong knowledge of English traditional witchcraft specifically but I've done research into other traditions as well. I'm a musician by trade but I used to work at a bookstore."

"Hard to sing without jaw, yes? Am sorry mutation denies you ability to do trade. Could probably offer to help Topaz in library with books in exchange for suggestions." She shrugged, not entirely sure if Topaz would want a trade or not. "If not, Clea is also good source. Amanda, maybe, she is English witch also."

"I know Clea." Jono typed. "Or I've met her. Her cat is wonderful."

He purposely avoided Illyana's questions about his ability to perform. He was trying not to dwell on it as much- it made forcing himself to practice guitar even harder than it already was.

"Cata is wonderful cat specimen, uses floof to cover Eris and keep warm like egg. She is good queen to subjects from limited observation."

“She’s very soft.” Jono typed. “And…thank you for offering to help. If the demon hide wouldn’t be any trouble that sounds very useful….more effective than fire blankets at any rate.”

"You are welcome. For now I will take leave, is almost time to feed Eris. You will meet her later, I am certain." Illyana produced a business card, vibrant pink with her name in bold loops. "Phone number is on back, will respond to text messages as available and calls almost never unless they are family or my boss."

"Thank you." Jono typed. "Have a nice night."