Trials and Trails(Jean)

[pauldouglass]

The beautiful forestry in Westchester was still and calm, the winds dying down after sunset, making for a very brisk and peaceful evening. Paul smiled to himself, weaving his way through the fabric of shadow that had enveloped the woods towards his destination. He had attempted to find every sort of help from all over the world, even going back to China to see if there were resources he could tap into from his adventures with Singler(just thinking that name brought a haze of anger into his mind that he had to suppress). But nothing had come up. Lotus would remain undiscovered.

Until he remembered an obvious solution. The X-Men. Or, in particular, one X-Man(woman) who had powers that reached far beyond the scope of their physical dwelling place, rumored to have contact with the Cosmos itself.

Jean Grey.

He had never come into contact with any X-men, which suited him perfectly. They were involved in conflicts that stretched the imagination and encompassed the world. That wasn't his forte. Remain within your borders and all will come into balance. At least, that's what he believed.

His thoughts were interrupted when he came upon the very fringe of the mansion, able to see the compound from a tree limb he had perched himself on(gravity held no sway within the shadows. He enjoyed that). It was expansive to say the least, the large front lawn and mansion being displayed in the moonlight with other complexes hidden from view. It was going to be quite an interesting night.

And yes, he was going to break into the facility. He knew he couldn't exactly have an appointment with Jean, neither could he find any kind of contact information. These X-men seemed to be off the grid, which was a smart move. They weren't well recie...

Light. From the front lawn. It was closing in on his direction.

Time to move.

[jean]

She had been trying to sleep but it was growing fruitless. Jean had tossed and turned for the last hour, not able to get certain images out of her mind nor certain people. Well, one in particular. Her chat with Logan had been bothering her and she felt so helpless where the man was concerned. He had seemed so closed off to her and the idea of helping him and Faith out that it made her quite irritated. It had taken quite a bit of strength to not rail at the man when he'd brushed her off.

If he really thought that she was going to let either of them go off against Weapon X without her, he had another thing coming. So far, he'd kept his word and they'd stayed at the mansion. He'd even tried to bond with the girl through training and that was good. Even if she was jealous as hell. It was nasty, vile feeling and she hated it. She had no right to feel that way but there it was.

So Jean had risen, not caring that the air outside was much too cold for her pajamas of a white tank top and red shorts. Nor was it a good idea to go out without anything on her feet. But the cold couldn't touch her as long as she kept a telekinetic shield around her and she found herself moving toward the Japanese gardens in the back of the mansion.

That was when she picked up the very unfamiliar mind that was coming onto their property and it was thinking one thing so very clearly. Her name. Of course her curiosity was piqued and she changed her course from the back of the mansion to the front. Hovering just slightly off the ground, she supposed she looked sort of like a small star coming toward the man but she honestly didn't give it any thought.

Jean had no control over the Phoenix affect that accompanied the use of her powers at times and since this could be something sinister lurking in the shadows, she was being extra cautious which affected the glow. Feet not touching the ground, the redhead made out the man who was mentally calling for her even if he didn't realize what he was doing. Still several yards away from the moving man, she called out, “Why do you seek me?”

[pauldouglass]

If the flotation, the bright yellow aura around her body, and the way she was able to pick him out even when he was in shadow didn't all but confirm the wild rumors of this woman's powers, he wouldn't know what would. Paul stayed silent for a moment, knowing that his intention had not been for HER to discover HIM(he wasn't used to being the one caught out in the open.). Then again, Jean had most likely picked him out of the shadow fabric from his brain waves alone. Which meant that she could hear every word that he was thinking. Which also meant that he wouldn't have to speak a single word out loud.

Perfect.

"I am in need of your assistance, Ms.Grey." He spoke mentally, allowing his mind to do the speaking rather than his mouth. Instead of leaving the request vague, he continued:
"I need you to help me find someone. Someone who has been lost for quite some time." He slowly crept down towards the ground, all the while maintaining his shifted form. There was no way he would expose himself just yet. He needed to be prepared in case something went awry and he needed to flee.

[jean]

The man was quiet for a moment although his mind was loud and totally untrained. Jean didn't really mean to listen in on him but he was broadcasting in a way that indicated he wasn't used to telepaths. She'd been spoiled at the mansion. The mutants there knew that telepaths were among them and they'd been trained to try and shield their thoughts to a certain degree.

She didn't move any closer to the man, merely hung back and waited. He took a moment to compose himself before he began to broadcast again, this time with more purpose. It was obvious that he was seeking her out and that he wanted something. What that was, she wasn't too sure of at the moment.

Apparently, he wanted this to be a private conversation, however.

When he told her that he was searching for someone, her first response was, I am not a detective agency, sir. I do not go around searching for missing people as the police do.

As much as he could hide his body in shadows and her human eyes could not see him, his mind was a beacon for her. She could already tell that he was searching for someone very important to him, someone that he cared, even loved, for a great deal. You are searching for a mutant? she asked a moment later, reading it on the tip of his thoughts.

That made more sense although how he knew about Cerebro was beyond her. Perhaps he was an ally of Striker. If he was, then the man would find himself in a world of hurt within the seconds it took for her to strike at him with her powers. Please explain, she added, cautiously.

((If I go too far with the mind reading, just let me know. ))

[pauldouglass]

(It's perfect!)

"Yes, a mutant. My sister, Lotus. She was sent out on an operation for a private client who had only supplied coordinates and a large sum of up front cash. She was...is a freelancer and didn't want to turn down the money, so she went. I have looked for several months, scouring the globe, using all of my resources, and yet nothing has been accomplished. I do not like coming to you, or anyone, for any kind of help, but this is something that is beyond my abilities." Paul's ego took several steps downward, wanting to lash out at Paul for admitting the truth about his personality, but knowing that it was a TRUTH. Requests for help did not come easy for someone who was used to getting the job done himself.
"I wish I could offer you some kind of reward, but I am fully aware that the one of the most powerful mutants in the world would not be in need of much. So I ask you: if you accomplish this task, what would you ask of me?"

[jean]

The private company that the man spoke of made Jean skeptical. It wasn't like she trusted the government any more then the private sector because she was all too familiar with what the government was capable of. Something still felt fishy about all this but the man was certainly desperate. She could feel it, as well as begrudging regret for having to stoop so low as to ask for help, wafting off of him. One thing was genuine in all of it, though. He was truly concerned for this Lotus.

It was funny to have someone think that she wasn't needy of anything simply because of what she was. Jean actually wanted to laugh at that. If her desires were all met, why did she feel so empty inside? Why did she lack the love she'd once had for her husband? Or was it truly gone? After all she'd been through in the last several months, she honestly didn't know what was real and what wasn't any longer. She could change all their lives, dictate who lived and who died yet she felt as helpless as a newborn babe sometimes. For all her power, Jean was still very much a woman.

I do not seek compensation although not for the reasons you have stated, sir. I am willing to help you, though. First you must release the shadows. I will not allow someone I cannot see into my home. If your sister can be found, I have the tools to do it but be aware there are those who can hide from even me, she replied to him telepathically. She didn't add that if he tried to attack anyone, she was one thought ahead of him and had the ability to incapacitate him, shadows or no.

Jean couldn't release the telekinetic aura until she'd gone back in the house. She really did not think things through when she'd ventured outside. She had no desire to set her bare feet in the snow that was beneath her.

[pauldouglass]

(Sorry I haven't posted! Just hadn't been feeling it until just now really XD)

Didn't ask compensation? Quite a noble X-Man. Of course, Paul had a hunch she wouldn't ask for anything, but out of some sense of respect, he had to ask(although, he was certain that the psychic would have to ask. Everyone needed something. And if he could pay her back somehow for her act of kindness, he would.) He heard her request to come out of the shadows and knew he would have had to eventually. The shifter knew he would have to play this carefully; even through all of her good intentions, he knew the price that Singler had put on his head and how the mercenary "warlord"(self proclaimed) had tried more than once to sweet talk Xavier into going after Paul(or so he heard. Maybe it was rumor.) It didn't matter at this point, he had to comply.

Paul floated down to the ground, then ejected himself out of the shadows, appearing in the moonlight, his contrite face now visible.
"Do what you must."

[jean]

Jean did not recognize the man as he stepped from the shadows. If he was hoping for a reaction, a recognition, he was going to be very disappointed. She also did not miss his skepticism as she refused payment. Perhaps he was correct and she would request something later but as of this very moment, there was nothing that the redhead desired that he could give to her.

Nodding at him, she said, “What I must do involves going inside.”

Why he expected her to do something else was beyond her. Jean had never set eyes on the man before now, either in person or though other measures. He was cautious but so was she. If he thought that she would lead him blindly into the mansion, he was very much mistaken.

With a follow me gesture, Jean turned and floated back to the mansion. With her mind firmly on his own, his thoughts flowing through the channel although nothing deep enough to be truly intruding, Jean opened the door and allowed the man to enter. She did not warn him that she was monitoring him. If he was intelligent enough to search her out for her abilities, he would figure it out.

Once inside with the door closed, Jean let go of the glowing telekinetic shield that had been wrapped around her body. Now, she looked like an ordinary woman who'd recently been in bed. “What you seek lies within the bowels of this building. I will inform you now, though, that once you leave, your mind will not remember what you have seen. If I am successful, you will have the information you seek but you will not remember anything else,” she informed him in a matter of fact manner.

There was nothing malicious in her voice, merely a note to protect those that resided inside the building. She was psychically connected to many people within these walls. If the man did manage to hurt her, he would be set upon by many powerful mutants in a heartbeat.