Template:Featured Articles/26-2018
 "Mm." The noise skirted the edge of dubiousness. "You've been through a lot lately. Have you talked to Charles since the thing with Quentin?" Jean snorted at the first part, rolling her eyes as she walked through another door and onto a NYC street. "Yeah. I gave him the overview when he died, filled out the report, made my appointments. Once I get past everything with catching up on work and writing my report on the Clea rescue, I'll follow up. I don't like to worry him. You know that look he gets when he's worried." "Yeah, I know." He'd been talking to Charles a fair amount himself, though he was trying to keep an even spread between Charles and his regular therapist. He ignored the eerie feeling he got when he saw Jean echo Quentin's mannerisms; that would probably pass. Eventually. Jim sighed and lit a cigarette. "Things have been busy. I just don't want you to neglect yourself. Taking time to recover is a worthwhile investment." "Tell the students to stop getting kidnapped and ask people not to get hurt or sick and I'll have plenty of of time," Jean said, sliding her hands into her pockets, as her armor had disappeared. She was just wearing a pink sweater and ripped dark blue jeans. The streets were wet with rain, and various denizens of the mansion walked by, mixed in with random people. "Are we still on time out?" "We're in Game Over. That's enough for today. Let's just go over the session." Jim fell into step beside her, noting again how easily the astral plane conformed to her subconscious. Again, he considered the likelihood that these changes were unintentional. "For example, how I can track you by your psi-signature here. It's not a problem when there are others around or in a specific mindscape, but you need to watch out when you're going one-on-one." Jean made a face. "Never thought about it. I haven't really fought that many psis before," she said. She nodded. "I can mask it. What else?" Jim nodded. "You're good at shaping the astral plane, but changing it expends energy even if it's subconscious. Power-bleed's especially hard to control when you're tired. And . . ." And if you're preoccupied with something it can show your hand, he wanted to say, but wasn't sure how. Instead he settled for, "Remember when we found Quentin? Everything we project comes from us. Mindscapes can reveal more than we want them to. It's probably not something you'll need to worry about much in the field, but it's a possibility." Jean eyed Jim. "You're treating me like a student. Please, don't. Just be honest." Jim grimaced around his cigarette. "I'm treating you like a training partner, and as one training partner to another that's my general advice. But in this particular session, when I saw you revert the astral plane to the Medlab where we were attacked -- I felt compelled to ask you how you were handling things." Jean walked the street in silence for a few moments, which, as they were on the Astral Plane, was the true definition of one's mind wandering. Sighing, she rubbed the back of her neck. "Sorry," she said. "I guess....I'm not okay. Everyone else seems to bounce back so easily. I feel like a novice. Like...I know how to do all of these things and yet....it didn't help. So I'm trying to get better." "Look, we all got caught off-guard. You don't have anything to be sorry about. Just be aware." Jim gave her a wry smile. "If nothing else, it'll make it harder for people to pry." Jean smiled back. Her walls used to be impressive. But, just like real ones, they needed to be rebuilt, and fortified, so those prying eyes would be unable to see. "That's the plan," she said, brushing hair behind her ears. "Well, I'm starving. Want to grab a burger or other non-meat related product? My treat. Least I can do since I've apparently singed some of your hair off." "Only symbolically. But you're on." |
