(no subject)

[endingpoint]

Who: Jane Doe, Kurt Weller (closed) + an open section for YOU
Where: Around Genosha
When: Throughout the event
Rating: Ranging probably, will update as needed with any TWs.
Summary: Jane is a mutant, able to erase memories.
The Story:

first t w o d a y s - open

[Jane Doe is called such out of irony, really. She makes people forget, makes them the Janes and John Does of the world who know nothing of what happened to them, the secrets they've heard, the things they've done.

At least, that's how she's been told she should act. Eliminate human memories, take away everything until they're weak husks with no way to function on their own. Every now and then, to keep up appearances, she has to, she has no choice. But she hates it, she hates it every time, especially when there's an audience. She's supposed to feel superior, and instead, she feels like some twisted executioner, every time. And then, she went and fell in love with a human, making her life full of color against the dark shadows whenever they're together. They have to be careful, so careful. If they're ever caught together by anyone other than a human sympathizer, they'll both be killed.

During her days, she keeps to her own kind,the ones who bask in being a mutant, but at night, she finds the human sympathizers for a few hours before it's so late, she can sneak off to find Kurt without being noticed At least, she hopes.]

end of second day/beginning of t h i r d d a y - closed to Kurt Weller

[Jane remembers something tiny at first, something about...FBI. Something about a place called Wonderland. At first it's wisps of fragments of memories, and after being reunited with Kurt where he lives in Genosha, she tries to tell him, asks if he knows, if he remembers something that isn't supposed to be. She remembers a place not here, a dress, dancing with him, stolen kisses. But then she remembers a place that's even different from that; mirrors that mocked them somehow, a homecoming together on the floor of a gym.

She tries to tell him what she knows as they hold onto each other, clinging to every moment they have because one day, eventually, their meetings will become less as people get more violent. So, she shifts focus at times to simply kiss him, be with him, revel in his touch while she can.]

Comments

first day, evening

[hypoxic]

[As big as Genosha feels, in a lot of ways it's a bit of a small town sometimes. Fitz doesn't assume that Jane particularly knows him -- and why would she? He's just some human from the university staff, one of a pile of interchangeable parts that doesn't hold any particular importance. There's nothing remarkable about genetic amoebas when they don't go out of their way to be more remarkable. But he pays attention. He's seen some of her work (and those humans had it coming, honestly). He's got questions about it.

He approaches her timidly, with a bowed head to limit the danger of eye contact.]

Um. Miss? If you've a moment...

Day Two

[widows_kiss]

[ Natasha knows who Jane is - they've been on a few cases and assignments together before and she has a healthy respect for Jane's abilities (and perhaps more than just a hint of wary caution). But they both had necessary talents that made them useful when dealing with the rebellious uprisings that seemed to happen with more and more frequency lately.

Although she hasn't voiced it, she knows that will just put people like her and Jane in even more demand as this schism widens.

She almost bumps into her this morning on the street but glances up and recognizes her, a crooked smile curling across her lips. ]

I take it they've been keeping you busy?

[endingpoint]

[Jane pauses as she walks, not wanting to lead anyone to Kurt or his sister, and she looks around, wary of a trap or ambush from anti-mutant humans. She has no idea who this man is, though if she squints a little, maybe he looks vaguely familiar. A face she's seen in passing.]

A moment for what?

[endingpoint]

[Natasha's familiar, they work well together, and she lets out a breath to see her, smiling a little.]

As always. It feels like it's picking up more though. I think...

[She clears her throat a little, forehead creasing.]

I think there's a group of captured anti-mutant humans that I'm going to have to...'fix' soon.

[Jane doesn't relish the thought the way she 's sure some others would. She also doesn't ignore orders or duties.]

[hypoxic]

[He flinches slightly at the sound of the question, half-expecting it to be followed by barking or an absent backhand. His voice is smaller when he continues.]

I... Wanted to talk a little about the humans you treated today. If it's all right to ask.

If it isn't, then I'm very sorry for troubling you...

[endingpoint]

[She only tenses because she doesn't take joy in erasing someone's entire life, and she doesn't understand why any human would want to talk to her about it, or try to understand it. But first:]

I'm not going to hurt you. It's fine.

[hypoxic]

[He nods slowly, and inches ever slightly closer.]

Thank you. Um. And.

[He swallows.]

It's only. ...I knew one of them. And -- I was wondering.

Is he in pain now?

[endingpoint]

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. It's...I don't have a choice.

[She says that so low, looking around to be sure someone didn't over hear. She's never argued her orders, but that doesn't mean she enjoys them. At least she can reassure him, now.]

It doesn't hurt. It never hurts. It's like blinking and suddenly everything you know is gone, and it's confusing, but it isn't painful. I promise.

[hypoxic]

N--no, it's.. It had to be done. I know that.

[He smiles sadly, though his bottom lip quivers.]

I told him he was going to get himself in trouble if he didn't stop. That's -- it's why we need people like you to maintain discipline.

Maybe he'll find peace now.

[endingpoint]

I don't want...

[Jane wets her lips and looks down, taking a deep breath as she swallows heavily. She's going to get herself taken away if she isn't careful.]

Your friend will be reconditioned into whatever's needed.

[Trained to do a job, whatever the one in charge wants. That's beyond her tasking.

But it's clear, she was going to say she doesn't want to be someone who maintains discipline.]/small>

[justmakeroom]

[ Unlike Jane Doe, Andrea has harbored deep-seated resentment against humans for years now. Mutants and humans alike need to stick to their own kind as far as she's concerned.

She's been noticing Jane sneaking off after hours, and decides to follow her one day. It's clear where she's going, and she notices her do it again the day after, so she confronts her. ]

Where are you going?

[ They're alone in one of the back alleys, and she knows Jane assumed she would be safe, unnoticed. ]

[endingpoint]

[Jane tenses, turning to look at Andrea, trying to come up with a lie, to protect Kurt.]

To see someone who wants to help with the segregation. We may not like humans, but they don't like us either. At least this one wants to help come up with a way to keep things peaceful. If it's good enough, I'm supposed to report it. No one needs a slaughter to clean up.

[hypoxic]

That'll be nice. He'll probably be able to focus better now that he's not troubled with terrible thoughts anymore.

[He dares to look up at her, taking in her face at length.]

Why don't you want to? It isn't painful for you, is it?

[Some mutants find their powers quite taxing. She's probably making a noble sacrifice for the greater good. Mutants are absolutely incredible that way.]

[justmakeroom]

[ It's a good story, and maybe it's true. Or maybe she can make her squirm a little, and worry about what Andrea knows or doesn't know. ]

They're terrible, you know. Humans. Parasites. We could squash them like bugs.

[endingpoint]

[Jane doesn't even answer his question, she just look at him the way he's looking at her.]

You're fascinated with us, aren't you? With the mutants.

[She doesn't feel afraid of him at all, she just think he's curious, and he hasn't looked disgusted by what she does, by what she can do.]

[endingpoint]

Yeah. They are. I think I do enough without killing them, too.

[Although, maybe they might as well be dead once she takes everything away from them.

She's not going to Kurt's now, there's no way. She won't lead a vengeful mutant right to his door.]

[hypoxic]

[His cheeks flush at that, and he pulls his jacket (perhaps unseasonably warm for the summertime) around him more tightly.]

I -- I work at a research facility. It's stunning to read about everyone's findings. I can't begin to grasp what it must be like.

[He imagines that she's entertaining him now the way he might regard a stray dog. She's lowering herself to his level, probably using smaller words so he can keep up.]

[endingpoint]

[It's not that at all. She's just as fascinated with humans.]

Would you understand it, if I told you I hated what I am? That I hate being the one who has to take everything that people are, away from them?

[hypoxic]

[He blinks, all but gaping at the very idea of a self-hating mutant.]

... But. But Ma'am... You aren't taking anything away from them at all. You're giving them a new life. You give damaged humans second chances.

[He scrambles to rattle off scientific data, findings that are perfect and absolute and not at all biased or misleading.]

There's -- You see, a part of the human brain is susceptible to illness. It's not unlike rabies -- highly contagious if left unchecked. It makes us act out, usually violently. You rescue humans suffering from it. You're amazing.

[endingpoint]

[No one's ever spoken to her this way before - no human anyway.]

If you could choose to be this way, would you? Would you do something to yourself if it meant you could become a human? Or do you only think I'm doing good for the human mind?

[She can't believe he thinks that of her, that she's doing good.]

[hypoxic]

Oh -- oh, I'm certain that's not a choice I'm capable of making. [He's happy to speak highly about mutantkind. Why wouldn't he? Only the sick ones ignore the natural order of everything.]

That's why I'm so happy that you help humans. ...You probably don't have you. You could let us stew in our illness until we all go crazed and tear one another to shreds. I wouldn't know how to begin thanking you.

[endingpoint]

[She's never going to get him to see that she hates it. That she wishes she didn't have to do anything to anyone.]

You've done enough.

[Jane smiles softly at him.]

What's your name?

[hypoxic]

[He returns the smile, relieved that she's cast aside whatever it was that had her so tense in the first place.]

Leopold Fitz, Ma'am.

[He doesn't dare ask for hers in return. That would be uncouth.]

[endingpoint]

And you...like the mutants? Want to understand them? But not study us in any negative way, you don't want to hurt us.

[Jane's watching him closely, tilting her head to the side.]

Why? Is it just the science?

[startingpoint]

[ It's started to pour rain outside, and they're tucked safely in his bed for now, holding each other. He wants to protect her from the bigger storm he knows is coming, but he's powerless in so many ways. The weird thing is, he's started to remember things. Strange things. She's talked about some of it, and he knows she's remembering things too. ]

I remember...my best friend. Her name was Taylor. Taylor... [ He searches his memory, eyes closing tightly. ] Taylor Shaw.