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of the otherwise orange-red apparition. . .
as a purple-blue version edges one side
resembling an old 3D page requiring red/blue glasses to view .
rising up into the image of a bird taking flight, rising, Flames, various hues, rising,
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We shift to rather a cooler scene, as we see Storm standing on one of the Mansion's rooftop balconies, looking out over the grounds which this moment receive a fresh blanketing of snow by Storm's own hand.
Coming out to join her, Jean remarks with a little good-natured smile: "Helping things along?"
Storm: "Winter has called to me from the month ahead. Many may associate it with the end of life before it Springs anew, but I feel it marks the beginning - nothing so rough it can't be smoothed over, messiness made clean again; a fresh breath for the places touched by snow."
Jean takes in her friend's words with a subtler smile.
She speaks, more sharing thoughts than bubble bursting: "What's underneath is only covered, not taken away."
Using her own powers, Jean whisks the snow away from an area down below, revealing a grass-sparse section of dirt.
"No, but it gives us the renewed perspective of a lighter world. Not to mention all that can be built from it." She gestures down towards the grounds, where students -along with some of the older occupants of the Mansion- go about erecting snow structures, amassing snowballs for a team-based snowball fight, and setting up larger ones for sculpting, as Iceman adds a degree of frost --many of these activities done with powers, complicating matters or enhancing them; possibilities only as finite as ideas and the ability to execute them.
Jean takes the cascade in anew. "There is something to the silence it brings," she holds her hand out to catch the gentle flakes, closing her eyes to take that silence in.
Then, opening them, she moves her fingers as though playing the snow like an instrument as she whisks it back skywards. "Just remember to give a break to the clouds for the meteor shower tonight," her original smile returns.
Storm gives a laugh: "Consider it done. It is times like these I feel most thankful for my mutation." Her enjoyment returns to the freshened skies.
Jean heads back inside.
Where, in their room, Scott is eying the snow as it falls past the window while he adjusts his clothing after adding a layer.
Jean comes in. She eyes a detailed drawing of a sunflower and some heather on a piece of paper set on the dresser. She picks it up. "A vibe of a different season in here."
Scott turns. "Holo gave that to me for my first day back* tomorrow."
*Where has he been, you wonder? Out of commission following the events of Volume #2! ~Tra
"It's nice. I have one in the lab she gave me of an assortment of sweet peas." She sets this one back on the dresser. "I think she's gotten into floriography."
Coming to her with his coat and hers in hand, Scott gives another look to the very lifelike picture. "I wonder if Holo's use of her powers has enhanced her visual ability, or if a natural talent informs the clarity of her projections."
"Maybe a bit of both. Though the times I've seen her draw, more than I notice her studying a conscious projection, I see her intended image projected accidentally over her head."
Scott smiles a little; accidental projections still being Holo's trademark, despite her continuing efforts at controlling her powers.
He looks up. "Ready to go?"
Jean nods, accepting her coat, and they exit.
Where they're headed is the Mutant Outreach Centre*, where a Missing Mutants Drive is being held to gather information such as names, pictures, mutation, last seen where and with whom, on the missing mutants of -for now- New York --details a telepath may be able to hone in on, with help from Cerebro.
*First introduced in Vol.#1, under the ownership of Scott's younger brother, Alex. ~Tra
Jean: "With Hank and Warren suspended*, I hadn't been able to get anywhere through the Department of Mutant Affairs. One representative even insinuated the missing may have the right idea, given how the climate is for mutants."
*Fallout from certain Vol.#2 events. ~Ever your up-to-date-bringer Tra
She's speaking with Holo's adult sister, Jaclyn. "That's callous thinking from someone who isn't a mutant themselves."
Jean: "And no one at the Department is now."
Jaclyn shakes her head: "It's not right. If it weren't for this place and Xavier's, it would still feel like no one's looking out for us but us alone."
At this point, another Staff Member comes up to speak to Jean: "I just wanted to say before I left, I think Alex would've liked the Centre being used for this purpose."
Jean: "It was Scott's idea."
The Staff Member turns a deep-feeling smile to him: "I think that would've meant something to him, as well."
With an emotionally quiet disposition, Scott nods. "I'd like to think so."
They wave goodbye as they finish getting a coat on and exit.
Scott changes the subject; speaking to Jaclyn: "So are you coming to watch the meteor shower tonight with Holo?"
Jaclyn nods, smiling: "She wouldn't let me miss it! I bet the view will be unmatched."
And so we fade to that night. . . .Holo and Jaclyn seen among those gathered on the Mansion Grounds, while we join Jean and Scott on one of the private balconies. The event having not yet begun, they take in just the clear expanse of stars.
Jean: "Thank you for today. And other days."
Scott turns his gaze on her; Jean's still on the sky.
"I see these places where things need to happen, and you see the ways for them to." She smiles, "first 'Summers camp*'.."
*Also Vol.#1!
Scott smiles.
She looks now to the face she loves, and kisses him in a passionate way.
Scott responds in kind.
Jean pulls back just enough. "I think part of it has been you."
Scott's expression does the asking: 'part of what?'
"The reason I could return here." She returns her gaze to the sky. "I think Phoenix knew you would go through things that I had to see through with you."
She reverts to him, moving her hand down from the side of his face to his chest.
"This extra time with you has meant a lot to me." There's a concluding quality to her voice.
The same is in his: "It's meant a lot to me."
His hand coming to tenderly hold her cheek.
This time they just hold each other -their time interrupted too soon by the sound of awed voices, the chromatic ignition of the sky.
Only their heads turn to watch.
We see the sky through Scott's ruby quartz lenses, different colours seen through the filter of red. .
. .at what's believed to be the shower's close, they head back in, Jean in front.
On the threshold, however, Scott turns back for one last look at the cosmos. .
. .and they alight one final time, the most spectacular.
From the hallway Jean turns in time to see a reaction from Scott waning; one as though he'd felt the impact of the spectacle physically.
Her expression holds sympathy, given the cosmic energy she feels awakened in herself; she isn't surprised, at a time like this, that some of that might be transmitted through their link.