Who: Wanda and Jean What: Training Where: Jean Grey Outreach Centre When: Early Oct Rating: Low? Status: Complete
Wanda arrived at the outreach centre where she and Jean had trained before. Taking a deep breath, she headed into the building, looking around for her mentor.
Jean had gotten there early. It was the weekend so it was easier for her to make it out. She liked to volunteer when she could and she set aside the time whenever she could. Today though, she was here specifically for Wanda. She’d even picked out one of those four wheel ATVs because the training she had in mind should be done as far away from the kids as they could get.
She worried about Wanda’s emotional state, and she knew from her dreams what could happen if Wanda let her emotions rule her. She just didn’t know if this version of her old friend had that same level of power. But it was best to be prepared. “Hey. I packed us a lunch, we’re going for a little drive.”
Wanda smiled in relief as she saw Jean coming towards her. She knew she looked awful, having not slept a full night in the days since she had Dreamt of Pietro’s death. “A drive? Where are we going?” she asked, turning to follow Jean.
“A little farther away, in case we have issues with our powers. Better to blow up a few trees than one of these buildings,” Jean explained. “I know just the place too. It’ll have a good view, if nothing else, maybe it will help you feel calmer.”
Wanda nodded and followed dutifully, casting quick glances at the others around them as they made their way out of the foyer. The glowing red energy that had started swirling around her fingers in recent days had started to appear and she shoved her hands in her pockets as she headed out passed the other people. Hopping in the car when they reached it, she buckled up and slid down in the seat, trying to keep out of sight as they drove.
It wasn’t too far. The hard part was some rough roads when they reached dirt and gravel, and one part that was above a precarious drop. But they made it safely, with a view stretching out across the valley below, the ranch barely visible. Jean got out of the car and stretched. “Come over here. Close your eyes and inhale.”
Wanda slid out of the vehicle and did as Jean instructed, hands in her pockets. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and sighed it out heavily. “I’m so worried Jean, I cannot stop the feeling that Pietro is going to die in the real world,” she told her, still with her eyes closed.
“The dreams won’t kill him,” Jean assured her. She stepped close, while still giving Wanda some space. “He’ll need you after. It can be very traumatic. But you need to take care of yourself before you can take care of him.” She made motions, like putting on a mask. “Like in those airplane safety videos. Put the mask on yourself before putting it on the person next to you.”
“How do you know that? I have a friend whose boyfriend Dreamt of the other world, and an injury he had there came through to the real world,” Wanda said to her, opening her eyes. “I’m sorry, I do not understand,” she frowned as she watched Jean’s actions.
“Injuries happen. I have scars. But death doesn’t seem to …” Jean frowned. “Rather, the dreams themselves don’t kill people. But I know people who’ve been killed by something related to the dreams. Like that strange fog earlier this year. Things like that. But never someone who died in their dreams and never woke up.”
Wanda nodded and swallowed, looking out over the land in front of them. “I um...something has started happening, with my hands when I get stressed,” she told her, pulling her hands out of her pockets. The red energy shot to life around her fingers like a small uncontrolled flame.
That was a little alarming, but Jean reached up, and gently took Wanda’s hands. She didn’t seem afraid. “You’re very powerful, Wanda. With great power comes control issues. But you’re also very strong. What makes you happy?”
Wanda shook her head as she thought. “Studying I guess? Knowing Pietro is safe? I uh...I don’t have a lot of hobbies,” she admitted shyly, giving Jean a quick embarrassed smile.
“One way to start with calming down, with control, is finding a place in your mind and your heart where you feel content. Happy. Safe.” She squeezed Wanda’s hand. “It could be a person, or a memory. Something you can draw on to calm yourself.”
“Ok,” Wanda thought for a second. The place she had felt the most secure was when she and Pietro had been living with their sponsor in the UK. “There was a place where Pietro and I stayed before we came here where things were very good for us,” she explained. “Is that the sort of thing you mean?”
“Something like that. For me, there’s this hill, overlooking a lake. A place of a fond memory.” Jean smiled. “As long as it makes you feel safe, or at peace, you can take yourself there again.”
“Ok, I can do that,” Wanda smiled at Jean. “But I cannot stay in that memory for the rest of my life, surely? Are there other techniques? To focus and...use my power better?” she asked.
“No, you can’t.” Jean let go of her hand, walking towards the edge of the view with the valley below. She swung her arms as she moved. “We should teach you meditation. That’s a good step towards it. Meditation, clearing your mind. Being calm.”
Wanda nodded, moving to step up next to Jean. “Are you...are you afraid of me?” she asked quietly.
She shook her head. “Not afraid of you. Your power is … great. In the wrong hands or wrong circumstances, it could be destructive. But so could mine. It’s who we are as people that counts.”
Taking a deep breath, Wanda nodded. “I like to think I’m a good person, but I get angry like everyone else. I don’t want to hurt anyone,” she told her mentor.
“That’s why we learn control.” Someday, someone would have to sit Wanda down and explain to her the worse case scenario. Not today, and not Jean by herself. Probably not Laura either, Laura could be too blunt. She reached over and squeezed Wanda’s hand. “It’ll be okay. I promise.”