Room 528, Monday Afternoon

[icecoldfrost]

Let it never be said that Emma Frost did not learn from her mistakes.

After the last fuss Jack had raised, since he'd heard about her body-swapping adventures from Karla rather than hearing from Emma herself, she decided to head this particular bout of flailing off before it could even start.

Which was why she was sitting on her bed, very carefully pressing the buttons on her phone as she sent a picture-text to a boy half a world and a dimension away.

Look, darling, new trick!

Yes, she was counting down how long it would take him to call back. Emma was bored.


[Open door, open post, SP warning.]

Comments

[bitten_notshy]

It wasn't going to be right away, of course. Jack had classes to register for, a vampire to attend to, a Vrai Sang download to watch...

So it was at least eight minutes later before he texted her back. Maybe even nine.

Is that make-up?

He didn't think it was make-up.

[icecoldfrost]

Don't be ridiculous. Make-up couldn't even begin to be this spectacular, she typed in reply, sending another picture. Aren't you going to tell me I look fabulous?

[bitten_notshy]

You look fabulous, Jack typed back, now thoroughly worried and distracted. He'd already pulled up Portalocity on his computer. Will be there in 2 hours unless u say not 2 come.

[icecoldfrost]

Stop fretting, Mr. Priest. Jack could probably picture Emma scowling at the phone. I've already been to the clinic and gotten a clean bill of health.

...and possibly completely freaked-out Karla, but she wasn't going to mention that yet.

[bitten_notshy]

Strangely enough, that did not calm Jack.

CLINIC? he typed back.

Then, a moment later: C U in 2 hrs. No arguing. TTFN.

[icecoldfrost]

Of course the clinic. Did you think I would sit around going 'oooh, shiny!' after a random manifestation, and not have a professional make sure that everything was well?

When she didn't get an answer, Emma scowled and tossed her phone across the room. She didn't understand why everyone was getting more worked up about this than she was; if anyone should be freaked out, it was her.

[bitten_notshy]

A few hours later, Emma finally got her answer.

Am in #handwavey @ hotel. Come. Please?

[provostsdog.livejournal.com]

After eating too much for lunch, Beka made her way back to the room. She stopped at the door and that was a sight she'd not seen afore.

"Are you all right?"

[icecoldfrost]

"Hrm? Oh, I'm fine, darling, simply mildly vexed with humanity in-general," Emma replied, looking up. "Why?"

...maybe because you're shiny, Emma?

[provostsdog.livejournal.com]

"You look... different," she said, closing the door behind her as she stepped further into the room. She didn't remember Emma becoming sparkly when she was vexed.

[icecoldfrost]

"Oh, that." Yes, that. "There was a wee bit of an accident. Alex and I brought a building down, but I got better."

[provostsdog.livejournal.com]

"Got better?" Beka asked, sitting down on the edge of her bed as she studied Emma. "Did you get hurt?"

[icecoldfrost]

"Not that I'm aware of," Emma admitted. "I'm simply not buried under rubble any more. Which was a rather annoying experience that I have decided never to repeat."

[provostsdog.livejournal.com]

"Less annoying than if you'd been flattened," Beka said instantly, looking worried.

[justwantsquiet.livejournal.com]

Sookie was still sort of dragging, even a day later and even with Karla's help, but she figured after a weekend like that, she deserved the fluffiest coffee ever.

So, it was on her way back from the Perk -- mocha in her hand -- that she peeked into Emma's room.

And stopped dead in her tracks.

"...you look different."

[icecoldfrost]

"I look spectacular," Emma corrected. "Hullo, darling."

[justwantsquiet.livejournal.com]

"Hi." Sookie was still kind of staring. "So. Busy weekend? You're...sparkly."

[icecoldfrost]

Emma preened a little bit. "I am, aren't I?" she said. "Very busy weekend, as these things go."

"...you know, you can come in and stare, instead of lurking in the door."

[justwantsquiet.livejournal.com]

"I didn't know if the sparkles were something you needed privacy with," Sookie said, stepping in and going over to get a better look. "Jesus, Emma, you're like a diamond. Or like Bobby, when he's iced up, but...I dunno, sparklier."

[icecoldfrost]

"I think I must be. Glass or quartz would have shattered by now, right?" Emma asked. "I don't know what else it could be."

"At least I'll cause a sensation in class tomorrow and distract everyone from their emo."

[justwantsquiet.livejournal.com]

"What have you been doing to shatter it?" Sookie asked, instantly worried. "Or to get this way in the first place? You weren't with us in that horrible Rapture place, I would've found you."

[icecoldfrost]

"Well, an abandoned building fell on me. One moment everything's crashing, the next, I'm under rubble with a cranky Alex and looking like a 'Christmas Tree' according to him."

[justwantsquiet.livejournal.com]

"Oh my God!" Sookie immediately started looking Emma over for injuries -- which was stupid, since, you know, sparkles. "And you're okay? Other than...shiny? Did it just kick in 'cause you were in danger?"

[icecoldfrost]

"If I knew how or why it kicked in, I could change back," Emma pointed out. "I've tried thinking, 'hello, I would like to be fleshy and have my telepathy back now,' but it doesn't seem to work."

[justwantsquiet.livejournal.com]

"You don't get to be telepathic like that?" Sookie asked, frowning. "Poor you. I mean, I know how much you rely on it. I'm flying blind at the moment myself, but that's on purpose." She frowned, thinking. "Maybe it's a chemical thing? Something came in contact with you?"

[icecoldfrost]

"I had the clinic check me for radiation, but no luck," she sighed. "I suppose it's going to be like when my telepathy first manifested itself; coming and going in fits and starts at the most inopportune times."

[justwantsquiet.livejournal.com]

"Holy -- radiation?" Sookie's eyes were round. "Where were you? I thought we had it bad, but nothing was irradiated."

[icecoldfrost]

"Some place called Rivet City? Giant mutant crab monsters and scorpions and cockroach-things." Emma made a face. "They sold radiation sickness medicine in the stores."

[justwantsquiet.livejournal.com]

"And you're fine?" she checked again. "No one's all radiation-y? Jesus." She shook her head, wincing. "I ended up in an underwater city called Rapture. Full of crazy people, but no bugs, at least. That I saw, anyway. Or radiation. Mostly just insane people."

[icecoldfrost]

"We had plenty of insane people too. Why can't Fandom ever send us somewhere with puppies and rainbows and all the coffee we want?" Emma complained. "It simply isn't fair."

"But as far as I know, no one is all radiated or anything like that. Beat-up, perhaps, but nothing fatal."

[justwantsquiet.livejournal.com]

Sookie nodded, still a little worried. "Our crazies broke my shields," she admitted. "'Cause I kept my mind open all weekend to track everyone. Karla had to fix it. But hey, can't complain. I haven't been turned into a rock."

[icecoldfrost]

"I think I'm quite pretty," Emma sniffed, "but I do miss my telepathy. Well, not at this moment, since everyone is probably freaking out, but it is very quiet in my head right now."

[justwantsquiet.livejournal.com]

"You do look pretty, sweetie," Sookie said with a little smile. "But yeah. I'd miss looking like myself after awhile. And it's quiet in my head, too, but it's probably for the best. Everyone's either freaking out or having reunions we'd rather not overhear, I'd bet."

[icecoldfrost]

Emma made a face. "If I can't have a fun reunion, I don't want to hear everyone else having a good time," she complained.

"...which reminds me, Jack has announced he's portaling out here today, because he doesn't believe me that I'm fine. I feel mildly indignant that he doesn't trust me."

...possibly because you lie about that sort of thing on a regular basis, Emma. Just a thought.

[justwantsquiet.livejournal.com]

"Awwwwww, he's checking on you!" Hopeless romantic that she was, Sookie found this unbearably sweet, yes. "He just wants to make sure you're all right! How cute."

[icecoldfrost]

"He couldn't wait until the end of the week?" Emma asked. "I'm clearly not dying, I don't understand why he's in such a fuss."