Touch of Frost

Posted on Mon Jan 13th, 2025 @ 22:33 by Magali Isebeart & Jacqueline Myers

Chapter: Besieged
Location: Avalon Institute: Grounds
Timeline: Friday 5th January 1993 - Late Night
3136 words - 6.3 OF Standard Post Measure

The frost in the air that night was more than just a chill; it seemed to seep into Jackie's bones. Sleep had always been a struggle, but now, after everything she'd endured, it felt impossible. Even wrapped in a winter coat and a blanket, the icy wind seemed to pierce through her. The majestic silhouette of the school, however, offered a strange sense of comfort. Being free from the sterile confinement of those halls and cells was a relief she hadn't yet fully processed.

A full moon hung high in the inky sky, casting long, eerie shadows across the frost-covered grounds. The air was crisp and clear, the silence broken only by the occasional crunch of her boots on the frozen ground and the distant hoot of an owl. Each gust of wind seemed to whisper through the skeletal branches of the ancient trees surrounding the Institute, their stark shadows etched against the moonlit sky.

Jackie had wandered deep into the grounds, finding an open patch of grass where she could lie down and stare up at the stars. This simple act had been her source of solace for countless nights throughout her life, both in the depths of the forest and now here. The consistency was comforting; no matter how far she traveled, the sky above remained the same. Her eyes searched for familiar constellations, tracing the stars of Orion's belt and following the lines to find his shoulders and his bow. Clutching the corners of the blanket tightly around her, the only evidence of her presence were the soft trails of her breath and the faint imprints of her footsteps in the frost.

"Hello Jackie," sounded a familiar voice, its owner wrapped up in a warm overcoat, wearing a woolen hat and thick, warm gloves. Magali had been just out walking, clearing her mind, when she'd come across the other woman. A soft smile in the dark as she greeted her new friend. "Mind if I join you?"

Jackie tilted back in her snug and secure curled position in the grass to see who it was that was calling her name. A smile found its way at the sight of Magali. “Can’t you sleep either?” She asked with interest before patting the grass beside her and opening out her arm to share the warmth. “There’s room for another I’m sure.”

"Hm?" As Maggie sat down as indicated. "Oh - no, I'm always awake at this time. I'm a bit of a night-owl, you see," she giggled at her own joke. "Seriously though, I work nights. That's why you don't see me around much during the day. I prefer the nights, it's more - ... Quiet. Peaceful. Lets me work in peace, and the teachers are always happy to find their classrooms cleaned when they start the day."

Carefully Jackie wrapped an arm around Maggie and offered her the section of the blanket. “I thought you were, those big golden eyes. I’m just glad to see you. How is your night so far?” She rested her head briefly on the night-owl’s shoulder with a smile, “I also wanted to thank you for listening to me the other day, I know it was a lot …” Her gaze shifted up to the stars scattered through the sky as her hand tucked into her lap.

Maggie froze for a moment at the unexpected cuddle, though she didn't flee from it or complain. It took her a moment to relax at least a little bit and find some measure of comfort. "Night's treated me alright, so far. Though granted, I only just woke up. My first coffee is still making its way through my system, I just came out here to get some fresh air before starting the work night."

There was a pinch of Jackie’s lips as she noticed the woman freeze. It would take time to get used to being around people again and understanding boundaries. “It’s so cold out tonight, but the sky is pretty clear. It’s nice to have the chance to take a breather.” Faint wisps of breath plumed out from between her lips as she smiled. “So, the best time to find you is when the sun starts going down? I must have been lucky to catch you out with Moggie.” Her eyes shifted to the woman beside her, her hands pressed between her knees to keep them warm.

"Late evening, early morning, is when I'm about," The owl-woman offered a smile, slowly finding herself more at ease with the whole situation. "Always been like that, even before these manifested," she motioned towards the crown of feathers on her head and down towards her clawed bird-like feet. "Before my mutant nature came out."

Jackie’s expression softened with admiration as Maggie gestured to her feathers and clawed feet. “The night is beautiful, but it’s hard in the winter. I guess that’s the plant in me.” She offered a small laugh. “I’ve always wanted to be more of a night person, to do the things most people my age do. Like nightclubs and parties. But they’re too loud, too dark, and way too late.” Her laughter was light, a self-aware sound, knowing those weren’t the best environments for someone with Maggie’s sensitivities.

“When did your nature manifest?” she asked carefully. “I hope I’m not being rude. I just… have a lot of questions. I’m trying to get to know people.” Her gaze fell to the grass, and another faint plume of her breath drifted into the crisp night air.

"Society is just expectations from strangers. Why long to adhere to meaningless social constructs? Be yourself, not what society wants you to be," Magali asked, quietly. She didn't leave Jackie a lot of time to contemplate though as she answered the question. "Around puberty. First few weeks were - ... So painful, as the bones of my feet re-knit themselves into this shape. Fortunately the feathers hurt a lot less. They just mostly tickled until I got used to them."

That wasn’t the response Jackie had expected from her new friend, though she wasn’t entirely sure what she *had* expected. It was an intriguing perspective, especially given the social neglect she’d endured the years prior.

“That does sound painful,” she said, her own toes wriggling in the oversized wellies she’d borrowed from one of the mudrooms. “Do you get pin feathers?” she asked, curiosity lighting her tone. “It reminds me of when I get defensive, my thorns and needles. They make me itchy.” She paused, her expression darkening slightly. “Anything different is a threat to some of these people. It’s like history repeating itself all over again.”

"I do, yes. Get pin feathers. I don't like 'em, they're a hassle," though at Jackie's follow-up thought her expression darkened as well. "Yeah. It's always been like that though, and I don't see it changing any time soon. As long as there have been 'others' people have shunned them. It's just part of human nature. I can't really blame them. I'd rather they not, but I can't blame them."

But Jackie could blame them. She had tried to keep to herself, out of the way, a bother to no one. But it wasn't enough, it seemed. "Hmmm. Maybe. It's a bit like what you said…meaningless constructs implied by strangers to fit their narrative." A soft sigh escaped her as she fidgeted with the zipper of her jacket beneath the blanket.

"I've been trying to just be… I'm not sure how well it's going." Her eyes met Magali's with a faint smile. "Is there anything I could do during the day that might help you? Just small things, anything."

"Being isn't hard. It's finding what makes you happy, makes you feel fulfilled, and pursuing that. For me it's simple, though I suppose I'm lucky that way - as long as I can just do my simple and honest work, I'm happy. This place allows me to do just that. My nighttime cleaning, working on Moggie, simple things like that. Though I suppose I am a very simple girl in the end, and I understand that not everybody is like that," Magali monologued, ending with a light shrug.

There was an innocent simplicity to what Maggie had explained, and perhaps that was part of the problem. What did make Jackie feel fulfilled? So much of her life had been about staying out of the way and surviving. “I like the sound of that,” she said softly. “I’d like for things not to be complicated—for there to be time to just enjoy things.” Her gaze drifted to the jagged line of trees on the horizon, “I’d like to travel, to be in cities, to go out to dinner.” She laughed quietly, her breath curling into the cold air. “I’d never thought any of that was even possible for me.”

"Are you familiar with Maslow's pyramid of hierarchical needs?" Maggie pulled up her knees and wrapped her arms around them into a little ball-o-owl. "The theory is that psychological needs come in a hierarchy. You can only work on the higher ones if the lower, more basal ones are fulfilled. It starts at the bottom with breathing, food, water, shelter, clothing, sleep, that kind of thing. Only when those are satisfied can you realistically work on the next step up, things like health, employment, family, social connections, etcetera. After that comes friendship, family, a sense of connection, and there are layers above that as well. From where I'm sitting it looks like you only just got the very bottom layer settled, and can now start working on the second layer."

Jackie’s brow furrowed in confusion at the mention of hierarchical needs, but Maggie’s explanation quickly smoothed it away. “I guess I have the bottom ones,” she confirmed in agreement, nodding as if to reassure herself. “And I’m working on the next ones—well, some of them.” Her expression clouded slightly at the mention of family, the word stirring an ache she hadn’t fully confronted. Did they even know where she was? Did they think she was alive? “Do you have to tick all the boxes? Or does it all just naturally mesh together.” Her hidden hands were the cogs that her companion couldn’t see, knitting together at the knuckles. “I know it’s not a race, but… those things feel a long way off.”

Her gaze shifted upward, seeking the stars as if they might hold the answers. She found a familiar constellation, its presence grounding her. “Do you still see your family?” she asked hesitantly, realising too late how loaded the question might be. Her voice softened. “I mean, if that’s not too personal.”

"I think it all naturally meshes together. It also might be a bit different for everyone - I don't know, I'm just a night custodian, not a psychologist," Magali responded with a shrug. "I've just found that it works for me, and I'm working on some of the higher layers now. As for family - yeah I do still see them from time to time, though traveling for me isn't easy. Last time they came up to New Cresthill and I saw them there. They've always been very supportive of me and my nature when it manifested."

Jackie listened, her fingers still fidgeting beneath the blanket. Magali's words stirred memories of leaving home. “That’s good,” she said softly. “It’s really great that you get to see them. Travelling does raise questions, even without a beautiful crown of feathers.” Her lips curved into a faint smile, with a gentle nudge of her elbow.

“My family was supportive too, in their own way,” she paused. “But there were always people talking, whispering. Watching. It was too much for them—and for me. I was old enough to leave, and I told myself they’d be better off without me around.” Her voice wavered slightly, but she pushed on. “At first, I used to send postcards. Just little updates, nothing personal. I ran out of them not long before... everything happened. I haven’t had the chance to try and reach them since.”

Her eyes drifted to the stars, seeking familiarity in the constellations. “I wasn’t worried about them, though. They weren’t alone. They had each other.”

Maggie smiled a bit at the compliment - true, her head of feathers had a certain - ... aesthetic to them, but she's always found it - and her feet - got in the way of any possible romantic interest out in public. She'd found her peace with that fact though, and had accepted that she would remain forever single. Who wanted an old birdy hag anyways. "You miss them a lot, don't you," She offered when Jackie was done speaking.

There was something about Maggie that intrigued and captivated Jackie, so pretty and intelligent even if she claimed to be simple, there was certainly something that welcomed their chance meetings. “I do. Mum fussed me so much, it must have been difficult when I left. Maybe she coddled Emily instead. I’m not sure how much you can coddle a rebel.” Jackie admitted about her sister. “Maybe I’ll give them a call … if they haven’t changed the landline.” Hesitation filled her words, if she had escaped they might have been watching her family. They weren’t finished with her it seemed. “Maybe… Do you get out of here much? Guess not with the barricade now.”

"Well, not before either. Even in very mutant friendly places like New Cresthill, the pointing and whispering - " Magali trailed off. casting her gaze down, away from Jackie's. "It gets to me, you know? I can hear them. 'That poor thing', no I'm not. 'She's a freak' Well - thanks for rubbing it in."

Jackie frowned, “I understand that. You still deserve to see and do things. Maybe one day, we can do that without their pity and whispers. When I’m further up the pyramid.” Her hand moved from her lap toward Maggie’s still under the blanket. “You’re perfectly fine as you are. Pin feathers and all.”

"I had a - ... less than pleasant encounter, earlier. Here on the grounds. Some self righteous, empathy deprived guy who couldn't see further than his own nose was long," Maggie didn't move her hand away from Jackie's, nor did she move to accept it. Her expression was a scowl, her voice dark, a far cry from her normal pleasant demeanor. "It was a stark reminder that to many people there is an 'us' and a 'them', and to them, we are the 'them'."

Finding Maggie’s hand, Jackie squeezed it gently. She knew how that felt, a daily reminder of how she was lesser, and a specimen to be used and tested. “I know how that feels. One day they’ll see that we’re not below them even if we have to make them see it.” Her free hand clenched and flexed doing her best to keep the prickles of frustration at bay. “It’s the few that manipulate the others. Spreading fear and hate.” Her eyes drifted out toward the barricade.

"And those few are emboldened by their followers. It's a cycle, has been all throughout history," Magali agreed. At the soft squeeze of her hand she glanced up at Jackie, but didn't pull away. The gesture was sweet in its own way. "There's a problem with 'making them see it', though. That's just going to make people defensive. People in general don't take well to being told things. They have to be open and receptive to learning, to learn."

“What if I could- we could find a way to show them what they’ve been doing to people, like me? Like us.” Jackie suggested. “It’s not a direct attack or threat … exposing that they are taking innocent people from their homes to- to do what they want.” It wouldn’t just be exposing them, it would also mean exposing herself and potentially her family. She shook her head gently, “I need to work on the other blocks.” A soft sigh lowered her eyes to the frosty grass.

"People have tried. History lessons throughout - well, history, and we still got the witchhunts and burnings. We still got the internment of American Japanese citizens in 1942. We still got the holocaust. Just for how they looked, what they believed, or the circumstances of their birth. We still got the persecution of gays, during the AIDS panic. Smarter people than us have tried and tried for centuries to teach people not to hate the other just for being other but it's just a part of human nature." Magali sighed, turning her hand around to return the gentle squeeze.

"I'm - ... Sorry. I get heavy when I've got mood poisoning. Must've been something I hate," she smiled softly at her own puns, looking at Jackie, analyzing her features, her expression. "Working on layers is good. I'll help you in what little ways I can. Look me up in the morning, I'll see what I can find about Maslow's pyramid, we can study it, figure out how you can find yourself."

Jackie shook her head again, “You don’t need to apologise, everything is so complicated and you’re right.” She returned her gaze to the woman beside her with a smile, “Anyway, you’ve dealt with more than enough of my mood poisoning. You’re fine, I promise. “ There was another gentle squeeze of her hand, “I’d like that. Thank you.” Her shoulders rolled into a stretch, “I should find my way to bed, I know it's Saturday tomorrow but I don’t think Andrew knows how a day off works.” She laughed quietly and shook her head.

"And I should start my work night," Maggie quietly mused, hesitating a brief moment before standing up again and offering Jackie a hand up, with a soft smile. "Look me up in the morning, in the library, if you want to learn more about Maslow's pyramid and its layers with me."

“I will. I promise.” Jackie accepted the hand and carefully pulled herself up with the help of Maggie, stiff from being sat out in the cold. Blanket damp and crumpled. “Have a good night, I’ll see you in the morning.” She clutched the wet blanket across her chest and trudged her way back across the grass in the oversized wellies, leaving a trail of footprints in the frost behind her.