Done with the gaslighting portion of our interaction I decided to offer a secondary exposure no strings attached. This would keep her off balance and continue to have her view me more favorably. She accepted this as she desperate for anything to free her from her father's control. I expended a lot of energy throughout the day so I didn't have much power left and promised to do more after I recovered. Raven thanked me for the assistance I had provided and the promise of future assistance.
After Raven left I took a short nap to recover but was quickly woken up with the image of Big E trying to murder me in my dream. It was most likely wasn't real but knowing that various alternate realities actually existed I had some doubts. Especially if I remember correctly that part of the plot of Multiverse Madness said that dreams connected dimensions. Hopefully I was over thinking the issue and it was just a bad dream. It would make sense for this to just crop up I talked about him a lot in the past, used him as an excuse wherever it was convenient and have been in many stressful situations since arriving in this universe. This was mostly likely just the mounting pressure getting to me and I needed to take things easier.
...
With the thoughts of trying to take things a little easier I decided to go out to visit Manhattan with Jean and Felicia. Although Jean was appreciative for my assistance in learning to control the Phoenix force she has barely left the mansion. This likely stemmed from a fear of running into the X-men or more specifically Scott and Charles.
Scott was a sore topic that Jean had yet to come to terms with. She was in love with him that was never in doubt but she wasn't sure if what she felt was her choice or was something she was pushed into. She liked the fact that he seemed like a good leader holding the team together leading them through hell and back. He seemed able to stand up for what was right no matter what yet when it came to the professor he wouldn't budge and was always on his side even against her.
As for Charles her fears were obvious the man who she thought had taken her in saved her merely used her as a puppet. She wasn't sure what was really her own thoughts and what were put there by the professor. On more than one occasion the professor reached out to her through cerebro. Fortunately I taught her various techniques to shield her mind from Charles based on my ghost training. I admit Charles is remarkably skilled as even with all the new techniques I taught Jean he was still able to reach out to her but was no longer able to infiltrate her mind. Her thoughts were finally her own. Yet despite this Jean was worried about meeting him alone which is why she never left the mansion.
It wasn't healthy not that I actually cared but it gave me a good excuse to spend some time with Jean. She had already grown quite dependent upon me which was a massive character flaw on her part but one that I was glad existed in her. It made it much easier lean on me as a pillar of strength.
As we wandered around Manhattan I was glad that I was mostly greeted with New York's specialty indifference. Most people didn't acknowledge us and carried on with their own lives. A few individuals did recognize me but mostly kept to themselves with a few taking pictures as traveled. I took the girls shopping as it seemed like most do enjoy the activity. I did however have to stop Felicia from stealing things a few times or just pay for it when I caught her. She apparently enjoyed stealing more than paying for things which got a chuckle from Jean followed by a quick frown.
As it turns out I caught Felicia one out of five times she stole something and a few were just distractions to keep me from noticing her real targets. Apparently M'Shen's training has increased her ability to steal which Jean funny but still lectured Felicia about stealing was wrong. Felicia was indifferent to Jean's lecture and simply rolled her eyes while listening like a rebellious teen. I didn't care but as long as she wasn't caught.