xp_communication | Email to Amanda

To: [herb girl]
From: [captain influenza]
Subject: Illyana

I would have asked you to come to hear me say this in person, but I'm probably still contagious and Moira would kick my ass if she found me doing anything other than sleeping.

I saw your letter, though, and I had to say something. From you to me, not to the staff as a whole, because I know we've talked about this before. I know you're worried, Amanda... I also know you're scared. But you've done everything you can. Strange knows what's going on. The Professor and the rest of the staff know what you're worried about.

We know there's something very odd going on with Illyana. But whatever the source of it, she's no different from the rest of you. She's one of our students, and she quite obviously needs our help.

I really don't know what to say to you, mi'caehla. I want to help, but I don't understand how I can. You say she's dangerous, that she needs watching... so are and so do you. So does a really alarming proportion of the student body. So do a truly scary number of the staff. I know, this is where you tell me that there's a difference between human danger and demon danger, and I believe you. I do. But that doesn't change the fact that we're here to protect you from it, wherever it comes from.

Even if there's something demonic about her... soul, however you phrase it, do you really think that's all there is? Doesn't she deserve the chance to be helped through whatever it is that's causing demons to come after her? We take risks here. We take risks on each other. Sometimes it comes back to bite us on the ass - okay, a little too often for my liking lately. But that can't stop us from doing it, because otherwise this school and everything it's supposed to stand for doesn't mean a damned thing.

This is going to sound... fuck, I can't even believe I'm typing this, but someone has to say it. You're going to run yourself into the ground over this. I want you to think practically, all right? The only person hurt the last time was Illyana herself, and she's recovering. Yes, the next time, if there is one, might be worse. Add that to the thousand and one other worst-case scenarios that could hit us at any given moment. Maybe they're not demonic in origin, but they could wind up doing just as much or more damage as another invasion from Limbo. You have to stop. You are not being crazy, or paranoid, but you are doing damage to yourself because of what might be. More problems from Limbo aren't a given, however terrifying a prospect they are.

You are scaring the hell out of me with this, and if I thought I could get away with siccing Moira and Leonard on you, or packing you back off to Dom for another week, I would.

Nathan