(no subject)

[axiomed]

Who: Charles Xavier + You
Broadcast: Video
Action: SS Heron
When: Right now!

[ The video starts with Charles sitting on his wheelchair, his hands neatly folded on his lap. He rubs faint circles on his legs for a few seconds, the only real sign of tension. ]

Hello. My names is Charles Xavier. I am a geneticist graduated from Oxford. I -- [ ran ] -- run a school in Westchester for the Gifted. Mutants. People with abilities. My focus is the training and control of abilities we do not always fully understand, abilities that are gifts but can often run amok.

[ He pauses, catching his second wind before continuing on, poised. ]

I am also a telepath with a full set of abilities in aiding the mind and extremely . . . proficient. I do not read minds without permission, because honestly, I really don't care.

[ Charles pauses again, wondering if he should say more and dismisses it. People can ask him if they need details - which they will. ]

If anyone would like to make use of my abilities and skills, they are certainly most welcome to. Confidentiality, of course, is key and you need not make anything public if you do not wish to. If you have any questions for me, the floor is open for you.

Comments

Re: action

[axiomed]

[ He looks a little pale around the edges, but manages an honest smile. ]

Well. You know my feelings on scones.

[grandstanding]

Attempts at scones. Don't raise your hopes too high. [There was no flour. He had to improvise. His gaze flicks over him and then he walks back out, to fetch the experimental snackfoods.]

[axiomed]

[ He waits until Erik is out of sight before he slumps against his chair. He doesn't know why he's so on edge. Was that one conversation so chilling?

I can do anything. What an idiotic thing for him to boast. ]

[grandstanding]

[He returns in short order, stepping into the room and shutting the door behind himself. When he sits on the bed, he deposits a plate on Charles's lap. The "scones" are... well, an attempt was clearly made. They look more like crunchy discs than the real thing.]

It turns out a temperamental oven and powered wheat solid don't combine into good things.

[axiomed]

[ Charles picks one up, eyeing it carefully. ]

Well. The more you know.

[ Without hesitation, he takes a bite. ]

[grandstanding]

[It sure tastes like something. Erik pulls one off the plate himself, with a sigh.]

If I had flour, it wouldn't be so bad.

[He eats it. He already knows what it tastes like.]

[axiomed]

It's fine, Erik, really.

[ It's a welcome distraction. ]

[grandstanding]

You're too kind. But I'm complaining for more reasons than just this one set of scones. [Flour is used in so many recipes, that going without makes baking of any sort downright impossible. He shrugs loosely.] I saw your announcement. How did it go?

[axiomed]

[ He pauses briefly, his tone deceptively light. ]

Not too shabby. Like I said, there are a lot of people interested in the help I can offer. I met a young boy. He's . . . suffered quite a bit. He was afraid for me, afraid I'd get hurt.

It still surprises me. People still surprise me.

[grandstanding]

[There's always suffering. In every corner of the world. He reaches over and pats Charles's knee absently.]

It sounds like it went well, at least.

[axiomed]

[ Charles places his hand on top of Erik's. ]

It did.

[ Quietly, a confidential whisper, I think the Fleet has acquired a new power. ]

[grandstanding]

[He doesn't react outwardly, merely curling his fingers around Charles's. But his attention sharpens.]

What do you mean?

[axiomed]

Something reached out to me. Taunted me. It knew I was keeping things . . . and I think it knew my past.

It reminded me of . . . other powers. Ones we used to deal with.

[grandstanding]

[That makes his blood run slightly cold. He keeps his calm, though, and looks into Charles's eyes.]

Are you certain of that? [Of any of it.]

[axiomed]

[ No, he's not. Charles bites on his lip, worrying it before making a decision. Carefully, he unfolds the memory of the voice speaking to him. ]

[grandstanding]

[Submerged in Charles's memory of it as he is, he can't repress a shudder when it comes to the end. He shakes his head once, clearing it, and reasserts his own thoughts.]

That's nothing. All she did was take your words and use them against you. [What happened at the end... he can't explain. That more than anything could point to an Echo-like being.]

[axiomed]

[ Charles nods. Perhaps he had been caught off-guard. Most people don't attempt to play mind games with him. His power is deterrent enough.

He huffs, a little annoyed at himself. But the fear has bled away. ]

I feel as though I should have handled that better.

[grandstanding]

We can't always be prepared for surprises.

[axiomed]

[ He scowls at himself, taking another bite of his scone. ]

No. But I shouldn't have overreacted.

[grandstanding]

[Erik shakes his head. He'd seen it through his eyes, felt it. It was alarming. Erik can rationalise what the woman was doing, but it had the bite of something more sinister.]

We have reason to be ... sensitive, to such things.

[axiomed]

[ There's a furious energy thrumming under his skin. He was scared. He was angry. Expelling those feelings was always harder than it looked, always carefully buried under layers of protection and necessity. ]

I think I'll stay on the ship for a while.

[grandstanding]

[Erik nods, then places his hand on the bed beside him.]

Come here.

[axiomed]

[ He smiles faintly as he wheels the chair closer and carefully pushes himself off to sit on the bed. ]

[grandstanding]

[Erik rescues the plate of scones before he does, setting it aside. When Charles is settled, he wraps an arm around his waist, radiating calm. He has his own misgivings and anger down inside, at the idea someone could this badly rattle Charles with only their words. His hatred for Echoes and their ilk is long held. This, however, is something they can handle.]

[axiomed]

[ He leans against Erik. Some of his feelings slip into his store of calm, in the security of Erik's mind. He sighs, letting a brief sense of contentment wash over them both. ]