driftfleet | (no subject)

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The one yours is leading or the ones the rest of the multiverse have because I'm guessing there is some variety there too. The other Mystique here doesn't really remind me of the one back home more than your Raven does. [Maybe a blend of the two, but she also can't say she knew the one at home that well. She was secretive and largely off on tasks away from the X-Men. What she knew best was her love for Kurt and Rogue. That counts for a lot in Kitty's book.]

Any of them, I suppose.

[ But he's made his peace with it. He sighs. ] It doesn't matter. Whatever she's chosen, it's her own path.

You know she was upset when I told her Xavier [She's not going to say "you" for this.] died in my world. [Seriously, telling people horrible things is her gift.]

Which is a weird way of me telling you she obviously cares about you a lot.

[ A brief smile passes through his face. ]

I know. I really do.

[ Erik loves him. Raven loves him. And he loves them back, deeply, strongly. But his sandcastle dreams of them being together with him have washed away long ago. ]

Good. Family is important. [The most important. But she can't think about that too deeply or it's just going to bring up a lot of feelings. It brings up too many as it is. She looks away for the moment.]

. . . Everything all right?

Oh, just thinking. That never turns out in my favor.

[Have a thoughtful pause as she looks like she's debating whether or not to say or ask something.]

...Charles? You, um, you said people could make use of your abilities. What did you mean by that?

[ He frowns in confusion. ]

Well, things like phobias, disorders and so forth aren't a problem for me to help.

How would you help something like a disorder?

I can't fully explain it. It's something I can do. Controlling minds and making those changes last . . . that's my power too.

Oh. [A sound of disappointment in her tone. She wasn't sure what she'd been expecting, but apparently that wasn't what she'd hoped.]

It would be easier for me to answer if I knew what the situation was.

I...

I think I might probably have PTSD. [It's like admitting it.]

[Little pause.] They didn't call it that back then, did they? Post-traumatic stress disorder. Shell shock?

I've heard of shell shock, but not the other.

[ He considers this thoughtfully. ] I assume it appears when you're triggered by something.

I'm not having flashbacks or anything. It doesn't always present the same way. [She sighs.] It's not like I'd be comfortable having anyone controlling my mind, so it doesn't matter. Forget I said anything. [Read it all you want. Rearrange it? Absolutely not.]

It doesn't need to be controlled to be helped.

...No? [Maybe just a little hopeful.]

No. We can work on weaning the emotional impact of the memories and stress it gives you.

I wouldn't forget any of it would I? I don't want to forget it. There aren't enough of us left to remember them.

[ He shakes his head. ]

I don't remove memories. [ not anymore anyway ] You wouldn't have to forget it.

I'm not sure I want any of it.

[She looks away. There are important things to see here on her knees.]

Sometimes I think the pain is the only thing I get to keep. The people die or disappear or leave. I can't control where I go anymore. Possessions are wiped out anytime some new powerful overlord wants to grab me. Memories fade. But the pain's always there.

There's more to us than pain. Even when it seems like the only steady thing in our lives, it doesn't define us.

[ At least in this, he is competent at. Charles can take away anyone's pain but his own. ]

And I can help you remember that.

Okay. Maybe. [This is the closest she's ever gotten to asking for help before. Back home they were all going through bad shit constantly. There was no "post" for reflecting on any of it. Then in the prison there was a counselor but only briefly. She'd only started warming up to her enough that she might have considered something for herself when she disappeared.]

...What about you? Would you see the things I've sen if you did it? Feel them? Because...it's a lot. And you have your own stuff I'm sure. [She doesn't want to hurt you with her bad memories, Charles.]

[ His lips twitch. ]

I've taken on a whole lot more than that.

So who helps you?

Re: private

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