driftfleet | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Who: Everyone
Broadcast: N/A
Action: Iskaulit
When:

[So we've been stuck on the poison moon for a couple months now, so a lot of people probably want to get away from that.

Unfortunately, the only place you really can get away from it besides your own ship is the Iskaulit. So, here's a June Iskaulit mingle!]

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Speaking of first steps...

Anything I should be doing here?

Not really.

[ It's best to relax those shields. Talking, getting things off the chest would help. He could barge in easily enough, but he rather not. ]

We can just talk for now.

[Nodding.] What do you want to talk about?

I'm open to suggestions. How has the Fleet feel to you so far?

Fast. Well, it's felt slow because there's so little to do, but then I look up and it's like days have flown by which actually makes me wonder if time was passing at a different speed in the prison. Looking back it feels like I was there for several years even though it wasn't even a full year.

But the fleet is the least dangerous place I've ever been and I think that might even include life in nice suburbs of Chicago before Apocalypse.

Time does feel a bit strange. Even to me.

[ And he sympathizes with the feeling. The Fleet was less dangerous. ]

I suppose I never expected to be in a place like this.

No. I mean, the prison got me closer to being used to it, but about once a month or so something would happen. Raptor attack, facing hallucinations of your fears, something. I mean, really every few days something would happen, but they weren't usually dangerous. I keep waiting for something here, but I'm starting to think it is what it seems.

We played competitions. Games. Most of the time, they were harmless. Other times . . .

[ He trails off, shaking his head. ] There was a lot of death.

[She nods.] Hank and Erik both told me some about it. [She's gotten surprisingly close to Hank. It's less surprising that she likes spending time with Erik.]

...Did you ever?

[ He nods. ]

A couple of times. Though the ones I remember best were the ones where I didn't.

Did you lose memories again if you died?

No. Simply that it was easier. Sometimes, my abilities would be . . . turned off. Unusable. Other times, the connection would reignite himself straight after a game.

[ And with people dying or being revived painfully. ]

I don't like that feeling. Having my powers shut off. Like just losing one of your senses. It doesn't feel extra anymore. [Maybe when she was 13, but now? It's a part of her.]

It feels like you've lost part of yourself and it's hard to recognize whether you're the same person.

[ Telepathy is the same and it is different. ]

That's the feeling right there. So much of my life has been defined by being a mutant. I don't know what I am without it. [She laughs softly.] I didn't even know how to handle not being hated and feared for it when I got to the prison. It was just no big deal to so many people.

[ He's quiet for a few minutes. ]

I can't say I've had similar experiences. I've never really belonged anywhere because of my powers. It didn't matter how special anyone else because ultimately, a telepath wasn't to be trusted.

For what it's worth, I can't promise you I don't have trust issues, but they aren't because you're a telepath. [Which may sound a little like her trying to be a special snowflake, but she's just trying to offer a port in the storm. It meant something to her to be with the X-Men where she finally fit in. He should have that too. Hell, he created the concept. Of course he should have that.]

[ He tilts his head in acknowledgement but he doesn't say more. It's a sore point, one that has stuck with him. ]

I don't think you would be here if you did.

[She's noticed. It's rough. Telepaths had it hard in her world too. They were especially hunted by Apocalypse and the results of those he caught were decidedly unpleasant.]

Yeah. [Those defenses of hers have already loosened up some.] Just no changing my mind for me. But I trust you wouldn't without permission. [Okay, she doesn't fully trust this, but she's trying.]

Even with permission, I probably wouldn't. It's not something I undertake lightly.

[ And he still feels guilty. For Moira. ]

No, of course it isn't. Sorry.

[ He shakes his head with a fond smile. ]

Don't be. It makes sense to ask. Does that help put your mind at ease?

Don't you already know? [She says it with a light smile and no suspicion. She figures him reading her is part of all this. Whatever this is.]

That's not how it works.

[ But he nods, all the same. ] All right. I want you to talk me through an experience. Any experience.

You're not going to narrow that down at all?