Try Catching Flootemon with your Communicator!

[spaceshipit]

Who: Everyone!
Broadcast: If you want!
Action: July Planet!
When: The month of July!

[This is another planet mingle since the first one has nearly hit captcha! Feel free to continue threads or start brand new ones!]

July Planet Information

First Mingle Post

Comments

[outstandingbalance]

On the contrary, I've found our conversation very productive.

[She lets the maybe slide. It would be too easy to read jibes about that as antagonistic, and she's putting him off enough as it is, clearly. Natasha doesn't feel the need to defend her methods; not because they're right, but because they're what she has, and they don't need protection.

He's been a good sport so far, though, and if she wants to keep the dialogue up she sees the need to give something in return.]

I've heard you know Barnes—Winter? Vision warned me that he'd had an augment malfunction, but that you and Wanda didn't think it pointed to, let's say a general instability on his part. I know Wanda. I don't know you.

[She spreads her hands as though that should make it very clear why she'd be interested in knowing Xavier.]

[axiomed]

[ Charles softens at the mention of Winter. He doesn't know how many people are from that world, only been given brief mentions here and there and he's never asked. For Wanda, his priority were the training of her powers. For Winter . . . ]

I gave most of the details about that to the public. Tony should have some of it. I don't think I left anything out in particular.

[ Except, of course, Charles having plunged into the depths of Winter's mind. His past. His life. But that was between them and no one else. ]

When it comes to the mind, I am a well known authority. It wasn't something he had any control over. And certainly not something he triggered or even could have any part of it. Only an outside force could manage it.

[outstandingbalance]

I don't doubt your abilities.

[That was the easy part. His abilities and his expertise weren't in question. Natasha's interest was in something less easily confirmed or quantified.

She needed to know more about him as a person.

And their conversation so far had gone a long way to contextualizing his opinion, and who he was beyond his skill set.]

It's not you're credentials I was interested in hearing about. In this case, it's your temperament and where your priorities lie.

[A pause, and then she adds gently, with an air of encouragement.]

Seems like you might be on Winter's side.

[axiomed]

[ Charles nods. ]

And I'll stay there. I've met -- [ He shakes his head. ] -- I know people like him. They deserve better than this.

[outstandingbalance]

I won't say you're wrong about that.

[axiomed]

I doubt anyone would. But I can understand the hesitation.

[ A little rueful. ] He did fracture my ribs.

[outstandingbalance]

It could have been a lot worse than that.

[axiomed]

Easily. It helps that neither of us were at our best.

[outstandingbalance]

For values of help, I'm sure.

[A brief pause, then she adds:]

How're your ribs now?

[axiomed]

Oh, I recovered easily. It's been a few months since then and I had a very good doctor at hand, thankfully.

[outstandingbalance]

Glad to hear it. Cracked ribs can be a real inconvenience.

[axiomed]

[ He nods. ]

It helps that I don't need to move around as much as others.

[outstandingbalance]

Small favors, I suppose.

[axiomed]

Small favors is how we get by.

[outstandingbalance]

Sometimes, it's true.

[Her agreement is noncommittal, not a fact she disguises.]

So you don't hold it against him.

[axiomed]

[ He blinks, genuinely confused. ]

A few hurt ribs? Of course not. Why would I?

[outstandingbalance]

Some people would. Not a whole lot of people enjoy getting hurt.

[axiomed]

Neither do I, but as far as hurts go, I'm not going to blame him for this one.

[outstandingbalance]

You consider him your friend?

[axiomed]

[ Charles nods slowly. It's difficult to put into words. The deep mind melds he had done with Erik, Winter . . . it transcends things like "friends." ]

For my part, yes. I do.

[outstandingbalance]

That makes it sound like you're not sure he'd say the same.

[axiomed]

[ Charles snorts lightly. ]

You've met him, right? He has a hard time admitting that he can have friends, much less good things. It's a very common mindset.

That being said, I do believe I have his respect and appreciation.

[outstandingbalance]

We've run into one another a few times.

[Which is about as much as Natasha is inclined to volunteer unless he asks directly.]

I have an idea how he can be. He seems to be doing better here than the last couple times we saw each other.

[axiomed]

[ He nods. ]

Being away from one's world can offer new perspective . . . and peace.

[outstandingbalance]

Yeah. I suppose it can.

[She's not exactly in a hurry to admit an upside to alien abduction, but in a situation as extreme as Barnes's...]

Some people benefit from that.