driftfleet | (no subject)

[He smiles at the mental image that provides.]

Are they sensitive to it when it's not directed at them, perhaps?

They are. They're very good at picking up innate feelings, though mostly on the emotional spectrum.

Considering their environment, I cannot say I'm surprised by that.

[He gives his slug another pet and then sets it down on the floor so it can scoot around however it likes.]

Perhaps that's why it likes me. I...seem to be experiencing emotions more strongly of late.

[ Charles glances at him. ]

Is this about the airport incident?

[He winces slightly.]

Among other things, yes. I find myself concerned it might not be an isolated incident.

[ You guys do bang each other up a lot. ]

How so?

None of the underlying issues were resolved by the conflict.

What I don't understand is how it came to such a point.

[How to explain it without going into needless detail?]

Tensions were high to begin with when the offices of the United Nations were bombed. The Winter Soldier was implicated in the blast; Captain Rogers disagreed. Mr. Stark took the UN's side. Bucky was taken into captivity when it became clear that the entire situation was a setup to trigger his programming in the middle of a secure facility. The airport incident was the fallout of that.

[ Amazing. This makes Erik and Charles' disagreements look like minor incursions. ]

That is a lot of chaos perpetuated by grown men.

[Hence the pained look.]

Grown men who are nominally friends, who have been allies for years, and who were easily manipulated by someone who wished them the worst.

[ I feel u buddy. ]

I suppose that's what makes it such a strange tale. I saw it but it just seemed so . . . strange.

I take it not everyone remembers yet.

[He shakes his head.]

Only myself, Wanda, and Bucky. We're...not eager to tell Captain Rogers and Mr. Stark.

I can see why . . . but I think you should. They'll be better prepared for it when they do remember and the last thing the Fleet needs is people at each other's throats.

[That's...sensible, and yet he likes not having Tony blame him for Rhodey's fall.]

They made it past that point, at least from what I recall. Though I imagine if Sam Wison should remember he'll transfer his ship assignment quickly enough.

Making it past and making it work are two different things, I find.

[ Back on their world, Charles and Erik had made it past. But they only made it work afterwards. And they had worked hard for it. ]

It's not fair to them to leave them unawares, waiting for the hammer to fall.

And if it doesn't fall? If they stay here without gaining new memories, is it still worthwhile to tell them they're no longer friends?

I don't think you believe that any more than I do.

[ It is the domino effect. Eventually, everyone catches up. ]

I think it's worthwhile for them to know. As for being friends, I think they can decide that for themselves.

[But he doesn't wanna!

And Charles isn't wrong that it would be better if they knew. He sighs.]

That may be so, but you're asking me to sacrifice the only goodwill I have with them.

No, I'm not. What you do is up to you and it's certainly not up to me or anyone.

Heroics doesn't come from powers or what you do with them. It comes from the choices you make as a person.

My choices resulted in the permanent injury of Mr. Stark's closest friend.

[It's sharper than his tone usually gets.]

[ In the driest of voices. ]

How do you think I ended up in a wheelchair?

[That shuts him up.]

[ Charles surveys him coolly before he softens a little. ]

Yes. Your choice did allow that to happen. There's no denying it. But that doesn't make what we choose any less important. I chose not to blame those responsible. It's a choice I'm proud of.

There will always be choices you will look back in regret. But that shouldn't stop you from making them.

You are not a machine. You are a creature of autonomy. Embrace it, with its flaws.

[Well. And so Rhodey hadn't blamed him, or at least had said as much, which is as close to the same thing as it gets. But he still looks down, ashamed.]

And why shouldn't I stop making flawed choices? [His voice softens.] Why shouldn't I embrace what is machine?