5th Form

[only_skin_deep]

Who: Mystique, Charles, Hank.
Broadcast: No.
Action: Blameless' lab.
When: Now.

[With distractions of the three factions on the set of planets now gone as the Fleet headed back into space, Mystique’s mind returned to an offer she had made many months ago; to use her mutation to allow others to view her augment. It had kept being pushed aside, in replacement for exploring new planets, getting new items, dealing with events on the ships.

She wasn’t sure how much it would aid, if any information would come from it, yet if it could be used to their benefit than she was willing to try. Recent events of Charles and the others returning home, if only briefly, acted as a reminder that they did have a home to go back to, one that might be less screwed up than hers and still able to be repaired. Mystique may not have a home to go back to but they did, and maybe this would somehow help in them getting back.]

Comments

[only_skin_deep]

[Oh good God, really, men, they could never make a simple decision.] Fine. [She shouldn't be surprised.

Glancing around the lab for the best option, Mystique moved past them, grabbing the chair Hank normally used and moving it more into the open space of the room before she took a seat on it. It would take some concentration, altering only part of her and in a way she never had before. Taking on another's appearance was one thing, creating one was completely different.

A flick of her head to move her hair out of the way from the augment area was only for dramatics as her hairline shifting and pulling back away from the area by her ear, as if she had sudden half shaved her head. Her augment was not visible, showing only as a bump beneath her skin, and she gave a glance over her shoulder at them.] Ready?

[axiomed]

[ He keeps his communicator pointed at Mystique so he can record all of this for posterity. ]

I'm ready.

[beathach]

[he nods, shifting closer]

Go ahead, Mystique.

[only_skin_deep]

[Turning back from them, Mystique let out a long breath through her nose and closed her eyes to concentrate, sitting tall and straight in the chair. In theory it should be simple, she had a plan in mind on how this would work, but to translate that into something her body could do would require focus. It was multi step, allowing her outer ear to melt into the side of her head and vanish, making sure it didn't restrict the view. Then changing her skin.

At first the texture shifted, becoming more segmented, thinning, fine lines appearing along that side of her skull before the section started to lose its pigmentation. She had pulled the inspiration from nature, using the concept of a glasswing butterfly to allow for the transparency. The third step was easier, something she was more use to doing, just not in that section; moving muscle. Allowing the muscles to become more flexible, malleable, she drew those surrounding the augment back far enough to expose her skull beneath them, as well as the augment itself.]

[axiomed]

Spectacular.

[ It really is. Someday, Raven might be able to do that. There's nothing like watching someone demonstrate their abilities to their fullest extent. ]

[beathach]

[he was more than familiar with Raven's mutation, but this - he'd known, of course, but seeing it in person was entirely different. He hums his agreement with Charles' statement, as always impressed by someone demonstrating their powers.

But they weren't here to just admire her powers. Since Charles is recording it all on his device, Hank immediately reaches for his notebook, to write down a description, just in case]

[only_skin_deep]

[Yes, she was. But save the compliments for another time.

Feeling everything settle and confident she could maintain the shift, Mystique opened her eyes and just barely turned her head to catch them out of the corner of her vision.] Anything immediately useful?

[axiomed]

[ He squints at her. ]

It's strange. While it seems clear, the position seems to be uncertain. I can't tell if it's my eyesight or the Atroma at work.

[beathach]

[he glances up from the notebook with a frown, then steps closer to peer at it closely. And after a moment, pushes his glasses down to squint]

I can't make out the position either.

[only_skin_deep]

I could try moving it, [There wasn't many other options after all.] Or opening up my skin so you can get to it. [It wasn't like she had to worry about infection, her body more than capable of dealing with any.]

[axiomed]

Let's not risk the latter. We don't know if the Atroma plan to interfere with this.

[ And Charles doesn't want to put Mystique in danger, no matter how prepared she was. ]

[beathach]

Mm, that they've allowed this much is surprising.

[only_skin_deep]

[Raising a brow at the moment, Mystique stayed quiet as she tries to think over other options, but also needing more information.] How is it positioned? [She knew it was there, but couldn't really 'feel' it like other items she had stored on her person. Those she knew where they were, could move them as needed, the augment was another story.] Is there another angle that would work to see more, or a use of a mirror or something to see other sides of it?

[axiomed]

I'm not sure.

[ Had they anticipated this? Charles frowns at the thought. ]

Can we bring it lower?

[beathach]

[he purses his lips in thought, glancing between the two of them]

I just worry that if she tries to move it, she'll trigger the same reactions it has to someone trying to remove it.

A mirror might work, though. Trying to see it at another angle?

[only_skin_deep]

There's not many mirror-like animals in nature... [Mystique left that hanging as she considered how to even do this, going over options she could cover. Even if she was to make up a being, she couldn't think how to take the first step in making a 'mirror' with her body. Such a thing needed metal, and that wasn't organic.] I could try using the appearance some beetles do, that have that reflective shell, but that doesn't mean it would work. The refraction might be too fragmented to give any true reflection. [Then turning her glance primarily on Hank.] Do you have a small mirror, such as what a dentist would use on their tools?

[axiomed]

We should have something in the lab. Let me fetch it.

[ He heads over to where the tools are. Charles spends plenty of time in Blameless' lab though he's more invested in his own. After some digging, he pulls out a small mirror. ]

[beathach]

[he smiles his thanks to Charles before turning to Mystique]

The only ones I can think of are beetles and certain fish, but they use that as camouflage. I don't know if it would work for the purposes we're thinking.

[only_skin_deep]

[A glance over to Charles as he produced the mirror, Mystique held a hand out to take it from him.] Exactly, and as creative as I can get at times, bodies are just not designed for the type of reflection that is needed. [Eyeing up the small mirror, it easily fitting in her palm, Mystique moved it to her mouth and pressed it against the inside of her cheek before once again closing her eyes to focus. Letting it slip under her skin and opening her mouth enough to get it past her jaw, she moved it back across her head before speaking again.] You will have to tell me how to position it, I can't feel where the augment is. [Still focused, still concentrating as the edge of the mirror came into view from that transparent panel she had created.]

[axiomed]

See if you can bring it lower.

[ Though he glances at Hank. ] If possible. I obviously can't see much higher unless I borrow Hank's vision.

[beathach]

[he watches what she does with the mirror, fascinated, before Charles' comment drags his attention away. He glances over, eyebrows raised] Go ahead.

[only_skin_deep]

[Lower, she can do that. The movement is a little jerky at first, those muscles not as use to shifting items as others in her body, but Mystique eventually gets it where she believes they want it.] There?