video | open

[fireofunknown]

[A man stands out in the open rainstorm, blond hair matted to his forehead as his head leans back to let the drops hit down on his face.

There would be normally nothing unusual about this...except for the clouds of steam rolling off from his body and a faintly audible hiss.]

Nice weather we're having.

[He looks down, puts a cigarette into his mouth and exhales. The tip burns bright, then dims and smokes. He covers his free hand over it to avoid the rain.]

So now that the ice is broken-- [He takes a drag and exhales out his nose.]

Someone wanna give me directions to the information desk? I seemed to have lost my tourist information on random-ass-padded-wall-worthy-oh-my-fucking-god-is-that-a-space-ship land.

Comments

[lehnsherr]

There's a number of us here, though supposedly, the ship has only recently begun waking us up. The natives here are equally as confused as to it's started happening.

[fireofunknown]

No kidding? So...wait, natives? So we're-- aliens then?

[He mutters aside]

Not that it wouldn't explain a lot...

lol missing words

[lehnsherr]

Unless you happen to have spent your life living in a barren wasteland with a malfunctioning ship and a city locked away beneath an impenetrable dome.

[Just ignore that he sounds a little amused.]

I believe we may be considered aliens here.

[fireofunknown]

And from the sounds of it not too welcome ones.

[The steam begins to let up, as if his body had finally reached a more cool temperature. He brushes wet hair away and shrugs.]

Name is Fox by the way. You all been here awhile?

[lehnsherr]

Not by those in the dome. An attack was launched against us about a week after we began waking up here. Though it's been a fortnight since then and no further attacks have happened yet, as far as I'm aware.

[A pause though. This part is important considering what Fox seems to have done.]

They specifically targeted those with abilities.

[fireofunknown]

[There is a long and poignant pause and suddenly that steam seems to have picked right back up.]

..a..abilities. Meaning what exactly?
[Because honestly the idea has never once crossed his mind there were other people like him at all. He was always alone.]

[lehnsherr]

[There's a pause of his own. He may have been taught how to lock this thing, but he's not having this kind of a conversation over the network.]

Meet with me in person and I'll explain.

[fireofunknown]

[Yeah. This didn't sound at all suspicious...but then again, if things went south it's not like he was completely defenseless. Fox gives a slight shrug.]

...Alright. Name the place man and I'll find you. Speaking of which since we're having this little pow-wow, my name is Fox.

[lehnsherr]

Head toward the river, west of the ship. Fox.

[You can trust him, right? Erik just cuts the connection off there, not bothering to answer that obvious prompt. Again. Instead, he just heads off toward the river to meet him.]

[action]

[fireofunknown]

[Well, he never was one to shy away from doing stupid things so after he hangs up Fox heads towards the river in question.

When he arrives he keeps some distance between himself and the water, eyeing it with something like concern. He could swim fine, but just something about his nature made him very averse to it. He could only imagine why.

Fox chuckles to himself and waits.]

[lehnsherr]

[He takes his time in getting there, partly because he hasn't made a final decision yet, and partly because he just wants to annoy the other man. As brief as their conversation may have been, there are too many similarities with a certain other mutant he knows back home. But while Alex will at least listen to him and Charles, Fox is still a complete stranger. He isn't held to the same limits as the others.

When he finally turns up, he keeps a distance of his own, his attention fixed on Fox. He doesn't say anything just yet though, and instead slips a hand into his pocket to grab ahold of the pieces of shrapnel he'd salvaged from the ship after the attack. A collection of metal ready to show just what he'd meant before.]

[fireofunknown]

[And his annoyance is entirely evident, though he says nothing. Only sighing rather dramatically and pushing up from where he had finally leaned against a tree after it was evident the other might be late.

His jacket was tied around his waist, the short sleeves of the t-shirt beneath had been cut off rather crudely at some point for a purpose Fox was still unsure he'd show. It depended on what this man had to say. The rain had let up thankfully, briefly pausing in its downpour as the sun inched out from behind dark clouds.]

Glad to see you could finally make it.
So...what now? You mentioned "people with abilities", care to elaborate now?

[lehnsherr]

I didn't want to disappoint.

[His response to the question comes in the form of actions though. Pulling his hand free, he draws out three shards of metal, only holding them long enough to level out his hand. From there, they seemingly float through the air, coming to a halt a few feet from Fox, before crumpling in on each other to create one malformed ball of metal.]

Mutants. Evolved from human beings and capable of various different feats. This, is mine.

[fireofunknown]

[Fox watched silently, eyes going wide for a moment before he chuckled and reached out touch the ball of metal as if to check and make sure it was real. And he had thought his ability made him perfect at being a blacksmith.

He looked at the metal for a long moment before pulling his hand away and slowly closing it into a fist. Voice quiet and uncertain.]

Am- Am I like you? Is that what we are? Mutated humans? I just-- you'd think I'd be use to weird shit by now but, all this time and I never once figured out what the hell I was. Or met anyone who could do these things...

[He looks at his hand and then back to the other man, seeming to decide upon something now. At first there were only a few sparks from his skin and then small flames licked up from between his fingers, building slowly until his fist was covered down to the wrist. He let it simmer there for a moment before it abruptly snuffed out and he lowered his arm. Once again touching at the pieces of metal, mumbling.]

...I always just figured I was alone. You know?

[lehnsherr]

[Well, that certainly explained a lot. He watches with unveiled interest. It'd been one of his favourite parts about travelling around the country with Charles on their recruitment trips. Each new ability discovered came as a welcome surprise.

It'd been a steep learning curve though. A few months ago they'd both been in a similar position; granted abilities beyond normal human capabilities, and no idea that others were able to do anything remotely like them.

It's that one realisation that gets him moving at last. Dropping his hold on the ball of metal, he leaves it to Fox, finally making his way nearer. Close enough to offer a hand in greeting, regardless of that display of fire.]

Erik. And you're not alone.

[fireofunknown]

[Fox holds the small ball in his hand and grips it, offering his other to the metal bender with a grin. His skin is still uncommonly warm from both the display and his own natural high body temperature.]

Elliot. Fox is just the surname, but I've gone by both. Forget that though, I want to know where you came from.

I spent most of my time traveling with carnies since it was the only way to keep it all hidden. How'd you manage to not get found out?

[lehnsherr]

You're making the assumption that my gifts were never discovered by others.

[Granted that beyond Shaw's experiments in the labs, the existence of his abilities hadn't been well known. A few rumours, maybe, but nothing that'd lasted beyond the end of the war. Over a decade later and now they were finally being forced to prove their existence to the world.]

Mutants will be the ones responsible for averting a third world war. Humans will find out about us because we're letting them.

[fireofunknown]

Damn. Damn. That's-- a third world war? I mean I know things in the Middle East are kinda shakey right now, but is it that serious?

Unless you're talkin' about something that hasn't...happened yet?

[lehnsherr]

No, the Cold War. Russia attempted to place nuclear missiles in Cuba, and America were ready to strike back. But there was another mutant forcing their hand. We were there to keep him from succeeding.

[And, you know, kill him too. But his history with Shaw isn't something he plans on sharing with anyone else. More than enough people already know that story as it is.]