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[abetterway]

[the image flickers into focus to reveal a woman from the waist up, staring into the device with a calm intensity belied only by the fingers tugging continually at her collar; she appears to be in her thirties, the dark hair that spills over her shoulders only slightly softening sharp, angular features]

Hello. From what I've gathered, I've awoken on an alien world. [a moment's pause; she's accepted it, it would be counterproductive to dig in her heels, but it's still an absurd thing to say] What I can't seem to discern is how and why.

I have my suspicions, but I suspect they're narrow in focus. I must admit, this is all a bit outside my expertise. [a sudden, wry smile] I suppose I do like to broaden my horizons.

[the smile fades as she leans forward] I'm asking for any information you've gained, and what you intend to do with it. If you don't believe this to be a safe venue, I'm more than happy to meet in person.

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[radars]

[ Staggered, absolutely staggered. He shoots a glare at Erik, a /you didn't think to warn me?/. ]

Another timeline, then.

[ His voice comes out calm, to his surprise. ]

You're a telepath as well, then?

[abetterway]

It...appears so. [she's staring at Charles outright, now, stunned and fascinated, and it takes her a moment to answer the question]

I am, yes.

[lehnsherr]

[/and ruin the surprise?/ It's a quick, amused thought, though he has no idea whether Charles is listening in for a response or not.

Pulling his device from his pocket, Erik leaves the other two to talk, working his way through the messages there to find the one he needs. He'll find that third set of hands for them.]

[radars]

What year were you born?

[ The real question: are you more like him, the other Charles, or more like me. ]

[abetterway]

[she arches an eyebrow] Does that still count as a personal question?

1926, in New York. [which clashes with her accent, so she adds] I received a scholarship to Oxford when I was sixteen.

Skip Erik a couple rounds?

[radars]

Not when I don't know what year you're from.

[ Earlier than him. How strange. ]

1928. England. You went to Oxford in the height of the war?

Sure!

[abetterway]

[quietly] I did, yes.

I've...often wished I'd fought that war instead. Did you?

[radars]

I suppose you weren't ... discovered, by then? Sixteen is a great deal more cautious than twelve.

[abetterway]

[well, now she's stunned for altogether different reasons]

Twelve. You were - drafted? As a child?

[she shook her head] I - my parents knew I was a mutant. But I wasn't made a soldier. I... [she shakes her head with a grim, tired smile] Tests. Experiments.

[radars]

[ He's faced that reaction before. Quite a bit, in fact, and he doesn't flinch. ]

1940. The nation was desperate, and the War Office found a walking security breach near a top secret rural base. They were researching radar, I wanted to prove I could be useful -- a year later, I was on the front. I volunteered, I wasn't drafted.

They didn't experiment on me. They weren't concerned about replicating it, just using it, as much as possible.

[abetterway]

[she forces herself to stop staring; her gaze softens, not with pity but sympathy] I oughtn't be surprised, really. That they'd see us as weapons, more than anything. [hadn't that been one of Ada's warnings?]

I was at the mercy of scientists, not the government. I'm not certain how aware such authorities are of mutants, in...my timeline.

[radars]

I hope you'll forgive me lack of complete surprise, there is -- there's another man here, Charles Xavier, born half a decade after me.

We should get that collar off. Communication will be quicker once both of us are at capacity.

[ With a tap to his temple. ]

[abetterway]

...Three of us. [she can't help but laugh; a dry, bewildered chuckle]

[as her hand drifts once more to the collar] Yes, that will certainly save some time.

okay erik get back in here

[radars]

[ Charles glances over to Erik. He has the urge to reach out to Jocelyn, to touch and reassure, but it feels inappropriate. ]

Erik, if you're quite done...?

[ His fingers twitch. He wants a cigarette terribly. ]

/sliiiides

[lehnsherr]

[Though not technically a part of their conversation, he'd still listened in to it all. It's for that reason that when he finally turns back, is earlier amusement is long gone.]

He's on his way.

[That third person. Though it isn't the most obvious choice this time round.]

[abetterway]

[she turns to Erik, nodding with a faint smile] Thank you, again. [then she peers at him, pensive and poignant, before finally asking the question that's been burning in the back of her mind]

You...wouldn't be a Lehnsherr, by any chance?

[radars]

[ Well, now things are likely to get awkward.

He glances to Erik, like, dude, it's your move. ]

[lehnsherr]

I would've thought the answer to that was obvious by now.

[Assuming, of course, that the one constant between his and Charles' worlds continues on to Jocelyn's too.]

A different man to the one that Charles here is acquainted with, however.

[abetterway]

I strive not to make assumptions. [she's openly staring again, but there's a wistfulness to her gaze, now]

You're...certainly different, yes. [her lips quirk, just slightly] Ada had already gone grey.

[radars]

[ Very different; more harmless, he wants to say. As if Erik Lensherr can be truly harmless. ]

Now that we've all revealed strange, literally otherworldly versions of our secrets, shall we take our newest addition into the Old City?

Or would you like to hide her away too, Erik?

[lehnsherr]

[He gives a quick, sharp look in Charles' direction. It isn't hiding, as far as he's concerned. It's a logical reaction to being found in a strange new location where the majority of their group is seemingly being hunted.]

I believe you may be asking the wrong person, Charles. I'm not about to start making decisions on Jocelyn's behalf.

[Words spoken in a tight voice, that seemingly disappears as he turns his attention back to Jocelyn again.]

I'm sure Fox will find us, regardless of where we wait.

[abetterway]

[she observes the moment with veiled interest, gaze flicking from one to the other]

I appreciate that, Erik. I think we ought to make our way out of the open, regardless.

[radars]

There are a few quieter ruins, that way.

[ Not that he trusts any of them to be truly structurally sound, of course. ]

[lehnsherr]

After you then.

[When they finally do start moving, Erik keeps to the side of Jocelyn, silently offering the occasional prompt to the frame of her chair in order to make the journey a little smoother. He doesn't push though; knows better than to assume. So unless she makes it clear that she wants more than that, he doesn't offer it.]

[abetterway]

[she accepts the help with a silent, grateful smile; the familiarity of it makes her chest ache, a little, but she focuses largely on their surroundings, on the world she's suddenly found herself in

she speaks, finally, as they approach the ruins]</i? Do you know what happened here?