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dropped: jocelyn xavier (au)

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[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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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.

[ 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?

[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.

[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.

There are a few quieter ruins, that way.

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

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.]

[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?

A war. A terrible one, with a neighboring planet. As far as I know, the alien ship was unrelated to either. It's an anomaly. A mystery.

[ And one Charles is extremely ill-equipped to solve. ]

[It's yet more silence on his end. Though he still has questions of his own, ones related back to the similarities and differences between each of their worlds, he knows the focus really should be on getting Jocelyn up to speed with what's happening.

So instead, he's just going to focus on keeping an eye on their surroundings, still nowhere near ready to trust Charles to do it on his behalf.]

Interplanetary warfare. [she slowly shakes her head, a horrified sort of awe on her face] I suppose it's the natural next step, isn't it. [she doesn't doubt Earth will be involved in it, if ever possible]

It seems a remarkable coincidence, a completely independent vessel crashing into a devastated world, full of new blood, new abilities, new ideas...

Exactly my thought.

[ And hopefully that wasn't a coincidence. ]

I think we're here for a reason. I think we should help.

[ And he's looking to her for support, in that. ]

[Honestly, the whole thing sounded a bit suspicious and with how short of a time he had been acquainted with Erik, Fox knew he should be more cautious.

However...the guy was like him. Surely he didn't need to be scared of someone who was practically his own "kind" right? That was at least what Fox convinced himself as he headed out and eventually caught up to the chorus of voices.

Erik had said there were others, but a sudden wave of suffocating anxiety gripped around his chest and he found himself trudging a ways behind to stay out of sight. Fox fumbled for a cigarette inside his jacket and lit it with a sharp snap of his fingers, wincing when he realized how far the noise echoed even in the open space.]

...Welp. Failed my stealth check.

[It's definitely enough of a sound to draw Erik's attention, his gaze snapping back toward Fox, and a slow grin appearing in response. Well. Clearly the boy was a little more reliable than he appeared. He doesn't offer an explanation to the two Xavier's as he turns on his heel and doubles back a few paces; doesn't really see a need to when at least one of them could likely feel Fox's arrival. And if he actually seems a little relieved that Fox turned up, it's only because he's not looking forward to the idea of being left alone with two telepaths at once.]

Waiting for an invitation, are we?

[her reaction to the sudden noise is immediate and defensive; she tenses, casting her mind out to assess the threat -

well, she tries, and the resounding silence aches in her head as her fists curl

but then the boy is speaking, and so is erik, and no, she's not utterly defenceless as the enemy attacks

so she switches tacks almost seamlessly, turning towards him with a grin]

We don't bite, I assure you.

[ Charles, hit by all the conflicting reactions at once, freezes absolutely still. It's his mind that acts, hitting Fox's and immobilizing him (or attempting to) for the three-second period that it takes for Charles to breathe, consciously unwind his muscles and shiver out the sudden tension/reaction, both from himself and from Jocelyn. ]

Most of the time, at least. [ -- he mutters. ] Charles Xavier. We've encountered one another before.

[The smoke Fox had inhaled slowly drifts out past his lips as he finds himself immobilized in mid drag, his mind shutting off higher thought like a television blacking to a single point of light. His mind feels sluggish, sedated. There is no burst of heat to greet Charles although the touch of his mind continues to feel uncommonly warm.

Then he's back and coughing as he exhales the smoke he'd held in.]

G- uck...guess handshakes are just too mainstream huh? [He snorts and clears his throat, directly the comment in Charles direction.]

I didn't know- [Another cough.] -that brain intruder man was going to be here. I thought you were needing a favor?

[He only will look at Erik, his eyes darting past the other two for a moment maybe, but always rolling back downward. He makes a special effort not to address Jocelyn in a way that could be mistaken for shyness, but with the way he runs his mouth it was hard to tag such an innocent trait to him.]

[He may not have been able to follow just what happened, but judging by Fox's reaction, it becomes all too clear. He throws a glare back over his shoulder toward Charles, briefly, before his attention is back on Fox again.]

I am. In fact we all are. And I'm sure Charles will be capable of keeping himself to himself while you're here. [Because Erik knows just how uncomfortable it is to have somebody inside your head, whether you can feel it or not. His own Charles seems to respect other people's boundaries. But it's becoming increasingly more obvious that this one is nothing like the Charles he knows.]

Jocelyn here has had a run-in with the OA. You're here because we need a third set of hands. [And also because Erik wasn't entirely sure of whether he'd come or not. That's one extra point in Fox's favour.]

[Jocelyn throws her own glance back at Charles, arching an eyebrow at him before turning back to Fox]

I really would appreciate your help. [her voice is soft, and sincere; she doesn't know the man's character, or his motives, though she's trying to get a feel for both - but he's here, and Erik trusts him, and that's a fine start]

[ Charles holds up his hands: surrender. ]

The collar is the first priority.

If we could...?

[ He starts to nudge them with the knowledge of the collar's removal, grimaces, reins himself in. ]

All panels must be deactivated simultaneously.

[Fox seems assured for now and doesn't flinch away too much at the faint image of how this collar thing got removed.]

Gotcha. So what's it do exactly, if you don't mind sharing? And...

[He is eager enough to get a look at it, giving Jocelyn a wary smile that is suppose to be somewhat reassuring. He can't imagine it's fun whatever it is.]

...well, what's it do if we mess up? Just tryin' to get my facts straight before anyone loses their hea-
[Pun inappropriate for current situation, abort abort.] -- hands. [Points for trying.]

[fortunately, the slip earns only a wry smile of her own] I wouldn't mind knowing that myself. I'm not sure how it works.

[she reaches up, fingers ghosting over the collar; after a glance at Erik, and another at Fox] I'm a telepath as well. This collar...it's somehow locked me in my own head.

[she knows that wouldn't mean much, to most people; quietly] It's the first time I've felt truly trapped. [her other hand rubs absently at the wheel of her chair]

I suggest we don't discover that for ourselves.

[He still remembers his conversation with Charles shortly before heading over to help with his collar there. That these collars are capable of restraining their abilities is bad enough, but the possibility of them being capable of removing those abilities permanently is still fresh in his mind, even if it were simply a threat from the other man.]

On three we each remove a panel. [And that's that.]

May be safer if I --

[ And he cuts himself off.

No, Fox and Erik have both made their stance on psychic powers quite clear. ]

Count of three it is.

[Jocelyn nods, and does her best not to tense; she's had to trust others with her life before, and she's certainly trusted - well, someone very like Erik, at the very least]

I can count down.

[and when they're ready, after one last, lingering glance]

One. Two. Three.

[He counts silently under his breath with her, ignoring the way he can feel his anxiety breaking way to heat.

At three he shuts his eyes and removes the panel, just hoping the other two get theirs free and no one ends up exploded.]

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hopping in, mister phone a friend has arrived

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