[Video] Friday, late morning

[catchingflies]

[The network is lucky. It missed out on one panicky teenager bouncing around and screaming as the spaceship shouted at him and alarms blared. The feed opens with alarms still blaring, but at least there's no more voices coming from the ship, and Todd is a little calmer, though he still looks pretty freaked out.]

Okay, so. I, uh, I think I got myself locked in. The doors won't open and somebody was goin' on about a lockdown. And there's some kinda weapon er somethin' in here.

[He shuffles nervously, looking around, then adds plaintively,]

Help?

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[catchingflies]

[It's a good thing Todd knows he can fly, or he'd be disturbed. As it is, he just kind of vanishes from the phone feed so he's not getting stared at or anything. He hops around, puts his ear to the walls here and there, pokes at the thing in the box that set this whole thing off, prods at the glowing panels by the doors...

Yeah, that not touching anything thing doesn't last long at all, but at least Erik can't see it, exactly.]

[abetterway]

[Again, her tone becomes stern.] You shouldn't have gone on your own. There's still too much about the ship we don't know.

[Then her voice softens.] It was good of you to offer, however. I'm sure they appreciated it.

[abetterway]

[There may be a gleam of triumph in her reply.]

I'll need to cross-reference with my other selves.

[That really shouldn't be so easy to say.

Then, more soberly...]

You'll want to approach the ship carefully, Erik. I'm not entirely certain what Todd did, but it might well be weaponised.

[catchingflies]

Yeah, well.

[He doesn't know how to handle stern but kind. It's hard to be properly resentful! He settles on a little pouty, instead, but since he's not sure quite what to say to that, he winds up not saying anything. It's awkward.]

[lehnsherr]

[there's acknowledgement there, the ship looming in to view at long last as he finally lets himself touch ground again.]

If anything happens, focus on getting him out.

[in other words, take the reins and force him to leave out of whatever hole erik blows in the hull of the ship.]

[lehnsherr]

[it takes a few more minutes before the ship comes in to view, and another few to finally step into the cool interior of its hull. tracing his way through the hallways is easy enough thanks to jocelyn's input, and it isn't much longer before he finally reaches the door.

a thump of his hand against the front of it is toad's only warning before he's pressing against the door, his hold against the alien metal being next to useless. but the power running through the lock is a whole other story as it starts to spark, the alarms seemingly growing louder as the lock is forced to disengage and let the door crash open.]

[catchingflies]

[Warning or not, Todd comes bounding over at the sound, hoping that it's who he thinks it is-- and at the same time, not hoping that's who it is. He doesn't look forward to the lecture he's expecting, but he is liking the idea of getting out.

But he still keeps his distance from the door as it buzzes angrily and finally slams open. He's in clear view about a dozen feet away when it does, and he grins sheepishly.]

Hey, boss.

[abetterway]

I'm sorry, I seem to have misheard "us".

[If there's any assistance she can give Erik, she will, no matter the strain.]

[abetterway]

[She offers a slight smile.] A lesson learned, I hope.

And don't worry, I'll be with him when he finds you. [She taps her temple.]

[catchingflies]

"With him"? Whaddaya mean-- oh.

[It takes him a minute, but he finally gets it, and looks surprised. Then uncertain, since he doesn't know exactly what that means. With regards to him, anyway.]

Doessat mean you'll tell him not to yell at me too much?

[abetterway]

I'll do my utmost.

In the meantime, please try not to touch anything.

[catchingflies]

Yeah, okay.

[He takes it a little more seriously from Jocelyn. A little. Boredom mixed with mild panic is not conducive to following (or remembering) instructions like that.]

Guess you know where to find me if ya need me, right?

[Sheepish grin.]

[lehnsherr]

The ship is primarily composed of metal. I can force my way out. He can't.

[which is why he wants her to keep her attention on toad if the worst happens. she can make sure he gets out as quickly as possible.]

[lehnsherr]

Toad. [there's a brief flash of amusement at the word 'boss', gone just as quickly as it arrives. with the alarms still blaring, he doesn't know just how much time they have until it manages to alert the wrong people. which means-]

Get moving.

[he steps to the side, motioning back out the room and down the corridor he took to get there. a quick thought is sent back to jocelyn, despite knowing she's probably already fully aware of what's happening. but it never hurts to be sure.]

[catchingflies]

[Maybe it's just his commanding demeanor. Or the knowledge that he sort of is his boss. Either way, he does as instructed with a quick:]

Yeah, okay.

[Freedom, and lack of yelling! Well, so far, anyway! He bounds right past the older(-ish) mutant, since jumping is way faster (and easier) thank walking. Have a taste of why he's called Toad, Erik!]

[abetterway]

As far as we know.

...But yes, I'll focus primarily on Todd.

[It's a rational concession; Erik is far more experienced and far more powerful. All the same - she's there if he needs her.]

[lehnsherr]

Thank you.

[though it's only in part for her agreement. the rest is aimed at the unspoken; at knowing that jocelyn wouldn't abandon him completely, regardless of his request.]

[lehnsherr]

[well. he actually looks impressed by the way toad moves. the fact that he's openly using his mutation, isn't hiding it despite the potential risks, is something that erik is happy to see.

following after the other mutant, erik doesn't say anything else just yet. he's waiting until they're back out in the open again, regardless of the added danger that the position could afford them with.]

[abetterway]

There's no need.

[It's a rueful echo, but one she means completely; he can feel perfectly fine in taking her support for granted.]

[catchingflies]

[You kidding? He didn't even hide the hopping bit in high school. It's just way easier than walking, given how his knees like to work. He's at least managed not to get completely lost inside the ship, though, and even makes it out into the sun without needing Erik to guide him.

And then he flops down on the grass with a groan.]

Never thought I'd miss sunshine, yo!

[lehnsherr]

[there's no reply this time as he focuses his attention back on to getting to toad as quickly as he can. splitting his attention between a conversation and flight isn't quite as easy as he'd like.]

[lehnsherr]

[out in the open again, erik finally takes a moment to just breathe. the draw of the metal the ship is built from should be a distraction, but with toad on the floor nearby, he's able to focus. he has a reason to.]

You were lucky, this time. [his arms are folded now, serious expression in place. he isn't used to having to deal with younger mutants. those he works with are the most heavily trained. but even he knows that simply telling a teenager to behave isn't going to make the slightest bit of difference.]

What happens when you decide to go off exploring again you find yourself without any way to contact one of us if something goes wrong? The Xaviers' reach isn't infinite. You need to think before you act, Toad.

[catchingflies]

[Stung, Todd sits back up straight and glares petulantly. Why do they keep yelling at him for this stuff? It isn't his fault!]

Hey, I was thinkin'!

[Well, sort of. Just not about the right things. Besides, he totally had his communicator with him the whole time!]

I mean, we came outa there, it can't be all bad, right?

[lehnsherr]

We may have arrived through that ship, but that doesn't make it safe.

[as far as he's concerned, it's the complete opposite really. there's a reason that the ship is still full of occupied pods, and he knows it isn't by choice. his charles wouldn't have opted to return to one.]

Who's to say that it'll let you back out the next time? Who says that you'll be conscious long enough to call for help?

[catchingflies]

[Sulky-looking now, too, Todd folds his arms and continues to glower.]

Hey, I'm cool. I'm faster'n anything they got in there, I bet. An' there some cool stuff, too. Found a car-bike-lookin' thing that I bet would get you places faster'n jumpin', if it worked.

[He's not used to being scolded. Just yelled at. He could have handled that. But a scold from somebody who actually uses logic? And (according to Jocelyn) actually kind of cares about him? Totally outside his experience, and thus ability to cope with maturely. ... not that he has the ability to cope maturely with much.]