Charles Xavier | Professor X (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
excessivehubris) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
outer_divide2012-08-08 03:01 pm
excessivehubris) wrote in outer_divide2012-08-08 03:01 pm
Video
[Well, this would mark the first time this Charles had used his device to actually try to broadcast to the others trapped here with him.
For the most part he's been down in the Vault of Knowledge and yes, he's been down there for days upon days reading.
It is just recently that he's surfaced to get clean, find a little bit of food, though that had not been a priority with him and poke around a bit. Today, his curiosity had taken him out of the old city and off on a bit of a look about.
Translation, he's gotten himself hopelessly lost.
So the video. It clicks on, to show a Charles Xavier who looks a bit bedraggled with a leaf or two in his hair and caught on his sweater but otherwise he seems just perplexed rather than frightened or dismayed. The foliage appears dense around him but there is the definite sound of fresh running water in the background, most likely the Silver River.
He'll keep this short and to the point.]
Ah, I apologize for this, embarrassing really but I rather fear I have gone and gotten myself lost.
Does anyone know if the rivers lead back to the Old City?
[He'd try to get back to the Old City by following your thoughts but he is close enough to the dome that the non distinct hum of the minds within, combined with the din of thoughts coming from the Old City itself, are throwing him off.]
For the most part he's been down in the Vault of Knowledge and yes, he's been down there for days upon days reading.
It is just recently that he's surfaced to get clean, find a little bit of food, though that had not been a priority with him and poke around a bit. Today, his curiosity had taken him out of the old city and off on a bit of a look about.
Translation, he's gotten himself hopelessly lost.
So the video. It clicks on, to show a Charles Xavier who looks a bit bedraggled with a leaf or two in his hair and caught on his sweater but otherwise he seems just perplexed rather than frightened or dismayed. The foliage appears dense around him but there is the definite sound of fresh running water in the background, most likely the Silver River.
He'll keep this short and to the point.]
Ah, I apologize for this, embarrassing really but I rather fear I have gone and gotten myself lost.
Does anyone know if the rivers lead back to the Old City?
[He'd try to get back to the Old City by following your thoughts but he is close enough to the dome that the non distinct hum of the minds within, combined with the din of thoughts coming from the Old City itself, are throwing him off.]
permalocked;
Once I sort out exactly how I am going to manage it.
[He sounds more sheepish than panicked or worried, at least while it is still daylight out.]
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I can come and find you instead, if that'd be easier.
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[And from the sound of his breathing and crunching of underbrush, Charles is making an attempt at this.]
Though to be honest I am not sure I will recognize the fields north of the city? I ... [His voice hung a little as he felt bad asking the man for help when Erik had already been so helpful.]
Oh but you must think me a right scatter brain. If you could meet me at the fields, so I know not to go further, I would be once again in your debt.
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[as long as charles keeps his distance from the dome, erik won't dispute the directions he's already been given.]
As soon as you're able to find me, head in my direction.
[he doesn't know quite how far this charles can reach. especially not when he's been forced to keep his ability hidden for so long. but at the speed erik's already moving, with any luck it shouldn't be too long before he's in range again.]
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Forcing himself to focus back on Erik's voice, rather than his own predicament, Charles attempted to reassure the older mutant.]
I have fairly good eye sight, I should be able to spot you as soon as I break some of this cover, I hope.
[He missed that Erik was talking about using his telepathy. Unless Erik was projecting at him, it was unlikely that Charles could pick the metal bender's thoughts out of the cacophony of thoughts and emotions bombarding his unshielded mind at any one time.]
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[his tone is a fraction lighter at that, regardless of just how serious this all is to him. he wants nothing more right now than to find charles again and bring him back to the house. if he has to move half the library to their home to keep him there, he will. but for the next few days, he has no plans to let any of his people out of his sight for long.
or jocelyn's reach.]
You have better methods at your disposal, Charles. I think it may be time to listen in again.
[this time there's a thought to accompany it, though it's directionless once again. until charles forms a connection of his own, he can do little more than just 'yell' the other man's name.]
Sliding to Action?
Erik's mental call, combined with Shepard's distinct projection both come as surprises to a man who is not used to anyone wanting to speak to him in such a way. He had spoken, telepathically, with Erik before, in the ship but it still was not something Charles was readily used too.
However, in this instance, it was strangely comforting and he used those projections to orient himself before speaking once more into the video.]
Better might be objective, Erik.
[He pointed out in a dry tone, yet in the next few minutes, he popped out from the underbrush at the north end of the fields, a few leaves caught in his hair and briers on his sweater but otherwise unharmed.]
"Erik?"
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in time, maybe he'll have more luck convincing the other man that being a mutant isn't a bad thing. that he should use his abilities more instead of forcing himself to hide them. it's a part of every charles xavier he's met, and it's a part he can't imagine them without. not when it's so...comforting. that charge in the air that comes from being around a telepath.
continuing on in the general direction of the river, it isn't long before he picks up on the telltale sounds of someone approaching. on alert now, he tenses up, waiting for whoever it is to break cover, only relaxing his guard once charles is out in the open again.]
Over here.
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It was just his own mutation, feral and out of control, combined with what lay in his past that drove Charles to reject something that was so very much a part of him.
Smiling, broadly when he saw Erik, the smaller man stumbled over a couple of roots but then began to move quickly towards his friend.]
I am so very glad to see you! Such a silly thing, getting lost like that. I swear on the map it looked quite straight forward, I did not expect to get so turned around out there.
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Maps can be unreliable sometimes. [it's easier this time, with charles right there in front of him, to send out a fresh call. to try and tug back this time, pulling at whatever connection can be made.]
Employing those other methods would be much quicker. [and there's still that part of him that'd prefer it. has always preferred it since the first moment he woke up on that train with charles.]
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There is a twinge, this time, when Erik goes back to being all business, Charles briefly wondering what he's done wrong when he feels the tug along the lines of unstable telepathy. That makes him look up quick, brows furrowing in utter confusion at the signals he keeps getting from this man.]
Those other methods are unstable. It was a struggle to get them under any semblance of control, to be able to look normal when the doctors came to ...
[Charles pinched off the words but with Erik tugging lightly at those threads of connection the only man might get a flash of memory. The terror of a ten year old boy, clinging to his sister's hand as patronizing doctors asked questions, baited and lead him towards traps. Traps that Kurt Marko wanted to see him fall into so Marko could lock him in an asylum and throw away the key.
Life under that constant threat and shades of even more darker abuses, much darker abuses as Marko attempted to break the young telepath and seize the Xavier fortunes.]
You are ... very confusing and I do wish you would not push me about my telepathy. [He said softly, folding his hands in his pockets and ducking his head and shoulders in a classic attempt to make himself small and forgettable.]
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Your abilities are normal. They're a part of you that you need to stop denying. [those doctors were wrong, and clearly the marko's were always wrong, regardless of the universe they're from. if he can manage a single thing with this charles it'll be to convince him of that. to prove that he's better than all those others from his memories.
after a long moment, he eventually reaches back out again, those last leaves being removed, the briers being plucked free as he continues talking.]
But…you're right. I won't push this, Charles. I just hope that one day you'll understand that your telepathy is a gift. You really have nothing to hide. Least of all from me.
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You ... you truly do believe our mutations are gifts? Is it like that everywhere in the world you come from? Is there acceptance of the differences?
[Even wary, he can't help wondering, perhaps even feeling a gentle stab of envy that there might be a world where his mutation might be accepted. Standing quietly, he let Erik in close enough to continue to pluck off leaves and bits of briars, chewing his lower lip thoughtfully for a moment before looking up at the older man.]
When I was young, very young, people did not punish me so severely for my mutation. I ... I remember how much I used to enjoy my imaginary friends.
[His voice was quiet, hushed even as if afraid the happy memory would be taken. He had once mentioned to Raven about this period when his mind had been full of 'imaginary' friends. Raven had been saddened but kind when she told Charles he had to forget those times. That as a young man, he wasn't allowed 'imaginary' friends.]
Its hard, trying to ignore all the voices. Right now, you're a very ... distinct voice in my head. Its difficult, not to go to you.
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[it's why he and his team are so willing to jump to violence. when the cost of saving mutants is the death of those humans holding them captive, it's a price he's all too willing to pay. it's one that wouldn't need to be claimed if humanity had been more accepting toward them.]
It's different in other worlds. I understand that. But that still doesn't give them any right to treat you like that.
[especially not raven. not when she should've been the one person above all others that knew just what charles was going through. she was meant to be there to support him, not try to force him to hide that much more.]
There's always going to be space for you up here. [a quick tap to the side of his head.] No matter what's happening, you'll always be welcome to come to me.
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[Charles' temper flashed and he yelled, sorry Erik, his face screwed up in an expression of confusion and distress.]
Marko wanted to put me into an asylum. He wanted to sign the orders for electroshock therapy, he wanted to see me drugged and drooling in a padded cell, all in the name of my own good. I was ten years old!
Raven was trying to protect me. She was a child herself and she had to be burdened with ...
[Charles made an angry gesture, obviously meaning himself and then threw his hands as if disgusted with himself.
When he spoke again, his voice had calmed down, though he could not look up into Erik's face.]
You do not understand, the things he did, the things he wanted to do to me. He did not care about some gift [the word was spat out] beyond how he could warp and twist it to ensure I was diagnosed as insane and locked away.
She ... protected me.
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Charles, I have...personal reasons for disliking Raven. And I apologise for allowing them to translate across to this situation. [a pause, and he ducks a little to try and regain that eye contact again.]
But it doesn't change the fact that they were all wrong. Kurt, Sharon, the doctors. You have a gift that they can't hope to understand, and one that makes you better than every single one of them.
You may not be able to change your past, but you have the opportunity to choose your own future now. You don't have to hide anymore. Least of all from us. [the other mutants there.]
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Taking deep, slow breaths, he forced himself to get hold of his temper. It was not Erik's fault, any of this and he should not be lashing out at the man. Lifting a hand Charles brushed his fingers through his hair in a repeated agitated motion but when he turned back, the volatile fire had calmed in his face.]
I apologize. You have a history with a very different version the man I happen to be a genetic duplicate of and I keep forgetting that.
I wish I could throw off the past and live up to the expectations you have of a man named Charles Xavier but it is not a question of hiding, it is a question of simply trying to survive.
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[short of pushing his thoughts in charles' direction or flat out attacking him, there's very little he can do to try and speed that process along. but it's only the first that'll ever be an option, and even then, it'll have to be in moderation. he remembers the other man's reaction on the ship that very first day.
a slow exhale and he tries for a change of conversation. but one that's equally as important to him if he plans on keeping charles close.]
Are you still going to come back?
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Of course I'm going to come back with you. [He assured, first and foremost. Second, after taking a long moment in thought, he pushed out with his mind and brushed, deliberately, against the other mutant's thoughts.]
Is this, what you want, Erik?
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It's what I'd like. But what I want is for you to make that decision for yourself, one day. [to choose to use his telepathy more freely. to make decision for himself and not for others, however ironic that may be.]