Video

[excessivehubris]

[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.]

Comments

[excessivehubris]

She was trying to protect me!

[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.

[lehnsherr]

[he holds his hands up in a placating gesture. while he still believes in the point he'd been trying to make, he hadn't expected such a volatile reaction. if anything, he'd mostly expected charles to ignore him or to flat out refuse his proposal. not to share those details. not to reiterate just how much of a bastard kurt was, regardless of the reality.]

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.]

[excessivehubris]

It's not a gift! [Charles continued sharply but in the next breath he stopped himself and turned to walk a few steps away.

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.

[lehnsherr]

My expectations of you have very little to do with your name. It's your ability that sets you apart, Charles. But you need to come to understand that for yourself. I can't force you to.

[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?

[excessivehubris]

[It was very difficult to ignore those thoughts, given the fact that he could not shield away from them. Frowning, worriedly, Charles turned and walked back over to Erik, reaching out to touch his elbow lightly.]

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?

[lehnsherr]

[telepathy or not, his surprise is clear, and it takes a few moments to wear off enough for him to give charles a small smile in return. 'baby steps', the term goes. and this is one instance where he's willing to give someone the time to take them. that it's because he doesn't quite know how to say no to any version of charles anymore isn't a thought he wants to focus on.]

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.]