poly_chromatic | ( o1 video )

Entry tags:

( o1 video )

[ At first there is nothing but panic. Charles feels it race through his veins and spark out of the edges of him. Too many new minds are pressing in upon him and he cannot feel the ones he needs to the most. There is absence of prickling rage, of worry, of teenage bravery and very real fear and Charles acts on instinct, casting out for his friends and his family. People stop in the streets and wince as though simultaneously struck by a headache. He sees it at the very corner of his eye and immediately drops his fingers from his temple, the pain and worry leaking away from those around him to replaced by a blink and you'll miss it sense of apologetic peace.

He'd woken up slumped against the stone lip of a fountain, a device cradled in his hands, blue and yellow leather leaving a cold prickle against his skin. Now he looks at it for the first time, piercing blue eyes alarmed but severe as they peer into the screen. It's a computer, but not one that he's seen before and he lets himself examine it for a moment. It's almost easy to pluck the information out of a passing stranger, the unusual little box and it's communication methods. Charles doesn't necessarily like the thought, invasion of privacy and the so very obvious broadcasting of his helpless location but if he wants to get back to Erik and the children --. ]

Hello. [ Clipped, English accent and all, Charles still sounds so very young. Like a child trying on his father's suit. His own brow furrows, chastising himself internally. ] My name is Charles Xavier. It would appear I've gotten a little ... turned around. [ Undoubtedly. This feels more of a English-American mix and not the sand of Cuban or the irritated buzz of Russians. He thinks momentarily of the red-skinned teleporter before deciding that's not what happened. ] I don't entirely know how I arrived here but I do know I was with a group. Four teenagers, a young woman and another fellow. If anyone could help me get in contact with them that would be much appreciated.

[ Already he has the sinking sensation of the world sealing itself off. But he can't be a pessimist, that wouldn't do. ]

( ooc: So if you'd like your character to get that little psychic shove of worry off Charles feel free. There's probably little way to figure out that it's him unless you know him but if you want to notice it go ahead. Also I have a permissions post if you want to opt out of him reading you. )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She smiles briefly, reaching for her device to shut it off.]

Bit early for a stiffer drink than tea, yeah. Hang on, I'll be there in a second.

[And she switches off her device. True to her word, she is at the fountain in literal seconds, appearing out of thin air with a sharp crack. She's bundled up against the cold and even has the forethought to bring one of Remus' coats along (she thinks he wouldn't mind), walking right up to Charles and holding it out.]

Hullo. I thought you might need this.

Good Lord.

[ His eyes widen a little at her sudden appearance but he's used to things out of the ordinary and he's not alarmed. Instead of dropping his hand from the back of his neck, he moves, fingers drifting over his temples. Her mind is calm and sweet with the edge of darkness underneath that he doesn't delve into. She's not a threat. ]

You don't feel like a mutant, Ginny.

[She grins at his words and finds she's glad that they met before and knows what he means, if only to spare what would have otherwise been in insulted retort. A year ago, she might have taken offense to being called a mutant, knows from living with Claire Bennet all those years ago that genetics plays into that word, that maybe science has a different meaning for the magic in her veins.

Ginny shrugs easily, still holding the coat out to him.]

I'm a witch. Does that make a difference? Charles, honestly, take the bloody coat.

[ He takes the bloody coat, amusement at the corners of his mouth as he shrugs it on. ]

A witch. [ Humming, straightening out the fabric. ] That's new. I can't say I've ever met a witch before.

Now you can.

[She reaches out to fuss with the collar, an absentminded gesture that speaks of a deeper familiarity.]

Sorry if it doesn't quite fit right. It was my roommate's. [Then she inclines her head, thinking of the best coffee shop nearby.] Let's get you warmed up, then, and you can ask as many questions as you'd like. Are you alright?

Oh, don't worry. It's making the outfit a little more bearable. I'd hate to know what some people think.

[ The thing is, he really could know all about it if he wanted. ] Getting warmed up would be wonderful though, thank you. [ A nod. ] I'm fine, just having a little moment.

I wasn't going to ask any questions.

[But she's still grinning.]

Well, given the arrivals I've seen, you're allowed a little moment. [She heads off towards the cafe, hands tucked into her pockets.] I hope I didn't panic you or anything, saying what I did.

Believe me, I had no hand in the colour scheme.

[ His nerves are settling but he still has a beat of worry inside his chest when he thinks of them, his team, his family. He hopes what they tell him is true and they're safe ... or as safe as they can be in the moment until Charles gets back. He doesn't read her though, not yet, so his smile is a little small. ]

Which bit? There were several alarming facts thrown my way.

Yeah, I wouldn't say yellow's your colour. Stick with blue, matches your eyes.

[AND THAT ISN'T EVEN A COME ON. She glances at him with a softer expression, giving a little one-shouldered shrug.]

That I knew you. Friends of mine came back a few months ago and were a bit thrown by it.

[Jim was formal, asked her to call him captain when they used to be on more informal terms. She wondered if she should pretend she never knew them at all; it's always something Ginny struggles with, and the longer she stays in the City, the more it feels like her earlier years didn't happen at all if there's no one but her to remember them.]

It happens fairly often. I know it's upsetting to not remember anything and it isn't exactly a comfort knowing it's normal here. [Hauling the cafe door open for him now.] But I'd say that's the only constant thing in this place. Everything else is unpredictable.

Well, you can hardly help knowing me, can you? [ He says it like even the thought of her worrying is ridiculous. Maybe he picks up on the edge of worry around her thoughts, maybe not. But he can imagine that's where she's coming from. ]

And frankly, I'd rather know than not. Imagine if I'd offended someone horribly and didn't know? I could get punched and I rather like my face. [ It's gentle and jovial because she reminds him of Raven already and even with his worry he couldn't be unkind. ]

[She laughs, shaking her head.]

Even if you did offend someone, the odds of them being around a year later aren't very high. Or maybe they're an— [What does Chekov like to call her?] —anomaly like me. But as far as I can remember, you didn't do anything to hack me off permanently.

[Is that a wink? Yes, yes it is. She makes her way to a table and drops into the seat across from him, wriggling out of her coat and loosening her scarf.]

[ He doesn't take his borrowed coat off simply because there's something supremely awkward about sitting in the kind of costume Hank has designed. Nevertheless he smiles at Ginny's charming way and rests his hands against the table. ]

You said five years, didn't you? I take it the average commuter does not in fact stay as long?

[She pauses at that, glancing up at him as she puts her scarf aside, brows knit. Then she remembers the vague hints of what he can do and she ventures slowly, voice light,]

Yes, but I didn't say anything about how long I've been here.

[ He must be more stressed than he thought he was, if he's plucking fact from her mind and forgetting. ]

Ah. [ Blue eyes become sorrowful, apologetic. ] I'm terribly sorry, Miss Weasley. It's been a long couple of days. [ Does she know what he is? Has he told her? ] Do you know much about me?

[Still in that gentle, offhand tone,]

You tell me.

[Ginny doesn't know everything and what she does know isn't the full story, not by half, not even clear. She came across Charles when he was affected by something, a curse or something else, and he told her that he simply encouraged people to be honest with one another. She didn't take it well at all, when she got an idea of what he even meant, and he'd apologised over the phone soon after.]

And it's Ginny, please. I won't say it again.

[ His fingers drift to his temple as though he's trying to ward off a headache. Forefinger and middle press against the skin and he hums as he shifts the attention of everyone surrounding them away. Nothing to see here. ]

In my world there is something called mutation. [ He keeps one eye on her mood as he talks. ] Much like your magic, we have people capable of extraordinary things. It's part of our evolution, we are different but still very much human. My power ... well, I call it telepathy. To you it might be mind-reading. I can read the thoughts and feelings of those around me.

[ Gaze flickering apologetically. ] Occasionally while under great stress, I find it difficult to contain. I find myself with thoughts that I had no desire to find.

It's alright.

[And it is, so long as he doesn't probe too deeply.]

We have something similar back home. Legilimency. Kind of an obscure branch of magic, but practiced by some... [She shrugs.] Not taught at school, of course, so I never learned. And there's Occlumency, too, to protect your mind from a Legilimens. [She cocks her head at him.] I don't doubt you're human; after all, I am too, aren't I?

[Raising a hand to catch a waitress' attention.]

And if you weren't, I wouldn't mind either. Not with the world I've come from and especially in this one.

[ He drops his control of the Waitress' hearing and smiles. ] There are other things I can do. But you needn't be afraid, I don't intend to use my power offensively. I'm not that kind of person.

[ He goes to order a tea and then --. ] I am, unfortunately, a sod who doesn't have room for his wallet in this hideous flight suit.

[She makes it a pot of tea and some scones, too, because why not? Then she shakes her head.]

The City's got its own currency, anyway. I wouldn't have invited you to tea and expected you to pay, that would've been rude.

You're very kind.

[ A pause. ] You're not frightened of me, are you? I'd understand wholeheartedly if my ability were something you couldn't quite swallow?

[Is she frightened of him? No. Of what he can do? Perhaps a little, only because of her history. But she wouldn't ever admit it.]

I come from a world with magic, why wouldn't I be able to swallow it? We want acceptance and equality back home, fought for it. I'm not about to be a hypocrite just because I'm not in my England.

Well, it's what I should have expected from a fellow Brit.

[ It's not, he's still worried. He's willing to let it drop for now. ]

Sorry?

Acceptance and equality. Good standards.

[With a quiet little smile,]

Yes, well. My parents raised me properly.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( o1 video )

video » action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;