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[mentis]

[ He's in the library, that much is evident by the rather large collection of books to his left and the stacks behind him. His too large shirt sleeves are pushed up and his hair is a mess as though he's spent hours running his hands through it in frustration. But it's a good place to be and if he doesn't do this now he might never. It's important. For Charles the library is neutral territory, it's public and open and safe ( or as safe as anywhere is here ). He wouldn't want to do this at home any more than he would ask people to come to him out there. The elbow of his right arm rests on the table as his other hoists the device up for him to be seen. ]

The past couple of weeks have been interesting, yes? [ Charles doesn't sound as bright as he usually is, if anything he has steel under his voice. This isn't the post of a soft, bumbling professor, this is a man who's decided to take action. ] It made me think a great deal. Erik coming back helped solidify this. [ There you go Lehnsherr, he knows you won't announce yourself to the masses so he'll do it for you. ] The more I talk to people the more I realise we're all rather blind to each other and the experiences of this place. Different camps, divides and distrust and a very distinct layer of fear. I believe our captors would rather like it if we turned on each other, destroyed ourselves from the inside while they continued their little experiment. I don't think we should allow that. So I have a proposal. We each have skills that would be of use to each other, abilities that someone might find themselves gravely in need of. I'm aware some of us have teamed up rather effectively and well done, that kind of initiative is splendid. I have an idea to make a recording of each of our skills; something we can access in times of need rather like Mr. Rogers' idea of keeping paintings for when one of us goes missing. So if someone needs to ... install a window or rebuild part of a wall, we will be able to go to the person who would now how.

[ A pause, and then his expression shifts. He is no longer talking of building or of gardening anymore. ] But I also know there are those who have rather abnormal abilities. You might be too afraid to speak of them and I understand, I do. But you should not be frightened. In my world we call these specific powers a mutation. You might call them something different and that's all right, I'm not going to be pedantic. These evolutionary gifts can be alarming to some, may invoke fear to the ignorant, but hiding them - especially in a place like this - will do no good. [ His shoulders square slightly. ] If any of you are worried that this is a trap, that I could be leading you into danger, I will put you at rest immediately.

[ Blue eyes serious. ] I myself am a mutant. Some would call me a telepath. My mutation allows me to read the minds of those around me. [ A small, crooked smile. He thinks of Jubilee telling him he should try and push out further, thinks of her thoughts on the X-Men and his leadership skills. He's afraid that announcing this might put some people off him, but he has to. Perhaps he is not that man yet but he would like to be. ] There are other things this ability allows me to do - things that may sound terrible but in the right circumstances can be useful. [ Unbidden the image of Ned's blood on the floor comes to him. Perhaps this will be good, a layer of accountability for Charles himself. Though it is not the main reason and cannot be. ] I am telling you this simply to give you an idea. We might worry about how people will see us if our powers are strange and unusual, are seen as dangerous, but that will have to be accepted. The people who are hostage on this island are not the enemy. So I'm asking each of you to be brave. [ Another small smile. ] And to trust me.

[ It's done now. ] If you would like to come forward in person I will be here for the rest of the day. Thank you.

Comments

private video

[nedofpies]

You already know what I can do.

[ Which means this video would be pointless, if it weren't for the fact that Ned wants to reassure Charles that he isn't holding a grudge, and to reinforce that: ]

I realize you hardly need protection, but just so you know, I'm on your side. And... if anyone gives you trouble for all this, just let me know, okay? [ Because what the super-powerful telepath really needs in times of trouble is a hapless piemaker whose mutation is totally ineffective in a conflict situation. But it's the thought that counts, right? ]

private video

[mentis]

Ned.

[ His smile is marginally larger than the last time. He's happier, brighter. It doesn't forgive what he's done but Erik is back and that's enough to bolster his emotions. ] Yes, I do. Do you mind if I note your power down in the records? I wouldn't want to presume.

[ The offer for protection makes his smile go a little softer. ] Thank you. I think I'll be fine. Erik is rather invested in keeping me around. [ Because they're friends. ]

audio;

[hexappeal]

In my world, it is called a meta ability and is often created via a gene that only some have. It's present in entire civilizations on other planets, but there are also other means of... abilities. [She pauses, thinking it over. She should have prepared some sort of spiel instead of jumping into this head first.]

Abilities can be granted by other means: by a sponsor, someone with a great deal of power giving part of their own to someone else or perhaps granting it to another; an artifact, which in the magical version of meta is referred to as a totem; accidents or experimentation, which speak for itself... and then there are those that simply are of different but similar races. [Or entirely different.] In my world, these are not usually met with harshness and are embraced, although often under secret identities when doing good or otherwise.

Magic is entirely different than a meta ability. [Which is meant to imply that her ability(-y, +ies?) fall into this realm.] Even if we are in this together, I like to keep some cards up my sleeves.

I'll meet you.

audio;

[mentis]

I'll be here.

[ He can mull over what she's told him while she makes her way to him. The information she's given is captivating, Charles is a great lover of learning and announcing this to the people he shares space with has given him more of an opportunity to keep finding out more. ]

And don't worry about it, whatever you wish to tell me will be enough.

video

[hung_garian]

You're not the only mutant here. When I was just a kid, my brothers and I were dropped down a drain, where we came into contact with a mysterious glowing green substance that gave us mad jujitsu skills. We got adopted by a talking rat and we became teenage mutant ninjas.

[He sighs.]

It's still difficult for me to talk about. I've been keeping it a secret all this time, but you're right - it's time to be brave and tell the truth.

video

[mentis]

[ Gabriel, come here so he can make you believe that. >|

He stares at him for a moment through the feed, then his lip curls up. ] Was this before or after you became a god with a small g?

Video

[recognize_an_opportunity]

I can't say I have any abnormal abilities. Not the kind you're talking about, anyway.

[A pause.]

Your ability -- I can see why it might... concern people.

Video

[mentis]

Yes.

[ He frowns a little. ] It comes across as an offensive skill, I'm very aware of that. [ Emma Frost was a spectacularly offensive telepath - in both senses of the word. ] But I felt that hiding it now would be ... counterproductive. It could be useful to us if we were to ever find out who's keeping us here.

[ A pause. ] You're worried, I don't need to be a mindreader to know that.

( private audio )

[rigging]

[ He isn't even sure he wants to answer - but he's far enough away, he's sure, that... he can't be listened to. Right? He'll just stay far away.

He just wants to talk about something that everybody else has berated him for. ]

I can draw. [ And that's said in a slightly sheepish way. Go you, Jesse, you can do something that doesn't help. ] I got some mechanic skills, I can lift shit if... if people needed help. [ A beat. ]

I dunno if I can anymore, s'like it's - it's blocked, but I used t'be able to... to, I dunno, manipulate electricity. Like Emperor Palpatine style.

( private audio )

[mentis]

[ He's caught the echo of Jesse in Erik's mind and he sounds pleased to hear from him. ] I --. [ Whatever positive statements he was about to make about art die in his throat. ]

I have no idea who Emperor Palpatine is but the ability to manipulate electricity sounds absolutely stunning. Were you able to use it at will before this block?

Action

[chlorophylliac]

[...wait, Zatanna showed up while she was gone?

Zatanna showed up while she was gone. UGH, THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

Nonetheless. Xavier was decent when she first arrived, and although she doesn't often grant people the benefit of the doubt, she feels enough of an affinity with Erik that his apparent trust in Charles is...significant. More pragmatically, she hasn't fully explored the library yet, so she chooses to pay a visit instead of using the thing shackled to her arm.]

Stirring speech. [She's smiling, but it's not mockery - more the detached amusement of someone who's never paused to be afraid of what she is or what others would make of her. (Or at least, will never admit to it.)] I was moved.

Action

[mentis]

Thank you.

[ He looks up at her, a smile locked on his face. It's strange to be talking about it out in the open - his heartbeat thrums along under his skin in something akin to panic. And yet he doesn't let him drown you. ]

I know about your speciality, Miss Isley. But perhaps you could let me put an entry down for it either way. We could chat about it.

( private audio )

[gleans]

[ This must be the guy Ned was talking about. It still takes Galen a long time to decide to respond, but once he reasons that it's completely possible for their captors to put him back in that state, he decides it's a good idea. Charles seems to know what he's talking about, and maybe he can even tell Galen where it came from, like Ned suggested. ]

Um, I can -- I guess it's a psychic thing. I can... go into other people's dreams, and the, like -- space outside dreams, I guess. I haven't done it in a while, ever since -- [ Ever since he turned into Freddy fucking Krueger? ] -- some... stuff happened. But I'm sure I'm still capable.

( private audio )

[mentis]

[ This is wielding more strange and interesting results than he ever imagined. He's fascinated in a way that any new power will ever build up in him. He sounds soft and gentle and ever so helpful. ]

I've never met anyone who can enter dreams. Do you do it consciously or is it like an accident? Is it a step you take specifically?

private audio:

[charring]

You know what pyrokinesis is, yeah?

private audio:

[mentis]

[ He does not.

Charles is only just finding other mutants, only really settling in to the role the CIA started. And so he cannot immediately conjure up what she is telling him. Thankfully he's a remarkably intelligent man. ]

I could hazard a guess - you control fire?

[burnburnburn]

[Dilandau was all up on Charles' suggestion until he mentioned himself. He looks incredibly unnerved]

How far away can you hear people's minds?

[mentis]

[ He doesn't quite know. But that's something he intends to find out now. ]

You don't have to worry, I won't be using my power unless I have to.

[dowhatisays]

You ain't fucking kidding, are you?

[He's seen enough the past few weeks that 'telepath' isn't entirely out there. Except...]

You know this means we ain't letting ya any where nears our card game.

[mentis]

[ He laughs, he can't help it. ]

Oh now, that's a shame. It sounded like it would be a lot of fun.

[plaidsamurai]

Somehow I imagined you'd always been bald... enjoy that while you can, bub. [He motions vaguely at Xavier's hair.]

[mentis]

[ He recognises you Logan but ... ]

There's another Charles Xavier, one who doesn't have such a wonderful head of hair. I keep hearing all about him. [ Except Charles is 27, everyone else probably meets him years from now. ]

[ Video - Private ]

[tryingitall]

[Balthazar looks more serious about this topic than Loki does, at least. He's curious to see the results of this rather bold move. But there's something that needs to be emphasized first.]

You ought to be wary of reading the minds of some of us here. I'm not human by any stretch of the imagination, and I'm not the only one. Even an extraordinary telepath could take serious neurological and physical damage from trying to read me. And I'm not alone.

I'm not worried about what you might do to me, but vice versa is a different story.

[ Video - Private ]

[mentis]

You buzz like an exposed wire.

[ But Charles sounds utterly delighted either way so he doesn't really mind. ] I didn't try to read you, but I could hear that much. And yes, I've learnt to be cautious recently, this is all just in favour of ... being out in the open. I'd hoped it would encourage people to be honest. I could hardly do that while hiding such a big part of me.

{video! ...video as Erik walks casually to the library for spam}

[violenthearted]

This is a surprise.

i am literally the worst person in the world fight me

[mentis]

[ He looks instantly relieved, like admitting it has pulled his breath too tight. ]

The groovy kind?