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[ 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.
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.
audio;
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;
[ 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.
audio; 1/2
I'm still getting my foothold around here. It might be a little while.
action;
She enters the library clad in fishnets, top hat, and coattails fluttering lightly behind her; her heels click almost obnoxiously with each step. It's not particularly enormous, so it shouldn't be too difficult to locate the chap she's come to jam with (she probably should have asked for a name, shouldn't she have?) and after a bit of browsing, she does. Zatanna raises a hand to him in greeting, to show that she means no ill will.]
Hey there.
action;
[ Charles' smile is bright if not a little curious as to her attire and her general aura. He stops scribbling notes down and turns his full attention to her. ]
Please, have a seat. They're more comfortable than they look.
no subject
[She's mildly offended that he doesn't stand to greet her (or even pull out a chair!), but gets over it quickly. She approaches and kicks out a chair a bit before plopping into it, almost instantaneously crossing her legs and leaning forward toward him a touch.]
Hello, again.
no subject
It's nice to finally meet you, Ms. Zatara. Thank you for coming to see me.
no subject
I prefer Zatanna, if you don't mind. You're more than welcome, however.
no subject
no subject
no subject
[ He pauses, a half apologetic smile on his face. ] I'm an Academic in nature, we're rather curious. But my own world has tales of magic too, though I have never encountered it myself. I often wondered if the magic in the past was merely a genetic anomaly. So you can rest assured I am very much open to the topic.