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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.
{video! ...video as Erik walks casually to the library for spam}
i am literally the worst person in the world fight me
The groovy kind?
fdsdhsfdhs I WILL, PUT ON THE GLOVES {...still video}
The surprising kind.
I'm walking over.
[ That's probably not a surprise. ]
>DDDDDD
I can see that. Come to be my knight in shining armour? You're taking what river said to heart.
{video}
Go on, tell me you're getting as warm a reception as you'd hoped.
{video}
Whether they trust me or not wasn't the point; I had to do something.
{video > spam}
You know I think we should be as we are in the open. But I don't have as much investment in being liked, or trusted.
[ The feed switches off, but a few seconds later a wild mutant appears, sprawling long-legged into a chair about three inches away from Charles. ]
If they come for you - for us - you won't lift a finger to stop it. But I will. You must know that.
i'm using this icon because of reasons.
Nobody's going to come for us, that's -. [ He bites down his absurd because how can he be certain. There are beings here that even Charles can't read and what with all that's been happening, a volatile nature is more than likely. He has to trust in trust as it were. ] I've rather gotten the impression there'll be a wide berth. [ Rubbing at his temples in something that is both self-conscious and to try and ease the lingering headache. ] In case I start tinkering. Because I don't have better things to do with my time.
because *legs* ps: let me help
There's only so wide a berth to give you. When that stops being enough, what do you think will happen? That they'll give you a pass for your pretty smile?
You do realize one of the most common behavioral experiments is getting the rats to turn on one another.
lookit those babbus.
I suppose we'll have to hope we have more intelligence than rats then, won't we?
they're so pretty also my feelings hurt THEY HURT, SARAH
We'd be better off with rats. It's frightened humans en masse who can be convinced of anything. I've already been the convenient target of a miserable people, Charles. The next time it happens, it won't be hiding I chose to save myself.
why do we DO THIS TO OURSELVES?
[ He sounds frustrated, mostly, something that couples with the ache of tiredness in his veins and makes it a difficult tonic to swallow down. ] They're alarmed, given time and ... peace ... they might come to realise that we are not the enemy. What good is it preparing for an attack? [ Erik is doing what he thinks the humans will do. ] Mobilizing first does not make us the better men.