cape_kore | one. | Day 82

[ The video shows a very large, very blue eye blinking directly into it. Almost as soon as it appears, the camera pans out to show Julian's face, and then it seems to hover directly in front of him. His shoulders are down but the camera is directly in front, held by his telekinesis which also happens to be holding the gauntlet it's attached to. Julian walks along like this is completely normal. Once it reaches what he thinks is a reasonable distance, the Town Center with its fountain can be seen behind him.

His expression is a sardonic smirk, and his voice is a drawl. He doesn't sound panicked. ]

So, Cape Kore. My 'new home'. That's cute. What is this, like Survivor for mutants? I see the cameras. You guys aren't subtle, whoever you are.

[ The camera comes closer again, and something bright and metal taps the face of his watch. ]

Who's even on the other side of this thing? I'm fucking talking to myself, aren't I. What a joke...

[ He rolls his eyes, and for a moment looks like he's about to turn this off. Then he appears to think better of it. His face hardens, and his lips compress into a line. ]

Whatever. This is Hellion, I'm with the X-Men. If anyone's out there, sound off. I need to get off this ride, and one of you is gonna tell me how, right now, or I'm going to take every one of those little cameras and grind them to dust.

Start talking.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Tiny girl, big eyes. ] X for Xavier?

You said mutant. You said mutant.

And you live here.

[ Woah, this chick’s kind of intense. She’s also kind of hot, though, so Julian pauses before he answers her. ]

The hell I do. I live in New York, and it’s staying that way.

X for Xavier. X for X-gene. Take your pick, it doesn’t matter, they both mean mutant. That mean something to you, sweetheart?

You live in New York ...what is new about it? And I live on Serenity but Not Old York and Serenity aren't here are they and yet we are so either we are living or we are simply malfunctioning in the upper hemisphere which is conceivable but ...not plausible.

In this particular situation.

Yes. Genetics and name and title all. They don't have a name for me where I come from. Mutant is good. Appropriate.

I have it on the highest order on the subject.

[ Holy shit.

He didn't even understand half of that. ]

...you're a mutant? [ He eyes her speculatively, not convinced. ] Why, what can you do?

Telepathy isn't a good video trick.

Hands of metal though. Good enough?

[ A telepath. Good to know. He has enough experience of them to not be freaked by that, though he scowls. ]

You can use words next time. Yeah, it's good enough.

I'm telekinetic. [ To explain how those hands work. ] And my name is Julian, but I guess you already know that.

Used nothing but, nothing but. [ And sticking her tongue out. ]

Hello.

You used your head, I know you did. [ She’s strange. Kind of cute.

She reminds him of someone. ]

You’re lucky I don’t mind. You’re not the first telepath I ever met.

Hi. What’s your name?

Show me a headless thing that speaks.

Good. Some do. Don't tell everyone, though most know. If they've been here for enough sunrises and nightfalls.

River.

I could. [ Show her a headless thing that speaks, that is. ] I got a friend who doesn't even have a body. She's just like a brain, inside a hovering case. She's a telepath.

[ Like you are, River, though he doesn't directly state that. Julian won't ever hide his own powers, but if other people want to, it's their choice. ]

Why don't you want people to know?

[ River thinks about that, her fingers flexing involuntarily. ] Has anyone offered her an alternative? [ A new body? Death? ]

Because they become afraid, self-absorbed and concerned.

Because that gets old and half of them won't stick around.

It ain't that simple. [ Giving Martha a new body. Although, in fairness, he doesn't really know why it's not. If Karima could live in a robot body, why not Martha?

Whatever. There's probably a reason that goes over his head. ]

Look, if people screw off on you because you're different, then you're better off without them. Trust me.

Oh.

[ River shakes her head. ] all the self-esteem in the verse changes little.

What are you, kidding me? It changes everything. It changes whether you're ashamed of what you are, or whether you're proud.

And you should be proud, no matter what anyone says. Don't let any of them walk over you.

[ River looks at Julian for a long moment. ]

It changes everything but it doesn't change enough.

No one walks over me.

Then it changes as much as you want it to. How you see it is all that matters.

[ River doesn't say anything, just blinks at Julian before smiling and giving one quick nod. ]

one. | Day 82 | Video

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