Phoenix catch-all post

[mind_over_metal]

[what it says on the tin]

Comments

[skinofalizard]

[immediately after the arm thing, Victor has locked himself in his room

well, someone has to pick up the slack now that Julian's out of commission, right?

fortunately (?) there is enough fear, anger, and self-loathing emanating from the room that any passing telepath should be able to pick it up pretty easily

it's like julian never even left :')]

[mind_over_metal]

*and a telepath does pass by after being kicked out of Julian's hospital room by a grumpy Quincy doctor who insisted that visiting hours were over. it's no random passing, either -- he'd been keeping a location on Victor, on all of them, since he woke up in the library after his own little torture session with Phoenix. which probably hasn't been doing anything to help how wrecked he's looking at this point. he stops outside of the X-cabin, takes stock of who is inside.*

Victor, I'm coming in now. Is this all right?

[skinofalizard]

The door's locked. And seriously, why can't you just knock like a normal person? I'm sick of people who aren't me being inside my head.

[mind_over_metal]

You're in your room and I'm outside of the cabin. I doubt that you would have heard me. And that's why I'd like to come in.

[skinofalizard]

Last time I checked, I wasn't your keeper. Do whatever you want. The cabin door's open.

[mind_over_metal]

*lets himself in and goes over to sit next to the door to Victor and Julian's room*

How's your injury?

[skinofalizard]

All healed up, thanks for asking, see you around.

[mind_over_metal]

*his voice is patient, not angry*

I'm not done asking. It was Jean, correct? Not Phoenix? Were you attacked in your mind as well?

[skinofalizard]

[two things that cannot be said for his voice]

You know, the sooner you people realize that there's not nearly as much difference between Jean and the Phoenix as you want there to be, the sooner this will all be over.

[mind_over_metal]

And how will it be over?

[skinofalizard]

She'll get control over it and herself and the rest of you will stop coddling the woman that cut off my arm

[there's a lot of undercurrent there, even if you're not in his head, that can mostly be boiled down to again]

[mind_over_metal]

Victor, what happened was terrible, and there's no one-

...well. There's very few who would argue otherwise.

To state the obvious: we failed. I failed. For you. And Julian. And everyone else who was hurt. And yes, for Jean. It was not for lack of trying, which potentially makes it even worse, but I promise you that I will not stop trying to do whatever I possibly can to help. You're right, she will get control over it, but cutting her off is not going to help any of us.

At present, however, she is not my concern. Just physically, do you have any injury remaining?

[skinofalizard]

I didn't tell you to cut her off. Why don't any of you ever listen when we talk to you?

[mind_over_metal]

*it takes a moment of him figuratively biting his tongue to stop a sharp reply, but he manages it*

Then how would you like for us to stop "coddling" her?

[skinofalizard]

Stop acting like she's as much a victim as the rest of us.

[finalities]

[Mostly spent her time outside with Scott in the immediate aftermath at the hospital. Her mind was completely shielded and blocked off for a while but it's been let down now. And her mind is full of worry and fear and anger.]

[mind_over_metal]

*it's like a very careful knock on a door -- not so much gentle as with professional kindness and concern*

[finalities]

[The shields nearly goes up again but she buries her emotions instead. Though the worry and guilt still slips through the cracks]

Are you all right, Professor?

[mind_over_metal]

You don't have to show me what you don't want to, Jean, but you don't have to hide, either. You're not alone in this. What happened was terrible, but I promise that it's quite difficult to shock me. Which, in belated answer to your question, I'm fine. Tired, but fine.

[finalities]

[regret, fear, sadness... anger.]

I don't think I can forgive myself.

[mind_over_metal]

Forgiveness can be a very long process. That doesn't make it one not worth undertaking, by any means. The end, however, will not always be in sight.

But in the meanwhile, what is it that you plan to do?

[finalities]

If I could, I'd like to keep myself away from everyone I love.

But right now the only plan is to go back to the basics and figure out my powers again.

[mind_over_metal]

And I will do whatever I can to help. I fear, however, that that might be limited by our particular circumstances. What is your sense of the situation?

[finalities]

I'm a ticking time bomb. I'm not safe... even as I am now.

[mind_over_metal]

Do you think that contact with me will make it worse, though?

[finalities]

... I... don't know, Professor.

[mind_over_metal]

We'll use caution, then.

[ warmthsupportlovehope ]

Just please know that I'm here for you, however I can be.

[finalities]

[closes her eyes, accepting him]

I know. And I'm grateful. I'm just... Part of me is mad at you. The you I grew up with. But you're not him. Not exactly.

[extremities]

Sir?

[mind_over_metal]

*it's the next day, and Charles is on his way to the hospital*

--Scott. How are you doing?

[extremities]

I'm fine, sir. How are you?

[mind_over_metal]

Tired, but well, I've been worse. How are you really, Scott?

[extremities]

[his shoulders tense up]

I'm gearing up to the fact that I might see my wife die twice in a year, sir.

[mind_over_metal]

*reaches up to lay a hand on Scott's arm*

It's a possibility. It won't do either of us any good to pretend that it's not. But we also need to "gear up" for her to finally gain control over what killed her the first time and what's causing her pain now. Because that's what has to happen, and if there's anything that we can trust Jean to do...

[extremities]

Sir. I killed her. How do you think the dam broke?