FIFTY SEVEN ✖ VOICE/SPAM
[Warden Filter, backdated to Day One of the flood]
[Again, Charles sounds more tired than anything else when he makes this post, because today is officially going on the record as the longest day of his life, and he'd really, really like it to be over. Like, now.]
Alex and I brought Pietro Maximoff down to Level Zero after he attacked and tried to kill us. I don't know if he's been assigned a warden or not, yet, but if anyone's stepped up to take responsibility for him, he'll probably be awake and hopefully willing to talk in an hour or so. [He might have put him to sleep for a while. B(
He lets out a slow breath before continuing.] Has anyone seen Dr. Banner?
[And everything else in this post is present dated!]
[Friends Filter - if you think you're on it, you are]
I'm sorry I wasn't very available during the flood. [And that's all he really wants to say about it from his end.] How is everyone doing?
[Private to the Admiral]
[As much as he doesn't like you, Boss Man, he's learned how to ask for things from you, and this is important. Also potentially very stupid, but Zane had been right, he could tell what they were used for, and he was more likely to be sympathetic to someone who power reductions literally meant feeling as though they were missing a sense just as important as sight.]
I need a reasonable amount of tin and copper for Zane, enough to keep him comfortable until he's assigned a warden who can continue supplying it. Please.
[Spam for Pietro]
[His first priority after the flood was over was to head down to Zero. As much as he really didn't want to spend time down there ever again after what had happened when Tosh had been in control of the ship, he couldn't just leave Pietro down there, either, and so he's shoving aside his discomfort and heading downstairs to let him out.
He calls over to him before he actually gets in front of the cell, concerned.]
Pietro?
[Spam for Erik]
[It's not really uncommon for them to just invite themselves over, whether for chess or needing to tell the other something or simply because they're bored, and so after letting Pietro out and gently checking to see if Erik would mind the company at all, he heads back to their floor and opens his friend's door instead of his own, closing it behind him and managing a sort of wry-but-pained smile.]
If I wasn't already convinced that meeting you was one of the best things that's ever happened to me, I think this would have cleared up any doubts. [It's supposed to be a joke, making light of the issue because he really, really did not know how to process what had happened at all. They'd talked before about how maybe they did live in the best possible reality, and times like these made Charles think they were right.
He sobers a little when he looks at Erik, a faint line of concern forming between his eyes.] How are you doing?
[Again, Charles sounds more tired than anything else when he makes this post, because today is officially going on the record as the longest day of his life, and he'd really, really like it to be over. Like, now.]
Alex and I brought Pietro Maximoff down to Level Zero after he attacked and tried to kill us. I don't know if he's been assigned a warden or not, yet, but if anyone's stepped up to take responsibility for him, he'll probably be awake and hopefully willing to talk in an hour or so. [He might have put him to sleep for a while. B(
He lets out a slow breath before continuing.] Has anyone seen Dr. Banner?
[And everything else in this post is present dated!]
[Friends Filter - if you think you're on it, you are]
I'm sorry I wasn't very available during the flood. [And that's all he really wants to say about it from his end.] How is everyone doing?
[Private to the Admiral]
[As much as he doesn't like you, Boss Man, he's learned how to ask for things from you, and this is important. Also potentially very stupid, but Zane had been right, he could tell what they were used for, and he was more likely to be sympathetic to someone who power reductions literally meant feeling as though they were missing a sense just as important as sight.]
I need a reasonable amount of tin and copper for Zane, enough to keep him comfortable until he's assigned a warden who can continue supplying it. Please.
[Spam for Pietro]
[His first priority after the flood was over was to head down to Zero. As much as he really didn't want to spend time down there ever again after what had happened when Tosh had been in control of the ship, he couldn't just leave Pietro down there, either, and so he's shoving aside his discomfort and heading downstairs to let him out.
He calls over to him before he actually gets in front of the cell, concerned.]
Pietro?
[Spam for Erik]
[It's not really uncommon for them to just invite themselves over, whether for chess or needing to tell the other something or simply because they're bored, and so after letting Pietro out and gently checking to see if Erik would mind the company at all, he heads back to their floor and opens his friend's door instead of his own, closing it behind him and managing a sort of wry-but-pained smile.]
If I wasn't already convinced that meeting you was one of the best things that's ever happened to me, I think this would have cleared up any doubts. [It's supposed to be a joke, making light of the issue because he really, really did not know how to process what had happened at all. They'd talked before about how maybe they did live in the best possible reality, and times like these made Charles think they were right.
He sobers a little when he looks at Erik, a faint line of concern forming between his eyes.] How are you doing?
spam;
It's good that Charles comes quickly. Solitary confinement is hard enough on someone whose concept of time is so elongated, and after how things went the last time Pietro was down here, it does nothing positive for his emotional state now. He comes to the front of the cell when he hears Charles, instinctively moving toward the door. ]
Charles. [ Not 'Xavier', not right now, because he needs to draw that distinction in his mind. ] Are you— is everyone all right?
spam;
[More or less, anyway. Alex was angry, but Charles really couldn't blame him, and he really doubted Erik was 100% okay with what happened, and he was... fine, really, but it wasn't like it had been a fun flood.
He unlocked the door and pushed it open, stepping aside to let Pietro out.]
It's not the worst time I've been stabbed.
spam;
–Sorry. [ Awkward. ] I am usually saner than that.
[ 'Usually.' ]
[ He steps out, not keen on staying down here longer than necessary. ]
spam;
But considering he'd never almost been murdered for it before, it seemed sort of important to ask what the hell had happened in case it ever became relevant again.]
Can I ask what that was about?
spam;
Wanda. Apparently that's what happens when the X-Men and the Avengers kill my sister.
[ ...As if him trying to murder everyone is an inevitable consequence, not a choice, he says that. ]
spam;
He was really tired of being blamed for things he hadn't done, or had no control over.]
I didn't kill your sister.
spam;
[ And his Charles Xavier did. He lets the implication hang there for a beat, unspoken. He shouldn't have said that aloud, he shouldn't even let the conversation go down that path, but he needs to remind himself, too, that Charles isn't to blame. It's important (and difficult, with the echos of his other self still rattling around in his head) to make that distinction. ]
I simply didn't care, once she was gone. I thought— it seemed fair somehow, to kill all of you, too, for the things you might do.
spam;
I'm not that person. And I'm tired of being judged for things he did. We share a name, abilities and apparently a face. That's all. I'm not him. [It's quiet and firm - he's not arguing about this.]
spam;
[ But he has. With Anya even, and with his own sanity that time in Zero, when he hasn't extended a modicum of that trust to, say, Erik. So there's that. ]
spam;
[And he falls silent again, because he doesn't really know what else to say. It's not really fair to blame Pietro for what happened - things had been different - but at the same time, it's difficult to hear that one slight tip of the scale could result in Pietro attacking people Charles cared about, and while he knew his little ragtag family could take care of themselves, it didn't mean he liked knowing it was on the table.]
spam;
So he doesn't ask. Somewhere near the top of the stairs, it occurs to him he wouldn't have had the option of asking or not, with any other Xavier. ]
You really don't read anyone's mind, do you? [ Not accusing, just surprised. ]
spam;
[These days, he was almost always at least quietly connected to Erik, and Merlin, Jean and Alex didn't seem to mind too much either way about him using his abilities, but otherwise, he did largely keep to himself. He'd learned that lesson the hard way.]
spam;
[ ... Which may be concerning, when you consider the kinds of things Pietro may prefer to keep to himself, but. Well. There it is. Apparently he hadn't been going anywhere else with that, though, as he doesn't pursue it further. ]
spam;
[He doesn't sound resentful, even if there's a part of him that maybe is, on some days. It's easy for people like Erik to demand people treat them fairly despite his mutation, because his ability wasn't inherently invasive and personal. Charles doesn't really have that luxury, and it was hard sometimes, to know people did hate him for being different.]
spam;
[ He's just saying. He wouldn't, certainly — his mutation isn't invasive, but even if it was, he doesn't reign in what he is for anyone else's benefit. He isn't sure Charles's restraint is better, objectively, but it's probably less selfish. He's reminded of Cap, just a little.
Saying that aloud sounds far too much like being nice, though, so naturally Pietro doesn't linger on the sentiment. ]
Try not to overdo it with that stab wound, will you? [ He adds as an afterthought, turning slightly to go when they reach the appropriate level. ] I'm sure Erik will be sufficiently furious at me without you accidentally keeling over.
[ (Which is speedster for "Take care of yourself.") ]
spam;
As it is, he lets the subject drop.]
I'll be fine. [Although you're entirely right about that, which is why Charles has tried not to really discuss the whole thing too much with Erik.] Although I wouldn't necessarily go out of your way to mention it to him.
spam;
[ Things that are less funny in context: this.
Nevertheless, he inclines his head in what passes for a goodbye and moves to go. ]
[Spam]
Nothing puts things into perspective quite like a flood, does it. [His gaze flicks up again.] If only they all had such straightforward meanings. [Taste that sarcasm.]
[Spam]
That doesn't really answer the question, my friend.
[Spam]
I could have had a daughter. A family. And they would have died in a nuclear war.
[Spam]
I know this is sort of a weighted issue, considering what we've seen here, [Although Charles would still argue that Erik would be a perfectly good - and perhaps actually somewhat exceptional - parent.] But there's no reason you couldn't, once we go home. We stopped Shaw.
[Spam]
[Spam]
And besides:]
And you do have a family, which is very much alive and makes a genuine effort to be supportive, despite our different ways of approaching issues.
[Spam]
I already left her, Charles. What I want is to do everything I can to keep our kind safe. I'll sacrifice having a wife and child for that cause if I have to.
[And besides - what faith does he have, that he can be an attentive, kind father and revolutionary as well? None.]
[Spam]
Don't do that again please. B(]
As long as we're on the subject, though, Alex told Zane we're family. He actually sounded like he was trying to apologize to me for saying it. [Which is just ridiculous, of course they're family. :c]
[Spam]
That makes his mouth quirk, though, and he looks up with eyebrows raised.]
He was apologizing? [He already thinks of Charles and Alex as family - he just thinks of himself as on the fringe, that uncle you're not sure how you feel about yet. Well - less than he did, but.]
[Spam]
I know, I mean, I suppose I shouldn't exactly be surprised, given his history, that he'd be hesitant to throw around labels like that, but. [He's just assumed that he'd communicated that they were family pretty definitively before this, but apparently, he hadn't. Whoops.] God knows I've thought of him as a son well before that breach happened.
[Spam]
I suppose you can't blame any of us for being wary. [But it's good to have them, is the underlying thought, there. It's good to be part of something, to be a family.]
[Spam]
[Because god, he really doesn't want to be his mom. :C Don't let him be his mom, Erik. :C]
[Spam]
I'd hesitate before leaving heartfelt notes in lunchboxes.
[Spam]
God, Erik, they're not seven!
[Spam]
Thus my hesitation.
[Spam]
[He'll start leaving you notes out of spite.]
[Spam]
I have every faith you'll manage it.
[Spam]
Thank you for that.