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[It's a little distressing, how easy it is for things to return to what passes for normal around here, because Charles finds himself sliding back into routine more quickly than he'd like to think he might have. Admittedly, that's probably better than it's been in the past, but it's still strange to think about.

He spends a fair amount of time hovering around the infirmary, checking in on Jean and Barbara and Rogue and trying to be useful where he can be. He's not a doctor - well, not that kind of doctor - but he definitely is fairly well versed in first aid, not to mention just being someone to talk to or listen if a patient needs it. He's also still attending meals in the dining hall instead of holing up by himself somewhere, and although sometimes he'll have his nose stuck in a book, he's more than willing to put it down and be social.

There's also his regular morning (and afternoon and evening sometimes, if he feels like it, which generally means he's overwhelmed and in need of an outlet) run in the CES, and he does actually make use of the CTS too, now that Arthur is gone and Babs is in the infirmary. He needs to keep practicing somehow, after all.]

[Filtered away from Creed]

Mark brought this up and I thought it would be worth mentioning: as we're the only two on board trained to counsel others, if anyone feels they're in need of someone to talk to in light of what's happened, [He figures clarifying in port is fairly unnecessary, everyone knows what's going on.] We're both willing to make ourselves available to listen or discuss the matter confidentially with you.

[Private Separately to Alex, Anya, Morgana, Zane and Kelsier]

Are you all right? [He knows he's asked Zane already, and Kelsier's likely to try and brush it off even if he's not (as are basically every one of the others), but he wants to be sure.]

[Private to Raven]

[... Just kidding, after a lot of hesitation, he's just going to content himself with asking Erik how she's doing. B(]

[Private to Creed, a while later]

[Again, he's debated saying anything for a long, long time. There's a large part of him that would like to wash his hands of the issue entirely, but as much as he doesn't feel sorry for what happened to him, there's still a part of him that wants to know why. He's obviously not beyond redemption - or at least, he isn't according to the Admiral - so he wants to understand the motivation, especially if it will help prevent this sort of thing from happening in the future.

So he sounds and looks composed, curious, definitely serious; from this communication whatever Creed had hoped to do to him - however personally or intentionally - doesn't appear to be sticking.]

What, exactly, were you hoping to achieve here?

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[There's a part of him - a part that sounds suspiciously like Erik - that thinks good when he sees how miserable he looks. Revenge doesn't solve anything, and hurting Creed won't change what happened to anyone he attacked, but there's still something satisfying about it, and again he wonders if he's changed too much in his time here.

He doesn't acknowledge the comment about Erik, because he's not interested in exploring deflections.]

So, this was all to make a point? You didn't appreciate the image she'd constructed of you, and took the opportunity to correct it?

Wasn't the right image. There's nothin' any of you can do here for me. No fixing me; it's already been tried.

[And dismissed, by the man in front of him no less, which just makes the whole thing rich. He's not angry about it though, not especially. No reason to be when he's accepted the ruling into his heart and soul. Made it his own because it was that or be disappointed and like hell is he going to let them have that over him.

He laughs then, quiet and threadbare, more wry than anything else. He bares his teeth through it, even as it threatens to churn things up again, and he gags at the end but swallows it down. Takes a breath to steady before continuing.]

Best thing any of ya frails can do to make sure I don't hurt anybody is lock me up or kill me, and I think little Babs proved that ain't gonna work either.

Sooner you learn that the better off you'll all be.

[Charles doesn't look phased, although there's plenty of emotion churning under the surface. He just doesn't want to show it, doesn't want to let Creed think that he's won, that he's beaten him.]

Unfortunately, that isn't possible, here. I've seen plenty of inmates come and go, some that weren't entirely different from you, and the fact is that you wouldn't be here if there wasn't some hope of getting through to you. Now, by no means does that mean you'll find yourself an entirely unrecognizable person in six months, but it does mean that this place will force you to confront everything that makes you unique and cause you to reevaluate certain memories or personality traits. [He continues almost wryly, because well. The odds are unfortunately not exactly in his favor.] Or you'll vanish before you have a chance to graduate, and you'll return to being dead.

And the sooner you realize that, the better off you'll be.

You really believe that or are ya just toein' the company line?

I've been here for nearly two years. Even if I didn't believe it, I'd have dozens of examples of people doing just that to share with you.

Meant about me bein' better off gettin' used to it. An' havin' a chance here of gettin' fixed like ya all seem so eager to do.

You'll be better off getting used to it unless you like your would-be victims and their friends taking every opportunity to rain hell down upon you, because that's what's going to happen if you choose to keep attacking people.

You say that like I ain't already used to that.

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