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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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[Jean is clinging desperately to the good things. None of her family died. Her powers are just like they've always been. She wasn't locked in a cage for two days.

She hurts, but that just means she's alive.

So her smile to Charles is more genuine than not.]

How are you?

I've been better. [But it's good, to be able to actually see her and know that she's safe, she's recovering, and while he still irrationally - because it's not like he could have stopped Creed anyway and thank God Zane was there - feels guilty about not being able to save her, it's still good to be able to reach out and stroke her hair.]

Can I get you anything?

[Slowly, carefully, Jean shakes her head.] I'm good. [And then she almost laughs.] Well, you know. Relatively.

...It could have been a lot worse.

[It could have been, that's certainly true. But he doesn't really care about "it could have been worse" right now. It was bad, and people he loved got hurt and he couldn't do anything to stop it. For someone who's used to being able to overcome basically any danger with just a thought, it's still unsettling and upsetting to think he can be so powerless to help people.

So he doesn't say anything for a long moment, wishing there was something more he could do.]

That doesn't make it right.

No, it doesn't. [A slight, dark scowl.] But the only one who we should blame doesn't actually care. [The worst ones never do.]

[Something sort of dark and angry and familiar flares at that, but he tries to keep it out of his expression and voice. It's familiar because it feels like Erik, and it's weird to realize how much he's taken after him since coming here.

He settles a hand gently on her shoulder.]

He is never going to lay a hand on you again. [And if he does, he's going to wish he'd never been born.]

[Jean feels that.

She doesn't mean to, but she's been desperately soaking up the presence of everyone around her since she got her powers back, and that was - it was intense.

Not scary, though, not from him. She knows, knows in her bones, that he would never direct it at her.

So she smiles, sad and sympathetic. She knows, too, that he doesn't enjoy feeling that way, any more than she does.]

I know.

[And she knows Charles would give his life for her, and that, only that, is why her expression falls.]

I...I beat him in LA, when I was myself, but it was a close thing. [She closes her eyes, resting her head back.] I don't want anything to be that close, any more. [Then, softer.] I'm tired of being scared.

[There's a flash of embarrassment when he realizes she noticed. Again, it's not something he likes feeling or thinking, but it's good to sense that understanding, that she's not judging him for it.]

I am, too. I think we all are.

[She reaches up, slow and steady, to weakly squeeze his hand.]

It's okay, you know. You don't have to hide from me.