Tony Stark's graduated and elected to return home for now, so I'm afraid congratulations might have to be directed towards one of his teammates to bring back with them when they depart, or otherwise wait until he returns. [If he does, because man seriously Charles would not blame him at all if he elected to stay home permanently.

But then again, Charles has hated the Barge for a long time so maybe he's a little biased. :V]

[Friends Filter]

Are you alright?

[ooc: The one friendly conversation rule applies to the filter! Em says Tony would have said goodbye in person to at least Charles, Pepper, Steve and Banner, but otherwise he just peaced out.]

( Backdated note to the Admiral )

[Public]

Thank you all for the gifts. Nice that we actually had a more or less quiet month, rather than being dumped in another Overlook Hotel-style port. [Which is being said dryly, but seriously. This is the first nice port they've had in months, mistletoe is pretty low on the totem pole in terms of horrible things that could have happened this month.

He almost looks like he's considering switching off the feed and leaving it at that, but reconsiders.] I had a discussion with Agent Carter while we were in port about how the city had changed over the years, particularly after the Blitz. For those of you unfamiliar with Earth history, from September of 1940 to May of 1941, Germany launched a series of strategic bombing raids against the United Kingdom, targeting ports, industrial centers and other civilian targets, killing around forty thousand civilians in the process. The goal was to demoralize the British populace, because at the time, Britain was one of the few powers standing against Nazi Germany.

Obviously, it didn't work, and Germany and the other Axis powers would lose the war four years later. After the attacks ended, people were left to pick up the pieces left behind and restart their lives. [Which he hadn't really been around for. By the time he'd seen London again, everything had been more or less tidied up.]

Rebuilding wasn't simply people trying to bury the bad memories or pretend none of it ever happened. Like any traumatic situation, what you get out of it depends largely on how you're willing to move forward. You can become bitter and jaded, or you can make peace with the memories without forgetting what happened and try to move forward and prove you're stronger for surviving. It all depends on how you choose to look at it.

That certainly doesn't mean it's easy, but it is possible.

( Notes for Erik, Tony, Pepper and Arkady + a Spam for Jean )

[Public]

Mr. Stark has been taken down to Level Zero, and he'll remain down there for three days. Just so everyone's aware.

[Private to the Admiral]

I need all the alcohol removed from Mr. Stark's room, as well as anywhere else he's stashed it on the Barge. I'd also like an unmodified, non-Stark Industries wheelchair, please.

[Warden Filtered, minus Jean, Clint and Steve]

I lost the use of my legs in an accident approximately two months before I came to the Barge. Adjusting to life without them has been- [Awful, and honestly, he really hates giving all of you even this much information about it. He doesn't like talking about himself or how he feels about things, least of all the stuff that actively bothers him.] Difficult. When I first came to the Barge, it was with the promise that if I graduated an inmate, I would have full use of them restored, which, admittedly, [And there's some self depreciating humor in his voice at this.] must seem a bit selfish to most of you.

The point is, I don't know that I can wait until an inmate of mine graduates to be able to walk again, especially in light of [His voice sticks in his throat a little and he clears it awkwardly.] what happened, last port. And the fact that such events are just another factor of living here has made me start considering other alternatives, because I certainly don't have plans to leave. I have a few more things I'd like to ask the Admiral about that are a little less time sensitive and potentially dangerous before their resolution.

So, if anyone has information about technology or procedures or anything that would be able to help repair the damage, I'd appreciate being able to discuss it with you.

( Private Messages to Ariadne, Sara, Clint, Natasha, Steve, Tony and Erik. )

[ooc: So after Clint's post, this happened and then this happened, and then this happened, which led to further warden/inmate discussions in the previously linked post. Basically, Charles is furious with Tony, and he and Erik dragged him down to Zero.]

[Private to Faith and Arkady]

I need to speak with both of you, when you have opportunity.

[Private to Jesse]

Are you still holding your meetings? [He has someone for you. :V]

[Private to Tony]

We need to speak.

[Open Spam for the Greenhouse/Anywhere Deck]

[Charles had been making a concerted effort to get himself back into something that resembled a usual routine. He still hadn't been sleeping well, something that was plainly visible in the dark bags under his eyes, and had a feeling it would be a while before he could really choke it down to nonexistence, but they were somewhat less frequent and easier not to think about the next morning.

And while he still wasn't necessarily social, he'd kept his promise and not spent his days locked in his room ignoring the rest of the Barge, and today that had meant forcing himself to get out of bed, shower, change, and get some fresh air up on deck. He had a book with him, and while he looked content and probably normal when he he popped in the greenhouse and later parked himself near the deck railing to read, he was actually still somewhat tense, his shields lowered slightly to make sure he could tell when someone was sneaking up on him. It wouldn't be noticeable to people unfamiliar wit telepathy, and usually, he would feel a little more guilty and apologetic for doing it, but not since that port. He'd had enough of being vulnerable because he hadn't been able to use his telepathy, and he wasn't about to leave himself open for some other attack or what have you.]

( [Spam for Erik] )

[Telepathy Spam for Jean, Morgana, Arthur, Merlin, Steve, Wanda and Arkady (+ Tony)]

[Once he was in the infirmary, all he wanted to do, really, was sleep. But while he's having his injuries cleaned and treated, he's reaching out to find the people he cares about. His control's a little shaky, exhaustion and fever and now medication making him sloppier than usual - there's a sense of sorry to bother you and oh god please be okay and that hurts, when is this going to be over bleeding through at times before getting shoved firmly back behind psychic barriers - but he just needs to be sure that everyone was on board, no one had been left behind.]

Are you alright?

[Private to Tony, backdated to the end of the flood]

I'm afraid I'm going to need my wheelchair back, Mr. Stark.

[Private to Morgana, present dated]

Are you alright?

[Private to Erik, present dated]

I'd like to speak with you, please. [He doesn't sound angry or disappointed or too depressed, really, he just wants to talk to you re: his encounter with Wanda during dat flood. :|]

[Public, present dated]

[Charles has holed himself up in his room with a couple books for a while, because man, that flood was intense and he needs a break from everyone. :| But he's had some time to wind down and feels like saying something, so, good afternoon, everyone.] I've always enjoyed watching people try to put science in perspective to things that are a bit easier for most people to wrap their mind around. It grounds it, and does make it a bit more approachable for those with only a casual interest in the subject.

Because while I could bore you all for hours with scientific jargon, it never hurts to have a few interesting factoids on hand to catch people's interest instead of just letting them drift off to sleep in the back of the classroom wishing they were still enjoying their lunch period.

For example, while there are differences in the total number of cells in a human body, the number should be around 100,000 billion, and if the entire DNA from all nuclei in the human body were to be arranged lengthwise, it would measure around 180,000 million kilometers. The DNA length would thus be a thousand times greater than the distance between the Earth and the Sun.

It's interesting to think about, that within each of us, there's something that - in theory, obviously - could stretch that far. [He's quiet for a moment, almost a little distracted or maybe considering switching off the feed before continuing.] If anyone has some interesting facts they'd be in the mood for sharing about their own world, I'd appreciate it. It doesn't have to be about science if there's something they'd rather discuss.

Despite the circumstances leading up to it, I think that's one of the few ports we've been to since I've come aboard that one might have considered pleasant. [He got to keep his powers, this is a major score. c:]

On an unrelated note, does anyone have any book recommendations? Nonfiction, preferably, I recently reread Silent Spring, and I suppose you might say I've been in the mood to continue in that vein for a while. [He spends a lot of time reading anyway, but some specific suggestions instead of just wandering into the library and pulling a book off the shelf would be cool.]

[Private to the Admiral]

I'd like the helmet from Mr. Stark's most recent Iron Man suit delivered to him in his quarters, please.

[Private to Steve]

I have something to give you on the behalf of Mr. Stark.

[Private to Erik]

I heard you've received some good news. [Please please please don't screw this up.]

[Charles almost doesn't want to say anything public reflecting on the flood, because he's still unbelievably frustrated in so many ways, but he can't not.]

It's interesting, isn't it, to think how simple things can have that profound an effect on our lives? I certainly don't want to pretend that the Admiral has some grand plan for us, but exposing us to other possibilities does seem to yield... interesting results. [And it was nicer than he wants to admit to be free of responsibility, even though the sense of being utterly alone in the world without proof there were other mutants, and without having someone to grow up with make it decidedly Not Worth It.

He misses Raven, and considers adding more, but closes off the feed before he gives in to temptation.]

[Private to Erik]

I need to speak with you.

[Private to Tony]

Check in, please, Mr. Stark.

[Filtered to the Lab Wardens + Maintenance and Repair Heads]

My inmate has expressed interest in working with both your departments. He's primarily an inventor, and I'd be interested in discussing what kind of supervision he'd be under and what sort of work you'd be up for him doing.

[Added Later: Private to Steve]

Captain Rogers, I'm afraid Mr. Stark seems to have wandered off with your warden item and let himself into the pub. [And while he could just make him come down, he'd really rather not more or less abuse his powers like that right off the bat. :\]

If anyone is in need of assistance in the wake of our last port, don't hesitate to ask. [He maybe feels a little guilty for not going and being able to help out. :c]

[Friends Filter - pretty much anyone he's ever had a positive conversation with, in this context.]

I'd appreciate hearing from you.

[Private to Tony Stark]

Mr. Stark? Professor Charles Xavier. [He didn't quite get around to introductions the last time they chatted.] I trust your adventure in port went well. [Which might have a quiet edge of please don't be dead :| somewhere in there.]