milliways_bar | (no subject)

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As Charles was feeling in the mood to read something different, he asked Bar for a recommendation and she gave him a book that grabbed his attention.

She gave him a fantasy book that deals with some familiar themes and has given him some ideas for approaching the world. As Bar likes to protect her patrons, its in a blank cover that doesn't show what it is. Since the weather is nice, he's reading outside by the garden with an iced tea as he reads.

(OOC: Charles is listening passively as he's concentrating more on reading. Please let me know your character's thoughts in the narration or why Charles wouldn't be able to hear them. Thank you. I am done with the school year! This is open until it scrolls. All threads are set before the one with Sallie.)

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"Fairly, mainly working on Cerebro. May I ask what you are better from?"

He doesn't wish to pry but she's scaring him by how careful with herself she is. In all the time he's known X, she's someone who knows herself and now she seems uncertain.

"You can ask," X allows. But she does not answer him.

In her memory, the relief of stopping wars with that first initial impulse to destroy. It passes.

She still hates the trigger scent. But she is slowly growing less afraid.

"They are upgrades? That you are doing to Cerebro. Or they are repairs?"

At her response, he sips his tea, he understands that he's not someone she would wish to share what's happened. Milliways brings about these types of odd moments and he can talk so she doesn't need to,

"Improvements as we're changing what Hank originally built it for and refining it. Each time I use it is a little easier."

X only frowns a little.

"I am allowed to ask? What you built it for. And what you are using it for. Now."

Listening to other people -- talking to them about their lives -- all of this helps

More than solitude, sometimes. It reminds X of her own version of normal.

"I didn't build it. Hank did with the CIA, his original design was meant to amplify any psychic ability. Before me, it had only been used on men who had a small amount. When I used it for the first time, it was disorienting and wonderful to have such a large range. What we're doing now is refining it to allow us to find other mutants, which has provided difficult at points. As the way it gives me a much larger range means that I have to work harder to focus. We'll get it there,"

He's glad to talk of Cerebro since the challenges are some of the most interesting he's worked on. Also Hank and Erik bring completely different ways of working, which adds to the process in some great ways.

X tilts her head, considering this.

"It is only mutants?"

Beat.

"That you want to find."

"For now, yes, to connect with them and help them. That part is purely in my and Erik's control. While Cerebro might be on government property, everything that happens with other mutants comes through the two of us. We want to do good not create more harm,"

Which he believes is possible though it won't be simple.

"It is good," X says, expression gone blank.

"That you want to help."

The government and its special programs are not . . . kind.

Maybe Charles' world is different.

It is possible.

"I do, we do. We know how bad things can go, Erik lived through that. We don't want that,"

He won't see mutants hurt on his watch.

"It will take a long time," X says, very quietly.

"To change people. Enough."

"I know, but I'm willing to give all I can to see that change happen,"

From what he knows, he's at the beginning of his journey and according to other mutants he's met, it won't be an easy one, but its what he feels he has to do.

"You can try."

Something flickers at the edges of X's mind. Part of it is determination.

"But I think -- "

She bites her lip.

"If it is not mutants, it will be other humans. Or other people. From other planets. It is -- "

X forces her hands to remain relaxed at her sides.

" -- problematic."

"That just means its more important to find ways to keep it from happening. Life is difficult enough without hurting each other,"

And humans are good at hurting each other.

X considers that, head tilting slightly.

Then, carefully --

"You do not hurt people?"

Unintentional hurt counts, at least by X's lights.

"I do all I can not to," Though he does make mistakes but he tries to not create hurt.

"You are a person, too," X ventures.

It's part of the person condition.

(Like the human condition, but more all-encompassing.)

"I know, which means I do create it sometimes. When I do, I try to fix it but I still make mistakes. I try to make as few as possible,"

He's still learning.

"Many people do that, too," X allows.

"It -- helps."

Right?

"Yes, it does though its not always easy to see,"

People are slowly changing how they view the world in his time, but its not a smooth process. That's why he knows that mutants face a difficult battle but a worthwhile one.

X shrugs, one-shouldered and quick.

"I do not think that changes."

"Probably not as people don't like to show when they make a mistake."

X hesitates, studying Charles carefully.

Then --

"Sometimes people do not know things are mistakes. Until they have made them."

"True and its not always simple to point that out, but that's how you learn to do better. Growing up, my sister did that for me and she still does as do other people I know,"

He's still learning and knows that.

"It is good to have friends," X offers. (And family, but -- that is a different subject entirely.)

"Who help."

"It is."