c-c-c-catchall early meetings,

[enarms]

Who: John Watson (enarms) & various
What: John's managed to arrange like 20 meetings and they're happenin here
When: various times
Where: various places
Warning(s): murder chats? medical shenanigans? etc, will update as necessary

Comments

[axiomed]

[ Surveillance. Charles swallows tightly. While that is easily within the realm of possibility, it would certainly be Charles' last resort. He prides himself on the ability to keep his word. It is a struggle, downplaying his own senses and powers, muting what should be natural, for others around him. He understands why and he takes the privacy of others very seriously.

Cerebro is one thing. Charles uses that to help mutants in pain, to find young children in need of a home. He could never do this. ]

I . . . I can't. That's too much power in my hands. Maybe something in public places but beyond that . . . If I made that leap, there's no telling where I might end up.

[enarms]

[ — oh. John's eyes widen for a moment, and he sits back. the extent of Charles' abilities is nothing he knows, aside from the man's own allusions to it. he hadn't even considered that using them might have been the insinuation in his words and that... it's telling. of a couple of things. some hint of what Charles is capable of, but also the kind of man he is. to be his own mediator.

gentler, John shakes his head. speaks softly, tone apologetic. ]

Not you. People. On the ground.

[ a team, ingratiating themselves or watching from shadows or whatever it takes. Charles has already offered enough - even if were possible, there are lines John won't cross. times when even he can turn around and say too much in much the same way Charles had for him just a few minutes before. ]

Sorry. I didn't mean to — [ to what, John doesn't know, so he lets the sentence hang. but he's clearly discomfited Charles, and there's an apology necessary for that. ]

[axiomed]

[ Charles shakes his head, his expression softening in contemplation. As a telepath, he has to make certain jumps in logic and also know what to avoid. His is a precarious existence, not easily tolerated. For all of Charles' easy-going attitude and his genuine need to be helpful and kind, he is outwardly reticent, as if reluctant to subject people to his company. ]

It's fine.

[ A beat. ]

My range is quite . . . far. It can be amplified to cover even larger areas. But certain things I cannot and will not do, even for the greater good.

[ He exhales quietly, his smile bittersweet. ]

It is a naivety in which I operate the boundaries of my own powers and existence, but if everything falls apart, I like that to be the one last constant I keep.

[enarms]

[ there's no real scope for comparison with his own life here, and without it John's left grappling with concepts as far away to him as fiction. one day that sort of thing will come easier, understanding perhaps instead of observation, but for now all that he can do is appreciate the attitude that comes along with it. respect, and heartily, the boundaries Charles has set for himself.

the closest person to a mindreader he knows has limited scruples in the use of his skillset, and even fewer rules of conduct that he can understand. often, John struggles with that, even when his own morality has its own revolving door of composite parts.

but this is a clear and definite line drawn in cooling concrete, not sand, and it's something he can value. ]

Understood.

[ and, in a fumbled attempt to shift the mood to a slightly lighter one, ]

If it's any reassurance, you're fairly sci-fi for me. [ that's... rude? maybe? who knows. ] So I won't be asking anything of you that you haven't first suggested yourself.

[axiomed]

[ Charles smiles warmly, a flash of teeth. It's bright and filled with a simple joy. His powers are always a stumbling block and he deeply appreciates anyone willing to put in the effort. ]

I appreciate that. In actuality, mutations aren't so much fiction as an entropic result of the nuclear age. I wrote my thesis on it, in fact. Sadly, it's far too tedious to recount.

[enarms]

[ ah, mutation. right. of course. but in an odd sort of a way, that makes enough scientific sense that he can start to compute it. cheers, Charles. ]

I'm sure it was fascinating, but maybe best kept for another day.

[ back to the friendly banter and an answering smile. much more comfortable ground. ]

[axiomed]

[ He chuckles softly. ]

Yes. What other areas should we cover?

[enarms]

Suppose we could see if any potential candidates stand up under cross reference?

[ his list is currently limited, but he'd like to know if Charles has met any of the people on it to vouch for or call into question their suitability ]

[axiomed]

At the very least, I can make a decent lie detector.

[ He doesn't need to read much of their minds to pick up discordant thoughts. ]

[enarms]

Good to know for when we start the interview process.

[ it's half in jest - the interview process... hah, like this is an opening for a managerial position at a Tesco down the road - but it's also genuinely useful to know that character analysis sits within Charles' purview. without a certain someone else awake to play that part for them, they'll likely need it. ]

Have you got any ideas on people we might want to approach? Or shall I run through who I've jotted down?

[axiomed]

[ Charles hums, before replying. ]

Alan Foster. He'll be of help. I can guarantee it.

[enarms]

[ oh! that's a name that had been on his maybe list instead of his definite, if only because he's already asked a lot of him. but if they're both convinced he's a good man for the job, well ]

Yeah? I agree. He and I have worked together before. Are working together on something else at the minute, actually. [ begs the question - ] The two of you meet on the ship?

[axiomed]

We did. He helped me through my technological difficulties.

[ Charles has never been good at using devices. Cerebro was the only exception and even then he needed Hank's support constantly. ]

[enarms]

[ a smile at that - the conversations he's had with Alan so far have been brisk and professional, but the first of their collaborations had ultimately been a kind of help through technological difficulties too: a set of radios made from nowhere to keep people accessible during the first throes of the crash. ]

He's good at that. [ aaand making a little adjustment to his notes: that's a firm yes for Alan Foster. ] Do you want to be the one to talk to him, or shall I? I think he's a definite.

[axiomed]

[ He hasn't told Alan his secret yet. Perhaps it's time Charles made a decision. ]

I will do it. We're due a conversation anyway.

[enarms]

[ there's something in the response that causes John to hesitate - but not enough to ask again. if Charles wants to do it, far be it from John to stop him. it also saves him from feeling like he's dragging Foster into 20,000 different things at the same time ]

Great, he's all yours. [ consulting his list again... hm ] Have you met Peggy? Carter. She's someone else I'm thinking of.

[axiomed]

[ He brightens immediately. ]

Yes, of course. She has a strong presence of mind.

[enarms]

[ aha! good, another tick on the list ]

And thrives under pressure. I'll get in contact with her later.

[axiomed]

Sounds perfect.

phone tagging is my ruination, forgive that accidental onslaught on your inbkx

[enarms]

There's no-one else I'm completely confident of who fits the bill yet. Shall we see if they've got any suggestions and branch out from there?

<333

[axiomed]

We might as well start small anyway.

[ Too many people and it could fall apart. Charles isn't that ambitious. ]

It's a larger risk otherwise. Even if we might need the manpower. We have to know each other and trust each other first.

[enarms]

Agreed. The smaller the network the safer it'll be. At least until we know where we stand.

Speaking of, I'm going to get in contact with Darma as soon as it's possible. By the look of it they're already aware of the issue, but not necessarily the extent. I'll be careful in gauging if there's any support to be had there.

[axiomed]

Are you sure it's wise?

[ They seem mostly benevolent. Mostly. But Charles, while being an earnest and open person, does not trust casually or easily. ]

[enarms]

No. But I do know they need to understand there's an issue if there's any chance of them having a hand in sorting it. Best case scenario, they've got a system in place and everything's fixed. Worst she's not overly receptive and I won't bother telling her we're looking into sorting it ourselves.

[ does John have an overbearing amount of faith in their intergalactic rescuers? no. but they were powerful enough to bring everybody here, and he can only hope that power and drive will extend to making sure they don't all kill each other. call it wishful thinking.

there's also no small amount of bitterness at the short-sightedness of the apparently godly, but mostly he's acting in hope. ]

I'll tread with caution.

[axiomed]

[ Charles purses his lips, skeptical but sympathetic. They had to start somewhere after all. ]

Please.