video; un: E. Lehnsherr

[magneticfields]

[ Erik appears on the video looking straight at the camera, the angle wide enough that it's clear he's not actually holding it. It's unclear who, or what, is holding it as he is alone. He's deeply uncomfortable with having to make this address, but as he rarely looks pleased with what's going on anyway this isn't terribly different from his normal expression. ]

Fellow residents. A few days ago, while repairing the gravity array, I used some abilities that I had previously concealed. On my world, I am what is known as a mutant. That means I have an active X-Gene, which grants me abilities that humans do not possess. These abilities can manifest in a multitude of ways. As for myself, I can control metal by manipulating magnetic fields.

My people are persecuted on my world. We are subject to everything from casual bigotry to attempts at nuclear genocide. When we arrived, I suspected that this could be another crime against us, or that the other residents would display the same prejudice that I have been battling for the last twenty years. So I concealed my identity and my abilities in an attempt to protect myself and any other mutants on board. [ He sighs softly. ] I also did not expect to be here long enough for it to matter.

Since this engagement appears to be lasting longer than I first thought, and I have been using my abilities in mixed company, as it were, I decided the most efficient course of action would be to make a public announcement rather than having multiple personal conversations. My name is Erik Lehnsherr, also known as Magneto. I am a mutant. I apologize to those I have misled. And if you are also a mutant, I want you to know that you are not alone, and do not need to be afraid.

Comments

[mentis]

What do you suggest we do, Erik?

( Charles has already had to do this. Take his old life and try to fix it around where the paralysis has been brutally shoved. Months had passed before the house was changed enough that he could still move around it, and his considerable wealth had been the only thing to get it done in that time. Now here they are, in a station, far, far away from home. He hasn't his money, nor his space. It's not like he can have his physiotherapist order him a chair.

He doesn't even have a physiotherapist.

Weary defeat folds over his shoulders. The indignity of it had been hard to stomach before. Hank had been there, and he's here now, but Charles has gotten used to being able to piss by himself without calamity. He doesn't want to go back there. But the serum will wear off. He knows. Already there've been twinges, clumsy moments where his body had stopped listening, mornings when he'd woken up to his limbs asleep and sharp, bitter panic in the back of his throat.

He's fucked. )

Hank and I will figure something out.

( Or maybe he'll just shove himself from an airlock. )

[magneticfields]

I can help.

[ He should help. It's his fault it's even a problem to be dealt with at all. Even if it wasn't, he'd still want to be useful. He still cares.

He doesn't know what to do in this position, their roles reversed. Him trying to convince Charles to let him show how much he matters. ]

Don't shut me out.

[ It's phrased as a command but he can't help the pleading note that creeps into his voice. ]

[mentis]

( Don't shut me out.

It rings in Charles' ears, the kind of blinding pain and rage that comes from something ending. He wants to snarl at Erik, wants to tear his hair from his head, hurt him the same way he's been hurt. He wants not to feel this way anymore.

Because Erik shut him out. The minute the helmet went on was the minute he lost his friend. Everything that's happened since feels like a direct correlation. It makes him angry.

It also makes him tired. And so he breathes slowly for a second, letting the rising tide of his emotions drain away. When he speaks again, there's the slightest waver in his voice, but the anger is absent. )

Fine.

( A sigh, heavy and bleak. ) I doubt whoever brought me here thought about making the place accessible. I'll need your help whether I like it or not.

[magneticfields]

[ It was the wrong thing to say. Erik doesn't have the right things to say. That's not his talent. None of his talents are constructive, or healing, or good. He can't provide what Charles needs. ]

Shouldn't take much effort. It's not like there are any stairs.

[ It's something he can do, at least. ]

[mentis]

Small blessings.

( He looks briefly off camera, because he doesn't want to look at Erik on the screen. )

The boots might be a problem. If they need pressure to be activated, I can't -- I won't be able to press down. I wonder if we can't take them apart, sort something out that can be activated by touch.

[magneticfields]

I don't need mine, so we can use those. We should set up a time so that you, me, and Hank can work out what you need, what we have, and how to make those ends meet.

[ It's a lifeline, and he grips it. Hank might be smarter than Erik, few people are but if anybody is then it's Hank, but all that intelligence doesn't grant him Erik's innate abilities with metalwork and magnetism. The two things they need for this project more than anything. ]

[mentis]

All right.

( He doesn't smile, because what is there to smile about. But at least they've made it out of this conversation alive. )

I'll speak with you soon.