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TEST DRIVE ∞ May 2025
Test Drive ∞ May 2025
The First Collision
The Diadem is an invite-only panfandom game set in a retro-futuristic world where uprooted souls find themselves deep within an eerie wasteland of roads and highways frequently assailed by cosmic storms. Three united strongholds keep the population. Its capital is Panorama, a large metropolis at the planet's center.
Soon, you realize you aren't alone. Calling themselves fluxdrifts, the "locals" have similar stories to you, either for themselves or their ancestry. You speak to an old woman who claims she hailed from another star. You meet a young man who says his great-great-grandfather knew a strange language everybody spoke "back home." As you explore, you stumble across a coin you recognize or your sister's locket. How did it get here? What does this mean? That's for you to discover.
But first, you need to find a ride.
Soon, you realize you aren't alone. Calling themselves fluxdrifts, the "locals" have similar stories to you, either for themselves or their ancestry. You speak to an old woman who claims she hailed from another star. You meet a young man who says his great-great-grandfather knew a strange language everybody spoke "back home." As you explore, you stumble across a coin you recognize or your sister's locket. How did it get here? What does this mean? That's for you to discover.
But first, you need to find a ride.
No invites needed to play on the TDM. Everyone's welcome! Use the Invite Request thread below to request an invite from another player.
∞ Summary ∞
IC-wise, arrivals are scattered throughout the month. Events described on the TDM are also ongoing throughout the month. If you'd rather jump right into the action, you're free to begin in media res with your character having already been on the planet for several days.
Post-impact, characters will wake up in a med tent by the Scrapyard. From there, they must accept a vehicle on loan and make the 2-hour drive to the nearest city, Panorama. If they refuse the car because they don't want the loan, they'll be in debt for medical bills instead...so just take the car. It'll come in handy.
Some things to keep in mind when bringing in your character:
TDM threads can be canon if characters are accepted. Top-levels made to the TDM should be open to all.
Post-impact, characters will wake up in a med tent by the Scrapyard. From there, they must accept a vehicle on loan and make the 2-hour drive to the nearest city, Panorama. If they refuse the car because they don't want the loan, they'll be in debt for medical bills instead...so just take the car. It'll come in handy.
Some things to keep in mind when bringing in your character:
- Pick an injury. At minimum, they got knocked out; at most, whatever they can recover from. Medicine is decently advanced so they'll heal faster if not painlessly.
- Decide items kept. Reasonable items on their person only: photos, keys, clothes, costumes. No pets or animal companions. Wildly out-of-place tech and personal cell phones will be damaged beyond repair.
- Select a weapon. Do this only if eligible. Guidelines about weapons and powers are on the FAQ.
- Choose a vehicle. Decide whether your character gets 2-3 options or if they're stuck with something they hate. Players can pick directly from our collection or source their own images. Anything under a similar aesthetic will work. If your character needs accommodations for driving, they can have them. Ask us for details.
- Get a phone. Characters have to obtain a phone (and a SIM card) themselves. If they've got one from home, it's damaged beyond repair. Phones are cheap. It'll only take a couple of weeks to afford one. You need to know the number before you text or call anyone. Read about phones and the Forum before you hop on it.
TDM threads can be canon if characters are accepted. Top-levels made to the TDM should be open to all.
Fluxdrift
Arrival & Introduction
Date: Throughout May
You've tumbled over a cliff. You were fighting for your life. You're on the cusp of death. You slipped in the shower. Whatever the catalyst, you struggle to cling to consciousness. As darkness overtakes you, a swirling vortex warps light and shadow in a way that defies all physics. A dark wail etches into your very bones. You couldn't describe it if you tried. You can barely comprehend what it is.
Then you open your eyes.
Through the figure's mask ©, you swear the face is grinning down at you. The tent you're in smells of antiseptic, and scratchy blankets line your cot. Injuries you've sustained have been bandaged. In the corner, you spot a MedBot that's fixed you up. Depending on the extent of your injuries, the doctor on duty might give you some painkillers before you go. Thankfully, your belongings are by the exit. Sorry if anything's damaged. Your landing was pretty rough.
You follow the figure outside. They are Yom Crook, here to lend a hand to fellow fluxdrifts like yourself. Their car's parked beside them. Actually, there are lots of cars around, but Yom Crook's stands out with its painted shark mouth. They explain they found you, unconscious, in a diffusion zone and brought you here. The nearest city is a 2-hour drive northeast. Forget about walking. You'll never make it. Also, you owe the doctor a lot of money for patching you up. But you're in luck: they've got some wheels for you and if you accept the vehicle on loan, Yom Crook will cover your medical bills. That's a good deal, right? It's not the shiniest car or motorcycle, but it'll do. If fortune favors, you'll get to choose between two or three options. Plus, if you need accommodations to drive—like adjustments to your seat height or modified controls—you'll receive all that for free.
Take the vehicle. (And the loan.) Yom Crook assures you that you'll have six months before collectors come around. Any time you're ready to pay a part of it down, return here to the Scrapyard. You'll get a receipt and everything. Paying off the loan in six months isn't impossible, but it will take a lot of work. Just don't get too lax. There's a good chance you'll be juggling multiple loans as you try to get by.
You either know how to drive, or you'll have a bare-bones manual to get you started. Road rules are more a suggestion than enforced, so just hit the pedal and go. The car has some basic features. The built-in compass will help you navigate.
Through the figure's mask ©, you swear the face is grinning down at you. The tent you're in smells of antiseptic, and scratchy blankets line your cot. Injuries you've sustained have been bandaged. In the corner, you spot a MedBot that's fixed you up. Depending on the extent of your injuries, the doctor on duty might give you some painkillers before you go. Thankfully, your belongings are by the exit. Sorry if anything's damaged. Your landing was pretty rough.
You follow the figure outside. They are Yom Crook, here to lend a hand to fellow fluxdrifts like yourself. Their car's parked beside them. Actually, there are lots of cars around, but Yom Crook's stands out with its painted shark mouth. They explain they found you, unconscious, in a diffusion zone and brought you here. The nearest city is a 2-hour drive northeast. Forget about walking. You'll never make it. Also, you owe the doctor a lot of money for patching you up. But you're in luck: they've got some wheels for you and if you accept the vehicle on loan, Yom Crook will cover your medical bills. That's a good deal, right? It's not the shiniest car or motorcycle, but it'll do. If fortune favors, you'll get to choose between two or three options. Plus, if you need accommodations to drive—like adjustments to your seat height or modified controls—you'll receive all that for free.
Take the vehicle. (And the loan.) Yom Crook assures you that you'll have six months before collectors come around. Any time you're ready to pay a part of it down, return here to the Scrapyard. You'll get a receipt and everything. Paying off the loan in six months isn't impossible, but it will take a lot of work. Just don't get too lax. There's a good chance you'll be juggling multiple loans as you try to get by.
You either know how to drive, or you'll have a bare-bones manual to get you started. Road rules are more a suggestion than enforced, so just hit the pedal and go. The car has some basic features. The built-in compass will help you navigate.
OPTIONAL PROMPTS: a flat tire; a body on the road (is it a trap?); a fender bender
Panorama
Explore & Settle In
Conditions: Warm spring temperatures, light showers
After 2 hours on the road, you find civilization. The largest of the strongholds, Panorama is where the economy thrives. Massive power plants glowing red make it visible from a distance. The city is divided into three districts. For now, you can access the Pavilion and the Blocks. Don't worry about the Sanctum; they're not letting you in.
You only need to know two things about Panorama: 1) it's big, the size of a modern metropolis, and you'll need your car to get around; 2) anything goes as long as you don't pick a fight with the wrong person. Street smarts will get you far. Despite its geographical size, the population isn't huge. With roughly a million people in a city designed for over twice that number, Panorama is far from deserted, but nor is it overcrowded. It's a good thing. Resources are limited as it is.
You only need to know two things about Panorama: 1) it's big, the size of a modern metropolis, and you'll need your car to get around; 2) anything goes as long as you don't pick a fight with the wrong person. Street smarts will get you far. Despite its geographical size, the population isn't huge. With roughly a million people in a city designed for over twice that number, Panorama is far from deserted, but nor is it overcrowded. It's a good thing. Resources are limited as it is.
The Pavilion: Free Samples
Like any large city, Panorama features a couple of supermarkets. The stock's not as consistent as a proper supermarket. On occasion, shelves can remain cleaned out for a week or two. Regardless, the long tradition of free samples remains. If you're not already shopping, you'll notice the crowded parking lot and clusters of lines inside.
Try samples, push through the crowds as you shop, or give yourself a five-finger discount. If you're cautious, you can pocket a few small items without consequences. The Pavillion doesn't have the infrastructure for surveillance; unless someone sees you, you won't be caught. Steal from the store or pilfer someone's wallet. Maybe you even make a new friend if you bump into another fluxdrift. Or, start a fight with somebody who cut you off in the cheese line. Don't make too much of a ruckus, or you'll be thrown out.
As you look around, you'll see posters advertising temporary positions for the cash register or graveyard shifts in the warehouse. Seems they might've lost several employees recently (how'd that happen?), which is good for you! It's just a 6-week position, but it'll get you on your feet. The city has temporary positions like this all over. Permanent ones are harder to come by when you're new.
Try samples, push through the crowds as you shop, or give yourself a five-finger discount. If you're cautious, you can pocket a few small items without consequences. The Pavillion doesn't have the infrastructure for surveillance; unless someone sees you, you won't be caught. Steal from the store or pilfer someone's wallet. Maybe you even make a new friend if you bump into another fluxdrift. Or, start a fight with somebody who cut you off in the cheese line. Don't make too much of a ruckus, or you'll be thrown out.
As you look around, you'll see posters advertising temporary positions for the cash register or graveyard shifts in the warehouse. Seems they might've lost several employees recently (how'd that happen?), which is good for you! It's just a 6-week position, but it'll get you on your feet. The city has temporary positions like this all over. Permanent ones are harder to come by when you're new.
Samples include: steamed cabbage dumplings, synthetic cherry juice, cheddar cheese, and chocolate-covered alien eggs (it's crunchy and weirdly tasty). They're served in the usual throwaway paper cups with little toothpicks.
The Blocks: Power Outage
Power's finicky in Panorama, especially in the Blocks. Saint Margery's Hospital, located in the same area, has priority for power so the first to go are the motels. Maybe you've been in your room for a couple of weeks, maybe you just got here—and by the way, every motel desk is happy to put the fee on your tab if you don't have the money upfront—but all the motels on the east side are in a blackout, leaving only the west side motels up and running.
What do you do? You have three choices:
What do you do? You have three choices:
- Risk leaving your room and head to the other side where there's power. Knock on some doors and negotiate with another to share the room. They might shut the door in your face, ask for a favor in return, or be nice enough to help you with no strings attached. There's no guarantee your unattended room will be untouched, though, and you'll be on the hook for any damages an intruder causes.
- Sit in the dark and deal. It's not the worst idea, but the TV's down, the vending machines are powered down, and with the entire place plunged into darkness, you risk getting robbed. If you struggle with defending yourself, you might want to find some trustworthy company. You can also sneak out of there and let them take your leftover pizza. It's not like you've got a ton of valuables, right? Plus, clobbering someone in the face with a frying pan sounds great until you realize you've gotta do something with the body. And what if this person's got a friend waiting?
- Get in your car and drive (or grab a friend for a road trip). If you scroll the Forum, you might notice reports on diffusion zones southward. Besides, these motels are hardly your forever home. The city can only provide so much. Why not go for a ride and see what you can find out there?
OPTIONAL PROMPTS: clean up on aisle 3 (what is that goo?); a knock at your door but no one's there; you hear screaming or a commotion down the hall
The Fringes
Quad 3: Lockdown
Conditions: Stormy, with flooding roads
Felix Bjurstrom
> Date: 125-05-17
> Time: 02:15:57
> Emergency road lights have been reported in Quadrant 3! Please, can someone go see what's there? When last we chasers investigated emergency lights, a whole truck filled with sour candy had tipped over. Our stores were stocked for weeks! Oh, be careful - reception looks bad in that zone.
> Date: 125-05-17
> Time: 02:15:57
> Emergency road lights have been reported in Quadrant 3! Please, can someone go see what's there? When last we chasers investigated emergency lights, a whole truck filled with sour candy had tipped over. Our stores were stocked for weeks! Oh, be careful - reception looks bad in that zone.
Through the open windows, a computer awakens and displays a cheerful smile. The lights inside switch on.
Pick your scenario role below. Your thread partner doesn't need to take the opposite role! They can join you in the same scenario (i.e. trapped together). Players are also free to create a generic NPC for the other side to facilitate the thread.
After characters escape, they'll find one bottle of antibiotics in their pocket or car, whether they remember taking it or not.
After characters escape, they'll find one bottle of antibiotics in their pocket or car, whether they remember taking it or not.
A: Sealed In
As you peer through the windows, you see crates of medicine floating around. Antibiotics in the diadem are valuable. Hospitals and doctors are always buying. You can keep it for yourself or make a quick buck. Or maybe you're compelled to help somebody back in the city who's in need. Whatever the reason, you decide to take the risk and step inside.
Water splashes around your ankles. The lock buzzes behind you. If you try to break the windows, you discover they're unnaturally resistant to shattering. With the whole place locked tight, the water begins to churn. Then the computer lights up again.
Warning, it flashes in large, bold text. Quarantine in progress. Release code required for exit.
- To find the code, you'll have to search. Duck under the water, go through sopping envelopes and sticky notes or pick the locks on the filing cabinets and desk drawers. You can also try hacking the computers. Use your computer knowledge or fall back on the age-old trick of seeing who wrote down their password.
- The files, notepads, and emails start innocuous, but as you look through them, disturbing phrases jump out at you—a dark thought you've had or a cruel taunt from someone in your past. The longer you're fixed on the terrible words, the higher the water begins to rise. Only another can break you out of your trance.
- With the rising water comes fear. And the more you're afraid, the more the water also rises. You begin to see faces in the water, bobbing like balloon heads. Do you recognize them? If you move to take a closer look, they will sink back beneath the surface as if never there.
- If you manage to swallow your panic, you can eventually find a triple-laminated binder with the release code and instructions. Bad news: you need someone on the outside to punch in the 6 strange symbols in order. The instructions explain that the code panel is located at the back of the building.
B: Set Free
As you peer through the windows, you see not just the crates of medicine but someone trapped inside. They look like they might be in trouble, and from your vantage point, you notice that the water is bubbling strangely. It's definitely not normal rainwater. As you watch, the water rises unnaturally, stopping and starting. It's as if the water level is responding to an external stimulus.
- The glass is soundproof. You can't hear what the person inside is saying, so you'll have to communicate with each other another way. Try charades, typing on your phone, or whatever you think of. Eventually, you determine that they're stuck and that you need to enter some sort of code onto a pad located—according to your trapped partner—at the back of the building.
- Around the back, shadows swallow your surroundings. The panel must be pried open, but a slippery substance makes it hard to get a good grip. Each time the substance touches you, you grow uneasy. You swear you see eyes watching you, though when you turn around, nothing's there.
- You can't seem to keep the instructions in your mind. And those symbols...they burn into your retinas. Through them, you glimpse an incomprehensibly massive figure unfurling in the darkness, pulsing as if in a deep sleep. When you snap back to reality, you realize you've injured yourself, slicing your hand on a sharp edge or a bruise you can't remember getting.
- Once you manage to release the doors, the water inside the office drains upward into the sky as though sucked out by a giant hose. The darkness spreads. Get out of there fast before the shadows drag you or your partner into the void.
Main Navigation ::: ⇅
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no subject
As fine as one can be in this place.
[ He echoes Scott's response with a faint smile, inclining his head. He is not, in fact, doing well at all. He's struggling a great deal, he's had no sleep, he hasn't eaten much, and he is being attacked by constant voices in his head during all hours of the day. But that is not Scott's concern, and Charles doubts his older self likes to trouble his students any more than he did. ]
I did come from a rather contentious point in my history. Erik had just dropped a stadium on me, so I am afraid I lost my wheelchair to it.
[ And he is stuck with this second-rate one that functions but is far from comfortable. Charles had a rather nice one, albeit not one nearly as impressive as the one he would eventually obtain in the future. It still was better than this rickety one. A small complaint, but for him, a consistent one. He'll do with what he has. Perhaps someday he can find a better one. ]
I managed to talk my way into one of the powerless motel rooms, for now. And you?
no subject
[ Is the immediate response Charles receives from Scott because of course Magneto would do something like this. Would do something to hurt his own because what are they but a means to his end? He visibly grits his teeth, brows furrowing, as he looks down. He doesn't like how he feels so powerless here, so out of his element.
So instead of answering the Professor (and he's sorry about it), he approaches him and takes it upon himself to assist him while he's on this rickety wheelchair. It's definitely old and probably uncomfortable, but Scott can fix it when they're back in his unit. ]
My unit's also powerless, but it's better than being out here. Let me get you inside, Professor, so we can talk more. My room isn't much, but I have candles while I fix this wheelchair you have right now.
[ Then, maybe he can knock on other people's doors so he can find the Professor a suitable place for himself because Scott does note how he also looks worse for wear. He can camp out in the dark no problem. He just needs to find the Professor a decent enough space. ]
no subject
[ Difficult, Charles says, as if dropping a stadium on him is only that. He is angry about that, make no mistake, and the fact Erik tried to murder his own sister shortly before, but it also is one of those details about his former best friend that he is used to. If people knew his mind like Charles does, they might understand better the reasons he cannot seem to stop going to extremes. It's not an excuse, but it means that while Charles gets furious about it and doesn't trust him, he can logically know where it comes from.
But it has been made clear to him that despite the fact they have partnered in the future together in the X-Men, they have decades of contentious struggles first. Which Scott no doubt has been a part of.
Scott reminds him of Hank, all of a sudden, who has been his constant companion for years now, always going out of his way to look after Charles. It is perhaps wrong of him to rely so heavily on his students, but in this situation he's in, it is a necessity. Charles is not so proud as to think he can do it all on his own. He is a community builder, not a loner. He will find a way to be there for Scott too, in his own manner. So he nods. ]
Yes, perhaps it is best if we get somewhere safe. I would like to hear more about you and the others, if you are amiable to questions.
no subject
[ Scott replies as he pushes Charles wheelchair, along with him, to his room. It's not a far trip, just a few doors down the hall, but with how rickety the wheelchair is, Scott's careful not to make the trip as bumpy and uncomfortable as it should've been.
As soon as they're inside, Scott makes sure to lock the door behind him and sets down both his gray zip-up hoodie and the keys to his bike. He goes to work, finding the tools he scavenged during his second day here that are neatly placed in a worn-out box.
But he still keeps the conversation going. ] Magneto's not just difficult, he also kills fellow mutants, uses them to his own end. He's dangerous and shouldn't be trusted, even if back home, we formed a sort of alliance to rescue you and some students from Stryker. [ So Stryker won't be able to use the Professor to activate a second Cerebro that will mindlink him to every mutant he can kill. ]
no subject
I know, Scott. He is not to be trusted.
[ It is fresh in his mind that Erik tried to assassinate the president, dropped a stadium on him, and nearly murdered Raven in front of him. Charles cannot trust Erik with that in mind, even if he were to try and bridge that gap. At the same time he is not surprised that in the future, off and on, he continues to try to reach him and convince him otherwise. He went through a period of time when he did give up on everyone, although it was mostly giving up on himself. But now he is back on track.]
I ... am surprised to hear that about other mutants. In my time, he takes their safety seriously.
[ He aimed his ire and hate at humanity. It sounds as if there came a time when Erik started seeing the ends justifying the means. He could see a bit of it with Raven, how he decided her life was worth sacrificing for the rest of mutantkind. And following that mindset, for him to eventually take those lives for the same purpose, it makes sense. It's just painful to hear. ]
The Logan I met came from 2023, we were working together then because machines were made that killed all mutants and humans who helped them. They found a way to send his mind back through time to 1973 to try and stop them from happening.
[ It stands to reason there must be a mutant with time-travel abilities. They can do nearly anything else. Charles never got every single detail about the hows, only that it happened. ]
no subject
The future doesn't sound so promising.
[ He comments, as he starts fixing Charles' wheelchair. If it were up to him, he'd rather not have any alliances with Magneto. Jean just filled him in after he was forced to fight her at Alkali Lake, and while he didn't have much time to process that in between trying to save the students and the Professor plus arriving here, Scott would rather treat Magneto as a hostile threat to the future of mutantkind.
To hear he's protecting them during the Professor's time is jarring to say the least. But he'll take Charles' word for it. If there's anything Scott values, it's teamwork and community. He might have his own opinions and feelings on Magneto, but if the Professor says he's fine, Scott would have a headache. And then, he'd be fine. Eventually. ]
Does this mean you've met Logan during your time, even when in mine, you don't seem to know about him? [ He spares the Professor a glance when he asks this, though he's quick to return to his task. This time travel talk is beginning to give him a headache, so he focuses on fixing Charles' wheelchair instead. ]
no subject
[ It would have been nice to get a reassurance, and he thought perhaps if he could find Logan he would, but it is just as likely the future Logan would be gone if that future never existed. So Charles would just have to hope for the best and keep an eye on Trask and anything related to the sentinels from then on. He promised Logan he would find his students, like Scott, and give them the life they needed with or without that certainty. Life did have to carry on, as did the X-Men.
Charles has mixed feelings regarding his best frenemy but he is not surprised to hear that Erik's extreme behavior only became worse with time. Once he allowed himself the 'this one mutant murder is acceptable for the good of all' mindset, it could only go downhill. ]
I can't say I'm an expert on time travel. I think the logical answer is that when they chose to change the future, it created a new timeline. I am from that one. You ... might be from the original. Before Logan went back.
[ Charles is a biologist and a scientist, occasionally an engineer when Hank guides him through it, but a theoretical time traveling expert, no, that is even above his head. He might call it an interesting thought experiment, or he might have, before it happened to him. He sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose, ignoring the shouts and noises rippling around them right then in his head. Too loud. It's not only the motel for him, it's the next several blocks of people. ]
Logan told me I had to find you. And Jean, and Storm. To bring you all together again. There is a possibility I knew Logan all this time, I do occasionally have my secrets.
[ Perhaps he did it for Logan's sake, when he saw him the next time. Charles cannot say now. His eyes slant toward Scott and he observes him carefully, curiously. This future X-Man of his. ]
Tell me about you, Scott. I have yet to meet you and I am interested.
no subject
Lips curving up into a faint smile upon learning that Charles has set out to find them, Scott perks up from what he's doing to answer the other mutant's question. ]
What would you like to know, Professor? [ He asks, with a hint of amusement and light teasing. Scott doesn't wait for Charles to answer, though, since he's just mostly kidding and quickly follows that up with - ]
My mutation allows me to shoot concussive blasts from my eyes. [ He says, tapping at his glasses gently, setting aside fixing the Professor's wheelchair for now. ] The only way it stops is if I close them, so you gave me these glasses and my visor so I'd be able to see, as well as control my powers.
[ Scott pauses for a bit, lips quirking up into a wider, prouder smile. ] I'm also the leader of the X-Men. Your X-Men, Professor.
no subject
[ Charles is not surprised he begins with his mutant abilities that he already guessed had to do with his unique glasses. Charles and Hank usually were able to come up with a solution for the students on what they could do when they were out of control.
He sees that pride and smiles back at him. It's humbling, to see someone so proud of working with him, and being a leader. He can tell from Scott's demeanor and the fact he immediately took care of Charles, brought him somewhere safe, and tried to fix his wheelchair, that he is a good man whose instincts are kind. He can see why he would trust him. ]
I can already see the qualities that would make you a trustworthy leader, Scott.
[ It is a weight. Charles cannot go into missions himself so he needs someone who would put the safety of others before themselves. ]
How did you come to join the X-Men? Did I find you with Cerebro?
no subject
His proud smile makes way for something softer, fonder, as if he's remembering all the times Charles has uplifted him when he was struggling. When he had to make hard choices in the field. When he didn't feel good enough to be the leader of the Professor's elite team of mutants.
He's in this state of mind when he hears Charles' question, which just instantly brings him back to that time he feels he'll never see again without blasting someone to kingdom come. ]
You did, and you also kind of didn't. I didn't want to join at first but you've convinced me. [ Then, with a small, teasing quirk of his lips. ] I don't know if you've noticed, Professor, but you have a way with words.
[ This teasing smile, though, returns to his fonder one. ] To hear you can tell I'll be a good leader in your future just by observing me now means a lot. You don't know how much you've inspired me. [ A beat. ] A lot of us, actually.
no subject
[ Charles chuckles. He's always had a way with words, even from childhood. Perhaps because once his powers came in, he learned a great deal about people right away, in ways he didn't want or ask for. He had a funnel of knowledge dumped straight from other minds into his and it taught him many things, but being persuasive eventually became one of them, given how much he could connect with other people.
With time it didn't require his powers at all to read people clearly and to know what to say to appeal to them. He's found that the majority of others respond well to sincerity, even if they might claim otherwise. There are many who want to be convinced, who want to listen they just don't know they do until it begins. A youth like Scott would have been easy to see to the heart of. He's earnest, Charles can see it now. ]
Well you took the lead quite quickly. You brought me to a safe place, problem number one, and saw to my wheelchair, problem number two. These might seem like small details, but they're not. Your instinct was to act, and it was to act with kindness. Exactly what qualities I look for in others.
[ He can tell a great deal about people from how they react to him. Knowing that it was Charles did change Scott's behavior, but the natural decency is there. Hearing that he is inspirational is touching and he smiles back at him. ]
I've done my best, no doubt, but the X-Men are not made of one man alone.
no subject
It's true - there are a lot of us back home. But you've gathered all of us, welcomed us, literally invited us into your house. [ Scott grins a little, reminiscing the Institute. ]
We wouldn't have the community we have if it weren't for you. So, thank you.
[ Thank you for the kind words. Thank you for the school.
It's not often Scott gets to meet his heroes during their youth, and with Charles' current state, he feels the other needs to hear these words. To be reminded of his greatness no matter which point in time he came from.
And because he's feeling a lot of admiration and hope right now, before the man who helped him to his full potential, Scott places a hand on top of Charles' own, squeezing it in reassurance, as an equally reassuring smile graces his lips. ]
We wouldn't be the X-Men, if it weren't for you, Professor Xavier.
no subject
It feels like a heavy wave of emotions crashes over his head with every word that Scott speaks, and there is a very real part of him that wants to argue. He wants to deny that he, this him at least, should be revered. Not with his mistakes, with the regrets he's carried with him for years. Scott may be glad to meet a hero in his youth but perhaps didn't expect to see Charles struggle with words in response to that, and to see tears well up in his eyes.
It's slightly embarrassing but it's honest, and he takes a deep breath in and lets it out before responding. ]
I apologize, it's ... been a difficult few years. I'm afraid I haven't truly become the man you know yet. I gave up on the school, on the whole dream, for a time.
[ Without Erik and Raven, and then with the personal losses of his students and teachers, Charles just spiraled out and he became a shut in, seeing only the darkness in front of him. He doesn't want Scott to think that he is the same as the man he admires. ]
I can only aspire to that now, and I do. So thank you.
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Shaking his head gently, Scott pulls back a little, albeit still crouching down in front of Charles. ]
Nothing to say sorry for. We've all had our moments of difficulty. [ He remembers that aforementioned moment again. Charles telling him not to be so hard on himself. ] I wasn't exactly like this when you first met me either.
[ Taking Charles' hands once again, Scott's smile seems resolute. ] No matter where you are in your life, though, I'll be here for you, Professor. No need to thank me. [ In many ways, Scott owes the Professor his life. This is but a small favor he's giving. He pauses, reminiscing the exact thing Charles told him during that time he was frustrated, after clearing away angry tears. ]
You taught me that sometimes where we are right now is exactly where we need to be. That just because someone stumbles or loses their way, doesn't mean they're lost forever. We all just need a bit of help.
[ Because he was too proud to admit his mistakes back then, too arrogant to think he doesn't need help when he does. He has stumbled a bit more after that, but Scott has learned that reliance on others is key. That only in seeking others can they build a community. ]
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Charles lets Scott brush away his tears even if everything in him is stubbornly against it. He struggles with allowing other people to be there for him, there is a part of him that fights against it, as if roles can't constantly change and balance can be found between teacher and student. He lets Scott take his hand and he squeezes it gently, willing himself to pull it to-bloody-together already. ]
I'm not very good at sharing burdens, I'm afraid.
[ Perhaps his older self gets better at it, or perhaps he just seems like he always has it together, that he's able to be there for everyone else because he sees that as the greatest gift. He could see his past self in that man, and he can see the road that takes him there, it's just a pivot in his path that he's currently on. Off the road, onto the dirt and grass, before it rights itself.
Charles chuckles, deep in his throat. ]
He said that to me too. I met your Professor through Logan's mind, and yes, it was exactly as strange as it sounds.
[ How many people can say they met their future selves through fifty years of time in another mind? No one, Charles was very unique in that way, but it was exactly what he needed to hear at the time. He found that hope inside of him, buried very deep, and saving Raven was just as much about saving himself. If he could reach her, if they could find each other again, then nothing was lost forever with them either. Raven wasn't lost and neither was he. That is what he believed, before he came here. ]
Is it strange to say I only just met you but I am proud of you all the same? You're such a compassionate man, and to think that I had anything to do with that is humbling.
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[ Scott replies in a soft, tender voice, trying not to blush after that compliment like a little boy in front of his teacher. What's strange, though, was how this younger Charles met his older counterpart in Logan's mind. For a brief moment, Scott mulls that over, but it's an odd occurrence he won't delve into right now. Ruins the moment a bit, he thinks.
Squeezing Charles's hands again, this time out of gratitude, Scott lets them go after a while. ]
Thank you so much, Professor. I really only aim to make you proud, so that means a lot.
[ With a warm smile, Scott leans back and returns to fixing the other's wheelchair. He's in the middle of this task when he speaks up again. ]
Can't believe you saw your older self like that. Not that I think it's impossible knowing how powerful you are. [ Using the back of his hand, Scott wipes the sweat that has gathered on his brow, bicep flexing in the process. ] I guess I shouldn't be surprised he told you the same thing you- or I mean, he told me.
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Scott isn't acting like this is the only time he's heard such praise which Charles is very grateful for. His future self continued the support and encouragement that he knows caused positive reinforcement for his own students, while they were alive and around. As for the strange experience he had with his future self, well. ]
It was strange for me too, I would never have thought that possible, but I also didn't think time travel was possible.
[ The X-Men and mutants are capable of many things, but that is a new gift to him and seems so much larger than what he knows. He does wonder, on a strictly curious teacher side, how one trains someone in a gift like that, but it's not as if he got to have an elongated conversation. ]
I was able to transport my mind into Logan's consciousness in the future, and the older me sensed that I was there. He said he still had faith in the dream, even after we were near to extinction.
[ That is shocking to Charles. He is on the road to getting there but he can't say at this very moment he believes as strongly in that. He knows that Raven's actions did put public attention to the side for now, but forever? Only time will tell. ]
My sister made the right choice. Perhaps other key people did as well.
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Hearing how Charles saw his future self, or the self Scott's familiar of, doesn't surprise him one bit. He knows just how potent his Professor is. In fact, if there's something that surprises him, it's that Charles hasn't done something similar to this sooner. Maybe he just hasn't heard of it in his own time. It's also not surprising that the Charles he knows still believes in his dream even when circumstances were dire. It's like finding a fork in the kitchen, admittedly.
So what actually surprises Scott, enough for him to glance briefly at Charles, is the mention of a sister. Because he's sure the Professor of his time hasn't mentioned any of the sort. ]
I didn't know you have a sister. [ His tone hints at both surprise and confusion, with a touch of matter-of-fact in it. Scott feels he knows everything about his Professor, so this is completely new territory to him. ]
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I suspect it's because it is painful, Scott, and I've never been good at talking about my own pain.
[ Charles is great at listening to other people. He makes it his business in fact, and he has always been a sounding board for others. He lacks judgment, kindness is his natural instinct, and he wants to help. His future self said that embracing pain is what will make him stronger, and in literal ways it's true, but in personal ways, it's still not the greater urge in him. ]
My sister Raven left with Erik when our paths diverged. I started the school and the two of them continued on a more ... aggressive approach as mutant leaders.
[ That is a mild way of putting it, he knows that, but Charles has always given the two of them a mile instead of an inch. At this point in time they hadn't become the mutant terrorists they would do some day, but perhaps he has helped Raven straighten her path once more. And that future will not have to exist the way it was written before because he was able to reach her. That's his greatest hope right now. He doesn't know if he'll ever get her to come home to him, but knowing she is alive has to be enough. ]
You may know her as Mystique. It is the name she adopted when she created our codenames. She was ... a very hopeful and big-hearted person then. Thrilled by the family we were creating with other mutants.
[ So her enthusiasm for naming everyone what they would eventually be known as, including Magneto and Professor X, came from a place of excitement and love. That is how Charles still sees her and it's difficult for him to lose that vision. He understands her better now, and that he's been infantilizing her for far too long. ]
We were adopted siblings and inseparable until our views no longer aligned.
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Wait did you just tell me your sister is Mystique, of all people?
[ His tone suggests that he can't mask his shock anymore, one hand lifting to pinch the bridge of his nose. ] She's a dangerous, manipulative mutant, almost as dangerous as Magneto. She attacked us, intent in disposing all of us, and she likes to interfere with the Institute's good work.
[ Scott stands up, exasperation beginning to leak from his tone. ] How can you - How is this - [ He sighs, the beginnings of a migraine starting to let itself known. ] This is news to me, Professor, and it's not a good one.
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I understand that, Scott. But you must also understand that is decades in the future for me, my Raven has not become that person yet. She has never killed before, she is not lost. She is still in her stumbling phase.
[ Which means by Charles's own words, she can still be reached. The stumbling and lost phrase doesn't only apply to the people they know. The struggle is just as valid in the people who have lost their way. ]
I am not trying to invalidate your experience, I believe you. It is likely why I never spoke of her.
[ Like he said, it would be far too painful. It is already difficult to accept that Erik becomes such a monster, although with him, he can see it. His friend is many things and one of them includes monstrous fury and violence. So he isn't surprised to hear that about Erik, only weary and sad about it. But Raven is a different story. He only recently saw that her heart is still compassionate, that she is not gone from him forever. He can imagine his future self is in active agony over their broken bond. ]
The people she loved were murdered or experimented on by humans, it led her to be consumed by grief and rage. I was able to reach her, for now, but ... I am not surprised eventually that hate destroyed what was left of the girl I raised.
[ He didn't succeed with every one of his students. He failed with the two people who it no doubt would have been the most important for, and he carries that. ]
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He really feels like he'd need an ibuprofen at one point during this conversation. ]
Guess I don't have the right to judge since I don't know her very well.
[ Just one side to a person who's apparently not Like That before. When he speaks, though, he sounds a bit tired. Learning Logan's the only mutant present here aside from Charles, knowing the future doesn't sound so promising, plus all these things with Magneto and Mystique. Scott feels like his apartment not having electricity is the least of his concerns now. Looking back at Charles, he still tries for a small smile, though. ]
I'll just have to trust your word for it. [ He trusted Charles' word about Logan, but that's mostly because they don't have history with Logan yet. Mystique, nor Magneto for that matter, will be another matter. He'd only listen if Charles tells him to. ]
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[ If the older Raven showed up here, after all that she has done, Charles would still love her, and would probably try to connect with her again. But he would not ask that of his students who she's harmed, he can't go that far. What he's capable of forgiving is entirely different. He would protect Scott from her, in that case. But his Raven, she loved her mutant brothers and sisters, she would want connections if she could get them. It's the best way to balance her out again, after going to such a dark place. ]
I know this is overwhelming, Scott.
[ Charles doesn't have to be a mindreader to see that Scott is struggling. The situation is already a stressor for both of them, and then added to that he's dealing with a young Professor, with information he didn't expect, it's a lot for any one person to take. He understands that. His tone is gentler, on the edge of worried. It is his responsibility to look out for Scott now that he is here, or rather, for them to do it as a team.]
We'll figure out what to do here together. As strange as this all is, we did find one another.
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So, without saying another word, he crouches down and continues to fix Charles' wheelchair. There's a few minutes of him just tinkering before he stops, wipes the sweat off his brow, and smiles at Charles once more. ]
All fixed. It might still be slightly rickety after some use, but I'll be going out in a bit so I'd be able to find better spare parts. Later, I'll be able to finish the job.
[ If Charles wants to return to his wheelchair, Scott would gladly assist him. His smile seems a little bit forced as he's trying to process the whole Mystique thing, convinced that the only way for him to ease into this information is to ride off somewhere. He has an excuse now, but if he has to postpone scavenging to keep Charles company, so be it.
Once again, he crouches down before Charles, his smile broader and more genuine. ] Is there anything else you need, Professor? I have some bread here, if you're hungry. Maybe some packed meals?
[ He puts on his brave face, his more genuine smile. For the Professor, he's going to be fine. ] You're right, I'm sure we'll figure something out here together. [ And that's probably the last he'll talk about this subject. He'll just have to make plans ahead of actually meeting her here, if ever that time comes. ]
we can wrap here or on yours, and do that post-fight mingle thread :D
[ The wheelchair, he means. It is second-rate at best, and he has to live with that, albeit with some internal grumbling about it. He doesn't know when he'll have the ability to look for a better one, although perhaps getting fresher parts would keep this one from falling into disrepair. He's fairly certain this will rust in the rain as it is. It's already frustrating to be back in a wheelchair after years without it, having a bad one is just underlining it.
He can see that Scott is doing his best to put on a happy face, no doubt for him, and truthfully, he's likely to do the same. Charles doesn't have the confidence of having partially raised his X-Men, that easy feeling his older self no doubt has with them. It'll have to be grown. ]
I'm fine, Scott, I assure you. Thank you for the assistance. I interrupted what you were doing before, there is no reason to halt on my behalf.
[ Scott was headed out somewhere when Charles recognized him from a distance. He distracted him. He really can take care of himself in a general way, including getting back into the wheelchair by himself. ]
If it would make you feel better, I will stay here for now.
[ He suspects Scott feels obligated to protect him and keep him near, and Charles understands that instinct. ]