Telepath at large.

[excessivehubris]

Characters: Charles Xavier [AU] and OPEN for multiple threads
When: Post this wonderful wake up call
Where: A dark, dead city
What: Someone's wandered off and noticed the light of the Clock Tower
Open or Closed? OPEN!
Rating/Warnings PG-13 for language.
Notes: Charles' AU can be found Here and his Permission's Post is HereOh and action or prose is

Comments

[geminates]

[Being shoved away was one thing, it made her face screw up a bit, but she just thought that maybe he heard something she didn't. Sensed someone lurking around that wasn't--

But, no. That question was directed at her, wasn't it?

Raven opens her mouth to say something, but then she's backing away just a little bit more, her hands pressing against her ears because she can feel that, he's-- he's not attacking her, but she can feel him inside of her mind and it made her head throb because she wasn't used to it, and he promised, why was he doing this?!]

Charles, it's me, it's Raven-- [Her eyes squeezed shut as she tried to... Well, she didn't know how to defend herself against this. She was mostly just trying to figure out how to 'calm her mind' or whatever, but she was too freaked out. So she did the only thing she knew how to do.

She let herself shift to her blue, natural form, yellow eyes blinking open even as she winced.]

Please stop! [she thought this;] Just tell me what's wrong, we can talk about this, you don't have to read my mind.

[excessivehubris]

[Oh but he is ready to attack. Well maybe not attack so much as dive into her mind and dig around until he gets some answers but when she flashes from her camouflage to blue he stops. Standing there with his fingers still lifted to his temple, his mind freezes because he knows, he's felt the subtle conscious neurological impulses that flash through her mind when she shifts.

Raven, this Raven may not be used to his mind intertwined around her own but he knows his sister's mind like none other but his own and the mind he's touching is her. Like a fingerprint even if the memories are all wrong. His touch changes, gentles but still inexorable as he looks at her memories, just a brief touch, enough to see himself ... but not himself and then he's pulling back completely from her.

His shoulders drop with the lowering of his hand, the anger and suspicion leave his face but a new wariness and uncertainty take root as he takes a deliberate step back from her.]

You're not her. [He says in a flat, even tone.] And I'm not him.

[Well ... that wasn't quite true and suddenly the wariness and uncertainty are replaced by a puzzling, studious expression. The classic 'Charles Xavier has a knot to unwind' expression and he lifts one hand to brush it through his hair.]

Well I mean, you are Raven and I am Charles but your memories, my memories ... we've lived different lives.

[But how and why and what is this place. He's turning then, remembering the light he saw and that he wanted to get there and look at it and he keeps getting interrupted and ... oh, wait, manners. Stopping, he glances over his shoulder towards her.]

Ah, I ... I apologize for ... [He waggles his fingers in that classic Charles manner.]

[geminates]

What? [Her shift back is slow, because she doesn't even want to hide herself when her own brother can't seem to remember who she is. Well, he kind of does. But it doesn't make any sense. How could their memories be different? Almost everything Raven recalls about her life, Charles is attached to that memory in some way. To say they lived different lives...]

It's alright. [It wasn't alright, not really. She's never felt this defensive around him before, but she certainly doesn't want to. He's looking at her like she's some stranger, and she doesn't understand it at all.

Unless this city was to blame.]

You don't think... Whoever brought us here, put us in that hospital, you don't think they messed with my memories, do you? I mean, you would know if someone was in your head, but I wouldn't. What if they did something to me? [And now she's scared all over again, because what was different? When she woke up she felt normal, just scared, but there was no confusion about what she was anything else. But now this.

If Charles looked into his mind and found someone he didn't recognize, there must have been something wrong with her. Something different.] Is that possible?

[excessivehubris]

[Her question has him stopping, turning to look at her, though its hard because she is like a stranger, wearing a much loved face.]

Anything is possible. [He says but then frowns and turns around the whole way, walking back towards her with his head tilted slightly to the side and his brows furrowed. He doesn't lift his fingers to his temple, he can feel her fear and her concern and despite what he knows about her not being his he still can't not respond to her.]

I didn't feel anything like that from you when I was ... ah ... [Now he feels apologetic, perhaps even a little ashamed for having jumped in her mind so intrusively.] Just that your experiences don't line up with mine, exactly.

[This is getting confusing, in fact as he stands and considers the responses of some other people he's come across so far, he's beginning to feel that perhaps its his memories that are suspect. But Raven's right, he'd know if anyone was in his head, at least he thinks he would.]

And some of the memories are right. We lived together in Westchester, the old oak at the edge of the south lawn, perfect for climbing, hot chocolate with little marshmallows, strawberry ice cream and do you know a young man named Alex Summers?

[geminates]

[Raven's trying to hard to wrap her mind around this, to not jump to any conclusions that she's been brainwashed or mindbent or anything like that, but it's so difficult when she's watching Charles Xavier tell her these things. Her instincts tell her to trust, like she always has, because Charles has never steered her wrong, but. Was this really even him?

He's talking about ice cream and hot chocolate and it's all so familiar, so how could--]

Havok? I mean, Alex, yes. I do know him. Is he here? [Her brows lift and she's looking around, like he'd been here standing with them this whole time and she somehow didn't notice.] We've only met him recently, but he's like us. And he tries to act all tough all the time, but I don't think he's really like that. Do... you know him too?

[excessivehubris]

[Her answer, has him relaxing a little, his hands pushing towards his pockets.]

No. [He says, in a calm, perhaps slightly resigned voice.] As far as I've ever known, you and I ... err, well she and I are the only ones like us in the world.

[But if she knew him and Alex had talked of knowing her.]

I'm the one with the wrong memories. [He gives a small, mirthless chuckle and glances over at her, his expression now just sad.] Of course, that's nothing new with me so I should have expected it from the start.

ahhh sorry!

[geminates]

It was the same for us, for a long time. But there's been this huge crisis with a man named Shaw, and we had to reveal ourselves, to the government. It's kinda nuts, actually. Not as nuts as this, though. Showing up here and all.

[It's like a chain reaction, almost, the way she frowns as soon as Charles does. Maybe she just wasn't as accepting of this whole memory loss thing as he was, but then she wasn't the one that could just look and see the differences. Still, instead of stepping closer to him she just crosses her arms over her middle, trying not to come on too strong like she did with the hug.]

But maybe they're not wrong, your memories. Just different? I don't honestly understand how it's possible, but if I'm your sister, uhm, if your sister is Raven, then they can't be wrong. Just proves that I mean it when I say I'll be there for you no matter what. [grins!] We'll figure this out, okay? I promise. [She nods, her confidence finally starting to show again. They weren't alone, so, they would be okay.] That said, I think we should stick together, if that's alright with you?

No problem!!! <333

[excessivehubris]

[The name Shaw doesn't get so much as a flicker out of him nor does the idea of revealing themselves to the government. Though is now rather intrigued by the idea of there being others that perhaps Alex and that blue man from the morgue were more right than wrong.]

Curious. [He says, watching her and caught in his thoughts and his lips twitch at her thoughts and the slightly defensive body posture, though he can't blame her.

Then she starts talking about being there for each other and that definitely sounds like Raven, so much so that his own flinched body posture begins to relax a little and he even gives her a tremulous smile. Her suggestion that they stick together has him nodding, because he's used to following Raven's lead in so many things that even if he feels uncertain about this situation.]

I was going to investigate the big lighted structure that way. [He explains, pointing towards where the Clock Tower resides.] I probably should have stuck to the hospital but everything is so wrong, all the voices so muffled, I just left.

[geminates]

I don't trust the hospital at all, so that's why I left. My toe-tag... it had all of my information on it, and I don't wanna know who typed it up for me. I'd rather be wandering this ghost town than waiting around for whoever tried to trap us in there.

[Which is why she's starting to walk in the direction of that light source, making it clear she's fine with whatever plans he had. It was better than her idea of a plan, which was basically 'get the hell away from the hospital'. But then, she didn't think anyone she knew would have woken up there as well. Ah, whatever.

There's only a short lull in their conversation, but she can't handle it. This whole city is so quiet...]

So, um. You said you met someone like me? ..With a tail? [Her brow quirks up a bit, because that is interesting. Unless this was some weird way of rounding up mutants, then it was terrible. Let's not think about that.]

[excessivehubris]

[Toe...tag? Charles pauses for a moment and lifts his foot. He peels off the surgical booties he's currently using for shoes and ...]

Oh. [He truly hadn't noticed the damn thing. Tugging it off his toe, he replaced the booties and read the information with a clinical air before folding the paper up and shoving it in the pocket with his cell phone. He'd been in too much of a panic earlier.]

Hmm? Oh, ah, yes I mean in a way. [Charles stumbled over his words a bit as he fell back into step beside her, glancing up now and again to track their progress.] He was blue skinned, like your natural form but he had a tail, which I don't recall you having one.

[He peeks back to check, nope no tail he remembers that right at least.]

He was kind, actually quite patient really given that I probably left him with a bit of a headache. I don't think this is some sort of mutant round up though, as the woman in the room with us was quite base line human.

[geminates]

Raven laughs when he checks for her tail, her hands moving to press against her tailbone as if she has to make sure as well. It just makes her take notice of her jeans again, and it's all so bizarre.

Almost as bizarre as Charles picking up on her little worries, about mutants being captured, but- No. No, that was a pretty obvious concern, so. Not that it mattered, if he was looking. Alright, it mattered to her a little bit. But there's no use in thinking about it, not if he can hear her! Hm.

With that, her arm slips through his, much like how she usually walks with Charles, though now it's not as close, intentionally, since she wasn't sure if he'd even be okay with it. But, ever forward, Raven would rather just do things, then face the consequences later, instead of asking.]

I genuinely hope I get to meet him. I'm glad he was nice to you, especially after the way you woke up. And... I'm not sure if the two men in my room were mutants or not. The thing that caught my attention was the way they were talking, like they were straight out of a storybook, to be honest. It was so strange. I mean, they were polite and friendly, but their vocabulary was just so different. All proper, sort of.

[excessivehubris]

[Checking herself for a tail is such a Raven thing to do and her laughter is a familiar sound that he can't help smiling in response. When she takes his arm, that is also familiar and he makes the natural adjustment for her closeness, falling into easy step with her.]

My vocabulary is 'all proper', [he pointed out.] You just call me an old fart. I'd rather be part of a storybook.

[It was the easy needling he gave to his Raven whenever the pair of them got into chewing on one another's tail, like a pair of puppies. After all, she was his little sister, no matter how often it was her looking out for him.]

And I'm not actually reading you, at least not actively. I simply can not, not hear your thoughts. I ... I am sorry that it makes you uncomfortable.

[He was sorry only because it was Raven who was uncomfortable. As a rule, for the general public, he didn't give much of a damn anymore.]

[geminates]

No, no, I don't mean how you talk though, I mean... like old English. Sort of. They used some outdated words. I dunno, maybe I was just too freaked out over how I woke up. And you're an old fart because of what you say, not how you say it.

[Not that she really knew what this Charles said. But that was so strange, so she wouldn't think about it. She's still smiling though, because it was kinda funny to know that no matter what the circumstances, Raven would tease him about acting like an old fart.

Still, their footfalls matched the same as they always did, and he felt thinner, which was curious, but he still gave her that sense of comfort that she always felt around Charles, and that was what she needed most right now. Familiarity in this foreign city. Even if it was incredibly selfish to find said comfort in this man.]

It doesn't make me uncomfortable. [...] Well, it does a little bit, but only because my Charles just doesn't. We promised each other that; I wouldn't shift to look like him, and he wouldn't read my mind. But, like you said, you're not him. I can't expect the same promises from you. [So, so strange, saying this all out loud.]

But, so. Does that mean I'm projecting things to you? Mm, thinking too loudly? I've never payed much attention to it before. Why can you not not hear my thoughts? [Genuinely curious, because hey, maybe a few more differences between him and her Charles would be good for her, make it less confusing.]

[excessivehubris]

You're the one who constantly asks me to read my thesis to her. [Granted it was usually to help Raven fall asleep and more about his voice than the actual words but Charles knew he could get his geek on and have is sister's eyes crossing within minutes.]

You, I mean she doesn't shift into me either. We agreed upon that early and I don't actively read her mind. If there are things she wants me to stay away from, she just works to not think about them when we're around each other.

[He wrinkled his nose a little, wondering if the explanations made sense, as he'd long ago given up explaining himself.]

You're not projecting, per say, its more that I can't shut out your surface thoughts. Yours or anyone else for that matter, I've never been able to control that and the mind is a funny thing. Mine processes the words that come from your mouth, the things you genuinely intend to say in the same way as I process your surface thoughts and internal commentary. I can't differentiate between the two and so I wind up responding to both.

[He glanced over towards her, a little apologetically before he gave her arm a gentle squeeze within his own.]

My Raven, if she really needs to keep me from responding to the thoughts in her head, she'll mentally recite radio jingles. It mixes everything up and forces me to focus on the words she's actually saying.

[geminates]

Maybe I just like when you read me your thesis because I know how important it is to you. Ever thought about that? [Her tone is light though, because it is mostly true. It makes no sense to her, what he's saying, but she's sure Charles could read a phonebook to her and she would find it relaxing.

The next few things he tells her she listens to closely, carefully trying to make sense of it without repeating it all in her head over and over again. So, he couldn't control what he heard, not like her Charles could. She wondered why, of course, but she was more focused on what steps she would have to take to make this simpler, easier for the both of them.

Like she would have to get used to this.

Because she would. No matter what, this was Charles. That's all that mattered.]

I'm not sure I could think of a song while talking at the same time, without singing the tune, but. I'll work on it. [She grins] Though really, don't feel bad if you mix the two up, I guess I should really learn to say what I mean anyway. What I'm actually thinking. [Which is a scary thought, considering the doubts and worries she's had with her own Charles lately, but, right. Unrelated.]

[excessivehubris]

It took her a little time to work out how to balance both. [He agreed with a gentle smile catching a flash of her thoughts of difficulties with him but not him. Experience told him that was probably a private rumination and not something he should respond to, so he fell quiet as they walked.

After a few steps he began to slow, thoughtfully, casting quick glances to her and then back towards the inky darkness ahead.]

You should try to find your Alex Summers. [He said pensively, brows furrowing.] I'm afraid he left me in a bit of a snit but I imagine you all would do better if you can approach this as a group.