First Kill | Video

[darklydreamndex]

[OOC: Italics are internal monologue, said and heard only by Dexter. Non-italics are actions. <3]

[...what just happened. A few hours ago I was just cleanly slicing Little Chino's carotid artery. Now, suddenly I'm in a... room. It looks so sterile. What is this place. Why am I here. Why am I here and not Debra, or Rita, or the kids? If I

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[excessivehubris]

[Charles was disciplined enough that even as he felt surprised at having a thought directed back 'at' him by a non-telepath he kept his expression neutral. Instinct practically bellowed at him to lie, not to respond to the man as if he hadn't heard him, after all admitting to a serial killer that you've witnessed one of his more recent kills is not frightfully good for one's health.

In a unique show of some level of a self preservation instinct, Charles ... split the difference.

He exhaled a deep breath, looking for all the world like a man caught out and gave Dexter a sheepish smile.]

Just your thoughts about the sandwich and Miami, Mr. Morgan. You were thinking about them quite loudly and you'll find that many people are what's called 'Force Sensitive' here because of the universe we're in. It occasionally impresses strong feelings or direct thoughts back and forth between us.

[Everything he said was the truth, just not the whole truth and just in case Dexter proved to be one of those individuals who would have sensitivity to the Force, Charles shielded his thoughts carefully and looked as unassuming as possible.]

[darklydreamndex]

There were other thoughts equally loud, Charles.

[Dexter doesn't believe that was all he saw and heard. He's paranoid, and rightfully so. Dexter has secrets no one should see hidden away in his mind, and if more than one person could see straight through him... this place was going to end in an electric chair for him.]

[You don't look scared.]

[His hand has raised to his chest - his heartbeat is strong against his fingertips. Is this what fear feels like? This must be the closest approximation.]

[excessivehubris]

[Charles didn't imagine that Coruscant had the electric chair but to say such would definitely reveal that his read was going deeper than just the surface.

Instead he let his eyes widen owlishly.]

Why should I fear a member of the police department who likes pulled pork sandwiches?

[As he spoke, Charles projected a feeling of calm and peace. If he allowed Dexter's paranoia to continue to ramp up, he really was going to be in a sticky situation. For now it was time to employ a bit of calm until he could figure out his next step with the man.]

[darklydreamndex]

[Dexter closes his eyes, and breathes in, slow and deep. When he opens them again, there is a bit of calm, despite the overall cloud of anxiety. This was not the time or the place to lose himself - he'd survived Miami his entire life with only Harry knowing who he really was (and his brother, later), and yet within ten minutes this man read him like an open book - but he would find a way. He always did. Harry taught him well, and even if he never taught him how to close his mind against telepaths, he would find a way.]

[Charles' abilities, of course, only increased the 'calm and peaceful' state of mind.]

You shouldn't.

[He shakes his head as if to clear his mind, but it did little.]

This is... new. For me. I think we should talk. But not on this thing.

[And not here, either.]

[excessivehubris]

[He could feel shades of the discipline the other man put on himself and Charles couldn't help being a little impressed. Of course, if what he'd seen on his brief touch was anything to go by, this man had to have a disciplined mind, to do what he did, so carefully and without drawing any notice to himself.

It was ... disquieting and Charles forced a similar calm on himself to keep from letting his disquiet show more than he was willing to share with the man.]

Its new for all of us, Mr. Morgan. I would be more than happy to meet and talk with you if you wish?

[darklydreamndex]

[For some reason I doubt what you just did was anything new for you.]

[The dry, humorless words were not directed entirely at Charles - Dexter often spoke to himself in his own mind, it was simple habit at this point. It would be difficult to simply... stop, even if there was someone probing around in his head. His head was a dangerous place.]

The sooner the better.

[excessivehubris]

[Just a harmless little professor sitting here. See even wearing a sweater vest. How can you worry about a man in a sweater vest?]

Of course. Would you like me to come by your room and help show you around, Mr. Morgan?

[He felt rather like Winnie the Pooh singing to the bees.]

[darklydreamndex]

[Dexter has killed people who looked 'innocent in sweater vests'. He was a psychiatrist. 8)]

[The newcomer nods.] I think that would be best, yes. It'd help if I knew what room I'm in. [He looks around. Oh hey look at that, it's right on his door.]

D-8. I'm in complex D-8.

To Action!

[excessivehubris]

D ... ah yes I know what level that is on. I'll be down presently.

[With that, Charles disconnected his feed and spent the next two minutes rubbing his eyes and wondering at his own sanity. He needed to change out of Erik's clothes, they were just too big on him not to engender questions that Charles was in no mood to be answering.

So it took him perhaps ten minutes to get dressed in more appropriate clothing and navigate his way from his own apartment to the D level suites. Standing outside D-8, Charles took a few slow breaths and schooled his expression to polite neutrality before lifting his hand and knocking on the door.]

Action it is!

[darklydreamndex]

[Dexter spends his time pacing the tiny space of his new apartment. He's glaring at sterile objects without really seeing them - instead he's remembering his own time and place that were no longer in his grasp. Rita, the kids, Debra, hell, even Masuka, even Doakes was better than this. Doakes may have gotten the creeps from him, and was never afraid of voicing his opinion on the topic, but he didn't know.]

[...And that made all the difference. This Charles. He knew. He was sure he knew. Pulled pork sandwiches and thoughts of his brother - the brother that knew him, and was forced to die by his hand - were tied together in the same stream of thought, and he'd been blissfully unaware of another's presence in his mind at the time. Because broadcasting his thoughts in his own mind had never been an issue before.]

[Am I broadcasting to the entire city without even knowing it?]

[He was beginning to think he was out of his league here. No criminal database, no standing in the police department (was there even a police department here?), no job at all. No disguise for who he is. Who he really is. His Dark Passenger.]

[Killing Charles was out of the question - even if it would solve his problem, potentially. If he killed anyone who would potentially bring light to who he is, Doakes would have been dead the second he said in that haughty attitude that he gave him the creeps.]

[But no. Charles hadn't been... concerned. With reporting him to the authorities. At least he hadn't appeared concerned. Dexter was almost paranoid enough to think he was at the authority's office right then, but the knock at the door calmed that frayed nerve.]

[Quickly moving to the door, he sees that this is a joint apartment - great. His expression is forcefully neutral as he opens the door.]

Re: Action it is!

[excessivehubris]

[When the door opened, Charles fell back on his instincts of how to hide in plain sight. With a warm smile, he pushed his hand out towards Dexter in a friendly gesture.]

Mr. Morgan, I presume. Charles Xaiver, a pleasure.

[He was offering his hand to a man he'd seen killing in cold blood, justified or not, Charles wondered to himself if he hadn't gone a little bit around the bend today]

Action~

[darklydreamndex]

[Dexter glances down at the hand presented to him, tips his head just slightly, then he takes it. His grip is firm, but hardly crushing.]

[Unfortunately, despite his usual cordiality in his own universe, his smile is a little forced this time.]

The pleasure's all mine. A... tour of this place would be appreciated, Charles.

Action~

[excessivehubris]

Of course! Would you like to...

[Charles motions as if to offer the escort right now. Because in all honesty he does know better than to just waltz into the private quarters of a man who was quite systematically killing a person before he arrived.]

There are a couple nice places to eat?

Action~

[darklydreamndex]

[Don't worry Charles, Dexter's kill tools didn't come with him. Unfortunately. It would have made his life a little easier.]

[Dexter glances down at his pockets. These clothes felt so strange.]

I... don't have any money, unless that droid thing has my wallet.

Action~

[excessivehubris]

Ah, no I believe you'll need to see about getting a job, seems to be the way things go around here but don't worry. [Charles chuckled.] Since I issued the invitation, I'm paying.

[Stepping back, he tucked his hands in his pockets and tilted his head curiously, waiting for Dexter. For now Charles made a conscious effort to treat the man as he would anyone he knew, rather than dwell on what he'd seen in Dexter's mind.

At least for the time being. He couldn't help having questions but between knowing Erik and having met Logan, Charles was learning that actions were often rooted in much deeper logic than may appear at the surface.

He wasn't ready to judge what he'd seen Dexter doing, at least not till he understood the man a little better.]

Action~

[darklydreamndex]

A job shouldn't be too hard. I hope.

[Any need for a blood spatter analyst on Coruscant?]

[Dexter was confused by the man's actions - most would run and hide if they knew his secrets. Or just... act differently. But here he was, offering his hand, smiling, and offering to pay for his food.]

[He follows the younger man regardless. His mind is racing, attempting to cope with all that has happened already. And now he was desperately attempting to keep the strong compulsion of thinking about his most morbid kills out of his mind. But unfortunately, when one tries to keep things out of their mind, it quite often shows up anyway. But there are other snippets too - of Rita, his girlfriend. Her kids, Cody and Astor. His sister, Debra. And how he might never see them again.]

[Does he miss them already? Even Dexter doesn't know.]

[Is this going to be the fall of Dexter Morgan? One Charles Xavier? Dammit, I'm doing the internal thought thing again.]

[This was hard.]

[He smiles and gestures off down the hallway.]

So, where to?