OO1 ][ VOICE. ][ BACKDATED TO BEFORE THE AGE EVENT.

[bluetation]

[ Things Hank McCoy did not expect to do today: fall out of a rift in space-time and almost break his face on the hulking debris in what seems to be... a junkyard, after suffering a emotionally scarring transformation at his own hands. (He'd been sneaking to the airbase one minute, and the next, had... landed on all fours in a pile of trash? Yeah,

Comments

[video]

[selfgovernance]

Hank?

[DEAR GOD HIS BABBIES ARE FALLING OUT OF THE SKY
]

Ah-- the year is of little consequence, this is more a matter of spontaneous translocation than any actual time travel, though there are people here from various reference points throughout not only Earth's history but various other civilizations' as well. It's all very interesting and in my opinion, it lends credence to the theory of relativity quite nicely--

[charles check yourself, one of your babbies has crash-landed and you are going to geek about science at him? NEIN.]

-- Wherever you are, please be judicious in your use of the teleporters. We're having some... technical difficulties, as it were.

[ audio ]

[bluetation]

-- Professor?

[ ALL HOPE IS NOT LOST. SOMEONE HE KNOWS. A MUTANT SOMEONE.

And don't worry, Charles, Hank is hanging off every last word in the hopes that he can apply it to his current situation. Things not making sense? Apply SCIENCE. Always. Anyway, what you're saying is definitely lending credence to his burgeoning "inter-dimensional space-time nexus" theory, especially the bit about non-Earth civilizations; so he just. Nods, smiling, even though Charles can't see him. ]

I, uh, haven't used one yet. What kind of difficulties?

[ video ]

[selfgovernance]

In the -- well, not quite flesh. In the vid-screen, perhaps.

[he taps the screen with a sort of. Ironic expression.]

People are finding themselves aged to different points in their lives, it seems. Many are children, some are older.

[ audio ]

[bluetation]

[ dkgjshdfk this technology. This. This is. Hank is going to take it apart and see how it works as soon as he finds someplace to do it in.

-- he pauses at Charles' answer. ]

Maybe it's a... molecular discrepancy. Professor -- do these teleporters take our existing matter, atomize it, and rearrange it on the other side?

[ video ]

[selfgovernance]

That's the exact conclusion I've come to, my friend.

[HE SOUNDS SO PROUDDDDDD. BABBY'S FIRST SCIENCE KIT.]

[ audio ]

[bluetation]

[ SCIENCE MOM BUDDIES. He knew he liked you for a reason, Charles, even if you did out him to the MiB. ]

So there's no telling what it might do to me if I step into one.

[ Pseudo-rhetorical question to ease his mind. And he's actually... willing to risk this. Considering his current appearance. 8| ]

[video]

[selfgovernance]

None. I do of course trust your discretion, though.

[... said rather carefully, because you don't sound like you're entirely opposed to trying it. SWEATERDAD SUPPORTS AND RESPECTS YOUR LIFE CHOICES AND WOULD NEVER JUDGE YOU FOR THEM OKAY.]

[ voice ]

[bluetation]

[ Hank looks away from the viewscreen carefully, suddenly paranoid that Charles can see him; that, of course, is ridiculous, but -- ]

Well, regardless of my discretion, I -- it looks like I'll need to use one anyway, in order to get out of this zone.

[ ... you know what? He'll start walking to one now. ]

[ video ]

[selfgovernance]

[what are you talking about, ceiling Charles can see everything. At all times. Don't make him give you that talk about going blind if you keep doing that thing you do, okay.]

Very well. Would you like me to meet you there?

[... Which. Would involve using a teleporter, but you know what. Charles gives no fucks where his babbies are concerned. HE CARES OKAY.]

[ audio ]

[bluetation]

I don't want to impose, but I guess -- if you didn't mind...? You don't have to.

[ Even if he's MASSIVELY self-conscious right now, he'd rather have someone there to meet him who he can trust, rather than... nobody at all, really. BEST DAD, ALL THE AWARDS.

Aaaaaand coming up on the teleporter. He stops in front of it, observing the structure curiously -- already mentally taking it apart -- then returns his gaze to the wearable's holoscreen. ]

[ video ]

[selfgovernance]

Of course, Hank. It's no trouble.

[Already pulling on his cardigan and heading out the door!]

Just wait where you are, I'll be there momentarily.

[ audio >> action ]

[bluetation]

[ sob so supportive. He'll owe Charles, of course, but for now... he'll just wait, shifting nervously, head bowed. ]

[action]

[selfgovernance]

[And though he comes out of the teleporter with his hands sort of held up as if he's expecting to have to ward off some physical permutation of the re-molecularization's recent aging effects but--

Hm. Nothing happened. Charles pauses a moment, smooths down his jacket and then. Glances arounnnnnnnd and--

Oh. Blue. Blue is normal. Blue is--

Wait.

Blue is Raven. Raven is not Hank. Conversely, he's about as certain that Hank is not Raven.

Excuse him, he's. Maybe staring a little bit. Not nearly as obviously or with quite so much judgmental scrutiny as some people could manage under the circumstances, but. Well. Excuse him, but. You're blue. Da ba de...]

Hank. Good of you to join us.

[Such a smooth recovery. THE SMOOTHEST.]

As you can see, the teleporters consented to leave me unmolested. Shall we try our luck a second time?

[action]

[bluetation]

[ Hank looks up when he hears Charles arrive, but his gaze darts to the side almost immediately; the sight of his friend and unofficial professor is good -- really good -- but he's not sure he wants to see Charles' expression when he realizes his big-footed recruit has suddenly turned into... well, a monster.

He shifts again, feeling uncomfortable in the super suit (slightly tight across the chest and biceps, the forearms and legs hacked off to allow for the new muscle), but finally raises his eyes after hearing Charles speak. The look on his face isn't exactly... it's not outright judgment, but Hank knows what he looks like, and he'd be surprised too if he'd suddenly been met with something blue and fuzzy instead of a "normal" human scientist. ]

I'll tell you later. [ his voice is gruff and embarrassed, but he moves forward, eager to get out of this zone and into another -- to see if the teleporter will change him, will do anything. ] Let's go.

[action]

[selfgovernance]

As you wish.

[So lightly. He assumes that if Hank wanted him to know the circumstances of his... abrupt physical change, he would tell him outright. It's the least Charles can do to offer him what autonomy comes with the personal choice of silence.]

Shall I go first? We have a place set up, Alex and--

[... Ah.]

Darwin. [He says that name so gingerly, and in such a way that invites any questions Hank might wish to pose.] And myself.

[action]

[bluetation]

[ Hank turns back, astonishment and relief obvious on his face, despite his fierce features. He opens his mouth to ask how, but stops, looks away again, pauses. He's confused and a little frustrated, and things don't quite make sense, but he's willing to overlook that for now; just until he and Charles can get to a place of relative comfort and safety. Then he'll ask questions. ]

I don't mind waiting, Professor. You can go first. I'll be right behind you.