[IC: Forward dated to Saturday 19 May]

[julienned]

[YEAH I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY YOU GUYS ARE IN HERE. it's a comatose teenager hooked up to a bunch of machines.

it's really boring.] 

Comments

[mind_over_metal]

"This" isn't all there is. But you can't access the rest of it if you're caught here.

[julienned]

Gee thanks. Way to undermine six days of work there.

[mind_over_metal]

You've done a lot. I've never believed that you haven't. But there's more. And I don't care how long I have to stay down here, how many times I have to come back, I'm not going to let you not reach for what you already have.

[julienned]

[he laughs a little]

Fine. Have it your way.

[he drops it a little. Not a lot, but enough so that things can come in and out of the barrier, if somewhat muted]

[mind_over_metal]

*closes his eyes and concentrates on what he's getting, picking out the individual threads as best he can*

[julienned]

[well, the easiest to untangle would be Julian's hurt, fury and misery at being abandoned by his parents - first because he was proud of what he was, second because he foiled their plans and third because they moved house while he was in the first coma.

...or he could go hard mode.]

Well?

[mind_over_metal]

*taking in these feelings with some sadness but mostly a controlled anger on Julian's behalf and just plain... acceptance of Julian's experience*

They're don't deserve what they're missing out on.

....go on. I trust in your ability to pull me out if I start screaming.

[julienned]

And they're evil. Not in an interesting way, either. Just really stupid petty bullshit.

[mind_over_metal]

Mm. Most evil in the world is incredibly commonplace.

[julienned]

What is it, true evil is really boring and banal?

I'm not exaggerating though. They are. It's not like I care about them anyway.

[except how he really does]

[mind_over_metal]

...it would be all right if you did. Quite normal, really. Especially for someone like you, with so much loyalty -- not to receive it in return is a huge betrayal.

[julienned]

Happens often enough whether I care or not, doesn't it?

[mind_over_metal]

But you're far too determined to stop caring. Most would have given up long ago.

[julienned]

It's not like anyone else has stepped up, is it? Doesn't matter where we go, we're not considered people. At best we're unwanted charity cases and at worse ...

[it's a memory of at least 100,000 Sentinels, the crushing hopelessness of knowing that the red tint to the sky is from a barrier keeping the entire mutant population penned inside with the Sentinels, more keep appearing no matter how many are destroyed, and the grim knowledge that he is one of the most powerful mutants there and that no matter his age, he must fight until he falls. Nori's with him and there's a sick fear that he'll have to watch her die like almost everyone he's known. The scene shifts ... and then cuts off abruptly.

If he looks at Julian, he's gone white, his jaw set and his hands trembling from the strain and pain.]

You don't need to see that.

[mind_over_metal]

*quietly*

Yes, I do.

[julienned]

One got past me and took off both hands.

You said I'd pull you out once you started screaming? You will. No point in showing that, then, is there?

[mind_over_metal]

Do it, Hellion.

[julienned]

[he gives him a Look but does so. Hope you like the sensation of having both hands disintegrated, and a bunch of burns!]

[mind_over_metal]

*bites down hard on the inside of his mouth, tasting his own blood while feeling someone else's, trying to keep from screaming -- and he does, though his legs go out from underneath him from the shock and pain and shock Ican'tfeelmylegsIcan'tfeelmylegs but he flings out his thoughts in an action part reflexive and part so very under control, mentally scanning for the thing that could enable a person to hold on, that something more*

[julienned]

[he snaps the memory off, very pale, as he catches him telekinetically ]

I told you, I told you, I told you...!

[mind_over_metal]

*his mind still active, still searching, with the same sort of adrenaline that has his lungs searching for air*

I don't believe that I'd started screaming yet.

[julienned]

I don't care! I'm not doing that! There's got to be another way!

[mind_over_metal]

There almost always is. Whether we're willing to find it and use it is another matter.

*takes a deep breath and starts getting his legs back in working order beneath him*

[julienned]

Then we need to think of it. I'm not doing that anymore!

[mind_over_metal]

*not challenging him, just patiently pressing*

Then what else do you have? Besides what we're surrounded with down here? If you won't let me go through that, then you have to help me.