[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

[julienned]

Betrayed us. Like everyone else. You think it's funny, that we rely on each other over everyone else. It's not. We know how messed up it is. We just don't have a choice.

[mind_over_metal]

Because there's no one else.

[julienned]

Now he's getting it.

[mind_over_metal]

*surprise and genuine uncertainty with sincere hope*

Am I?

[julienned]

And then he lost it again.

[mind_over_metal]

I'm giving you the truth. Because you'll have to trust me.

*lifts up his hand to touch the bubble surrounding him again*

Enough to stop protecting me.

[julienned]

I said no!

[mind_over_metal]

*calmly*

How come?

[julienned]

Just because I could destroy you with a thought doesn't mean I should. Just because I could kill everyone here doesn't mean I should. I am in control, and I'll keep that control or die trying.

I'm Hellion of the X-Men and I don't hurt innocent people. Even if I don't like them.

I drop that and you will die. I won't allow that.

[mind_over_metal]

*continuing just as calmly*

Why would I die?

[julienned]

You really don't get it. What exactly that is. You can barely cope with it in drip feeds and after I've dealt with the worst of it; I know you can't cope with it as it is now.

[mind_over_metal]

*his hand still resting against the bubble*

This isn't what will protect me.

*nods his head slightly toward the painful, desolate landscape surrounding them*

What you're showing me right now isn't all that's out there.

[julienned]

Yeah?

[mind_over_metal]

You've told me who you are, Hellion. I trust in that. Let it down.

[julienned]

That's why I won't! This isn't something I'm inflicting on anyone.

[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]