[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]

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]

[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?