diademlogs | Those With The Greatest Power

[thread here]

[ Charles has to wonder what was the point of trapping her first, if it was some kind of hunt. Or could the entire building have been a trap for what was already in there, and they simply got caught up in it? Either way, they are safely out. He may have to warn people from following through when he gets back to the hospital, it truly isn't safe enough.

He gives his hand over to her without argument. If she wants to fuss, at least she's fussing in person, and with him, and Charles can only be happy about that. They're in an insane situation but Raven is here. She's alive and safe and not run off to places unknown to him. Charles could have followed her again with his mind after their confrontation, and a part of him wanted to just so he could look at her some more. Although obviously he realized that was creepy and unappreciated, but it had been over ten years since he was in her presence.

He still feels that now. The divide that lasted years, and how much he dearly wanted it closed. He smiles at her, not even noticing or caring about the pain from the cut. ]

I have my moments.

[ He is so glad to see her, but he also must do the right thing, no matter if this taints the reunion. ]

Erik is here as well.

Edited 2025-06-11 00:01 (UTC)

[Years apart and countless conflicting emotions have done little to curb certain instincts, old habits that still remain— for all the hurt and resentment that had been left to grow in their time away from one another, she still looks at him and sees her brother, someone she loves, even when they don't agree.

Something about that surprises her, though pleasantly so. She had been so certain that she had given up or lost certain parts of herself when she had chosen her path. It was nice to know that some parts of Raven remained, even when she had been determined to bury them within Mystique.

Satisfied with the fact that the bleeding seems to be slowing, she continues to apply pressure as she glances back up at him. He's smiling, though from the looks of him, he might not have done much of that for awhile. He looks so incredibly different from the polished and put-together Charles she remembers from his days at Oxford.]

I saw him.

[The corner of her mouth twitches, almost a frown, though she catches herself and holds any overt display of emotion back.]

He found me when my car was stuck on the side of the road. We had words.

[Words, not bullets. That was an improvement, from her perspective.]

[ It's a relief to him too, that they have found this moment together and it feels strange but not bad. After their intense and not altogether great conversations recently, Charles knows that he reached her, he saw his sister still there. He told Scott that she was a good person, and whoever she became decades from now, it's not his Raven. He can only imagine the pain his future self had that knew how far she and Erik had moved out of his grasp, the distance making it so that he never even spoke of her anymore.

He refuses to let that happen again. Not here and not now either. Charles still looks at her with the love he had from that first meeting in the kitchen. She's his favorite person in any given universe. That truly hasn't changed. ]

The first time I saw him after our separation, I punched him in the face.

[ Charles smiles wryly at her. He's never punched anyone in his entire life, which she for certain would know. ]

I had such bad follow through on it that I ended up almost falling over in the process.

[ He tells her this for two reasons: so she knows he also is angry at Erik, that hasn't changed, and also because he thinks it would amuse her. She likes when he is his least polished, when he's awkward and imperfect. The affection of a sister knowing she can tease her brother over something stupid. ]

[from here]

Charles is observant and sees the trepidation for what it is, so he does not press more than that. They've only just met, he'll keep his probing questions, gentle as they are, for another time. If he feels more comfortable talking on the other subjects, that's fine with him. This is better than the ache in his mind he's had recently, and came here to escape.

"I am aware that in the future of my world, technology reaches levels I would never expect." A cellular phone may be unusual for him, but it's not in any way out of the frame of possibility. It makes sense people would take the landline and wish to push it further. He saw the sentinels of 1973 and they were impressive, but from what he hears, nothing compared to the final product.

"A scientist who evolved himself? How interesting." That's what he's taking from Viktor's explanation. Research that led him to get magic. "Dangerous, though, I imagine."

Edited 2025-06-11 00:21 (UTC)

The phones are an interesting novelty, especially for someone used to sending messages through pneumatic tube. He smiles at the thought of it, but it quickly evaporates at the next turn of the conversation. Charles describes with an accuracy that makes him uncomfortable.

"It was not worth the cost," he replies after a moment, because that much he knows for sure. Viktor hadn't expected to be living with the consequences, when Jayce passed him the rune in the astral space to end the loop, but now he has to.

"I don't...appear this way, in the real world. Perhaps when we meet there, you will understand."

Now that, Charles understands. Something not being worth the cost in the end. He would like to think that most things he would do again, but there are some things he lost that he can't help but think about a life with. His inability to fully accept his life in a wheelchair is what led him to an addiction and a deep depression. He got his legs back at the cost of what he often told people never to let go of, and now he's made the trade back. But it may always be a turning point for him, that day on the beach. Charles may have a chance to get back Raven and Erik, but it'll never change what was broken.

"I'm sorry," he says genuinely. "It is unfortunate when there is no turning back on a decision." Just a lifetime possibly of regrets. Whatever Viktor did, experimented on, led him to a conclusion he didn't want. That's tragic either way.

"I see. I do, mostly. Except I can't leave the chair. So you know who to look for, if you want." Charles is not so easy to startle. He may be surprised when he sees Viktor's true form, but he knows what he is on the inside, which is what truly matters. "What you look like, was that the result of it?"

"There's no need to apologize." They've only just met, after all, and though Viktor understands this is just general sympathy, he's still not very good at processing such sentiments.

Everything here, however, is noted. Viktor doubts he'll be able to sneak up on someone like Charles--he gets the sense that he's only experiencing a fraction of his psychic ability. Even this might be too much to reveal.

"Something like that, yes." To detail how he remade his body feels to be too much, for a stranger. He'll understand, if they meet in person. "It's difficult to explain."

It won't be difficult for Charles to connect Viktor in here to Viktor in his body, no matter what it looks like, because psychic energy translates. He has a feeling for people. It doesn't require reading a mind for him to get impressions of a person, and he hopes that he will run into the physical manifestation at some point. His curiosity is certainly engaged.

"Perhaps one day you'll feel comfortable enough to talk about it in detail. I can't deny that as a scientist, I'm intrigued, but only if you want to." Charles knows that they only just met, so he's not pushing. It's placed there as a possibility for the future if Viktor decides to later, not as any particular expectation.

"Are you concerned about being in this world looking different? This is a strange enough experience as it is."

Viktor offers something of a pained smile, one that indicates this is as far as he'll go, for now. He hadn't exactly expected to meet anyone here, and in that way isn't really prepared to say much more about himself. He imagines much of this will become clearer if and when they meet in person.

"No," he says, the reply coming fairly easily. Viktor is used to scrutiny, pity, derision. He can't imagine a place like this could be any worse, not when there are so many people from so many different worlds. "Unless you think I should be."

"I don't know this world well enough to guess. It does seem a little more used to the abnormal, given the situation." They're all absorbed here from other universes, it would be strange if everyone was boring and average about it. Charles hasn't gotten a sense for the main population yet (and he won't be happy about the noise once he does) but he can't see people easily being shocked around here.

One of the workers tries to get his attention and he turns his head in that direction. "It appears they have my van ready." An accessible one, and he is genuinely excited about driving for the first time in years. "Come say hello if you see me in the city. I'd love to chat again." He respectfully nods his head and then disappears from the astral plane.

"I'm a geneticist, thinking about inherited family traits comes with the territory."

So basically, in a crude sort of way, he's always thinking about species breeding, or at least what comes genetically from the results. He'd be fascinated to study werewolves in particular given what she just said, but of course, with permission granted. He could understand why no one would want to go under a microscope, being a mutant.

"I don't know yet if having two mutant parents would strengthen the power. We don't have the best awareness of these details as mutants have only been public knowledge for a decade or so, including to me." Charles knew it had to be likely they were out there, but no proof until he started looking for them. He's not sure there are any mutant pairings as of now.

"I suspect someone could create a mutant, but it is more likely the human would die in the process."

Edited 2025-06-11 14:11 (UTC)

( Charles was surprised when they offered the van to him because up until then he thought he was about to be in a frustrating situation where he had to pay strangers to drive him to the capital. And everywhere after that. It is what Hank usually does for him and he's had to swallow his pride about that for a long time, but with Hank it's easier, because they are close. He was genuinely delighted when they showed him the van and how to use it. It's been over a decade since he got to drive.)

Oh that already makes me feel older just hearing that.

( Charles chuckles. By the time she was born he was already quite old, so he fits the old fart definition well.)

I'm a professor, a teacher. I teach people how to embrace their gifts and become stronger for it.

( Charles is very passionate about teaching. He doesn't know what he can possibly do in this world that will come even close to that, as they have no traditional education. He may have to live without it for an unknown amount of time, or find something else to be passionate about.)

What year are you from?

Edited 2025-06-16 18:23 (UTC)

( he's definitely older than her, even without the knowledge of what year either of them is from. still, when he says that he's a professor, wanda stares at him for a while—lets her defenses lower a touch, just enough to breach through. it seems that the answer has sparked her curiosity, all the more keen to be open with someone who teaches—who deals with teens, young adults, with the objective of them embracing themselves.

not that she knows what 'gifts' he is talking about. )

Professor Charles, then?

( wanda teases, taking another bite from her sample food, a light smile on her features before it disappears—and she's guarded again, her mental walls up.

then, a shrug. )

I'm from 2015. We have the internet.

I thought it would be a bit braggy to lead with Professor Charles Xavier, but I suppose I could have.

( In truth, if they were in his world, he would, that is his natural way of introducing himself. But they're in this strange new place where there seems to be no formal level of education, which means that him continuing his passion will not be easy here while they're stuck. Professor might not mean much of anything here, and just be him holding onto something he's lost. It feels good to use it again though. It is so much a part of him that it feels right.

Charles notes the change in her walls. He can't see through it and he's not even trying to, it's a little like someone opening up their windows a sliver before closing it again. He can witness is on the outside without needing to nudge his way inside. Still, the fact she can do that is what's curious. After some time here he might meet a few people with psychic abilities, but for now it's still new to see it in others.)

The ... internet?

( He says it like it's an alien word. Charles doesn't have a phone yet as he has no money, so he hasn't learned about the glory that is the internet forum. )

2015. That's amazing. It wouldn't happen to be a horrible dystopian 2015 though, would it? I'm told that's what my future entails.

I imagine you studied for it.

( for the title. she chews on the last bits of her food as she speaks, feeling suddenly very aware that this must be a very educated person, so makes a concerted effort to swallow everything before speaking again. )

I would brag about it.

( —if she got to have something like 'professor' to her name. she wonders what he studied, what he did to claim that title. other than perhaps having students. with that thought, wanda stands up, and fishes around her pocket for some joolies; she's a little thirsty now. her attitude is somewhat indifferent as he asks about whether 2015 is a dystopian time. )

It's the end of the world for some people. ( —cryptic— ) But it's mostly fine. The internet is on computers, on phones. It keeps people connected in real time.

Do you want something to drink?

Edited 2025-06-25 02:01 (UTC)

Oh yes, very hard, and for a very long time. (He smiles proudly.) I studied genetics, specifically genetic mutation, although in general spent a great amount of time in a science lab with my beakers and microscopes.

( Charles does in many ways miss that part of his life. It might be dull to others but to him it was always fascinating and a passion project. He wanted to understand what was happening to him and Raven, and then discovering all the other mutants in the world was proof of his own theories. The only thing that could get him out of the lab and his books was finding his own kind and becoming the head of the school he founded.)

I founded a school as headmaster though, so I shifted to a different type of teacher.

( That feels so far away from him now. Infinitely far than where he felt before when back home.)

I ... see. I have heard about the mobile telephones. It's extraordinary.

( Charles is years from those becoming a reality and many years away from it becoming commonplace. It will take him time before he understands how to text properly. He can't afford a phone yet, but eventually he will try his best.)

If you have any, I'll take it. The water at the motel is ... questionable.

( spending time in a science lab with beakers and microscopes tells wanda everything she needs to know. this man is a scientist, and the title of 'professor' probably stands to the extent of his education—though perhaps it is now a term of endearment used by his students in this school of his.

school for those with 'gifts', as he had said. )

Mhmm.

( wanda's hardly educated, especially not in comparison to someone like charles, so she doesn't want to put her foot in her mouth by saying something that would sound stupid otherwise. she does more of internal pondering, in a way.

abruptly, she says, )

Wait here.

( and heads back towards the store to buy them both bottled water. it's on discount, two for the price of one, so it's not like this is putting a dent on her current savings. when she returns with the bottles, she offers him one, and, in her walking there and back, she's figured what to tell him next. )

I stopped going to school when I was ten. ( she shrugs, wording this carefully, doing her best to not sound flippant. ) I don't know that I would have learned anything helpful if I did. You sound like you'd be a nice headmaster, though.

( he's kind, and seems patient enough with her, even if she's the one helping him out with food samples and a water bottle. )

...why the interest in genetic mutation, though? I knew some people who were. They weren't exactly — good people.

( hydra et al )

( Charles waits and takes the water when she brings it. He still feels bad about taking anything off her at this point, but he is also a pragmatic person, and he's going to kill himself if he lives by his pride alone. He'll simply make it up to her later, when he has it together more and can pay her back. He hasn't had much to drink since he distrusts the motel water.)

I do my best. I'm assured by my students I do well enough.

( The ones he remembers, and then Logan and the students he saw in his mind. There is a reverence there that this Charles has not earned yet, so he doesn't quite connect to it now. But he did have his class of X-Men, and they did love him as much as he loved them. All gone, now.

He considers what to tell her, but he's been here just long enough to know that this is not a place where anyone needs to fear being strange or different. He's sensed no feelings toward mutants, or even a concept of what that is to the populace here.)

Because I am a mutant. We're born with a gene that humans are not and it shows itself in unique gifts of some kind. I knew that about myself and my sister, but I wasn't aware there were others until I was older, so I was trying to make sense of it in my studies.

Those With The Greatest Power

Raven

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Viktor

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I lost this notif sorry!!!! stupid dw

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We can probably wrap on this one! maybe he can meet REAL Viktor soon

Rowena

Wanda

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