maskormenacelogs | Catchall for July

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Catchall for July

WHO: Charles Xavier, Charles!clone and You!
WHERE: A bit of everywhere.
WHEN: July
WHAT: Meetings, powers training, random encounters, clone-a-rama.
WARNINGS: TBA, Charles clone is likely to use telepathy without IC consent. Here is my telepathy permission post if you want to opt out of that.

MEET CHARLES

a. home, still at Nonah
Charles lives in Nonah, in individual housing with Erik, Jean and Wanda. It's a two story building but with no stairs at the front and no thresholds that would make it hard to navigate with a wheelchair. If he has invited you into his home, he'll be waiting with a pot of tea and a tin of cookies. But if you're a chance visitor, he will welcome you just as warmly.

He's gathering his bearings finally and actually made a home for himself in the bedroom that used to be his, claimed some space around the house by piles of books often forgotten onto the tables and good scotch in a reachable cupboard in the kitchen. He's no longer red as a lobster what was going on after the beach episode of Swear-ins and Erik finally convinced him to have a haircut. Gone is the mullet and back is the 60's floppy hair-do. You might even catch him wearing a t-shirt, maybe with an X-men logo on it or a silly slogan, he got a few of those from Fanport.

Let's have a cup of tea or a game of chess, or just good conversation.

b. powers training at the danger room / Maria-Francis Foundation
The Maria-Francis Foundation building resides in ~~Nonah~~ De Chima. In the basement there is a wide space that Erik has been working with all month to get up and running as a powers training centre. The building is modern and tall, and Charles has taken a habit of waiting the people he's made appointments with at the front lobby.

He's excited to get the actual training started, get those hours in and grind some practice into people who have contacted him.

If you're not here for powers training, you can find him in the office, going through the Foundation's paperwork. You're damn right he's snooping on his own business. What of it?

c. interview, wherever seems convenient
Perhaps you're meeting him in a cafe or a park, he'll even agree to go the beach if that's convenient for you. What he's interested in is learning about what you have to say after all. Charles is very curious about what has aspired in this world before his time and how to put the details together into a cohesive picture in his mind.

He's quick to greet you with a smile and a warm handshake. Please, sit down. Would you like a cup of tea or coffee first? Do you mind if he makes some quick notes while you're discussing?

d. wildcard
Would you like something else? Perhaps run into him in the library or find him feeding pigeons one fine morning in the park? Maybe he was supposed to come to you? Are you having a dinner out? Are you one of the people he keeps an eye on and something is going awfully wrong? He would find a way to contact you. Throw me a bone, I'll run with it.

MEET THE CLONE

e. random encounter
Charles, the clone, looks and sounds exactly like the original but he doesn't have the stylish wheelchair with big X-symbols on the wheels. A big giveaway? Maybe not. His flippant attitude is probably the big neon sign that you weren't expecting. Wherever you meet - cafe, library, school, even the Foundation building - he's going to greet you with a sunny smile and a warm handshake, introduce himself if necessary and especially if you're a pretty brunette, he will flirt playfully while falling short with playing the caring and concerned game that Charles excels at.

He's going to be a little bit impatient, unlikely to avoid using his gifts even if you ask him to and multitasking to the max. Good luck catching all of his attention at any given time. But he's new to his powers, and easily overwhelmed.

f. for those he's interacted with before
As time goes by, he will start targeting Charles' friends and family. He'll find them at their work places or stage a random meeting elsewhere. Once or twice he'll even wander into the house in Nonah. You might find him at the kitchen having a cup of tea and leafing a genetics book, or perhaps wandering around, looking at pictures and fingering everything with curiosity. Or rolling into your workplace with a sunny smile and a suggestion to grab an early lunch.

g. wildcard
Something else you had in your mind? I'm an open book, come at me, bruh!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ His own tension and nervousness is the worst culprit, really. He's so wound up about being smaller than average that he hates being any smaller than he has to be, which makes him tense up badly. If he'd just relax this wouldn't be so bad. Anyway.

Miles gets to his feet on the seat of the chair, craning his neck to look up at Charles awkwardly. He knows from experience that there's no way he's going to be heard if he tries to talk physically, so instead he just tries to. Think in Charles' direction. (It's so awkward doing that without a link to tell him if he's being heard. Like trying to speak while wearing headphones.) ]

You really think it's fantastic. [ Exasperation tinges his mental voice. ] I can but it's quite difficult. Draining. So is getting larger than my baseline.

[ But he can do it. A pause. ]

I can affect anyone touching me as well.

Edited 2017-07-15 23:24 (UTC)

I really think it's fantastic, [ Charles thinks back at him, wondering if his hearing is affected by his size and perhaps his voice is too loud. ] And others too? It would make a really handy talent if you could control it comfortably. Imagine all the places you could fit in or reach. [ Charles who is very aware of his physical body being an inconvenience for him, slow, heavy and definitely not in a reaching range of plenty of things, finds this ability rather fetching. ]

I would love to have a power like this.

[ He reaches over to bring his hand close to Miles, marvelling the comparison. ] What about partial shrinking or growing? Could you make your hand for example larger while the rest of your body stays the size it is?

Edited 2017-07-16 11:47 (UTC)

[ Charles is making good points. And Miles reluctantly brings up memories of when he's done just that: gotten larger to scare off an attacker, shrunk down to hide or eavesdrop. But. Look. That's all well and good when his control is good, and that is the issue here.

A soft sigh. He can't help but smile a little given how genuinely fascinated Charles seems to be; it takes the edge off his embarrassment. So he reaches a tiny, tiny hand out to Charles' much larger one. Placing his palm on Charles' fingertip. ]

If I could trade you, I would. I miss having people in my head. [ He could rectify that by swearing people to his district, but ... he's not met anyone he wants to. ] It's all or nothing for me. I can fiddle with proportions a bit, but not much.

[ Mostly he can straighten out his neck and make it so his head doesn't look quite as large as it does when he's his baseline size. That's it. ]

[ Charles can't help the brilliant grin that spreads across his lips at the little hand on his fingertip. It's the most adorable thing in the whole day. ]

I can see you already have found a lot of use for this particular talent, [ he murmurs into Miles' head and chuckles softly.

He doesn't dare to cover Miles' hand with his own fingertip, because he doesn't know if it would be too overwhelming. But instead he leans closer and curls his hand so Miles can use it as a chair if he wants. He also pushes the thought into Miles' head without any words being used, just simple impulses and thoughts.

Because he said he missed people in his head. Charles will open a little bit of his mental leash and let Miles receive more than his usual broadcast, essentially being able to read the surface of his thoughts.

Which is full of affection and delight. ]

I think you would benefit from steady practice rhythm. If you would be so inclined, I'd like to start regular training sessions.

Also, have you ever tried extending your telepathy beyond that connection that you have with certain people?

[ Charles' offer of his hand is a bit weird to contemplate, but - well, the chair is dizzyingly, impossibly large, and he at least stands a good chance of not falling out of Charles' hand accidentally. Moving carefully, he climbs into Charles' palm. Settling himself down with his legs crossed under him, one hand reaching out to brace against Charles' pinky. Hopefully Charles isn't particularly ticklish.

That opening of their telepathic contact, though. Miles brightens instantly as he hears more of Charles, those surface thoughts washing over him like a light rainstorm in a parched desert. It feels so good to have that kind of contact again. He's been so terribly starved for it ... And the delight doesn't hurt either. Between Charles' clear enjoyment and his own sheer gratitude at being able to feel someone else in his head, Miles would agree to just about anything right now. Even something he would normally balk at, like ... well, this. ]

I suppose it wouldn't be terrible , if you are not opposed. But I won't inconvenience you.

[ As lovely as it is to bask in the presence of another mind in his. ]

And - er, no. Not really. But it doesn't seem to work like that. I couldn't even hear you properly until just now.

[ It is a weird thing. Definitely. But these things often lend a way for a lot of strange, strange occurrences. Charles shrugs it off without really even considering it. He can't help but think it's utterly adorable how Miles now perches on his palm.

He doesn't move his hand, but instead, keeps it a steady presence right where it was in hopes of not disorienting Miles by moving.

Charles doesn't hide his thoughts from Miles at all. There's freedom in being able to be open like this. To him as well. It's a breath of fresh air and Miles will be intimately aware of how good it feels for Charles to be able to breathe without holding himself back at every second. Something he only ever has experienced with Erik before.

He also thinks Miles is taking good steps forward, towards a place where he will be able to control this power once he commits to training. ]

No inconvenience, my friend. I am honoured to be of assistance. You're the one doing most of the work. I'll be here just helping you realise your own gifts.

I see, I see, [ Charles responds to the regretful news. ] How does it work then? You make a connection with someone, a vow of some sorts? Is it limited to one person at a time?

[ Not moving is helping. And the scale is - dizzying, still, but Miles has been this small (or smaller) so many times that he's built up a certain amount of resistance to the mental whiplash involved. Instead, he just focuses on keeping his balance, craning his neck up to look at Charles, and not think too hard about anything. In this, the open communication between them is a double benefit. He can't help but relax at the relative normalcy of having another person in his head again. God, he's missed that so much. ]

Very well, then. You have my thanks in advance.

[ He'll make sure to bring over something nice each time at least. Wine, perhaps. Or tea. ]

Not limited to one at a time, no. I could have an unlimited number in theory - but the vow is required. They would become my subject, or vice versa, if I swore to them.

[ Though as a Count's heir, he isn't sworn to anyone besides his father and Gregor, full stop. Despite the fact that he's not on Barrayar and all these politics are a moot point, Miles takes these vows incredibly seriously. ]

[ Charles hopes they can have this sort of sessions frequently in the future. Perhaps a few every week. He suggests this to Miles' thoughts without bothering to use any words for it. This is also part of what makes communication openly so fantastic, they can have simultaneous discussions about completely different things, some of them without using words and instead communicating in ideas and images instead. ]

Perhaps you should start allowing more people to become your subjects, [ he suggests with a warm smile. ] Would you accept me as your subject?

[ Every week? He's ... torn on the subject. On the one hand, it's delightful having his mind open again. But he was not kidding about this power being stressful. Shrinking and and maintaining a smaller height is as easy as falling off a cliff. It's the landing and the climb back up that are the problem.

But - he's distracted again by Charles - request? Offer? Humbled, flattered, but also reeling a bit, just completely surprised. Has he even taken any subjects that weren't from home? Only Tex, and she had been his armswoman. A very different relationship, that. ]

I - if you really want to - it would be more of a formality here, admittedly, but I would take it seriously. A lord protects his subjects.

[ Fierce loyalty brightens his side of the mental link, like a blaze of starfire. ]

[ Charles understands that he doesn't want to jump in with both feet but that's what it takes to get familiar with these things. Just using it consciously.

He waits calmly to hear Miles' thoughts on the telepathy, not rushing to any conclusions about the initial hesitance Miles seems to be feeling. ]

I consider you my friend and I protect my friends. You've given me more than you realise by trusting me into your mind like this.

Think about it, [ he says with a smile and leans back a little. They can talk about it more later. ]

[ He's definitely thinking about it. Mind whirling a bit just considering the possibility. ]

Well - right. I can't very well do it now, anyway. Putting one's hands between your liege lord's is a requirement for the vow.

[ And obviously a bit impossible at the moment. ]

[ Charles can't help but laugh at that, amused by the situation itself. ]

Shall we get back to the powers training then? How about you show me how you transfer back from this state?

[ There's palpable dread across their shared mental connection. Shrinking is the easy part; getting back up is hard as hell. And without Gregor in his head to guarantee his safety, he's worried about getting too small as a result.

But - Charles is there, isn't he? Couldn't he do the same in the event of an emergency? Miles reaches out in a wordless question, showing him again where the control to his power lies. If Miles were to become too small or be unable to restore himself, could Charles force him back up? ]

[ Smiling, Charles sends a wordless reassurance his way. Yes, he can do that. He will keep a good look at Miles, the process and make sure nothing goes wrong. ]

Go ahead, I'm right here.

[ He nods, then. Comfored. ]

Then you'd better put me back down. Unless you want to get dragged along too.

Oh heavens, [ Charles' eyes go a little wide but he amuses himself with the thought of himself as double his size and thinks he'd be even more on the way of everyone.

He puts Miles down on the chair as gently as he can, offering him a thumb to take a hold on while he climbs down. ]

[ That's pretty accurate, actually; Miles has never tried going back to normal while someone is holding him, but he suspects it would end up just like that.

Carefully, Miles crawls out of Charles' hand and back onto the chair. Leaning against his thumb for a moment as he gets his balance back. ]

All right. Give me a moment, then.

[ He takes in a deep breath. Reaching back carefully for where that metal rope is dangling. He just has to lever himself back up. That's not so bad, right? ]

[ Charles moves back slightly to give him space to do his thing and nods patiently. ]

Take your time, all the time that you need.

[ Right. Well. He can't put this off forever. Deep breaths, Miles. He reaches up to grip that mental rope. Hauls himself up slowly, straining both physically and mentally. As he'd said before, shrinking is the easy part; it's just a matter of relaxing into his power properly. But going back up? He has to fight tooth and nail, and it is a pain and a half. (Really, though, he's making it harder than it needs to be. If he weren't so terrified of losing control, he'd be much more fluid.)

With agonizing slowness, Miles gains a few inches. Then a few more. Then - he slips. The mental rope flies out of his hands, leaving him in a dizzying state of freefall for a moment. The height he'd regained vanishes - and then some on top of that. Growing smaller at an alarming rate until quite difficult to see on the chair. He brakes to a halt somewhere at the scale of a fraction of an inch tall.

Naturally, Miles panics a bit. ]

Shit!

[ Charles watches him pull himself up, gain an inch by inch and the painstaking process that it is. He thinks that they need to do some meditating exercises. Something to help this along.

And then Miles starts shrinking and before he can vanish out of sight, Charles reaches out with his mind and stops him. Just switches off the power. He doesn't take over his mind otherwise. Just makes sure he doesn't go any further. ]

Don't worry. It happens at times that there is a setback, [ he thinks to Miles and then leans back in his chair, closing his own eyes. ] Shall we try something? I could bring you back to your own size but I would rather you do it yourself. Don't worry. I won't let you fall.

But perhaps if you would join me on a mental exercises for a little bit. What do you say?

[ ooc: Let me know if this is not okay! I'll change my tag! ]

Edited 2017-08-08 21:51 (UTC)

[ Oh thank god, his freefall has stopped. He can feel Charles there in his head arresting his fall, firmly preventing him from getting any smaller. Relief just pours over the link for a moment, temporarily overriding his panic; he was terrified he was going to go microscopic for a moment there. And while this is still a ridiculously uncomfortable scale to stay at, he's safe enough for the moment. Hell, he can't even fall off the chair at this point.

Mental exercises, then. Part of him wants to protest, wants to be done with this now goddammit, and skip training at all. But the promise that Charles can fix him is a soothing one. He can still make the choice to stop at any point. So what's the harm in trying what Charles is proposing? ]

Alright. Okay. I'm willing to try it. [ A nervous pause. ] As long as you won't let me get any smaller.

( OOC: Works great for me! )

[ Charles smiles at the hesitant agreement. It's nice to be trusted. He lets Miles know that as well, pressing a brief thank you into his mind before getting back to the task at hand. ]

I won't let you get any smaller, dear one. Don't worry about that at all. Soon you'll be your own size either by your own hand or mine. How does that sound?

[ He adjusts himself a little, finding a comfortable position. ]

I want you to sit down, find a place to be comfortable in. Lean back and bring your shoulders back. Make sure air gets in and out of your lungs uninterrupted. Then I want you to find a position to sit in where you're completely relaxed.

I'll start with counting. Inhale until I reach eight, then back exhale for another eight. Relax with each exhale a little more, let go of everything but the numbers and the way your breath goes in and out of your lungs. Focus on my voice.

Let's start. One, two...

[ He counts slowly, voice calm and soft, guiding Miles into the start of a meditation routine. ]

I suppose that's fair.

[ Even if he is skeptical of any of this working, he is willing to try. There's nothing to lose, really.

He resettles himself on the uncomfortably vast span of chair around him. Legs folded under him, hands bracing against his knees. Then, slowly, he begins to follow Charles' rhythm. In until eight, out on the next. In, out ...

Even as tensed as he is, he can't help but relax a little bit. Just a small amount at a time ... With his eyes closed like this, he can pretend he's not actually the size of an ant right now. ]

[ Charles counts a few times until he can feel Miles' breath enter that place where his body has relaxed and his breathing is slow and calm. Then he leaves the numbers behind, and moves on. ]

Imagine yourself light as a feather, floating on the wind. Nothing but you and a sweet summer breeze, gently rocking you from side to side. You float towards the ground, almost kissing the asphalt beneath. But then a breeze throws you up and you start floating again.

[ He can feel Miles relaxing, little by little, which is his whole goal here, getting to that point where he doesn't feel his fingers anymore, because they're irrelevant, doesn't notice the air coming and going in his lungs. That's Charles' goal. Relaxed, easy with focus. ]

[ He probably is as light as a feather right now. But - he pictures himself as a bird, and how light his body feels when he's caught a good thermal above town. How good it feels to just glide over everything, wings outstretched.

Slowly but surely, he relaxes. Releasing his white-knuckled grip on his power, letting Charles hold onto it for him instead. ]

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