Summary:
January 2, 2015: Professor X sends a psychic message and tries to recruit a young speedster.
South Shore - New York City
Comprised primarily of the Tottenville and Eltingville neighborhoods, Staten Island's South Shore is a largely residential area feturing suburban style single family homes and several small state parks and forests. The Atlantic Marina features eating and a rail line that runs the length of the island from the Marina all the way up to the Staten Island Ferry on the northern end.
Characters
NPCs
Mood Music:
"He'll come." Charles mutters, as if Bobby and Calvin may have been worried that this Pietro Maximoff would not arrive. As to whether or not either of the young men actually felt that way, Xavier had no idea. He wasn't in the business of reading minds willy nilly.
Merely 48 hours before, Xavier had made contact with this Pietro Maximoff after having watched him from afar with the amazing powers of Cerebro. A short conversation with Calvin later, and the Professor felt emboldened to reach out to the young man. Alternate realities should never be the basis on its own for any decision, but with all the evidence and how it's lining up, and all of the goals of the school, it felt like now was a fitting time to make the offer. The same offer he'd made to the others for years now.
Another gust of wind, blows hard at Xavier's back. Finally the bald man turns slightly towards Bobby and Calvin.
"He'll come."
*
Bobby was, himself, pretty surprised to get a 'call' from the professor. The younger man came, of course. He mostly only works with his fellow Red Team Members, primarily because that's who he sees the most, but if the Professor wanted him in on something, he'd be in, of course. Right now he's waiting not far from the wheelhchair bound psychic trynig not to be overly nervous. He's got only the vaguest idea about whom they're supposed to be meeting and why, but he gathers it's important.
*
"All right." Cal agrees, humoring the Professor in his certainty. The Pietro he… not knew, but met on several occasions, gives him no inkling as to whether this version will or not. Realities always have differences but these Pietros are very different. Almost thirty years being one of the most telling. He's never understood how basically the same person can be born decades apart. Alternate realities are confusing. He stands next to the wheelchair, a hand lightly resting on the handle closest to him. "If he's anything like the one I've met, he'd make a good addition if he could be persuaded."
*
In truth, Pietro wasn't sure he was going to come. When a psychic message pops into your mind, the first instinct is, uh, am I going mad? There is a certain genetic predisposition for mental disorders that runs in his family (along with the X-gene.) He's tried to ignore it, but his own moments of unhinging and his sister's mental state make the fact that he's hearing voices a distinct possibility. Still, as voices in one's head goes, this one seemed reasonable and persuasive. And honestly, what can it hurt to come? It's actually a lot scarier to imagine no one will be there waiting for him than the alternative.
The gusts of wind are coming more frequently now. One gust ruffles the Professor's blanket, another, Bobby's collar. Those are some very localized wind gusts. Each lasts only a split second before more predictable wind patterns reestablish themselves. His mental presence is fleeting at that speed, like a fish speeding downstream with silver scales flashing.
"So. Which one of you is the voice in my head. And if you have no idea what I'm talking about, carry on, nothing to see here." Pietro stands behind the group of men, hands on hips, his mouth full of a wad of Bubbalicious. He snaps a bubble and shrugs his shoulders. He dances in place and rubs his hands together. "Frick, it's cold. How are you standing still in this cold?" He tugs a wool hat with silver thread hard down around his ears. It's hard to see where the hat ends and his hair begins.
In the sky a streak of red, and white races towards the island, flying at speeds faster then most airliners. No one in the cities bellow seems to pay it any mind as it rockets along, silent for all intents and purposes while at it's full velocity.
Inside of the suit Dmitri runs over a large wall of calculations across one corner of his monitor, maps his surroundings on another, a police feed on the third, and in the fourth plain as day a window displaying an old episode of the Rockey and Bullwinkle show, the volume blaring in his helmet. As he pushes his suit to it's limits bolts begin to shake loose the whole device only held together by his focus which is in itself already divided five times over.
*
The Professor chuckles faintly at Pietro and his antics. In watching him from afar, he'd seen similar shows. As well as impatience and brashness. "That would be me," Xavier responds as he lifts a few fingers on his left hand and gives a nod to the young, silver haired mutant. "Cold, yes, but I picked this spot because of its ease for you to run away, as it were. You'll find that while this wheel chair has an excellent motor, it's incapable of chasing you out upon the water."
"I wanted to put you at ease, Pietro."
But the man's blue eyes leave Pietro and take to the sky as he feels something new; a new presence. As if answering a question that wasn't asked, he nods. "Bobby. Calvin," he says calmly, invoking them to investigate.
They can tell by his voice that this was not part of the plan.
*
Bobby isn't bothered by the cold which might be evident in the fact that his jacket is a lot lighter than it might otherwise be. "Right."
Bobby's no fool. He's been in a lot of tense situations since associating with the X-Men. And while he's increasingly more confident in them he also recognizes when there are others better and more experienced present, so he gestures to Cal. He'll follow Mimic's lead.
*
"One gets used to it." Cal answers though he's cheating a bit by using a TK shield to divert the wind around them. Still, he's wearing a fur lined leather bomber jacket. When it comes to telepathy, he doesn't have the Professor's range or sensitivity but when his attention is called to it, he can pick up the incoming presence of someone. "Guard the Professor, Bobby." he tells the younger man as he starts rising into the air. Before he gets above the level of the Professor's head, he disappears in a flash of pinkish energy. Those looking up, and the new arrival, might spot a corresponding flash high above.
*
"Sorry, standing. Sitting. That was insensitive. I don't want to be insensitive to a man with wheels who can get inside my head." Pietro holds up a hand, clad in a pair of shiny silver leather glovers. Hey, if you have a look, you might as well make it work for you.
He looks between the three men and watches Calvin shoot up into the sky. "Is this a thing I should be worried about, or should I do the running part? I'm good at the running part." When he speaks, it's possible to feel his restraint. It's hard to talk at normal person speed.
*
Inside the suit Dmitri gets the tell tale flashes on his map of a another flyer. Turning off his show, the elder man switches his focus over to trying to get a good scan of Calvin while keeping his suit held together, and still pushing himself ever closer to breaking that Mach 10 threshold.
*
The moment that Calvin reaches a spot in which he breaks the flight path of this suit of armor, it suddenly turns, burning back to slow itself down. Becoming more visible this 7 foot tall suit of armor is just that, not some meteorite, or even a man with a cape. It's design philosophy screams Soviet era. Yet there's a distinctly more modern twist to it. A bright yellow mirror finished visor blocks the actual face of the operator, a red 04 on one breast a Hammer and Sickle combo on the other.
(Watch out comrade, you almost got run down) The figure calls out in a very friendly sounding Russian voice with a good deal of surprise backing it, and that slightly inhuman quality.
*
"I don't believe so, Pietro," Charles has his eyes closed and two fingers upon his temple. "I believe this man means us no harm. It is just a stunning coincidence."
Xavier makes a connective link with Bobby, Calvin, and Pietro, as the multi-talented mutant falls from the sky. "Best go easy upon him, Calvin. I think he's a friend. Or, at least, if not a friend, he's not an enemy."
And upon reading the man's mind, Rocket Red IV seems far more interested in what he's getting from the grocery store than starting any fisticuffs.
"I presume this will all sort it self out, Pietro." Professor Xavier turns to look at the young man once more, opening his eyes now. "The reason I've asked you here, Pietro, is to give you an option. So many of us have such few options in life because we live in a world that doesn't understand us. Fears us. Hates us."
*
Bobby grows a small fighting stick into his hand and lets a coating of ice cover him as he nods to Cal. He'll remain behind to cover the Professor unless the situation changes. Based on the Professor's own words though, he doesn't think it will. Not heard of Rocket Red before but… you know, Bobby doesn't spend hours looking for reports. Mostly he works in a lab.
*
~Cold war Russian, Professor~ Cal tells the man and whomever else happens to be listening telepathically. ~I recognize it.~ Though from this reality since he made a study of super powered people when he first got here to familiarize himself and try to determine where the realities split. "It can get crowded up here, friend." he says back in fluent Russian, assuming the powered armor has microphones to pick up his voice. "What brings you to this part of the coast? Nothing dangerous I hope?"
*
"Uh huh. Uh huh. Right, right. Yeah. Mutant prejudice, all that." Pietro blows into his hand. "If you're going to offer me the chance you never had, I've seen that movie, man. Just recently. Been trying to catch up on idioms. Vampires with long hair throwin' people out of convertibles. Whoah…" he zips over and stands by Bobby. He bends down and examines the ice. "That's something." He flashes a big grin. "Guess you're not cold, huh? I hate being cold." Sorry, Prof. Hard to keep him focused when there's something shiny to attract his magpie attention.
*
(I mean you no harm) Rocket offers coming to a complete stop so that he can practically stand on the air rather then flying through it. His rocket boots giving that ability to just sort of stand in place as if he were on flat ground. (I am just passing through) The armor clad figure slowly walking on the air towards Calvin, with arms outstretched, while his visor feeds him information on the scans, biological signatures, basic information like body heat bone structure, all the basics.
*
"Pietro, I run a school where people like us can live in freedom from those who hate us. A school that can teach you how to control your powers and use them for good. I've watched you, and I've watched you struggle. Both in the physical sense but also the internal struggle you have. I want to give you the opportunity to join us. Learn from us. And to develop yourself in a way where you can use your powers in away that lifts up the esteem for yourself and for others." Xavier tilts his head to Pietro, "And if that's something you've already been offered, I am only sorry you have not taken it up already."
Xavier kind of cuts right to the quick with Pietro. With Rocket Red flying above and with the weather, he's about to lose the kid. He knows it.
*
Bobby glances up at Rocket Red and Calvin. They haven't started throwing punches yet. That's a good sign. They haven't come down to the ground yet and that's a… sort of indifferent one. Then his eyes come back down. "Er no. The cold doesn't really bother me. I wear jackets to blend in sometimes." Though when one is coated with ice as armor, there's little point in blending in.
Bobby lets his internal temperature come back up and brushes the ice armor off himself with a series of sharp cracks. Doesn't seem to be a need for it. He doesn't drop the fighting stick though. His ice has to melt naturally so dropping it just leaves a stick shaped icicle in the street. He'll get rid of it somewhere else later.
*
(I didn't figure you did.) Cal answers, floating a couple feet out of Red's direct path in a symbolic gesture of 'don't let me stop you'. (Just checking to make sure nothing was chasing you.) Or he wasn't chasing something. ~Pietro, it won't cost you anything. It'll be warm with all the food you can eat. And you can leave at any time if you truly want to. No strings are attached to the offer so it doesn't hurt to check it out, does it?~
*
Quicksilver zips back over to Xavier and tilts his head. "See, there's a little problem here." His eyes darken a bit and his lips press into a hard line. "If you really can read my mind, you know this bit." He wags a finger. "You're not the first one to offer me a warm bed and a hot meal in exchange for 'no strings.'" And that ended with the death of his adoptive mother and the twins on the run. The memory of that is…highly unpleasant to say the least. The impish curiosity of a moment ago has dissolved. In that moment, it's easier to see his potential darker turn.
*
(Not doing anything illegal down there are we comrade?) Rocket asks slowly lowering himself closer down towards the scene, even more curious as he looks over the results of his scans. He tilts his head slightly as the people move about not quite able to get a read on what's being said yet. (I couldn't fly off thinking anyone was going to get hurt here)
*
Bobby for now simply hovers near Professor X. This… Pietro seems interesting. Easily distracted but hey, float the right thing in front of the ice nerd and he is to. "They mean well Peitro. I've only been with them less than a year and they've not tried to force me into anything." And put up with some pretty significant differences of opinion from him too, so this isn't a group that forces ideological changes on its members.
But then the Professor and Cal are likely to be better talkers than he at this, so for now he's quite content to let them do that.
*
~I am sorry for what happened to your parents, Pietro~ Xavier begins speaking to Pietro himself, through the link, not bothering with the words any longer. ~We have many mutants there with all sorts of powers. I have no way of proving to you that we are not interested in exploiting you, other than to show you. To show you our facility, the happiness of our students.~
Inwardly, Xavier sighs. It would be so easy to just flip the switch—to force Pietro to see it their way. Hundreds of times he's counselled students on the danger of the temptation of the easy way. Even after all these years, in certain situations the easy way had it's appeal, even for him. But, no, this decision was Pietro's and Pietro's alone.
*
Cal smiles at the question. (No, nothing illegal. One of the ones down there is just a bit suspicious of strangers. He doesn't know us and he certainly doesn't know you. We just don't want to spook him into running before we can talk to him.)
*
It doesn't take a psychic to see Pietro's hesitation, his mistrust. He shifts back half a step and purses his lips. "It's just a little hard to trust when someone dug into your brain and made you forget what your sister looks like, y'know? Someone with brain powers like you." He points to his temple. He can't quite help the tone from being accusatory, though there's a flash of regret almost as soon as the words are out of his mouth. He's starting to step away by walking backwards - but considering how fast he can move, that's a very slow retreat. "What's the name of this 'safe place'? I might wanna check your references. Ask around." He swings his arms and claps his hands together. "You understand."
*
For as high up as Dmitri may be, and with the distraction of his conversation with Cal, he is able to catch one important aspect of that conversation. The slow decent from the man of poly-carbons, is suddenly stopped as he takes that in. (Psychics?) being uttered rather quietly from his speaker. His attention looks back over towards Cal, a lot of thought going into the situation behind that mirrored visor.
*
Xavier knows that this is the breaking point. He has no desire to push the young man away any further than his own demons will make him. "Pietro," he says softly. "I understand you want to find your sister. Let me help you." A beat later, all while completely ignoring Rocket Red, not out of rudeness but just out of immediacy, he adds. "It is called the Xavier Institute."
*
~He can help you remember if you want.~ Cal tells Pietro then corrects himself. ~He can try to help you remember.~ Though he'd bet on the Professor against any other telepath on the planet. (Psychics? What makes you ask that?)
*
Pietro looks up at the sky. He figures that Cal is the other voice in his head. He shouts up, likely still unheard by the men high above. "IT's KIND OF RUDE TO TALK INTO A GUY'S HEAD WHEN HE ISN'T SURE HOW TO REPLY!" Huff. Cold-foot dance. "Look. I'm not saying no. I'm saying…I'm going to do my research. There's people after me. There's people after my sister. I want to make sure it's safe. For everyone." He may be a hotshot, a show-off, and a little bit morally askew, but he matures in the blink of an eye when it comes to protecting his own.
*
"Don't blame me," Rocket calls back down in a completely inhuman sounding English sounding less like human speech and more like something from an old computer programs text to speech. Not that it sounds like it was ever really made for speaking in English sort of like if you used the Russian Microsoft Sam. He looks right back up towards Cal (I have good hearing.) Continuing to stand on the air beneath him despite the cold breeze of air, his suit shifting slightly as bolts catch back up reinstalling themselves.
*
Xavier gives Pietro a sad nod. "I understand completely, Mr. Maximoff. When you're ready, we will be waiting. Until then, may your travels and your days be safe. I trust that you and your sister will be reunited someday."
Xavier looks up towards Calvin, giving him the go ahead to come on back. It seems that this mission is left to be continued.
*
(So it seems.) Cal says with a nod and glances down toward the ground. (A pleasure to meet you, friend. Clear skies and weak enemies.) Giving the man in power armor a nod, he starts heading flying/floating downwards.
*
Pietro scoffs, "Mr. Maximoff." Then the impish smile returns. He tugs a pair of goggles down from beneath his hat and snaps them into place. "I won't leave you hanging. You'll hear from me one way or another." And if he finds out that Xavier's has any ulterior motives, well, there may be some new paint jobs in the school's future. He's gone in a blink, leaving nothing but a ruffle of wind to indicate his passage.
*
Xavier exhales, wishing things would have gone better. That being said, it's not a complete loss. And he looks forward to the next time he meets with Pietro Maximoff.
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