[Video] - Another X-Team?!

[knighterrantofthedragon]

[Alric seems a bit more troubled--or at least more serious--than usual (which might be alarming to people who think he's impossibly serious normally). He smiles, politely, but his manner is a little more stern and pensive, something other members of the kendo club would likely have noticed. He pauses a second after turning on the video, before speaking.]

Fellow students. I have been thinking seriously about forming a team for some time. Since the beginning of the semester, I felt I had the luxury of focusing, above all, on protocol--deciding on the ideal foundation and mission statement for this team, before extending invitations.

[A brief pause--perhaps to gather his thoughts or perhaps rhetorical.]

However.

Recent events have lent a far greater urgency to the matter. So. My intention is to establish a team prepared for purposes of intervention. Ours is, plainly, a dangerous world, due to individuals with ill intent, be they mutant or otherwise. Given Professor Xavier's blessing, of course, I believe it would be in keeping both with my own oaths, and with the intent of the Institute, to form a team dedicated to representing the best that mutant citizens have to offer society. I believe there is much we can offer--to protect, with respect for the law, those who we can, and to offer our aid where possible. Perhaps, if we are able to do so with a measure of aptitude and wisdom, we may be able to help turn the tide of fear preemptively.

Such a team would need to be prepared for combat, if necessary, capable of fast response and deployment as needed, and, ideally, able to provide relief and protection to those in harm's way. Coordination with local authorities and regular patrolling may be vital, as well. Our training would prioritize those objectives. I would be glad to hear from any who are interested and do not have prior commitments, and am open to additional suggestions.

Mr. Hijikata: I've spoken to you about my intentions, before, in brief. I would be honored if, given these details, you still wish to support this endeavor.

Comments

Voice

[nobodysweapon]

Intervention?

*Color her curious.*

[voice]

[knighterrantofthedragon]

Ah, Miss Laura, is it? I don't believe we've been properly introduced, although we might have spoken before. My name's Alric Caelegart.

[He pauses a moment.]

But, yes. There are those who would not hesitate to wield their personal advantages--whether technological, mutant, or otherwise in nature--unjustly, criminally, against others. I believe that, where we have the ability to do so with due respect to the law, we ought to make some effort to intervene in such situations.

[nobodysweapon]

I do not respect the law.

It is broken, corrupt, and easily subverted.

Too many people use it as their personal advantage in unjust ways. With the law protecting them.

[video]

[knighterrantofthedragon]

[Alric is clearly troubled at that statement, although he smiles a little, regardless, with a regretful sigh.]

I assure you, I can sympathize with that feeling. Between two people, perhaps a handful, codified laws are not so important. In an ideal world, perhaps it would be the same. But the law--when not twisted and abused--is crucial for what we call civilization.

If we cannot respect the noble intention, at least, of the law, and its officers--even if we condemn those who fail to justly uphold it, as well... it becomes unclear what distinguishes us from any others who claim the right to do as they please. I maintain that the law, as a concept, must not be conflated with the people who abuse its mechanisms for their benefit. And if we cannot demonstrate a respect for it, then we have no place expecting to earn the trust of people who are answerable to it.

[nobodysweapon]

I do not trust your assurances.

Laws are crafted by men, with intentions that are often evil.

They are not the same as good, or just. And when they are it is a fluke.

[knighterrantofthedragon]

I am sorry to hear that's your experience.

[Alric seems, for what it's worth, genuinely troubled, but sympathetic.]

I've had the good fortune to have been raised by a family which has worked consistently and diligently to fashion law that reflects justice. It's true that it does not happen of its own accord; justice, by itself, is defenseless and quickly overrun. But to say that every law is bad, or crafted with ill intent, seems no less reductionist and wrong than to say every mutant, or every non-mutant, is bad.

However. Philosophical debates over the worth of anarchy notwithstanding. Most of the people in the world live in societies with laws, which they more or less willingly obey. If we have so little regard for society that we feel ourselves to be above its laws--if we exhibit that we are willing to do anything we feel like, with no regard to the rest of society--I believe we'll have rather a hard time convincing that society to trust us.

[nobodysweapon]

Most good men are killed, because those serving their own intentions are not above murdering their opposition. This is the flaw.

Those men then have command over the law, and shape it to what they deem 'best.' I do not place myself above the law, merely men who twist the rules to their own benefit. I could write a short memorandum outlining historical examples of society being morally corrupt, and going outside the law was the best possible answer, if you like?

It might help you understand you are talking to a genetic clone created for the express purpose of assassination, so my statements in regards to men serving their own intention is mostly based on anecdotal evidence.

[Voice] - Wordy, isn't he?

[koukai_kirai]

You have my support.

[Voice] - Laconic is okay too

[knighterrantofthedragon]

Sincerely appreciated, Mr. Hijikata.

[Voice]

[koukai_kirai]

Inform me when you've got a working roster.

[Voice] (OOC: don't hold your breath >.> )

[knighterrantofthedragon]

Aa, I certainly shall.

[Voice] (OOC: Give it time :) I'd suggest recruiting through OOC channels, too )

[koukai_kirai]

If you want my help with any special training sessions or anything, you know where to contact me.

[knighterrantofthedragon]

The offer's greatly appreciated.

i am the latest...

[kamiizumi]

So you're shooting for PR as much as heroics, if I'm understanding that right?

[video] (OOC: It's ok! I appreciate the interest, considering. >.>)

[knighterrantofthedragon]

[Alric smiles and nods in greeting to Leo, one of his swordingpals.]

I suppose, in a manner of speaking, although as it is my idea we're speaking of, I might not have expressed it so cynically.

[There's a playful tone to his voice, so he at least doesn't seem to be bothered.]

But, in truth, my concern with respect to public relations is how we--privileged as we are to be here--can present an alternative to the fearful image of human-mutant relations presented so often in the media. How we can embody something more hopeful, without giving people at large or the institutions on which they depend cause to fear us, and do some good directly, as well.

[video]

[kamiizumi]

Well, I don't try to make PR sound like a swear word.

But I guess how not my thing it is might bleed in a little more than I realize.

[video]

[knighterrantofthedragon]

Mm. I think perhaps you don't do yourself justice, Leonardo. You strike me as a man of honor and goodwill. Yes, you... stand out as a person unlike most others... as a 'mutant,' as little as I like the connotations of the term... but is that not precisely what we need? To demonstrate that among those who stand out undeniably as mutants, those who would be most easily shunned, are men of honor and goodwill?

[Alric pauses a moment, smiling to himself.]

If you'll pardon my saying so, it doesn't say a great deal for... someone like myself to make such gestures. I can more than afford them. I can 'get away with it,' so to speak. The worst the government here could feasibly to do me is to send me home. This sort of thing is at once expected of me, and more easily dismissed, in the public eye.

[video]

[kamiizumi]

That's a lot of faith in me. I better not let it down.

[He sounds a little sheepish - but he's honored, really! He's not used to hearing this kind of thing all that much, though.]

But you do have a point. I guess...it's more about how I was raised. My father always said we weren't training to be heroes. I don't think that means we can't do good, but...ninja, Morlock, either way - I'm comfortable in the shadows.

[video]

[knighterrantofthedragon]

[Alric chuckles lightly.]

Well, far be it from me to dispute your father's words. There's wisdom in reluctance to call oneself a hero. And, of course, I'd not ask you to do anything you feel isn't appropriate. Please don't feel in any way obligated, on my account.

In Person - open

[tiamaris]

Tiamaris tracked down the person who had made the video. He still didn't know how to reply otherwise, and if his roommate hadn't left the computer one, he probably would never have even seen it. Technology beyond television, plumbing, and light switches still confused him.

He had finally found another pair of pants. He pulled on the shirt with the slightly burned collar. He needed more clothing, but first he needed to do this. Professor Xavier thought he should try. The professor and his roommate were the only people ever to see him transform and not think him a monster.

He found Alric, and no one had to know that it took him three hours and was more luck than skill. He hesitated, his eyes a dull orange. He was afraid, people still scared him, but if he wanted to be something more than the monster his father said he was... he had to try... right?

"Professor Xavier says I should try, so I would join." he said, trying to pull cold arrogance around him like a mask, like armor. trying and failing. What if this person took one look at him and saw him for the monster he was? His eyes shaded more towards the orange.

[In Person]

[knighterrantofthedragon]

Alric was sitting in a window, writing in a notebook, but glanced up as Tiamaris approached him, one eyebrow raised a bit quizzically, his own eyes a bright golden-orange--but then smiled reassuringly, after simply looking puzzled for a moment. That standoffish mannerism was familiar enough to him that it wasn't hard at all to recognize; hopefully, he could be more help in this instance than the previous, as personal as the other might have been...

"...join... ...oh, the team I spoke of initiating? I apologize if it's merely slipping my mind, but I don't believe we've met. As I suppose you must know, I'm Alric Caelegart. And you are...?"

Re: [In Person]

[tiamaris]

The sight of other eyes like his startled him. He refused to show it though. Something about how the other boy spoke to him got on his nerves, shading his eyes more towards the orange, and offering a bit more clarity of color. He felt like he was being talked down to, or like this person thought he was not worth the time it took to spoke to him. "Actually," he said, his voice cool and even, "I had no clue who you were before this."

[In Person]

[knighterrantofthedragon]

Alric raised an eyebrow at that answer, and smiled a little more in spite of the relatively hostile response. Really? Was this supposed to be some kind of test, or..?

He paused a moment, looking at Tiamaris quizzically for a moment, before setting his notebook down in his lap, his smile broadening in a bit of a grin, although he restrains himself at least from laughing.

"If I supposed wrongly, that's quite all right--but I'd merely assumed if you were able to track me down, on the Professor's recommendation, my name must have come up at some point."

Of course from this fellow's mannerisms, Alric half suspected his name had come up and the guy had just ignored it. That was also a possibility.

"And if not... then I stand corrected, but I'm afraid you still have me at a disadvantage."

Re: [In Person]

[tiamaris]

The professor hadn't recommended this guy specifically, was there a reason that he thought he had... or did this guy just have an ego larger than the mansion. Tiamaris wasn't sure. Something about the guy set his nerves on edge. He wasn't like his father, yet there was almost a similar feel. Almost.

At the comment about having him at a disadvantage it was tempting, flames but it was tempting, to turn around and leave, to keep whatever miniscule advantage there was.

But the professor had told him to try. This... this might be his only chance to not be a monster. To find a way to use these... abilities... to help instead of hurting. Letting this man chase him off would be... would be giving him the power to keep Tiamaris a monster. And he was tired of people having that kind of power over him.

"Tiamaris," he said, somewhat amazed that a voice that cold could come out of a mouth that breathed fire.

[In Person]

[knighterrantofthedragon]

Alric knew all too well, of course, that snippiness and cold shoulders and so on often originated in traumas. It's where he'd acquired his own, when he was a few years younger, and he could sympathize with that. Even so, it was a little aggravating that most of the interest in his proposal seemed to come from someone who'd been told to go Do A Thing and then picked a name from a hat--not even a name, actually, it seemed.

He let out a little exasperated sigh and smiled a bit more warmly.

"Well. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Tiamaris, even if I fear we're getting off a bit on the wrong foot."

He pauses a moment, keeping his expression amiable and as disarmingly unperturbed as he could while contemplating a different approach.

"Perhaps before I make any more assumptions about you, it would be best if you told me why you're interested in my proposal, in particular."

He at least catches himself from making any snarky comments about Tiamaris' clear talent for PR.

"And something about your abilities, as well--if you don't mind my asking. Exceptional and otherwise. And, please, pull up a seat if you wish."