xavier_institute | [Video] - Another X-Team?!

[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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Alric shook his head, raising a hand to rub at his temple lightly, but he speaks levelly and calmly.

"To my understanding, Tiamaris, we are here to learn, if we are willing, not to be tested or judged. I assure you, you are not the only student here with... difficulties. Were I to be a team leader--which, without a team, I'd say is a rather too-generous attribution--it would be my responsibility to work with those in my team, even if... especially if... they're troubled, and not exacerbate their troubles. If I'm... upset, it's on account of the.. unexpected challenges I've encountered, here. Not something to hold against yourself."

He paused a moment, and shook his head.

"If you feel compelled to make reparations in some fashion, I'd ask that you do so by committing yourself to learning, as we are here to do. If you have failed, there is no better remedy than to learn and do better in the future, and it certainly goes a long way toward improving the odds of accomplishing some good in the world."

...accomplishing some good in the world....

Those words struck something in Tiamaris the way a clapper strikes the inside of a bell, and with no less resonance. He grabbed the back of a chair to support himself as the words circled in his head, sounding in his mind over and over and over again. That was what he wanted, to do good, to do enough good to weigh against all the evils he had done, enough good to bury forever the monster.

"That," he finally managed to say in a quiet voice, "was why I was trying to join a team. To do some good," he said. He was surprised his voice was strong, though quiet. He expected a whisper. These days he could choose his words, and he did his best to do so with care, but his voice.... It was odd, no longer sounding quite like himself, but he supposed having no choice in how he sounded also meant he didn't have to stress out about choosing how to sound. Still....

He swallowed hard. This man had... Had not seen him as a monster had tried to help, and might be his team leader, if he could get himself under control enough to help, to be worthy. But... The man thought he needed to remove himself from tiamaris' presence for Tiamars' sake. How to explain to him that he did not, that this was the longest conversation he had ever had with someone that didn't end in threats or violence. Well, since his uncle died, anyway. Part of Tiamaris, a small part he was sure he should be ashamed of, wanted the man to stay, wanted to keep the conversation going. There was a weird feeling inside him that he did not understand, like something was less, but the lack was a relief. It made no sense, but he had a feeling that if this man left, he would take the less with him, and what remained might destroy whatever there was left of Tiamaris. Nothing made sense, and all he was doing was confusing himself...

Alric paused, but nodded in understanding, at least, of Tiamaris's answer, if not all the internal context. He allowed a brief silence to follow--partly to gather his own thoughts, and partly to give Tiamaris the opportunity to say more if he had more to say--before clearing his throat lightly by way of a rhetorical segue. He smiled, at least, although it was a more practiced, formal smile than his usual, but generally a reassuring gesture.

"As I said... I believe that is true of most of us, if not all of us. If I can be of some assistance in that respect, in addition to the efforts of the faculty, I do look forward to it. ...but, for now, I think perhaps it's best we... collect ourselves, and consider in what manner to proceed. If you'll be all right."

Was he saying he wanted to leave? And if so, leave and come back, or just leave? Suddenly it was just too much, this dancing around that people called manners and society. But if he wanted the other to speak plainly, maybe he had to start.

"I don't understand people," he said his words flat, his face, turned away still, a blank mask. "This is the longest conversation I have had since I was five, so if you want me to understand something, speak plainly," he said bluntly, with a bit of heat coming from his mouth. He forced himself to calm, as best he could, before fire followed.

Alric glanced off a moment, hesitating--that was a bit blunt, but blunt was likely better than another misunderstanding--speaking up after considering his words for a few seconds.

"...for the moment... I mean only to say that it has been an... intense encounter--for the both of us, I believe. It might be best to take a breather, so to speak."

He smiled a little.

"I don't mean to avoid you, I assure you of that, but rather to suggest that we speak again in a calmer, more rested state of mind, and perhaps with a little new perspective."

He hesitated. He could not imagine he would be calmer, or gain any new perspective any time soon. He was a monster. No matter how he tried to fight it. But...

he gave a small nod, wordlessly. The other... Alric... he said he would not avoid him, but... Kiyoshi had said similar, and he hadn't seen his roommate since... that day....

He closed his unintentionally expressive eyes.

Alric paused a moment, then chuckled lightly and scratched the back of his head.

"Ah... at any rate, apologies, again, for the... inauspicious beginnings. Hopefully we'll be rectifying that. Have a good night, Tiamaris."

He smiled a touch more jovially, nodded in almost courtly manner, and moved to step out. Among other things, whether Tiamaris needed to at the moment or not, Alric needed to get his bearings a bit. Lending a hand with the cleaning up downstairs might help, there. Doing something helpful and physical in the way of manual labor or community service could be excellent internal atonement for bollocksing up a social situation.

[Video] - Another X-Team?!

Re: [In Person]

Re: [In Person]

Re: [In Person]

Re: [In Person]

Re: [In Person]

Re: [In Person]

Re: [In Person]