xavier_institute

[Vel's video feed comes on to show her in her dorm room, leaning back in her chair and fiddling with a rather abused old-school My Little Pony. She's looking rather intensely thoughtful.]

Okay, so everyone's aware of the shit that's gone down the last few days, right? Lotta bad publicity for the mutant set t'say the least. And it got me thinking. I get the whole idea of the Xmen is to be heroes, and combat villains and all that fun stuff, but that doesn't make people like mutants. Fights are scary when you're not involved, even if one side's technically the 'good guys'. 'Specially if property damage starts happening. Normal folk don't care if the good guys win if it means the store that's their livelyhood gets bashed all to pieces. Y'know?

So like I said, I've been thinking. Normal folks think mutants are scary and stuff 'cause the news is all about stuff like the bombing in London and such. And I know the news only reports on bad stuff, but still. I think there needs to be... like a web series or something highlighting mutants being non-threatening. Mutants with less scary powers showing off what they can do.

[She gives a rueful smile and sets the pony on the desk in front of her, where it starts to gallop and jump around.]

And mutants using their powers for... like unthreatening good stuff that normals can relate to. Y'know, putting out fires, rescuing kittens, stuff like that.

Or maybe I'm just totally off base and should shut up and just finish my homework.

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Well, what do you do? I mean, dramatic's not always bad, 'specially if it can be shown in helpful context.

...well. Perhaps it's best shown.

[Ahem. He raises his right hand, palm-up, so it's visible on the screen, with an expression like a magician demonstrating there's nothing in his hand--then a purple aura ripples around his hand, crackles with little arcs like lightning, and in a flash that dims everything around it as the camera briefly loses contrast trying to match the brightness, the aura compresses down into a brightly glowing, shimmering violet ping pong ball.]

Plasma generation, and.... well, some control, at least.

[Her eyes narrow at the brightness, and then her brow furrows as she thinks, hard.]

Plasma's like... what the sun's made of, right? So you can essentially create super heat...

[More obvious thinking]

Isn't that what welding's all about?

Nn, that's right on both counts. It's extremely hot, but highly concentrated, and welding's one project for which I've used it to try and develop my control; welding, cutting, and sculpting metal and rock. ...although I'm afraid I'm rather more technically adept than artistically.

Hey I think it'd be far more useful for technical purposes. I mean, art's nice and all, but like being able to build stuff's far more useful.

[He smiles to himself at that response, just a bit enigmatically.]

Hm. Yes, I suppose that's true, in most circumstances.

And you can't be hurt by your own power, right? So it's safer than normal welding.

Well... not directly, true, but there are certain dangers, all the same. I can most certainly be hurt by the hot metal, itself, for example. But yes, it is, I suppose, somewhat safer, at least.

Seems that'd be an advantage right there. I mean, obviously it'd be better if you were like totally saft, but still. That's something that can make good money at the shipyards.

[He chuckles at that, eyebrows raised a little in surprise at that suggestion.]

I confess, I'd not considered using it for fundraising in shipyards, but I suppose that is true... in fact, I imagine there are many of us whose abilities could be put to good use to aid in construction efforts, disaster relief... any number of projects in service to the public good.

[A pause as she blinks]

I'd meant as like a job, not fundraising. Most of us can't exactly life offa other's charity forever.

[He's a little taken aback at that. Not upset, rather, as though not only had the thought not occurred to him, but it's about the last thing he expected anyone else to suggest, either.]

...oh, I see. Ah... yes, I suppose that's true, as well. Although I do have... other... employment waiting for me, once I return home.

[A brief pause, and a hint of a playful smile.]

Family business, you understand.

Oh, right. [A frown]

Well, since I don't have that, I tend to think more practical.

[He shakes his head, smiling reassuringly.]

No need to explain. It's a commendable quality. My feeling's that every idealist needs a pragmatist to keep them grounded, just as every pragmatist needs an idealist to broaden their horizons.

[Again, a momentary pause.]

And... I don't mean to sound as though I take my circumstances for granted. I apologize, if it seemed so. To the contrary, I'm here in large part to learn how best to turn my advantages--and my difficulties--toward the benefit of all.

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