ataraxion | video. { a crown of gold, a heart of stone }

video. { a crown of gold, a heart of stone }

[ Perhaps it a bit too late for this sort of conversation, but Erik necessitates its need anyway; the Tranquility has nearly always been a bastion for acceptance and tolerance, and the idea was constantly perpetuated throughout his previous stay here, something that deeply unsettled him. He's in a deserted room, particularly one that Alex Summers might be familiar with from their training sessions long ago, but his reason for being there is more along the need for silence. ]

For those of you who remember my face, I can assure you, you're not mistaken. [ He pauses for a moment, because while it needs to be said, it still angers him that he's back here. ] The ship has brought me back since then. For those of you who don't, [ welllllll. ] I expect we'll be acquaintances soon enough. [ But not really. ] In the meantime, you can call me Magneto. [ Except the fifty billion people that still call him Erik. ]

No doubt all the lectures have made it clear that the ship is not, in any way, safe, and this is hardly any different. I won't speak on false pretenses that unity is what matters, but my issue at hand is this: if you are non-human of any sort, vampires, werewolves, mutants, what have you, I urge you to seek solidarity only among your own kind. It is our strengths that will allow us to survive, our own inherited abilities, and we must use these to secure the ship against its ongoing threats.

We must defend ourselves by striking out towards the enemy and to an equal degree, protect the sections of the ship we have acquired. While the Security team has this under control, the ship's size makes this difficult. [ Considering Erik is on SEC, this is just asking for double protection. ] Your offense is our best defense.

PRIVATE » Alex Summers [ All that he gets is a ping to notice this, because the location should be familiar to him: its where Alex and he had trained a while ago and there are some things better discussed in person than over these. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ That earns a slight shrug. ] Don't know her well enough to have much of an opinion. Not really who I was talking about, though.

It's just like back home -- Nathan's managed to get too many people under his thumb.

Are you referring to -- [ Because he does know Nathan, though not terribly well. ]

he's your brother then, I take it?

[ There are some days where the mention of their relation makes him want to cringe. This is one of those days where he actually does. ]

Big brother. [ Insert terse sneer here. ] Back home he's the President.

He seems entirely unsuited to be one.

[ Aka Erik thinks he's a jerk. ]

And yet, somehow, people can't help but talk about what a great guy he is.

[ Definitely not Erik's impression. ]

The last time we spoke, he seemed insistent on pretending there was nothing wrong. You wouldn't happen to know if he's changed.

[ Snort. ] That's just Nathan. You get used to it after awhile -- him pretending, making up whatever lies he can to make everything look like it'll all turn out all right. Something he picked up from our parents.

He can make just about any lie look good if you believe in it hard enough.

I can see why the rest of the ship seems to put him on a pedestal, then. [ And he rolls his eyes at that little bit. ]

Considering they all like to pretend there's nothing wrong at all, he'd fit right in.

Everyone around here's so quick to believe the first thing they hear -- won't even consider the possibility that what's right in front of them might not be exactly what they think it is.

Nathan just perpetuates it. Wants to make it all better, wants me to try to be on his side, when he's just as naive. [ Reel it in there, Peter. ]

Foolish as it may be, perhaps it's for the better. [ oh look erik is conceding his hypocrisy. ] Everyone here believes it's easier to play pretend than to face the horrors that await them, so a leader that does exactly that is a man they'll live by.

If they want to follow him, then they can be my guest. I won't be pulling any favors for the few who haven't realized what awaits them. [ pointed glance to you there peter pls join him ]

[ like he'd do anything but join you erik, geez, just keep talkin' like that. you don't need to give him the STARE DOWN, he's right there with you. ]

All I want is the truth. About whatever the hell this place is. Why we're here. Not like i've never been stuck in my own inescapable nightmare before, but at least I understood what was going on. At least we weren't the ones being lied to, that time. It was everyone else that got fed the same exact bullshit.

But this? This is all a facade for something else. I want to know what we're not being told.

Good luck with the latter. [ It's not Erik being dismissive, it's Erik being honest. There's enough secrets between people, too many stupid fucking encryptions that are enough to get him riled up and it's not because he's outdated; he learns. It's the fact that everything is so damn near secretive it's impossible to learn anything, and suffice to say, ~~ain't nobody got time for that shit~~ making friends is a waste of time. ]

Everyone is lied to, and the ones that know the truth? Won't tell anyone.

[ So if Peter's gonna do something about it, he needs to start with the apparent know it alls. ]

Yeah, tell me something I don't know.

[ For all of Peter's furious gumption, he was already on the, very literal, edge before he showed up here. He was slowly coming to the realization that there was nothing he could to fix anything, and so certain measure would have to be taken. Granted, it didn't mean he'd stopped trying, but he was spinning his wheels just that much deeper. It couldn't be the end if he wouldn't let it be, and then he showed up here.

The proverbial end. ]

The fact that no one out there is going to believe you? [ He purses his lips for a bit, because it's not something anyone wants to hear at all, but better Peter gets this now than later. ]

Everyone here is clamoring for their voice to be heard, and while I'm inclined to agree with you, it's the masses you need to be concerned with.

Majority always rules, no matter what story's being told. I get it. You don't get to become a terrorist without knowing that dirt's got more power than anything you've got to say.

[ Granted, Peter might have had his own tiny little cohort back home, but it doesn't count for shit here at the end of the day. It's nothing, and he has nothing to back him up, not even optimism at this point. ]

People're gonna be looking for hope like it's a commodity. Not the truth.

No. You become a terrorist by offering them your heart.

[ Look at Hitler, as much as Erik is loathe to even make that analogy, but the amount of pride there was something to be reckoned with. ]

Tell them they're dreaming, and just maybe, they'll finally wake up.

[ For the most part, Peter can't stand talking about his terrorist status, if only because it feels like a lie. Stamped across everything in sight, he's the enemy, he's the one who's gotten it all bent out of shape. But that's quite possibly the first time he's ever heard it twisted into something good, because despite the fact that Peter's done his fair share of wrong, at least he's always believed. ]

As long as they're willing to listen. [ If only it was just that simple. ]

Sometimes it’s better to speak to no one, than to keep your thoughts to yourself.

[ There he goes, sounding entirely too much like a philosopher lately, but sometimes it’s the only way Erik can handle situations. Where he talks as neutrally as possible to avoid getting too personally involved, too outraged in a situation where he shouldn’t be. It’s a depressing alternative but his stress levels are already through the roof, and reckless decisions are no longer as plausible, meaning he can only listen at best for now. ]

There’s always someone, out there.

[ Erik's encouraging him to talk to himself -- Peter's not entirely sure anyone should be encouraging his own chaotic thoughts, but he can appreciate the idea of it. Hearing something out loud instead of keeping it rattling around inside your own head has its benefits. Like standing in front of the alter and shouting at God for all the times he never stopped to help. Peter kept his promises, and he's only ended up deeper into a pit he never meant to dig for himself. ]

Still kind of depends on the someone. [ Because c'mon, Erik, not everyone's a good listener. ] My niece, for instance-- it's not exactly one of her better skills.

What was she like?

[ It's a distraction really, an obvious one at that, as Erik deflects the commentary of the plebians for the time being to deal with something like this. ]

[ Except distractions actually work kinda well. ]

Before or after she was specifically trained to take me down? Because we used to be close, and now I could tell you more about her gun than I can about her.

[ That's a sobering little revelation and Erik doesn't try to hide the frown that forms. ]

Was it Nathan who was responsible for that?

[ It's just a guess, but one he wants to know for sure, especially if Peter's family is as twisted as it comes off right that instant. ]

Who else would be?

[ The little team he created to take Peter down, led around by Claire, who just can't die. She was deemed the perfect weapon, the easiest to turn. ]

Daddy's little girl just needed a push in the right direction.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

video. { a crown of gold, a heart of stone }

video; encrypted THEY SHOULD STORM THE CASTLE

video; encrypted BUT THE PRINCESS IS ON ANOTHER SHIP??

video; encrypted THEY'LL MAKE THEIR OWN PRINCESS OKAY

video; encrypted A NICE LITTLE PAPER MUTANT PRINCESS

video; encrypted SHE SHOULD AT LEAST BE CARDBOARD

video; encrypted ONLY IF WE CAN USE CRAYONS FOR HER FACE

video; encrypted I GUESS THAT'LL JUST HAVE TO SUFFICE...... FOR NOW.

video; encrypted WHAT IF WE PUT NATHAN IN A DRESS?

video; encrypted THAT IS DEFINITELY A POSSIBILITY

video; encrypted

video; encrypted

video; encrypted

video; encrypted

video; encrypted

video; encrypted

video; encrypted

video; encrypted

video; encrypted

video; encrypted

video; encrypted

video; encrypted

video; encrypted

video; encrypted