OOM: X meets Autor in the aftermath of Noriko's backhand

[herr_bookman]

Autor had to come back for his ink eventually, and was pleased to find that the bottles weren't disturbed. He fills them carefully, corking them shut, and starts in on the process of washing the dishes he used.

Comments

[cutting_edgex23]

It is entirely possible that Autor's scent trail is what leads X in the direction f his current location.

Or she could have just asked a waitrat.

Regardless, she is careful to make noise as she approaches.

"Autor."

It is not a question. (Well, not quite.)

[herr_bookman]

Autor still jumps. "Yes?" he asks, turning to her and adjusting his glasses. He shows no sign of having been struck recently.

[cutting_edgex23]

X tilts her head, studying him for a few moments.

Her nostrils flare as she checks for the smell of blood.

Then --

"You are okay?"

[herr_bookman]

He has showered since the assault, so he may not reek of blood and ink anymore, depending on how strong her nose is.

The boy tilts his head at the strange woman. "Okay? Why, yes, I'm--oh, you mean after Noriko's attack?" Autor says, straightening his shoulders. "Yes, I've seen Guppy, as ordered, and have been patched up. Um, thank you for checking."

[cutting_edgex23]

X could probably still detect both of those smells even if several days and showers had passed. Superhuman mutations are great for that.

"Good."

Beat.

"She should not have done that. Hit you."

[herr_bookman]

"No, she shouldn't have," Autor says, picking up on the woman's speech patterns and growing more and more curious about her. "But she has three days in the cells for it, so I can't exactly complain."

[cutting_edgex23]

"If she does not change. Or learn to control herself."

X pauses, looking for the right words.

"I do not know if that will be enough. For her not to do it again. To anyone."

[herr_bookman]

Autor's tempted to make a snarky comment along the lines of, "only to people she thinks deserves it," but he reins himself in. He doesn't think snark will go over well here.

"I don't know why she's so hostile," he says instead, nibbling his bottom lip. "She threatened to punch me within the first five minutes of our meeting, so I've no doubts she's like this to everyone. Do you think she can change?"

[cutting_edgex23]

X would insist it is not a question of 'deserving'. Thinking like that is dangerous.

(Budding supervillains think like that. For example.)

"I do not know if she wants to."

X does not bite her lip.

"Our world is -- bad. Sometimes. But most people are not -- "

What are the words?

" -- like this. All the time."

It confuses X, too.

[herr_bookman]

"Miss Ashida isn't most people," Autor says, adjusting his glasses again. "We met a grand total of three times and she threatened me each time, only following through on the third. Third time's the charm, I guess. She is who she is, and any changes made will have to come from within her. Either way, it's not my business."

[cutting_edgex23]

"If it happens again. Action. Or threats."

A pause.

"You can find me. I am here a lot."

Another pause.

"I am X."

[herr_bookman]

"X," Autor says, inclining his head. "I am Autor, though you already know that. I appreciate the offer. Are you on Security?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"Yes."

Her response is prompt.

"I am very good at breaking up fights."

Or, you know.

Making sure they do not start.

[herr_bookman]

Autor flashes a grin at her, nodding. "I bet. Thank you again for coming to check on me."

[cutting_edgex23]

"It is important," X says, instead of 'you're welcome'.

Because it is.

[herr_bookman]

The response comforts him more than he'd like to admit. "Thank you," he says again, feeling that the words don't adequately express his gratitude.

And then he turns into the question monkey.

"So you're from the same world as Miss Ashida? Do you happen to be a mutant, too?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"Yes."

It's the truth.

"I heal. It is useful. For what I do."

See: throwing herself headlong into combat. For one.

[herr_bookman]

"No kidding," Autor says, who can think of a hundred ways that could be useful. A thousand ways. "Might I ask about your speech patterns? Why do you speak the way you do?"

[cutting_edgex23]

X tilts her head a little, studying him carefully for a few moments.

She might also be making sure of her words.

Then --

"I was made. In a lab."

Beat.

"Talking was not relevant. For me. When I was small."

[herr_bookman]

"Made?" Autor says, blinking at her. "The scientists raised you? Why?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"They wanted a weapon. For assassination."

It was very simple.

For them.

[herr_bookman]

"Wow," Autor says, stepping back to look her over. "That's rough. Are you still there?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"No."

She is very firm about that.

"I left. It has been years."

Eight years, pretty much.

Not that X is good at keeping track of time.

(That was not very necessary when she was small, either.)

[herr_bookman]

"Good," Autor says definitively. "Do you happen to know Charles Xavier?"

[cutting_edgex23]

X startles, just for a second.

Then --

"Yes. There is one on my world, too. But he is not the same as Charles here. He is older."

Beat.

"And his sister a different person."

Among other things.

"You have met him? Here."