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

[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."

[herr_bookman]

Autor files away that Charles even has a sister - and, more importantly, that X has that reaction to hearing his name.

"Would he be known as Professor X, then? Molly mentioned him once," he says, and then nods. "I do know the Charles here."

[cutting_edgex23]

"He is. Where I am from. And when."

A pause.

"You like him? Charles."

[herr_bookman]

Now it's Autor's turn to start. "He and I... got along in the past. Until we didn't," he says, clearing his throat. "I find him invasive. Are you a member of the X-men?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"Yes."

Her response is prompt.

"I am used to telepaths. We have several."

Maybe on this -- thinking where Autor and Charles might have a problem -- X is not terrible at guessing.

Maybe.

[herr_bookman]

"Several?" Autor says. Try as he might, he can't keep from wrinkling his nose. "I'm sorry to hear that? I imagine their powers can be useful, though."

He shakes his head. "You're not a telepath, are you? Just checking."

[cutting_edgex23]

X shakes her head.

"No. My healing factor helps shield me. Sometimes."

A brief hesitation.

"That is not always useful."

[herr_bookman]

Autor raises his brows. "Why wouldn't it be useful?" he asks. "I would think shielding like that would be eminently useful."

[cutting_edgex23]

"It is a useful way to relay information, sometimes. In combat. Or when you are ambushed."

X has been there.

[herr_bookman]

"Oh, I see," Autor says, abashed at his not thinking of this. He adjusts his glasses.

"I've never had to rely on a telepath, so I suppose it makes sense that I wouldn't have thought of it," he says, mostly to himself. "Do you end up in combat situations often?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"Yes. People try to kill us a lot. And other people, too."

Her shrug is one-shouldered and quick.

"We protect them. And ourselves. When it is necessary."

[herr_bookman]

He'd like to know who's trying to kill them, but he already got the general gist from Molly. People who hate mutants.

"Is there really a school there?"