| Opening Log

[shadowqueen]

Everyone's waking up at once, covered in bits of rubble, temporarily without abilities and with a lurking headache. The castle looms around them, irrepressibly gray, huge and silent. The only noises are the people, rustling as they extract themselves from their sarcophagi and look for exits along the arching walkways.

Better take a look around, and see if anyone else knows what's going on.

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Comments

[permutant]

[She knows she's been noticed, and she expects something bad like screaming or shouting, too used to that reaction, and she's... completely shocked by the way he just gets over his surprise. And offers her help. Wow, has she been dropped in a completely different universe?

Oh, right, she should probably stop staring and respond.]

... I'm alright. Thanks. You probably don't know where we are, huh.

[sagacity]

[He wonders if the . . . blueness is natural or the effect of something -- something malicious? he wouldn't be surprised -- but he pushes the thoughts aside when she speaks and shrugs afterward.]

I wish I knew, but I'm about as clueless as everyone else. Sorry.

[permutant]

[she's expecting questions. actually, she'll be less surprised if she does get asked. but maybe she should stop expecting the worst and talk. he's being nice, after all, and that's something she expects to be rare; no sense in wasting it.]

It's fine. I was just... asking, you know. But I guess it doesn't really look like anyone knows. [she pauses for a moment, looking awkward, and then holds her hand out.] I'm Raven.

[sagacity]

Looks like we're all going to have to work together to find answers at this rate.

[casually as ever, he takes the hand and gives it a shake. the gesture makes him think about her skin, but he ignores his curiosity again.]

Raven, huh? Call me Serge.

[permutant]

Easier said than done. [s i g h. she lets go of his hand and takes a look around the room.] Do you think we should start looking for a door?

[sagacity]

Probably. It'd be better than sticking around here and waiting for something -- or someone -- to turn up.

[permutant]

Normally I'd be a lot of help here, but... [she looks at her hands and shrugs, tries to look more casual about her lack of abilities than seeming as scared and sick as she feels.] I think there's something really wrong with this place. I should be able to shape-shift, and I can't.

[sagacity]

[he arches both brows, but then cracks a grin, sounding impressed.] Really. You're a shapeshifter? Now that's got to be a handy skill to have! Where'd you learn to do that?

[permutant]

[... that's... new.]

I didn't really learn it, it's just what I can do. I'm a mutant. That's what's up with the... blue.

[sagacity]

So that's why. I thought it could have been the work of some external force . . . but a mutant, huh. If you don't mind sharing, what exactly does it mean to be one? I can't say I've ever heard that term being used this way for a person before.

[permutant]

[she huffs, a half-laugh. this is getting surreal. people are from another world entirely, huh. sure, the world doesn't know about true mutants yet where she's from, but most people at least use the word for minor mutations.]

My brother would be a lot better at this than I am, but it's like there's... something different in your genes? You're just born differently. It's normally a different hair colour, or blue eyes or something, I just have a... an accelerated mutation, I guess. Charles wrote his thesis about it; he says we're "the next stage in human evolution". [she says it in a mocking tone, grinning. but thinking of Charles - of him not being here and... everything back at home that was so important, that she's missing and she's letting them all down - makes the grin fade a second later, and she clears her throat.] That's what it is. Like a new species that just branched off from humans.

[sagacity]

The next stage in human evolution . . .

[admittedly, he isn't one for science, but he can understand this watered down explanation well enough, though he doesn't get how different hair color can attribute to a "mutation." hmm. nodding, he says more to himself aloud:] But despite the differences in your genes, you're still human.

[he folds his arms together.] I think I get it. Thanks for the overview.

[permutant]

[she laughs again and looks down.] I don't think anyone considers us as "humans" any more. Charles says it's like the difference between cavemen and modern humans. They're homo sapiens, but we're... homo superior, I think.

It's okay. I still don't get it, and I've lived with the guy who writes about it for twelve years.

[sagacity]

[he lets out an "ahh" and nods along. to Serge, that's still human, but he can get where this Charles is coming from. sort of.]

Hey, it happens. Sometimes you just live with people who talk like they're speaking another language entirely. [said with good humor, of course.]

[permutant]

I figure any science is like that. But at least it means if I start talking about totally normal things, he has no idea what I'm saying. The misunderstandings aren't always one-sided. [she laughs - bitter though she may be about Charles' social incompetence, that doesn't mean she can't just make fun of it every now and then.]

[sagacity]

Different interests, huh. But you sound okay with that. [in a way, though, the differences are probably endearing. no one said being clueless about another's mindset was a bad thing.]

[permutant]

[she shrugs.]

It's not that bad. There are some things I hate about him, but... He's my brother, you know?

[sagacity]

[he smiles -- not the sloppy smirk he's been giving up until now, but a more natural smile.]

Yeah. I know. And siblings are important, so good for you.