etrayalogs | (closed) i need another hour of sleep

(closed) i need another hour of sleep

WHO: sophie, quentin, magik, scott, clive, kell-el
WHEN: ... august. for sure.
WHERE: corrine's cafe
WHAT: sophie is trying to connect some of her friends for mutual benefit.
NOTES\WARNINGS: if something comes up, it will be noted in the subject line.

(Look. Last mission? Complete disaster. Some got possessed, some got fucked up, some got kidnapped and experimented, some were left to their own devices, some were late arrivals. Reasons for this meeting include: extra layer of protection, as for some here are inexperienced, squishy, or both, and to keep a good eye on Sophie's dear OP friends, just in case some crazy shit happens again. Either way, everyone wins, right? Mission information through different networks, access to different powers on both sides, everyone wins.

And hopefully some of us fucking chill. Cough, Quentin, cough.

Corrine's Cafe is chill enough, although the fact she can't quite place the songs that are playing doesn't make her particularly happy, her eyebrows furrowing as she taps her finger on the table trying to figure out what damn Spice Girls-ish song is playing right now. Not like she knows all of them by heart or anything and this is not bothering her at all, her eyebrows are nearly pinched together because that's her neutral expression, absolutely.

At least she's distracted while they wait. Tap, tap, tap.)

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[Not believable even for a moment, huh? Scott seems to take this in stride however, biting into his sandwich after pulling his hand away from the older man.]

Eh, I'm sure they're fine. Long dead anyway. They're probably thanking me for spreading the good word around.

[And then Clive can bring the BLT to his medieval world with huge dragons. Scott almost snorts into his food at the thought, but it wouldn't be bad at all.]

[Clive can't help the quiet chuckle that bubbles out of him. Moments like these were what made Etraya more than tolerable. A part of him was afraid of that, of the comfort and general happiness many people here brought him, but more of him was grateful.]

You make a very good point. I'll have to tell An Zhe about them. They don't seem like they would be terribly difficult to make.

[Clive takes a sip of his drink.]

We could have you over for homemade ones. An Zhe also makes a delicious potato soup.

Oh hey you know An Zhe too? Didn't know he cooked... or lived with you.

[But the cool mushroom kid. It's been a long time since he's spoken to him, but Scott's honestly kind of happy to hear that he's been doing okay and apparently making friends with Clive. The mutant smiles a little into his sandwich, before glancing up at Clive with a familiar easy smirk.]

But sure, yeah, I'll come over, especially since you're talking big about this potato soup of his. I have to try it.

I first met him at the waterpark. I was teaching him how to swim.

[It had been an interesting way to meet someone. It wasn't until later that he realized An Zhe had trusted a complete stranger with his safety without batting an eye, which had been, in retrospect, a little concerning.]

Turns out he already lived in the place where I was offered a place to stay so. We're roommates, in a way.

[Clive returns the smirk with a smile of his own.]

I'll have to ask him to make it. He seems to particularly enjoy soup.

[It was pretty cute, actually.]

[Oh huh, he never really thought about An Zhe not knowing how to swim. Makes sense though, because of the whole mushroom thing... well, he's glad Clive helped him out.]

All soup except mushroom soup, I imagine.

[...] So uh, you don't stay with the other people from your world?

[He remembers Clive mentioning Dion and Odin a while back. At least, warning everyone to stay out of their way because of a huge battle going on. A class between titans that would endanger anyone nearby and possibly only stopped by the guy sitting near him. He still wants to see his fire dragon form one day...] Because yeah, I stay with Sophie and the other mutants, mainly.

[He lifts one shoulder in a half-shrug, like it's just a thing that happened.]

[Clive covers a snort of a laugh, grateful that he had only been in the process of picking up his drink.]

I am curious as to whether or not he would eat other mushrooms. I’ll have to ask. I’ll report back.

[Clive looks down at his drink, swirling the mug to watch the remnants of whipped cream slowly integrate into the cooling beverage. There’s something there, a slight furrow in his brow. He does not try to smile.]

No, I don’t. Joshua, my brother, lives there with me but everyone else is elsewhere. Dion is a private man and stays in the apartments. The rest were already established when I arrived and— [Clive sighs.] There was no room. But Yuri found me and offered me a place to live. It was him, An Zhe, and Dimitri when Joshua and I arrived.

[Dimitri was gone. Despite his reserved nature, it felt so much quieter in the monastery now that someone so integral to its existence was gone. He shakes his head and looks up.]

I like it at the monastery. It’s beautiful and I always have something to do.

Oh shit, really? I didn't know your brother was here.

[There's something that flashes across Scott's face, a sort of longing that he'd deny forever, as he thinks about his older brother. It's been a year since he's seen Alex, heh, he probably is worried sick back home. Or maybe he's finally glad that he doesn't have to deal with him anymore. Maybe a bit of both.

Scott squints at Clive, nodding a bit as he mentions his overall contentment living there. He's listened to all that, but honestly, he's focused on one particular thing.]

Let me guess, you're the older brother.

[Clive nods, an answer to both statements.]

You know, you're the second person to peg me as the older one without even meeting both of us. Is it that obvious?

[Clive finishes his sandwich and politely wipes his fingers on a napkin. Oddly enough, there was little like talking about his family that dredged up old habits.]

[With his own meal completed, Scott leans back against the chair-- tilting it just enough that he doesn't fall back. Yet. Don't worry he has this completely handled.]

You just give that older brother feeling. Super responsible, put together. [He waves a hand at Clive.] I have one, back home.

[Alex is going to be the person that's going to do great things between them, probably, even if all these other mutants tell him that he's some great mutant leader. That's. That Scott. Not him. It doesn't feel like it can be him.]

[Clive still shifts his legs under the table so he can hook a foot around a chair leg to yank Scott back down to safety just in case he does not, in fact, have the situation completely handled.]

Ah, that might do it, yeah. Although, my younger brother is generally pretty responsible.

[Clive is slowly learning that Scott's flippancy seems like it might be a defense mechanism.]

What is he like? Your older brother.

[Scott yelps as his chair is suddenly righted, all four legs firmly on the floor and preventing him from being the cool kid on campus. So rude. The mutant grumbles and nearly slumps in his chair, but he just crosses his arms in a manner that's totally not pouting--]

Responsible, the hero. Everyone likes him. [Snorts.] He's going to be the one doing great things in his life.

[He really does look up to Alex, but. It sucks sometimes feeling like he's not enough or won't amount to much. He's sure that's what his parents feel. Then it feels even more stupid that he is supposed to be some great mutant leader, but that is some other universe. That's not him.]

[Clive tries not to smile at the pout, he really does, but it’s kind of… cute? It makes Clive want to ruffle Scott’s hair, that’s for certain. Clive is certain that is not Scott’s intention so he distinctly does not ruffle the teenager’s hair.]

You say that like you don’t think you are going to do great things.

[Clive rests his arms on the table and leans a little closer to Scott, focusing in on their own little bubble.]

Why?

[A small grunt, like he's trying to sound disaffected or disinterested. He thinks it works, because actually sounding hurt or pained by something like this is so lame and he's not that.]

That's just how it is. [He was pretty much an 'accident' anyway, even if his parents haven't confirmed it. Yeah, 20 year difference between him and Alex? Give him a break.]

Not like anyone expects anything out of me.

[That sort of thing may work for others, but not for Clive. He has always been attentive, even from a young age, and his penchant for being able to tell when someone is in distress is strong.]

It isn't always about what others expect out of us.

[Clive reaches over and places a hand on Scott's shoulder.]

What do you want, Scott?

[Still a little sour, though he doesn't try to shove the supporting hand that's now on his shoulder. It's nice, even if he won't admit it.]

Hell if I know. [Grumbling, but it's the honest truth. What does he want to do back home? He's never figured that out himself and guess he's supposed to now by now, huh? Go to school, get a job at some point maybe, and get married?? That's one route but also.]

Are you going to tell me that I should know? Because I just don't.

[Clive leaves his hand where it is, eyes searching Scott's features. he doesn't know what it is like to not know what he wants to do for his future, but he does know what it feels like to be lost, to feel like he is being discarded or passed over.]

Not at all. A part of life is about exploring who you are and who you want to be.

[He takes his hand off of Scott's shoulder, but doesn't pull fully away, still leaning closer, intent on giving his young companion his full attention.]

You're playful, thoughtful, and curious. I can see all of that already. Find something that engages you, that makes you feel, gives you inspiration.

[He smiles.]

Take your time with it. Life may be short, but it's not short enough to settle for something you don't believe in. Your life is yours, no one else's.

[All these supporting words... definitely stuff his parents haven't said to him, at least not lately. It almost makes him defensive. He wants to just brush off Clive's encouragement, maybe snark at him that he's just saying these things to make him feel better. However, that's not it, is it? Hard to put that sort of false totem on the older man when he's sitting there with that small smile.

God, stop being so earnest with him when he just wants to be a moody ass teenager!! UGH.]

Great, I'll let you know if I ever figure that out. [Small grunt, but there's something a little more explorative in his voice-- wanting to hear more from Clive himself.] What's your big goal in life anyway?

[Clive let’s Scott take his moment. He had never heard these kinds of things when he was Scott’s age. What would life have been like had he had the support of someone when he was a young man? If he can provide even a fraction of that support, he will.]

I look forward to it. [Though he does hope that Scott’s life isn’t spent here. He deserves so much more than Etraya.

He should have expected Scott’s question, really. It’s only fair. He leans back a bit and wraps his hands around his cup. He looks down into the cooling liquid.]

I want to create a world where people can live and die on their own terms. [He looks up, eyes firm and alight with conviction.] Everyone deserves the chance to be free, to live their own lives and not have it decided for them by other people.

[He barely bites back the response that he shouldn't count on it, if only because he knows that would get Clive to frown at him and he's avoiding that!!

Scott wasn't quite sure what sort of response he'd be getting from Clive. Well, something serious at the very least, a responsible sort of goal that befits the older man. Nothing mundane either, because he seems like the type that is going to change the world, sort of like his brother. Watching, listening to him... he thinks that all of his thoughts are correct, enough that he almost wants to snort, but the quiet contemplativeness to his position stops him.]

So, your world is filled with tyrants and stuff? People constantly dominating others?

[That thing is pretty common still, huh? Especially if Clive is from the old times-- something that almost feels medieval, complete with dragons and giant swordsmen.]

You're going to topple all of them?

[Clive nods.]

Where I’m from, there are those who are born with magic and those who are not. Those without outnumber those who are. After a war between those with and those without, the major ruling countries at the time signed a pact to mark every person who was born with magic with a poisonous brand to set them apart.

[Clive’s grip tightens on his cup.]

Babes are taken from their parents, worse yet many parents willingly give up their children when they are found to have magic. Bearers are what they are called and they are treated as less than beasts of burden, used until they break and then discarded.

[Clive looks away from Scott to gaze out of one of the large bay windows on the other side of the cafe.]

I intend to topple them all and end magic so no one ever has to experience this again.

[...Okay what the fuck??

He expected something pretty bad, but not like actual slavery and branding people just because they have magic. And even babies taken away? Though he knows the circumstances are entirely different, he can't help but wonder if something like that would ever happen in his world-- or many some other reality with just mutants and humans, with humans branding mutants in a similar way. Best not to think too hard about it, though it lingers slightly in his mind, a disquieting thought that maybe won't fully go away now.

There's growing concern? Anger? Probably both. He doesn't try to even hide it. Quite a conversation to have in the middle of the cafe though as they wait for Sophie's meeting to begin. Honestly, Scott has kind of forgotten about that, fully engaged with what Clive is telling him.]

Wait, why should you have to take away people's magic? People shouldn't have to lose their abilities just because society sucks.

[Clive can practically feel Scott's demeanour change. Good. Anyone who didn't find outrage in the enslavement of people was not the kind that he wanted to associate himself with, frankly.]

Where I'm from, magic is a curse. Every time someone uses their powers, it takes that power from their aether. When their body starts running out of aether to give, it slowly turns to stone. It is a slow and painful death where, in the end, even your organs petrify.

[Clive looks back at Scott.]

Magic comes with a heavy cost. If it's not the weilder, it's the land. My world is dying, and not in the way that Echo speaks of. Access to magic needs to end before my home does, or there will be nothing left for Echo to save.

[It's a bit of an oversimplification, but he doesn't have the energy or the wherewithal to explain all of it. Maybe another time.]

[...So actually having magic is a bad thing? Scott frowns a little into the chocolate croissant he's been munching on, not quite sure how to feel about that particular revelation. He thought it was like having a mutation, something different but still a part of them, but if magic always kills its user, it's hard to feel like it's something actually good. It's a curse, as Clive mentioned.

Being a mutant isn't a curse, right? It's... different. His powers don't kill him, even if they've been a struggle to handle. Not to mention that he kind of likes being a mutant, he's at least found somewhere to finally belong in his life with the others. It's funny isn't it? That it's when he became a freak is when he started to feel like he belonged somewhere.]

So not only are people mistreated by everyone, the very thing that's caused that to happen is killing them. [....] And the world. But. That still doesn't make it okay for them to be enslaved and shit, you're going to kick their asses too, right?

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(closed) i need another hour of sleep

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