✘ | 002 | VOICE

[wecanavenge]

[Filtered to INMATES, excluding Wanda and Arthas]

Some of you have been here for years. I want to know what you've learned. [He's testing the waters here, putting out feelers. Who's into this redemption line they're spoon feeding us, and who's willing to fight for their freedom. Just not in so many words.] Have you allowed them to try and change you? Do you believe everything they've promised?

[Private to Arthas]

I'm told you hate this ship and everything it claims to stand for. Was I misinformed?

[Private to Ivy]

I think it's time we find out just who sees reason among us. [A pause, and an afterthought:] It would be prudent of you to avoid a man named Charles Xavier.

[Private to Charles]

Pyro. [What is up with this future kid mutants knowing us thing. :|]

Comments

private

[wecanavenge]

Both graduates?

private

[surrenders]

Mm-hm.

But everyone changes.

private

[wecanavenge]

Have you?

private

[surrenders]

[ A tiny nod like a hummingbird bobbing in the air. ]

Everyone does, no matter what.

private

[wecanavenge]

The changes they ask of us here are very different from the changes life thrusts upon us.

Re: private

[surrenders]

No, that's what I meant. Even if you fight it here...

private

[wecanavenge]

Change can be a good thing. Changing to suit someone else, though, to fit in --

Have you fought it?

private

[surrenders]

[ That same nod, minimal eye contact. ]

You have to.

[ How much of this is her and how much of this is her saying what she thinks he wants to hear, not even she knows. ]

private

[wecanavenge]

[He's not sure how to take the lack of eye contact. Is she lying? Saying what she thinks he wants to hear? It's bothersome.]

What's your name?

private

[surrenders]

[ Give her a little credit, most of it's her, even if she knows it's the "right" answer; she's just taken a few (a lot of) steps back in the past month. ]

It's Lua. You were... Erik, right?

You have to fight it, if they're making you the last thing you should be. [ Is she talking about herself, or is this advice? ]

private

[wecanavenge]

That's right. [Hard question, but he's going to be keeping an eye out for her.] And I agree.

You have to fight.

private

[surrenders]

You stay quiet. You make sure they don't notice you, and just... don't listen, all right? Seems like that's what works here.

private

[wecanavenge]

who gave you that advice?

private

[surrenders]

Been here long enough to figure it out.

[ She doesn't know if it's good that it seems like she's so easily led or not. ]

private

[wecanavenge]

Then you should know that ducking your head and keeping silent doesn't last.

private

[surrenders]

You stay out of trouble, you disappear, get out of here. You fight, you last. It's like this place knows.

private

[wecanavenge]

Silence breeds more silence. Didn't we just agree that you have to fight?

private

[surrenders]

Think your fighting and mine are different.

[ She exhales, and looks more tired than before. ]

You can't change how things work here. Not for long. But they don't have to change you. That's the only fight you can win, is not giving in to who they want you to be.

private

[wecanavenge]

Then forgive me if I've misunderstood the purpose of this ship, but there's no way to get out that way. According to them.

private

[surrenders]

At least half of us get out that way. Nobody makes anything special out of it, you're just gone one day like you never were here.

[ It's not the kind of thing they'd tell you, Erik, but you seem smart enough she can leave it unsaid. ]

private

[wecanavenge]

[Pause. Pause. What the fuck is this boat. :|] People have just disappeared?

private

[surrenders]

[ What the fuck indeed. ]

All the time.

private

[wecanavenge]

[murderous rage building. :|] Never heard from again? Gone without a trace?

private

[surrenders]

[ She's getting a bad feeling about this, so doesn't say anything, but yes. ]

private

[wecanavenge]

How many?