✘ | 012 | VIDEO

[wecanavenge]

[The video clicks on, showing an uncertain eye and not much else, because the video is held much too close. The camera flips and jostles a few times, before it's held back enough to see a young boy. He looks much younger than he really is, rake thin in a very unhealthy way, but still more than skin and bones. He's pale, and he's scared. When he speaks, it's all in German; which, usefully, is the only language he knows.] H-hallo? [Tosh has already assured him that Herr Doktor is not around and there won't be any tests of any kind today but...he isn't entirely convinced and is more than a little nervous to direct more attention to himself. So he's hesitant, but tentatively giving into some curiosity?] Is this one of the SS buildings? [He pans the camera around the room quickly; partially visible, as he tries to gesture with his other hand, is the silver helmet he holds.] I have never been here before. [And he heads to a couch, looking uncomfortable, but...maybe a little pleased. This is more comfort than he's known in - well, ever. He manages a little smile, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes, and falters at the edges.] It's very nice. Thank you for letting me stay here. [His attention drops back to the helmet, now in his lap, and he holds it up for the camera after a moment - the look on his face says he probably shouldn't play with it and he's sorry, but he's drawn to it nonetheless.] Does this belong to someone? (OOC: And tags will come from einzweidrei because I'm a bad person. :c Blanket content warning, again, for possibly in depth discussion of the Holocaust.]

Comments

Spam

[einzweidrei]

[He wants to believe that. Wants to believe there is someplace they can't touch. Instead he looks down, away, before he looks back up at her.]

That's what they said about Poland.

video

[einzweidrei]

What dimensions?

[Spam]

[stripedpajamas]

[Charles flinches at the sudden surge of memory, and it's terrifying, worse than a movie, not just because of the content but because he's getting what Erik had felt (still feels, really), too, and Raven had told him he needed to learn not to snoop, but underneath all that, he can still see that Erik is like him and that is just. Amazing.]

I'm like you. [He'd blurted it out before he'd thought hey maybe this is a bad idea, maybe it might just scare him more and he really didn't want to do that.] That's how you can understand me. See? [He projects it gently, trying to show him.] I'm not really speaking German, and I can make people go away, if they want to hurt someone.

[He switches back to speech, worried he'll be afraid. Maybe he doesn't want to know there are other people out there like him.] Calm down. I won't let him hurt you again, I promise.

[flawedgem]

[Barbara shakes her head.] No, but people seem friendly, and I've been wandering. [She turns her comm, showing one of the common rooms.]

Is Toshiko one of the adults?

Re: video

[trenchcoatedly]

I don't know, I haven't gone to any of them. I bet they're nice though.

You look thin. Are you hungry? There's a cafeteria.

[burnmythoughts]

[Her eyes do widen this time, because - yeah, that has to be Charles. Her smile doesn't waver, though.]

That would be great, if Erik doesn't mind.

Re: video

[stripedpajamas]

Where is it? [Charles is parroting back German he's sort of siphoning off from Erik so his accent's terrible. :V]

Spam

[breakingmyheart]

[Her chin drops for a moment.]

Would you come for a walk with me so I can show you something?

[stripedpajamas]

[Charles glances over at Erik briefly before looking back at Jean, still smiling.]

He doesn't. Who are you?

Re: video

[trenchcoatedly]

Who are you? You aren't him. Are you his friend?

Re: video

[stripedpajamas]

Yes, I am. My name's Charles Xavier. Where's the kitchen?

[burnmythoughts]

[Jean just nods, because of course he would know.] I'm Jean Grey. I'm - basically a counsellor, here.

[stripedpajamas]

A counselor for what?

Re: video

[trenchcoatedly]

Hi, I'm Castiel. What's his name?

[Then, camera static. When it fades, he's in the kitchen.]

The kitchen is here.

[burnmythoughts]

People who need some help working through their problems.

Spam

[einzweidrei]

[His grip on the helmet tightens, and he wants to say no, he doesn't want to go anywhere with her, he doesn't know her, and this room feels - safe.

But he knows better to refuse, now, because it does nothing, it only hurts more, and one day he'll be strong enough to say no, I won't leave, whenever he feels like it.

He tries to make the helmet float again, and knows he isn't strong enough yet. So he nods.]

What do you want to show me?

Spam

[breakingmyheart]

I want to show you where we are, so you'll know why no-one can find you here. If you don't want to come, you don't have to.

[Spam]

[einzweidrei]

[He is afraid, because suddenly there are words in his head, only he isn't thinking them, and they are in the boy's voice, but Charles' mouth isn't moving, and it is terrifying.

But there is something else, too - something that makes him want to cry in gratitude because he is not alone.

Erik swipes at his eyes (he doesn't like crying, it gets in the way and he'd so rather use anger than pain), and swallows hard.]

You were...you were in my head. But some of the fear is slipping away.] Toshiko said he wasn't here.

[einzweidrei]

Es sind kranke Menschen hier? [He glances at Charles at that; he isn't sure he likes the sound of that. There were sick people in the camps, too, and he'd heard about what happened to them.]

[einzweidrei]

[He peers through the camera, and it's still nothing he recognizes. Maybe that's a good thing.]

Yes. She came to find me.

Re: video

[einzweidrei]

Erik--[But woah hold the phone that isn't where you were bro]

How did you do that?

[Spam]

[stripedpajamas]

I'm like you, [he repeats gently, not sure if he should reach out to him or stay back, if reaching out will make things worse or make it easier for him.

But he catches that thought anyway, and it seems like it's important to repeat it, to let him know this wasn't some trick or a joke or something like that.] You're not alone.

Who's Toshiko?

Spam

[einzweidrei]

Show me, please.

[He doesn't actually think he has a choice.] I'll come.

[stripedpajamas]

[Charles glances over at Erik and takes a moment to reassure him again that that's not going to happen here, this wasn't like the camps before looking back at Jean.]

He wants to know if there are sick people here.

[flawedgem]

[Barbara nods.] Tim came to see me, he - [Her eyes go wide. Why didn't she think of this before?] There's a dining hall. I could show you where it is.