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[asthecroweflies]

[It's very early in the morning, but Jagger sounds wide awake.]

Did anybody else feel that?

[It's a brief question, his tone urgent. He's also not offering any details, because he's wondering how many know what he's talking about.]

Comments

[asthecroweflies]

Jesus... [The more he learned about her, the more her life sounded like it was from a comic book.]

...what about recently? Have things been anywhere close to peaceful?

[soulsword]

[ She knelt down by the little pentacle she'd made and then looked over at him. ] No. > We were recently attacked by the Purifiers and members of Project Purgatory. [ She hesitated for a second. ] General Ulysses was the one attempting to summon the Elder Gods.

[asthecroweflies]

The Purifiers? [He frowned at that response.] Sounds like a good cult name.

[soulsword]

Would you believe they also go by Stryker Crusade? [ She shook her head. ] They sound like what they are then. A terrorist cult. They believe they are in a holy war against mutantkind. [ Her tone shifts to one that has just the slightest hints of anger. ] They destroyed a bus full of our children. From what I understand those children no longer even had their powers. They had no way to defend themselves from that.

[asthecroweflies]

Of course they do. What self-respecting domestic terrorist group wouldn't call themselves a "crusade"?

[He shook his head.]

People will hate anything, won't they, as long as it's the least bit different.

[soulsword]

Humans are always afraid of things they don't understand. [ There was an edge of bitterness to her voice. ] To them we are just freaks.

[asthecroweflies]

Yeah. [He breathes a sigh.] Even those who accept what you can do are still on edge around you.

[soulsword]

[ She inclined her head. ] Experienced are you?

[asthecroweflies]

When I touch people, I...can see stuff about them, their past, feel things they felt, where they've been. When I touch their things the picture's clearer. Even if they say they're fine with it, you can tell they feel, I don't know, violated.

[soulsword]

[ She tilts her head curiously. ] You are psychic? People are never fond of those. They tend to poke around where they do not belong too often.

[asthecroweflies]

I damn well try not to, thank you very much.

[soulsword]

[ She shakes her head and gives a small smirk. ] It is no worry to me. Psychics cannot read me unless I allow it and I do not often allow it.

[asthecroweflies]

[There's a pause, his eyebrows raised, before he responds.]

...really?

[soulsword]

Yes. After I returned from Limbo even our most powerful telepath, Charles Xavier, could read nothing from me. [ Emma Frost had only been able to see what she had allowed. ] I allowed Frost to look but she was not pleased by what she saw. [ There was a strange smile to accompany the statement. There was no denying she found it amusing how frustrating they found it. ] Empath had little effect on me either. Much to his frustration.

[asthecroweflies]

Well, call me a weird psychic, but I....the idea of touching someone and not reading something off of them is pretty tempting.

[soulsword]

That does make you quite strange. [ She tilts her head and then shrugs. ] Unsurprising though. You have always seemed strange. [ And another smile. ] I would have offered to show you something.

[asthecroweflies]

Well, gosh, I do like surprises.

[His tone was sardonic even if he did sound a little intrigued.]

[soulsword]

[ She tilts her head and grins. ] Then you are curious?

[asthecroweflies]

I'll be the first to admit my curiosity has gotten me into a lot of trouble.

[soulsword]

I would have never guessed such a thing. [ A chuckle escapes her lips and she looks somewhat surprised by that. ]

[asthecroweflies]

You ever touch something because someone else told you it was hot and you just had to know for yourself?

[soulsword]

No, certainly not. How foolish would you have to be to do that? [ Of course she has. ]

[asthecroweflies]

I followed a woman who can forge her soul into a sword and who sometimes has a tail through a teleportation disc just trusting it was heading where she said it was. Probably that foolish.

[soulsword]

[ She inclined her head and gave an exaggerated look of hurt. ] Do you mean to say I do not seem trustworthy? Were you afraid I might drop you somewhere else?

[asthecroweflies]

[He chuckles.]

Not at all, which I think just drives home the point, you know?