❧ 005 [video] (forward dated to july 18th)

[shadowblends]

[ Tired of shadow people going stabbitty on your loved ones and ruining your family dinners? Then listen up, because here's a psa from your friendly neighborhood blue-toned mutant and a cute boy who's never had parents (don't tell him that): Kurt Wagner and Matthew Lynch!

They appear close together in front of the camera, leaning forward earnestly, and both of them start talking at once. ]

Everyone--
Hey, guys--

[ They didn't practice this in advance, it was more important to get the message out as soon as possible. Matthew looks at Kurt, nods, then back to the camera. ]

We know how to stop them. All those clone-- people. You can get rid of them if you make, like, a sacrifice.

Exactly, ja. There seems to be multiple ways of doing this, whether you decide to forgive someone who has wronged you in the past, disclose something personal, admit to feelings for someone, allow yourself acceptance and closure of people you've loved and-or lost, or facing the one thing that you fear most. Then, and only then will you be able to defeat the shadow being. [Pause.] Or reason with them, at the very least.

Right, yeah. All of that. Or, they said you can give up a memory about one of those things and that'll do the trick, too.

[ Who said what exactly? Matthew doesn't think to explain where this information came from. ]

So, that's all you have to do, and then everything can go back to normal. [ He looks to Kurt again for confirmation. ] I think.

[There's a brisk nod from the teleporter, a brief glance from his peripheral at Matthew then back toward the screen, apprehension clear on his face.] I'm sure I speak for the both of us when I say this, but ... be careful.

[Kurt exchanges a final look with the dream boy before ending the feed.]


(ooc: replies will mostly be handled like a three person conversation! if you prefer having a conversation with only one of the boys, simply state in your response so we know. .^.)

Comments

<3

[welcomeprofessor]

[ Charles just gives the feed a bit of a look. It isn't quite disparaging, and there's no anger in it, but he's not willing to brook much in the way of an excuse here either. He is concerned, and he's concerned more so when the directive comes from his sister that he should be more on edge than usual. ]

You, to start. Advice is often only as good what you'd take yourself.

[ HYPOCRITE OF THE HIGHEST ORDER~. ]

[dreamkid]

[ Why hello there, hi. Matthew isn't gonna say anything yet but he is here also, still sitting next to Kurt and observing this conversation. In fact he pops his curly head into view for a moment, blinking at the screen of his friend's TAB.

Hey Kurt, why does everyone keep telling you to be careful all the time? It's almost like all your friends think you're reckless or something. ]

[shadowblends]

But we are safe. Have I taken my own advice?

[There's no lack of sincerity in the question because he's being honest. Considering he and Matthew are all right (for the moment), doesn't that mean they are heeding their own warning?] Professor, I promise— I'm not being impulsive this time.

[This time, haha.]

[welcomeprofessor]

[ The look continues, but doesn't initially argue the point. It takes a bit of a pause, first. ]

It's simply a reminder, Kurt, not an admonishment. But you must realize that sort of talk sounds like?

[shadowblends]

Ja, I know how it sounds, but— [And now, the raise in his voice makes him sound defensive.

Kurt frowns, inclines his head then shakes it.] I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ... to ... [You know.]

[welcomeprofessor]

There's no need for an apology.

[ Or at least, at present, he doesn't think there is. He simply worries (bolstered and made slightly worse by Raven's insistence upon this conversation at all). There may not be much he can do to convince him otherwise here, but-- ]

Just...you can ask for help if you need it, alright?

[shadowblends]

[He nods in agreement, the corners of his lips briefly twitching upward before falling once more, although it's with realization this time. What Charles is telling him is true; he can ask for help and right now would be the perfect time.]

Okay. Will you help me, then?

[welcomeprofessor]

[ He hadn't been perfectly content to let Kurt work this out on his own. Frankly, the idea hadn't even been comfortable, but there are, at least, still remembrances that at the edges of his periphery--Raven, mostly--that remind him that accepting that as a fact doesn't have to be comfortable to be sometimes necessary.

That said, he's thankful that here, now, that isn't the case. He nods simply. ]

What do you need?

[shadowblends]

I need you to—

[Kurt's abruptly cut off by his shadow dipping in front of the camera, dark eyes glimmering like an oil slick, sharp fangs bared in an impudent little grin.] Warn all of the people you can because not everyone is likely to see this message.

[Then, the real Nightcrawler comes back into view, gently pushing his mirror image aside. Ahem.] What he said. Maybe you could ... [He gestures vaguely with his free hand, motioning toward the side of his head. If you catch his drift, Charles.]

[welcomeprofessor]

[ Charles glances at the video for a longer moment than a strictly natural pause, parsing what he's seen and what Kurt is actually asking. ]

You want me to psychically communicate that. [ Without Cerebro? Kid. Kid. ] I'm not sure that's...possible to the degree you're asking, Kurt.

[shadowblends]

That's right, [answers the mirror-image, his smug little face peeking back into view before Kurt averts the camera.

Charles hasn't come from the same timeline as him.] Nevermind, Professor. Forget I said anything about that. [Dismissive handwave and moving on--] Does this ruin my chance of asking for help?

[An apprehensive glance back and forth while he adjusts the TAB again. He's hoping not.]

[welcomeprofessor]

Of course not. [ And he definitely looks affronted at the whole idea of it. He may not have any idea what Kurt (or his doppelganger) is asking for, or at least how to actually accomplish it, but that's not a reason to abandon him entirely, that's ridiculous. And he isn't shy about how honestly he feels that. ]

I'm not about to leave, even if we're down an easy solution.

[shadowblends]

Wunderbar! [Nightcrawler curls the hand he'd raised into a fist, pumping it with satisfaction. They may not be able to communicate telepathically with everyone, but he's determined to figure out another way for his mentor to help.]

Okay, I've got a better idea. Should anyone be searching for it, would you object to them seeking shelter at the institute?

[welcomeprofessor]

Of course not. That's what it's for, isn't it?

[ All things considered, that's a much more measured response. And not something he'd ever object to. Even under more predictable circumstances, the answer itself is a given. ]

[shadowblends]

Well, ja, but I wasn't sure if you would be open to the idea of strangers coming into the school.

[Taking into account that Kurt's almost positive that he and Charles haven't met all the same people.]

[welcomeprofessor]

If I was recalcitrant to the idea of strangers, I think we would be in a very poor place right now, wouldn't we?

[shadowblends]

Point made. I was a stranger and you accepted me with relative ease when I arrived.

[welcomeprofessor]

I regret only that the timing didn't make that transition any easier.

[ He hasn't seen any of it. He's heard of it, and heard the silence surrounding Cairo which is almost worse. So he has some idea of when and how Kurt had surfaced, but they'd had so little opportunity to make anything of it.

He's not about to squander that opportunity now. ]

[shadowblends]

[Kurt's somewhat taken aback by the statement, but for reasons unknown to him right now. To be fair, when Raven had found him, he'd never expected to end up in a place like the institute; he's happy that he did, though, and wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

And while the timing may have been off, he isn't a stranger to rekindling friendships.]

That's a thing of the past, Professor. We can focus solely on what's to come now.