text; un: thunderbird

[tanker]

[ With no introduction... ]

back home, one of the main things I used to do was train people to control their abilities - i've spent quite a number of years teaching myself control through various techniques, as it's pretty essential for me to keep things in check.

in a bid to feel useful to the community, interest check:

anyone want training sessions? whether you have abilities you're struggling with, or are just looking to get some more control over yourself, I can help.

[Or at least, try to. ]

Comments

[thestarling]

Mutants. [Definitely keeping track of that term. though it is finally occurring to him that this is not in fact an interrogation.] Sorry, do you mind if I ask more questions?

[tanker]

sure. am i under arrest?

[ harr harr. It just sounds very police-like. ]

[thestarling]

Not unless you've been cautioned.

[Well, he is actually police...]

Honestly, I'm just curious.

[tanker]

[ And back home, John is pretty much considered a terrorist, so that's an interesting conversation. ]

Go ahead, ask away

[thestarling]

[You may regret that. Peter as a lot of questions.]

What sort of powers are we talking about, then? Is it a worldwide thing or mostly confined to one population?

[tanker]

abilities range from barely anything - like being able to change one's hair color, to cities-leveling powers. There are no two sets of powers that are identical, although you'll find plenty that are very close in range.

Me, for example - I am basically indestructible. Cannot break my bones, cannot pierce my skin, with a high metabolism, super strength and speed. But what sets me apart from someone else with this set of abilities is that I also have enhanced senses, which I use to track - practically anything. If you want someone found, I can find them.

It's a worldwide thing, but it's still a very low percentage of the population that has the x-gene.

[thestarling]

That's a lot of variation, even if the population is small. Makes you wonder how it develops like that, if it's all intrinsic.

[There's a brief pause, then:] Sorry, I get kind of caught up trying to figure out how things work sometimes.

[tanker]

it is, indeed. that's also why the government has very strict anti-mutant laws. we have some rights, but the human population is so terrified of those of us that can do harm that any situation involving a mutant will turn against them.

i don't mind, it's preferable to straight-out fear.

[thestarling]

That does make sense in a terrible kind of way. People do like to react badly to things that scare them.

[And then, because this isn't actually an interview and Peter feels like he should offer something in return.]

We've got something similar at home. Not on the scale of anything like what you're talking about, but it's there. Managed to stay under the general public radar so far, though.

[tanker]

so you have mutants, but nobody knows about them?


some of us can't hide what they are, though

[thestarling]

No mutants. Magic. And it's affected people some but it's hard to say if it's full speciation or not.

[tanker]

magic. how does it manifest?

[thestarling]

No fancy glowing or anything if that's what you mean. It's just sort of there and you can be taught how to use it. Or have it be part of you if you're part of the possible-speciation. But I haven't done too much looking in on it yet.

[tanker]

so technically, anyone could become a magician

it would make things easier for us back home, if everyone could be a mutant. less fighting, maybe.

[thestarling]

Basically, yeah. If you can find someone to teach you.

Or they'd find something else to fight about. Who has the better abilities or whatever.

[Peter has no illusions as to humankind's better nature. It's a cop thing. Mostly.]

[tanker]

[ See, this is where John didn't want to go, but he basically feels the same, especially considering recent developments. ]

seems like there's always something to fight about, no matter how peaceful we try to be.

do you teach magic?

[thestarling]

Teach? I've barely started learning, I doubt I'd be much help.

[tanker]

fair enough

it's the kind of thing that takes years of practice, I imagine?

[thestarling]

At least ten, or so I'm told.

[tanker]

What kind of magic are we talking about? Is it a range of things, like mutant powers, or does everybody do the same things?

[thestarling]

Hard to say. But I think in general, magic is magic. What changes is what you do with it, how you use it.

[tanker]

oh I just wonder
if it's like in practical magic with incantations and whole rituals, or if it's more instantaneous fireballs kind of thing, or both

i don't know much about magic, to be fair. although i did read the lord of the rings throughout my first tour

[thestarling]

Sort of a combination of both. I can show you some time, if you want.

I will easily admit that I am not cool enough to be Gandalf.

[tanker]

now, now, don't sell yourself short
you might rock the pointy hat look still

[thestarling]

I feel the beard is an important aspect, though. I don't grow those well.