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Post by Pietro Maximoff on Sept 8, 2007 15:18:22 GMT -5
"Yours powers," ::Pietro repeated. Understanding came to him instantly. Telepaths could read thoughts as well as influence them. Why could not an empath be able to read emotions and influence them as well? Why could not the young man before him create calm and peace? Pietro did not let his thoughts continue down that avenue. Michael was right, that they would not be long-lasting. More than that, they would not be genuine, and complacency, artificial complacency no less, in the face of all that had happened was inexcusible on his own part. He was anxious because he had reason to be, guarded because it was necessary. When there came a time where he could be completely at peace, he would bask in it, but not before. It would not be right any other way. And on some level, Pietro feared that it might be like a drug, to find calm after such pain and anxiety. And if he were to become addicted...
He took a breath, looke once more at the lake and felt his muscles stiffen in almost jealousy of the still water. Yet he shook it off and focused once on the sincerity of the young man before him. Pietro spent so much of his life living as all or nothing - he loved his sister, he distrusted those who might harm others - emotions consumed him, his vision black and white; he tended to forget that it was possible to let a person in without becoming an open book. Now was as good a time to try as any.:: "There is a person staying here and because of him, I am constantly on edge."
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Post by Smiler on Sept 8, 2007 15:38:28 GMT -5
Michael understood the man's choice between the two options; had he been in his stead, he would have chosen the same.
The reason which Pietro revealed was at least something real; a good starting point. "Do you feel like you actually need to be - or is it just a reflex, a reaction that you cannot control?" he asked.
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Post by Pietro Maximoff on Sept 8, 2007 15:56:33 GMT -5
::On some level, it might be a reflex. If Pietro had ever stopped to analyze himself he could realize that. He certainly had complexes. That did not take away from the fact that Magneto was a danger to both twins, as well as everyone around him. He would not rest until billions were dead, for no crime other than not being born mutants. How could Pietro relax in the face of that?:: "I need to be."
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Post by Smiler on Sept 8, 2007 16:08:26 GMT -5
"And being edgy you feel better than not being?" Michael asked.
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Post by Pietro Maximoff on Sept 8, 2007 16:18:17 GMT -5
::It seemed accusatory, but Pietro took a step back and realized it was a valid question. Still the young man did not understand the threat that currently resided under the roof they shared.:: "Someone needs to be aware."
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Post by Smiler on Sept 8, 2007 16:24:37 GMT -5
"To me, emotions are like different colors," Michael said. "They are easily distinguished from one another. And aware is not the same as edgy. But I know that's easy in theory and hard to divide in actual life."
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Post by Pietro Maximoff on Sept 8, 2007 17:42:40 GMT -5
::Another valid point, if Pietro was willing to consider it. Yet edginess came to him naturally, a physical manifestation of his mutation and his world view.:: "Either way, I cannot calm down."
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Post by Smiler on Sept 8, 2007 18:11:19 GMT -5
Michael could sense it perfectly even as they were talking. Luckily, he'd long learned not to let emotions of others affect him, or he'd have had to get away from Pietro and stop risking his own life at such surge of emotions. "Do you feel like if you calm down, you stop being aware of things?" he ventured a guess.
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Post by Pietro Maximoff on Sept 8, 2007 18:31:40 GMT -5
::Pietro had not given it that much thought. Surely on one level that was true. To be vigilant he was tense. When relaxed, more went by him. But the reverse was also true. Hyper-awareness had a tendency to destroy calm feelings. He took a few steps closer to the water, backwards so that his eyes remained on the young man.:: "In some ways, I suppose."
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Post by Smiler on Sept 9, 2007 14:28:27 GMT -5
Michael sensed no worry or anger in Pietro as they discussed the other man's emotional state. His edginess was probably more natural for him than it was for most other people. "I guess you feel more comfortable with being edgy than most people," he told Pietro. "That's unusual."
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Post by Pietro Maximoff on Sept 9, 2007 14:54:28 GMT -5
"I'm unusual," ::Pietro said automatically, but it was not a snappy response. He had long since come to terms with how he lived differently than those around him. He was easily frustrated with the slow pace of the world, but he was no longer burdened with thoughts, as he had been in youth, that he was damaged because of it.::
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Post by Smiler on Sept 9, 2007 14:56:36 GMT -5
Michael nodded in agreement. If someone had at least one unusual trait, that already made them unusual.
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Post by Pietro Maximoff on Sept 9, 2007 15:07:27 GMT -5
"Do you plan to be a therapist?" ::Pietro asked after a moment had passed. The young man was unnaturally calm, level-headed, and could do wonders in the profession.::
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Post by Smiler on Sept 9, 2007 15:12:45 GMT -5
"I'm considering it," Michael replied. He remembered that Shade had told him a similar thing. "I would have to get a corresponding degree first, I think - and that doesn't seem accessible right now."
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Post by Pietro Maximoff on Sept 9, 2007 15:16:54 GMT -5
::Pietro nodded slightly. He had never been one for formal education, and he knew how difficult it could be, how circumstances could easily lead one further from accomplishing that goal. Yet it seemed to him that it was worth pursuing in the young man's case. If there was a lack of means, he could always speak with Uncle about it.:: "Some day, then."
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