Once you arrive at Chimera headquarters, you are directed into the office, where the other members, old and new, start to gather.
Felix is off to the side for now, leaning back against a desk with a stack of notebooks dominating the surface, and watching everyone like the lord of a rather tiny domain.
[Thankfully, the elevator took Charles most of the way here, so when he finally enters HQ, he's only slightly out of breath, having come from the fourth floor. Charles has his own portable library with him, taking the form of a bag he's attached to the back of his chair, and he's pulling his own hodgepodge collection of notes from it. He'll spot Felix a small ways off, recognizing him despite only knowing him by his voice, and wheel himself over, smiling.]
Felix! It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person. So you're the leader of Paradisa's magicians and the like?
[Felix arches a brow at him, curious both about Charles' mode of locomotion, as well as the bulging bag of books he's brought along]
You must be, Charles? I'm glad you could make it [Questioning glance at the wheelchair again].
Magicians isn't exactly a term I'm fond of, although it is difficult to find one that suits everyone...[He smiles lightly, to let Charles know he isn't upset]
Yes indeed. I'm glad I could as well. You'll have to forgive me, I'd stand, but unfortunately I've been deprived of the use of my legs. An incident before I arrived here, that unfortunately I can't remember due to my loss.
[He nevertheless holds his hand out for Felix to shake.]
I can understand that. I'm what's known as a "mutant" in my world, and our scientific name has come under a bit of controversy as well. We're officially known as "Homo Superior", but a more accurate name would be "Homo Mutatis". It's near impossible to please everyone, so you just have to do the best you can.
It's perfectly all right, Felix. I'm still getting used to it, myself, so I'm getting used to people's reactions when they find out I'm in the chair.
Mutants, as a general rule tend to keep to themselves, if they can help it. The general population hasn't reacted to us very well, so we tend to only reveal ourselves when it's absolutely required of us.
More or less, yes. We're something of a step up from baseline Homo Sapiens, with mutations in our DNA endowing us with our abilities, due in part to the dawn of the Nuclear Age.
I am afraid you lost me with that bit. I am not even from Earth, despite some incidental similarities. My world appears to be lagging behind your own by a few centuries in terms of technology and science.
However, you'll find that many of us magic-users have a similar experience to your own. There are several among who had told me that they keep their magic hidden from the general populace. It varies in my own world. Where wizards hold power we have little to fear, but there are other places where we are regarded with fear and usually killed for...simply being who we are. We are born our abilities just as you are.
It's perfectly all right, I'm feeling a little lost myself, since coming here. There are so many technologies, and things I don't understand, such as magic, that I find myself struggling to keep up at times.
We do indeed have that in common. Perhaps we can work together to further our own respective understanding of each other's lot, hmm?
S'all good. I'm ALWAYS in the mood for a little Draco in my day <3justcharlesAugust 4 2011, 02:55:37 UTC
[Charles nods in apology. He finds himself curious about this young man, as his mind is much more guarded than he's used to encountering.]
My apologies. I'm not at all familiar with the study of magic, so you'll have to forgive my ignorance. Felix is the one who invited me here tonight, so I simply made the assumption that he was the leader. I apologize if I erred in my assumption.
Well, the last thing I wish to do is offend anyone, being an invited guest of this gathering. As it happens, I'm a Professor of Genetics, I study the human genome, and mutations which influence evolution. More specifically, I was invited by Mr. Harrowgate because of my mutation, as I possess telepathy, the ability to read minds.
[Of course, Draco raising his defenses just makes Charles even more curious about how he does it.]
You likely wouldn't in magical studies. Genetics are a scientific study humanity's adaptation throughout the generations. And more to the point, I'm a mutant who can read minds. More than human, but only by a step. I promise you, I won't read your mind if you don't desire it, but I am curious about your ability to shield your mind, as the only people capable of such a thing in my world are like me.
It's occlumancy, people can try and enter your mind and you just push them out. Admittedly, it's very difficult to master but I had enough encouragement...shall we say from my aunt.
Felix is off to the side for now, leaning back against a desk with a stack of notebooks dominating the surface, and watching everyone like the lord of a rather tiny domain.
Feel free to mingle.
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Felix! It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person. So you're the leader of Paradisa's magicians and the like?
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You must be, Charles? I'm glad you could make it [Questioning glance at the wheelchair again].
Magicians isn't exactly a term I'm fond of, although it is difficult to find one that suits everyone...[He smiles lightly, to let Charles know he isn't upset]
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[He nevertheless holds his hand out for Felix to shake.]
I can understand that. I'm what's known as a "mutant" in my world, and our scientific name has come under a bit of controversy as well. We're officially known as "Homo Superior", but a more accurate name would be "Homo Mutatis". It's near impossible to please everyone, so you just have to do the best you can.
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So you do. Mutant, hm? I think I've heard the term in the castle here before, though I admit I have not had to chance to learn more.
You're saying you're...ah, forgive me if my analogy is crude, my understanding of science is not terribly advanced...a variation of human?
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Mutants, as a general rule tend to keep to themselves, if they can help it. The general population hasn't reacted to us very well, so we tend to only reveal ourselves when it's absolutely required of us.
More or less, yes. We're something of a step up from baseline Homo Sapiens, with mutations in our DNA endowing us with our abilities, due in part to the dawn of the Nuclear Age.
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However, you'll find that many of us magic-users have a similar experience to your own. There are several among who had told me that they keep their magic hidden from the general populace. It varies in my own world. Where wizards hold power we have little to fear, but there are other places where we are regarded with fear and usually killed for...simply being who we are. We are born our abilities just as you are.
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We do indeed have that in common. Perhaps we can work together to further our own respective understanding of each other's lot, hmm?
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Wizard not magician, also I wouldn't say he was our leader really.
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My apologies. I'm not at all familiar with the study of magic, so you'll have to forgive my ignorance. Felix is the one who invited me here tonight, so I simply made the assumption that he was the leader. I apologize if I erred in my assumption.
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A mutation? I can't say that's ever come up in Defence against the dark arts. So you'a muggle that can read minds then?
[Looks slightly uncomfortable at the thought of this.
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You likely wouldn't in magical studies. Genetics are a scientific study humanity's adaptation throughout the generations. And more to the point, I'm a mutant who can read minds. More than human, but only by a step. I promise you, I won't read your mind if you don't desire it, but I am curious about your ability to shield your mind, as the only people capable of such a thing in my world are like me.
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