(no subject)
Chrome walks out of the main complex, after a training session. An.. unusual training session. One that has left him with dirt streaking up his forearms, a sheen of dust on his face marred by the trails of heavy perspiration, already close fitting shirt sticking to his torso, and once in his life grateful for the metal fingertips which had saved him skinned joints one more than one occasion. Walking straight for the dormitory, frown firmly fixed on his face.
"Chrome!" The voice carries out from the direction of the cliffs, and it's followed by the jogging form of Padraig, clutching a large black folder in one hand. "You got a few minutes?" He's dressed in jeans and a rugby shirt, perhaps not doing his normal training today.
Chrome turns his head as he is hailed, drawing a grateful breath of clean, dust free air, as he turns to face the oncoming, "Blitz." Stopping his steps would indicate that yes, whatever he'd planned can wait. "How may I be of assistance?" he inquires evenly.
Slowing as he approaches, and coming to a halt close by, Padraig breaks into a brief grin. "Thanks. Just some stuff about that mission to get Gyrich's statue? I've got the plan sorted, and wanted to see if you could add anything before I took it to Magneto." The folder is held forward for Chrome to take.
Chrome holds out a hand to take the folder between namesake fingers. A curt nod, "Do you have time for me to review this now?" he asks, flicking brown eyes to to Padraig's, before he starts in on the proposal. Regardless of the answer, his attention is drawn back swiftly to the document..
"Sure." Padraig replies. "I've been looking for you for a while, actually. Taken time out to get it sorted, you know?" The plan is well-documented. Time, place, people wanted to go on the mission, everything. "You want to head somewhere to have a look or just here?"
"I've already begun," Chrome repliues distractedly, brown stare narrowed on the page, as he swiftly scans over the plan. Not slowed by his answer, Justin adds, "To relocate would be inefficient.." A slight frown, brows knitting closer together. "Fuel is expensive. I would suggest making the helicopter the secondary method of extraction, would increase the liklihood of approval.." Hrm. Otherwise, quite good. Direct, to the point. Chrome is not rude enough to ask if Umbra helped arrange it.
"As you can see, it also means some of the new recruits will get a look in." He gestures to a map of the area. "Well, the van, driven by me, will let us get away from the immediate area, but then the final method of getting out is eluding me." He frowns briefly. "I thought using you to change the soil, then Cain to remove the lumps, then he can hopefully lift out the statue. Should be a quick in and out. Amara and Tommy covering with rifles from..." A finger points in. "That building. And this other for Magneto or any of the other seniors to observe if they'd like." He shrugs lightly, and awaits Chrome's final reaction.
Chrome nods as Padraig illuminates the various points. "Syphon would benefit froma field exercise under Umbra's authority-" he notes with approval. "Secondary question, would you wish the soil to be replaced, in a manner so as to appear undisturbed, or to pointedly leave is visibly affected?" He can guess, but such a detail might catch Magneto's thorough eye. "Though for greater efficiency, either Umbra or Syphon should remain to secure the waterfront, and to have a boat prepared for transport. Involving more recruits in such a non-essential operation may oor may not please the Seniors."
"I think leave it out, but change it back to normal soil." Padraig muses. "Let them wonder who's stolen it. No need to advertise when we don't need to, right?" He does nod to the second point, but lifts a finger in argument. "Don't want to leave Syphon on his own, because I think these new people could do with some looking after, and one of the objectives is to see how they perform under mission conditions. Perhaps leave someone there who's a bit more experienced? Derek or Raidha, maybe even Lu?"
"Raidha," Chrome states after a moment. "One opertive alone should resort to stealth if pressed, and notify the remaining team, if there is a difficulty that they cannot overcome." Oh god, LuXu operating on his own discretion? *shudder* Another curt nod to clear his head.
Padraig nods with a brief smile. No huge reaction to the Lu comment, but worth a try. "Then Raidha it is. Can you think of anyone else that should be present? Should I take someone in the van with me? Is it worth trying to get a senior on board other than as an observer? Because... I'm not sure any of the seniors could add to the mission especially over and above what's there already, apart from perhaps as the driver, and the narcissist in me wants that for myself." His head tilts to study the next reaction.
"No. An operation like this would be either a waste of a senior member's talents, or would involve an unneccesary percentage of risk.." Not naming Creed specifically, but- ahem! The entire operation from beginning, to boarding of the boat for return, should take less than a half hour. This plan is well assembled," he states with a nod, closing the folder."
"Sounds good then." Padraig offers, a brief grin punching out towards Chrome before a frowns mars it somewhat. "I'll be taking this to Magneto very soon, but I wanted to ask you something first?" The fingers on one hand bucnh up and are thrust into a pocket. "Do you think I'm too... emotional? That I'd do better by switching off my emotions; like you and Amara do? I've just been thinking about it..."
Eyes are narrowed on Padraig as he asks that question, seemingly out of nowhere. A puase. "Efficiency and clarity of perception and action are required. You must answer for yourself whether emotion lessens either effectiveness or the focus in your own case. Are you asking my judgment of your capabilities, or my philosophical opinion?"
"I think..." Padraig muses, with his head tipping up to the sky, "I think it helps me, a lot of the time. Channeling my rage. However, if I take it too far, it can get in the way of my real goals." His head tilts back down, to look Chrome directly in the eye. "I want your judgment, in terms of me, and your philosophical opinion. I value your opinion and judgement, and I'm taking a serious look at myself and how I can serve the Cause. You're not the only one I'm asking."
"You can remain effective as you are, so long a stabilizing influence is maintained psychologically. Your operation to this point hads not suffered as a result of your high level of emotion, though vigilance must be kept to prevent this from developing. Philosophically-" A drawn breath, "Emotion is a side effect of the mind percieving things, and theorizing as to how the self wishes them to be. Channeling all emotion and sentiment into a constant, and impartial measurement of truth, and effect is the purpose of a stoic mindset." Yeah. Repressed much?
The first half made a lot of sense. "Right, so you figure as long as I keep an eye on not letting my anger get the better of me, I'll be fine. Fair enough. Thanks." The second half? Padraig blinks slowly, mind racing for definitions of long-unused words and the such. Fortunate, perhaps, that he's doing it at a superhuman rate. "Okay, I'm going to lose a philosophic argument with you if I even try, but the one question is; why aim for a stoic mindset? Why not let your mind theorise and do what it's designed to do?"
"Loss of efficiency, and focus of intent. Doubt undercuts focus, and doubt is the result of the mind theorising on what cannot be. Peak efficiency is inhuman, but as we are no longer constrained by the limits of human physiology, neither should we be limited by the constraints of human psychology," Chrome replies evenly.
"Doubt? Who said anything about doubt?" Mr. Overconfidence 2005 speaking. Padraig considers the rest of the response carefully, a moment's thought flickering across his eyes. "So emotions can be a distraction, even a burden, I agree. However, surely the benefits are well documented? Hell, everyone likes being happy, right? Just have to learn to deal with the negative, or ignore them, and revel in the positive." His head tilts, obviously intrigued by the conversation.
"Yes, Blitz. Doubt. The sort you are presently experiencing that is causing you to re-evaluate your own psyche, and attitudes." Chrome, Mr. Methodical offers in rebuttal. "And should the self judge that the balance between positive and negative is not worthwhile? Then the balancing point itself, neutrality becomes the goal. Better to feel nothing than to feel badly, in an emotional sense."
"Fair point. But what you'd call doubt in this case is just another way of improvement. Without the possibility of recognising your own weaknesses, or potential weaknesses, then you cannot become the best you can." Not a flicker of annoyance crosses Padraig's features. He allows a small grin, before continuing. "And you decided your balance wasn't worthwhile?" You need to get laid, unspoken. "That you'd serve better by repressing those emotions?"
"The necessity for improvement, and the recognition of such is afforded by the unbiased clarity with which a stoic mind should be able to view itself." A pause. "Correct." It's the subtle difference between containing emotions which might distract, and trying to purge them entirely. A typically teenage overreaction.
"But repressing emotions entirely could lead to a worse situation. Sometime, there's going to be too much, and someone repressing their emotions will snap." A tilt to his head again, and he watches the younger mutant carefully. "I do it, when I don't let loose every once in a while. Maybe you should be careful. Then again, I'll be having a thought about what you've said."
"I am being quite careful," Chrome states crisply, with the certainty of the very young. "Do so, and be aware that I would not refuse further discussion of the subject." A curt nod. "I look forward to hearing what Magneto thinks of your proposal."
"Good stuff." Padraig replies, with the knowledge of previous experience. "I'll get back to you as soon as I've delivered the plan to the boss. Best be off to try and catch him. And I'll think about the subject to see what I can come up with." A hand comes out, expectantly waiting for the return of the folder.
The folder is closed and handed back, with another nod. "Until later then, Blitz." A bit of dirt smudges the spine of the folder where Chrome's still dirtied fingers has gripped it. He frowns a bit upon noting it.. at least the folder is dark in color and wont display the mark *too* clearly..
Not that Padraig will care about a bit of dirt, but Magneto might. It'll get cleaned off before it's presented, no doubt about it. Padraig nods oce to Chrome as he accepts the folder. "Absolutely. See you later, buddy." With that cheerfull fare-thee-well, he's sauntering off towards the Main Complex, and the computer room to try and organise a meeting with the boss.
Hrm. He may never get used to being called 'buddy'. Dispatching the idle thought, Chrome turns again towards the dormitories and a long overdue shower.
Padraig searches Chrome out for a little discussion of his cunning plan, before he tries to take it to Magneto. Also, Padraig searching out some answer for himself, that ends up in something resembling a philosophical discussion.