forgodssake | ic inbox } ataraxion.

( She's appreciative of the instructions, more so because she wouldn't have asked for help unless she'd gotten lost. (She'd have gotten lost).

Maria keeps her movements through the labs to direction. She's not investigating now. It means that it doesn't take her too long to get to Charles, and with very little trouble (thank you telepathy).

When she arrives there's a gentle tap of a knock on the door to announce her presence before she speaks up )

Charles Xavier?

[ Inclined to be gentlemanly, he goes and opens the door. Whatever injury he had taken from last month's latest horror show has since faded, so his smile is only the usual kind of understated and wan as he greets her. ]

Maria Hill. Come in.

[ His work space is orderly, not very cluttered, with so much data primarily stored digitally. As all rooms are, the thorough ventilation rids it of most smells, but it is still a little different from the clinical, chemical cleanliness of the rest of the floor. A hint of cigarettes, dog hair, and -- more freshly present -- coffee. ]

What can I do for you?

[ It's worth noting -- for all that Hill herself might remain oblivious -- that his telepathy works a little without a filter, idle thought and impression and surface memory picked up as one would pick up noise in another room. Largely unwillingly and a little muffled. ]

( Though her eyes initially fall on Charles as the door opens she can't help but let her gaze drift to the rest of the room. Usually it would be more of a threat assessment, to see what there was in the room before she entered -to get a surface impression of the person she's meeting. Whilst she might not be actively thinking that now its not an easy habit to break.

Her own smile is more of politeness than warmth - brief, filling only the length of time she gives before jumping straight to business )

I'd been speaking to someone about the 'special' kind of help offered here.

( Remus Lupin. People that bit others. She's assuming people )

They advised me to speak to someone in Xenogen - that this was where that help was given.

( She's curious and simply that. They were out of the depth at home and whilst it was her job - business she'd had to do she didn't plan to barge in here. She just wanted to know what did happen - how people were helped, and kept safe )

[ There's a dog in the corner. He snorts, unthreateningly, in his sleep, as they sit down.

Charles does, anyway, back where he was, picking up his cup of coffee and taking a sip from it as she speaks. The context that glimmers through her mind is helpful, if still vague. It's better to have the conversation, anyway. ]

We do try.

[ He opts to ramble for a bit, to give her cue and context. ]

The department was originally geared towards and equipped to study alien life, perform genetic experimentation, but it was empty of people when I came aboard the Tranquility. Professor Snape and I opted to repurpose it and put some of our skills to use, rationalising that we're all, technically, aliens in this world. Before I came here, I'd used to run a school for young men and women with extraordinary powers. Professor Snape was part of one, only for magic.

We aren't exactly tutors, here, but we can help, and utilise the experts that wish to throw in with us to help form solutions. With as many different sorts of universes intersecting in this one place, it usually takes a combination of talents. Science, magic, in between alternatives.

We do other things. Investigate ship phenomena, and such. Keeps us out of trouble.

Edited 2015-04-19 10:47 (UTC)

( As Charles sits Maria moves to take the chair on the other side of his desk, her attention staying with him as he explains. Schools for gifted people - people with extraordinary powers. She had to wonder whether that would incorporate those designated 084's of her world, or if the powers were different at his home. She knew that they were for Professor Snape - magic was different again.

Maria gave a small nod. The explanation sounded good, but it was vague. A surface glance at what they wanted to do - to help, and to know things. But then again her request hadn't been the most specific - a gentle probing to gauge his response, to see what he would say. If he would answer. She hoped he might )

I've spoken with Professor Snape a little about magic and his world.

( When something came up - the boggart, or Sirius Black. She wanted to know more but she wasn't a scientist - it was the general knowledge she needed to know, not unless it related to the situation at hand. She didn't think that magic was the thing bringing them there but rather technology. So she hadn't asked too much )

And I've known people with abilities, but I can't say we really understood it.

( In their eyes - in SHIELD's eyes they'd done what was necessary. The index was there to keep people safe - to stop the people with abilities from harming themselves, or anyone else. They'd be able to react if something did happen. It didn't always end well, but sometimes they dealt with people that didn't want to be reasoned with - or helped. They didn't always handle it well - she could admit that, but unexplained and uncontrolled always seemed worse options.

It also wasn't what she was asking now. Maybe understanding it would help but for now she wanted a quick answer. Remus had told her that Xenogen helped - that any injuries or attacks by people that could hurt were a lot less than they could have been. It was a good reassurance )

If we'd known more about it maybe we could have helped differently.

( A school for people with gifts made her think of training - of control. That was what they didn't have - understanding. Control. How did you even begin to help someone train or learn to control something you couldn't understand? )

[ The idea of 'SHIELD' is not a new one; Charles has seen it mentioned on the network and read it, fleetingly, in the minds of others. It feels like it could be a part of transdimensional overlap that hedges closer to his own world, and there's no surefire way to guarantee there isn't some version of it after all.

But if there is, it isn't known to him. His head tips inquiringly at her words, absence of words, and the thoughts glimmering behind them. He can sense they are at a disconnect, but doesn't want to push the conversation around, as he is sometimes wont to do. ]

It helps to understand if you already know. Both Severus and I are of the ilk we taught. What sort of help were you interested in asking after?

( So he was gifted. Maria couldn't deny that that would help - he already understood what it was like, and if he was providing help he likely had control over his own gift. Maybe that was key - how else could you properly help, or get the necessary trust )

I'm not looking for help. I'm just human.

( There's a small smile at that. Just human, but highly trained. Enough that she can (sometimes) hold her own against someone with powers - depending on the power. Does she wish it was different? No. Not consciously, anyway. There might be times when not having a power gives her a disadvantage but she's happy as herself. And she's seen the other side of it - Steve's assumed obligation because of what he's been given, or destruction from a lack of control. It feels simpler to be as she is )

But I was interested in knowing how people we helped. I don't know what the abilities of people here are, and I'm not asking for that. Just - hypothetically, if something special was needed. What could you do?

( Her first thought from her previous conversation is regarding 'people that bite', although she doesn't know if Remus was being truthful about that or just trying to lighten his announcement. He'd mentioned artificial limbs and working with medical but it didn't give any clear indications of what could be done. Minus the safe place for protecting people )

[ He could probably play stupid and press her to define exactly what she means by that, and for a moment, Charles considers it, mouth parted in hesitation and a slight crooked quality to emerging smile, before he speaks anyway; ]

Our help is as varied as the people that come to us, Agent. Are you talking about-- preventative measures?

[ He doesn't necessarily wait for confirmation. ]

We have dangerous powers in the world I come from, and the best method of ensuring no one gets hurt is education. For those onboard for whom education can't help, then-- generally magical solutions are called for. Potions to treat afflictions, voluntary confinement provided until the danger is passed. In the past, I've conducted therapy, of a more usual kind, and of a more telepathic kind.

It's important I add, we aren't an extension of Security, or Medical, even if we are given to work with either sometimes. We mostly handle matters brought to our attention. Our staff are encouraged to pursue their own cases and we try to make sure the rest of the Tranquility knows to come to us if they want to.

I suppose it is preventative, although I'm glad that you mentioned potions, or therapy.

( Options - actual options. Although there was confinement at least here it was voluntary. The world might not have been ready to know about the things that really existed in it but, in defense, was doing something - imprisoning the dangerous, monitoring the unknown, worse than doing nothing?

With people like Hydra around - still around - it didn't feel worse. She didn't want it to be worse )

Everyone will know to come to you, at least. That's why I'm asking questions now - someone recently mentioned it. Are there ever any difficulties? Resistance from people that refuse help or people that don't agree with what you're trying to do?

( People who, like from her home, would kill rather than help or understand. There was always a line that she'd known, a question they never wanted to ask regarding where did it stop? How far did dangerous have to be before imprisonment wasn't enough? Before death was the only answer? Maybe they'd already found it but denied wanting to touch it )

Yes.

[ This, after a moment of thought. ]

But only one case I can think of. In the interests of privacy, I'll refrain from gossip -- but it was a man who didn't have total control over the power he could wield, and he hurt someone. However, that was a conflict of interests rather than pointblank refusal. I believe he sought help elsewhere.

We can only but offer. If it gets to the stage where someone is consistently hurting others, and we're refused at every turn, I'd imagine we defer to Security, or work with them. We have done so, in the past.

At least that doesn't appear to be the frequent need.

( Either people accepted the help or there wasn't quite such high a need for it that there would be many reported cases. Whatever the reason for it it was a good thing. There was help, people willing to do what it took in order to help. And people actually accepting the help )

I guess there'd be more cause for concern if there wasn't someone like you or Professor Snape here - someone experienced.

( Whether that was because there wouldn't be any help, or the methods of it wouldn't have been great she didn't want to admit to. But they didn't have that worry at least )

Mm.

[ Charles would like to think so, anyway. But now the subject of his focus turns properly outward and squarely onto Maria, signified only with the tip of his head and the sharp study behind benign expression. ]

What is SHIELD. I've heard it come up a few times and it seems to be equal parts law enforcement and spy organisation.

( Maria shouldn't be surprised - she actually shouldn't. He's mentioned telepathy, and whether he'd read the information out of her head or not it was something that had been mentioned around the network. For spies they threw the name around a lot, but that would only be worrying if the word was as classified as some of what they did. Given that he's asking- she's guessing, hoping that he hadn't looked into her head for more. That would be dangerous )

It was. In basic terms anyway.

( Maria might have alluded to Fortescue before that they'd been in similar lines of work, and had shown herself capable to gunnery, but she'd never actually talked about SHIELD before. Not in detail - she was more like to bring up her marine training than anything of SHIELD )

SHIELD stands for the Strategic Homeland Intelligence and Enforcement Logistics Division. We looked after problems that other organisations weren't qualified to deal with.

( Powered individuals. Aliens. They weren't really qualified but they had better defenses, and they'd been working on it a lot longer than any other organisation had known about the issues. At least, that was what she was giving him in relevance to this conversation )

With all due respect, it sounds like exactly the sort of necessity I have every intention of rendering obsolete back in my world. And here, the same.

[ He is ruffled, but in an understated sort of fashion. Her tone makes clear what her thoughts make explicit; powered individuals are problems. They are, for him, his students, his friends, and once in a blue moon, his lovers.

She has her marching orders; he has his school.

Had his school.

Speaking of which-- ]

I can't help but notice you termed your objectives in the past tense, though.

With all due respect- ( And there's likely a little less there ) -SHIELD was started because of human threats. Non-powered individuals that would threaten our safety - freedom.

( And she'd appreciate the lack of assumptions on his part. It might be nice for him to be in a world where something like SHIELD is obsolete - where everything is nice enough and able to be understood, but people don't understand. That was why until New York things were a secret - to keep it from becoming out of hand )

Aliens trying to destroy Earth changes the game plan.

( There'd been less incidents before then - before the Chitauri had left things behind that people had swept up. That people had experimented with. It was humans that started most of the problems - people became powered or had the wrong technology from it

But there's a breath- a pause to reign in some of that irritation that had sprung from Charles' judgement. There were some powered individuals that she worked with - others that were allies. It wasn't being powered that was the problem but what you did with the power - or regular human thought )

SHIELD is gone - just before I got here.

( Technically just after - she'd been in the process of planning out how when she'd arrived, but a few jumps later she'd received that outcome )

Now now, you didn't come here asking after human threats, Agent Hill, you'd have gone to Security for that. You took it upon yourself -- out of professional curiousity and obligation, I can only assume -- to ensure we had safeguards in place for people with powers, or people who aren't exactly people as you know them. Problems other organisations aren't qualified to deal with, as you put it.

[ His rebuttal is mild. You don't get to be a PhD student, a professor, and friends with """Magneto"""" by being awfully worked up by disagreement. He can see the assumptions in return unravelling in her mind too -- truly laughable ones -- but doesn't speak to them directly.

That'd be rude.

But he does feel a need to explain; ]

Our game plan changed too, back home. The cat was out of the bag early on, and suddenly, the world knew who we were before they were prepared, and the measures they took to try to understand people like us ranged from shooting first and asking later, all the way to vivisection. You'll forgive me a little defensiveness.

Being someone who understands the worst of humankind, [ he adds, not insincerely. ]

I wasn't asking about your safeguards.

( It might have come up but Charles himself had been the first one to mention it - Remus too in her initial conversation. If she'd wanted to know about any safeguards she'd have gone to Security, human or non-human safeguards. She'd asked about help - things that he did, his experience. How his work helped someone stay in control of themselves - personal control )

Being someone that understands the worst of humankind- ( From his statements she can understand his defensiveness. Shooting first and vivisection? At least she can say those are acts she's never ordered or taken part in. Shots only came when there was no reason, or they were under attack ) -you should know that the worst of it can come from humans themselves. Experiments - not solely on people with abilities but also to create them. People that would then use their subjects to cause more damage than they could.

( Thankfully for someone like Steve he was on their side - stopping the damage, but the Red Skull had wanted that for himself. He might not have gotten it but Hydra had ended up with Barnes. Humans controlling a super soldier - someone more than human. If it was just Barnes it would have been like Steve, but it was other humans giving those orders. Maria let her words hang for a few seconds, trying to get her point back )

We're all from different places - we've all had to do different things. Someone told me that this department helped people that had other needs. I was curious about what you knew - what experience you had with these things to do that.

[ There is a reason they both -- Charles and Remus -- likely went there, and Charles is disinclined to put it all on their respective paranoias when the common denominator is Maria herself. Still, lacking the desire to bang on about what the agent could have meant or did not mean, he listens.

Accepts intention as stated, now. ]

And when asked by someone who will never need my help in the ways we're discussing, I'm inclined to ask who's asking, and why.

[ His tone has loosened, and he offers the beginning of a crooked smile. ]

But I suppose it's better than never asking at all. I didn't mean any offence in hoping your organisation would be redundant, in this world or the next. I just believe in empowering people like me to help themselves, in some respects, rather than becoming a problem.

( She has to nod at his statement, and agree. She can see why he'd jump to his conclusion even if she doesn't like that that would be his only idea about her. She carries around her own dose of suspicion about people, probably larger than what is healthy )

I might not need your help, but other people may. I'd like to know who to be able to send them to, that they could be helped.

( It wasn't just them here, and so far the external threats and the ship had proven more dangerous than anything on board. Minus the sleepwalking incident, but that was something out of control rather than malicious intent. If word was to be believed anyway )

And it would probably a nicer world if my job didn't exist. ( Didn't have to exist, but then it would be a nicer world if a lot of things weren't needed - military responses, spies. If things were safer a lot would be redundant. Science became as messy as biology ) You said you had a school. How long has it been running?

One semester.

[ His smile goes crooked; a little sad. (Very sad, but it's not anyone's business but his own, so it remains suppressed.) ]

We had to shut down due to the draft taking effect. There was a war, in Vietnam.

[ It's not the entire truth, but truth enough without getting terribly person. ]

But I've been told that in the future, I'm able to open it up again, and it runs for decades on. I'd had some prior experience in training up young mutants, before the school came together. It was a small team, but effective. Memorable. A certain spirit of discovery, in those early days.

Here, there's a lot to relearn.

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