Henry McCoy

Erik had felt the hum of the metal from where he had been trying to sleep (unsuccessfully, as always now) and had wandered towards the installation. By the time he ascends the stairs, he manages to take in the helmet, the wires (so many verdammt wires) and the machines. It is wholly and horribly reminiscent of his past.

"I see one government is alike to all the rest after all," he says coolly.

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tobenormal

Hank had been examining the readings from Charles brief test when Erik walked in. He looks up and, despite the flush of embarrassment from the previous encounter, was about to offer a greeting when Erik's words hit him.

"I don't understand what you mean?" He also not sure if he should be offended or not.

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Erik gives Hank an icy look, snorting as he remembers that there are things in the world that men as young as Hank will never have to live through. "You wouldn't understand. You're born too late and you don't strike me as the aware type."

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tobenormal

Erik's words echo another conversation Hank recently had in Milliways; enough so that he rubs his forehead. "It's easy to be superior when you won't share information."

Despite his words he doesn't met Erik's eyes, though he tries.

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Erik casts a weary, almost bored look, in Charles' direction. "I'm not telling him. You inform him or let's be done with this and discuss why you look as if you're about to be tortured," he says with no great attempt to hide his continued disdain.

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tobenormal

Hank does look at Erik now with a passion which is likely surprising.

"He is not being tortured. I would never build a machine to torture someone." He swallows to get a handle on his temper. He refuses to let Erik ruin his success with Cerebro.

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Charles sighs at them both as he adjusts the helmet once more,

"Cerebro can expand my ability and give me a greater range. It can be quite useful. Where's Raven?"

Now is not the moment to deal with Hank's uncertainties and Erik's anger and pain.

Edited Date: 2012-06-29 10:32 pm (UTC)

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andproud

"Here."

She's standing at the edge, still trying to really process everything she's seeing right now, more machines and computers than anything in Hank's lab, even.

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Erik glances over at Raven, displeasure cast across his face to find her still wearing that insipid mask that she's elected to hide behind. He crosses his arms over his torso, regarding the others as calmly as he can, ensuring that his displeasure is marked.

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Hank catches Erik's look and grinds his teeth in frustration but since Erik didn't say anything, Hank can't. He does notice a warning light on his instrument panels though and turns thankful for the distraction; a faulty lead on the helmet.

"Let me check the helmet Charles, I think we may have a loose wire," he says coming around to Charles at the center of the room. He pulls the helmet off Charles and makes a few adjustments before carefully placing the helmet back on. "Okay, that's fixed and we're good to go. Are you sure we can't shave your hair? It would increase the efficiency of the contacts."

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"Don't touch the hair,"

He adjusts the helmet once more and smiles at Raven to try and reassure her. This is a point he needs to focus and later he'll figure out how to get them agreeing.

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Erik regards Charles' hair for a moment, a fleeting thought racing through his mind as to what that head would feel like devoid of a single strand and he spares a moment to think that it might be rather lovely, actually. As quickly as the thought comes, he sheds it, staring up at the wires as he begins to feel the hum, as heady as alcohol through his veins.

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Hank does his best to ignore Erik and moves back to the control panel. "Now the helmet will light up and he may have a spasm. That is normal and safe," he says for Raven's benefit. "This machine will basically work like a radio antennae for his telepathy. Remember Charles, the hand rails are right there if you need them. How strong do you want to try it this time?"

At Charles request, he turns Cerebro to full power and begins a countdown, "3...2...1..." before hitting the switch. He keeps a close eye on Charles and his hand on the emergency shut off.

Edited Date: 2012-07-10 02:09 am (UTC)

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Charles truly hadn't meant to scream, but his head was suddenly full of so many minds. The closest experience he's had was the first time he went to New York City as a little boy and was overwhelmed by all the people.

It takes him a long moment to find himself again and he clutches the hand rails as he orients himself.

He can feel the world and the pinpoints of each mind though focusing on just one is tricky.

Edited Date: 2012-07-10 02:15 am (UTC)

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Erik's not sure he likes it, not at all, but he stares in wonderment and pain as he imagines what that great wired contraption must do to Charles. Quickly, he shuts off that caring, reminding himself that he cannot afford to be this weak.

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andproud

She jumps visibly at the scream, immediately nearing him out of reflex, worry apparent on her features - emotions are something that aren't as easy to mask where Charles is concerned.

"Are you alright?"

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Hank jumps as well as while he was half expecting a dramatic response, he had hoped it wouldn't happen with Charles. He double checks every dial and reading, making sure nothing is out of sorts before holding his hand over the kill switch.

"Charles, should I turn it off?"

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He's aware of the concern and manages to wave his hand, he can do this a little longer.

As he's starting to get better control and he doesn't want to lose all these connections yet.

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"Turn it off, can't you see that he's being harmed!" Erik growls sharply, stepping forward and giving Hank a warning look that implies if he doesn't do it voluntarily, then Erik will put his abilities to good use and pry the wires and the helmet off.

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"Please be calm," Hank say, half beseeching and half exasperated. "I'm turning down the intensity to ease him out. He's not in any danger and he's not being harmed but if I just cut him off, he might be."

Despite his assurances, he is turning down the dials as quickly as he can while still easing Charles back. "Raven, can you help Charles in case he swoons?"

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andproud

She's there to support him almost instantly, her hands hovering in the air near him, reluctant to actually touch him while the machine is still on.

She can hear the sound begin to lower in volume as Hank adjusts the dials, her eyes searching Charles's expression for any sign of pain.

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At first, he's still far away, trying to hold onto all those minds as the connection drifts away. He takes the helmet off while still seeing and feeling more of the world and smiling. This is what he's hoped to do, reach out and connect.

Then the pain comes as his mind readjusts and the strain hits him.

He ends up leaning partly on Raven and the hand rail, "Hell, Hank, that's amazing."

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Erik's displeasure is written sharply on his face. He lingers away from the rest of them, his arms folded over his chest as he regards their seeming pleasure in such little foibles. "If you're done playing like lab mice, I'm going back to my quarters," he informs them, curtly.

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Hank offers Charles a glass of water and turns to Erik, "Oh I think we're quite done. But feel free to be superior wherever you wish."

The words are out before he can stop himself and he nearly finches at them. He does flush in embarrassment but forces himself to ignore Erik in favor of Charles and Raven.

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"Stop it, both of you. Erik, I chose this and it's not perfect but I am an active participant. Hank, this isn't the time. You're both just feeling too loudly. I'm going to go upstairs, sit in a dark room and not think for a time. Then I'll write up how this all felt and another day, we will improve this. Raven, stay with me,"

As he's talked, he's moved from the handrail to rest more on Raven. He doesn't actually look up to speak with either Erik or Hank as that motion hurts and he debates closing his eyes.

From:

andproud

She slides an arm around his to link them in closer, frowning at him in concern before her gaze redirects from Charles' face to Hank's, hovering over his shoulder.

She doesn't say a word, but instead moves to help Charles walk, leaning into him for added support.

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Whether she meant it as admonishment or not, it hits Hank harder than Charles' words and he mouths a sorry but she's already lowered her gaze away from him. Unsure what to do, he goes to clear the doorstop so they don't trip over it on their way out.

Charles will be alright with some rest he tell himself and he's pretty sure he's right.

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