exsilium | Voice;

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Voice;

[Private to Emma Frost:]

[Wow, she is just the most unsure about this...]

I -- have to ask you something. It probably sounds stupid, I'm pretty sure it doesn't even work this way, but -- do you sense other telepaths? It's just that I don't think -- I -- Charles isn't here any more, is he?

[ End Private to Emma Frost]

[Some time later, the following voice post goes up. Mystique is -- very pointedly not showing her face right now, and she sounds a little shaky.]

For anyone who knew Charles -- my brother, Charles Xavier -- he isn't here any more.

Just -- so everyone knows.

[And she clicks off the feed, because she's going to go have her own private pity party. She knew that the little bit of peace she got here, pretending that things were okay with her brother, wouldn't last ... but she hadn't wanted to think about how exactly it would come to an end. The selfish part of her had always hoped she'd be the one to go home first. It had happened once before, after all.]

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[It actually makes her feel better, knowing that Merrill is happy with the way that her family -- whatever that means to her -- run things. She smiles, though it isn't something that's heard.]

That's -- good, that you take care of each other like that. I think I understand what that's like.

[Charles had taken care of her because she had been 'like him', at least at some point. That -- counted.]

We only had each other, really.

Once, the elves lived in Arlathan. It means the place I love. We didn't age, and all the magic of Thedas was ours to command. The lore says we spent our time in peace, and in learning. Sometimes, when the older generation became too weary, we would sleep. Uthenera, they call it. The endless dream.

I can't imagine why you'd want to leave a place like that.

[She senses a 'and then the humans came and ruined everything' impending, but saying that out loud sounds -- bitter, even if that's more or less what she is.]

Things change. We changed, I guess. I wouldn't trade what we have for it, I don't think. Living with the clans is wonderful. Settling in one place, one city is... much harder.

[She makes a small noise.]

That makes sense. It's nice, but it also -- you lose a lot of things, I guess.

We hold on to what we have.

That's all we can do. [She makes a thoughtful sound.] The People have Keepers to remember. They remember who we are, the good and the bad. I think... you have to be your own Keeper, now. Remembering your brother. And I'm sure you'll see him again.

I'm just worried that when we see each other, it'll be under -- less-than-ideal circumstances.

[In fact, she's worried it might be in direct conflict.]

[Merrill is quiet for a moment.]

Even in... in circumstances like that... [Her voice is tight with her own grief, but she tries to mask it.] It's better to see that person, even if they are... unhappy. Or disagreeable. Or angry.

[Whoops, she seems to have accidentally upset the girl. She just tries to act agreeable.]

You're probably right.

Maybe. [She sounds chipper again.] People are different, and families are odd, but I like to think--

If I had a sister who missed me like you miss your brother, I'd want to see her again, in any circumstance.

[She's glad to hear that she didn't somehow ruin the girl's night.]

Yeah, I guess so. Things are really up in the air back home, anyway.

Then maybe when they come down, it will be in a good way. [Her voice is bright with optimism.] Or in a good but unexpected way. You never know.

That's true. Home can be just as surprising as this place.

I think I'd expect the unexpected here. If Anders suddenly appeared and swore of mage freedom, I wouldn't be surprised. It seems like that kind of place.

Are you better, now? A little?

--a little, yeah.

Thanks.

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