02 Personalities Merged

[i_rule_me]

[Unlike most, the Castle and town changing didn't really affect David that much. Considering he's only been here for a week, he's barely had time to get acquainted with any of it. However, something else is weighing on his mind. Something he'd been hoping to keep to himself for as long as he could. Unfortunately, David's potential instability was something that wouldn't remain secret for long if the Castle kept messing with him. That's got him penning in a pretty specific filter today.]

[Filtered to those aware of Mutants, super powers, superheroes, and Charles Xavier, who would not use this information for evil ends or personal gain]

So...that's a thing I never thought I'd hafta write down. [He laughs.]

So, most o' youse probably don' know me. I've not even been here a fortnight yet, an' already Paradisa's had it's way with me. My name's David Haller. I'm the only son o' Professor Charles Xavier, closest thing my people've got to a bloody living saint. Obviously, like my da I've got powers, though unlike my da, my powers aren't limited t'just messin' with people's minds.

[He sighs.]

Fact is, when my powers manifested, they went outta control, split my mind up inta hundreds o' bloody pieces, with each o' those pieces gettin' it's own shiny super power. I've...managed t'get the pieces back together, make my mind whole, but...it's taken work ta keep it that way. Gotta make a conscious effort to keep all the fragments o' my mind from wantin' ta split off again.

When the Castle did what it did not long ago, it put me t'sleep, like so many others. I guess I stood outside o' some mysterious wee door, with one o' my powers active ta keep people out. Don' think anyone got hurt, but...I worry that it's a thing that could happen. When I'm awake, I can control it, keep my powers quiet an' all, but if I get knocked out, 'specially if I'm havin' nightmares like I was, it's my body up for grabs, an' the universe under the axe.

[He sighs again.]

Spent most o' my life bein' manipulated or used, made more huge bloody mistakes than someone like me has any right to. Thing is...I wanna help people, wanna use my powers ta do good in the world. I'd jus' rather do it without the threat o' someone brain-jackin' me an' usin' my powers ta destroy the world hangin' over my head.

Guess the reason I'm tellin' you lot all o' this is so y'can know what t'expect, should things go sour. I'll fully understand if ye wan' me in a straightjacket, shipped off ta wherever I can't do any harm. Wouldn' be the first time. Jus'...give me a chance, first. I can do a lot o' good, if I've got somethin' t'work towards. A goal, a mission, whatever. Jus' somethin' ta give me a li'l self-belief.

I'll answer yuir questions here, or if ye'd rather come an' gawk, I'm up on the roof.

Comments

[pompous_today]

It seems as though you weren't the only one who couldn't control themselves during the event.

I would try not to worry about being shunned for it.

[i_rule_me]

Aye, I noticed that. Small comfort, but it's somethin' at least.

Probably just a knee-jerk reaction on my part, not without precedent back home. Might say I'm used to the whole "angry villagers with torches an' pitchforks" cliché.

[pompous_today]

It is. Sometimes a small comfort can grow into a larger one.

[Oh, ouch. Simon could relate, a little- he'd been confronted by a torch-wielding mob once.]

I can understand that- it can take a while to acclimate to this environment, if you're used to being... [He pauses.] On the run.

[i_rule_me]

Aye, fair enough. I suppose "misery loves company"s pretty normal 'round here.

[That pause speaks volumes for David. Having been on the run, and otherwise unable to settle anywhere, David knew that feeling.]

Aye. It's not that I never wanted ta have a place I can settle, but that feelin' that I'm always a few minutes from bein' in handcuffs'll never leave me. An' people wonder why I'm not always nice about usin' my powers. Not exactly given a choice, am I?

[pompous_today]

I can safely say that has proven to be a fairly universal truth.

[Those words definitely hit home- Simon rather wondered how much differently things would have turned out if his sister had been given actual proper training in her powers, rather than what she had gotten.]

And if you were only shown some kindness, rather than fear and mistrust... well, it could be very different. This is a feeling I can sympathize with.

[i_rule_me]

Again, small comforts. Funny how little things like that can tie people together.

[David wonders what his life had been like if he'd had a more normal childhood. Maybe when his powers manifested, he could have received a proper education himself, instead of spending most of his life strapped to an exam table, an IV of sedatives ever-present in his arm. He could have been his father's darling boy, his star pupil, instead of the constant disappointment he always felt like he was.]

Aye, maybe. I can't exactly blame people for bein' afraid o' me. Some o' my reputation's well-earned, though not for lack o' tryin' ta put it behind me. Wasn't always as put-together as I am now.

[pompous_today]

Then perhaps you can view Paradisa as a fresh start. A place where your reputation has been left behind and nobody has any preconcieved judgments.

[i_rule_me]

You've a point. Never had that before, y'know? A chance ta be somethin' better. It's about bloody time.

[pompous_today]

I started to like this place a little more when I perceived it that way, personally. You may even find others here who have things in common with you.