Tropic of Capricorn: Dinner with the Brotherhood

[x-adrienne.livejournal.com]

Garrison and Adrienne sit down to dinner in the Avalon camp where the main topic of conversation is Magneto's plan for a peaceful mutant haven.

The dinners on the island were served in what had obviously been the research base's former canteen. According to their 'host', most of Avalon's residents cooked in their new residences if finished with a kitchen, or made use of the communal cook tents outside. This room was reserved for those who were considered personal staff to Magneto, which meant most of the active members of the Brotherhood of Mutants. Kane had spent time with some of the people around them trying not to get killed by them. Asking them to pass the salt was not what he'd ever expected. Still, Erik had made it clear he didn't trust them not to try and cause problems, meaning that they'd be at the long table with him.

"You see, Mister Kane, the problem is that mutants will eventually force an evolution in society. The harder that humans resist it, the more likely that evolution comes about through violent means." He held up a hand to forestall Kane's objection. "I am not saying violence is inevitable, but change is. This colony could one day be part of that change - a model for a new society that is not based on geographical happenstance, but instead a shared ideal for a mutant future."

"Whenever I hear someone call something inevitable, it is usually the excuse for why innocent people need to die or be turned into slaves for it to happen." Garrison said, looking up from his fried fish.

Erik's lips quirked into a slight smile. "I understand that my, shall we say bombast, of the past is not easily forgotten. Regardless of that, you travel the world, Mr. Kane. You have both the good and bad as mutants become more common. Are you denying that Charles' ideal is a limited solution; perhaps reasonable for secular, liberal Western democracies, and less so in, say, China?"

Garrison had to give him that one.

"Limited is awfully kind," Adrienne piped up as she swallowed a mouthful of fish. "I'd say it's more like 'hopeless.'" Erik still freaked the bejeezus out of her, but she figured trying to ingratiate herself to him was the best way to go to maintain her desired self-preservation.

"Even in western countries there is too much hate, too much mistrust between ordinary humans and mutants. Too many mutants are hurt even there." Scanner replied as tucked some of her blond hair behind her ear. "This place offers us safety that isn't out there." She made a gesture that clearly intended the whole world outside their island.

"There's still something to be said for being proactive; waiting around rarely gets results," Mystique spoke up, the tip of her knife tracing patterns on the table. "We can hide all we want, but that just means they get to bring the fight on their terms. The only 'safety' that exists is when your enemies are all dead and gone." She glared down the table, but at a look from Erik sighed and straightened her shoulders. "If this works, however, maybe the mundanes can learn something from it."

Abyss sat at the end of the table, with a petulant - more so than usual - and bored look on his face. "I don't know why I'm even here. I don't -eat-, and this is stupid playing nicey-nice with the traitors. They're not going to listen to you, and people like them never learn anyway." At the twin looks - one stern from Magneto, and one more... vicious from Mystique he huffed, and crossed his arms. "I don't eat, why am I even here?"

"Because this is how a community is built. Between us, between our fellow Avalonians, and perhaps one day our enemies." Erik took a sip of his wine, looking unperturbed. "You see, my associates find this a difficult transition, and yet have agreed to it. Have you asked yourself why, Mr. Kane?"

"Cult conditioning?"

"Very glib, but also unfair. You are a man of the law? What makes a person a terrorist? What forces them to enact change outside of the structure of their society? Anger, fanaticism, a penchant for violence? Certainly, but what is the origin of those feelings, Mr. Kane? Isolation. Helplessness. Dealing with the reality of a world that sees you only for what use you are for someone else, powerless in the face of change that grinds up your world around you. Mystique was twelve years old when she went from a golden haired girl to her true form. Can you say you can understand truly what drove her to make the decisions she did? Or Mortimer, with his capering gait and complexion?"

"It doesn't excuse their actions." Garrison shot back quickly. Perhaps too quickly; defensively.

"Perhaps not, but it does explain them. More mutants you know have fought a war against the world around them the day their true selves emerged. I thought I could lead them in that war, but my actions were as futile as a man with a bucket attempting to empty the oceans. Avalon is my chance to lead them to peace - which will no doubt be as hard fought as any battle with Xavier's X-Men."

Adrienne listened attentively and thoughtfully to what everyone had to say, wondering if Garrison's defensiveness was rooted in his past history with the Brotherhood. She had no such history, and had no reason to doubt that Erik really had turned over a new leaf, being someone who had done so herself. She just wished he didn't creep her out so damn much, reminding her of her father. Still, all she had to do was think of her best friend when Erik spoke of Mystique, and all that Vanessa had been through in her life just because of the true
colour of her skin, and she felt like she understood what Erik was getting at. "He has a point, Gar," Adrienne shrugged. "I mean, look at Vee. Her mother booted her out when she manifested. She had to turn tricks to support herself. Look at Em. Mental fucking asylum, just because she was becoming a telepath. Maybe they wouldn't have wanted to come to a place like this, but they might have, if it had existed." Although she was fairly certain one or both of them would have hit her upside the head for saying that.

Kamal had been listening as well, albeit less attentively than Adrienne and the others. Spearing a rather large chunk of fish remaining on his plate with his fork, he grunted in what could possibly have been interpreted as assent before stuff the skewered portion into his mouth and chewing loudly.

"Illegally occupying an island hardly seems a change of heart."

"Yeah, because living on minimum wage in a shitty part of town with the fact that being a woman, black and a mutant makes you a big target to cops like you is deeply satisfying in its honesty." Joanna tossed her fork down. "You want to lecture us, try not being a white privileged condescending prick who's had everything handed to him first. I've listened to assholes like you, calling people who need food stamps lazy parasites. I need this place, and fuck your opinion whether or not I deserve it." Her anger was incandescent and it made Kane pause. Lensherr raised his hand.

"You make your point eloquently, Joanna. Mutants are a minority; a target. And there are too many who would see them dead for just existing. Not all refuges can be million dollar mansion estates, Mr Kane. And while it doesn't dismiss the sins of my past, I will not bar myself from doing what I can to help for those I can reach. Perhaps I do deserve a cell, but is it worth the cost just to feel a sense of justice?"

"If there's anybody who's going to be paying for this, it's not you," Mystique said firmly; though she didn't shift in any way the others at the table could almost see her hackles rise. "Erik is giving us a place where we can be safe, where we can live our lives away from those who would punish us for being better than they are. The true crime would be trying to take that away from us and we will defend ourselves - and him - should it come to that."

"You bet we will," Toad agreed. "You passes don't know what being a mutant really is." His tongue flipped out, snagging a salt cellar and he pulled it back, liberally shaking salt over his meal.

"I think Mr Kane and Ms Frost have understood your passion for this project, my friends. This is a chance to create something positive for all mutant equally. Perhaps it will one day help Charles' vision. Regardless, We shall persevere, even if all you're willing to accept of us is limited hospitality. And now, perhaps on to a more pleasant topic. Dessert." Erik said with a genially expression, like a avuncular elder relative at a holiday meal.