Madin and Alex
Mar. 28th, 2023 06:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsBackdated to 28 March after this post.
Alex takes Madin out for a meal and Madin starts to feel like maybe, maybe they can stay at the mansion for now.
The small diner in District X was nothing special, but it was run by mutants, and also the food was great, and it was quiet, and overall just a good choice for a late lunch/dinner thing.
"Okay," he said once they'd ordered, focusing on Madin. "I know there's been a lot of shit, so is there anywhere in particular you want to start? Questions?"
Madin gave a sort of half laugh. "So many, bro. So many. I still don't even know what to trust."
"I'll start with the easiest thing then - no cameras in the halls. There are cameras on the grounds for security stuff, and I think maybe down in the basement because that's where the super important stuff is, but nothing in the residential areas. There's a tracker on your phone, but that's only accessed for super emergencies, like if you go missing and people have a reason to believe you're in danger. I've been here..." Alex counted on his fingers, tilting his head. "Eight years, and I've only seen it used once or twice. The car you borrowed would've had one too, but that's another only use in emergencies measure. Or I guess 'Hey I lost the car can someone ping the GPS' because the city is big and I'm sure that's happened. And only certain people have access to this stuff so it's not like anyone can just check in on you willy nilly. And I know that's a lot to throw at you at once, I'm sorry. I'm trying to be as straight as I can with this."
"You know, I was willing to believe the hall cameras. It's so fucking plausible. And it's not like they didn't have that shit in Parkville, and the mutant detention centres, you know? Of course they'd have it here if they bring strangers in given what you do. Of course the cars and phones are monitored and the telepaths search you.
You don't know me. Of course you'll watch me." Madin shook their head.
"Everyone's a stranger at some point." Alex shrugged. "We're not a detention center, we're a home for wayward mutants and people who want to learn more about their powers. I don't know much about the telepaths except for Q, but I get the impression they want to be in people's heads as little as possible. I mean, that's gotta suck. But there's no reason to believe you're a security risk. And I know you're not going to just believe me because the world doesn't work that way, just, ya know, something to keep in mind. Also, don't listen to Maya. She's not a bad person, but she does like to rile people up."
"I noticed." A waiter brought the food over and Madin gave them a small smile. "Cheers." Once they'd left, Madin shook their head. "This is what I don't get, though. You just trust me. I show up in the middle of a job and you don't get all up in arms about it. Why would you trust someone who does that?" Madin asked, sounding slightly choked.
"Personally, I like to believe the best in everyone. I mean, not everyone, I've got some interesting in-laws I definitely don't see the best in. But you helped us even though you didn't have to, and it probably put you in danger, if you wanted to get out of Chicago. And no it wasn't a pity offer or we felt like we owed you. It's just part of why the mansion exists. You need a roof over your head, we've got a roof big enough for a few dozen heads."
Madin shook their head. "It feels like you're going to ask something from me one day. Maybe not you specifically but someone here. People don't just give you all of this without a catch. LIke, you're going to turn around and it's secretly another fucking mutant terrorist organisation or something and I'm just here because you think you can use me."
"I can see where you're coming from," Alex admitted, popping a fry in his mouth. "It's a weird situation, and nothing's going to change your mind except time. And yeah, you might be asked here or there if you want to like, help out at the community center or something, but you can say no. It's all voluntary."
It would be so easy to trust them all. Alex seemed nice. Everyone seemed nice. That was the problem. "Yeah." Madin nodded and looked like they were about to cry. "I mean, I'd love to do that. But. It's not. I don't want to work for them if it's because it's I'm here. It's too -- I don't know."
Alex chewed on a fry, trying very carefully with his next words. "I do clothing collection and donation a few times every year," he finally said slowly. "Post on the journal to let people know there's a box outside my suite and all that. People always donate, especially the knitters in winter. But no one is going to rip the shirt off your back and make you put it in the box. You can do whatever you want - within reason, of course. Don't like, light things on fire or destroy stuff. Have at least a basic level of respect for other people. Common sense stuff. You can choose the rest of what you do. If you want to volunteer, it's not because you're at the mansion, it's just because that's where you heard about it. If you're not sure right now, or you're scared... I get it. I don't think anything's going to help much except time, and getting to know more people. There are some good ones."
Madin shrugged uncomfortably. "Nah, it's -- like, yeah, I fucking hate humans. I hate them so damn much. And I want to fight for mutant rights. Like, the stuff that's going on is so fucked up. I'd be happy to never have to deal with another flatscan again. But I don't want to be here specifically - like in the mansion - if it turns out that the price for being here is that I have to go and do charity work, become a fucking mutant assimilationist like the rest of you or join the -- you know, the-" Madin's voice dropped even lower, "join the X-Men or the spies. I'm not being used just for a place to sleep and accept the status quo instead of actually doing anything."
"All right." Alex backed off. He knew better than to push. "You do what you gotta do. If you want non-mansion stuff, New York City is great for that kind of thing. Maybe memorize someone's phone number so you don't have to depend on your phone but can still call if you need help." He wasn't going to push, but sometimes basic safety made being pushy necessary.
There was a vague feeling that Alex was somehow disappointed with them but Madin pushed past that. "Yeah, I -- thanks, Alex. I'll do my own thing for a while. I'll stay but I'm doing my own thing."
"Cool." Alex's smile was genuine, and hopefully reassuring. "If you're worried about anything, you can always hit me up. Or someone else. Maybe not on the journals, though. Good place to have fun, terrible place to get advice."
"Give me your number. I'll whatsapp you. I'm never going on that platform again."
Alex takes Madin out for a meal and Madin starts to feel like maybe, maybe they can stay at the mansion for now.
The small diner in District X was nothing special, but it was run by mutants, and also the food was great, and it was quiet, and overall just a good choice for a late lunch/dinner thing.
"Okay," he said once they'd ordered, focusing on Madin. "I know there's been a lot of shit, so is there anywhere in particular you want to start? Questions?"
Madin gave a sort of half laugh. "So many, bro. So many. I still don't even know what to trust."
"I'll start with the easiest thing then - no cameras in the halls. There are cameras on the grounds for security stuff, and I think maybe down in the basement because that's where the super important stuff is, but nothing in the residential areas. There's a tracker on your phone, but that's only accessed for super emergencies, like if you go missing and people have a reason to believe you're in danger. I've been here..." Alex counted on his fingers, tilting his head. "Eight years, and I've only seen it used once or twice. The car you borrowed would've had one too, but that's another only use in emergencies measure. Or I guess 'Hey I lost the car can someone ping the GPS' because the city is big and I'm sure that's happened. And only certain people have access to this stuff so it's not like anyone can just check in on you willy nilly. And I know that's a lot to throw at you at once, I'm sorry. I'm trying to be as straight as I can with this."
"You know, I was willing to believe the hall cameras. It's so fucking plausible. And it's not like they didn't have that shit in Parkville, and the mutant detention centres, you know? Of course they'd have it here if they bring strangers in given what you do. Of course the cars and phones are monitored and the telepaths search you.
You don't know me. Of course you'll watch me." Madin shook their head.
"Everyone's a stranger at some point." Alex shrugged. "We're not a detention center, we're a home for wayward mutants and people who want to learn more about their powers. I don't know much about the telepaths except for Q, but I get the impression they want to be in people's heads as little as possible. I mean, that's gotta suck. But there's no reason to believe you're a security risk. And I know you're not going to just believe me because the world doesn't work that way, just, ya know, something to keep in mind. Also, don't listen to Maya. She's not a bad person, but she does like to rile people up."
"I noticed." A waiter brought the food over and Madin gave them a small smile. "Cheers." Once they'd left, Madin shook their head. "This is what I don't get, though. You just trust me. I show up in the middle of a job and you don't get all up in arms about it. Why would you trust someone who does that?" Madin asked, sounding slightly choked.
"Personally, I like to believe the best in everyone. I mean, not everyone, I've got some interesting in-laws I definitely don't see the best in. But you helped us even though you didn't have to, and it probably put you in danger, if you wanted to get out of Chicago. And no it wasn't a pity offer or we felt like we owed you. It's just part of why the mansion exists. You need a roof over your head, we've got a roof big enough for a few dozen heads."
Madin shook their head. "It feels like you're going to ask something from me one day. Maybe not you specifically but someone here. People don't just give you all of this without a catch. LIke, you're going to turn around and it's secretly another fucking mutant terrorist organisation or something and I'm just here because you think you can use me."
"I can see where you're coming from," Alex admitted, popping a fry in his mouth. "It's a weird situation, and nothing's going to change your mind except time. And yeah, you might be asked here or there if you want to like, help out at the community center or something, but you can say no. It's all voluntary."
It would be so easy to trust them all. Alex seemed nice. Everyone seemed nice. That was the problem. "Yeah." Madin nodded and looked like they were about to cry. "I mean, I'd love to do that. But. It's not. I don't want to work for them if it's because it's I'm here. It's too -- I don't know."
Alex chewed on a fry, trying very carefully with his next words. "I do clothing collection and donation a few times every year," he finally said slowly. "Post on the journal to let people know there's a box outside my suite and all that. People always donate, especially the knitters in winter. But no one is going to rip the shirt off your back and make you put it in the box. You can do whatever you want - within reason, of course. Don't like, light things on fire or destroy stuff. Have at least a basic level of respect for other people. Common sense stuff. You can choose the rest of what you do. If you want to volunteer, it's not because you're at the mansion, it's just because that's where you heard about it. If you're not sure right now, or you're scared... I get it. I don't think anything's going to help much except time, and getting to know more people. There are some good ones."
Madin shrugged uncomfortably. "Nah, it's -- like, yeah, I fucking hate humans. I hate them so damn much. And I want to fight for mutant rights. Like, the stuff that's going on is so fucked up. I'd be happy to never have to deal with another flatscan again. But I don't want to be here specifically - like in the mansion - if it turns out that the price for being here is that I have to go and do charity work, become a fucking mutant assimilationist like the rest of you or join the -- you know, the-" Madin's voice dropped even lower, "join the X-Men or the spies. I'm not being used just for a place to sleep and accept the status quo instead of actually doing anything."
"All right." Alex backed off. He knew better than to push. "You do what you gotta do. If you want non-mansion stuff, New York City is great for that kind of thing. Maybe memorize someone's phone number so you don't have to depend on your phone but can still call if you need help." He wasn't going to push, but sometimes basic safety made being pushy necessary.
There was a vague feeling that Alex was somehow disappointed with them but Madin pushed past that. "Yeah, I -- thanks, Alex. I'll do my own thing for a while. I'll stay but I'm doing my own thing."
"Cool." Alex's smile was genuine, and hopefully reassuring. "If you're worried about anything, you can always hit me up. Or someone else. Maybe not on the journals, though. Good place to have fun, terrible place to get advice."
"Give me your number. I'll whatsapp you. I'm never going on that platform again."
