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[theycalledmeacurse]

[ The woman in the video is in her 30s, her distinctive hair loose around her shoulders, the white stripes making her pale skin quite noticeable. She shifts nervously as the message begins to broadcast, her expression uneasy as she works up the courage to ask the questions she's been wondering for days. Of course, it's silly to hesitate over such things here, but still... After a few moments, she finally speaks, southern drawl thick with nerves even as she forces a friendly smile. ]

If I understand things correctly, then all of us imPorts are given special abilities upon arrival here. But are there any others who had abilities before coming here? And did anyone know about your abilities?

[ A brief pause, and then, with a noticeable waver ]

What did they think of them?

Comments

[quickfingers]

Yeah, I had my whole deal back home. Didn't even gain anything coming here, like some other people did.

[He's fine with that but still!]

For a while it was on the down, though. When I was growing up, mutants weren't main stream. You hid who you were. It's all changing now, but it'd be nice for it to be this okay - like it is for ImPorts - one day.

[theycalledmeacurse]

[ Excuse her while she stares at him apprehensively for a moment. She doesn't recognize him, but there is something familiar, like a memory she'd seen so long ago it's faded in her mind. ]

You're a mutant too?

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[recommendations]

In my world, 80% of the population has a quirk of some kind. So it's not really something people keep quiet about. There are people who can't hide their quirk, for whom their physical appearance is changed somehow, to be animal-like, or different in some other way.

[theycalledmeacurse]

So it's completely normal there?

[ There might be a tiny bit of shock in her voice at that. The very idea of people with powers being normal and accepted is... Well, it's a dream come true.

Can she live in your world, please? ]

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[ralltiir]

I most certainly did not have any extra-normal abilities before arriving on this planet.

[ He looks insulted by the implication that he might have. ]

In my galaxy, there's only one source for abilities like that: the Force. And the people who use it are, largely, not to be trusted.

[theycalledmeacurse]

[ Those are some strong opinions you have there, sugar. ]

Why do you say that? Have those people done something to earn such a reputation?

[ Her tone isn't confrontational, just curious. She can't assume to know anything about the place he's come from and what things are like there. ]

[VIDEO]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I was born with my abilities and they stayed the same since I arrived here.

Up until recently, I hated what I was. I'm only now beginning to learn that maybe I'm not such a bad thing after all.

[theycalledmeacurse]

Why did you hate yourself, sugar?

[ Cue her mothering instinct. She'd spent years hating herself for so many reasons, it's become her life's mission to make sure no one else suffers the way she did. ]

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[fridgeflower]

There are a few mutants here, people from your world or somewhere like it.

[ A beat, because... That might sound presumptuous. Or weird, if this Rogue's weird-o-meter hasn't busted from over-use. ]

I'm from one of those. I don't think it ends well for anybody.

[theycalledmeacurse]

[ Her weird-o-meter was tossed out the window a long time ago, sugar. ]

I'm sorry to hear that. Sure would be nice to know there's at least one version where things go okay.

[pharmaka]

[ Circe can certainly understand her hesitation. She should have been wary herself back when she first learned of her abilities, but there had been no one who had bothered to explain it to her in words she would understand. She sees now Aeëtes had made a small effort, but he had sacrificed absolutely nothing to help her, only taken pity on a sad thing who had once been kind to him.

She is no longer that girl. So she sounds droll as she says, ] They promptly exiled me out of fear for what I might be capable of. It has been dramatically different even in the short time I have been here.

[theycalledmeacurse]

[ Even with the tone the other woman uses, Rogue is concerned by the words themselves, which shows through clearly in her expression. ]

I'm so sorry to hear that, sugar, but I'm glad things have been better for you here. No one deserves that kind of treatment.

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[psychophilia]

[ Call it a little homesickness, but this Texas girl has to reply to that voice. ]

Knew people that had 'em. You another vampire or something?

[ she was pale enough, okay ]

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[theycalledmeacurse]

[ The accent of a fellow southerner makes Rogue smile — it's been a while since she last heard it. A laugh accompanies it, because what a question. ]

No sugar, not a vampire, though some might compare me to one. I'm a mutant, if you're familiar with the term.

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[drivesadesk]

Yeah, I guess you can say I've got powers. Not a lot of humans back in my universe have seen my real face or know that I have acid blood or that I'm a bit stronger than them, but it generally freaks them out when they do. Especially the face thing.

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[theycalledmeacurse]

It's unfortunate that so many tend to fear what's different. I'm sorry you had to go through that, sugar; I know it well enough myself.

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[nightmarist]

[Ronan isn't normally in the business of reassuring people, but when it comes to this particular topic, sympathy moves him to act. He can tell just from this line of questioning and the tremor in her voice that being "out" is either a new experience for her or previously a great risk.]

At least half of us already had powers before we got here. You don't have to worry about it.

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[theycalledmeacurse]

[ It's both, and despite the adoration she'd received from some of the citizens of this world who are simply enamored with imPorts, she can't help but feel that it's all too good to be true. She can't not be afraid that it'll end and she'll be hunted again. ]

That's good to hear. Thank you, sugar.

[ And it is, but still, she worries. ]

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[rebelhealer]

Back in my world, some people are born with the ability to use magic. Back there, it's feared and distrusted, and anyone born with magic is locked away, never to see the outside world again.

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[theycalledmeacurse]

That's horrible. No one should be persecuted because they were born different.

[ There's a thread of steel in her words and more than a little raw emotion. ]

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[ghoulking]

It depends on what you consider abilities. The Porter, for example, considers being a different species an ability.

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[theycalledmeacurse]

There aren't many other sentient species where I'm from. I was mostly referring to skills or powers beyond what's considered 'normal' among the general population.

[ video ] » ID: Psylocke

[violetnce]

Rogue.

[ The violet-haired, violet-irised mutant with a Maldon, Essex accented voice gives a friendly nod and slight smile to the unmistakable mutant -- the hair and southern accent gives it away -- on the other end. She doesn't know if this Rogue knows her, but if this Rogue's world is half as nuts as Betsy's, then that might be understandable. ]

The mutant story's a complex one, as I'm sure you're well aware of. I make no apologies for who or what I am, though.

[ video ]

[theycalledmeacurse]

And you shouldn't have to.

[ She doesn't recognize the woman from her own memories, but there's a hint of recognition in the depths of her mind, perhaps from something absorbed long ago. Either way, she's not bothered by it; there have been too many strange things already this week to allow such things to burden her mind. ]

I'm sorry, sugar, I'm afraid I haven't met you before.

[ video ] » ID: Wanda Maximoff

[divaricate]

Yes, I had my abilities at home. People weren't eager to be my friend when they knew, and I have more friends and abilities here, and ... well, I still get a handful of people who are scared of me, so I try not to reveal all of my powers.

[ video ]

[theycalledmeacurse]

I know what that's like, and I'm so sorry you've had to go through that, sugar. It's a horrible thing to have people fear you when you don't deserve it.

[video]

[viciousmaukery]

I had a couple before coming here, yeah. [Says the purple tiefling in the flashy clothes.] And yes? I wasn’t exactly trying to hide then, and I’m still not hiding now.

As for that—the reception here’s a little better than back at home, I’ll give it that, but every world’s got its arseholes who don’t like people who’re different. [Hm, what else? Oh!] They’re way more impressed here, too. Back at home I didn’t get lines of people waiting for me to tell their fortunes.

[video]

[theycalledmeacurse]

You're able to tell fortunes? That's a mighty interesting skill to have.

[ She's not entirely sure she'd ever want to know her own fortune, but clearly there are many others who jump at the opportunity. ]

[liverletdie]

Oh that happens all the time. It's nothing special -- although alterations are sometimes common.

[ A beat. ] You might have to test your powers to see if there are changes.

[ He says. To Rogue. Knowing full well what her schtick is. ]

[theycalledmeacurse]

[ She stares at the man for a moment, not recognizing him one bit but putting the pieces together easily enough.]

I take it we've met before?

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[neganomics]

Got a virus that'll make me live forever if I die. Does that count? I mean, not that life after death's worth living being an amblin' corpse and all.

[ Negan smirks, all smarmy southern charm. ]

But I bet yours are better than that, darlin'.

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[theycalledmeacurse]

[ Rogue's eyebrows raise a bit at the mention of living forever after death as a wandering corpse, because, well, that's a new one for her. ]

I wouldn't be so sure.

[choosetruth]

Abilities or superpowers?

[Georgia raises an eyebrow behind her dark sunglasses.]

Because honestly, even now, my superpowers aren't as useful as my writing or research abilities.

[theycalledmeacurse]

I guess I was meaning more superpowers. I know what it's like to not have the most useful set though.

[topmeup]

Superhumans are common enough where I'm from. We're just like everyone else...with a little extra. Some people got a problem with us, but most people just do their thing and we do ours. People being people.

[But to the other point of that question.] But yeah, I had my powers. Well, most of them. I got some weird one here, but everything else is all natural.

[theycalledmeacurse]

So you were mostly able to live peacefully with the folks who didn't have powers?

[ That's the dream, right there, the one she fought and died for. ]