[ video ]

[hostage]

[From what's visible behind him, Jesse's seated at the nurse's desk of the Xavier School infirmary. That's not really relevant to anything, just that he's at work and he's bored and out of anything useful to occupy his time. He's currently wrapping a gauze bandage around an empty soda can. An art piece, maybe. Or just keeping his hands busy.]

What's up? Anything exciting going on?

[He's talking to the comm device, but his eyes are on his "work".]

We got new guys coming in, right? How 'bout you? Freaking out about this superhero thing? It's pretty wild...

[That might be touching on sardonic. He knows it's no fun to be new here.]

You guys wanna talk or anything, I got nothing better to do.

[As thrilling as it is to keep winding this bandage around a soda can.]

Comments

[hostage]

Yeah, I feel that. We don't got 'em back where I'm from, either.

[systemize]

I had one friend with one, but it was genetic experimentation, nothing inexplicable like this. What did you end up with here?

[hostage]

I heal people. But it's kinda fucked up. I can heal anything, but when I do it, I end up with that injury instead. Or sickness or whatever it is.

[systemize]

That's horrible. Did you heal the guy that manifested a sword in himself? I heard about that.

[hostage]

I woulda, but I didn't hear about it 'til after 'cause somebody didn't use the emergency line.

[systemize]

I'll definitely use the emergency line, if I ever have to. Do you at least get accelerated healing of your own to make up for it?

[hostage]

Yeah, I regenerate at like double speed. Which is great if I got a paper cut, not so great if I been set on fire.

[He's been set on fire so many times.]

Shit still takes forever to heal.

[systemize]

Set on fire? And you still volunteer to do it?

[Cadel is honestly, legitimately horrified. For all of his upbringing, he's an extremely non-violent kid, and he hates seeing anyone get hurt. Much less someone who's been nice to him.]

[hostage]

How much of an asshole would I be if I could save somebody's life and I didn't do it just 'cause it'd hurt for a little while?

[Honestly, all he ever wanted was the power to help people. And Lachesis gave it to him.]

[systemize]

I wish more people like you existed.

[He doesn't mean to be so achingly honest, but it just comes out. Cadel stares at what he'd typed and hurriedly follows it up with,] It's not right that it's so hard on you, but I understand why you do it.

[hostage]

[No, son. The world doesn't need more shitty people like him. Jesse would say the drawbacks of his power are just karma at work. But then he'd have to explain the part about being a murderer.]

I think most people'd do it if it came down to it.

[systemize]

[That's not a very impressive argument to Cadel. He'd been directly responsible for many deaths-- some in his name, done to get at him by Prosper, but there's some that Cadel had instigated himself. Just because he hadn't been the one to kill them doesn't mean it hadn't been his fault they'd died, and that's not childish sentiment. It's the flat truth. The police agree-- and it'd been his age alone that had protected him.]

I doubt it. Most people would be too selfish or too scared. But I suppose it's mathematically likelier to find selfless people among imPorts.

[hostage]

Most people think they'd be too selfish or scared. But you put somebody in front of 'em who's bleeding out all over the place, it ain't so easy to turn your back. Not when you got the power to stop it.

[systemize]

I've known plenty of people that wouldn't help if there wasn't something in it for them. But I've already been trying to leave them behind. I don't like to see anyone get hurt.

[hostage]

[Jesse has to disagree. Lots of people are selfish and horrible (he counts himself among them) but if most people were that rotten, humans wouldn't have survived this long as a species.

Kind of a pointless argument, though, when he can't be forthright. So he leaves that alone.]

Starting fresh here?

[systemize]

[Cadel had grown up in, and originally gone to school with, the absolute worst company. Prosper, who'd thought Cadel was his son, had intentionally manipulated his entire life that way, to place him in circumstances that would engender distrust, paranoia, and isolation, while simultaneously pushing him to rely on Prosper alone for support. While Cadel is intellectually aware his personal experiences are drastically skewed because of it, it's hard to muster up anything resembling an idealistic faith in humanity.

He has faith in individual people as they prove themselves to him-- which is why he sees something like Jesse's determination to heal others as remarkable.]

I was at home already. I don't really want to start everything over again here, but I guess since they don't seem to be interested in publicizing the contents of their files on us, it at least won't be hard.

[hostage]

You gotta be careful, though. People had their files leaked before. Mine was one of 'em.

[systemize]

[That is very concerning. Cadel sits up straight in his chair.]

What? By who?

[hostage]

Nosy tabloid bitch named Freddie Lounds.

[systemize]

In the future if there are any files you want secured, let me know. I specialize in net security. Consider it repayment for healing everyone.

[hostage]

[He'll keep that in mind. It'll be especially useful if the guy ends up close to Skye.]

Thanks, but I think the damage is done. All my dirt's already dug up.

[systemize]

If there's new dirt in the future, then. It's not right for you to help everyone and not get anything back. I know life isn't fair but that doesn't mean I can't be.

[hostage]

Aight. Can't turn down an offer like that, I guess.

[systemize]

I don't know how much good I can do here that's not illegal so I want to do what I can.

[Since he is trying not to do anything that would make Saul shake his head at him.]

[hostage]

[Well, covering up Jesse's crimes will probably fall under the illegal umbrella...]

Aw, I'm sure there's a lotta good you can do. Net security's pretty big with the government.