VIDEO: 001

[fource]

Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Quatre Raberba Winner. It's nice to meet you all.

It's only been a few days since I arrived in this universe, and I acknowledge that I'm still adjusting. There are a number of differences between the Earth Sphere that I'm familiar with and this world, some of which could put my home to shame. The level of medical care available here alone should be a cause for celebration. At the same time, I see report after report of conflict between the people who were born on this planet and those of us from other universes, which... [he probably can't just say "means this place still needs some work," so after a moment of frowning off to the side of the camera, he just moves on to the crux of his navelgazing.]

...My understanding is that my fellow new arrivals and I will be invited to a "swear in" within a few days, where we are asked to declare our loyalty to the laws of this country in exchange for certain benefits. I'd like to announce my intention to decline to swear this oath-- not out of disrespect for this country and its laws, but in protest on behalf of the native citizens. If we want to address the root of the difficulties between natives and imPorts, in order to even the differences between us, it must fall to the side with more power to make the first move. With that in mind, I'm uncomfortable with the idea of accepting free housing, guaranteed employment, and a living stipend for my presence here if those same rights aren't extended to the native citizens in this country. We didn't choose to come to this universe, but neither did they, and I can't accept the idea that we are awarded privileges that they are not. It’s no surprise that our relationship is rocky if the foundation that starts it is so unequal.

I would like to make my intentions clear now so they are not misunderstood. I can only speak for myself, but this seems to be the least I can do.

With all of that said... [for a moment, he looks uncertain, like a normal teenager instead of someone who just rattled off a bunch of nonsense about political responsibility] they mentioned that no one back home notices that we're missing, and that when we return, it's as if we never left. How is that... has anyone been able to confirm that's the case? For everyone?

Thank you all for your time.

Comments

[wronganswer]

Oh-- nothing worth talking about, [ she says dryly. ] Animals sound nice.

At least for a little while, I think I'm going to concentrate on working on my mind-healing-- the Porter gave me that ability-- signing up with RISE, and maybe seeing the countryside.

[fource]

[His smile widens when she mentions seeing the countryside, successfully distracting him from following up on whatever 'wasn't worth talking about.']

I'm glad. We should enjoy being here while we can-- it's an opportunity for us as well as whatever we can do to help this world. If you don't mind, I'd love to take another trip with you.

[wronganswer]

[ He's not wrong about that. She's still surprised by the offer. ]

Sure-- I'd love to. How do you feel about motorcycles?

[fource]

I'm sure I could figure it out, if you're willing to be patient with me. Though I may slow you down if you want to do more stunt driving.

[wronganswer]

Oh, I'm not that bad. You handled that car just fine-- I'll show you. There's nothing like riding on all this road with no obstruction.

[ Anderson isn't an adrenaline junkie by far, she just likes riding and seeing things. She gets plenty of adrenaline without looking for it. And Quatre had felt very sure of his ability to drive a totally unfamiliar wacky sci fi car when she'd met him, so she feels confident in this declaration that he'll figure out a bike in no time. ]

[fource]

Alright then. [His smile widens, then turns a little apologetic-- he is sure that he'll be able to handle the motorcycle, but she's still taking the time to show him.] I'm sorry. It's just one more thing you'll be teaching me. [on top of the empathy, which is definitely a thing he's taking her up on.]

[wronganswer]

Don't apologize. There's a lot worse uses for my time here.

[ She really doesn't mind. Feeling any kind of kinship with someone is so rare and new for her-- the other psychics she knows are not people she'd go on a leisurely ride with, put it that way. It's... comfortable, almost. Warm. ]

... We can get started while we're out there, if you want.

[fource]

If you're sure. [He can't help but smile, though-- the opportunity to talk to someone who knows what he's experiencing, who can add more context than the bullet points on the government file that only seemed to muddy the waters... it's exciting, getting to share it with someone who could understand.] I'd like that a lot. Is there anything I should do to prepare?

[wronganswer]

Not really. Maybe think if there's something specific you want to learn. Mostly I'll just have you practice on me.

[ Never let it be said Anderson can dish it but can't take it. She's pretty equitable about her mind-listening.

She hesitates for a short moment, before adding, ] And I need to make sure you know how to turn it off, too. [ She's had it used against her so many times Anderson is fairly inured to people trying it, but it occurs to her that not everyone is so jaded. ]

[fource]

[There's a space of time between her last suggestion and his reply. It's not hesitation, because there's no uncertainty about what Quatre's answer will be; it's just an extra moment or two of silence while he thinks about how to best say no.]

I don't think that's a good idea. Turning it off.

[wronganswer]

[ There's a corresponding pause of surprise as she registers this, but Anderson doesn't contest it. ]

If you don't want to, you don't have to. But you should know how. Just in case.

[fource]

[This time the pause is a little longer. She may be right; he might need to know how to do this at some point. Quatre doesn't know if the problem was stripping away all of the emotions or feeling too many of them, or if it hadn't had anything to with the heart of space at all, if it was just the system doing what it might have done to the others if given the chance.

It would be good for him to know. No, he needed to know, if he wanted to guarantee that it never happened again. But still, the idea of cutting himself off...]

...I'll think about it. Maybe after some practice.

[wronganswer]

[ She hadn't thought he was that consistently open, that he would be reluctant to even know how to close off. Something... must have happened, but Anderson isn't the sort to pry, so she temporizes by explaining her reasoning, instead. ]

Alright. I just don't want to teach you how to pick up more and then see someone use it against you. Once they know you're doing it-- [ Her voice turns flatter despite herself. ] Someone will always try.

[ A beat. ]

Or if someone's in a lot of pain nearby, and you need to focus. Or panicking. I can't protect someone who's panicking in my head. There's a lot of reasons you might need to tune someone out. Maybe just that they asked.

[fource]

[It's the second half of what she's describing that resonates with him first; he pictures what could have happened if OZ hadn't been as distracted by Heero self-destructing as the rest of them. If someone had tried to fight him then, he wouldn't have been able to move, much less defend himself. And other people using it against him, or asking him not to... Anderson was from a world that not only recognized these abilities, but had an entire police division staffed with them. The idea that people would actively try to use her ability against her was a real threat.]

I'm sorry. [he means it, it's sympathetic, though it's also a convenient way to turn away from the earlier conversation.] Does that happen often? People trying to use it against you.

[wronganswer]

Yeah-- sure. All the time. As soon as they figure out I'm a mutant. [ She says this in an easy, natural way that indicates she wouldn't expect anything different. Anderson is too sharp not to notice a subject being steered away from, but she has no reason to pursue it if he doesn't want to talk about it, either. ]

Mostly they try to shock me-- which isn't going to work-- [ She sounds dry. She's seen it all before already, and she's only 22. ] But even if you never get to a point where you get clear images from people, there's plenty of reasons to have full control. [ Anderson honestly really isn't sure what to do with overt sympathy, so she just stays practical and no nonsense. ]

[fource]

[His frown deepens a little. At first he pictures something like OZ using the colonies as a shield, but unspoken, like a mental threat to someone she might care about, or to someone else in the area. Then he realizes that it could be anything, not even something that could actually happen, but just a thought that they hoped would disturb or unbalance her, or just... hurt her, to get back at her.]

...I always thought it would be nice if other people could hear it too. I guess I didn't think that people would try to use it.

[wronganswer]

[ Yeah, pretty much all of those. Anderson's unflappable exterior is hard-won, and recent, a new mask she's had to learn. ]

Well... it can be nice. [ Hazily, she remembers her parents being a warm, loving presence. ] But some people will use any weakness you show them. I don't want that to happen to you.

[fource]

[Quatre doesn't want to be the sort of person who expects people to exploit this weakness, he thinks. He wonder if he'll be able to avoid it now that these sort of abilities are more common.

He sighs.] Thank you. Like I said, I'll think about it. [He means that literally, not as a polite acceptance or rejection; he's going to have to think about it.] Maybe we can focus on the basics for now.

[wronganswer]

[ She can tell that she's gotten through and this is a sincere statement that he'll think about it. Anderson isn't the type to beat things into the dirt, so she nods. ]

Sure. We have plenty of things we can go over first.

[fource]

[He nods back, another smile breaking out on his face.]

Great. Let's set a date in a few weeks. Until then, good luck with your mind healing, and the rest of it.