[The moment he returns from washing his hands, she's straightened up, hands on her knees, and it's clear that she's slipped into serious mode. She's not drinking cocktails or crappy wine while stuffing bacon into her mouth.
She coolly watches him as he begins his explanation, and when he mentions Kitty, her lips twitch down into a frown.]
She's offered that service to a number of people. I wonder how she'll help everyone. [There's a measure of doubt in her tone.]
[ He pauses at Kate's comment, briefly considers countering with his own before deciding instead to go on about his powers. But first, a bite of the sandwich. Chew. Swallow. ]
.. Anyway, I guess that hearing about her power was enough to convince me that she could prevent others from using mine. I have two, according to my file, and they don't sound like anything I could activate on my own. They call them "extreme suggestibility" and "conditional immortality". Each has something of a detailed explanation attached.
[ He stares blankly at the rest of his sandwich, his eyes already tearing up as his frustration and despair roil just beneath the surface. He licks his lips before taking another bite and continuing. ]
The "power" of extreme suggestibility, according to the explanation, lets others program hypnotic, telepathic, psychic and other similar sorts of mind control and persuasion program suggestions or commands into my subconscious.
[ His mouth feels dry, so dry, and it's not just because he's not having any drink. But he might need some after a discussion like this. ]
And there's no way of knowing about it, so the file says. There wouldn't be any change in my appearance or behavior, I could be going about like I would naturally, but I would still be obeying orders or commands or programming or whatever anyone would like to call it. I might be complying to someone else's whims and... not have any knowledge of it whatsoever. Let alone any consent or free will.
[ It's only now that Simon realises he's squeezed his sandwich; he carefully releases his grip and tries keep it from completely falling apart in his hands.
He heaves a heavy sigh before carefully taking a deep breath. ]
And the immortality is said to only work in tandem with my complying with suggestion, to say the very least.
[Kate watches his body language throughout all of that. To say the least, she's hardly thrilled about this new batch of information. Now, she can understand why he wanted to keep that from most people. Something that makes him susceptible is ... a problem, even if being susceptible grants him immortality.
But is it worth the cost?
Being someone who has felt true weakness and vulnerability, she doesn't think so. She doesn't even think she could be swayed on that.]
Kitty's powers would be helpful here, [she says.] But not a permanent fix. Some imPorts do have power nullifiers. Some of them have even been fixed up to work all the time. [And in most binds, they would be used offensively.
[ Simon starts to dial back the thoughts and feelings of helplessness he gets when merely thinking about his powers, tries to blink back the moisture that's already welled up in his eyes. Having lost his battle with his sandwich, he puts it down and glances around for napkins. ]
A power nullifier... [ He hums in thought and nods. ] Do those really work?
[ Because if they do work, if they could trust whoever is making it, then Simon might not think it a terrible idea. ]
Our enemies. I know the government has some on hand, too.
[Kate lets that linger for a moment. She doesn't like that he could be forced to do anything. Given that, she might have to reveal her hand a little here.]
My team has a number of them that we've obtained on numerous occasions. We've been tinkering with them, and admittedly, we're currently lacking some engineers to work on them.
But they can be fixed up, if they haven't already. I'd be willing to spare one for you.
[ Simon is clearly uncomfortable with the idea that their enemies, whoever they may be and however many there are, as well as the government have power nullifiers. But then again, how many of them could harness that technology and instead use it for controlling others? Another disconcerting thought. He swallows. ]
I see.
[ Still, if Kate and the Young Avengers have been working with some of them, then... Well, Simon thinks he might be better off trusting things they've been working with. Probably. ]
Then, if you would, I guess... I'd like to see a demonstration of one of them working, first. But I think I'm willing to wear one... afterward.
Do you have a name? I might know if he's still around. [Since they're going to potentially bring this person into it, Kate thinks it's best to ask. After all, Kate doesn't like too many people knowing about the Young Avengers stockpile of things.]
Drift, I think his name was? [ It must've been sometime mid-December when he'd seen the guy's post on the network. ] He was able to make these, uhh, petals rain down or something of the sort.
Thank you too, Kate. [ Raising his eyebrows with his thoughts, ] I don't like it either, and I don't know whether it's precaution or paranoia that's done me well since arriving.
[ He hopes the same—hopes he was right to trust Kate, to trust Kitty. The only two people who know so far, and Simon hopes no one else will find out about it. ]
Honestly, so far most of our villain types seem more ... proactive. [They wouldn't want to use him, but that's as far as she knows.] I'd rather not find out any differently.
Yeah, I just think that this is one of those things, you know? One can't ever be too sure.
[ He is trying again with sandwiches. ]
Besides, what if someone who isn't a villain just so happens to have the sorts of powers that activate things, and they're just trying things out when something happens? Accidentally?
I would like to think that wouldn't happen. [Kate is clearly running the list of powers she does know in her head. She finishes that proces with a shake of her head.] I can't even think of how it'd happen.
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selfequipped) wrote2014-02-10 02:43 pm
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She coolly watches him as he begins his explanation, and when he mentions Kitty, her lips twitch down into a frown.]
She's offered that service to a number of people. I wonder how she'll help everyone. [There's a measure of doubt in her tone.]
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.. Anyway, I guess that hearing about her power was enough to convince me that she could prevent others from using mine. I have two, according to my file, and they don't sound like anything I could activate on my own. They call them "extreme suggestibility" and "conditional immortality". Each has something of a detailed explanation attached.
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Still, maybe she's jumping to conclusions.]
Go on.
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The "power" of extreme suggestibility, according to the explanation, lets others program hypnotic, telepathic, psychic and other similar sorts of mind control and persuasion program suggestions or commands into my subconscious.
[ His mouth feels dry, so dry, and it's not just because he's not having any drink. But he might need some after a discussion like this. ]
And there's no way of knowing about it, so the file says. There wouldn't be any change in my appearance or behavior, I could be going about like I would naturally, but I would still be obeying orders or commands or programming or whatever anyone would like to call it. I might be complying to someone else's whims and... not have any knowledge of it whatsoever. Let alone any consent or free will.
[ It's only now that Simon realises he's squeezed his sandwich; he carefully releases his grip and tries keep it from completely falling apart in his hands.
He heaves a heavy sigh before carefully taking a deep breath. ]
And the immortality is said to only work in tandem with my complying with suggestion, to say the very least.
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But is it worth the cost?
Being someone who has felt true weakness and vulnerability, she doesn't think so. She doesn't even think she could be swayed on that.]
Kitty's powers would be helpful here, [she says.] But not a permanent fix. Some imPorts do have power nullifiers. Some of them have even been fixed up to work all the time. [And in most binds, they would be used offensively.
Here, they'd be a defensive tool.]
I think you should look into finding one, Simon.
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A power nullifier... [ He hums in thought and nods. ] Do those really work?
[ Because if they do work, if they could trust whoever is making it, then Simon might not think it a terrible idea. ]
Where have others gotten theirs, do you know?
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[Kate lets that linger for a moment. She doesn't like that he could be forced to do anything. Given that, she might have to reveal her hand a little here.]
My team has a number of them that we've obtained on numerous occasions. We've been tinkering with them, and admittedly, we're currently lacking some engineers to work on them.
But they can be fixed up, if they haven't already. I'd be willing to spare one for you.
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I see.
[ Still, if Kate and the Young Avengers have been working with some of them, then... Well, Simon thinks he might be better off trusting things they've been working with. Probably. ]
Then, if you would, I guess... I'd like to see a demonstration of one of them working, first. But I think I'm willing to wear one... afterward.
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[Her first thought happens to be speedsters. Otherwise, she's not sure.]
If you can think of anyone yourself, let me know.
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I haven't really asked too many people about their powers, but I still think I might know someone. I contacted him once, over the network.
[ With a few small nods, he adds, ] I guess I should just check again, see if he's about or if he's ported out.
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[Again, she wants to be secure about this.]
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[ooc: gonna just shoot a pm to the player first]
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[She hopes he hasn't trusted the wrong people. She definitely has done that in her time.]
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[ He hopes the same—hopes he was right to trust Kate, to trust Kitty. The only two people who know so far, and Simon hopes no one else will find out about it. ]
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[ He is trying again with sandwiches. ]
Besides, what if someone who isn't a villain just so happens to have the sorts of powers that activate things, and they're just trying things out when something happens? Accidentally?
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