Finding Who You Really Are (After Godstorm, open to Mansion folk)

[dolemeck]

The grounds were still rather wet and soggy from the storm. Thankfully, there was not a whole lot of damage to the Mansion, or the dorms. Dolemeck spent the majority of the storm locked in his room, playing some vinyls and sneaking a quick smoke when he could. Now that the storm passed, he could make his way out of the dorms and into the music room without fear of getting sucked into a mud puddle or something.

For the first time in a long time, the young Brit walked out of his bedroom. No wheelchair, no leg braces. He was walking with the use of his powers. He was dressed in a pair of doc martins, black leather pants, a matching leather trench, and a union jack shirt under his coat. His black hair had grown out some, going past his chin a bit, and his skin remain rather pale. He just seemed like a different person, now.

Comments

[dark_scion]

"If you insist," Fred replied stoically. Inwardly he cursed. If the other man had agreed at least he'd be able to have access to a legitimate scientific endeavor with which to focus his attention. The students'lab Dolemeck spoke of was laughable in comparison to the true facilities this institute had. Curing the other man's spin could have engendered enough good will to finally gain access. Perhaps hope was not entirely lost. While not his intention when he mentioned it, he was being entirely truthful regarding his capability, Fred wasn't blind to the fact that the possibility of walking again was now in Dolemeck's head. In a building full of powerful telepaths, honest facts would go much further than guile, deception, and implied words. Perhaps he only had to wait.

[dolemeck]

The thought was definitely there. It was something that nagged inside of the young man. The look Fred gave him, told him he did not believe his lie.

"I do want to walk again." He spoke quietly, his fingers starting to play "Moonlight Sonata" on the piano.

"I am tired of my back being in constant pain. Tired of being told "You may not be able to walk, but one day you might fly", or that I should tell others to accommodate me... if I wish to take part in an activity. It is infuriating to be told "No, you cannot do that", when you know your body should be able to do so."

Perhaps making a deal with the devil would not be so bad... even if part of him was telling him how insane it was.

[dark_scion]

Fred nodded, a look of genuine empathy on his face as he sat down.

"To not have control of one's own body..I know that feeling all too well." Fred found himself opening up a bit. "I was literally created with an unstable genetic matrix by my..progenitor. Meant to demonstrate all potential mutations of the McCoy genome. The mutations are not within my power to control." He rolled up the right sleeve of his shirt, showing human-like skin bound tight around bone, akin to a lean predator. "That was mostly human-looking two days ago. A relatively benign symptom compared to most."

[dolemeck]

Dolemeck understood where Fred was coming from, and Fred knew where Dolemeck was coming from. It was such an odd thing to bond over, yet strangely comforting.

"Doctors have warned me that I may completely lose my ability to move freely on my own. Going back to being paralyzed from the neck down is NOT a life I desire. Being someone's burden..."

He frowned, continuing to play that haunting melody on the piano.

"My future could be a bleak one. So I have been trying to do as much as possible in such a short time frame. It has gotten me into so much trouble... and well, it does make me look careless and dumb at times."

[dark_scion]

"Your situation mirrors my own," Fred admitted. "More than anything I wish to learn enough about mutational stability so that I can stabilize my condition. Perhaps even safely aiding other mutants with unstable genomes someday."

[dolemeck]

"That is a very noble thing to do." Dolemeck admitted with some envy. "I doubt I could contribute anything back, should my condition be reversed. All I can do is make music and sew. Some talent I have, aye?"

[dark_scion]

Fred waved it off.

"I am hardly some altruist. In the end I want to benefit myself primarily before considering expansion." Fred raised an eyebrow. "From what I understand there are those who appreciate such talents. It would just be a matter of finding them."

[dolemeck]

"I would be living under my father's shadow. My whole life back under a microscope if I were to pursue music in any way. Clothing, I could easily get away with, though." He managed a small smile.

"Alright, I will provide you with anything you need. If you can help me, I am willing to do almost anything at this point. And if I could help you, well, all the better, aye?"

[dark_scion]

"You could always assume an alias," Fred said, only half-kidding. His eyes lit up upon hearing what Dolemeck said next.

"Excellent, though make certain you are honest with the facility's instructors. I do not want them thinking I am attempting to manipulate you on false promises."

[dolemeck]

"Like what?" He asked about the alias. "Hard to come up with something with a name like "Dolemeck Night, you know?"

He finally got up from the piano and walked over to Fred, offering his hand.

"I will be completely honest with the instructors. So we have a deal, aye? You help me, and I help you?"

[dark_scion]

Fred shurgged. "That is a query you'd have to answer yourself I'd imagine."

Fred glanced at Dolemeck's hand, slightly unfamiliar with the gesture. He extended his hand back.

"Agreed. For the foreseeable future I will make your recovery my top priority."