ax_main | Scott and Warren, October 3

Scott and Warren play chess and discuss Xavier's announcement. And by discuss I mean plot and plan, obviously.

"Checkmate." Scott knocked over Warren's king, and then leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest, a satisfied smirk on his face.

Warren face planted and leaned one elbow on the table. His wings rustled with renewed humiliation over the back of his stool. "What is this? 100 times? Did you just get a century? Is that a thing in chess?"

"You know, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results," Scott said.

"I will win someday." Warren looked up and smiled. "Or I'm insane. Probably that second thing.

"Again?"

"You said it, not me," Scott said. "And sure, we can go again, if you're really that into getting that whipped that soon after the last time."

He began to reset the pieces. "So what'd you think?" He didn't bother to clarify what he was asking about; he supposed Warren already knew. He played dumb sometimes, but Worthington had a brain in there, and sometimes he even used it.

Warren proved that much, at least, by saying, "For me personally, it's a good thing. I came here to be a better... hero." He sighed and raked a hand through his hair, thinking of the looks on Simon and Jean-Paul's faces after Xavier finished talking. "But in general, it's kind of worrying on several levels.

"You?"

Scott had his own misgivings, to be sure. The school had kids, real kids, who weren't ready yet. Kids who had not been prematurely aged the way he had been, or like some of the others, Beaubier, Trowa, Tessa. There were kids whose innocence he would still rather protect.

But, then, what choice was there? To just conscript the teenagers whose lives had already fucked them? That would be messed up too. This was the only way to do it volunteer and have a solid pool to draw from. And, to be honest, if some kids didn't give up their innocence now, the future might make any innocence a luxury for all kids.

"I'm in."

Warren nodded. Somehow, he'd kind of expected that, in spite of Scott's rampant paranoia that could give JP's a run. "I just think--someone's going to have to do it. And in those situations, historically, people who wouldn't normally have to step up. There's no one else, you know?"

"If they start a war, we lose." Scott said simply. "I would prefer it didn't have to be this way, but it is what it is. If we don't prevent that war from starting, we'll end up conscripted when it begins rather than having the luxury of volunteers."

"Let's hope we can contain it, yeah," Warren said, eyebrows up. "Honestly it hadn't gone as far as war in my mind but... it could be. Fuck. No pressure.

"Just another reason to step up, though."

Scott leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest. "Brotherhood's immediate goal or not, that's the ultimate fear, right? Us versus them. Mutants against non-mutants."

Warren nodded. "That's failure."

"That's why Tamara's video was a shitshow of an idea, it's why the Brotherhood is wrong now. We can't play this thoughtlessly. We can't afford to. If non-mutants turn on us now? We're toast. And what if we somehow 'won' this war? That would be just as bad." There was no way for conflict to work to anyone's favor. Not really. Everyone, mutant and non-mutant alike, was best off with coexistence. With caution, maybe, but with understanding and thoughtfulness.

Warren wasn't sure Tamara's video was on the same level as Magneto's tactics, but he knew Scott well enough to know he was making a point. He was also sure they needed a conversation on the practicality and ethics of silencing mutant voices and controlling the entire message versus controlling a large enough market share to matter... but later. The current direction of this conversation made Warren wonder, "So why would Magneto even want to start this war? I mean, obviously he thinks winning is the only option, which you're right, is just as bad, but we... won't. We'd get fucking crushed. He has to know that."

Scott was silent for a long moment, clearly in thought to any one who knew him. "He doesn't need to win, not totally. He just needs to get enough of us on his side not to lose. So he just needs to get people to hate us, to make other mutants feel unsafe enough to turn to his point of view. Then he only needs to take a small, defensible area, right? And overthrow the people there. A mutant stronghold. A small force could hold that." He mused. He couldn't be positive, but it was a theory.

"Or he is so goddamn delusional he actually thinks we could somehow win.."

"So you're saying either way he's basically gotta be the fucking mutant Kim Jong Il. Great." But Warren wasn't arguing, just ruffling his feathers and tugging at his hair. "Well. Not like failure was an option anyhow."

Scott tapped his thumb on his chin as he thought. "I doubt he sees it that way. Maybe plans some kind of mutant republic or some shit, but....yeah, basically. Failure is not an option. These are worst case scenarios, but they are too likely for my comfort, at least."

"Yeah and North Korea is technically called The People's Democratic Republic of North Korea. Anytime a country declares itself a people's democratic republic that means it's a fucking fascist dictatorship." Warren sighed and slumped, shoulders rounding, wings drooping. "And the fascist dictator pretends not to know it.

"That's the scary part though. Even I can see this shit happening if things go sideways. And I'm way less cynical than you." And Jean-Paul.

Scott shrugged. "I'm not saying he's wrong to think people will hate us. They will. They do. But his approach is a suicide mission. It's nice that I'm not the only one who thinks so," he smirked, just a touch, "I am sure you will be shocked, but I've been called paranoid more than once in my life."

"You? No way." Warren smiled though there was a touch of wryness about the eyes. "And yeah, the appropriate response to hate is not to jump to guerrilla warfare. Or terrorism. Or whatever the fuck.

"Assuming the professor is for real. That he really knows this Lenscherr guy is thinking."

"If he was going to lie about it to get us on his side, he could've lied bigger. Could have made it more clear-cut, less objectionable. Why didn't he, if it's not true?" Scott pointed out.

"I get the feeling Xavier has lived a lot. I wouldn't presume to know what goes on inside that dome." Warren sighed and ruffled again. "But more full and complete information can't be a bad thing. And it might help set some of the others at ease. And me."

Scott shrugged. "You won't hear me disagreeing with that. But the Professor rarely does things without reason, and so far he hasn't given us much to make us doubt him. He's done a lot for us he didn't have to; I'm not going to jump ship just because I'd like more complete info."

Though this was all delivered in usual Scott-tones, the words struck Warren. There was something new, almost... defensive to them? Warren nodded, filing that away for later, and said, "Agreed. He withheld information about his purpose, but it's not a mortal sin--not to me, and not in light of the potential for good.

"I'm inclined to think we're lucky he found us first. At the moment."

"All things considered," Scott agreed.

Warren smiled. "It's a hard sell for some kids though. And I don't blame them. Even just staying here seems scary if it's going to house--I mean we're basically talking about vigilantism. More information about safety and security would help, too."

Scott nodded. Those had been misgivings he held too, though like many of his thoughts on the matter he hadn't voiced them. If he was uncomfortable with people occasionally seeing him as more 'in the know' due to longevity, he was also aware of the responsibility it imparted, so he'd kept his mouth shut. "Agreed," he said, a neutral kind-of endorsement of a view he held far more fervently.

Thinking of his conversation with Simon and Jean-Paul, now, Warren said, "Let's get out in front of this. Talk to Tessa--see who else she recommends and if the Prof has been onto her about it. Kitty. Nolan. People who can hack and protect from hacking. See if they're in.

"Xavier might be fine with just anyone who wants in being in, but I'm not even sure I'm fine with him running the show. Bringing us together, yeah, but--this should be about us. The people who are gonna put themselves on the line. The kids we're supposed to be protecting."

Scott mulled that over for a long, quiet moment. Finally, he slowly nodded. "Let's talk to Tessa, to Kitty. Let's know what there is for us to know. Nothing has to be decided right this second." If his life had taught him anything, it was how to bide his time.

Warren nodded. "Best not to, without as much info as we can get. On both the Professor and this Magneto douchebag."

"Agreed." Scott finished resetting the board and gesured for Warren to open. "After you."

So Warren opened with a pawn and prepared for another ass beating. Good thing he had an inner masochist, right?