Starting somewhere... (Christian)

[johnallerdyce]

John Allerdyce, also known as Pyro, stood at the very edge of Alkatraz Island. He'd just stepped off a small boat captained by a single, shady looking geezer who had agreed to drop him off here for a little cash.

Pyro had been knocked unconcious half-way through the battle of Alkatraz, and so didn't get to see the outcome. He had awoken to find himself stranded in a hospital in New York, and so he had now returned.

He had no leader, and he hadn't heard anything from the Brotherhood since he woke up, so he reasoned that the logical thing to do would be to check out the island, see just what had happened to it, and maybe he'd find a lead as to what happened to Magneto.

He stepped forward, not knowing what to expect, and climbed up a steep gravelled mound. It was tough going, but once he was at the top, he had a good view of the island.
He looked down upon the area. It was blackened, as though the entire place had been burned. The building that was prieviously Worthington Labs was charred and crumbled and lifeless. Not a single thing moved, nor made a sound.

John decided he was unlikely to find anything here, but since it was all he had, he ducked under the police tape that was meant to keep people out and made his way down the other side of the mound, into the central area all the while looking about himself just in case he'd been seen.

[Christian Micheal]

To think, a week ago he'd found an amnesiac girl, who had turned out to be an amazing telekinetic, and been attacked by a group of sentinels at this very spot was hard to do. Though, it was the truth, and he still had some bruising to prove it. The kid wasn't exactly thrilled to be here, but he'd felt bad about leaving the boat behind. It wasn't as though he'd taken it back - in fact, he took a jet.

Or at least, that was what they'd told him. He'd confirmed it, too, but still... he wished he'd remembered.

Nevertheless, that was what brought him back here. The weird thing was that there was another boat. Granted, it was manned by some creepy looking guy, who might have very well been the ferryman of Styx, but still. That meant someone else was here. He let his gaze travel the length of the island - no amount of hiding or ducking would keep him from seeing exactly what he wanted to. Which was some guy, who looked vaguely familiar.

Of course, with his gift, it was hard not to find familiarities in people he'd never met before.

Tying his boat up to the damaged shore - close to where he'd left the last one, actually, he started up the treacherous pathways that lead nowhere. The 'pathways' weren't even really paths... just lucky places where the debris was less, and the danger wasn't as obvious. A landslide was, though, which always made someone nervous. Luckily, he knew he'd get through safely. Another neat trick.

Dressed in a black hoodie, and similarly colored jeans. It was the safest bet, of course - he felt a little more covert. As if, this way, the Sentinels that had found him last time would have a much harder time of it. Peeking around, he neatly skidded on the mound that John had just passed himself, following him, albeit a lot less quietly than he intended. If Pyro had been worried he was being followed, it was justified by the amount of noise, 'oofs' and 'ouches' he made, as he finally caught up with him..

"Y'know this place is suppos'd to be off limits and stuff." He called after him, as if he were infinitely more justified than John.

Yeah, right.

[/blockquote]

[johnallerdyce]

Startled, Pyro spun round to face the other 'intruder'. It was a boy- looked to be only 14 possibly 13. Automatically, John's fingers were poised over the flame-emitting device on his wrist ready to frazzle him if necessary, though instead they just hovered there, hesitating.

Seeing that it was just some kid, who looked to be pretty defenseless, he relaxed a little.
"Well then what are you doing here?" He retorted. "And anyway, it's probably safer for me to be here than it is for you."

True enough, if there was an immediate danger in the area, John was confident that he could defend himself no matter what. Looking at this boy though, he doubted that he would be able to. This besides, the area looked to be 'safe', as long as he kept his wits about him. Sure, parts of the building might crumble and fall off and land on an unsuspecting passerby, but other than that, nothing seemed overly dangerous. John still hadn't heard anything about the sentinel threat to mutants- and even without he already had enough going on to worry about.

"So what are you, like, some sort of kid guardsman?" He asked, raising an eyebrow with a slight smirk.

[Christian Micheal]

That action... it seemed so familiar. It made his brows furrow, and he paused in his movements. After all, he was pretty defenseless, it wasn't as though his power was anything offensive. But Pyro should have gathered by his presence that he wasn't everything he looked to be. Bringing a hand to the back of his head, he rubbed gently, mussing the hair found there. "Kid... guardsman?" He asked, a half smile touching his face.

"Either way, I was just comin' to pick up a boat I left here last week. Some bad stuff happened and I left it. I felt kind of bad about it." He offered, with a little nod. Deciding that his location was a bit precarious, he took a few steps further, loosening rocks and other bits of gravel from whatever home they'd made on the mound.

"But... yeah. You're probably right. I'm not really... well equipped to do anything." Nothing more could be said. His powers were a great defense, though, for instance, if he Looked, he could see fire coming before Pyro even threw it. Nevertheless, he wasn't that worried just yet. He seemed alright, albeit a bit frazzled.

After a few more seconds of balancing and a hopeful hop, he was on level footing with the other guy. "You look lost, though. Everythin' okay?" He asked, curiously, trying to be both friendly and not really poke through his past, either. That wouldn't be very fair, now would it? "And I'm bettin' you're a mutant. Most people don't pose and look intimidating at the same time. I'm a mutant too. In case you were wonderin'." He said, mind working hard.

He really wanted to know where he knew this guy from.

[/blockquote]

[johnallerdyce]

Pyro listened to and accepted his reason for being on the island, though the way it was told begged questions. He didn't ask anything further, though, and instead continued to glance about the area. With all the chaos left behind by the battle, it was hard to tell if any other 'bad stuff' had happened.
"I'm not lost. I know what I'm doing." He replied at the boy's first question. He certainly didn't need any help from this kid, whoever he was.

It was the next part of the conversation that stunned him a little though. How did this boy know he was a mutant? He must have been confident about it too- it was a foolish move to admit to being a mutant in public when John still might have been a human.

"Maybe I am." He replied. "Or maybe I'm just a really dangerous human. That hates mutants." He scowled and took a step toward the boy.
"And, what if I want to kill any mutants I happen to find?"

He just wanted to press the point, as well as keep the boy on guard as much as anything. He wasn't here to make friends, but he made sure not to get too close- now knowing that he was a mutant, he was wary of what this kid might be able to do.

[Christian Micheal]

After a secon, he looked wary. Had he been wrong? He took a step back, to emphasize this point, that perhaps he was a little nervous. At that point, he didn't know whether he should take off running, or if he should stay and call his bluff. Of course, he could peek in to his past, or look into the future, and see exactly how this was going to turn out, but... that wouldn't really be fair. He was trying his damndest to be at least a little more conscious as to when he should use his power.

"Then... you wouldn't have walked into a place where the cops are supposed to be running around, huh...?" He replied, making as friendly a smile as he could, though he was thoroughly put off his footing. "But y'know, I'm doin' you a favor. I can see anything, and I'm being really nice not lookin' into your past or your future to see whether or not you're tellin' the truth. I mean, it's kind of a lame power, but I mean it when I say I can see anything. I might know where a handgun or two fell back when the last stand happened." A total bluff.

"But it doesn't matter, I'm not really all that big on hurtin' people."

He finally offered, realizing that of course, his previous statement sounded a lot like a threat. He still couldn't place the guy, but for now, he'd let it be.

"I'm Christian, by the way." He offered, eyes warily watching him.

Yeah, he hoped he wasn't a deranged mutant killing human, but he was seriously guessing otherwise. [/size][/blockquote]

[johnallerdyce]

John stopped walking toward the boy, and listened to what it was he had to say for himself. He listened to what his power was- and silently was relieved it was nothing to be afraid of. As for the bluff about finding a handgun, he could see right through it. Still, he seemed openly opposed to fighting, and there was no point in taking down a helpless kid for no reason.

He broke out into a small smile, though still not the warmest one, and dropped his act.
"Christian, huh?" He asked. "You suck at lying Christian." He shook his head. "For your own sake, you're lucky I was lying too."

That said, he turned back around and took a few more steps into the otherwise still silent, open area.
"So you can see anything... even the future?" He asked, almost to himself. He didn't know this 'Christian' but that was definitely a useful power... one that would be useful for him... He could maybe threaten Christian into telling him what was coming, where the surviving Brotherhood mutants got to... and even... the whereabouts of Magneto!

A sly smirk spread across his features as he formulated this plan, but with his back to the kid he hoped Christian wouldn't see it... or else not know why he was smirking.

[Christian Micheal]

A smile broke across his face, as thankfully, he was right. The amusing part, of course, was that, though it was a bluff, he knew there were fourteen guns on the island, three of which were the anti-mutant handguns that had been made to take them out. It had been a bluff only because there was no way to actually reach them easily - he'd need a dump truck or a crane or something equally impossible to have here.

Either way, he nodded. "Yup. I can see anything. Past, present, future... anything, anywhere. Everyone I talk to thinks its pretty cool, and all useful and stuff, but honestly...?" He knelt, letting his hand dust at some of the rocks before he picked up a larger one.

"I'd like to do somethin' flashy. Defendin' myself or other people, y'know? What do you do?" He asked, tossing the rock between his hands. Had he been Remy, he could turn the rock into a hand grenade - which was a ridiculously cool power, as far as Christian was concerned. He'd watched him do all sorts of stuff with his powers, though the end was always... explosive.

He rubbed at his nose with his sleeve, trying not to sniffle. He felt a sneeze coming on, though he wasn't particularly feeling like he wanted to. He tossed the rock towards the water, but fell grievously short. Super strength? Eat your heart out.

Turning his gaze back to John, he waited for an answer, though he wasn't entirely certain he'd get one. This guy seemed a bit secretive, though he wasn't entirely certain why. Christian was one of the least intimidating people there ever was, and probably ever will be - so scheming was unnecessary when it came to him.

"Y'know, I've seen you before, I just can't remember from where." He added, for his own benefit. Maybe the other guy would volunteer suggestions.

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[johnallerdyce]

John snapped out of his thoughts at the question of what his own power was. He debated telling him. Did he really want to give that away? Especially if he already recognized him... maybe he was an X-Student who had recognized John from with the Brotherhood. If so, telling him his power could clinch it, and, being an X-Student, he might run away and inform his X-Men buddies of his being here.

He turned the thoughts over in his head for a few moments. Christian probably wasn't an X-Student, John reasoned- what would be the chances. X-Students and X-Men weren't the only mutants out there, after all, and even if he did find out his power, who's to say he'd remember who he was?

He hesitated for a moment more, before deciding that he needed to show his power- because he needed Christian to trust him for his plan to work. If he trusted him, he might not even need to interrogate him for information.

Without a word, John turned around to Christian, and raised his right arm out in front of him, palm facing upward. He would do something small- he didn't want to attract attention from anybody who may be nearby, and he also didn' want to intimidate Christian too much.
Clicking the button on his flamethrower device, a small ball of fire burst to life in the palm of his hand. It flickered and sparked, showing off just enough to impress. To demonstrate further, John made the fireball sweep from one hand to the other with a faint growl. Then, he clenched his hand shut and the ball collapsed in on itself, disappearing forever.

"And I can do a lot more than that." John added, looking for a reaction.

[Christian Micheal]

His eyes got very interested for a second.

Then they turned dark. John, unfortunately, had been right. He was an X-student. But that wasn't why he knew him.

"Now I know where I recognize you from." He shook his head after a second, taking a very precarious step back. He knew it was safe, but anyone else might have twisted their ankle or worse. This was yet another advantage to his particular gift. Direction held very little meaning for his eyes.

"You're the guy from... here. You were with Magneto." Bobby had stomped him here. But that, of course, was not something he was going to put on the table, lest he irritate the guy. He didn't seem like an evil person, just someone who'd been seduced by the idea that power was what was worth most in life.

"I saw it all. I mean, y'know, with my power. I've seen it a lot, but..." Well, this was certainly an odd circumstance. Christian wasn't exactly afraid, but he knew full and well what John could accomplish when he really wanted to. Provided things stayed relatively easy going, nothing particularly bad would happen. They were on an island, of course, which meant they were surrounded by water.

Home field advantage? Chris.

[/blockquote]

[johnallerdyce]

"I was here, and I was with Magneto." John admitted, realizing that things could turn very bad for him from here.

"But I'm not going to hurt you." He reasoned with Christian, lowering his hands. His only chance to get his goal was to keep up his friendly visage. "Trust me- I have no reason to harm you."

He made sure he didn't move. He didn't want to give any reason for Christian to run. Thinking about the facts, John realized he could just fry the kid if worst came to worst, but then he'd lose his hopes of finding Magneto completely. He'd have to start over.

"The X-Men tell you things about Magneto. They aren't all true. They only tell you half the story..." He said, trying to keep the boy on easy terms. "If you even knew the whole situation... things would seem pretty different." He thought that it was unlikely he'd be able to convert this innocent-looking boy into a member of the Brotherhood, but just maybe he could plant some doubt in Christian's mind as to which side was in the right. If he could get the information he wanted and also keep Christian from ratting him out to the X-Men, it would be perfect.

He managed to stop himself from sighing discontentedly as he realized he may have to make a friend here.

[Christian Micheal]

He looked a bit confused. He didn't know the whole story? There were very few things he didn't really know when it came down to it - because there was nothing he couldn't see. He could have investigated right then and there, but as it stood, that seemed to be the less intelligent thing to do. If he Looked, he'd be left alone with John, and he'd be really... well... vulnerable. Vulnerable was the best word for it.

Running a hand through his hair, he tried to piece together the truth from the information he did have. Granted, he'd never really given Magneto a second glance. He was a nutter, as far as Chris had ever been concerned, trying to kill people for reasons far beyond the kid.

"So... what's the story, then?" He asked, his head finally turning a little bit, to show he was really listening. He had tried to hold his interest in check, but if the story really was different - well, he'd check the story later.

For now, he figured listening was the easiest way to get John to be okay with him. To avoid any crisping accidents.

[/blockquote]

[johnallerdyce]

(( Crisping incidents))

John watched Christian as he hesitated. He seemed to have put him off turning tail and running- at least for now. He just had to keep it that way. Keep him here, with him, lest he lose his chance.

"Well," John began "The X-Men have probably told you that we just care about killing humans. That's not what it's like at all." He decided he'd bend things just a little, make the Brotherhood seem right- though in John's eyes, the Brotherhood were right.

"Look around. In today's society, mutants are treated like scum. Like vermin. Humans don't understand that we're just as real as them... that we have feelings. Magneto and the Brotherhood... We just want to prove them wrong. Make a point." He said. "And the way we do that, is to demonstrate our abilities. We try to show them what we could do to them, and what we will do to them if they don't stop and think."

John decided to leave out the fact that the Brotherhood wanted humans treated as the dirt they were. He didn't think that would go down well.

"We don't cause any deaths, human or mutant, unless we really have to."

[Christian Micheal]

Well, that was the truth, to an extent. Mutants were treated like second class citizens. Worse, in a lot of places. The idea of it all was horrifying to him - after all, he knew first hand exactly how far some humans would go. That much shone clearly in his eyes. He looked down a bit, as if looked for something. Words.

"So... the Brotherhood is just misunderstood? All of that 'Homo-Superior' talk was just for the cameras?" He asked, his voice quiet. He didn't mind coexisting with people, and that was precisely what they were trying to teach at the Institute. "If the Brotherhood and the X-men have so many similar ideals, why don't they work together? I mean, I can't... I can't ever see killing someone as a means to an end. Ever. I mean, you all have enough power between you to fight passively, don't you? You didn't have to fight against the cure 'cause some people genuinely wanted it."

That Beast guy might very well want it - or Rogue! People who had no real way to hide who they were. Granted, they shouldn't have had to - but the mutants of today were still new, and fresh in the minds of humankind. People just weren't quite ready to see furry blue monsters running around.

"... why'd you come back here?" He finally asked, still not certain how he should be feeling. He knew what the X-men stood for. Maybe it was Magneto who was just... morally gray?

[/blockquote]

[johnallerdyce]

John tried to refrain from grinning a sly grin. It was working- already, this Christian kid was starting to believe him. By the look on his face John could tell that the boy knew how mutants were treated- that that much was true, no matter what way you looked at it.

He calmly assessed Christian's argument, about the cure, before replying. "The only reason that some mutants wanted the cure was because humans treated them wrongly, evilly, because of their gifts." A lie, but a convincing one nonetheless. "If humans weren't so brutal toward them in the first place, they never would have wanted to take that cure- that's why the Brotherhood tried to stop them from taking it, because they shouldn't have to change how they were just for the humans."

He watched as the boy digested the information, then heard him ask the next question.

"I came here to see if there was anything left. Any of my team mates, our leader. To see if any mutants survived the cures that were being fired at them." He thought he should glorify his actions. "I didn't know the outcome of the battle until recently. One of the X-Men came up behind me and knocked me out cold during the battle. I never had a chance." Maybe he could even get some sympathy.