1963-11-14 - Coming Out
Summary: Crystal stops to talk with Xavier about aliens of all sorts.
Related: If there are no related logs, put 'None', — please don't leave blank!
Theme Song: None
crystal xavier 


Over the last week, Crystal has grown increasingly restless. Usually she's a steady point around the school, making sure that everyone is comfortable and everything has been taken care of so that the wheels of progress run smoothly. Since the news came on about a week ago saying that aliens were real, though, she's been short-tempered, restless, and constantly on the move.

There are reasons for that, of course. Reasons she's already explained in part to Charles. But now it all means so much more. So she's come looking for the professor, checking one of his more common haunts first.

*

Her guess turns out to be right, and Charles is indeed tucked away at one of the corner tables in the library. He seems absorbed with a mix of his usual classwork and newspapers. He's had a much smoother time devoting attention to the former since Crystal came along, competently lifting the burden of so much of the day to day running of the place.

Considering the content of the latter however, Crystal isn't the only one with the extra-terrestrial revelation on her mind. Charles glances up shortly after Crystal enters the room, giving her an inquisitive look. "Were you looking for me, Crystal?"

*

"Charles," Crystal smiles faintly as she finds him, sliding into one of the chairs across from him. Whether it's her relationship with Erik or the fact that she's never been a student here, she isn't much for referring to him as the professor. It understates things, after all. "I was, as a matter of fact."

She pushes a hand through her hair as she settles in, letting out a slow breath. "All of this alien news. And Jean's apparently brought in another stray. I wanted to…talk with you. Make sure you knew everything you might need to protect the school and the students."

*

Back when he never had students of his own, Charles found people referring to him as 'professor' decidedly odd. He's come around to the idea since, but he's still just as happy to know he still has some acquaintances who see him as a peer rather than an instructor. Charles lets out a breath as Crystal speaks, twiddling the pencil in his hand idly.

"Yes, so I've heard." he comments with an expression somewhere between weary and wry. He sits back in the leather chair then, tucking the pencil behind one ear and gesturing attentively towards her. "And please, I'd welcome anything you feel I ought to hear on the subject."

*

"The alien picked up by the Fantastic Four was a Skrull," Crystal begins simply, tapping a finger on the top of the desk, restless. "They're what we - Inhumans - were originally designed by the Kree to fight. They're shape-shifters. Which is the dangerous part. Aside from being an advanced alien civilization with all the accompanying technology, of course," she grimaces.

"I know I haven't always been…entirely supportive of the policy of limiting visitors here, but given that Skrulls have been sighted? It would be wise to maintain it. And perhaps to set up some sort of…codeword system for anyone leaving and returning to campus."

*

"Like Raven." Charles says, rubbing a hand over his chin, this news only more concerning. He does smile a little when Crystal mentions her opinion on the policy, and he shrugs one shoulder. "You know, it never was my intention to hide this place from someone in need…quite the contrary. But I did think best to err on the side of caution starting out. Far easier to relax the rules later than to rebottle the genie, and all that. ..Though I do agree that now might not be the best time to start rubbing lamps." he sighs, leaning forward to fold his hands together on his knees. "..If I recall correctly, the conflict between those two races was raging thousands of years ago. Have you any idea why one of these Skrulls would appear now or what their intentions might be?"

*

"None, really," Crystal grimaces, dropping her elbows onto the table and propping her chin up in one hand. "The last I'd seen anything was ten years ago. Maximus had met with Kree emissaries in Attilan. Black Bolt brought their ship down before they could escape, but…But it's possible they got a message out. Or that someone came looking for the missing Kree. And if the Kree came, then maybe the Skrulls followed."

She snorts softly, shaking her head. "It's impressive endurance if they're still going after each other after so long. You'd think by now they would have either come to some agreement or one or the other would have won."

*

"I see." Charles says, sitting back up and crossing his arms with a pensive frown. "So we can't be certain that they are hostile, but as last we knew they were, best to tread with caution. Is there anything you can tell me about the Skrull themselves?"

*

Crystal sighs, shaking her head. "Not much. Not without access to records in Attilan, at least. And what we know is…Well. Thousands of years old, at best. It should be hopelessly outdated. Even evolution," she adds with a rueful smile. "It would be like expecting to find information about mutants in the same records. The Skrulls may well have their own advancements to contend with. Honestly, though, I'm-"

She cuts herself off, scrubbing a hand over her face. "Attilan's entire existence has been…wrapped up in keeping things secret from humanity. On making certain they didn't realize there was more in the world. You've seen how they've reacted to mutants. If you could keep the existence of mutants from them, would you have?"

*

Charles lets out a breath at that question. "For a time, perhaps. I did after all, all the time we were growing up. I thought that one day there would be a time to make a positive impression, to show the good we could do in the world so that people would see us as something humanity as a whole was the richer for, not something to fear." he smiles a little, tapping his fingers on the tabletop idly. "I still believe that. But we need to be comfortable with ourselves before we can expect the world to follow suit. That's part of what this place is about, really." he looks up to meet Crystal's gaze, tilting his head. "So no, I suppose not."

*

Crystal considers his response for a long moment, nodding slowly as she works through her own thoughts. "I suppose you didn't have much of a choice in the matter, either," she muses quietly. "It just…started happening. We've had so much control for so long, it's a little bit terrifying to realize that thousands of years of secrecy may suddenly be all for nothing." She falls against the back of the chair, hands dropping heavily into her lap. "I feel as though I should step forward. Speak with people. Do what I can so that…maybe this doesn't end badly."

*

"Perhaps mutants didn't have a choice in remaining hidden forever, but there are always choices of some form. And even if the choice the Inhumans have made for centuries turns out to be different than the choice you make today, that wouldn't mean the choices you made before were for nothing. All that time allowed your people to build an identity, to find the community and self-acceptance mutants are struggling to find even as they wrestle with outside perception. That's something worthwhile, Crystal." Charles pauses though. Philosophy aside, what she seems to be suggesting is still fairly momentous. "…Are you actually considering it?"

*

"I am." There's no doubt in that statement, even if Crystal hasn't made the decision yet. "I'd like to speak with the Fantastic Four. They likely have the technology and science to help translate information between factions. And connections. After which, well. I know your meeting with SHIELD went poorly, but I had a meeting with the director, a Miss Peggy Carter, and she seemed…more reasonable. If necessary, I could call her and see about reaching someone in the government. All of which I should speak with Medusa and Black Bolt about before taking action."

*

"That's a fairly pivotal step." Charles observes, eyebrows raised. "You'll keep me appraised of what you all decide?" he asks. With the similarities between their situations, it's definitely something to stay aware of. "I would say it might finally be time, if you all feel the same. But if the Skrulls were enemies of the Kree, might it not put you as their 'creations' in danger if you were to become widely known just now?"

*

"It might," Crystal agrees. "But I have a feeling if the Skrulls are here, then so are the Kree. Maybe we're creations, maybe we were just left here. But this is our planet now too, and I won't see it become a battleground for a fight they haven't been able to resolve in thousands of years." She smiles faintly, pushing a hand through her hair. "And of course I'll keep you updated. And keep the school out of it. This place needs to stay safe."

*

"And I appreciate that." Charles says with a sincere smile. "..Though. As I've been hearing from more than one quarter lately, we've become home over the years to more than just the school. If you do meet with this Director Carter, I'd like to go along, if you don't mind." besides if it does turn sour, he'd be on hand to help.

*

Crystal quirks a brow. "I'd be happy to bring you. I think…the director is a bit more reasonable than the people you met with before," she admits, smile crooked. "But it might be prudent to be somewhat circumspect about things like mind-control. People get worried when they start to doubt if they're the ones making their decisions."

*

That gentle suggestion earns a somewhat rueful smile from Charles and a shake of the head. "Right, yes. Thank you, I know. It was not exactly one of my finest moments." he sighs, setting both hands on the table. "..I studied to be a teacher, Crystal. And I admit, all of this…secrecy, these spy games. It doesn't come easily to me." an understatement if ever there was one. "But if we don't protect this place, the children here are the ones who will pay the price. But… perhaps I was so fixed on that that I somewhat neglected to take my own advice. We do have to be willing to make the first step. To offer some small bit of trust." he lets out a slow breath. Especially with Crystal sitting across from him, considering compromising a secrecy that has spanned lifetimes and empires in contrast.. "In short, I think perhaps it's time I tried again as well."

*

Crystal reaches a hand out for his, half to reassure him and half to reassure herself. "Honestly, Charles, from what I heard, it wasn't your worst moment either. Everyone was afraid, and everyone took the worst possible reading of whatever was happening at the time. The world is changing. We can let that happen to us, or we can make the change we want to see happen. I personally would prefer to at least have a hand in things."

*

The gesture is taken for the mutual reassurance it is, Charles patting her hand in turn, his rueful smile turning to something more at ease. "Well said. Let me know when you've arranged a meeting, and I'll make the time."

*

Crystal gives his hand a squeeze before releasing it to lean back again. "I will," she promises. "About Jean's latest project? I…may have been a bit firm with him last night. Perhaps he's as ignorant of any and all social custom as he pretends to be, but I'm afraid my patience for people without any manners to speak of has grown a bit thin. And Jean…" She trails off, sighing. "I don't know what's going on with her lately. I'm sure you understand better than I do."

*

"Ignorant of social customs? Just what was it he did? —I know that Jean recently had a rather troubling old complaint acting up again." Charles replies with a frown. "That cabin we all helped build for her was fairly thoroughly destroyed, but we were able to rebuild it." it had been a close thing for a minute between convincing Phoenix to allow it and being flung across the room. "Whether it's that or something else that's troubling her I couldn't say, though perhaps it's past time for another chat."

*

"He threw a rock through the front window in order to come inside," Crystal notes, voice flat. "Insulted several of us when we took offense to that. Began to disrobe in front of everyone. Honestly, Charles, I don't expect court manners, but entering through the door rather than smashing a window seems like a bare minimum of courtesy. Please and thank you are also good steps. And yes, I had an encounter with Jean when she was…not home."

She glances toward the doorway, brows furrowed in a troubled frown. "She seems wild lately. And maybe it's who she's always been, maybe it's her getting past the previous trauma in her life. But I worry about her. I'm not sure if chatting would even help, honestly. Trying to control her or tone her down might just encourage her to act out even more."

*

"Well, we can hardly help her if we don't understand what she's going through either." Charles points out reasonably. "But I'll keep that in mind." in truth he hadn't intended to go in chastising, though he is troubled by what he's heard of her outbursts lately, not to mention apparently bringing someone to the mansion unannounced, and someone who sounds decidedly erratic as well. "And where is this Gabriel now?" he wonders, though that's half a rhetorical question as he's throwing out his mind to locate anyone unfamiliar to him on the grounds.

*

"If he hasn't left as he threatened to do, he's likely in Logan's cabin," Crystal says wearily. "Apparently that's where they'd been keeping him. Jean said something about going to retrieve the box she found him in in the city. Erik told her to wait, but…Well. Given her recent behavior, I have doubts as to whether or not she actually did."

*

"Box?" Charles repeats dubiously. Yes, it's definitely high time he looked into all of this a bit further. "Alright, thank you for bringing the details to my attention." Aliens and Weapon-X investigations and government spy agencies and interplanetary energy beings and feral children… never a dull day at the Xavier School.

*

"At least things are never boring," Crystal laughs softly, shaking her head. "Anyhow. I just wanted to make sure you knew everything before anything else goes strange. I don't know what's going to happen in the coming days, but there's a change in the air. We should all be prepared."

*

"No, no they most certainly are not." Charles replies, echoing the laugh. "Well. At least whatever the coming days might bring, we can all of us face it together." Charles says with a smile. "Thank you, Crystal. For the update, and for all the other myriad vital things you do here."

*

"Ah, well." Crystal stands up, smoothing a hand over her skirts. "That part I am happy to do, as always. You've built something wonderful here, Charles. I'm just happy to be a part of it. Meatloaf tonight," she adds with a small smile. "Six o'clock. I should go and see to the potatoes."

*

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