MASK OR MENACE - contact.

[hostage]

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[morethan084]

[Skye shakes her head in disagreement and after a minute tilts her head back to look up at him.]

Charles tried to manipulate me. At least I think he did.

[Because clearly she's in her right mind currently. Not.]

[hostage]

What d'you mean?

[He's careful to keep the skepticism out of his voice, that hint of you're crazy that people so often turn in his direction. She has the benefit of his doubt.]

[morethan084]

In that class for Systema, he was showing me that the brainwashing worked on me. He never gave me a reason to not trust him before that but now...

[Now reality was kind of hard to pinpoint in her mind. Even saying it out loud she still feels slightly justified for not wanting to trust Charles.]

[hostage]

Showing you? How?

[Still just seeking out the specifics, no accusations made.]

[morethan084]

In my head, like how you picture a memory.

I thought he was trying to help but what if they got to him too? What if he was trying to find a weak spot like that class is teaching?

[hostage]

Maybe.

[He doubts it. If Emma Frost was running the brainwashing session, then maybe - maybe - it'd be possible to twist Charles up like that. Anything less... It's a stretch.]

What exactly did he show you?

[morethan084]

[Skye ran a hand over her face and through her hair before answering him. She just wanted validation for what was real and what wasn't and she isn't sure Jesse could provide that.]

He showed me that I started to answer the questions because they made me and not because I was out smarting them like I thought I was.

[hostage]

Even if... Even if you did, Skye, it's just natural. Like, sometimes you just have to. Sometimes you have to let yourself be what they want.

As long as you come back from it at the end of the day.

[And she did - didn't she?]

[morethan084]

[Not exactly what Skye wanted to hear.]

It's not natural to be brainwashed?

[hostage]

It's natural to do what it takes. To live.

[morethan084]

[Skye knew he had gone through a lot back home, just not the specifics. Although right now she was getting an idea...]

I know.

[This isn't living though.]

Do you think they got to him? Our powers were basically lowered to nothing.

[hostage]

If they got to him, I don't see why he'd be warning you about them getting you, too. Kinda sounds like the opposite of what they'd want.

[morethan084]

Yeah. Good point.

[Skye hated all of this, if that wasn't obvious by now. Frowning, Skye moved to put her head on his chest before curling into herself.]

I'm sorry for dragging you into this.

[hostage]

[Jesse encircles her with his arms, resting his cheek against the top of her head.]

You didn't drag me into anything. I'm with you whenever you need me.

[morethan084]

[Having his arms around her like that was comforting. Although Skye selfishly wanted to ask where he was for the past few days, but she knew why he was acting the way he was.]

Are you okay?

[hostage]

Depends what you mean by "okay".

[He's not going to sell her some pleasant lie. The toll of all this is written on his face.]

[morethan084]

I haven't seen you at all since the other day.

[Which had been great for her self esteem too, by the way.]

[hostage]

[It doesn't occur to him that she might have taken that personally.]

Been trying to hold it together. Not doing so great.

[morethan084]

I could tell.

[What with the silence and being holed up in his room.]

You know you can talk to me about it, right?

[hostage]

You got enough to worry about.

Besides, this ain't the worst thing that ever happened to me. I'll make it.

[morethan084]

[Skye didn't doubt he wouldn't make it, it's the fact that she fears he'll just keep pushing her away.]

And so do you but you still listened to me.

[hostage]

[He gets it. She wants him to share, the way a real boyfriend would. Most guys don't come with this shitload of issues, though. There's so much he's experiencing that he can't even put into words for himself, let alone for someone else.]

I... I told myself this wouldn't happen to me again. Getting trapped, being forced to do things I don't wanna do. I promised myself I'd die first.

[He glances down at her.]

I didn't count on a lotta things. Everything that's happened since I got back, the good stuff and the bad stuff... Back home, I'm completely alone now. Whatever happens to me, it happens just to me. But here... Here's different.

[morethan084]

['Die first'. She knew they had vaguely talked about this the other day, even if it was a bit hazy. Still, it made her stomach sink to hear him say it again. He had to know how she'd feel hearing that, which is why she can only keep eye contact with him for a few seconds before she feels tears welling up in her eyes again and she quickly breaks his gaze.]

Here you have people.

You have me, you know, when I'm sane.

[It's a weak attempt to deflect by making a terrible joke at her expense. Her eyes flicker back up to his face.]

You know that, right?

[hostage]

I know.

[And he knows it's a terrible thing to hear a loved one talk about their death wish. Which is why he hasn't been talking.]

I wouldn't still be here without you.

[morethan084]

[Yeah, that's not exactly making her feel any better. To hear she's the only reason he is still here. A knot forming in her throat, Skye speaks up because she can't let him say that and then not respond.]

Don't say that.

[Even if it is the truth.]

You have other people that care about you too. Like Will and April.