xavier_institute_ooc | (no subject)

I think you are misunderstanding me. I did not mean to imply that you are prejudiced against anyone but mutants; I merely suggested that removing the rights of one group of people is not much different. And when you tell me that you think mutants don't deserve fair trials, should be cured for their own good or taken somewhere else, I am not the one who makes you sound like a nazi, my dear. You are.

[The is downright pity in his voice now. After a moment or two, he fumbles in his pocket for a severely battered cell phone, taking a moment to flick through it before handing it to Eren. It shows a picture of a pale boy with dark hair and a tiny young woman with bright red hair, grinning at the camera together. Both are wearing pajamas, and the boy is clutching a stuffed toy with a hint of defiance in his posture.]

I told you before I've been trained to kill. That makes me a dangerous mutant in your eyes, correct? So are those two. That's Balfour and Anastasia. He's twelve and she's sixteen. [Luvander's words once more lose their easy flow, and his accent becomes heavier.] You say you don't want anyone to die except the dangerous ones. So... did these two deserve to die?

Okay, you're just exaggerating everything I said! I meant like, mutants who killed the president and could kill the people searching for them! They do that with terrorists all the time! Obviously other ones would get fair trials. And curing mutants would just be like, an injection. Like everyone gets, like vaccines and stuff. It wouldn't hurt them.

You people always compare people to Nazis like that's an actual argument, when it's not the same at all.

And I didn't say kids, either! Nobody said anything about killing any kids!

[Apparently showing Eren pictures of children seems to increase his anger, because he looks like he's about to explode with rage.]

I didn't say you should be killed, either!

No, you did not. But you act as if it'll be simple, deciding who is an evil mutant or not. But the truth is, I'm sure either I or one of my comrades have probably killed someone's mother one time or other, do you see? To the children left behind, why we did it probably doesn't matter, any more than I imagine you care at all about the circumstances that led to your own mother being killed. They don't owe us understanding; perhaps they are glad all of my comrades are probably dead, and I can't say I blame them. But that doesn't mean we were evil.

[He shrugs, his gaze flitting away momentarily.]

When you force every single mutant to get registered, you are more or less starting a witch hunt, don't you see? Because you can't tell if a mutant is evil just from looking, can you? So every mutant will be suspected by society whether they've done anything or not, and if you think that won't lead to discrimination, you're a little bit naive.

Nobody said anything about "evil". I said dangerous.

[Questions of good and evil are a bit too philosophical for Eren. He's more concerned with the practical fact of what happened. Sure, bad mutants should be dealt with, but that's to protect people, not because they're "evil".]

Sure I care about why my mother was killed! Why wouldn't I want to find out? Then I can find who did it!

[And kill them. Probably.]

No, I don't see. And yeah, you can judge how dangerous someone is based on their power and what they've already done. I didn't say it was going to be perfect, either! But there's always going to be a price to pay.

You know, talking about a "price to pay" does sound very noble, I admit, but what it really means is that people are perfectly content to let one group of people suffer for the sake of another. And why not, when mutants are supposedly "monsters", when the danger they pose is more important than their humanity?

[He waves a hand eloquently, trying to find way of clarifying the situation somewhat.]

You keep talking about how this is like making lists of potential terrorists, correct? But it's not, because it's not actually based on what an individual has done or not. If terrorist lists worked the same way, every Muslim man, woman and child would be put on them simply for being potentially part of the problem, and the passing of such a law would be an indicator to be wary of everyone on that list, do you see? And people would ask themselves if they could trust people like that to teach in schools, to work in hospitals, to live right next door to their own family. Thousands of innocents would suffer, simply because some people are too small-minded and lazy to come up with a real solution.

I'd pay the price myself, I don't care!

And they're not humans. They're mutants.

[Keep it straight!]

They can put people on the terrorist watch list just for saying what they feel and things like that. There are people on those lists who didn't actually do things, you know. They just have a different opinion. And somehow that's okay, but making a list of people who can control minds and kill us all isn't?

[Having been raised by domestic terrorists has given Eren a slightly different viewpoint than your average person.]

But—yeah, why should people have to live near mutants if they don't want to, if they're afraid for their families?

Well, "humanity" generally refers more to the rights and capabilities of the individual, but I suppose we don't have those, do we?

[He raises his eyebrows a bit.] And speaking as a former tool of a fascist government who may or may not qualify for being on a terrorist alert list just for existing, mutanthood disregarded? No, I don't particularily think it's alright that people are put on lists like that for flimsy reasons for the sake of other people's paranoia.

[He is hardly naive enough to assume being 15 will mean he won't be considered a potential threat.]

Ah, and do you think that will mean that people will quietly decide to move when mutants move in next door? Or that they will shout insults after them in the street, break their windows in the dead of night, tell their children not to associate with theirs, start keeping more guns around the house, hmm? After all, why should they have to move when it's the mutant freaks who are the problem?

Humans and mutants are different.

I'd be put on the list too, and I still think it's a good idea. People should know that I'm a threat. I want them to!

This isn't about what you think people are going to do. It's about making a list to inform the populace of potential dangers! I'd think mutants would want to know about someone really bad, too.

This is America, and if people want to buy more guns, then they can. They're only protecting themselves. They have the right to live how they want.

[Luvander doesn't say "Just because you think you have nothing to lose by being on the list doesn't mean it's the same for everyone else, you self-important little tit", because he is far too used to people with Eren's kind of temperament. But it's close.]

Rest assured that if I hadn't already been perfectly aware of what country I was in before this conversation, I would have no doubt about it now. [He rolls his eyes.] But you're absolutely right in that it's not about what I think will happen; it's about what will happen, and is already happening, even in America.

Because when you say people have the right to live how they want, you actually mean that non-mutants do, right? Meanwhile, mutants are already being driven from neighborhoods, lose their jobs, lose their insurance and get harassed on a daily basis, and it will only get worse when you people paint a great big target on each and every mutant's back.

[Eren would just say that he would gladly die for humanity. Because he would. He has something to lose, too! It's not like he wants to die!]

Then maybe you should act like you know, and not keep talking like this is some other country.

[Yeah, so there. AMERICA!!!]

There are laws protecting mutants, and this is probably the best country for them to live in, so why do they keep complaining? Ordinary people are losing their lives, and mutants are taking their jobs, and the more mutants there are, the more danger humans are in. That's why they have to take measures now to protect themselves!

[But that is just a bit too rich, and Luvander has no qualms about laughing right in Eren's face.]

Oh, I see! Just because mutants are not hunted like animals like they were in my home country, and because some attempts are actually made to protect us from harassment, that means we should not be upset when we're driven from our homes and livelihoods by humans? You see, I am aware of which country I'm in because like any good soldier, I educated myself concerning the political situation when I came here.

[Fanatically so, while attempting to block out the memory of Yesfir screaming which echoed in every silence.]

I would love to hear the figures on mutants "taking" jobs from ordinary humans - I assume simply by actually being allowed to work as opposed to being sacked? And you seem to forget that humans kill mutants too. So how about we make another registry of people who belongs to FoH or have similar leanings while we're at it, shall we?

[Undaunted, Eren remains as humorless and emphatic as ever!]

That doesn't even happen like you're saying!

We do have laws here against people killing mutants, you know, and I didn't say they should be changed, so I guess you don't know as much about politics as you thought.

You haven't given any figures, either. People do hire mutants with special abilities to replace ordinary human workers. And they already have lists like that, and my family's already on one, so that shows what you know, too! I'm proud to be a member of the Friends of Humanity!

As I understand it, killing in general is forbidden, yes? But just like some mutants don't care about the law and kill humans anyway, some humans don't actually give a damn and kill mutants. What I'm saying is that once you hand people like that a great big list of more mutants to hurt, most of whom have not done a single thing... well, you're not exactly inviting to less violence.

[He tilts his head slightly in honest confusion.] And if a mutant is better suited for a job, why not give it to them? I could some day become a doctor who will know what is wrong with a patient just by touching their skin, and potentially save a lot of lives that way. Is it wrong that I will then be considered more valuable for certain things than people who can't do that, just because it's not "fair"? You might as well complain that someone born with a great talent for music gets picked as a musician before someone who isn't. That sort of selection makes a lot more sense than simply firing someone for being green.

Edited 2014-11-07 03:30 (UTC)

There's always going to be people who break laws. What does that have to do with the law itself? It doesn't mean we shouldn't have it!

Why not give it to them?! See, that's the problem! You act like, oh, the poor mutants, they're getting abused and they're going to be wiped out, but really, it's the other way around. Mutants will replace doctors and other hard working humans, just because they can do things with no effort.

Eventually it's going to be, "Why do we even need humans around? We're so much better than them!"

And yes, it's wrong, because you're not more valuable than people who succeed by working hard!

You really do act as if this is some kind of race, some kind of bloody and rather tasteless competition to see who will win, humans or mutants. Instead of looking for ways to peacefully coexist, because that would be too much effort. Such a shame.

[He shakes his head, and he doesn't really have to exaggerate the sadness in the gesture much.]

But the prosaic truth is that no matter how hard they work, humans will never be able to achieve some of the things mutants do. In the exact same way that no matter how hard Salieri might have worked, he would never have become a Mozart, do you see? Some people are born with natural advantages in some fields, humans and mutants alike, and throwing a tantrum about it isn't going to change it. Mind you, I would still have to work hard and put in effort, because I can do quite a lot of harm if I heal without knowing what I'm doing. But at the end of that effort, I will be able to heal a child dying in cancer just by touching them, and it's easy for you to talk about fairness until you turn blue, but to that child's parent, that doesn't matter.

[He shrugs lightly, looking away.] But just like a naturally talented musician, athlete or mathematician isn't fundamentally better or has more value as a human being, neither do we. There will never be a case of a universal "What do we need humans for?", because humans are our families, our neighbours, our lovers, our colleagues. The only way to make a mutant feel like that is by isolating them from humans... which is exactly what your precious registry will achieve. Good thinking, there.

Edited (Guns, autocorrect? Really?) 2014-11-08 03:21 (UTC)

You talk too much!

[Seriously, does this guy ever shut up? He's really pissing Eren off. Not that that's hard to do or anything.]

It is a race. I'm not the one who wants it to be a war! It's mutants who've done that. They've attacked our homes and families.

Salieri? [Eren has no idea who that is.] What are you talking about? There's advantages, sure, but then there are unnatural powers. We can change it. We can cure the gene.

Well, I wouldn't go to any mutant doctor. And that's my right.

The registry's not isolating anyone. There are plenty of people who don't have any problems with mutants, for some reason. This just gives other people a way to stay safe. They shouldn't have to live near someone dangerous without knowing it. You're the one who's acting like humans are the bad guys and are going to just jump on the mutants as soon as they can. Anyway, you're here, so everybody knows you're a mutant already.

People often tell me as much, yes. [Luvander's voice is placid, his smile almost friendly.] I suppose it's a minor character failing.

But you seem to be misinformed. Even the briefest research will tell you that humans have been attacking mutant homes and families as well - and no, my dear, an unprovoked attack is not "defending yourself" just because it's done against a mutant. And on top of that, we are already being discriminated against on an institutional level, and you are advocating for something which would legalize further and heavier discrimination. Again, I'd like to point out the irony in this.

[He shrugs lightly.] And it is your right - and your privilege - to decide not to go to a doctor because they're a mutant. But for someone who willt die if they do not, it's not so simple. To them, it won't be an "unnatural power". "Miracle" is the word that comes to mind.

Edited 2014-11-09 23:26 (UTC)

Yeah. Sure. Even the briefest research will tell you that they have lists in Canada and the UK, and is anything like that happening there? No, it isn't. Because you're wrong. It's because everyone's afraid and mutants are hiding themselves that we have these problems.

You keep arguing like I'm saying we should go out and bash all mutants, but I didn't! Defending yourself means having knowledge and being prepared, and attacking back when you're attacked. I'm talking about protecting everyone and making the world a better place!

I'm not going to stop anyone from going to a mutant doctor, but I wouldn't go. And everyone should know the doctor is a mutant so they can make that same choice.

I'm not saying that you necessarily think that mutants should be hurt - that is called giving someone the benefit of the doubt, you see, a courtesy not many people extend to mutants. No, I'm saying that it's something that will happen, whether you mean it or not. I'm sorry, but just beacause you mean well with your political opinions, doesn't mean they can't end up hurting people. [Honestly, it's kind of sweet how naive the other boy is about the whole thing. But despite them seeming to be of the same age, it also makes Luvander feel kind of... old.]

And yes, things like that are happening in Canada and the UK, and all the other countries that have similar systems in place. Why do you think this school is so full of foreign students even though we are as you say, in America? Because a lot of us have something to run from. [His hand darts reflexively to where his scarf doesn't quite manage to hide a purple, hook-shaped scar right across his throat.] We come here because America, like you said, is one of the best places in the world when it comes to mutant freedom. So forgive me for being somewhat defensive when you suggest taking this freedom from us.

It's not taking freedom from you. If you came here to America, then you should respect its laws. My parents came here, before I was born, and my mother always told me how welcomed she felt here, even though they had problems in other countries. She might still be alive today, enjoying her freedoms, if there'd been more protections in place!

So I'm not sorry if you complain about a list. I'm not sorry at all.

[To Eren, nothing trumps his dead mom, sorry!]