A Lesson with Sallie

[balancingminds]

Charles arranged to meet Sallie at the counter as that way they can go someplace where she feels safe.

In preparation, he's made a quick list of his various psychic defenses and what they do and how he set them into place. They might not be helpful for her but they might provide a reference.

He truly hopes he can find a way to help as even with all these years with Raven, talking and experimenting with their mutations if he can be a teacher of something so personal. It feels like he can and he does know he's a good teacher, but this is still new.

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[realmrsreynolds]

Sallie keeps her head back against the recliner, and one cheek lifts unknowingly when she remembers walking through her room. She always keeps her paperwork away from her bedroom, and it helps her here - the only thing she does in her mind is fluff the pillows and sit down on the bed.

[balancingminds]

Charles isn't fully in her head but he's observing, a slight presence just outside the room,

"Now I want you to close me out of that room and with me all thoughts and impressions that aren't your own."

[realmrsreynolds]

Sallie's nose wrinkles. How the -- ?

"Hmmm."

The door is easy enough to close. The window too.

She thinks so, anyway.

The curtain keeps fluttering despite a lack of breeze, and Sallie clenches her eyes shut in momentary irritation.

[balancingminds]

"Take your time. What's coming through? Do you hear or sense anything?"

[realmrsreynolds]

"You."

Obviously, since he's talking. But --

"Pacin' in the hallway."

[balancingminds]

"Go from there then, make it so you don't hear my pacing and then you won't feel me as much,"

He's far stronger than her so it will take time for her to block him completely, but this is progress.

[realmrsreynolds]

This is annoying, is what this is.

"But you're not actually pacing."

[balancingminds]

"I am in your head. Metaphors are helpful as a way to imagine our thoughts but they're not perfect,"

If you think too hard about a metaphor it ends up being more complicated and not always as useful.

[realmrsreynolds]

He's in my head.

What ends up being hardest about this is that Sallie's finding she doesn't really mind Charles being in her head. He feels older than he is, and is very strong and...broad, in his way. So the idea of pushing him out feels almost futile.

But out out out out out starts circling in Sallie's head, and the footsteps start traveling down the hallway, and very slowly away.

[balancingminds]

He smiles as he rests his hand on his forehead, she's quite forceful,

"Yes, like that."

[realmrsreynolds]

Sallie opens her eyes then.

"It seems mean."

[balancingminds]

"It's not though, most people won't even feel you doing that. Also you're just starting out and drawing the boundaries around your mind. As you get better, you'll be able to make your shields subtle."

[realmrsreynolds]

"'s not somethin' that I'm going to learn today."

[balancingminds]

"No, but you've got a solid foundation. What you need to do is keep practicing until they're second nature to you. I'm quite happy to keep teaching you for as long as you'd like,"

It's a good learning experience him as well to consider how to teach another psychic.

[realmrsreynolds]

"'s a lot of effort for an old lady you just met."

[balancingminds]

"You're a fellow psychic, that's enough reason for me."

[realmrsreynolds]

"Am I though? Really? I mean - I just started doin' this, this -- whatever it is, and except for you, 's usually only when I touch folk. Does that even count?"

[balancingminds]

"Of course it does. I don't see why it shouldn't and it means you're not alone,"

Which is the part that matters to Charles.

[realmrsreynolds]

Sallie thinks of River then.

It means you're not alone, he says.

An uncontrolled flash of Sallie, standing in a field at home. Figure of solitude. As much as I love Shadow...



I don't know if I belong there anymore.

[balancingminds]

"Belonging's a difficult thing. Until a few days ago when I found myself here, I thought my sister and I were alone as mutants. I don't want anyone to have to think themselves alone which is why I work as I do,"

He offers her his hand, she can trust him, he's been alone and lost before.

[realmrsreynolds]

Charles is very young.

"You're a good man, Charles," Sallie offers, taking his hand.





Idly: "We need another word besides 'mutant' though."

[balancingminds]

"What would you suggest? I use it because it makes sense from genetics,"

If he uses that language then hopefully that will create a path of acceptance.

[realmrsreynolds]

"For you personally? A reader, on account of that's what they're called in my world. Don't know about your sister, though."

[balancingminds]

"Oh, yes, I consider myself a telepath but I like reader. The best way to put it is she's a shapeshifter but let her tell you that when you meet her."

[realmrsreynolds]

"That's a when now?"