24 ⊗ video ⊗ might've liked to know this earlier

[professorlionface]

[Hank is huddled over his worktable, playing with a small camera.]

I've always been something of a tinker, even since I was a child. [He gives the lens a momentary smirk.] But you'll know this already, you've seen it.

Even with having some sort of block this past month, wondering if I was doing something wrong when all the pieces seemed like they were in place. I know that because I checked, double-checked, ran diagnostics, tried alternatives. Took the every prototype apart and rebuilt it numerous times, trying my best to isolate and work out any kinks.

And even then, we never detected a single Skrull until they revealed themselves. But see, there was still one thing I'd never gotten to tinkering with. Funnily enough, the first thing I noticed when I returned.

[He points to the camera.] I keep this remote camera for Network interface when I prefer to work hands-free. It shorted out while I was gone, and I hadn't had time to repair it. Doing so would require familiarizing myself with the circuitry of the new communicators, in order to copy it.

So, tell me. How many of you had your communicators in Times Square last night? [He holds up a small silicone tube to the camera, almost buried in his large fingers.] And who can tell me what this is?

Comments

[futureleader]

Nope. Not really, that doesn't happen to students.

[professorlionface]

Oh, back to the delusions again, then.

[futureleader]

So sue me. You want to lock me up in detention and tell me what's wrong and what's right?

[professorlionface]

And now he jumps to conclusions. Have you ever considered that maybe I'm not out to hurt you?

[futureleader]

Once upon a time I thought everything in the world was fine.

I was wrong.

[professorlionface]

I'm not about to pretend that our society isn't incredibly broken, Quentin, but it is navigable. We can persist through it, but it's easier to do so with each other's help.

[futureleader]

You don't think I haven't been helping my fellow mutant brothers and sisters?

[professorlionface]

Well, I do feel obligated to inquire just how you might be.

[futureleader]

Making people aware of our rights and status as a minority group.

[professorlionface]

By doing what, shouting it at them until they're forced to accept the fact? How much good do you really think that will do, in the long term?

[futureleader]

No. Demonstrations and protests will get the message across. Also, showing them that Hell No We Won't Go, is another way for our kind to stand our grounds.

I mean, mutant registration? Might as well have a human registration too while we're at it! Oh. Wait. That already exists. For everyone

[professorlionface]

You do realize that, aside from being a topic no one was discussing before just now, mutant registration was put in place while you were still a toddler, don't you?

[futureleader]

You do realize I was using it as an example as to why we have to stand our grounds. Because, knowing you, you'd ask why I think we have to stand our grounds.

Yeah and? We have to fight against it.

[professorlionface]

The issue isn't that we stand our ground, this is an obvious fact. It's the matter of how that we disagree on.

[futureleader]

Peaceful protests get you shot. Riots get the humans scared.

I think I'd prefer the option where I don't die.

[professorlionface]

Perhaps you'll recall what they do when scared.

[futureleader]

Piss their pants?

Send more sentinels?

Piss their pants while sending out the sentinels?

[professorlionface]

They make our people suffer. If you want to deal with a lumbering giant, Quire, provoking it will do you little good unless you follow it through with a killing blow, or any act it takes in response will be on your head.

This giant would be impractical deal with in such a manner, and inadvisable at that. You have to consider how this will play out in the long term.

[futureleader]

...so what you're saying is that in order for them to stop, I've got to kill all the humans?

[professorlionface]

I just said that would be impractical and inadvisable. It isn't humans that are the problem, it's attitudes. And one like that will only exacerbate the problem, not solve it.

[futureleader]

Says you. You can't kill attitudes, I thought you of all the people would know that.

[professorlionface]

Not easily or quickly, but one can at least educate against them so they eventually grow out of dominance.

[futureleader]

Then I'll educate them.

[Without pause, Quentin hangs up.]