[John can't help tensing up as Stephen sticks spectral fingers into his head. He doesn't actually feel anything, but he can see out of the corners of his eyes where Stephen's fingers end unnaturally, and it's unsettling. When Gabriel starts to flutter around, pointing, the doctor clenches his fists and narrows his eyes to just slits, but they're turned toward the younger man.
He'd like to feel safe just closing his eyes, but that's not happening when Gabriel is there.]
[Stephen's gaze flicks somewhat distrustfully between Gabriel and the areas he's pointing out when the other man comes closer.]
Hmm.
[That's as much confirmation as Gabriel (or John) will get for a moment as Stephen leans in to look closely, comparing what he sees now with his mental image of how things had been before he had operated...and with his mental image of how it should look.
He can't decide if he's more relieved or annoyed that he's not finding anything wrong.]
I see that. It.... [SIGH.] It looks better than it did.
[ Gabriel's about to celebrate, smile wide and talk about how 'of course it does', but it's now that he notices how tense John is. He should probably acknowledge that, at least. Or something.
He steps back and lets the awkward silence build, looking off to the side. When he speaks, he sounds almost pouty, like a small child being forced to apologize. ]
I really was trying to help. I didn't mean to scare you and I'll ask in the future. But now you know what I'm capable of.
[This is giving him a lot to mull over as well. The more dangerous applications of this power are immediately apparent; while Gabriel hasn't given him a reason to doubt his repentance it's not a comfortable thought that the man who performed such delicate miracles is literally a serial killer.
He shifts back, but doesn't return to his body yet.]
You understand that it's not just about scaring someone, right?
Yeah, I get that. It's about letting someone make their own decisions.
[ For a moment, it seems like he's going to accept this lecture. Al has given him practice, after all. But after that moment is over, he's arguing again. ]
But he was so- no one would have believed it was possible and simple for me, to ease that pain. You still didn't, as I was explaining it. I know what I'm doing.
[ He sighs and rubs at his face. Too far. And he's starting to wonder if there's a reason he's so defensive right now. Using his power like that felt too good, maybe. ]
But- yeah, I should've waited. Sorry, John. I'll- you want me to tell Bucky anything for you?
[It sounds too familiar to Stephen's ears. He's had those thoughts himself, when a solution seemed obvious only to him.]
So in the future, prove it. Not by doing it, but by giving a demonstration. Show your work and people start believing you when you say you can do something.
[What's that? Actual advice? Stephen takes the following moment to re-enter his body, disappearing for a moment before his physical form takes a deep breath and his head comes up.]
[ Gabriel's eyes flash with defiance at Stephen's advice, because how is he supposed to demonstrate that he can do something on the level of telekinetic brain surgery without doing it? How is he supposed to show off his aptitude- that's always been the sticking point, and no one paid attention to him until he'd offed Brian Davis and had something more 'showy'.
But even if he's thinking about this, he's trying not to voice it. Getting into an argument about this isn't going to convince anyone. He glances over at John and nods. ]
I've been trying to avoid showing off my abilities- didn't want to scare people. But maybe I'd better rethink that. If it can be helpful around here.
Anyway, I'll leave you two be. Good luck on your recovery, John. Hope it's fast.
[ He turns to head out of the room, hands in his pockets. ]
[John lets the other man go without comment, just watching impassively until he's gone. When Gabriel's out of the room and he hears the front door slam, the doctor blows out a heavy sigh and slumps into his pillows.]
Glad to know he didn't muck it up, but Jesus Christ. Did it have to be him?
[Stephen could point out that there's an entire graveyard full of cadavers Zephyr made expressly for the purpose of being dug up and cut apart, but Gabriel's promise to be 'helpful' is already ominous enough.]
No one else could. For that matter, no one else would. Did you know him in Norfinbury?
Yeah. I traveled with him for a while, after we found out he was really a serial killer and murdered Dr. Suresh. Sherlock and I were looking after him. And I think he had a- [John cuts himself off before saying 'crush.'] Sherlock has fans. Some of them are psychopaths who think he's fun.
No idea. He was trying to act like we were mates with me, too, when he first turned up.
[John offers a small shrug.]
Norfinbury can change things quickly on you, though. Maybe... he helped you out when one of the effects started playing out? Like if people started trying to kill each other again.
[It's hard to remember sometimes that Stephen's from so early in his tenure in Norfinbury. John simply nods.]
Anyway, I guess he's trying to be good for Al. I'll leave them to it. I just don't want him using his powers on me. Don't think Zephyr should really have let him have them back in the first place.
[Some predators are better de-clawed and de-fanged.]
Hmm. He seemed like he was trying to make amends, but....
[But at the end of the day, a psychopath is a psychopath. Stephen had hoped Gabriel was right about his capacity to be better than that with certain aspects of his powers blocked...but while he didn't hurt John today, he sure as hell crossed a line.]
Hopefully today will deter him from more of the same.
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He'd like to feel safe just closing his eyes, but that's not happening when Gabriel is there.]
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Hmm.
[That's as much confirmation as Gabriel (or John) will get for a moment as Stephen leans in to look closely, comparing what he sees now with his mental image of how things had been before he had operated...and with his mental image of how it should look.
He can't decide if he's more relieved or annoyed that he's not finding anything wrong.]
I see that. It.... [SIGH.] It looks better than it did.
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He steps back and lets the awkward silence build, looking off to the side. When he speaks, he sounds almost pouty, like a small child being forced to apologize. ]
I really was trying to help. I didn't mean to scare you and I'll ask in the future. But now you know what I'm capable of.
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[And John suspects it's time to go make a request from Zephyr regarding certain other abilities that can be used against his person without consent.]
Thanks for checking, Stephen.
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[This is giving him a lot to mull over as well. The more dangerous applications of this power are immediately apparent; while Gabriel hasn't given him a reason to doubt his repentance it's not a comfortable thought that the man who performed such delicate miracles is literally a serial killer.
He shifts back, but doesn't return to his body yet.]
You understand that it's not just about scaring someone, right?
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Yeah, I get that. It's about letting someone make their own decisions.
[ For a moment, it seems like he's going to accept this lecture. Al has given him practice, after all. But after that moment is over, he's arguing again. ]
But he was so- no one would have believed it was possible and simple for me, to ease that pain. You still didn't, as I was explaining it. I know what I'm doing.
[ He sighs and rubs at his face. Too far. And he's starting to wonder if there's a reason he's so defensive right now. Using his power like that felt too good, maybe. ]
But- yeah, I should've waited. Sorry, John. I'll- you want me to tell Bucky anything for you?
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[The apology moves him marginally.]
Thank you, Mr. Gray.
[Just not a great deal.]
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So in the future, prove it. Not by doing it, but by giving a demonstration. Show your work and people start believing you when you say you can do something.
[What's that? Actual advice? Stephen takes the following moment to re-enter his body, disappearing for a moment before his physical form takes a deep breath and his head comes up.]
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But even if he's thinking about this, he's trying not to voice it. Getting into an argument about this isn't going to convince anyone. He glances over at John and nods. ]
I've been trying to avoid showing off my abilities- didn't want to scare people. But maybe I'd better rethink that. If it can be helpful around here.
Anyway, I'll leave you two be. Good luck on your recovery, John. Hope it's fast.
[ He turns to head out of the room, hands in his pockets. ]
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Glad to know he didn't muck it up, but Jesus Christ. Did it have to be him?
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No one else could. For that matter, no one else would. Did you know him in Norfinbury?
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He told me that he and I were friends there. That I'd authorized a procedure that...rendered him harmless.
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[John offers a small shrug.]
Norfinbury can change things quickly on you, though. Maybe... he helped you out when one of the effects started playing out? Like if people started trying to kill each other again.
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[He...doesn't actually have much direct experience with that....]
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Anyway, I guess he's trying to be good for Al. I'll leave them to it. I just don't want him using his powers on me. Don't think Zephyr should really have let him have them back in the first place.
[Some predators are better de-clawed and de-fanged.]
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[But at the end of the day, a psychopath is a psychopath. Stephen had hoped Gabriel was right about his capacity to be better than that with certain aspects of his powers blocked...but while he didn't hurt John today, he sure as hell crossed a line.]
Hopefully today will deter him from more of the same.
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Can't say I blame you.
Rest up, and let me know if anything else changes.
[He moves to take his leave.]