video;

[zerotoawesome]

[Here's a familiar face that hasn't shown up on the network in a while now. Santo is hanging out in front of the monitor, still flexing his hand and making sure that he can move it without any problems. He's still to afraid to try to reassemble himself.]

Hey, nerds! Long time, no see!

Do you wanna know what really sucks? I'll tell you anyway. It's being totally unable to move, so you're stuck on a couch for weeks without any TV to watch. I mean, come on, there's aren't even any old episodes of Law & Order to kill time with.

None of you probably get that though, since you were off having adventures and saving turtles or whatever. Lucky jerks.

Anyway, I've been bored forever now, and really need some kind of entertainment. Anybody wanna spar and see if I die when I break apart? Come on, it'll be fun on a bun.

Or, you know, tell me a story about what's been going on here. Or something from your home. I'm totally good for anything. I mostly just want to make sure everyone isn't dead, so check in, guys. You know... The important ones... Which is everybody, cool?

[He starts to shut off the feed, but then stops for a moment, looking a bit unsure.]

Oh, and... Witch- I mean, Wanda? There's something I need to talk to you about. I kind of meant to do it a while ago, but... Yeah, forced to become a couch boulder.

[OOC: And with this, Santo is officially off hiatus!]

Comments

[zerotoawesome]

[In Santo's eyes it was totally defensive, because he was defending himself, his friends, and everyone else... even if it was against an enemy that doesn't exist here.]

I'm still mad, just not at you anymore. And, the point is, I guess, that you're still a mutant to, and we have to stick together, and we're stuck here together... So, we have to make this work.

[doesthemath]

[Yes, defending yourself against a person asking for information is completely legitimate. Mhmm.]

You don't need to strain yourself, as there is no "this" to make work, necessarily. We may both be mutants but there is no [brotherhood] reason we cannot coexist peacefully, and separately.

[Some elitist habits are hard to kick, and Wanda wouldn't say she's burning a bridge so much as building boundaries.]

[zerotoawesome]

[When the person is you- We're not having this conversation.]

Except that you're still one of my people, so I have to watch out for you whether you like it or not.

[And that can definitely be taken two ways.]

[doesthemath]

[She gives him a look. You know that look Santo. It's the "Are you serious?" look.]

I am mutant but I am not one of your people, nor do I require you to look out for me.

[In fact she's insulted he thinks she needs him to keep watch on her.]

Your apology is accepted, but take care not to overstep yourself.

[zerotoawesome]

You're a mutant and that makes you my people. I don't care what you think otherwise.

[Because he's already decided that he has to look out for you, not just as a mutant but as a potential crazy person... Mostly the mutant part, though.]

You're not like the Wanda I knew, I get that, but if you think running around with the Avengers makes you normal or any less one of us, then you're wrong.

[doesthemath]

[It must be a secondary mutant power that Santo has, to aggravate Wanda so quickly. The swiftness of her reaction surprises even her, but not enough to keep her quiet.]

Your interpretation of my words is entirely mistaken. I am a mutant, and proud of it. I am a member of the Ultimates, and my being part of their team does not make me any less of a mutant. My being a mutant and the powers I bring with me make me an asset to my team, it does not erase my identity. What I reject is your assumption that I need you to look out for me, or that you have any right to overbearingly assume that you should on the sole basis of our shared race.

[Wanda has interacted with two organizations who fall back on the shared-race concept to draw many mutants into their folds, both the Brotherhood and the X-Men. Her experiences with them have not been positive, and she refuses to be forced into any such alliance based upon the same idea.]

You say you understand that I'm not the Wanda of your world, but that doesn't mean that you know who I am, what my life has been up until now, or really anything about me. I have accepted your earlier apology but it doesn't negate the fact that we are all but strangers to one another and for the time being I prefer that we remain as such.

[And, while it is entirely rude, Wanda ends the feed before she loses her temper entirely and says or does something she would later regret.]