X3 Meme

[deathpixie]

So, in the wake of various thoughts on the movie and why I liked it (warning, post does have spoilers, so don't click on the link if you don't want to be spoiled), here's something of a meme-thing.

It's not a spoiler that one of the plots of the movie is that there's a 'cure' invented for mutation. At least it's not if you watch the trailers. *eeps* The idea of a cure developed for mutant powers is a really interesting one to me and I was wondering what sort of impact it would have in the XP-verse. So, here's the question:

If a 'cure' the same as the one in X3 existed in the XP-verse, how would it affect your character? How would they react to the news, would they consider getting it, how would it change their perspective of themselves and of being a mutant in general? What about relationships? If someone close to them did (or didn't) get the cure, how would they feel? And etc, etc.

I know this is a pretty big question, but I'm interested in seeing people's responses. And since I figured that maybe the readers would be too, I decided on posting here rather than the closed comm. If that's a problem, say the word and I'll shift it over. But basically I thought it'd be a way of getting a perspective on the situation, and maybe gauging by responses see what people might think of doing a plot.

Amanda's initial response is "hell, no!" Whilst she's had a lot of trouble with her powers, she's also seen the good they can do and how important they can be to her friends. It's a part of them, what makes them special. To take that away... Then on further examination she realises that there are those out there who would be better off without their powers, and who is she to take that away from them? She's had her shot at being 'normal', living a life without powers and it's done her more good than she thought possible. It wasn't her choice to leave that and she's accepted the fact she is a mutant, but still, there's a little part of her that misses the life she was building for herself.

As far as those close to her goes... Amanda's never judged her friends on their mutant abilities or lack thereof. It would worry her if some of those friends wanted it, since it would mean that they're unhappy, but she would try and see their persective and hear their reasons out. If someone like Angelo or Kurt went ahead with it, I think it would disturb her more than she'd let on - even them wearing image inducers messes with her head a bit, since she's so used to them being themselves and the inducer is like talking to a stranger. But she wouldn't disown anyone for it. People ought to make their own choices.

Comments

[aliciam.livejournal.com]

Nathan... would not want anything to do with the cure. His life's been warped in unspeakable ways because of his powers (see: Mistra) and part of him is still firmly convinced that telepathy is more of a curse than just about any other mutant power in existence, but he'd be quietly contemptuous at the idea that there's anything wrong with him that needs 'cured'. His attitude would be that the cure might be seen as liberating for a few (people like Marie or Kevin) but would be a means of oppression for most mutants. He would anticipate some government somewhere weaponizing it or enforcing its application at the earliest possible convenience (again, see: Mistra. Nate is an exquisitely balanced mixture of burning idealism and bone-deep cynicism these days.) He wouldn't stand in the way of someone he cares about getting the cure, but he'd make it clear to them that he doesn't respect their decision.

And if anyone came near Rachel with the cure, he'd turn them into free-floating oxides.

Scott... would feel more or less the same, heightened perhaps by the fact that he is someone who suffered a 'disability' because of his mutation for most of his life. He would be more understanding than Nate of the viewpoint of someone with a particularly difficult mutation - unless they're an X-Man, in which case he'd consider it a betrayal of everything the person in question claimed to believe in. In general, Scott wouldn't see mutation as something that needed to be cured, and he'd have the same fears as Nathan about weaponization/enforcement.

For myself, in terms of a plot... I've got to say, we'd have to come up with something that would avoid all the many, many tiresome stereotypes that could be involved in a Cure plot (both in terms of character reactions and the ultimate resolution). I mean, I have faith in our ability to be creative - just sayin'. ;)

(Also, to briefly don the mod-hat, we should probably keep this a meme and have any actual plot discussion on the closed community.)

[deathpixie]

For myself, in terms of a plot... I've got to say, we'd have to come up with something that would avoid all the many, many tiresome stereotypes that could be involved in a Cure plot (both in terms of character reactions and the ultimate resolution). I mean, I have faith in our ability to be creative - just sayin'. ;)

Which is what I was thinking - see my original post for thoughts on that. ;)

(Also, to briefly don the mod-hat, we should probably keep this a meme and have any actual plot discussion on the closed community.)

*nods* Fair enough. If there's enough demand, we can start a thread there.

[silensy]

Re: Plot

Agreed.

[nute.livejournal.com]

Forge:

"Excuse me, could you be any more offensive? Paging Doctor Mengele to the white courtesy telephone, already... The last time in this country people tried to 'cure' a section of the population that didn't fit with their worldview, it involved smallpox blankets."


Cain: ...well, it's kind of irrelevant to him personally. But he'd just shrug at anyone who wanted it and tell them to go ahead, it's their life.

[erindubitably.livejournal.com]

*ahem* Mr. Built a Gun to Remove People's Mutant Powers... and using it on STORM.

[x-legion.livejournal.com]

Aw, we forgive him for building it in XP. He made it under durress, and when he used it he only took out Lorna and himself. *G*

[nute.livejournal.com]

Not in XP! Here he just shot Lorna with it. :)

[x-polarisstar.livejournal.com]

And that was actually a very good thing.

[x-siryn.livejournal.com]

Terry would be utterly offended by the idea of a "cure". She's incapable of understanding mutations as a disease or mutants as somehow non-human. People are people are people. She could understand why some people would rather not have their powers but she'd see it the same way that some people didn't want to accept anything else about themselves, whether it be race, body shape, sexuality, etc. You don't cure any of those things therefore you don't cure mutations.

[x-siryn.livejournal.com]

Also, if we're curing something, can we start with curing good Irish of being labeled British? It's a terrible affliction.

[avariel-wings.livejournal.com]

Angelo would be torn. He doesn't use his powers all that much as it is, it's a physical mutation so he has to be careful where he goes without an image inducer, and his mutation destroyed what he knew as his life before.

On the other hand, his life is so much better since his manifestation, and he values Nathan's opinion over almost anyone else's. So I think he'd refuse the cure.

Kurt wouldn't know what to do with himself if he was cured. His mutation's been part of his life and of him, all his life, and he's built his self-image and his life around it. Add to that the fact that losing the physical mutation would also mean losing the power and probably some of his grace, at least until he adjusted to the change, and he'd refuse it without a second thought.

[diamond-dust06.livejournal.com]

I have some thoughts on the actual technology of the cure. I'll write it up if you're interested ;)

Shiro would surprisingly have the exact same opinion as Nate. (Scary, isn't it? Maybe more so than the actual existence of the cure.) After trying to burn himself out once, he's learned that mutation isn't something that ought to be changed, and those that do want to change it should probably address other problems in their lives first.

Jay would actually consider taking it. He doesn't hate being a mutant, but he wonders how much easier his life would be if he weren't. The only thing that would stop him from actually doing it is the possibility of losing his voice. Singing is so important to him that he'd never risk losing his talent even if he could get rid of those damn monstrosities on his back.

[amythyst7.livejournal.com]

Where to start? Marie would be oh so torn. And it would cause her a lot of emotional turmoil - the idea of being able to touch somone again is something she'd begun to give up on, and then to be presented with an opportunity? However, just like in the comics, I think she'd worry about what would happen if they tried to start forcing the cure on mutants...and if she didn't have her powers, she wouldn't be able to stop that from happening. However, she would _totally_ understand and support any mutant who wanted to take the cure, as long as they truly understood all the potential risks and consequences. If she ever got wind of the fact that it was being forced on people, though, she would do everything in her power to stop that from happening.

And her opinions on the cure would probably evolve as more time passes...

[x-legion.livejournal.com]

Marius would take the cure in a shot. He enjoys being able to experiment with other people's powers quite a bit, but his defective x-factor is the root of his marrow deficiency problems. If there were a way to completely remove it and repair the damage it's already done, he'd take it without a second thought and begrudge no one the opportunity to do the same -- although for the most part he wouldn't get why, since he sees mutation as a useful and interesting thing. Just not his own. And after living with people like Forge, who loves and basically is his power, the idea of having a cure forced on anyone would make him so angry he couldn't see straight.

Haller would refuse it. For all that his powers basically shattered his mind and drastically complicate his recovery, he considers them an integral part of who he is -- one of the few things all his personalities agree on. In the case of mutations so harmful they effectively cripple the wielders he would endorse the option of removing the power (and he's had enough experience with those on Muir and in the institutions to know what he's talking about), but he also believes that the treatment should be purely voluntary, even if the mutation the person is embracing is harmful. Some people would rather die than have to live without their power, and he respects that. He also doesn't believe "normal" reasons like not wanting to deal with prejudice and self-esteem issues are sufficient to warrant the cure. There's always conflict in life. It's not healthy to solve surmountable problems by simply pushing them away instead of dealing with them, especially by denying what's a part of you -- and often times the power itself isn't actually the root of the problem. Unless the situation was really severe, he wouldn't be hostile but would probably think a little less of anyone who took it.

[littlesilvered.livejournal.com]

Alex would seriously consider it. It's no secret he both hates and fears his powers, but it's also one of the few things he has in common with his brother, which would probably be the only thing that would make him not take it. But if allowed to think to much about it, he most likely would.

What's surprising, is Tommy would not. He would never be accepted again by his friends and family, as they would always look down on him as if he was tainted still. Not to mention, it would just be a weapon, both sides using it as an excuse. The FOH would insist it be mandatory and all thier work, or last the work Tommy believed in, would be lost, as he believed mutants weren't a threat, they just needed to be able to control themselves to reduce harm to others and property. The mutants would feel threatened and just make said control worse, increasing personal and property damage. Nothing good could come of this cure and Tommy would not risk the only safe haven he believe he has right now. Call it self preservation if anything.

[azzinita.livejournal.com]

Jennie wouldn't want it. She wouldn't see a reason why. Her powers are only mildy irritating at best when she has a bad luck kickback. But she loves her powers. She wouldn't ever want to give them up. She'd also probably lose respect for people who took the cure. But then again, her powers have no real drawbacks to them, so what does she know?

[nute.livejournal.com]

And to play devil's advocate:

If the "cure" is a bad thing, and something to be abhorred for people "changing what they are", what would the objectors say about:

-braces to correct an overbite?
-LASIK surgery to correct faulty eyesight?
-cosmetic surgery to remove port-wine birthmarks?
-tattoos?
-body modification such as piercings, scarification, or branding?
-psychopharmacological solutions to personality disorders?


Simply because a change is made at the genetic level rather than the superficial, should that give it any more moral weight as to how it changes who a person is?

[frito-kal.livejournal.com]

I was about to say. ;)

To answer Rossi's question first:

Currently, neither of my two would take it. Marie-Ange considers her power a pain in the butt, but she knows it has saved lives, so she wouldn't willingly give it up.

A year ago, Kyle would have been first in line. Now, he's almost okay with who and what he is, even if he is uneasy with it. His parents would probably even now, force it on him though. They want him to have a 'normal' life, and don't see that there's nothing wrong with him not being normal.

That'd be my biggest problem with the cure - people forcing it onto others where it isn't needed or wanted. Kyle's mutation doesnt' do him any harm, but his parents would force him into a cure just because they think it's a problem.

It's not a very cut and dried question to answer, whether or not a 'cure' would be right or wrong, because of the issues Nute mentions above. (Out of the six he listed, I've had some variety of 4 of them - glasses, dental work, piercings and chemical treatment for mental disorders)

If a cure was voluntary, I see no problem with it - no more than cosmetic surgery. It's when it becomes weaponized and/or required that it becomes an issue of violating people's free will.

Forced on someone, it's just as offensive as forced chemical castration, 'fixing' homosexuality, or any of the other things people to do oppress others.

Voluntarily, it's no different from any other permanent change.

[aliciam.livejournal.com]

Nathan: "An overbite, near-sightedness, or a port-wine birthmark have relatively little direct impact on shaping the person you are. Compare to that the impact on the development of your personality of being able to read thoughts, blow up a major metropolitan area, breathe underwater, fly, or invent anything you can dream. (Also, there are very few people who would argue you needed to get an overbite fixed because it made you a dangerous freak who could threaten their children or pollute the gene pool). Body modification is most often aesthetics for the sake of aesthetics. Psychopharmacology addresses medical conditions that directly and severely affect your quality of life - only a minority of mutants can actually say that about their mutation."

[nute.livejournal.com]

Compare to that the impact on the development of your personality of being able to read thoughts, blow up a major metropolitan area, breathe underwater, fly, or invent anything you can dream.

and

Psychopharmacology addresses medical conditions that directly and severely affect your quality of life - only a minority of mutants can actually say that about their mutation.

seem somewhat contradictory.

[aliciam.livejournal.com]

Nate: "About the only thing that is almost always 'bad' in that first list is blowing up cities. And hell, instead of blowing up cities, you could just blow up people who really, really deserve it!"

[nute.livejournal.com]

Aside from that whole "read people's thoughts" being more inherently EVIL by its mere existence than any weapon of mass destruction, genocide, or decimating calamity ever constructed by man or nature, you mean.

[aliciam.livejournal.com]

Yes, Nute, we all know your opinion on telepaths.

[x-angel.livejournal.com]

I don't think Warren would take the cure either. Yes, in the past he may have, just so that he could move about in polite society without being branded a 'freak', but now I think he's become quite attached to them in a psychological way. I mean, just look at how he's reacted in the comics when he's lost his wings.

[maureenans.livejournal.com]

Clarice: absolutely would not do it. two and a half years ago when she came to Xavier's she would have been first in line and never thought twice about it, but she's grown and changed a LOT since then. she considers her primary power to be purple which is a huge part of who she is. the teleportation is pretty nifty too now that she's not scared of it ;) she would understand why people would want the cure though, but she would be damned if she allowed it to ever become mandatory.

Dani: would have to seriously think about it. her powers (and specifically lack of control) ruined her marriage and was the primary reason for her giving up her baby, but losing her powers would not change any of that now. she has no life or family to go back to and wouldn't want to go back now even if she did. I don't think she'd hate or condemn anyone who did choose a cure though, she doesn't hate too many people and would absolutely hate it if a cure were forced on people - see above about the smallpox blankets.

[x-wither.livejournal.com]

Kevin would leap up and take it. Insantly. As of now, he sees his powers as a curse and nothing more. He doesn't care about a 'slippery slope' because he just wants to be normal. His powers may define him and taking them away certainly wouldn't bring his father back, but I think he'd just love to be 'free'.

[alasdair.livejournal.com]

If it's as presented in the movie-verse, Pete would be actively trying to destroy it, all records of it, and anyone involved in it, simply because they made bullets out of a child. You Do Not Weaponise Children. It's not *just* the using the child (since they could concievably have had his consent) - it's specifically the point at which they make the cure into something that can be inflicted on someone without their express consent. As soon as that line's crossed, then the whole thing needs to be torn down and the ground sown with salt. The people it might help come in a distant second to that.

If there was just some means of "curing" mutation, then Pete would have to be reminded that it applied to him. He's got a cognitive disconnect between the fact that he can kill people by staring hard and the notion of being a mutant himself. He thinks of himself as a normal human. Once he'd been reminded, he'd think the idea of taking it himself was absurd.

[x-aerial.livejournal.com]

Crystal would pretty much rather die than lose her powers. She comes from a family of mutants and they take their powers pretty seriously. She manifested at age 7 and can't imagine life without her powers.