Getting to Know the Enemy (Open)

Just as Meld was beginning to get impatient and think that no one was going to answer a woman in a flowing skirt came out to greet her. She smiled at the other woman and extended her hand to accept the handshake, careful not to exert too much pressure. She had been known, in times of stress, to accidentally cut people with her claws though that was rarely a worry so long as she was careful. It was difficult, sometimes, to know how much strength she was exerting without a proper sense of touch.

Meld tried to act friendly and casual, though she wasn't certain how well she was succeeding. She had been told that she could be somewhat intimidating, even in times when she wasn't trying to be. Perhaps it was the way she moved, like that of a practiced combatant, or maybe it was something else she wasn't quite sure though she supposed the metal limbs didn't help put people at ease. Oh well, that was their concern not hers.

"A pleasure to meet you ghost." Being polite was never a bad thing. "My name is Meld and to be honest I'm not entirely sure why I'm here." She laughed a little, trying to keep things casual. "I've been staying at Sanctuary the last few months and guess I just wanted to check this place out. I had heard there was another place for mutants to stay and I thought I would come and check it out."

It sounded kind of lame in Meld's ears when she said it like that but it was nevertheless the truth. Well, the part of the truth that she was actually willing to say anyway. She was fairly certain that it would not be advantageous to start talking about having a chance to scope out potential enemies first hand.

Meld had to resist the urge to grin in amusement at the idea of Ghost leaving when the humans were kicked out of Sanctuary but she was fairly certain that she was at least mostly successful in not doing so. "Why would you leave when the humans were kicked out? Isn't it more advantageous to have an area away from human judgment for mutants to live in peace?" She knew that not everyone shared her views on humans but most also didn't have to deal with the daily discrimination that she, as a visible mutant, did.

"I am relatively happy within Sanctuary," Meld answered, "but I like to know what my options are. Its not perfect, but then no places are. I would certainly appreciate a tour of this place." She smiled again, trying to put the other woman at ease. It was fairly obvious that she was a little uncomfortable around Meld but she wasn't exactly sure what to do about that. She was who she was and such a reality wasn't an easy thing to change. She was used to discomfort from humans and even took pleasure in their discomfort, but it always made her a little sad when fellow mutants reacted to her in such a way. Though it was obvious that Ghost was at least trying to remain pleasant and friendly and that was something to be appreciated.

"Sanctuary is a good place. Its somewhere to stay away from those who judge and hate and sometimes such a place is needed. The people there, or at least some of them, they understand what its like to be a mutant in a world that hates and fears us." As they continued walking and conversing Meld took a careful look at everything she was being shown, rather impressed by what she saw. "Is there anything that makes this place any better or different than Sanctuary?"

"Oops. I only meant that I had stayed once, at a time when the Sanctuary was open to both humans and mutants. Though, I probably would have left when the humans left as well. We have some humans who reside at the Mansion, though they are few. I would hope that someday any place would be peaceful no matter the human/mutant ratios."

Meld nodded, considering her words. It seemed a little naive to simply expect that humans and mutants would ever be able to live together in harmony but she harbored that wish as well, in a way. It was just that her version of harmony included killing off those humans most disruptive to the natural order of things, and that natural order involved mutants being the controllers and humans being the controlled. "That is a pleasant and desirable thought," Meld conceded, "although the world is quite far off from achieving such a state and while we await that happening there needs to be a place where mutants can go and feel safe." She wondered if there would ever be a way to show mutants who could blend in as human what it was like for those who could not, if even for a day.

"I appreciate your willingness to keep an open mind. It is more than we'd ever asked of the Sanctuary residents before."

Meld shrugged her shoulders. "I guess that's just the way I am. I need to see things for myself, form my own opinions and I can't do that without at least trying to understand all sides of the situation." Of course, she didn't think that there really was much more to understand, the situation of the world being as it was but that didn't mean that she wasn't going to try. Even if the opposing opinion was wrong, it was never a bad idea to know and understand it.

"I know that the Sanctuary really serves as its namesake. Even I have taken refuge there, but I'm afraid that they may harbor ill will. Most Sanctuary residents, while containing the capacity for kindness, seem to choose violence as a solution for every problem. If you only train to use a hammer, after a while every problem starts to look like a nail. Maybe it is foolishness, but it is my belief that hate begets hate. You can't solve much of anything by limiting your options only to violence. Give anyone, human or mutant, a reason to hate and fear and you are as good as inviting it upon yourself."

Meld took the offered seat and accepted a water from her hostess. While Ghost's views seemed to be a little on the naive side, Meld was pleasantly surprised to find that they were actually relatively well reasoned and practical. Naive maybe, but not nearly to the degree she had expected based on what she had heard of this place and its residents and Ghost certainly did not seem to be a traitor to her people. And perhaps there were even places where such an individual could be used in the battle to assert mutant rights. Not everyone had to be on the battle lines directly, after all.

"Sometimes violence is the best solution," Meld stated, trying to word her response in the best possible way. Unlike some she was relatively good with words, but they were not her strongest trait. "I believe its important to know when violence is appropriate and when it is not and not to shy away from its use when it is appropriate. Have you considered, however, that people need to play to their strengths? If this is a battle for mutant rights," she refrained from referring to mutant superiority fairly certain that such a wording would not work in her favor, "then everyone needs to play their part. Some are good with words, others with technology and still others are good at fighting. Each of us play our best suited role and as long as we remain aware that we are only one part of a larger whole I do not believe this to be a bad thing, even in the case of the most violent of mutants. The real problem is not so much those who fight for a cause but those who fight for no cause, the ones who kill because they gain some perverse enjoyment out of the act."

It may be a fine line to some, but Meld believed the line was an important one. She had killed before and would probably kill again in the future but it was always for a purpose; either to further the mutant cause or in self defense. It was difficult to accept those who killed without reason and only for their personal enjoyment. It was one of the concerns she had had upon joining The Order, one she hoped would be addressed with the changes that she had been told were occurring.

"I can't say that the Sanctuary is better, but nor can I say the Mansion is better. They are very different in their approaches to humanity. I chose the Mansion because I would like for everyone to some day get along. That would be the largest departure on ideals between the two residences. Physically, the departure is that the Mansion is a school as well as residence. This is a place to continuously learn and better one's self."

Meld sighed, taking a sip of the water she had been given. "How many things would have to change in order for humans and mutants to get along in peace? I respect the idea of bettering oneself and the idea of a school for mutants is certainly something to admire. But humans and mutants will never get along without some major changes taking place first." Of course, in Meld's mind those changes almost certainly would involve a good deal of violence and the killing off of the worst dregs of human society, just as one would kill off violent and dangerous animals, but she didn't quite feel the need to speak such thoughts at the moment.

"I don't ever think violence is the best solution. There are always alternative options."

Meld shook her head sadly. "Thos of us who fight, do you think that we do so merely for the love of the fight? Before I knew I was a mutant I used to compete in martial arts competitions. And I was good. Very good. So I admit to liking the competition and the challenge of a fight. But that kind of fight and the kind I engage in now, for the betterment of our kind, are different. If I thought there was an alternative to the violence and the killing I would gladly take it. But sometimes there isn't, as difficult a reality as that is to accept." She had never exactly stopped to consider things in that manner before but as soon as she spoke the words she knew that they were true.

"I wish that violence were never appropriate, but if it is the only option left to me, I try to employ disarming or subduing tactics. Suffocating an adversary into unconsciousness is messy business, but it puts out your enemy without much fight and without lasting effects to either combatant. That isn't an option for everyone, but everyone could find their own way of subudal attacks. I only ask that their strengths be turned into a less fatal venue."

"I can appreciate that," Meld said honestly. "There are certainly instances when subduing is the best option. But what about those times when the enemy, when he eventually recovers, will remain just as much a danger if not more than when you subdued him to begin with? Sometimes a more permanent solution is the only solution. I do not say this because I enjoy killing. I don't. I say this because it is the truth. I've done things in my life I wish I hadn't had to do, but sometimes its necesary and in those instances it can mean the death of yourself or those you care about if you do not do so."

"I still maintain that a cause's purpose could be reached without employing violent means, but I begrudgingly admit that the violence garners a much swifter result. That still doesn't make it right, but I digress."

Meld nodded her head and took a drink of her water. "I wish for nothing more than to live in a world in which violence was not necessary. I hope that our decsendents will not have to worry about death and the mutant human conflict and that if they wish to fight they will have formal competitions as I enjoyed in my pre-mutant years. But in gaining that future world we sometimes have to commit acts that we would rather not. I sacrifise parts of my own soul in the attempt to gain that future, because if I don't do it than who will?" Her voice conveyed her sense of loss at the prospect.

"It's a mindset problem. There isn't any one thing that needs to change, it's almost like everything needs to change. But there is no way to change it all at once so we do little things everyday. I run a book store that operates under the condition that people leave their grudges at the door. No fighting inside and the humans and mutants seem to get along alright."

"That's wondeful," Meld replied with a genuine smile. "I should perhaps like to visit this bookstore of yours sometime, if you have no objections. "If only the world could follow the example of the microcosm of reality that your bookstore represents. I believe, however, that if the relatively small number of individuals who promote hatred are eliminated than that prospect can become a reality."

"If we promote an atmosphere of peace between sub-species, who is to say that we won't achieve it?"

"A question for you to ponder in return then. If mutants stopped fighting against the anti-mutant cells do you really think that would cause anti-mutant sentiments to lower? Or is it more realistic, as I believe, that these groups would slowly increase their mental hold upon the masses and more and more humans would rise up against us. Sometimes we have to fight and even kill. Its just a matter of who and when. I believe there is a middle ground that can and should be reached between the most militant of our kind and the most pacafist."

Meld could tell that Ghost had put more than a little thought in her views and she had a certain respect for the other woman's perceptions of the world and her place in it, even if she continued to believe such thoughts were naive. Still, they did provide some some interesting things to ponder, things that she would be thinking about, in all likelihood, for many days to come. If nothing else they brought to attention the fact that, perhaps, she was a little quick to resort to violence when other solutions might have been possible. It was her primary talent and it was sometimes difficult to think of other solutions, even though she liked to believe that she was willing to consider alternatives.

"That is what I have been trying to say, though. There are alternatives. Those who choose to fight, despite their motivations, do not seem to see them or worse, don't ever try to see them. If I were satisfied that they at least attempted a non-violent solution before a violent one, then I would be more at ease with our generation of fighters."

"There are really two sides to that perspective," Meld argued, thoughtfully. "On the one hand perhaps you are correct and, sometimes at least, there are alternatives. And I admit that those, like myself, who have known little other than combat and conflict, sometimes find it difficult to see such alternatives. But by the same token, perhaps there are those, like yourself, who refuse to see them as options. Sometimes violence IS the best solution. Sometimes but not always. We are, I think, each somewhat constrained by our own views and beliefs and it is sometimes difficult to see beyond them." She had not expected, in coming here, that she would be confronted with such thought provoking subjects but she was beginning to understand what a good choice it was, coming here.

"The problem, I'll admit, to non-violent measures it that they work slower than violent ones, but I think they have a more lasting benefit in that it harbors no ill will and has snuffed no life and endangered no life but the non-violent one. I'd rather risk my skin than someone elses."

Meld took a moment to carefully mull over the words before replying. She was in no hurry and would prefer her words to be spoken in such a way that could not be misconstrued. "Sometimes you may be correct," she conceded. "But sometimes I think you see what you want to see. There are many actions, violent and otherwise, that can serve to incur the ill will of others. The trick, I think, is knowing when to use violence and when to use other measures, because violence does have its place, like it or not. There are some people that simply will not or cannot learn any other way. Not always, I admit, but one needs to be open to the option."

"I still think I would try every option available to me before even considering a final solution. No matter what inconvenience it would be to me to thwart their efforts time and time again."

Meld shook her head sadly, wishing that there was some way in which she could make her point and get through to the other woman. "And supposing that each and every time you had to stop this certain someone, his actions became worse and more damaging? Some can be dealt with in other manners, some can even be rehabilitated. But sometimes, as difficult as it is to accept, death is the only solution. At least, the only lasting solution."

"I suppose we will have to agree to disagree then. You have a good mind, Ms. Meld. And a good strong sense of obligation to our species and future generations. I just think that the future doesn't have to come about in a bloody manner. And of course, you are invited to visit my bookstore any time you wish as long as you leave your quibbles at the door. It is a public place meant for all the public."

"It seems that we will," Meld agreed, a certain amount of regret in her voice. She wrapped her hands around the half-finished cup she was holding. "And I would not dream of causing any undue problems in your store. I am not like some of my compatriots. I do not assault people randomly for no reason and certainly not for the mere fact that they are human. Indeed, believe it or not, I do not truly wish them any ill will at all. All I desire is a better future for our people." She hoped that the other woman could understand that. For some reason it was important to her that she did. The idea, suddenly come into her head, that her people would consider her a monster for the acts that she had committed, was suddenly a horrible one. Everything she did she did for her people and here she was, conversing with a fellow mutant. She knew the other woman disapproved of her techniques but she only hoped that she could, on some level at least, understand them and realize why she did them.

"I can't say that I believe that humans would ever declare us less than human with less than human rights if left to their own devices. We've already passed that point in history and very rarely do laws revert to lesser statuses."

"Having said that, I think you, like me, know that there are still some changes that need to be made in the eye of the public and in the actions we as subspecies toward each other. If you define fight, though, I still see you as something physical, a fearsome woman to be reckoned with. If I were to define fight, it would be something different all together, but no less a part of the difference."

"I am not sure that I agree with you," Meld replied quietly. "I would, of course, like to believe that to be the case but time and again humans have proven themselves to be less than accepting of other peoples. And even if formal laws did not lower mutants to an inferior status, still, there are those who treat us that way and they are numerous."

Meld paused to consider her next words, taking a drink of her water. "I believe that you and your techniques play a role, possibly a rather large role. Your kind and mine, we need to learn to work side by side. Imagine the good we could accomplish, with those of your talents working to lessen the tensions between mutants and humans and those of my talents working to eliminate possible threats to what we are all trying to accomplish. Not everyone needs to physically fight, and certainly not everyone needs to kill. But if only we could come up with some middle ground in which we could all work together, affecting the different layers of the problem simultaneously, just imagine what we could accomplish." She sighed heavily. It seemed an impossible idea but all it would take would be for a few to consider it for things to start changing and people to start making a real difference.

"You seem to have thought most every step of the process out. And I admire you for that. I know not everyone here shares my views. They'll often resort to violence before I will, just as you may find yourself acting in league with your views rather than random acts of violence."

Meld shrugged. "I don't know if I do or not. What I do I do because I believe it to be necessary. But I don't have all the answers, I don't think anyone does. I can only do my best and hope that my best is good enough." A hard thing to admit but she felt that she owed it to this woman, somehow, to be honest.

"I'm not trying to run you out either. If you want we could finish the tour after the kiddos get into their next class. Just hard to carry on a civilized conversation over all the noise, you know?"

Meld nodded, finishing her water and getting to her feet. "I am afraid that I should probably be returning home anyway. I think you very much for taking the time to speak with me, however. It has been most enlightening and has given me many things to think of. Do you think I might be able to return here in the future? I would very much like the opportunity to converse with you further, and perhaps even meet some of the others you speak of who go here and share your philosophy. She smiled and offered her hand for a handshake.