Xaviers!

"The easy advice would be to say you are whoever you think you are and not who others think you are," Gideon said, "What does it matter if they think your hair is brown instead of red? Your hair is red because that's how you believe you look."

"What kind of things could you do?"

"I don't... have to be human. I haven't always been human while figuring this out. Before my shields were good, I ended up... plucking forms from people's minds. Sometimes not just from a single mind. It wasn't something I could control, or something I was doing on purpose."

"So you've learned how to block them all out," Gideon said, "Do you think you could or would want to be able to pluck an image from one person's mind?"

"I could. I sort of do that already when I mimic someone. I mindlink with them briefly just to make sure I'm getting everything right. It helps with the voice."

"What do you think would be different then if you were to pull a different kind of image from someones mind?" Gideon asked.

"Well, the less I stay on the surface, the... weirder it is."

"Fair enough," Gideon said, "The strangeness often fades as you do it more often. Things begin to make more sense as you look at them critically despite the strangeness or otherness of it. You begin to understand that mindscapes often contain common themes and motifs."

"I've... been in a mindscape. I just... there are things in there you don't want to be, aye?"

"And some of those things could keep you or your teammates alive on a mission if you use them with care," Gideon said, "That care you would take being not doing it to your teammates or civilians and deciding how deeply you will or will not delve, eh?

That last bit being the most difficult thing to determine. What qualifies as too deep? Where does your delving permanently traumatize those who you're fighting? What repercussions will come from what you use? These are questions that many non-telepaths don't have to deal with when using their powers. It's one of many things that makes being one of us... difficult."

"And I guess... I probably have to learn how to do it as well as how not to do it, aye?"

"That would be the best course in my opinion," Gideon said, "And to use use it conscientiously."

"So when you teach telepathy, do you do it with groups?"

"Telepathy doesn't always lend itself well to a group setting, so I'm trying to have one-on-one sessions with students," Gideon said, "If there's a great deal of interest in tutoring I might do a mix of small group and individual sessions."

"Do you have a preference between the two?"

"I just wondered for... you know, privacy concerns."

"Ah, well you wouldn't be practicing on one another," Gideon said, "It would be a group lecture on theory followed by breaking up for individual practical skills practice with me. It would mean less individual attention if there's a significant amount of interest."

"However, currently based on the amount of interest that I've received the plan is for private longer individual lessons with me and possibly an informal weekly group lecture on theory or the lecture will be integrated into the private sessions."

"I guess that... works," Sam says, still feeling a bit uneasy about it, but unable to articulate her concerns in a way she feels is convincing.

"Was there something in particular about the current that is bothering you?" Gideon asked in a friendly way.

"There's... another telepath on campus that I know. And she's not horrible or anything, but she definitely hasn't been shy about saying I need to... loosen up."

"Well, I can keep your lessons and lecture session private to assist with keeping the two of you apart if that's your preference," Gideon said, "Has she tried using her powers to make you loosen up?"

"No, no. I'm not saying she's done anything inappropriate."

"There's a limit then to what I can do," Gideon said, "If you think she might be inclined to do something we could spend our first few lessons on the defensive side of fighting other telepaths rather than on the offensive side of things."

"No, I'm not... saying I'm worried she will. I shouldn't have brought it up. It's my own embarrassment more than anything."

"I imagine you wouldn't have brought it up unless it was important, eh?" Gideon asked. "But if you don't want to talk about it I understand."

"Well you asked, and in my defense you're a telepath so how well could I have expected to keep mum?"

"I prefer not to pry unless I believe it necessary," Gideon said easily, "It's a good idea to avoid using your powers to carouse peoples minds at your leisure."

"Still, you've got to be up there as to professors it's hard to lie to."

Gideon smiled.

"I suppose that's true," Gideon said, "The advice I was given though was try to be approachable and leave the violence and intimidation to Kinney as she's much better at them than I am."

"Well anyway. The way you proposed it, I'm sure I'll be fine."

"Alright, send me an email with times that work for you," Gideon said, "Or if there's anything else I can help you with."

"Can't think of anything right now, but... thanks, Professor Rede," she says as she gets up.