While Ryder, close as she proximally came, didn't touch Xavier physically, nor did she mentally, her words came like a verbal strike, causing Xavier to close his eyes in a just-perceptible flinch. 

There were several reasons for this, though chief among them was the reaffirmation of how he was failing to make any sort of positive connection with his daughter. [i]Fix her[/i]. He'd never seen her as broken.

It seemed, for the next moment, as though he were just sitting there in these feelings and chastisement, when in fact he was giving a command to two of his X-Men via his "private channel". 

His eyes opened after that, though feelings indeed churned up as they were, he didn't meet hers; speaking as though he were reflecting as much as stating: [color=#7393B3]"Yes. There is very little I understand of this situation. . .My X-Men have countered innumerable threats and circumstance that were then, unimaginable,"[/color] -a very mild counterstrike that Ryder's understanding of their lives wasn't any more than theirs of hers- [color=#7393B3]"yet none that compare." [/color]

Only now did his voice come a little firmer, as he came closer to ground he felt steady on: [color=#7393B3]"Which is why I will not let them be the fools who rush in. [b]You[/b] have knowledge and experience, and I [b]now[/b] know,"[/color] -a sigh- [color=#7393B3]"nothing I say will divert you from your course. Though the facts remain that the clock has been reset for now. .and Storm and Beast are on their way in our remaining aircraft to confer with Moira on the matter."[/color] He was meeting Ryder's eyes, now. [color=#7393B3]"You have a unique and remarkable mode of transportation in your powers, though I don't know that they will service you across the Atlantic. In this meantime I intend to hold a briefing with my X-Men which could benefit from what you know. Though I leave the sharing of that up to you."[/color]

There was no reverse psychology in this, it was simply back to being Ryder's move. Though Xavier, chess player that he was, was half convinced he already knew what it would be. Yes, the easiest mode of getting back to Umbra's lines was taken out of the equation, but he would've been the ultimate fool if he didn't understand Ryder was resourceful; she'd find another way if she was inclined on ending this now rather than later, on her own terms and her own, period.

What he wasn't certain of was what the details of that "other way" would be, and could only hope they wouldn't bring he and her into [i]terrible[/i] opposition. . .Holding onto the hope this past while had actually cultivated, given Ryder had actually stayed here, [b]still[/b] showing notable restraint compared to the girl they'd first encountered. Beginning to participate, having gone on the mission with Cyclops only hours ago. . .

So the part of him that remained unconvinced, merely waited.


Closely observing these two was Logan. So far as he could see Charles was still rolling on thin ice when it came to Ryder who, despite the surface level similarity to Logan in being augmented to be someone else's weapon, Logan recognized as an entirely different animal. His heightened senses presently had him alert in case her fight-or-flight response -specifically the fight part- were to be triggered again; Logan was a much more robust target for whatever she could dish out than Xavier, or anyone.