(no subject)

[thexfactor]

Prompt - At a mutant-human rights forum which Erik is going to ruin

Comments

[grandstanding]

['Ruin' is such a strong word. After all, this is a public space; a forum, held in a community centre not so far from where Charles makes his home in Westchester, but also not that close.

In fact, the forum's been going for a good half hour before Erik even approaches. He has no helmet, of course - that was left behind in the aftermath of the president's speech. Through practice, circumstance, or just Charles's long time away from the sense of his mind, it might take a while to notice the faint outline of his mind. But he's there, all right. At the back of the hall, near the entry doors.]

[thexfactor]

[ so much for drinks and nice conversation ]

[ discreetly makes it towards the doors ]

[winter, 1973]

[grandstanding]

[Our top story today, the criminal known as Magneto reappeared near the Pentagon. The mutant who achieved notoriety after threatening to kill President Nixon and the destruction of the White House was apparently trying to gain access to the interior of the agency. A short siege ensued, with security personnel holding their ground against him despite the mutant's noted powers over metal.

There are conflicting reports on whether Magneto managed to breach the inner areas of the Pentagon, or whether he was wounded in the resulting conflict. However, the local police force have confirmed that his current whereabouts are unknown. More as it happens...']

Re: [winter, 1973]

[thexfactor]

[ okay then. Things I need: A drink, then Cerebro. Maybe both in that order ]

[winter, 1974]

[grandstanding]

[It's early in the new year when Erik appears on Charles's radar again. Quite close to home, in fact. The hour is getting late when Erik's mind suddenly comes into range near the mansion, heading towards it. And he's not by himself, either.]

Re: [winter, 1974]

[thexfactor]

[ that's odd. He just keeps tabs for now, but he tells Hank to get the students away and make sure they kept out of sight ]

summer, 1975

[thexfactor]

[ for a while, the letters come in a steady stream, talking about work, the students, new arrivals. Sometimes, Charles puts "I miss you" but it's rare and far in between.

Then for a month, there are no more letters ]

Re: summer, 1975

[grandstanding]

[Erik's letters have always been fewer, but relatively consistent. he argues some of Charles's teaching methods, mentions mutants he's come into contact with... occasionally drops intelligence learned.

he sends two during that month, before realising the replies have stopped.]

winter, 1975

[thexfactor]

[ The letters have started again, thankfully and this time there seem to be no health complications.

I'm not sure whether I hallucinated you being there or not, but it was appreciated regardless. ]

Re: winter, 1975

[grandstanding]

I must admit, I wasn't sure how lucid you were. I trust you've improved? Winter is a worse time to be ill, after all.

Winter, 1976

[grandstanding]

[it's not very long after Erik leaves the mansion that a new letter arrives for Charles. the writing is a bit... odd, definitely not like his usual hand.]

I got your letters.

I suspect the reason you couldn't find me on Cerebro was the way they constructed their base. They were working with Russian contractors, the same ones who helped build Shaw his submarine and helmet years ago. As such, there was telepathic shielding in place. Just bad luck that I was near them whenever you tried to look.

Apologies for the writing. My arm's still in a sling, so I'm using the pen magnetically. It's more difficult than I anticipated; this is the fourth draft, and the most legible so far. But I suspect practice will make perfect.

Re: Winter, 1976

[thexfactor]

[You'll improve at it. How's your arm so far? Is it healing well? ]

Autumn 1977

[thexfactor]

[ Erik is now a teacher. Charles is now nursing a headache. ]

Re: Autumn 1977

[grandstanding]

[Erik is in Charles's office, of course, walking over to the bookshelves and idly pulling one out with a finger. home he may be, but Charles realised months ago that that didn't mean he was going to stop wearing his armor and cape. something he now reserves for the Danger Room and other similarly hazardous lessons that he has become known for. infamous for. he is wearing it right now, lightly scuffed and scratched from today's... class.]

Did you really need to call me in here like this? Am I going to get a rap on the knuckles?

[Winter, 1977]

[grandstanding]

[it's the week before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature is stirring, especially not that dumb fucker Erik who, after spending weeks in deep reconnaissance in the snows of Russia, came home a few days ago and then proceeded to get a really bad cold.

although maybe that's not accurate, because he is stirring - already stirred - and has stubbornly gone down to the kitchen to make something. it's proven difficult to get the idea of bed rest through his skull.]

Re: [Winter, 1977]

[thexfactor]

[ coming down a little while later ]

What are you doing?

Christmas, 1977

[thexfactor]

[ Charles wasn't sure if they were really going to celebrate, but he made sure they were stocked up on food and other supplies. Most of the children were gone so the mansion was eerily quiet. Even Hank had left and Charles was pleased for him.

Still, it was disconcerting . . . almost like silence in his head. But he sets the table for Christmas Eve. They even had a tree put up, but no presents. Charles didn't really know what to get Erik ]

Re: Christmas, 1977

[grandstanding]

[for his part, Erik wasn't sure quite what to do either. it had been years, decades, since he'd celebrated Hanukkah. and of course he'd never bothered with Christmas. the first day of the holiday, he'd asked to be alone, and spent it in his room. with his ghosts. but after that he'd been fine.

he'd helped with the tree, and proven himself quite hopeless when it came to the aesthetic integrity of tinsel arrangement. they managed to get it looking 'acceptable' after about two hours of bickering. now the day was here.

Erik comes in and glances at the table, before crossing to the nearby record player. he switches it on, and the room fills with classical music, eating up the silence.

in a classy way.]

Winter, early 1978

[grandstanding]

[another year ticks over, and the students come back to school, rambunctious as ever. a few bring back requests to stay permanently at the school next year, a more formal boarding arrangement for those whose families don't want the reminder of what their children are at holiday-time. but on the whole things are happy, and the classes get back into full swing.

Erik has been working on the obstacle course designs steadily, and is up to a stage where formal blueprints are commissioned. it's a good moment. midway through January, an odd case gets his attention from a few states over. how and why Erik manages to keep a correspondence at the school when he doesn't receive mail is something he doesn't tend to explain.

Erik begs off for a few days, instituting Hank as a substitute Survival and Defense teacher, much to the relief of some students. he's been gone for five days; a week at most is what he promised before he left, kissing Charles's temple then sweeping quietly out the door.]

Re: Winter, early 1978

[thexfactor]

[ Erik can take care of himself, he knows. And what is, is. There's no point being frustrated and sad about it, so he just dives into his work. The world is getting a little bigger every day and Charles wasn't careful, it would blindside him, just like it had before ]

Spring, 1978

[thexfactor]

[ Erik has gone and some radical fanatics got the hold of information about the Institute. This time, there were no attacks, at least no physical ones, but Charles had to constantly use Cerebro to sweep minds nearby as tensions seem to boil over. ]

Re: Spring, 1978

[grandstanding]

[Erik was gone on what he'd started to euphemistically call a 'business trip'. his moonlighting work as a mutant revolutionary, essentially. this time he'd gone across a couple of state borders to search out an extremist anti-mutant cell... but perhaps he should have been looking closer to home.

it's two days after the event when Erik finally comes walking back down the main driveway to the manor.]

Summer, 1978

[grandstanding]

[it was a routine trip, picking up a potential new student. it carried a bit more risk than usual, given the nature of Craig Wong's mutation. some form of mind or mood-alteration was what they could determine at a distance. they new it was becoming a danger to Craig and to those around him, so Charles decided to send Hank and Erik to fetch him. as the most experienced and senior staff, they were the best choice, and Hank had the most expertise with things that might be chemical or hazardous.

maybe it would have been routine, if things hadn't gone wrong. an emotional upset and resulting power burst, Hank had explained hurriedly over the phone, but luckily they hadn't been near any others when it happened. Hank had stepped away to prepare the jet, and it happened while Erik and Craig were alone, and then--

it was a far more somber and brittle occasion when they finally arrived back at the mansion, as a result. Craig, ashen faced and tear-streaked from what had happened, had been reassured as best he could before being taken inside by Alex. then came the ordeal of getting Erik indoors. carefully. wrapped up in blankets and heavily sedated, "So he doesn't freak out again". Hank knew from talking to Craig's parents that the hallucinogenic blasts Craig let out could be spread by contact, but didn't know how long it would take to fade away.

he'd have to be quarantined until they were sure.]

Re: Summer, 1978

[thexfactor]

[ Charles taps into Erik's mind from time to time to see how he was doing. Craig was finally calming down and was somewhat happier to be around other mutants his age, so that was one potentially hazardous situation out of the way. Hank is looking at seeing if he could get them inoculated, just in case ]

[ That left only Erik ]

Summer 1978

[thexfactor]

[ Summer vacation has finally arrived. After the children left, Charles had a small party for the staff before dismissing them for the holidays. The mansion was eerily quiet once more and Charles found it a bit disquieting but it wasn't as though he was staying here. After clearing it with Hank and assuring him he was no more than a phone call away, he and Erik finally went on their vacation, on a small villa near the hills that Charles' family had not long ago (belonging to some distant relative).

It was quiet, a fair distance away from the next town but not so remote that he can't be reached. It took a few hours to not panic and call Hank immediately. With a book on his lap, he watched the wind sweep through the grass ]

Re: Summer 1978

[grandstanding]

[Erik, for his part, had found the silence in the mansion equally as disturbing as Charles... perhaps more. ever since his bout of quarantine he's been on edge, prone to snapping at people and spending long periods outside. but he's improved by degrees.

he finds the 'holiday house' thing a bit amusing, though he's happy enough to come along. it's been a while since he's been out in the wilds like this. or as close to wilds as he comes, these days.

coming up behind Charles, he leans over him.]

I don't think you're actually reading that.