and i want life in every word to the extent that it's absurd

[oxfordian]

Date & Time: Evening, Aug. 25th. 3312.
Location: UNIT № 1 0 1
Characters: Charles Xavier (oxfordian) & Erik Lehnsherr (andfutureking)
Summary: Charles and Erik—Magneto—have a conversation about their differing universes, and perhaps other things.
Warnings: Nada.

It had been an admirable few weeks of time that Charles had spent with this new and, in some very distant and strange way, refreshing incarnation of Erik Lehnsherr. They had not spoken extensively, and Charles still had not made a point to really converse in great depth with the man, as he worried that his emotions might get a hold of him in the embarrassing manner in which they had at their first meeting. Dreadful and incredibly troubling, that one.

In this moment, Charles was pacing about the kitchen—Raven's joking words about his cooking echoing in his ears—and he was making a point to prepare some sort of dinner for the three of them, even in Raven's absence. Sometimes he was not certain if she really would come home, not in the way he was used to; and that was all right for now, since he was struggling desperately with allowing her her own freedoms. Even in these dangerous times, and this awful place—he could not truly let go of the inherent fear for her safety, but he could not push her away by upsetting her. His mind was abuzz with his fretting, but he was silencing it as he brought dinner to the table and set out what he'd made.

"I don't fancy myself much of a cook, really, though I'm sure you'll find it's not entirely terrible," he smiles as he speaks to let Erik know that he's only self-deprecating in jest, though he does, for a fraction of a second, look legitimately concerned about his presentation for his—new?—friend.

Comments

[andfutureking]

He chuckled as the food was placed upon the table. It certainly did not look inedible, even if it was simple enough fair. He did not mind simple, though. "You know that even if it was, I have had worse." He reached for his fork, taking a bite of the meal and offering a smile. "It is lovely. Thank you for dinner, Charles."

The relative silence that had passed between them since his arrival had been uncomfortable for Erik. He had much preferred the times when he and Charles could be relatively open with one another, when they could spend hours upon hours talking on any subject from philosophy to politics to science. Things had been civil between them, yes, but also tense.

It was especially difficult for him to allow this to continue when there was so much he was curious about regarding this alternate version of Charles and the alternate version of himself that he had known.

[oxfordian]

Charles was quite a bit more pleased than he would let on that Erik seemed legitimately satisfied with the food. After all, he would know if he was not. He tilted his head at him and quietly took a seat across—it had been incredibly tense, and he did not like it one bit. He also wasn't entirely certain what he ought to say to Erik, and that caused as much of a rift in conversation as his own nervousness in their dealings in the first place.

Still, he steeled himself, and quietly began to speak as they sat across from one another. "You're quite welcome," he whispered. "We've rather... a lot to talk about, I'm sure."

[andfutureking]

Erik gave a nod. Just as there was much he wanted to know about Charles, he realized that the other man must be curious about himself. Even moreso, he was concerned with the knowledge that Charles had apparently heard things about him -- about this version of him -- from others of his own universe. They had not discussed this subject in much depth at all, so he did not know who it was who was spreading this information or what it was that they had told Charles. He was very much conscious of his own reputation, after all. In fact, he felt dwarfed by his own reputation at times, a man living in his own shadow, a symbol of something bigger than he had imagined or intended. Those who knew him the most personally would certainly paint a different picture of him than those who had only met him in brief, or even those who had never met him at all.

He considered himself fortunate that he did not need to entertain any doubt that Charles was a practical enough man to get to know Erik himself, rather than relying upon the opinions of others.

"Know that I want to be completely open with you, Charles. Do not hesitate to ask me anything you wish."

[oxfordian]

Charles would not hesitate to do such a thing. Nor would he hesitate to enter Erik's mind, even in his state of worry regarding their closeness—their new living quarters, as it were. Charles was seating himself at the table only when he was satisfied that it was fully furnished, and he waited for Erik to do the same. "You are worried about what I have heard. Concerned, at the very least," he began, correcting himself midway through.

Meeting Erik's eyes, Charles assessed him with a great air of cautiousness; cautiousness, concern, and a sort of deep-seated regret—something that showed even if he meant to hide it.

"I will not hesitate."

[andfutureking]

Erik settled himself across from Charles and took a sip from his glass. He raised an eyebrow before nodding. He did not know how much of that Charles had gathered from pure intuition, and how much had been the work of his powers. Erik's mental shields were admirable, of course, but he had not been making an effort to hide his thoughts from Charles in the time since he had arrived. Even if he had, he knew that it was well within Charles' abilities to pry past his psychic barriers, given enough effort.'

He quietly observed Charles in turn, taking in all of the information available to him in the younger man's demeanour and body language. "What do you wish for me to tell you?"

[oxfordian]

Charles could not have been more glad for Erik's openness with his mind, especially in these existing circumstances. He was quietly watching him ever still, and he wondered momentarily to himself how very distressing he might have found this situation were Erik less willing to be open with him. Well, he would perhaps fear for his life—that much was a given, and not something he'd have looked forward to. His face changes as he considers that reality, before its steeling once more and he's listening to the words being spoken to him.

Clearing his throat, Charles begins to eat his food. It would be rude to make his dinner guest wait any longer for a reply, and if not for Charles' upbringing, he perhaps would have been silent for a much longer time. "I'm afraid I'm not so sure."

[andfutureking]

Erik gave a small nod. He remained silent for a long moment, considering what to say to Charles as he began to eat his meal as well. After a long moment, he set his fork down and brought his napkin to his mouth, returning it to his lap before speaking.

"I will start, then, by saying that I have made many mistakes in my past. But I am trying to put that behind me... To make up for it. All I care for now is ensuring the survival of mutantkind. I have been actively working alongside your X-Men in doing so."

[oxfordian]

Charles certainly couldn't help the way that he looked surprised at that news. He'd expected quite a bit more villainy, and he tried to keep himself from looking so interested—so shocked. He did not want Erik to think that was all he'd heard, but truth be told... it was. Clearing his throat, Charles nodded once again and bit his lower lip before speaking again.

"I suppose it's obvious enough that I did not... anticipate that."

[andfutureking]

Erik sipped from his glass once more, allowing a long pause before he was giving another nod. "You would not be the first to be surprised by it," he responded. He set his glass down on the table once more. "My attempts to make up for my past deeds have not been without scepticism. I cannot argue that I have earned as much. But you... you have always had faith."

[oxfordian]

Charles' eyes are a bit downcast until he hears those last words, and he lifts his head and smiles a long, genuine smile. "I believe myself quite capable of... having faith in you," he whispered.

"Perhaps because I am so biased. Even so, it is not something that I would consider a fault—not like many would have me believe."