asgardeventide | BACKDATED TO YESTERDAY ➔ 1ST MUTATION ➔ VIDEO

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BACKDATED TO YESTERDAY ➔ 1ST MUTATION ➔ VIDEO

Better late than never, I'd say.

[ Charles has been trying to adjust to life in Asgard. He was pulled out of his world, at the worst possible time only to arrive to the fact - he was void of his telepathy. Adjusting is a work in progress. But he's treating this thing like it was a presentation or a lecture, so he's doing his best to look adequate. Like it's not getting to him. The smile he passes is an easy one. ]

I suppose, it's common courtesy to introduce oneself over the network. My name is Charles Xavier. Before arriving in Asgard, I was a professor of Genetics. I had written a thesis on genetic advancements, mutations. People with gifts. Gifts that were very much so similar to the 'powers' bestowed to us by these gods. Gifts with untapped potential to be the catalyst for a better world.

In Asgard, we are a put at a point - where everyone is put on equal footing. Everyone is in possession of these gifts and we're capable of having peaceful cohabitation. But it does beg the question, before Asgard - was anyone in possession of gifts?

[ FILTERED | ERIK LENSHERR ; RAVEN DARKHOLME ]

Are you two here as well? Your names showed up on the directory.

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[It comes as a sort of surprise, really. Erik hasn't spent much, if any, time on the network since Raven's return. There hasn't really been a need - he's had Rav- no. Mystique. And he doesn't really have much of a connection to the rest of the city. The Gods, their war, it does not concern him in the least.

One way or another, he does find himself checking. Looking. And what he finds is...surprising would definitely work. Surprising, and a little something else.

It takes him a few moments to respond, checking over everyone else's comments, trying to gauge the level at which Charles remembers, or knows. Which is very little, he finds out. And with that, Erik takes a bit more time to decide how to approach the matter. The last time he and Charles tried to...explain themselves, it did not end well.

Maybe...things could be different.]

[Eventually, he does turn on the bracelet.]

Charles. [It serves as a greeting.] Raven is indeed here.

[A pause, before:]

And you'll have to excuse the question, but what is the last thing you remember?

[ The beach. He remembers the beach and how they were both so close. Victory was a breath away. Charles remembers the booming roar of over a dozen missiles targeted in their direction. Charles remembers the reverb of fear, uncertainty and the unwillingness to understand the unknown. He remembers what it feels like to hear every thought of Erik's only to be ushered down by a metal casing.

Erik, you said yourself. We're the better men. This is the time to prove it. There are thousands of men on those ships. Good, honest, innocent, men! They're just following orders. -

He had slipped. He should have done something else to coax Erik out of that decision. A thousand words he could have replaced for what he had said then. Perhaps things would have been different. The last thing he remembers is he and Erik going at it and Moira pointing a gun and firing. The sound of wayward missiles without a target and the resonation of hostility.

The memories are wedged in Charles mind and they're vivid until it faults to black. The last thing he can remember is the sound of a gun being fired and then nothing. Charles stands at a crossroads, then at Erik's question. He knows what Erik's intentions were getting off that plane. (- Had killing Shaw brought you peace, old friend? - he wants to ask but saves that question for another day. ). But, he thinks of himself as much at fault for it. ]

We were on Hank's ship, on the way to Cuba.

[ It's a lie. A lie that's simpler than having Erik and he deal with it, just yet. Without his telepathy, those words are his only defense. He'd come clean eventually but he had to know where he and Erik stood first. Had to know if there was anything he could do now, to change those events. He needs to know what Erik will say to him - - ]

Erik, what about you? How long have you and Raven been here?

[It's different from before. Before, Charles was the one who found him. Had spent time in Asgard, had made a name and a life for himself out of their memories, their world. He'd rooted himself in Asgard in a way that had changed him. Changed him in a way that was...detrimental. To the both of them.

But when Erik thinks back on it, he realizes there are ways he could have handled it better. Avoided the fight, the disagreement. Avoided the way Raven had looked at him, like he was a completely different person. This time, though, is different, because he's the one with the history. He has Asgard in is mind and a knowledge of how things work, and he has Raven back from a time where she already trusted him. Believed in him.

She had agreed on his plan, after all.

And Charles...Charles. This was Erik's second chance, his chance to change things. There was no mutant war here, no government trying to kill him, no injustice. Everyone had abilities, powers. It wasn't something to define himself by, and Charles - Charles didn't even remember. Doesn't. He hasn't lived through the beach yet, even if...even if something in Erik isn't sure if he believes it. Or not so much he doesn't believe it, but he's suspicious.

It's almost too good to be true.]

Raven just arrived. I've been here... I've been here for two and a half months.

[It's as good as a lie - a failure to provide his own story. Giving himself a few more moments to decide on how to approach the matter.]

[ he has all the right to be, charles is not a good a liar despite the fact he's lived a life compounded on lies. telepathy is a good back up, a good way to reenforce them. it's not above him, not really - for all the moral diatribes he spouts. charles believes that what he's doing will eventually lead to something right. he wants peace with erik. they're bound to disagree as they stand on two opposite spectrums of ideals but he wants to show erik that peace is an option. it's not healthy, nor is it commendable behaviour on his part. and when they're both more sorted - he'll come clean. but for now--- ]

[ he'll grasp this opportunity as a second chance for both of them. charles wants to make just as much amends. (I should have stopped you, old friend). ]

Are you two well?

[ its small talk, painful small talk and he discards it - shakes his head immediately after only to ask a different question, wearing a look of concern. ]

Erik, what was the last thing you remember? How did Cuba go?

[A second chance...that's all he's after at this point. The chance to return to a time where he was comfortable. A moment in time where things made sense, where he had more than he ever had before. It's a good thing Charles no longer has his telepathy, it makes this much easier.

Both keeping his true intentions to himself, and lying. For Erik is a good liar, has been lying for most of his life to get what he wants. It should be an issue how easy it is to do it to Charles, but it's for the greater good. It will be better for them all.]

We're...fine.

[Fine. Raven is still a little shaken up from the Darkness that plagued the city, and Erik is still dealing with the fact he wasn't able to protect her from it. But fine. Better. Better now that he has them, for sure.

But ah, the question. It was inevitable. Charles wasn't about to let something like that go. Erik rubs the bridge of his nose, quiet for a moment.]

I'm from a time after you. We...well, we landed. On the beach. Crashed, actually. [It's easier to lie when it's built on truth - something Erik learned early on.] I went after Shaw. I got into his submarine, but he wasn't there and- [Erik shakes his head before looking back up to the feed, to Charles.]

I woke up here.

[ Charles knows that retelling isn't the most accurate but he wonders why Erik is lying back? What happened after he was supposed to get shot? Charles wants to read Erik's mind, to know what he's thinking and it frustrates him that he can't. It's like everyone in Asgard is wearing that helmet and he misses the noise and the buzz of thoughts. Charles can't figure out Erik's intentions.

He wants to say a dozen things. Ask thirty different questions but he knows - he knows that if he wants to keep Erik as a friend, he can't. It's different, entirely. If it was Charles who was settled in, in asgard - he'd bring it up. But, Charles is alone. Raven and Erik are the only two people he has in life and he doesn't want to lose them (again).

He wants to say, that's not what happened. He wonders if whatever happened - perhaps it did not cause Erik so much peace? Perhaps it's why Erik hasn't said anything. ]

Alright. [ he's not a good liar, he's upset over erik's answer but then it dawns on him thats not how he would have reacted to this. ] There were no casualties I hope? Hank, Alex-- they're alright?

You've been here for two months. Where are you staying?

[Erik is a bit surprised at how easily that seemed. Almost to the point of suspicion - Charles was lying, but he also did not call Erik out on his lie. Which led him to believe there was a reason Charles needed them both to be from their decided moments. Something that hinged on who they used to be.

But when he catches himself thinking that far, he has to stop. It's not just wistful thinking. It's downright optimism, and Erik can't allow himself that privilege. Even if, if he did, this would be the time. And the place. A imagined city in a world that held no weight back home. No memories, no connection - things here could be different. Between him and Charles. Brothers.

Erik shakes his head.]

None that I was aware of.

[It's almost painful watching Charles try to keep up with his lie. Too easy. But he won't call him out on it. Not now. Not yet.]

The Loki Housing. Your selected house, or God, had a welcome hall of sorts. In there you have a room - bed, desk, necessities. It's free for you to use. I've been staying in my room since I arrived. Haven't felt a need to leave it, really.

[a pause, before:]

Charles, where are you?

[ he's an optimist, an idealist and perhaps it's something in his brain that makes him want to believe he can change things. that he has hope that he convince erik that not everyone is out like shaw. he wants to sew back each thread of erik's faith in people that's been ripped apart. there's too much to lose with the complete truth. he knows that he can't simply agree with the events that transpired - he knows that the minute it's brought up their relationship - whatever that entails - is over. Charles loses the closest thing he'll ever have to a brother. It's selfish. But what other choice? What other defense does he have?

( he wants to have faith, that erik will be different. that erik will open up and tell him the truth. but he'll wait for erik. this is like chess and charles is avoiding achieving a permanent state of stalemate. ) ]

As far as kidnappers go, their a rather decent bunch. But I've made lodgings in the Sigyn household. It's quite the set up.

[ he's grown up rich, it's certainly different from what he's used to but that's not what they're discussing. ]

That's. That's good. That their back home, although I can't guarantee that's any safer. [ he is worried about them. ]

Sigyn. That seems logical.

[It's the same house he was in last time. The same location. But this time will be different. Raven has agreed to try this, and Erik has been thinking about it for days. Weeks, even, before Charles actually returned. This is his second chance and he will damn well take advantage of it.]

You should hear them plead their case, if you find them such a bunch. It's almost as if they want us to want to remain here. [There's a bit of disdain to his tone in that statement. Erik does not like being stripped of what makes him him, and he most certainly does not like being kept anywhere against his will.]

But if the lodgings aren't to your liking [That's a tease, because he can joke with you. They can be back to what they were before. He can be himself] there is larger housing. It is paid, but it would be our own. If you wanted to, of course.

[He pauses for a moment, before:] I can show you around the city, too, if you'd like. The chances are that you'll be here for some time. It helps to know where everything is.

Does it? So I've heard that the houses are assigned by a certain inclination of a character. What's your house, Erik?

[ it's small talk, small talk that extends so much more. he wants to see where erik would be classified what speaks of him. he knows erik down to the corners of each memory ( and even still, he wasn't prepared - couldn't be prepared for that betrayal on the beach. it doesn't sit well with him ). charles is taking this as much of a second chance as erik is. seizing this opportunity to do something, to change eriks mind. )

but the subtlety of that joke causes an upward curve to charles lip. ]

I find the accommodations quaint. { after a beat. ] Erik, I'd rather like that. But, that's bound to be expensive. Let me work out - some form of a job and we'll discuss this between you and Raven?

[ a beat. ]

It does. Thank you, old friend.

That is the theory, yes. But I don't know for sure if I agree. [Erik pauses, suddenly very aware of what his house will say about him. He wonders what Charles will think, if it will hinder whatever it is they have going right then. He does continue, though, as if the thought never crossed his mind.]

Loki. So you can understand my hesitation.

[Manipulation. That's what it had come down to - days and days spent scouring the network, trying to find a clue as to why. Even conversations with another Loki, no longer a god here, helped lead him to this conclusion. Not a trickster, per say, but a manipulator.

It's what he was doing now.

Erik matches Charles' smirk, quite pleased that he still remembered how to do this. How to be like this with him. But then he shakes his head.]

Charles, Charles. Please. I've been living for free since I arrived, I have quite a bit saved up over the past few months. [and hey if some nice bank-robbery money happens to be part of that, well. Charles doesn't need to know.] But if you'd like to wait until then, that is fine. I'm sure Raven would like to discuss it.

[He nods.]

I'll come to you.

[ Oh. That's interesting and not foreboding at all. But Charles wants to believe, that Asgard is a second chance. An opportunity to change what he can, hope that Erik will see the light of this situation and be the man Charles thinks he is. He can't lose hope.

Not at all. I'd have to look into it, considering you've taken the time to express hesitation. [ maybe it's different for Erik, between the months in Asgard. But for Charles, it was only a few days ago and the memory of Erik's time in the manor is still fresh. It stings, knowing the minute he comes clean - he'll lose all of this. But for now, he'll want to believe. ]

I wouldn't want to impose. Let me find some sort of occupation and we'll work at it. If Raven has no objections, I wouldn't mind discussing this.

Alright, I'm in the Sigyn district. I'll be expecting you.

[Erik watches him, waiting for something to go wrong. Waiting for the snap, the catch in the lie. It's going much too smoothly which means something must be off, but he can't figure out what. Or when it'll all go pear-shaped.

Maybe for now he should just enjoy it.]

There's plenty in the Library if you wish to do research. I've spent quite some time in there.

[Too much time, really, but he's finally branching out.]

If you insist, but like I said. I can pay for at least a few months, with what I have. [It amuses him to a point that Charles is so reluctant to let Erik pay for their housing. After Erik spent so much time living rent-free at the mansion, it wasn't even close to matching his debt.

But he nods, cutting the feed soon after. He arrives in the Sigyn district not long after, not very familiar with the area but not seeming to care very much.

Charles was here. Somewhere.]

[ Erik Lensherr's life is built on a series of decisions he waits to go sour. Charles Xavier treats life making sure they don't. He doesn't know how much of an effect he can or will have no Erik, but he's determined to make sure things don't end up the same way. As far as Charles is concerns the incident on the beach is as much on him as it is on Erik and he's hardly an innocent party.

He had more than enough opportunities to stop Erik. So Charles will put the right foot forward and hope that Erik walks the same direction.

So he saunters down, just outside the Sigyn housing. Wating for Erik to arrive. Charles is standing still adjusting his cardigan when he spots Erik. He claps his hand around his mouth, it's odd - if he still had telepathy he'd just ping him with his head. Some things are still second nature and it makes him feel odd. ]

Erik!

[Erik turns at the sound of his name - it's as strange for him as it is for Charles. Hearing his name out loud rather than in his head, in that voice. Strange and a little off-putting, but Erik disregards that as he gives him a small smile and walks in his direction.

When he approaches his old friend, he feels himself falling into habits. Habits he hasn't had for months, almost an entire year. Their friendship seemed like ages ago, and while the mask has been put up, it's familiar.]

Welcome to Asgard, my friend.

[ charles isn't good with change, he isn't good at adapting for all his talks of adaptability. he'd rather remain a constant and try to convince other people to adapt around him. he can't be part of the change he wants to see and perhaps erik knows this, knows it to the point that to the very core of erik's bones; erik is more progressive in that sense. it's the line drawn in the sand for both of them. ]

Thank you, my friend. [ and charles believes in people too much, believes that erik will be the better man and take off the mask. ]

- I believe I can hold you responsible for a tour?

[And as much as Erik does not want to disappoint Charles, the mask stays on. And will remain on for as long as he wishes their relationship to stay in tact or he learns otherwise, such as why Charles is lying and how much he really knows.

He nods.]

It seems that way. Shall we?

[ charles isn't comfortable with dishonesty, he isn't keen on the idea of going against someone he trusts for a spot of happiness but there aren't many doors that are open to the both of them after cuba. so he has to try. to want. to make amends and most of all forgive.

So he tries and hopes Erik does the same. ]

Lead the way, vicar.

[ he gives an ample laugh. ]

[It's much too easy for him to slip back into life like this. It was for such a short period of time, but after months of thinking back, regarding what could have been and regretting certain decisions, he missed it. Missed it, but has it back, and while he is more than aware of the issues and problems that can arise from it...

Well, if Erik knows anything about Asgard, it's that things change. People come and go and if it doesn't work, it doesn't work, but for now he can have this and for now he can be happy.

Charles' laugh keeps the smile on his face, a slight shake of is head accompanying the expression.]

The city itself is larger than you'd expect, concentrated more in certain areas than others. [as he leads Charles through the streets and such, Erik is sure to point out all that he finds important, or interesting facts he's learned. The conversation is simple enough, joking and laughing and more lighthearted than he's been in some time.

And he's reminded, yet again, of why he made this decision in the first place. For the better, of course.]

[ Charles doesn't quite feel the same weight or gravity of these actions quite as much as Erik does. But Charles - Charles doesn't want to lose what he does have. Perhaps, it's because he's optimistic to a fault but he's seen Cuba - he's still unsure if Erik has, but he's quite determined not to let that go. It's in Cuba that he learns that attachments are fragile things, capable of slipping out of his fingers. So he'll grasp on to any notion of happiness that he can.

he'll tell Erik, he promises to himself. one day - he'll fess up and give both Raven and him the truth about what transpires and how he could do nothing to stop it and how he's just as much at fault as Erik is.

for the better.

( and if they were to repeat the circumstances, even charles figures - no, he knows - that erik would have made the same choice. )

he follows along with erik, dropping in the occasional thoughtful comment. ]

And what are your favourite places in the city? [ he asks. ]

[The worst that could possibly come from this, Erik figures, is that they return to what was. He knows he will, should history repeat itself, make the same decisions. Charles, he's not so sure. Maybe it's those last bits of hope he clings to, maybe it's what he has here, now. But whatever it is, he will cling to it, all but desperate. Families were fickle things, teetering dangerously on the edge of hatred and love, but balanced. Erik has never had a solid family, a beam to take him down that path. It has been him and his goal, Shaw, and then Charles came around, that bloody idiot, got him accustomed to a different way of life. A more difficult way.

But he has a chance, now. A slight one, but a chance, and Erik will be damned if he lets it pass him by. He is better than this desperate attempt to cling onto his past, but he has to try.]

Ah, well. [They walks through the streets easily enough. If one didn't think too much about it, they could be somewhere else. Somewhere in Europe. Somewhere real.] It would depend on the mood of the day. The great library is impressive, to say the least, but each district differs in what it can give you. Almost as much as the gods themselves differ from each other.

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BACKDATED TO YESTERDAY ➔ 1ST MUTATION ➔ VIDEO

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oops feels

right in the feels, man. right in them.

SQUISHES THE MUTANTS TOGETHER

YESSSSSSSS.

FOREVER THE LATEST /finally doing charles tags

/LATER. this is quite the relationship we've got going here.

THE BEST RELATIONSHIP /SQUISHES YOU OMG THIS THREADDDDD /LATER

I KNOW RIGHT I JUST GET SO MANY FEELS EVERY TIME I READ IT >.< /squishes back

G R O S S CRYING.

SOBBING. EVERYWHERE. HOLD ME.

G R O S S CRYING.

annnddddddd ONTO ACTION?

ACTIONNNN

AWWW YEAH

Re: AWWW YEAH

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