[ 4 - video + private to raven ]

[eisenrache]

[The feed comes up to see a very calmly seated Erik Lensherr at a desk. In the library. Surprise surprise. The best part is that Erik doesn't even seem to be interested in the video much at all, reading a book instead until a moment or two after the feed is turned on.]

Charles Xavier has returned home. [He sets the book down, no real emotion showing on his face, except for disappointment perhaps. He had thought this time would be different.] I do not care to know the details of who stays or who goes. I just wonder why the gods are so keen on bringing back certain people only for them to leave. Again.

This can't possibly be the first time this has happened? When someone has arrived in Asgard, leaves, comes back again - with or without their previous memories of Asgard - only to leave again? Do the gods not have a more effective use of their powers? Or is there no way to better control this?

Just some thoughts I've been entertaining recently.


[private - video - raven darkholme]

Are you free this evening?

Comments

video;

[tigers]

[ You may notice that your older facetwin has his arm in a sling. You can thank Thor for the break and his own stubbornness for the fact that it isn't healed. Just a reminder that no matter how bad things get, you will never be as dumb as Moran. ]

It's happened more than once, old chap, and do you know why that is? The gods are bastards. Ponces, blighters, tossers, rats. Call 'em what you will, wrap 'em up in some "loving, wise, all-knowing" package, but all of 'em are the same.

video;

[eisenrache]

[At least Erik has the decency to, you know, not laugh. Or even smile. Especially since this is a momentous occasion right here.

Moran and Erik are agreeing on something.]

I have to agree with you there, Moran. And the more things like this happen, the less I find myself even having the energy to build up the name.

video;

[tigers]

[ That is just amazing. All of that. On both accounts. ]

Good god, man. Did we just agree on something?

video;

[eisenrache]

I-

[pause for effect]

I do believe we did.

private video;

[permutation]

[ When the fed starts, she's sort of grinning at Erik, about to say something about the fact that the video had started on his end yet he just sat there and kept reading. But then he speaks and all traces of the grin are gone. Because Charles is gone ]

What do you mean Charles left? He couldn't have. He just got here...

[ She's silent, then, until she manages to remember that he asked her a question ]

Yeah. Yeah I'm free.

private video;

[eisenrache]

[The grin almost hurts him more, because he can see the way her face changes, recognizes what's going on. He shakes his head.]

He's no longer on the network - which, in my experience, means he's left Asgard completely. To go back home. I'm sorry, Raven, I should have spoken to you about this in person-

[Rude, Erik. Really. But then onto the other matters. He pulls himself back together.]

Would you be interested in dinner? It's not quite...the best time, of course, but I wanted to ask anyway.

private video;

[permutation]

No, it's okay. I just- It's probably better this way right? We don't have to lie to him now.

[ Yet she still looks really disappointed. As weird as it was having Charles here and having to lie to him and knowing what she knows about what happened at home but he's still her brother. She had family here and now the gods sent him home.

She brightens a little though at his question. Not much, but it's something ]

Dinner? Dinner would be great. And it's actually perfect timing.

[video | private]

[ex_outofcontrol435]

Well, this makes my life easier.

[It was nearly painful, trying to keep Xavier at bay while having to play the friend with him, and simultaneously hiding the existence of the entire organization to which he'd defected.]

Were you here when the first one was here? Supposedly he fought the gods about us losing our abilities, so much that was was one of the ones they bumped off. You never mentioned that he used to have some actual fight in him.

[video | private]

[eisenrache]

[Erik doesn't say anything about how much easier Pyro's life has become. Maybe there's still a part of him that is...healing. But when he mentions the first Charles, Erik shakes his head.]

I arrived after that Charles had been around for some time. But you'd be surprised. Charles and I used to see eye to eye on a lot of things. We fought side by side, once. For the same cause.

[video | private]

[ex_outofcontrol435]

[Well, it was a spectacularly thoughtless comment. But he'll learn to expect those.]

Yeah, I know. You worked on Cerebro together, right? Was he using it adopt mutant kids back then, too, or did that not start until the school was built?

[He can't help but be curious about this fierce, determined Xavier, so different from the man who wanted mutants to hide out in his mansion and stay quiet until humans could be brought around.]

video;

[takebow]

No. He's definitely not the only one it happens to. I'm starting to think they can't always hold on to some people.

video;

[eisenrache]

Then why bother bringing them back at all?

video;

[takebow]

Maybe something about them just keeps slipping their grip? But they want them here, apparently... That much seems clear.

[video]

[the_good_doctor]

Hardly the first time, old chap. I'm starting to wonder if there isn't some mystical revolving door of consulting detectives.

[video]

[eisenrache]

I guess my question, then, is why the gods find it necessary to try and bring them back. Even after so many failed attempts.

[video]

[the_good_doctor]

Failed attempts to keep them here? Perhaps they are looking for a particular reaction.

voice;

[digophelia]

I am sorry to hear that, Erik, especially when it's happened more times than it should.

voice;

[eisenrache]

Thank you for your condolences, Miss Liddell. I'm afraid to admit that I've grown a little tired of this revolving door. [Sigh.]

voice;

[digophelia]

Rightfully so, as well. I didn't realize that could become so frequent.

video;

[gymnast]

[ His question doesn't really bode well for Stiles - she'll have to keep an eye on all of that - but that's not why she's responding. ]

Are you sure he's gone?

video;

[eisenrache]

Positive.

[He's been around long enough to know when people go back home.]

video;

[gymnast]

[ She frowns. ] You're a close friend of his, then?

[Video]

[canttakemysky]

I ain't particularly sure why any of these kě​wù​ de gods do much of anything, really.

[He nods his condolences.]

Sorry to hear about your friend, if you don't mind the assumption. I spoke with him once myself, and he seemed like a good man.

[Video]

[eisenrache]

There doesn't seem to be much of a logic to their actions, at times.

[A pause, before:]

The best man I've ever known. [It's the truth. Erik shakes his head.] At this point, I'm simply waiting for his next arrival.

[Video]

[canttakemysky]

[Mal nods, comprehending what Erik's saying. If Charles has been here time and time again, then it's probably only a matter of time before he's back.]

And my condolences to him when he does come back. Does this sort of thing happen to a lot of people?