XMFC/Interview season

[guideshapelead]

Charles can barely keep still as he sits in the passenger seat of Erik's car, watching the world fly by outside. It's a long drive to Boston and the man they know lives there, a mutant not unlike the Professor himself. Telepathic, though not nearly as powerful, but also gifted with telekinetic skills. More importantly, he has a degree in Chemistry and currently works as a chemist. He's just what they need for their school staff.

"Do you think he'll want to join us?" He asks Erik, uncharacteristically nervous about the meeting. It's one thing, recruiting children - they're scared, most of the time, and are over the moon at the news that there are others of their kind. This man? He's grown up that way. He's too old, now, for the promise of something better to sweep him straight of his feet. There'll be resistance, Charles imagines, and he'd feel wrong forcing him in any way.

Comments

[guideshapelead]

"Erik!" Charles exclaims as they make the last minute turning, cutting up the car to their side.

"Let's try and get there in one piece?"

[diecastking]

"Close your eyes," Erik says, trying to ignore the vibes of muted fear from his lover. "What you can't see won't hurt you."

[guideshapelead]

//Then I'll just see it through your eyes// Charles points out.

//And anyway, who'd be map-reader//

[diecastking]

"It's fine - I'll just prop it up on the windowscreen," Erik says nonchalantly, pulling up outside a well-appointed house with a fish pond and a porch swing.

[guideshapelead]

"Oh good, we're here," Charles sounds more chirpy than necessary as the car comes to a halt. He may just try and sleep for the journey home.

[diecastking]

Erik gets out and fetches the wheelchair the old-fashioned way, lifting it out of the boot and placing it by Charles' door.

They're already attracting some looks from nosey neighbours, but Erik's glare is enough to stop curtains twitching.

[guideshapelead]

Getting himself into his chair, Charles frowns at the sight of the steps leading up to the front door.

"I shall require some assistance, I'm afraid."

[diecastking]

But the front door is already opening and a young man in his late twenties bounds down the stairs, all floppy brown hair and bright blue eyes.

"Come round the back - there's a ramp."

[guideshapelead]

Impressed, Charles follows the man around to the back of his house.

"It was kind of you to see us today," he says as they go.

[diecastking]

Erik follows the two of them, wondering at the energy of the man as he talks animatedly. "It was no trouble at all. When you sent me the letter about the school, I had to meet you. I've always been passionate about teaching."

"So has Charles," Erik says warmly.

[guideshapelead]

"Yes, we spoke on the phone," James doesn't let up for breath, guiding them into his living room and offering Erik a seat before taking one himself.

"I taught at Cambridge, when I was doing my doctorate. I wish I'd stayed and done more, but... life gets in the way, does it not?"

[diecastking]

Erik smiles, caught up in the young man's enthusiasm. "We've taken our lives into our own hands. And we're looking for teachers who might wish to join us."

[guideshapelead]

"I... well, of course, I just... if you don't mind me asking..." James stumbles over his words, face so eager.

"What... what can you do? I mean, I always thought... that it was just me."

[diecastking]

Erik glances across at Charles. Somehow he doesn't think the trick they performed for Angel will be entirely appropriate here.

He lifts James' ornate letter-opener from the desk and spins it idly between his fingers.

[guideshapelead]

//I suppose you could say you're a combination of myself and Erik// Charles adds with a smile, watching the way Erik twirls the letter-opener as he speaks directly into James' mind.

[diecastking]

The look of wonder on James' face reminds Erik strongly of the first time he met Charles, the warm feeling in his chest at not being alone.

Suddenly, James turns to him and Erik realises that James knows exactly what he's feeling.

[guideshapelead]

//Though Erik's abilities are confined to metal// Charles continues, sensing Erik's discomfort and trying to keep James' attention on him.

"I believe you can move any object you wish?"

[diecastking]

But James continues to watch Erik as he replies.

"Of course," he says, pouring tea from a white china teapot into two delicate teacups. "Do you take sugar?"

[guideshapelead]

"Two for me, none for Erik," Charles answers, well aware of what's going on silently between James and his partner.

//It's only me, don't panic// he warns Erik before building him a mental wall. James doesn't need to be reading his emotions, thank you very much.

[diecastking]

Erik watches a small frown appear on James' face before it slides away. He feels strange, cut off from Charles as well as James.

"What do you do in your spare time?" he says, making conversation and seeing how else he might fit into the training programme.

[guideshapelead]

"Oh, I'm an academic," James laughs, his disquiet short-lived. He accepts that his powers aren't the strongest, never having had any training of any description.

"I don't do much, outside of my reading and my work. Though I do keep active. I go for a run most mornings..." he trails off, not sure if that's the information these men want or not.

[diecastking]

Erik leans forward, quietly interested. "Two miles? Three?"

[guideshapelead]

"Three miles most days," James answers as he hands out the tea telekinetically.

"I sit around all day at work. I need to stretch my legs to stop me going mad."

[diecastking]

"I look forward to running with you," Erik says with a smile, obliviously locked inside his own head and unable to sense Charles' thoughts.

Though, when he glances at him, he doesn't look entirely happy.

[guideshapelead]

"Well, as you're aware," Charles is quick to steer the conversation back in a direction he's happy with, purposefully avoiding looking in Erik's direction, "We've put together a school for children with abilities. Mutants, like all three of us sat here. Most subjects we have covered, between the current residents of the house, but a few subjects we'll need extra help with. Chemistry would be one of those.

"Is that something you might still be interested in?"