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

[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?"

[diecastking]

James grins. "Sure. I'd love to work with you both, with all those young minds."

He smiles directly at Erik. "Hopefully, you can stretch my abilities in return."

[guideshapelead]

"We... all train, at the house," Charles struggles to keep his composure, reminding himself that they need James on their team even as he watches him flirting with his partner.

"Staff and student alike. Even Erik and I, we still train our abilities."

[diecastking]

James finally looks over to Charles. "I'll look forward to it. When should I move in?"

Erik smiles, pleased that they've found someone so willing to help. "Term starts in September," he says. "You should take a couple of weeks to settle in."

[guideshapelead]

"And if you want to visit in the meantime, we'll leave the address," Charles offers, keeping professional.

"It's a good staff team. Friendly."

[diecastking]

James eyes drift back to Erik.

"Well, if they're half as friendly as you, I'm sure I'll feel quite at home."

Erik feels like he's missing something, that Charles is being too polite and James is perhaps too friendly. But he keeps up his professional façade, courting the new teacher to encourage him to their side.

[guideshapelead]

"They're young, but they're good people," Charles nods. "But we've already taken up too much of your time. You should visit and see for yourself."

He doesn't want to be there, any more. He wants to take Erik by the hand and pull him away.

[diecastking]

Erik stands, holding out his hand. James shakes it warmly, with an infectious grin - it reminds him very much of Charles' smile.

"It was a pleasure to meet you," James says.

[guideshapelead]

Giving James the address of the mansion, Charles too shakes his hand before turning to leave. If he places the impression in the other man's mind that Erik is very much off-limits to him, then he's not going to mention it.

[diecastking]

Erik smiles at Charles as they go to the car.

"I think that went well," he said.