(no subject)

[beathach]

Who: two nerds and you
Broadcast: fleetwide
Action: Marsiva
When: now!

[ The audio comes on sharply, but everything is still dark as two people discuss their situation.]

Is that the camera? Can you get it to work?

I - think so? Here, push this --

I am pushing it, Hank. I thought you knew about these from that show you keep watching. Space Trek?

It's Star Trek and that isn't exactly - you know, the same thing as this.

Right. . . . Wait, I think I see something on the side.

[ And the video flickers on, the red light glowing softly. It focuses on two men. One in a wheelchair and the other right next to him, peering curiously at the camera before they step back satisfied. ]

Well, that’s over and done with. Hello to anyone who might be out there. My name is Charles Xavier and this is Hank McCoy. Apparently we’ve been kidnapped again, by an unknown force again for some mysterious reason.

[muttered:] Again. [and louder] So if anyone would be kind enough to explain exactly what's going on, we'd appreciate it. You have our thanks in advance.

But do keep it pertinent.

Comments

[neversets]

I was a full time superhero. And single father.

[ He shrugs. ]

I can learn.

[beathach]

I imagine cooking is a lot easier than being a superhero. Or a father.

[neversets]

Well, I was custom made for superheroing, so that comes pretty easily to me. Cooking less so.

Being a father is, without a doubt, the hardest thing and easiest thing I have ever done at once.

[beathach]

. . . really?

[he's honestly curious; the closest he's gotten to fatherhood is briefly having students and even then he knows that isn't anything close to being the same]

[neversets]

Really on which? Because both are very true.

[beathach]

Oh, the - father part. Huh.

[neversets]

Being a father is terrifying, and difficult and... so incredibly easy. You love them. You love them more than you thought you could love anyone or anything and so long as you do that... you're not doing too bad.

[beathach]

Heh. [he can't help but smile]

That's a nice way to put it.

[neversets]

It's how it feels to me. I didn't want to be a father. I didn't think I could do it.

[beathach]

Ah . . . I can't say I've ever given it much thought.

[neversets]

Neither had I! Just suddenly, we have this tiny newborn who is the spirit of a new age and she's orphaned and we have to protect her and see she gets raised and Midnighter announces that we're keeping her and raising her and suddenly I'm faced with being a dad.

Hell, I don't think gay couples were even allowed to adopt officially in most countries at that stage.

[beathach]

[he. He's staring, but it's because he suddenly went off rambling and Hank is trying to keep up]

That's - not what I was expecting, but it - it seems as though it turned out alright?

[neversets]

[ Apollo talks. He's happy chatting away and filling up the quiet. ]
We made do. I fell in love with that tiny, messy, revolting little bundle of humanity just as much as he did.

[beathach]

[Hank isn't used to being on the other side of rambling, but he'll get used to it]

I'm glad. [he can't help but laugh a little at his descriptor, though]

[neversets]

Oh, come on, I might love her, but babies are basically this bundle of gross, mess and consumption. They get better once you toilet train them, but you haven't seen mess until you've had a floating baby with gastro.

[beathach]

They can't be that bad . . . can they?

[asks this guy, who hasn't been near a baby in probably years and years]

[neversets]

Oh, you're adorable.

[beathach]

I'm not sure if I should take that as a compliment or be insulted.

[neversets]

Maybe both. You are adorable, and wonderfully naive about babies. I wish I could be so innocent about them again.

[beathach]

It isn't - it isn't innocence, it's - not being exposed to them very often. [Hank don't say "exposed" like babies are a disease]

[neversets]

[ Apollo laughs. His whole self comes alive with it. ]

They're not contagious, you know. You don't spend much time with infants, I get that.

[beathach]

[at least someone's entertained. Then again Hank is used to this.

He just sighs]

[neversets]

Aw, cheer up, Hank. Come on, let's exercise this cooking augment of mine and I'll knock up something to eat.

[beathach]

I'm plenty cheerful. [he reaches up to fix his glasses, but he pauses to look at Apollo over the top of them] You aren't the first to tease me.

[the cheerful part's a lie, but he's also being very good about keeping everything in check]

I won't say no to food, though.

[neversets]

But I'll never mean anything cruel by it.

[ It was a promise. He wasn't a cruel man and he wouldn't tease if it actually upset or hurt Hank. That wasn't his aim. ]

If you want me to stop, just say so. I know how to respect that word.