Winter & Vision's (not so) Excellent Adventure

[reconstitution]

Who: Winter, Vision, & You
Broadcast: n/a
Action: Forest, planetside
When: July 9th

[ This thread is going to serve both as a canon update to post Captain America: Civil War for Winter and Vision, but also be used as a monthly catch-all with prompts. ]

[ It's been a few weeks since they've landed, so Winter's finally gotten over most of his initial uneasiness. Enough to finally venture into the forest for a hike and get the lay of the land. He's familiar with the beach and the markets, and he's heard things about the forest and a certain tree, so he needs to see for himself if the rumors are true.

It's relatively peaceful, and he hasn't come across anyone else yet. He's making his way around a fallen tree when an animal jumps out of a nearby bush and startles him. Winter stumbles back, and his immediate reaction is to reach out with his left hand to steady himself. Unfortunately it's still broken, so it doesn't cooperate like it's meant to. Which means that he trips and falls. Down a steep hill. Only having one functioning arm means he raises his right to shield his head until he can manage to slow down or run into something. Which is exactly what he does before his head smacks solidly against a hard surface. ]

[Meanwhile, the Vision is similarly engaged in heading toward the tree to investigate it. He’s heard you need someone’s hand to hold in order for the magic to work, but his curiosity has the better of him and he’d like to observe it in action first. A scuffle down below his flight path catches his attention, and he swoops into the forest to see what’s going on just in time to see Winter, of all people, taking a tumble down a steep hillside. He rushes over to try and intercept the man before he seriously hurts himself, and in his rush he miscalculates his own density and slams down hard enough that Winter smacks his head against the Vision instead of catching himself safely.

Oops.

The impact is enough to snap the Vision’s head back and hit it against the tree he’d been trying to prevent Winter from hitting. So now there are two enhanced individuals knocked out on the forest floor. How very impressive.]

Comments

[reconstitution]

For the most part, yes. I've been trying to enjoy the beach, too.

[ But at the moment, clearly he is selling fruit. The extra acorns he gets from it are going to Steve. Apparently he got himself in debt- he didn't think that was possible. ]

[grandstanding]

[Erik nods absently, perusing the wares.] Charles and I went down there not long ago. I've tried fishing from the piers as well.

[reconstitution]

How was the fishing?

[ It's really good to hear that Charles was able to enjoy it, too. ]

[grandstanding]

[Erik snorts.] Dull. I had more luck with conversation than actual fish. Still, I could buy some from the markets if I came up empty-handed.

[reconstitution]

I haven't heard of many people having luck with it.

[grandstanding]

I suppose it was more... something different to do. [For "fun", whatever that means. An attempt was made.]

Mostly I've been working at the inn we're staying at.

[reconstitution]

It's good that you've both found things to do. [ A pause. ]

Charles seems very happy to be here.

[grandstanding]

He is. I think he's needed something like this for a long time.

[While Erik has done his part for well over a year, there's only so much he can do as one man. For Charles to experience a world where everyone is like him and accepts him wholeheartedly... that's invaluable.]

[reconstitution]

He deserves it. It's a shame we won't be here much longer.

[ Charles' enthusiasm about the planet is nice, and it's been good to hear him talk about it. If he could find a way to move part of the planet onto the Heron, he would. ]

[grandstanding]

We'll make do with the time we've had.

[reconstitution]

Maybe the next planet will be just as nice.

[grandstanding]

Maybe. [He doesn't hold much to hope, especially on intergalactic prison voyages.] But I've given him some mementos from this place, so that will have to serve, if the next world is less pleasant.

[There's a pause, before he makes an idle comment.] You two have gotten close.

[reconstitution]

[ It really is just wishful thinking that the Atroma would send them somewhere decent two months in a row. ] I'm sure he's enjoyed your time together more than the mementos.

[ A small part of his mind supplies that this is the start of an unpleasant conversation. That part can go fuck itself. Bucky nods firmly. He's more grateful for Charles than he can put into words. ]

He's the only one that's ever done anything good inside my head.

[grandstanding]

Oh, yes... most likely. [He's not shy about that. The planet is good for Charles in ways no single person can match. When it comes to one-on-one, though, it's a different story.

After a moment of contemplation, Erik picks up a piece of fruit, examining it.] It's a rare thing. Others with powers like him aren't so considerate about it.

[reconstitution]

He's a good man. I trust him.

[ Trust doesn't come easily for him, and his friendship with Charles definitely came as a surprise. ]

No, they're not. Some people don't need power to be inconsiderate about it, either.

[grandstanding]

When I met him, it was five minutes after another telepath had flooded my head with my worst memories. The contrast was... stark.

[reconstitution]

But he helped you. In ways no one else had before, right?

[ Charles is amazing, but he doesn't need to tell Erik that. ]

[grandstanding]

Yes, though he could certainly be aggravating about it back then. [He won't go into Charles's less endearing traits, arrogance and naivety both, because those have subsided as years went by. Erik's clashes with him will always give a more tempered view of Charles Xavier... and ultimately he loves him despite their differences.]

He was the first person I'd met who was like me. There are no words for that.

[reconstitution]

[ People change over time, together and individually. It would be foolish to think that either Charles or Erik have remained the same. ]

I understand. Sometimes you don't need words for it.

[grandstanding]

[Not when they can't encompass how it feels. Erik nods, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. Best to say something about it, now that wounded animosity isn't surging through him.]

Charles told me a little. About what happened to you.

[reconstitution]

[ It shouldn't come as a surprise, really. That Charles told Erik what he saw makes sense, all things considered. It's not really a breach in trust, but it does make him feel a certain way. It's not something he really wants to talk about. Winter keeps his expression neutral, regardless. ]

Did he?

[grandstanding]

Only in brief. [His own feelings about his past run towards protective, and he's not very forthcoming with others. Details of his life at home had started to leak out into the press - not enough to paint a full picture, but enough that he would need to change his identity entirely to hide. Add to that the number of people from other realities, who knew those other Eriks that might lead different lives but came from the same background...

It's what makes him honest here, when there's no call to be. Were their places reversed, he'd want the same.]

I think he wanted to ensure I didn't get the wrong idea about what happened on the Iskaulit. [In that first hour of dull fury, he'd had every intention of hunting Winter down later and exacting payback.]

[reconstitution]

[ Briefly is enough for him. He trusts that Charles wouldn't say anything that wasn't necessarily needed for Erik to know. Maybe at some point, he'll talk about it to someone. Whether that be Charles or someone else. Today is not that day, however. ]

It's hard to explain to most people. What's in my head. [ Though it's apparent now, that it's even more dangerous not to disclose that to anyone. But how does one even go about starting that little history of being brainwashed and tortured for seventy years? ]

[grandstanding]

[He nods his agreement, whilst starting to select pieces of fruit and set them aside. His tone remains conversational.]

The ordinary person would have no frame of reference for it. And some things are better left unsaid. [Like much of Erik's own mind and memories. While Charles had read Erik's mind without asking at first and raised his ire, what happened after had altered his life forever. His concept of himself; his ability to use his own powers. The understanding that he wasn't a monster. His hand pauses, before placing another fruit on the table.] Charles is unique in what he can do, and how he chooses to do it.