driftfleet | though it hurts to breathe

Who: Raven, Hank, Charles and Erik
Broadcast: No
Action: On the Heron
When: Now onwards!

[ It had taken her a little while to calm down with Hank at her side, long enough that she's practically itching to make her way over to the Heron as soon as she can, device in her hand - the temptation to text ahead, to make sure they're really there, that they're okay, is almost a little too daunting and there's not much Raven can do other than force herself to stop. She's stronger than this, true, but coming out of the other side of something as horrendous as Apocalypse and standing tall, waking up on the Fleet, trying to figure out if she can handle it all again - it's too much.

The only thoughts in her mind are that she needs to find Charles, she needs to find Erik, and she needs to make sure they're alive, that they're safe, that they're here. This is going to be impossibly difficult for all four of them, Hank at her side, but they could work through it. They beat an all powerful mutant 'God', they came together as a family and they worked, hard, to make sure they all came out alive the other side.

What was the Fleet after all that?

It doesn't take her long to break away from Hank into a practical run as she reaches the Heron, a flash as she makes her way down the hall to find the other two mutants. Erik is important in her mind, of course, but her first instinct is to call out for Charles, standing outside the door and pressing her fingers against it, afraid for a moment that he won't answer, that he won't be there. The fear grips her, and her hands shake, but she does it anyway, knocking and calling for her brother.

After that, later... Well, she has to take time to calm down. Once she's sure Charles is safe, that Erik is safe, she can actually move to relax herself, the weight on her shoulders fading away. It takes time, but it happens, slowly... But she doesn't leave. She doesn't feel like she can leave either of them, and she wonders how they're going to handle that. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh. [ She blinks, before she bursts out laughing. ] That actually makes more sense.

It's believable. No one would truly question it.

[ Which suits him fine. ]

If they push you can just admit that you're an old man, too.

I have plenty of comebacks in my repertoire.

I suppose you had to learn, being around moody teenagers all the time.

[ His smile is rueful. ]

You've met them. They're not so bad.

Some of them are fine.

[ Not the ones that stared at her when the Mansion had exploded, but...

There's also an elephant in the room when it comes to talking about the children, or the X-Men as they're known now, and Raven is happy to avoid it. ]

They're... Okay.

Yes. They turned out quite well.

[ The hope of the future. It's a different dream, one he's held close. The X-Men weren't quite part of it, but he saw the necessity. ]

[ It's almost funny to Raven - what she knows about Kurt and, then, what she knows about Peter; two giant awkward conversational blocks she is doing her very best to ignore. ]

They saved your life. I can't fault them for that.

They're only teenagers. Other than their music, there's little to really fault them for.

Of course you hate their music. I'm shocked.

Raven, have you heard some of the things they listen to?

Charles, I've had to listen to German trance music. Nothing is as bad as that.

[ Eh. ]

I'll take your word for it.

It's hell, Charles, don't ever think about listening to it.

[ She's settled now, comfortable and back where she belongs in his arms, and it makes her smile. ]

Would you prefer they listen to Mozart?

Mozart is a classic.

[ But Charles has taught enough children to know a losing battle when he sees one. ]

But no, I prefer they enjoy what they can.

[ She snorts, shaking her head and turning to kiss his cheek. ]

Spoken like a proper professor.

Yes, well. I've had a couple of years to practice.

You're going to have to help me catch up, then.

Of course I'll help. But I believe you can do it quite well.

Charles... I don't want to alarm you, but I'm not actually a qualified teacher.

I doubt we'll find proper qualifications for someone to teach the X-Men.

You have the experience. That makes you qualified.

[ Funnily enough, that's what Erik said to her ten years ago. ]

I appreciate your faith in me.

It's well-founded.

Thank you.

[ Leaning up, she wraps herself around him, a scene that would probably make their students feel a touch awkward. ]

When we're done here I'll go get some clothes. Do you need anything while I'm out?

(no subject)

axiomed - 2016-09-04 02:32 (UTC) - Expand

athru - 2016-09-04 02:33 (UTC) - Expand

axiomed - 2016-09-04 02:44 (UTC) - Expand

athru - 2016-09-04 07:32 (UTC) - Expand

axiomed - 2016-09-04 07:36 (UTC) - Expand

athru - 2016-09-04 07:39 (UTC) - Expand

axiomed - 2016-09-04 07:42 (UTC) - Expand

athru - 2016-09-04 07:43 (UTC) - Expand

axiomed - 2016-09-04 07:49 (UTC) - Expand

athru - 2016-09-04 07:50 (UTC) - Expand

axiomed - 2016-09-04 07:56 (UTC) - Expand

athru - 2016-09-04 07:59 (UTC) - Expand

axiomed - 2016-09-04 08:04 (UTC) - Expand

athru - 2016-09-04 08:07 (UTC) - Expand

axiomed - 2016-09-04 08:15 (UTC) - Expand

athru - 2016-09-04 08:16 (UTC) - Expand

axiomed - 2016-09-04 08:23 (UTC) - Expand

athru - 2016-09-04 08:29 (UTC) - Expand

axiomed - 2016-09-04 08:33 (UTC) - Expand