003; video

[beathach]

Who: Charles and Hank + You Losers
Broadcast: Video
Action: SS Blameless
When: Right Now

[two old nerds appear on screen, unboxing a large colouring create with "Congratulations On Your One Year Anniversary!" written on the side in big, bold letters. Inside appears to be plushies of DNA, antibodies, and other related paraphernalia.

Of course, while doing this they're sharing the popular "rumors" about them out loud, for their own amusement. Or bemusement, either or]

Let’s see . . . 'Aliens stole Charles' hair.' I can’t say that’s wrong.

In a manner of speaking, sure.

What else . . . 'Hank is a beast in bed'. Hank, you sly devil.

—No comment.

Hmm. 'Hank and Charles are the perfect couple'. I think our students got a hold of this one.

Huh. I just read one lamenting our divorce.

Hold on, what’s this?

[ Charles pulls out a business card ]

Well now . . . I guess I’ll be keeping this.

[Hank's response is to burst into laughter. What a helper]

Comments

[axiomed]

I appreciate that.

[outstandingbalance]

[That gets a short, noncommittal hum.]

Changing the subject—you seem to have come out all right with the rumors.

[axiomed]

Oh, most of these seems tried and dull. I've heard plenty of rumors without reading them off pieces of paper.

[outstandingbalance]

Have you? Somehow you seem above all that.

[axiomed]

I work in a school. Nothing is above teenagers.

[ And he's heard some particularly special ones. ]

[outstandingbalance]

So I hear. [Which is about as close as Natasha will come to saying she couldn't say from first hand knowledge. Her teenage years weren't what one would call standard issue.]

But now you have me curious.

[axiomed]

I'm sure, but that'd be mean to my students. But I've heard some unusual ones. A lot of them would wonder why I was in the chair or why we live in a mansion. The theories they came up with were always creative.

[outstandingbalance]

I don't doubt that either. Put it that way, you're quite the mystery to them.

[axiomed]

I am the only person running a school for mutants. Not to mention unfairly wealthy and powerful. All the makings of a good mystery.

[outstandingbalance]

I'm sure the stories they came up with were full of sex and intrigue, a fair amount of unbelievable drama? Am I close at least?

[axiomed]

It was like you were right there.

[ He shrugs. ]

As mutants, we do over-exaggerate our drama.

[outstandingbalance]

Is that so? Sounds like an awful stereotype.

[axiomed]

Still. That doesn't mean there isn't a little truth to it.

[outstandingbalance]

Is there? You'd know better than I would. Personally, always seemed like most people were prone to drama. Even the ones you wouldn't expect.

[axiomed]

[ Charles chuckles. He's had a lot of drama on his plate for the last few months and it has slowed down. There were problems he hasn't found solutions to, but Charles knows they're not important. ]

I think that often depends more on the circumstances than the person themselves. Sometimes, you can't help being swept along.

[outstandingbalance]

Maybe. Circumstances can be complicated. Sometimes they can carry people away. Sometimes, we create them.

[axiomed]

They can certainly appear when you least expect them, which seems to be their defining factor.

[outstandingbalance]

That's one way to put it.

[axiomed]

I'm sure we can find plenty others.

[outstandingbalance]

I might also say that even when you see them coming, sometimes you can't help but get carried away by them.

[axiomed]

Speaking from experience?

[ Charles is well aware of what took place between the heroes in Bucky's universe. He has two sets of memories, from Wanda and Bucky, to give him a clear view. ]

[outstandingbalance]

At this point, aren't we all?

[That is one of the things that comes to mind, it's true. And the freshest. Certainly not the only example though.]

[axiomed]

I'd hesitate to paint everything in one broad stroke. I used to do that and I find it never helps.

[outstandingbalance]

Maybe, but seems pretty safe to say most people have had a situation get away from them one time or another.

Especially people here.

[axiomed]

So what are you trying to get away from?