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Post by DarkSideCookie on Mar 4, 2023 3:13:37 GMT -8
(via phone)
After a couple of seconds with no more words or any noise at all but with tension almost perceptible through the connection, Erik speaks up again, obviously not pleased about how Charles is playing things down with teasing humor.
"You've got to talk her out of what she thinks is her mission, Charles," comes another demand, spoken with seriousness and a bit of harshness even, anger about the situation clearly audible in his voice.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Mar 4, 2023 20:00:14 GMT -8
Charles took careful consideration of his words, the few seconds of silence probably giving away that he either didn't feel it was his place or wasn't in full agreement. He'd meant what he'd said to Maeve. While he didn't like the notion of anybody putting themselves into dangerous situations, sometimes the risk was for the greater good. And of all the people he knew, her gift not only allowed her to even attempt what she was doing, but to do so with less risk than anyone else.
This was the type of serious conversation that should be a face-to-face discussion, but Charles didn't think Erik could patiently wait until he was in residence to discuss it. At least Erik couldn't throttle him over the phone. His anger was palpable and Charles knew he wouldn't be pleased over the fact he wasn't taking Erik's side on this, so he tactfully tried to avoid any show of sides.
"This is Maeve we're speaking of..." he reminded flatly. The woman's stubborn resolve rivaled Erik's. "I'm fairly certain the only way I could change her mind is if I changed it for her," he said dryly. Erik was irrationally angry enough that there was a possibility he'd ask Charles to do that, so he quickly resolutely interjected, "which I would never do."
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Apr 1, 2023 12:15:32 GMT -8
(Erik via telephone)
"And which I would never have asked for," said Erik way too quickly to not obviously be a mere act of defending himself.
"Anyways," he went on just as seriously, "Don't you have like- arguments and nice ways to bring them up?" The way his question sounded implied that this was no question at all but, instead, a way to tell Charles that he was expecting or rather commanding him to do just that.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Apr 9, 2023 13:38:13 GMT -8
Yes, he did have arguments, ones which usually got people around to his way of thinking due to his keen logic. Whether he was in agreement with Maeve returning to work did not matter. She was adamant and her mind would not be changed. So Charles imparted some of that keen logic of his now in a way that diverted attention to the issues stemming from what Erik wanted.
"Have you considered the consequences, should Maeve not show up tomorrow?" he inquired rhetorically. The heart had a way of fogging logic, which could make it difficult to see the bigger picture. "The new man in charge has already had his suspicions regarding various escapes at their other facilities--You're not the first mutant she's liberated," he interjected, realizing there was a good chance that Erik did not know all the facts that Maeve had imparted upon the rescue team, or the ones he'd learned of when connected to Maeve's mind during said rescue. "How long would it take them to link her to those as well?" An easy conclusion to come to. "Or to figure out the truth of what she is, in order to have been able to pull off those feats?"
A quick review of occurrences and they could easily piece together a general idea of what she was capable of. "A mutant, who has infiltrated them, knows their secrets, the locations of their bases, can bypass their mutant detectors, surprise attack whenever and wherever..." Charles broke off, rubbing his temples with his free hand as the gravity of her situation grew with each spoken realization. He lowered his hand and stared blindly out the window, speaking with serious weight. "They'll hunt her down, Erik."
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Post by DarkSideCookie on May 7, 2023 3:24:53 GMT -8
(Erik via phone)
"You think I don't know that?!" Erik suddenly burst out with audible anger before a long pause followed, obviously to calm himself.
After some more seconds, one heavy sigh was clear to hear before Erik went on a lot more composed yet still emotional. "Charles, this woman is important to me, really important. I- Do you think you'll be able to protect her? To prepare her for what's going to come?"
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on May 29, 2023 13:21:59 GMT -8
Charles held the phone away, glancing at it with eyebrows raised before setting it back to his ear. Judging by Erik's outburst, what was between Erik and Maeve was far more real and far more serious than Charles had realized. He may have addressed Maeve's situation more delicately if he'd had known, but perhaps this way was better as delicate and tactful usually did nothing to sway Erik when he was worked up to an irrational point.
Charles remained silent to allow Erik to collect himself.
"Charles, this woman is important to me, really important. I- Do you think you'll be able to protect her? To prepare her for what's going to come?"
Yes, far more real than he'd realized. Charles dropped his face into his hand, rubbing his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. It was a big ask, one that he'd gladly do his best to achieve but one that was impossible to promise. "I'll do the best I can." He dropped his hand, regretting having to reveal something that might rile Erik up again, but it was important. He started with the positive in hopes of lightening the negative. "I believe I may be able to convince her to start training to learn to use her abilities to their fullest... but she is extremely adamant about continuing her mission on her own."
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Jun 24, 2023 0:44:02 GMT -8
(Erik via phone)
A breath of relief could be heard before a small but honest "Thank you" followed it.
At Charles' last words, Erik remained silent on his part then, for some seconds at least. Then he sighed. "Yes. I know." Despite the acceptance in his reply, the tone made it obvious that he wasn't exactly pleased.
"Is she still with you?" Erik added a question suddenly.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jun 25, 2023 15:25:27 GMT -8
The man hadn't been exaggerating when stressing how important Maeve was to him. Charles used his mind to scan, finding the fingerprint of her brainwaves after a few silent moments. He turned his head in her general direction, accession the location. "She's here. In the kitchen, I believe."
But he knew Erik's question went deeper than 'right now'. "I'd provided her with a couple of compelling arguments to convince her to stay, but she's made it quite clear that she will leave if she feels her mission is being hindered in any way--as you'd heard with her parting words," he reminded. He didn't need to stress how serious her expression had been when she'd stated that and Charles figured Erik new her well enough to imagine her expression by the sound of her tone.
He also knew Erik well. Passionate and stubborn when he has his mind set on something, he had the tendency to act rash and speak his mind without holding back, which could easily undo whatever sense Charles had managed to carefully talk into Maeve, who was equally as passionate and stubborn when her mind was set. "It's difficult to talk sense into a person who has their mind set," he left out the stubborn part of it, "even harder when that person can simply disappear before you can finish laying out your argument," he reminded in hopes of providing logical incentive for Erik to try to keep a hold of his temper, even when Maeve's decisions prodded at it. "We must tread lightly; choose our words carefully."
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Jul 22, 2023 1:16:21 GMT -8
(Erik via phone)
Erik exhaled a breath rather quietly, yet, except for that, remained silent for the whole time of Charles going on with words. Only after the other had finished, he spoke up again, asking another, completely different question, as suddenly as before. "Can you send the jet over?"
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jul 23, 2023 10:19:50 GMT -8
Charles took Erik's change of topic as silent agreement and understanding. No doubt he was preaching to the choir. It was more a reminder as when Erik was angry and frustrated, he was many times too blinded by it, tending to plow through like a bulldozer with how he thought things should be without considering the tactics the other might take. With his impulsive behavior and her impulsive ability (and tendency) to remove herself from a situation, this could end up being the most frustrating venture ever tackled, for all involved.
Charles glanced at the clock, seeing they'd already been speaking for a half hour.
"Already halfway to you by now, old friend. Perhaps you can pass the time by gathering some things Maeve may need?" he suggested. "I know she can pop on over in a snap, but the less she has to, the more at home she'll start to feel here."
And it was better if Maeve avoided places her name had a connection to in case Trask ever became suspicious of her, which he'd already stressed to Maeve, but he kept from repeating it now, not wanting to rile up the finally calmed down Erik.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Aug 6, 2023 1:37:06 GMT -8
(Erik via phone)
"I see what I can find," Erik replied with a much easier tone himself then, in it a silent message like 'I'd rather not want to search through a woman's things without permission though but will do'. They probably knew each other well enough to hear those unspoken lines, or read them accidentally in the other's mind, as for Charles.
"And thank you... again," Erik added more silently after a few seconds.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Aug 13, 2023 13:05:04 GMT -8
Charles relaxed, feeling a lot of the tension over their past easing as they both started to fall back into how things used to be between them, with their notions of how to handle a particular, common concern in alignment. So far, at least.
"Of course. Our kind are always welcome to seek shelter here," he reassured in an open invitation that he hoped would dispel any discomfort Erik might have been harboring at the thought of walking within these halls once again. "We'll see you soon, Erik."
On that conclusive note, Charles leaned forward to return the phone to its cradle, then melted back into his chair and closed his eyes to make the most of this calm before the storm.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Sept 7, 2023 0:50:41 GMT -8
(Erik via phone)
"Take care," Erik had replied rather softly before Charles hung up first.
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