Family dinner

[balancingminds]

Charles spent the afternoon talking with Bar to try and figure out the best and selection of food for this meeting.

The end result was a table in his room, a menu recreated from something the family cook used to make of a lamb roast, vegetables, good wine and Raven's favorite dessert.

He knows he's worrying too much but he wants this all to work, the future all depends on people getting along.

Comments

[chrysopteron]

Meanwhile, Iris is not actually nervous much at all. Raven will not be able to force her out of Charles' life. Raven also can't physically harm her, so there is really not much to stress out about.

Except for how worried Charles is getting.

"She is your sister. Breathe, please."

[andproud]

She doesn't know what to expect when she gets the note at the Bar requesting her presence in Charles' room, but she's here now, and knocking on the door rather than just barging in.

(Charles values his privacy as much as she does hers.)

[balancingminds]

He opens the door so she can see dinner and Iris,

"I thought it might be nice to take advantage of Bar's cooking to have a nice dinner in."

[chrysopteron]

"Hello, Raven. It has been quite some time."

Iris, in an attempt to be as non-distracting as possible, has her wings completely hidden, and is even wearing modern clothes. (She's learning.)

[andproud]

"Has it?" Raven asks, in feigned surprise.

She shoots a look in Charles' direction and then steps into the room, arms folding over her chest.

[balancingminds]

At her look, he pleads with her with his eyes, this isn't a good start,

"Iris has been away at the Trojan War for ten years. Would you like some wine?"

[chrysopteron]

Plying your sister?

It's meant to be jovial as possible, and Iris pours glasses for all three of them.

[andproud]

She pauses, then shrugs, eventually taking a glass of wine from the ones served.

And then she crosses to a chair, unceremoniously plopping down into it.

[balancingminds]

Something like that.

He runs over a few things to say and discards them all before taking a glass himself as he sits down,

"I tried to pick something you'd like."

[chrysopteron]

What with Iris not really needing food and all.

"If I might make a recommendation, I'd start with the wine, then move to our ulterior motives, kyrios. The message is always important to be delivered in a straightforward manner."

[andproud]

Raven's narrowed gaze quickly switches from Iris to Charles.

"Okay, what is it you have to tell me?"

[balancingminds]

That wasn't how he'd meant to begin but it will have to do.

He takes a long drink of wine before answering, "Iris is going to be visiting our world for a time."

[chrysopteron]

"I would like to help in the cause you have all taken on.

"And, to be completely forthright, my world is not an option at present."

[andproud]

"No offense, but - don't you think people are going to notice a goddess walking around?"

[balancingminds]

"If we introduce her to them as a mutant then they won't. Most people have no concept of what we can do and Erik and I are near the point where we can begin recruiting. We'll just bring her in as a recruit. People see what they expect to see."

[chrysopteron]

"I also certainly have talents which rival those of the mutants of your world."

[andproud]

"Right."

She does not look entirely convinced by all of this.

"So why, exactly, can't you go home?"

[balancingminds]

Charles rubs his forehead and looks over to Iris to think of the best way to explain.

Part of the problem is that he doesn't fully understand all of what happened and he agrees with Raven,

"We don't know the capacity of mutantkind yet, Iris. We haven't really been tested."

[chrysopteron]

But that's not answering the more pressing question.

"Charles came for me at Troy. When we tried to leave, the Moirae - the Fates in your tongue - required me to choose.

"I could come here, be with Charles, or I could continue to serve my place.

"I can go back if I would like. But then I would never return."

[andproud]

" - oh."

That certainly answers the question, and definitely gives her pause. Raven takes a sip of wine.

"What, are you just planning on never going back?"

[balancingminds]

This is Iris' question to answer so he reaches over to squeeze her hand.

[chrysopteron]

"Perhaps after the lifetimes of my friends have passed.

"For the first moment in an age I am ignorant of what my future might be."

[andproud]

"Well, sorry you had to decide over this one."

She jabs a thumb in Charles' direction, hiding a wry smile behind the rim of her glass.

[balancingminds]

He spots Raven's smile and relaxes though he hadn't thought of what Iris might be doing in terms of his lifetime,

"I did show up where she wasn't expecting me."

[chrysopteron]

"In an accurate warrior uniform. Quite a bit of leg."