(no subject)

[balancingminds]

The compartment isn't as elegant as the ones in Europe but it will do and Charles has found them a comfortable one to get north.

There's space enough for them both to stretch out and since its not a heavy time, they have a measure of privacy, and the club car's not far away.

Comments

[balancingminds]

His hand stills before he answers,

"Getting to know other people isn't wasting time."

[markedformore]

"It is if they aren't worthwhile in a cause," is Erik's opinion on the matter, given that his history of getting to know people has only led to heartbreak and pain. "Friends are worthwhile when you have a common goal."

[balancingminds]

Charles smooths his hair and himself before he answers, making his voice more neutral but as always his emotion slips through.

Loneliness is what propels him forward, that fear of no one understanding, "No, friends are worthwhile because they listen and say, oh yes, I understand."

[markedformore]

"No, those are insipid people who agree to everything," Erik snaps, easing back from the touch to his hair, arranging himself on the opposite bank of chairs. "I don't want people who understand. No one could."

[balancingminds]

"No, those are yes-men not friends. Friends will tell you when you're being stupid and be there even if they don't know everything, but they're there,"

He stands up, looking out the window, he knows how many people are lonely and it hurts.

[markedformore]

Erik still isn't convinced of this, but he supposes that Charles has something of a point. He inhales sharply and presses his lips together. "Then I suppose you will have to educate me on the finer points of friendship."

[balancingminds]

"I'll do my best to and there's Philadelphia,"

The train rocks and Charles plants himself to keep his balance, but slips a little.

[markedformore]

Erik reaches out absently to steady him, as though it's hardly more than a simple thought and he looks up to Charles, thinking perhaps he ought to learn a lot about friendship, if only to stop being so bad at it. "Have you ever met anyone as frustrating as me, I wonder," he remarks.

[balancingminds]

Its pleasant to be looked up to by Erik and Charles finds his feet with a smile,

"Raven, but in different ways, though the heart of it is the same problem. We don't see the world the same way."

[markedformore]

"No? Funny, she seems rather eager to mimic you," Erik says dismissively, given what he's seen of Raven. "She wants to shed her powers, to hide from the world."

[balancingminds]

"She pushes against me in many ways, she wants more than hiding. I want to give it to her," He isn't sure if he'll be able to and turns when the conductor knocks saying, "Tickets, please."

Charles walks over, making the interaction pass quickly before sagging onto the seat opposite Erik.

[markedformore]

"Then why do you let her hide?" Erik says, when the conductor has passed and Erik can no longer bite back the question. "She shouldn't have to, Charles."

[balancingminds]

"I know she shouldn't, she should be safe to be herself,"

He just has to figure out how to make the world allow her to.

[markedformore]

It's unexpected. He hadn't truly thought Charles would ever say that. "And why not let her? Why not coax society into accepting her?"

[balancingminds]

"Because its too dangerous at the moment but I think we can in time make it so that its not. She's my sister, I want her to be happy and safe just as I wish the same for you,"

Its why he works as he does, but he knows that it will be harder for people to accept Raven.

[markedformore]

"It's only dangerous if she doesn't fight," Erik spits out. "You want us to hide. I've been told that before, you know. Hiding in the shadows does nothing to the enemy. It only prolongs the inevitable."

[balancingminds]

"No, I don't. I want to change things to the point where we don't have to fight. Its just a different sort of fighting. Not everyone is the enemy,"

That's unfair and only leads to bloodshed and Charles sighs, he knows how much people hurt, mutants and humans.

[markedformore]

"And not everyone is your ally," Erik feels compelled to point out. "You had a lovely childhood, Charles. You're permitted to feel that way, but I hope you don't hold it against me when I say that you are wrong. They will hurt people. They will hurt us because they are frightened of change."

[balancingminds]

"I know that and that's why I'm trying to make change something to be embraced not feared. People can change, they're not bad or good, they're complicated and more concerned with themselves than with anyone else,"

He bites back comments on his childhood, he grew up wealthy and the pain his telepathy brought him is nothing to what Erik faced.

[markedformore]

At the very least, Charles seems to accept the inherent selfishness of humans. True, mutants could be the same, but he hardly thinks they're quite as self-centred. "Perhaps I'm selfish, then, too," he concedes. "What I want is very stubborn of a thing."

[balancingminds]

"Most of us are, because sometimes selfishness is the only way to protect yourself," As they've talked the train has been moving farther north, "We're in New Jersey now, once we pass Princeton Junction, it will be a little more than halfway."

[markedformore]

Erik concedes their journey with a nod of his head, happy to hear that they've made steady progress. "If I were to be selfish, I would have Shaw dead," he says firmly. "And then I would make sure we were protected and then I would rest. It's been a very long time since I rested."

[balancingminds]

"Then rest with me sometimes, between the two of us we can do a great deal of protecting."

[markedformore]

Erik feels the pull for it, the need for something more, and he breathes out slowly, nodding his head. "Then I believe you should not stay so far away," he says, hoping it to be enough of an olive branch.

[balancingminds]

"I'd prefer not to," He stands up to sit next to Erik as the train rolls onward to New York.