(no subject)

[theboysoldier]

Would you please make faster progress? Taking a month away is understandable, of course, especially when adjusting to a new schedule and finishing certain projects, but -- I understand I've worried Emma terribly, and if I return Erik might return with me! And I made friends.

I want to go back. It's so lovely and quiet there.

If you're not finished in two weeks' time, I'll -- I'll be very cross.

Comments

[thepriceofgold]

You shouldn't hurry so, lad.

Young people always seem to be in such a terrible rush.

[theboysoldier]

I want to go back before it's too late.

[thepriceofgold]

Too late for what?

[theboysoldier]

Before I've seen too much.

[thepriceofgold]

[ Gold's brow furrows. ]

Seen too much of what?

[theboysoldier]

Well -- the war, of course.

[thepriceofgold]

[ There's an odd look on his face, at that. A haunted look, but only his eyes betray it.

He quickly recovers, a smile twitching into place. ]

Ah. Then perhaps you're right to hurry your mundane along.

[theboysoldier]

What is it? What's wrong?

[ Ah, Gold, you've run afoul of the most perceptive boy this side of... well, he might try to read your mind at some point, so be cautious. ]

[thepriceofgold]

War's no place for the young. For anyone, really.

[ Children are dreadfully insightful, aren't they? ]

[theboysoldier]

I was going to say... adults shouldn't be fighting. Worse of them to drag a child into it, but I wasn't particularly childlike even before it began.

[thepriceofgold]

The weak-hearted always seem to have the need to prove their strength...as much to themselves as anyone else.

It's a sad fate.

[theboysoldier]

I don't think Hitler has a particularly weak heart. It takes a strong will to lead so many.

[thepriceofgold]

Or enough people desperate and frightened enough to follow.

[theboysoldier]

Still....

[thepriceofgold]

Do you think he'd be sending people out to die for him if he didn't have something to prove?

Men of war hunger. They hunger because there is emptiness inside they cannot think to fill any other way. They long to stand atop their throne of bodies and survey the land, saying proudly to themselves 'see what I have wrought', because they think it will bring them peace.

[theboysoldier]

...you seem to know quite a bit about it.

[thepriceofgold]

Yes, well...

[ He taps his leg with his cane, smiling grimly. ]

War touches us all.

[conscript]

[It still feels too clumsy to talk, so instead he just shows Charles his hesitance at either of them going. If they go to that place- Man can go in to space? Really? -then it takes them away from the war. It means they're stuck waiting even longer before they can go off and live for themselves instead, and that's the last thing he wants.]

[theboysoldier]

[ It's all right; he's accustomed to Erik's silences, now. He can speak for them both; he doesn't mind giving Erik that shield, that little safety.

But he thinks of Emma, solidly visualizes her, her calm, her protectiveness towards mutants, her mutation. He visualizes his feeling of safety there, without being smothered -- and the emptiness of it! So much incredible, vast space, and so few people in it. He goes from the telepathic equivalent of a deafening din to a gentle countryside. ]

[theboysoldier]

[ His face clears. ]

You're a veteran?

[thepriceofgold]

Didn't say that.

[conscript]

[More? There's others like them out there? He's fighting to keep himself from seeming anywhere near as interested as he really is. More so against the spark of jealousy that comes from knowing that Charles had been living a life there without him already.

But it's that last feeling, the silence itself, that finally has him easing back a little. He knows how hard it is for Charles, even now. So if it gives him a brief reprieve from the chaos that comes from living in a world at war, then he can't begrudge him that.

Or shouldn't. There's still that part of him that wants to be the one helping Charles to find that quiet for themselves.]

[theboysoldier]

[ It was all before he'd met Erik -- just after he'd heard of Dusseldorf, and that brings another slam of memories back. Charles flushes. ]

I forgot to mention...

[ There's another Erik there. One that was just as protective of Charles, an older one, one that certainly hadn't come from their world. Charles hadn't liked him.

But -- he assures -- that couldn't be further from the truth with this Erik. They're friends. They'll always be friends. Charles could withstand the din if it meant that Erik was there too. ]

[theboysoldier]

...then you were a victim.

[thepriceofgold]

Even men who wage war are victims of it, lad, make no mistake.

[theboysoldier]

I'm not.

[thepriceofgold]

Of course you're not. Smart boy like you, running from it while you still have the chance.

[conscript]

[There's concern first; that this other Erik had done something to upset Charles. Or to hurt him. That latter thought is tinged with anger, but it doesn't come to a head yet. If the other Erik's to blame, then he'll save that anger until he meets him.

He's grasping for a translation, despite knowing it isn't needed. But the only word he finds is the second. The rest is German wrapped in both friendship and possessiveness. //We'll stay together, no matter what happens.// Because Charles is both all he has and all he wants; his friend and brother, and nothings going to tear them apart. Not even those other versions.]

[theboysoldier]

I didn't run.

[thepriceofgold]

There's no shame in it.

It's better than going out and dying for someone else's pride and vanity.

[theboysoldier]

[ He echoes the words back in English, the translation happening somewhere in the fuzzy and ever-narrowing space between their two brains.

And Charles -- he feels as though he's caught a fever, as though the reality of the world is distorted and twisted, a vivid dream. This is more real than anything else has ever been. Erik changes everything. ]

You'll like Emma. I promise.

If your mun decides to bring you.

[theboysoldier]

I didn't run! I volunteered.

[ Because he's Brave and he Does His Duty. ]

[thepriceofgold]

[ Of course he did. Children these days. Gold shakes his head. ]

Now why'd you do a foolish thing like that?

[conscript]

[//You like her.// Which obviously means he will too. He knows that others can't fool Charles into believing they're trustworthy when they're not. So he trusts Charles' judgement in deciding just who to focus his attention on. If he likes Emma, then it means that he'll have to learn to do the same.

He manages a smile, but his uncertainty is there. He wants to go, for Charles' sake- and for his own, because of course, he doesn't want to be left alone again -but he doesn't know if he'll get to go at the same time or not.]

[tattling]

You-- you seem familiar. Your name's not Charlie, is it?

[theboysoldier]

Well -- mm. I really do prefer Charles.

[tattling]

Oh. I guess that's close ... and you really seem like him ... but my friend was definitely Charlie.

[ Franklin isn't sure Charlie was definitely real though. A fair doubt, since "Charlie" was actually Onslaught. ]

[theboysoldier]

Because it's my part. I want to defend my country.

Oh lord. Onslaught.

[theboysoldier]

Oh, well, I certainly prefer Charles. If you don't mind...?

Re: Oh lord. Onslaught.

[tattling]

Yeah--

[ a moment of solemn thought; then Franklin grins ]

--sure. Hi, Charles. Sorry. I'm Franklin! Nice t'meet ya.

[theboysoldier]

[ Erik won't just be not alone -- he'll be not alone with more than just Charles. There's a whole world of mutants out there, some of them small, children, like them. They could be part of a much larger group, and Charles presents that thought, tentatively, even though of course Erik would still be the most important, without a doubt. ]

[theboysoldier]

And you!

[conscript]

[That possessiveness is back again, despite Charles' assurances. He doesn't want to share the other boy with anyone else. Hasn't since the moment he first woke up on that train with Charles watching over him. Before then, even. Since Düsseldorf; rendered unconscious, but he still knows that Charles had stayed with him every step of the way.

He doesn't want to care about any of the other mutants he could meet if he follows Charles of in to space. But he knows that, ultimately, he'd have to at least try if he plans on staying with Charles. More mutants means more people capable of keeping him safe. And that's ultimately what matters most to Erik.]

[thepriceofgold]

By dying for it? No one has need of another brave, dead little child soldier.