WHO: Bobby Drake and Charles Xavier WHAT: A meeting overdue and a job interview WHEN: recently WHERE: The new but as of yet unopened Anna’s Gelato Store WARNINGS: None STATUS: Closed/Complete
Bobby was hoping this meeting would go well. He was interested in the job, and in getting to know this version of Charles Xavier, the man he knew as the Professor, back home, and trusted with his life. This man, while similar, was far younger, and had a very different way about him. But some things were similar, and so Bobby hoped to get to know him.
Which would mean confessing he knew a version of the man back home, too. Which he hoped would go well, and had no idea if it would. Still, he was prepared for either outcome. He also wanted to talk to the man about Marina, and see if Xavier was thinking of opening a school and would have room for both Marina and Bobby, and Lorna too, now that she was here.
Bobby chuckled as he approached his destination. His life was quiet and completely calm just awhile back. Now? Now it was getting interesting.
***
Charles was getting used to these future students of his showing up here in Madison Valley. Anymore he was amused more than stunned, and he looked forward to meeting Bobby in person. Of course he had no idea they might be interested in him opening a school.
He picked up on the expectation of meeting him from Bobby’s mind. It was used to direct Charles right to the young man. “Mr. Drake? Charles Xavier,” he said as he approached.
***
“A pleasure to meet you, sir. “ He extended a hand and smiled. “And yeah, Bobby Drake, former student of my universe’s Professor Xavier.” What do you mean, Professor wasn’t his first name? Pshaw, lies.
“How are you doing?” He found himself eager, curious, and hopeful.
***
“Nice to meet you,” Charles said in earnest as he smiled and shook Bobby’s hand. “I’m well, thank you, if intrigued.” A curious look came to Charles face, but that patient smile that Bobby might find the only thing familiar on this man across from him, held swar.
“But questions can wait until we are comfortably seated somewhere,” he gestured across the street toward the currently closed gelato shop. “Perhaps inside.”
***
Bobby nodded. “Please, lead on. I’m curious to see the place. ” He was curious to see how this would go.
“How long have you been here in the city?” He felt almost like he was babbling .
***
Charles smiled then made for the store he co-owned. “A few months,” he answered. “Honestly, I haven’t kept track, but I’ve been here long enough to see more than my fair share of cruelty and happiness.”
He pulled his keys from his pocket, unlocked the door then pushed it open. “Welcome to Anna’s,” he said with a smile to Bobby.
***
Bobby followed. “It seems a place full of both, kind of like back home.” He paused. “But quieter.”
Looking around, Bobby smiled. “It looks fantastic.”
***
Charles turned on the lights with a nostalgic smile on his face. “This was my first job after I arrived.” He even sounded wistful. “Anna took a chance on me, and I lowered my pride to take her up on it. She was perhaps one of the sweetest persons I have ever met. Generous. Always smiling.”
He turned his smile to Bobby. “She’ll be missed, but I’m hoping this place will carry on her memory.”
***
“It looks cool!” Bobby grinned, and looked around more, then back at Charles, smiling. “You’ve done amazing things with this place.” he nodded. “She was. She seemed really nice, and kind, and I wish i had experienced more time with her.”
“I’m sure it will. I am interested, for sure, in working here, specifically in the ice sculpture area.”
***
Charles watched Bobby and his enthusiasm. It would be a good thing to have in this place. It reflected how Anna was. However, the ice thing was intriguing and something Charles wanted to see for himself.
“All right,” he said. “Let’s see it.” He smiled but it definitely was a challenge.
***
Bobby grinned, seeing that, and decided to let go, for once. Between one second and the next, he went from an average man of his late 30’s to a shimmering, white, bald-looking, being made all of ice.It was actually just the outer shell, but it formed so fast that most thought he changed, and he did not inform them otherwise. He wore simply a pair of trunks, and a belt just as white as the rest, which had an x on the center.
He smiled as he held out a hand. “Go-go-gadget icemaker!” And concentrated. In front of him, seemingly out of nothing, he formed a slowly building castle in miniature. A three story castle of incredible detail, that rose high, and spread out in front of them, turning slowly to be seen from all sides, the walls patrolled by slowly moving figures of ice in ice soldier uniforms. Atop the castle, a dragon sat, staring downward with a sneer at the land.
Bobby turned back to Charles waving a hand, stepping back for the other man to look the castle ice cold to the touch and not melting at all.
“What do you think?”
***
Charles watched the change and the show through the eyes of scholar of genetic mutations first. A potential employer was very periphery. Bobby had a job here without question. It was what he could do that Charles was most interested in and he was not disappointed.
He watched Bobby’s ice creation with unrestrained awe and fascination. He laughed when it was done, applauding the castle. “Absolutely fantastic! That is quite an amazing talent you have!”
***
The praise certainly didn’t hurt Bobby’s feelings at all. Bobby flushed, then grinned and swept a bow. “Thank you, thank you, I’ll be here all… well, that depends on you, doesn’t it?” he chuckled.
“But, well, I owe this partially to another version of you. I grew up, practically, at Xavier’s School for Gifted Children. That Charles taught me most of what I know about my powers and using them.” He had learned and grown some since leaving the school, but most of it still came from those years.
***
Once again Charles heard how a responsible, friendly and talented young mutant had him to thank for how they turned out. It fed Charles’ ego, but also made him a bit embarrassed by it. His smile became a little awkward as he rubbed at the back of his neck and chuckled.
“Well, I have to speak with my co-owners, but my recommendation will be to hire you for our ice sculptor.” Charles would press that point. “But I cannot guarantee reliable work with just that. Would you be willing to work the counter or some other position?”
***
Watching Xavier get embarrassed made Bobby grin to himself, and he felt like he had gone into some kind of time machine.
At Charles’ words, Bobby smiled. “Of course. I am eager to work here and learn here.” He wanted to know and learn. I have a late night part time job as well, so if your shop can’t give me a lot of hours, I will be okay. “
***
Charles chuckled for Bobby’s eagerness and held up a hand. “Let’s not go overboard. You are a single young man. I’ll not have you spending all your waking hours working. Let me know the schedule of your other job and I can work around it.”
And he would certainly be speaking with Weiss and Nora soon. He’d like to have the store open by July 4th.
***
“I’m creative. “ He grinned and nodded. “I can do that.” He pulled out a slip and proffered it to the other man with his schedule at the radio station. He had come prepared.
He was hoping this al went smoothly.
***
Charles took the paper then tucked it away in a pocket. “Let me speak with Weiss and Nora. They may wish to meet you before everything is official, but that shouldn’t be a problem.” Charles was proud of this whole endeavor.
***
“Of course.” Bobby nodded, smiling. Yes! This could be so cool! He turned to the ice sculpture then, and eyed it, then concentrated, eyes going greyer. And the castle faded into mist, and from mist, into nothing as he once more sent it back to where it had come from. “There. No muss, no fuss.”
He extended a hand. “I look forward to hearing from you, then.”
***
Charles laughed in astonishment for the display of talent. “Excellent! We won’t have to worry about a puddle when it melts. Absolutely brilliant.” He couldn’t wait to tell Erik about this. His friend would be interested to hear the details of this mutation.
He nodded as he led Bobby back to the door. “I’ll be in touch, and thank you.”