we are the future (wearethefuture) wrote in thedoorway, @ 2013-03-06 20:10:00 |
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Entry tags: | !log, erik lehnsherr / magneto (movie), wanda maximoff / scarlet witch (616) |
WHO: Erik Lensherr and Wanda Maximoff
WHERE: Coffee shop
WHEN: 1/21/2013!
WHAT: Father and daughter meet and have coffee. Awk?
RATING: PG!
STATUS: log;
Erik arrived at ten minutes to noon in the lobby, and he immediately found the location that gave him the best view of the room without giving himself many vulnerable spots. It was natural and immediate for him to be on the defensive to begin with, his back against a wall so no one could try to sneak up on him. Not that anyone here would want to, but it was instinct. He was glad that his normal style from the 60s worked just as well here, although he still dressed slightly more formal than the average person, especially since it was a holiday. Not one he knew existed until now, although he knew Martin Luther King Jr. He was alive when the man was still relatively new to the public eye. At least black turtlenecks went well with the weather outside. If anyone paused or gave him too long of a look Erik just stared at them, unblinking, until they moved on. He cut an intimidating figure and didn’t do well at ‘blending.’ He wasn’t certain yet how he felt about this whole alternate universe daughter issue. He did technically claim her in public on Charles’ post. Referred to him as his daughter, which was to Erik a turning point of sorts. He could’ve brushed her off as nothing to him, but once he said that, it meant he was invested enough to speak with her. So he waited for her and if he felt any anxiety about it, it didn’t show on his face. Wanda had been in plenty of uncomfortable positions in her life. She had to face people she had wronged horribly and lay herself out at their mercy. She suddenly found herself wishing she was doing that instead. Wanda loved her father, she did, but no one would mistake their relationship as an effortless one. Not that this Erik was her father, but that didn’t make this any easier. If anything, it made it harder. He had no allegiance to her, no reason to acknowledge her at all. She found herself wanting his approval and had to fight to keep those feelings at bay. No matter how many things she had gone through there would always be a part of her that sought his approval and love, even if she wasn’t willing to pay the price for it. Now she was faced with a man who didn’t know their shared history. A man who hadn’t wronged her, or even helped conceive her as far as she knew. There was so much she should tell him. There was Lorna, his grandchild, the fact that she had gone crazy. So much and yet she knew she wouldn’t. Not yet. Not when they were still strangers. “Hello, fa--Erik. I hope I didn’t keep you long.” He recognized her from the network and also because there was a certain way people held themselves when they were preparing to meet someone. Bracing their body early for it. Erik was doing the same thing, squaring his shoulder and giving her a quick once over. He didn’t attempt to hide it; he was a direct man, and not prone to the manipulative ways he learned with time, apparently. “Wanda,” he greeted formally. Shaking her hand seemed too formal. He felt awkward. They both were awkward. “You didn’t. I was early.” He didn’t waste time so he gestured toward the doors. “Care to leave? The protesters are still there, some are gone for the holiday, but it’s best to fly over them. It’ll warn them not to follow us.” So far they seemed smart enough to keep their distance from him. As far as he knew, they didn’t have any idea who he was supposed to be, but he knew how to change his stance and gaze to scare off strangers. He politely opened the door for her. Her father had always maintained an intimidating air about him. It was part of the reason he commanded so much respect and authority. She had always imagined he had been like that throughout his life and now she had proof. Still, she couldn’t help but miss the glimpses at the man he was underneath all the shields. This man didn’t know her from Eve, but maybe they could work on that. For as strange as it was not to exist in this world, it was comforting to be nothing more than another face in the crowd. Clearly he wasn’t so fortunate, but it was nice to have a reprieve. “I don’t know that they’d dare to follow us. If they did, they’d soon realize their mistake.” Not that she’d hurt them, but she wasn’t afraid to make a message. Wanda wasn’t one to be knocked around. “Lets fly then. Any particular destination in mind?” There was no one who saw Erik with his shields down except for Charles and Shaw, and both of those were forced upon him. Shaw with cruelty, Charles with kindness. It took a lot to get through to him, and he found it confusing many people here were trying. Usually teenage girls, like Nico and Jubilee. They were young. Children were always seeking hope. He tolerated them as best as possible. “I looked up a place not far from here.” Once they got outside the protesters and paparazzi did take some attention, but Erik did his usual glare and then put his arms out, floating into the air with ease. Before he didn’t do this often, he had a lot of mental blocks when it came to his powers, but this was easy now. They managed to get away from the crowd easily enough and after they set back down on the ground a few blocks away, he led her into the coffee shop he had in mind. It wasn’t a chain but locally owned, and he was hoping it’d be quieter than one of the bigger types. His assumption was correct so far. “It seems strange they ask many questions about your drink order. Used to be you just said ‘coffee.’” He was bad at small talk. Wanda couldn’t help but smile. “Americans like options.” It was hard to think her life had brought her to this point. She remembered being a poor Roma, moving town to town with her brother. There were times they stole just to ease the hollow pull of an empty stomach. Now she was debating whether to have regular whipped cream or caramel. Granted, he was probably having a similar experience. It wasn’t as if they had coffee options in the camps. She led him to a table in the corner, away from any eyes that might be looking. “You look like him. My Erik. Not exactly, but I can see it.” It was strange to see him without the stark white hair that he shared with her brother. “Did you have any questions about my world? It’s okay if you don’t. Sometimes it’s better not to know.” Erik was typically poor and moving around often himself. He did that since he was on the hunt, and he never had much need for money while focused on the mission. He didn’t waste it either. When he met Xavier and saw his mansion and his easy way with money, it was one more thing that made him think the two of them should never get along so well. And yet they were. Perhaps because Charles decided to use his money for their work. In any case, he appreciated the she seemed to go for a more private location, something he’d prefer himself. He took a seat with his back to the wall, so no one could sneak up on him. He liked having a good view of the rest of the place so he could think of an escape route if necessary. Once that settled in his head, Erik was able to relax enough to listen to her. “He’s decades older, so that would make sense. I think I can see some of my mother in you.” Or perhaps Erik was looking for that, fool that he was. It was difficult even considering a family connection without remembering his dead parents, and how that factored in was complicated. “I think I got the general idea from your … friends. He fights for mutant supremacy and uses methods everyone else doesn’t agree with. There have been wars. Did you and Pietro have much trouble being the children of a terrorist?” Erik didn’t consider himself that, but he knew it was the right word they would use for him. “Can you?” Wanda couldn’t help but smile, liking the thought. It wasn’t a surprise that she had never seen any pictures of the woman. Nor had her father ever talked about his mother much. That part of his life had to be among the most painful, if not the most. “He never talked much about her. About any of them. I can’t say I blame him, but I always wondered what they were like. I suppose anyone who is adopted wonders about that sort of thing.” “At times.” Especially when they were part of the Brotherhood. “We also made a name for ourselves with the Avengers. We were considered heroes. Good guys. For a long time most were unaware of our connection. It’s not exactly the sort of thing talked about in press conferences,” she said, shrugging a bit. Then it became an example of overcoming adversity and other such nonsense. As if he had been the one tucking them in at night. “Most of the trouble we ran into was our own doing. We’re far from perfect, but everyone is.” “I’m not surprised. My mother was killed in front of me as a lesson. It was one I remember very well.” Erik spoke very matter of fact on the subject. He never talked about it at all until he met Charles, but on the other hand, no one ever asked or showed interest in his story either. He had one mission. Dealing with other people was not a part of that. He knew now he had to adapt and evolve to take his true place as leader of the mutant movement. He had to be better with people, if he could. “I can’t say if it was the same for him, but I’d guess not. From what I can tell, Sebastian Shaw was not an ageless Nazi in your world.” Avengers. Hm. Interesting title, but he’d heard it around the building. They were the team of superpowered people there, apparently, the ones who defeated the alien invasion. Erik absorbed information he thought was useful, and knowing potential allies and enemies was useful. “We only just became public. It did not go well.” To say the least. “The world is not kind to people it fears. You can see that in the protesters. In what they say on the television.” This time he might not be able to take the battle straight to them. He had to get the mutants to safety, that was his priority. “No, he was not. Just as evil in many regards, but I don’t believe he was ever a Nazi.” She wasn’t surprised by the matter-of-fact way he told her such a thing. She knew her own father well enough to know that he rarely indulged such emotions, especially in front of a stranger. That was all they were to each other right now, but maybe that could change. She hoped so. “Nor was he responsible for killing your family.” “It never does. Fear is a natural response, but even that can be subdued with knowledge and exposure.” A lesson her father would never accept. In many regards she couldn’t blame him. It was hard to hope for the best in people when your life is scarred by the worst. “I try to remember that for every person that is protesting there are thousands who are not. I try not to let the rash and hostile reactions of a few sour my test for everyone. It can be hard, but overall I have had a pleasant experience here so far. It’s easier as my face is not as recognizable, I suppose. Or recognizable at all.” A small favor she was certainly going to appreciate. “I thought that might be true. I would be glad to meet and kill any version of Sebastian Shaw. I’m sure they all deserve it in some way.” Erik had zero regrets about murdering the man who took his family and tortured him throughout his childhood. He thought it was unfortunate the aftermath cost Charles dearly, that he regretted deeply, but not Shaw. Never Shaw. Charles said killing him wouldn’t bring peace, but it did bring him satisfaction. “I’m not surprised there are only a handful of protesters. People have jobs and being passive observers is easier. If the government starting rounding us up and into a prison, talking is the most any of them would do for us.” Erik was confident in his skeptical outlook of the world. He’d seen it before and he’d see it again. He wasn’t hateful of the common man, he felt only apathy an disdain. “We were made into a team to help the humans fight Shaw and his team. We defeated them, and the reaction was to kill all of us once we did our part.” Another man in the shop looked their way, perhaps recognizing Erik’s face since it was somewhat well known these days, but a well placed glare kept him from coming closer to see. “SHIELD has some hidden agenda for why we’re being tolerated. It’s a spy organization. It has secrets.” “We are not so easily rounded up. We have the warning that you and your family never did. We know how horrible people can be and we won’t be nearly as trusting.” It was still strange to think of herself in the mutant collective. She never really thought of herself as one, and as much as she hated to admit it she knew that part of it came from shame. Shame at the association with a group seen as a threat as opposed to an association with a group of heroes. It was a balance she was still learning to figure out. “We’re also more capable of defending ourselves. Captivity would not come easily.” “Everyone has secrets,” she pointed out. “I have a vague respect for SHIELD, but hold no illusions to their innocence. We’re being treated far better than we might have if this was solely the responsibility of a government or even another group. I am thankful for that at least.” “By the time people had warning, it was too late for us. And even still, no one believed it could get that bad. And you’re right the best defense is knowing they can’t take you quietly. At the least you’ll make them pay for it first.” Erik certainly would. They sent missiles at his people, and he had every intention of letting them pay the price. Charles’ need for safety came first, but the next time, those fools would not be lucky. He hardened his heart to humans long before he knew what mutants were. His opinion of them did not change in the least since coming there. “My people weren’t capable of defending themselves. But we were also never considered a threat. If the Jews could control metal or use magic, the world might not have been inclined to save us after all.” His expression was skeptical, but he couldn’t change her. He was only just starting to talk to her. “Maybe,” he finally said. “I don’t like staying here, but I can’t leave as long as our people are in a precarious place like this. And Charles won’t go unless I insist.” It was more that if he said he was leaving, Xavier would offer to go with him. He was still too focused on saving Erik to let him run free in this world. “I know it’s easy to hate them, but they’re not all bad,” she said softly, reaching across to squeeze his hand briefly. Perhaps it was too familiar, but Wanda had never been one to be shy with affection. “I have met and worked with good humans. Great humans. We can save ourselves, but we’d be doing a disservice not to seek help where it might be offered.” “I know it’s hard for you to trust, and I’m not asking you to, but try to see some good in this place. We got to meet. Perhaps it’s not much in the grand scheme of things, but it’s something.” It certainly was to her. “I don’t believe they’re all bad. Just as not all mutants are good.” Obviously not. Shaw was evil. The evillest creature he would ever meet. “People don’t have to be bad to do bad things,” Erik replied quietly. “They just have to be afraid. Or arrogant.” He did stiffen when she first touched his hand, eyes narrowing at her, but he managed to temper down his immediate response. Erik could count on his hands the number of people he allowed to touch him, and now she was on the list. She was managing to break through a lot of his barriers in a short amount of time. Maybe there was some strange kinship he could feel between them that was making it happen, or just the knowledge they were blood made a difference. He didn’t know, but it was throwing Erik off. “Yes. We’ve met.” He acknowledged that was a good thing. “Charles is still walking. Our team is safe and no longer fighting.” He appreciated that. Erik never wanted them to stop being a team. “And I haven’t had to kill anyone yet,” he said with a faint smile. It was meant in jest. Mostly. Wanda didn’t miss the look he gave at her touch, but she kept her face blank. Despite some of her more impressive failings, she was stronger than many would ever know. It took more than a flinch to cut her, even if there was a small part that wanted his acceptance. He wasn’t her father, not really. He might never meet a Magda and produce a set of twins, but he was the closest thing to blood family that she had right now. That was good enough for her to keep trying. She had a habit of surrounding herself with stubborn men. Why should he be any different? “What more could a person ask for? I’m sure you’ve been tempted. I know I have,” she added, her lips giving way to a smirk. There was certainly a mix of personalities in this place. So far she hadn’t faced too many problems but there were already people she was intent on avoiding. Family was very important to Erik. Important enough he kept a blood vendetta for decades and he was willing to lay down his life to kill in the name of his innocent mother. He never thought about settling down and having children. All he thought about was Shaw. With Shaw dead, his thoughts didn’t move that way either. Now he claimed the mutants as his family, as his brothers and sisters, and that made them valuable. To have a daughter, AU or otherwise, was something he had to adjust to. In a good way. Erik was just not very good at showing affection. He smiled at her statement. “I’ve been tempted and challenged and threatened.” Erik not attacking anyone was only a credit to Charles Xavier and his strict control. He killed when it was necessary, but he was not a monster. Not the monster they thought he was. “When my name was made public, your mutant friends banded together to decide whether or not to kill me.” Erik was still watchful of them. “I don’t know that I could call many of them friends, if we’re being honest. If it makes you feel better, I’ve gone through a vote like that. We both managed to make it out alive.” Not that Wanda had any interest in reliving that time in her life, especially with him. The only reason she talked about it at all was in an attempt to provide him with some comfort. “I’m sorry they treated you in such a way. I’m sure you know why, but that’s hardly your fault.” Yet. By now what was left of her coffee had gone cold. She swirled it around in her cup, watching as it slid across the sides of her mug. “You have me if nothing else. I’m not sure if my vote would count for anything, but I don’t have a history of sitting by while my family is being harassed.” Erik brushed it away with a light flick of his wrist. “I don’t like being held responsible for acts I haven’t done, but I accept it’s most likely what I will do in time. Perhaps not the same way, but ….” He shrugged. Nothing they said particularly concerned him. He was perhaps a little alarmed at how far over the line he may go in the future, but he assumed he had his reasons. Good ones too. He did narrow his eyes slightly at her and frowned, rapping fingers along the top of the table. “If they try to hurt you, I will make them pay.” He thought since she said she was an Avenger and a hero in her world, that meant they were all allies and united. It was disturbing to find out that wasn’t the cast. The angry tension in him grew and then released as he relaxed out of his mood. “At least that seems to be a family trait. Now tell me more about you.” |