ᴇʀɪᴋ (metalize) wrote in valloic, @ 2020-08-19 08:29:00 |
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Entry tags: | !: action/thread/log, ₴ inactive: erik lehnsherr, ₴ inactive: rogue |
WHO: Erik & Rogue
WHAT: Having lunch, and Rogue drops a few truth bombs
WHERE: Sushi restaurant in the city
WHEN: Today
WARNINGS: Nothing scandalous!
STATUS: Complete
Rogue had been able to excuse attending Doc’s birthday party with Erik as just helping out a friend. She knew social interactions could be awkward for him, that it was often like pulling teeth to get him to attempt any sort of small talk with others. So she’d been more than happy to help him out and get to know some other Outlanders in the process. But having him ask if she wanted to do something else together sometime soon and planning to meet up for lunch...she probably couldn’t come up with a decent enough excuse for that. Not that this was a date. Or was it a date? She was trying not to think too hard about it. Just building up a friendship from the ground up again. Not that they had quite started at ground level, but that was difficult to do when she knew quite a bit about him and had told him a bit about herself by that point as well. And then there was the matter of Anka Irene, which she’d touched on at the bar, but knew she needed to go into actual detail about. Erik and her daughter deserved for the truth to be out in the open and the longer she took to get to that point the worse it would be. Rogue had chosen one of the sushi places she’d found to meet up with him during her lunch break and was perusing the menu as she waited for him to arrive. Erik couldn’t remember the last time he ate sushi, but he liked it - and it was lady’s choice, for their lunch date (or whatever it was officially supposed to be called, perhaps a meet-up?) so that was where he would spend his own afternoon break. Usually he brought his lunch with him, or he’d go eat at the tavern but not today. And he always started at the smithy early, since he was always up early - sleep was an elusive concept, it didn’t come easy to him. The waypoints made for convenient travel, so why not just go in and get a lot of work done, be efficient - he preferred to keep busy, anyway. When he arrived at the restaurant he still smelled like his work - that smell of what was released into the air when steel burned, along with smoke, a crackling fire. He wished he had time to shower but he’d at least washed his face and his hands so he wasn’t all sweaty, and so he didn’t have leftover streaks of ash on skin. “Afternoon,” he greeted, settling in the seat across from Rogue, those smiling muscles twitching (it was probably his lone smile of the day, even, so he’d give them a workout). He also took a menu to study, and asked for a water when drink orders were taken. Sake was tempting but he didn’t want to go back to the job with alcohol on his breath. “So which bit of raw fish do you recommend, hm?” “Hopefully you ain’t had too much trouble findin’ the place,” she greeted in her own way, offering up a return smile, though it took everything in her not to laugh at how out of practice his own seemed to be. Rogue ordered herself a coke along with her water, needing that bit of a caffeine pick up before she headed back to the DOA office for overseeing more of the admin work. It was a lot of paperwork--though thankfully electronic based over actual papers--which suited her just fine. There wasn’t much thought that needed to be put into what she was doing with it, just making sure all of the information that was needed was collected and that everything was filed away in the appropriate places. After all of the drama that was involved with running a school with Scott for the last three years being able to do something simple was a breath of fresh air. It was nice to be able to not think about work once she stepped out the door and focus solely on Anka Irene for a change. But right, he’d asked a question. “I like startin’ off with a cup of the miso soup and some edamame, maybe get some mix tempura and then it kinda depends on the mood I’m in for the main bit.,” she told him, pointing out the different items on the menu. “Today I’m feelin’ sorta darin’ so I’ll probably go for somethin’ that’s more spicy. Maybe the tiger roll. If you want somethin’ a lil lighter any of the ones with avocado are pretty good.” “Spicy,” Erik hummed thoughtfully, cool blue gaze roaming the menu. “I could go for that.” If he was going to eat sushi he wanted to indulge and he wanted it to be good - easily he could grab something that tasted like it flopped around in the bottom of the sea, that was no problem. It was the equivalent to a drive-through for burgers, McDonald’s as opposed to a steakhouse for filet mignon. But he felt comforted by the fact that this place didn’t list anything like ‘Me Soy Horny’ on the menu - that was a good sign. He’d definitely start off with the miso soup either way, and edamame sounded good too. There was a pad where you’d mark off your order on a sheet, so he selected the tiger roll and the spicy tuna roll; after that, he’d see how he was feeling. And then, alright, pencils down. He focused on Rogue. “Thank you for meeting me, I’m - “ Not sure if this was a date? Awkward? Both? “...out of practice at this sort of thing,” he decided on. “There weren’t many places to go, on Genosha.” He actually hadn’t really dated at all, not since Magda died. She nearly asked ‘what sorta thing’ but decided to go a little easy on him. There was no reason to add to any awkwardness when she’d prefer to enjoy his company if she could. She’d enjoyed their time together at the birthday party, the conversation having flowed as easily between them then as it had when they had run into one another at the bar, no reason to wreck the current streak of pleasant encounters just yet. “I ain’t done this kinda thing in a while either so thanks for askin’ me to come,” she offered up, before marking off her own decision on the pad of paper. She slid the pad back to the edge of the table, giving herself a moment to study him as she took a sip of her drink. “What’s your Genosha like?” she settled on asking as she leaned forward slightly, interested in learning the similarities and differences to the one she’d been to. “And how long has it been established?” Erik was surprised. “Beautiful and charming as you are?” he said and, well, that was the truth - he’d have thought Rogue would have people lined up around the block to take her out. Maybe it was being aware of the fact that she’d somehow gotten to know him despite the various ways he tried to keep others out - but he suspected that it would have always been the same, where the protective walls he built around himself cracked and he felt both heavy and light at the idea of emotions being oddly fragile, of getting to the heart of himself. Not many people inspired those sorts of feelings in him. But alright, Genosha. He took a sip of his water - though the sip lasted longer than he meant, ice clinking in the glass, and he finished it all. Working in the heat, by the bellows, made him thirsty. Then he cleared his throat, a rumble of rocks in there. “It was 1992 back in my world - so Genosha was still sort of in its beginning stages,” he said. “It’s very lush, a green haven of sorts. I built upon it from the ground up, literally, using metal scraps I pulled from the sea. I had two others who helped me keep the island running, even if the goal was for mutants to feel safe and self-sufficient - but after our dealings with Jean Grey and the D’Bari, they...didn’t make it back.” He paused when his water glass was refilled - apparently their server noticed; it was appreciated because he was parched. “Why, what’s it like back where you come from?” he asked once they were left alone again. Beautiful and charming as she might be, Rogue had her own walls built up around her. Ones that had her keeping most that she knew at arm’s length. First out of necessity when she hadn’t been able to control her abilities and then later on because there was only so much heartache she could allow herself to endure. Friendships were easy enough to let happen and she would never shy away from those, but anything deeper than that had required more energy than she ever wanted to expend. And try as she might, she’d never been one for anything casual. But they were discussing Genosha and not her avoiding any options that had been laid out in front of her. “Our kind don’t ever seem to avoid losin’ people even when we’re doin’ everything right.” Didn’t matter if they were trying to keep out of any fights, those battles seemed to find them wherever they might be. Which was another reason she didn’t enjoy the idea of ever heading back to her world. If by some miracle her daughter made the journey with her, it meant that little girl would be embroiled in nothing but a life of strife and Rogue was determined that Anka Irene’s life would have as little of that as possible. “It was an island, one of the most advanced technology wise after a while there. I can’t even remember how many mutants there were after a time, but it was a lot. I reckon it might’ve been the largest concentration of us anywhere in the world.” She sighed, stirring her straw absently in her water. “Unfortunately that made it a target and Sentinels--I dunno if you guys have those--but think giant robots whose sole task is to hunt down mutants--attacked and destroyed the place. Nearly everyone died.” And then were turned into zombies later on by Selene’s insane plan but there was no reason to go into that nonsense. “My world is kinda awful.” A technologically-advanced Genosha wasn’t one that Erik was familiar with - he actually sort of preferred it that way; if they flew under the radar, mutants just living their simple lives, no one would bother them. In theory. “We do have Sentinels - or we did,” he corrected himself. “Created by a man named Bolivar Trask, whose company manufactured them. There was a dystopian future where Sentinels hunted mutants and wiped out most of humanity in turn - but we sort of corrected that timeline and erased them from existence. I’m - sorry your world is still plagued by them.” He sipped his water, slower this time - the chill of it, and the chill from the restaurant’s air conditioner, helped at cooling him down. “I can see why you don’t want to return,” he noted. “One grows weary of all the fighting, and death and destruction.” “I reckon my world ain’t quite at dystopian future but its headin’ that way.” More often did than not if the various timelines Cable managed to slide in and out of were any indication. Just once Rogue wished he’d come back from a timeline where good things had happened for their kind, letting them know they were finally on the right path. She paused as their food was dropped off, thanking their waiter before breaking apart her chopsticks to use. “One definitely does grow weary of all that death and destruction. It ain’t the life I want for my daughter,” she told him and set the sticks down. She probably should have taken a bite of something before diving into a deeper conversation, but there was little point in pussyfooting around it any longer. “Which, actually, speakin’ of my daughter.” Rogue let out a sigh, trying to determine how best to explain the next part. Should she try to be delicate about it? Was there a way to even do that? Straight forward seemed to be the best way to go about it. “Her full name is Anka Irene Lehnsherr. Middle name is after her other grandmother and well, last name was my husband’s and all.” Oh. Oh. Well, that was - This was happening, and it short-circuited Erik’s brain a little. Just the initial information relay did, he’d need a minute to process - and when it did, it probably would make more sense than it was currently making. But honestly, given what Rogue had told him about her mutation and how he imagined it must have been to initially not be able to control - he was intrigued by and, admittedly, attracted to her survival instinct; it resonated with his own. They were both searching for a place to belong - perhaps it made sense that they would have found it within each other (not literally within each other, though apparently that happened too). He was attracted to a lot more besides her survival instinct, however. She understood him, but maybe he was starting to understand her too - how they both struggled to get close to people. How difficult it was, her mutation notwithstanding (even if she could control it now). “I may have suspected but it seemed silly to...ask,” he chuckled nervously, spoon taking a turn through the soup bowl. Wasn’t like he thought it was strange that someone thought it was a good idea to marry him either - he’d been married before, and found comfort in the bond. “Do you - I mean, I’m not him,” he stated. “It must be difficult to face that.” He was sorry for it, but then again, there was literally nothing he could do about it. “Do you not want to see me anymore?” That revelation had gone far better than she’d imagined it might. As many versions of this man she had met so far she could never quite be certain how he’d react to the news. But this one was older than the others, had lived through and endured more than the others, seemingly found some sort of peace again in Genosha, so it wasn’t that odd to have him react as calmly as he was. She let out the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding and picked up her chopsticks to spear a piece of the tempura vegetables. “You ain’t, it’s true, and honestly at this I’m just kinda rollin’ with the punches.” It was no one’s fault that he didn’t remember any of what she did. There was no fixing that and Rogue wasn’t certain she’d want to if she could. It wouldn’t change the fact that she’d lost the man she’d loved more times than she likes counting. “But, no. I don’t mind seein’ you.” It was nice to have someone else to talk to, that attraction developing again like it had many times before but in new and different ways. Except it wasn’t just about her. There was a three year old that was entangled in this whether Rogue liked it or not and as lovely as it was to begin getting to know Erik again, she had to think of her daughter, because that might change her answer. “Though. I ain’t sure if you’d like to meet her or not. She knows who you are. She was nearly two and a half when he left...she doesn’t know you’re here.” “I would like to meet her,” Erik didn’t even hesitate when he replied. He’d offered to help Rogue with Anka Irene before and now understood better why she didn’t accept, but if he was going to be allowed to see her, well. Of course he wanted to. “If you’re sure it’s alright? What’s she like?” he asked, chopsticks scooping up one of those tiger rolls - made spicy by what was drizzled on top, or wasabi, but it certainly looked good. He was intrigued, and strangely elated about the prospect of having a daughter - maybe she wasn’t his specifically (just...another version of him) but being a father was a role he’d slid into easily, welcoming those changes, and gladly putting Nina before anything else. Whatever good Charles claimed was in him, that was where the memories of his daughter were stored - she’d been so innocent. She hadn’t deserved what happened to her. “I’m definitely alright with that. Just need to go lettin’ her know you’re around first and then we can make a plan for that to happen.” Rogue knew that once Anka Irene was aware of Erik’s presence that the little girl would be a ball of constant energy and communication, upping her question count until the two finally met. “She’s inquisitive beyond belief. Constantly takin’ things apart and putin’ them back together. Which is adorable until she does it to your ipad and she can’t quite get it workin’ again cause she’s only three.” Rogue shook her head, remembering the little girl’s pout over not being allowed to touch her work laptop. She’d had to settle for putting together a box of things that the toddler could get into and try out so she’d leave the important electronics alone. “She’s constantly askin’ questions now, wantin’ to know everythin’ she can about this world. She likes doin’ teleportin’ races around the apartment with our bamf. Thankfully that tires the both of them out because she’s pretty much goin’ from sun up to sun down.” The smile on Erik’s face was fond - and look at that, he really was going to exceed his smiling quota for the day. “Like most toddlers,” he noted. “I’ll have to bring her something to take apart and put back together again.” He could make a puzzle at the forge, perhaps - a metal brain teaser, something appropriately difficult for a little girl who was clearly curious and bright. “She has...powers, then?” he guessed, taking another sip of water. “Nina could affect animal behavior. I’ve no idea how that mutation came about, since they don’t always match the parent mutation. But she was friends with all the birds and bunnies around our house.” There was still much to learn about the x-gene. A lot of it remained a mystery - though it was also difficult to study when the world kept telling you that you didn’t belong. Details. Rogue was tempted to bring up that she’d known the girl in the last place she’d lived, but that was a wound that she was reluctant to open back up. It was something they could discuss another time, for now she’d focus on telling him more about Anka Irene. “I don’t think there’s always any rhyme or reason to what kids get from their parents in regards to the X-gene. I know Hank was tryin’ to find some sorta correlation, but for every time that he thought he was there would be a new case showin’ no sorta similarity.” She knew Charles sometimes wondered if they were brought about by moments of severe stress, the power adapting to whatever would help the young mutant at the time cope with the stressor that they were enduring. At least for those of them that were born from two humans, the x-gene an unknown until their powers developed. “So far she’s got...,telepathy, telekinesis, electromagnetism, phasin’ like Kitty, healin’, teleportation, and reality warping,” Rogue counted off on her hands. “She’d love some sorta puzzle though. Kitty used to get them for her back in Tumbleweed. She’s also real fond of magic tricks because of some friends we had there.” That was quite an array of powers - and definitely made things all discombobulated in terms of understanding how the x-gene worked. Because all of that just sounded like randomly picking from a hat, and Erik was confused - confused yet proud. Even if he didn’t really have any right to be, he supposed - but he still was. “I’ll do my best to impress her with my paltry puzzle,” he laughed a little, lightly, going for another sushi roll - spicy tuna this time. If nothing else, he’d have sufficiently cleared his sinuses before going back to work. “Thank you,” he added after a pause (to actually chew, since talking with one’s mouth full was rude). “For telling me.” It was sort of awkward to have to inform someone that you were as close as two people could possibly be - but Erik wasn’t expecting anything because of these revelations; he’d just see how it went. He didn’t feel pressured and he didn’t want Rogue to feel that way either. “You had a right to know. I just wasn’t entirely sure how to go about tellin’ you any of it,” she told him, snagging some more edamame. There weren’t exactly any self-help books on it out there and while she’d at least been able to talk it over with Zatanna and Caroline, exactly when to explain any of it had sort of been left up in the air. “And I’m sure she’ll like the puzzle just fine,” Rogue reassured him, though canted her head to the side as she considered that. “Though, if’n she don’t she’ll just manipulate it into some sorta animal to add to her lil collection she’s got goin’.” All woodland creatures at the moment in an attempt to persuade Rogue to take her to the forest, which just wasn’t going to happen. “How’s your job goin’ though? And that kid who’s bein’ your apprentice?” she asked, wanting to steer the conversation back to something else. He could make little metallic animal sculptures too, he supposed. Anything that would be endearing - the last thing Erik wanted was for his daughter (not-daughter?) to dislike him. But he’d consider that some more, and meet her whenever Rogue told him to come over. “It’s going well,” he said, referring to his job. “Keeps me busy and I get through the assignments just fine.” Working for Brigitte was pleasant too - she let him take on an apprentice, and seemed tickled at the idea of him teaching. Reminded him of Charles, in that sense - if only the man could see him now. No doubt he’d be offering up a great deal of ‘I told you so’s’ as well. “Noah - I’ve been showing him a few things. Our first art project was a tin can rose,” Erik shared. “Just to kind of introduce him to metalworking. Now we’re working on a steel butterfly. How about you?” he asked, leaving the rest of the edamame for her. “I imagine the DOA can be tricky to work for sometimes.” Whenever you involved politics, it always was. “I’m sure Noah will start sellin’ both of those things at the Barns durin’ the bi-weekly markets soon enough,” Rogue replied, making a mental note to seek out any booth the young man might set up. His glitter artwork had always been a hit with Anka Irene and no doubt she’d enjoy the metal sculptures as well. “I happily stick to my lil office in the back and just deal with the paperwork. Alexis does a good job handlin’ any PR that needs to happen and Caroline and Noctis deal with a lot of the political angles.” Rogue was content pushing paper, not wanting to get dragged into the rest of it. They were all good people at her office though. They all wanted to make the Outlanders’ lives better and help them live in the world they had been dumped into. Thankfully Vallo was a lot more accepting of them than the last place she’d lived. “I’ve done my fair share of political drama and even though there’s far less here than most places I’m good with not needin’ to be in charge of any of it.” A ghost of a smirk flickered across Erik’s face. “You and me both,” he admitted. He’d gone through sort of a whiplash when it came to that - spending ten years in solitary confinement meant that he felt as if he’d failed his brothers and sisters, that he’d failed to be the leader and the liberator they needed. Then trying to put himself back together failed as well - it wasn’t until Genosha that he started to feel as if he was finally on the right path. He didn’t have Genosha here, but he had ways to fill his days and that was good enough - maybe by now he’d even earned something of a simpler life, or most certainly a quieter one. Maybe another chance to not be the monster the universe had been so determined to morph him into. “Do you want to take the leftovers?” he asked then, motioning to what remained on the table. The check came and he paid it, slipping enough cash and a nice tip into the billfold. “I suppose - I ought to return to work. But this was nice.” They should do it again sometime? “If you’re sure you don’t want them then yes.” Between Anka Irene, Bamfy, and Ochaco, someone would end up eating them that night. Rogue’s money was on Bamfy. He had a nose for sushi and no problem teleporting into the fridge to claim it first. “But yeah, it was nice. You want to pick the next place?” Rogue asked before adding a quick, “If you’re wantin’ to do it again?” She should probably figure out when would be best for him to come and meet Anka Irene, but Rogue wanted to talk to her daughter first and explain everything before arranging that. “Please, go right ahead,” Erik waved toward the leftover sushi and the takeout containers that had been dropped off - he wasn’t a fan of food going to waste, so he was glad that eventually everything would be finished and would be going to a home with hearty appetites. “I’d be happy to pick the next place too.” That was a yes, by the way - he definitely wanted to do this again. He hadn’t been here as long as Rogue had been, but he could do some research and suggest a couple of places to potentially try. It was something good, and he needed more of that in his life. To say the least. |