(no subject)

[nola_cyclops]

Zach
Hey, how are you doing? If you're up for it, do you want to come over for chess and dinner with me and Oliver? We can talk about things, or not talk about them.



Katie
Hi, Katie. I just wanted to see if there's anything you need. I'm here for you, any time.



Oliver
Since I know you're not checking the spreadsheet: I have an overnight tomorrow. I'll miss you, Pietro. Love you.

Comments

[nola_beast]

I'd love to, but is watching us play chess going to be very fun for Oliver?

[nola_cyclops]

Ha! I don’t think he’d watch the chess, but he’d be around for the rest. Although I have started teaching him how to play.

[nola_beast]

You must be very serious; I've never managed to talk a partner into learning. Also, what should I bring? Dessert?

[nola_cyclops]

He even asked me to teach him. Dessert would be great, thank you. How are you feeling?

[nola_beast]

He asked? Are you sure it's not a trick? And I'm feeling all right. It's actually very odd to look at my classroom full of students and know none of them will turn out to be mutants.

[nola_cyclops]

It might have been a trick, he asked right after we met Jean. But I’m holding him to it.

That would be odd. It’s strange to know we couldn’t exist here.

[nola_beast]

That must have been so awkward.

In the other universe we were just building a culture of our own, and to not have it here at all makes this situation feel more alien. And of course, a lot of my identity was wrapped up in being a very visible mutant. It's simply surreal.

[nola_cyclops]

Oh, it was. I blacked out for a second and invited her to move in with us. Which disturbed everyone.

Yes! Yes. Exactly. I do feel like I’ve lost a part of myself without my mutation, and I miss it. and my whole life was built around our people. Having this job I have feels like a luxury and a little bit of a waste, even though I love it so much. I’m not helping anyone or making any difference with it.

[nola_beast]

That's incredibly in character for you, but I don't recall getting a similar invitation...

I don't suppose there are my careers that allow you to fly needy children around full-time.

[nola_cyclops]

Ha! Well we have a spare room now for strategy, and Oliver knows i want to fill it with mutants. You’re welcome in it, but he might try to force you out!

Well, actually. If we stay here, I’ll have to change my career.

[nola_beast]

I'm good for the present, so Oliver doesn't have to worry.

To something more fulfilling?

[nola_cyclops]

He’ll be even happier for you to visit if you’re going to leave at the end of the night!

Yes. Something that makes the world better. I can’t turn off that part of myself; it’s been gone too long. I should be helping people who need it.

[nola_beast]

Ha! To be fair, that's usually how I prefer my guests as well.

Do you have any ideas of what you'd want to do?

[nola_cyclops]

So do I, when I'm not trying to save the world from a threat we haven't even defined!

I'm not sure. I don't want to get too far ahead of myself in case this all goes away and I go back to the old life.

[nola_beast]

Which old life? The one where you're Cyclops, or the one where you're Sam and remember none of this?

[nola_cyclops]

The one where I'm Cyclops. I hadn't thought about being Sam and forgetting Scott.

[nola_beast]

If we forgot once, I don't see why we couldn't again.

[nola_cyclops]

That's true. It's hard to predict what will happen when we don't know why it's happened.

[nola_beast]

The not knowing is my least favorite part.

[nola_cyclops]

Mine too. I feel like the worst is still to come.

[nola_beast]

I wish Bobby were here to make a joke.

[nola_cyclops]

Me too.