Prompt Post: ROUND TWO

[oakenshields13]

ROUND TWO IS CLOSED

<< ROUND ONE | ALL ROUNDS | ROUND THREE >>

Rules post.

Flat view.

ROUND TWO: Updates Post (WIPs only)

ROUND TWO: Fills Post (completed Fills only)

damalur's firstclasskink on Delicious.
Volunteers always welcome.

Please use the Discussion Post if you want to talk about community alterations or get my modly attention. Do not

Comments

FILL: Date Night (3/?)

[anonymous]

The restaurant is exceedingly posh and Erik can only hope that his credit card won't be declined. He knows that Charles would never think less of him, that the man will certainly try to insist upon paying the bill himself, but it's a matter of principle.

Erik watches Charles hand away his tweed coat, knowing that he'll never see it again.

The hostess leads them to a table in the corner and Erik pulls out Charles' chair, manually, even though the metal screws and hinges holding it together are singing to him. Charles thanks him, his eyes twinkling, like he understands the joke.

Over drinks, Charles tells him about meeting Raven, about how they grew up together in the huge, half-empty house, playing tricks on Charles' unkind step-father who only ever thought about money when he thought of Charles' mother.

Erik finds himself talking about his own mother, about the bright new-old memories Charles has helped him recover by teaching him the balance between serenity and anger. Charles reaches across the table to hold his hand for a brief moment before the waitress sets down their entrees.

And, of course, Charles talks about science. Erik doesn't quite understand most of what Charles says about gametes and chromosomes, but he does follow the bit where Charles says, with endearing enthusiasm, "Mutation took us from single cells organisms to being the dominant form of reproductive life on this planet. Infinite forms of variation with each generation, all through mutation." Charles runs a hand through the waves of his hair and smiles at Erik. "And you, my friend, have a very groovy mutation," he says. Their waitress, who is refilling the wine glasses, snorts loudly and spills a bit on Erik's shirt.

"Oh, shit," she says. "I'm so sorry."

"It's fine," Erik says, as she tries to dab at him with a napkin, "Can you point me toward the restrooms?"

Erik almost has a heart attack when he turns the corner that apparently leads to the restrooms and half trips over Hank, Sean and Alex, who have somehow acquired busboy aprons and are busily sorting silverware.

"Look," Alex says, trying to stop a fork from stabbing him in the jugular, "We were worried, okay?"

"I assume Raven is still here somewhere?" Erik says, rubbing his temples to stave off a migraine.

"She knocked out your waitress and took her place so she could make sure you were taking Hank's advice about not blanking out while the Professor told you about his thesis," Alex says.

Erik thinks he would be more touched at the children's obvious investment in his and Charles' relationship if it didn't imply such a lack of confidence in his abilities.

Erik sighs and decides to make the best of things. He looks at Hank who pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose nervously, the way he usually does when Erik focuses attention on him. "At times I have very little idea what Charles is talking about," Erik admits. He doesn't admit to being distracted by the shape of Charles' lips or the brightness of his eyes as he expounds on what he clearly considers a particularly fine point. "What would be an appropriate response to 'according to the law of independent assortment the chromosomes that end up in the newly created gamete are arranged at random from all potential combinations of maternal and paternal chromosomes.'"

Hank immediately lights up. "He's talking to you about Mendelism and inheritance? I wanted to speak with him about just that subject. I'm doing an experiment on..." he trails off, making an abortive movement toward where Charles is waiting at the table, as if Charles wouldn't notice him taking Erik's place and continuing the conversation in his stead.

Erik puts a subduing hand on his chest. "Just give me an intelligent sentence I can reasonably interject when he finally pauses for a breath."

Hank considers. "Ask him what the chances are that the child of a mutant will inherit the allele which resulted in the parent's mutation."

Re: FILL: Date Night (3/?)

[anonymous]

Lol @ spy busboys XD