Three Kinds of Learning & The Stuff National Anthems Are Made Of by luchia (R)
Title: Three Kinds of Learning & sequel The Stuff National Anthems Are Made Of
Fandom: X-Men: First Class
Pairing: Charles Xavier/Erik Lehnsherr
Categories: AU, Action/Adventure, Drama, Humor, Romance, Family, Kids
Length: Long (16,531 + 19,008 words)
Warnings: in part per author's LJ masterpost, graphic violence, kidnapping, slavery, anti-mutant & homophobic bigotry, lots and lots of NPCs dying
Author on LJ: luchia13
Author Website:
luchia / Ultimate Master List of Doom
Author's Summary:
Erik intends to recruit Raven's supposedly amazing, all-powerful older brother. Instead, he finds himself dealing with Charles Xavier, a weak, tweed-addled professor who seems to think powers don't matter nearly as much as personality. Erik's misconceptions are blown apart when Raven goes missing.
[In the sequel,] Charles and Erik, unintentional co-rulers of the newly-formed Independent Sanctuary of Genosha, have a multi-national navy surrounding their island. Charles takes on the UN, leaving Erik to take on fatherhood and a brand new kind of responsibility, and together, they take on the first true enemy of Genosha.
Review:
Erik tries to recruit Raven's brother Charles to the Brotherhood; Charles, not impressed with Erik's ideology, deflects and distracts him and the recruitment mostly turns into a (frequently drunken) vacation for Erik. Erik doesn't much mind, since he's bemused, frustrated, bewildered, intrigued and charmed by Charles at turns. That all changes when they discover Raven has been kidnapped and uncover the horror that is the current (mutant enslaving) government of Genosha. In saving Raven, they also save all the mutants of Genosha and unintentionally end up as leaders of a new nation, and having to defend said nation from anti-mutant bigotry and attacks. This involves Charles going before the United Nations while Erik stays in Genosha to keep an eye on their adoptive kids and visiting delegates from the UN, not all of whom are as they seem.
Despite the somewhat serious sounding description, the stories is also humorous, particularly in characterizations. I really enjoyed the banter between Erik and Charles (and Raven when she was around). The first story is half romantic comedy, half thrilling and disturbing rescue caper, while the second story is part political thriller, part (surprise!) family drama, with a bit of romance and humor thrown in.
Beware, there are some fairly graphic deaths, mostly Erik vs bad guys, that may be disturbing to readers.
Excerpt from Three Kids of Learning:"You're not going to let yourself be recruited, are you."
"You're looking for a follower," Charles says. "An acolyte. I'm not sure I could be that, even for you and Raven." Erik looks at him, and he can see that strange Charles that only comes out when he and Raven have had those barely-avoided fights. It's a version of Charles that Erik could actually believe the stories of. "And I don't like how important my supposedly wonderful abilities are so important to you."
"You don't trust me," Erik infers.
"I don't." Charles sighs. "I think I could learn to, but I don't."
Erik had already known this, already known that Raven could push Charles only so far. It makes him worry, makes him think about all the ways someone could hurt Charles if there's nobody around to protect him, but he nods. "That's fine," Erik says. "Just know the offer is always on the table."
He trusts Charles to understand. No matter how ridiculous, pointless, or harmless his power may be, Erik would always take him in if he asked.
Excerpt from The Stuff National Anthems Are Made Of:One year ago, if someone had told Erik Lehnsherr that he would be in charge of a country made almost entirely of mutants, he'd have been thrilled. If someone had told Erik that he'd actually be co-ruler, but the other ruler was his very attractive telepathic male fiancé, he would have been...dubious, but pleased. If someone had told him he'd be practically married and taking care of twelve mutant children, and then also an entire island full of mutants who act like children even when they're in their seventies, Erik would have thrown them out of a window.
As it is, Erik is still tempted to throw someone out of a window. Particularly since the window is now a gaping hole in the wall of an already structurally unsound building.
How To Be Co-Ruler Of Your Own Country Without Really Trying series masterpost
Three Kinds of Learning
The Stuff National Anthems Are Made Of
Fandom: X-Men: First Class
Pairing: Charles Xavier/Erik Lehnsherr
Categories: AU, Action/Adventure, Drama, Humor, Romance, Family, Kids
Length: Long (16,531 + 19,008 words)
Warnings: in part per author's LJ masterpost, graphic violence, kidnapping, slavery, anti-mutant & homophobic bigotry, lots and lots of NPCs dying
Author on LJ: luchia13
Author Website:
luchia / Ultimate Master List of Doom
Author's Summary:
Erik intends to recruit Raven's supposedly amazing, all-powerful older brother. Instead, he finds himself dealing with Charles Xavier, a weak, tweed-addled professor who seems to think powers don't matter nearly as much as personality. Erik's misconceptions are blown apart when Raven goes missing.
[In the sequel,] Charles and Erik, unintentional co-rulers of the newly-formed Independent Sanctuary of Genosha, have a multi-national navy surrounding their island. Charles takes on the UN, leaving Erik to take on fatherhood and a brand new kind of responsibility, and together, they take on the first true enemy of Genosha.
Review:
Erik tries to recruit Raven's brother Charles to the Brotherhood; Charles, not impressed with Erik's ideology, deflects and distracts him and the recruitment mostly turns into a (frequently drunken) vacation for Erik. Erik doesn't much mind, since he's bemused, frustrated, bewildered, intrigued and charmed by Charles at turns. That all changes when they discover Raven has been kidnapped and uncover the horror that is the current (mutant enslaving) government of Genosha. In saving Raven, they also save all the mutants of Genosha and unintentionally end up as leaders of a new nation, and having to defend said nation from anti-mutant bigotry and attacks. This involves Charles going before the United Nations while Erik stays in Genosha to keep an eye on their adoptive kids and visiting delegates from the UN, not all of whom are as they seem.
Despite the somewhat serious sounding description, the stories is also humorous, particularly in characterizations. I really enjoyed the banter between Erik and Charles (and Raven when she was around). The first story is half romantic comedy, half thrilling and disturbing rescue caper, while the second story is part political thriller, part (surprise!) family drama, with a bit of romance and humor thrown in.
Beware, there are some fairly graphic deaths, mostly Erik vs bad guys, that may be disturbing to readers.
Excerpt from Three Kids of Learning:"You're not going to let yourself be recruited, are you."
"You're looking for a follower," Charles says. "An acolyte. I'm not sure I could be that, even for you and Raven." Erik looks at him, and he can see that strange Charles that only comes out when he and Raven have had those barely-avoided fights. It's a version of Charles that Erik could actually believe the stories of. "And I don't like how important my supposedly wonderful abilities are so important to you."
"You don't trust me," Erik infers.
"I don't." Charles sighs. "I think I could learn to, but I don't."
Erik had already known this, already known that Raven could push Charles only so far. It makes him worry, makes him think about all the ways someone could hurt Charles if there's nobody around to protect him, but he nods. "That's fine," Erik says. "Just know the offer is always on the table."
He trusts Charles to understand. No matter how ridiculous, pointless, or harmless his power may be, Erik would always take him in if he asked.
Excerpt from The Stuff National Anthems Are Made Of:One year ago, if someone had told Erik Lehnsherr that he would be in charge of a country made almost entirely of mutants, he'd have been thrilled. If someone had told Erik that he'd actually be co-ruler, but the other ruler was his very attractive telepathic male fiancé, he would have been...dubious, but pleased. If someone had told him he'd be practically married and taking care of twelve mutant children, and then also an entire island full of mutants who act like children even when they're in their seventies, Erik would have thrown them out of a window.
As it is, Erik is still tempted to throw someone out of a window. Particularly since the window is now a gaping hole in the wall of an already structurally unsound building.
How To Be Co-Ruler Of Your Own Country Without Really Trying series masterpost
Three Kinds of Learning
The Stuff National Anthems Are Made Of