Exit Strategy
Title: Exit Strategy
Verse: Movieverse, post-X2, in total denial of pre-X3
Characters: Erik/Mystique
Rating: PG
Notes: Written for xmenflashfic Challenge #39, Midterms
Summary: Erik and Mystique discuss Senator Kelly's campaign strategy.
Words: 575
Mystique reaches across the table to brush Erik's hand. She's currently posing as an elegant older woman. The other diners at the restaurant probably think they're celebrating an anniversary; they probably feel all warm and fuzzy at the sight of this testimony to the enduring power of love. The other diners at the restaurant probably don't know how badly she'd like to kill them.
The restaurant was carefully chosen as a meeting point. It is nice but not too nice; no real movers and shakers will be here, but the food will not be appalling. It is far enough outside the Beltway that Mystique is unlikely to see any of her unpleasant co-workers, but it is close enough that she'll be able to speak before the Senate tomorrow morning.
"So, my dear," Erik says, "have you heard the latest polls?"
Mystique's smile is a tad sharper than you'd expect to see on most seventy-year-old women. Mystique is not most seventy-year-old women. "Senator Kelly is leading by five points."
"Indeed. Quite a strike for mutant rights, the Senator's re-election would be."
"Of course, the mid-term elections are still a week away. Anything could happen."
"Anything could," Erik agrees, "but I think Kelly has what it takes."
"I don't know. Greg Jacobs has been steadily gaining among Kelly's more conservative constituents. Of course," she smirks, "One can only imagine how Mr. Jacobs' potential constituents would react if some photos of him with some sweet young thing somehow emerged."
Erik is unable to suppress a laugh. "Heavens, no! Jacobs always struck me as such an upstanding fellow... active in church, Little League, and the Friends of Humanity... couldn't imagine he'd be anything but faithful to his wife."
She shrugs. "Some would say it isn't cheating if it's with a man."
"Well, I for one refuse to believe such things of Gregory Jacobs unless I see photographic evidence, perhaps in Thursday's paper."
Their waiter arrives and clears away their plates. Erik requests more wine, and the waiter smiles indulgently. "Of course, sir. For your wife, too?"
Erik simply nods, but part of Mystique wishes he had said, "Oh no, she's not my wife, just my lover and the co-leader of my terrorist organization." He probably would have chalked it up to senility.
"You know," Mystique says, "I've been thinking. What good is Senator Kelly actually doing for... for the mutants?"
Erik raises an eyebrow. "He's been the major opponent of the Mutant Registration Act."
"Of course. But the Act was defeated. Perhaps... he could do more good outside of the Senate."
"Surely you don't think the Mutant Registration Act will be the last legislative attack on mutants. Senator Kelly must lead the opposition."
"Of course. But he's not the only anti-mutant senator."
"But he is the most well-known, the most effective. No, I believe Senator Kelly still has an important role to play in American politics."
Mystique nods, once. It's a conversation they'll repeat later, in less-veiled terms, but for now the waiter is here and Erik is paying the check, and there's a slightly dingy motel room awaiting them. She might as well enjoy this night of freedom, rather than waste it thinking about the potential years imprisoned in Kelly's body that await her. Erik is right, of course, he's always right, and she should just do her part for the cause and stop thinking about all the ways she could throw the election in the opposite direction.
Verse: Movieverse, post-X2, in total denial of pre-X3
Characters: Erik/Mystique
Rating: PG
Notes: Written for xmenflashfic Challenge #39, Midterms
Summary: Erik and Mystique discuss Senator Kelly's campaign strategy.
Words: 575
Mystique reaches across the table to brush Erik's hand. She's currently posing as an elegant older woman. The other diners at the restaurant probably think they're celebrating an anniversary; they probably feel all warm and fuzzy at the sight of this testimony to the enduring power of love. The other diners at the restaurant probably don't know how badly she'd like to kill them.
The restaurant was carefully chosen as a meeting point. It is nice but not too nice; no real movers and shakers will be here, but the food will not be appalling. It is far enough outside the Beltway that Mystique is unlikely to see any of her unpleasant co-workers, but it is close enough that she'll be able to speak before the Senate tomorrow morning.
"So, my dear," Erik says, "have you heard the latest polls?"
Mystique's smile is a tad sharper than you'd expect to see on most seventy-year-old women. Mystique is not most seventy-year-old women. "Senator Kelly is leading by five points."
"Indeed. Quite a strike for mutant rights, the Senator's re-election would be."
"Of course, the mid-term elections are still a week away. Anything could happen."
"Anything could," Erik agrees, "but I think Kelly has what it takes."
"I don't know. Greg Jacobs has been steadily gaining among Kelly's more conservative constituents. Of course," she smirks, "One can only imagine how Mr. Jacobs' potential constituents would react if some photos of him with some sweet young thing somehow emerged."
Erik is unable to suppress a laugh. "Heavens, no! Jacobs always struck me as such an upstanding fellow... active in church, Little League, and the Friends of Humanity... couldn't imagine he'd be anything but faithful to his wife."
She shrugs. "Some would say it isn't cheating if it's with a man."
"Well, I for one refuse to believe such things of Gregory Jacobs unless I see photographic evidence, perhaps in Thursday's paper."
Their waiter arrives and clears away their plates. Erik requests more wine, and the waiter smiles indulgently. "Of course, sir. For your wife, too?"
Erik simply nods, but part of Mystique wishes he had said, "Oh no, she's not my wife, just my lover and the co-leader of my terrorist organization." He probably would have chalked it up to senility.
"You know," Mystique says, "I've been thinking. What good is Senator Kelly actually doing for... for the mutants?"
Erik raises an eyebrow. "He's been the major opponent of the Mutant Registration Act."
"Of course. But the Act was defeated. Perhaps... he could do more good outside of the Senate."
"Surely you don't think the Mutant Registration Act will be the last legislative attack on mutants. Senator Kelly must lead the opposition."
"Of course. But he's not the only anti-mutant senator."
"But he is the most well-known, the most effective. No, I believe Senator Kelly still has an important role to play in American politics."
Mystique nods, once. It's a conversation they'll repeat later, in less-veiled terms, but for now the waiter is here and Erik is paying the check, and there's a slightly dingy motel room awaiting them. She might as well enjoy this night of freedom, rather than waste it thinking about the potential years imprisoned in Kelly's body that await her. Erik is right, of course, he's always right, and she should just do her part for the cause and stop thinking about all the ways she could throw the election in the opposite direction.