001 ♞ [ video ] → you'll wake the thought police

[oxidantshappen]

[ Evening Abax. Have a very... very familiar face on your phones fishing out a lighter from his pocket as he peers down at the object, debating how to proceed with what's guaranteed to be a highly awkward conversation. It's evening and Erik's sitting at a rather empty table in the middle of what appears to be a cafe, chewing on the tip of a

Comments

[doomhoops]

video;

[ Just... staring. Really, Erik? Really? An arched eyebrow and the dryest of dry tones. ]

Get a mirror?

[oxidantshappen]

[ In all honestly, Erik's expected this coming, but it doesn't shake off the particularly jarring feeling that people still prefer his other half over this. Erik spoke calmly, tone relaxed despite Alex's clear insinuation to the contrary. ]

If I was looking for myself, perhaps. But clearly that's not who I'm after.

[doomhoops]

[ A pause and it clicks with him. Not his Erik here. Another new one. ]

...You another Erik clone, then? [ Despite how he might... kind of suspect that theory might be true, it's said mostly as a sarcastic off-hand comment. Clone = instadisapproval. Well, as long as they're not the other Charles, seeing as he's kind of starting to like that one. Whatever. ]

[oxidantshappen]

[ Erik scoffs at the term. Really? ] As apt as the term may be, I can assure you I'm far from a clone just yet.

[decanonized]

[Video]

[Just. Eyeing that face. Seriously, life?]

What happened now?

[oxidantshappen]

[ Erik's not sorry about your life. At all. ]

Nothing's happened, at least not to me in particular. I take it you think I'm the same Erik you're familiar with.

[decanonized]

[Eyebrow going up.]

...No. Ju- Come on.

[oxidantshappen]

[ He'll play nice in the meantime because he anticipated the confusion, which was the main reason why Erik had put off this conversation for so long. ]

If you're going to articulate, I'd suggest you do it. [ Erik speaks calmly, with the tone of educating a child, despite the apparent air of frustration that will come between them. ] Or would you rather I put together the words you're failing to string along?

[geminates]

Whuh--

[eloquent, as always]

You mean you're ..not? Erik Lehnsherr?

[oxidantshappen]

On the contrary, my dear, I am. [ He'll smile pleasantly before returning his attention to the smoke in hand. ] Though as I'm sure you're aware by now, I'm certainly not the one you're aware of.

[geminates]

Oh. [Mildly paranoid here, but why would he lie? Charles has a double... Now she's just curious what the differences are.]

Like Charles, right. Um. Hello.

I'm Raven.

[oxidantshappen]

[ He nods in acknowledgement, turning back to the cigarette in his hand. If this particular woman knows Erik then it wouldn't be too far off for him to gain answers from her. ]

If you don't mind, could you tell me a fair bit about this Erik of yours? It seems shared names and looks only go so far.

[glovedtouch]

[Video]

You sort'a look like him. Well the younger version. But there's also a crazy guy that looks like him. [Not another one. Two Charles' she can handle. Not two Erik's.]

[oxidantshappen]

[ He expected as much from that response, what with having been told of this other Erik beforehand. At the very least, he can take that off his do not question list - the simple fact that they look the same. ]

You must mean Burke, don't you? I rather expected I'd look like my actual counterpart. It would be quite a shame if I didn't though.

[glovedtouch]

So you are Erik Lehnsherr. Are you Magneto? [Not that it makes much of a difference. He could still be capable of the same attrocities. Could be. That is a lot more leeway than she's offered the other Erik.]

[oxidantshappen]

Never heard of that name. [ Nor does he care to. As far as Erik is concerned, his interest lies only with being upfront about their names. ] I take it that's what this other Erik calls himself?

[justabitoffun]

[Audio]

Oh, so there's two of you now is there?

[oxidantshappen]

At least someone's figured that out quickly. Of course there are, unlikely as it seems.

[justabitoffun]

Oh, I am acutely aware of how likely it is despite common conceptions. You're not much of a surprise at all.

[oxidantshappen]

[ Erik only laughs at that, a brief moment of derision before he continues. ] I suppose that's good for the both of us, then? Wouldn't want to make a scene here when everyone has me mistaken.