[fic] xm: fc - put pen to paper - PLAIN TEXT VERSION

[pocky_slash]

Title: Put Pen to Paper
Fandom: X-Men: First Class
Characters: Charles/Erik
Rating: PG
Length: ~800 + images
Summary: In the long four months spent away researching his book, Charles decides to keep in touch with Erik the old fashioned way.

Notes: For
ricochet in the airmail_first_class exchange on DW. I'm not good at drawing, but I wanted something fun and physical for the exchange so I came up with this.

This is the plain text version! The version with images embedded is here. Each description below links to the image in question.

[a postcard with a map of the Boston T]

*

The opposite side of the card:

Dear Erik,
I miss you already. Is that silly? I'm writing this at South Station while I wait for the T, so it's not even as if it's been that long. It feels long.
I don't mean to be a sap--I know you hate that. But it's going to be a long semester away and Skype just isn't the same.
I love you and I'll call you tonight. (I'll call you every night, so it doesn't matter when you get this.) Remember to water my plants!
Love,
Charles

***

[a blank white postcard]

*

The opposite side of the card:

You seriously sent me a postcard of the T?
-E

***

[a postcard depicting the gates of Harvard University]

*

The opposite side of the card:

You seriously sent me a blank postcard and couldn't even be bothered to write how much you adore me and how your heart is breaking in my prolonged absence?

***

[a blank white postcard]

*

The opposite side of the card:

That's just playing dirty. You're practically living on the campus of my alma mater and you send a HARVARD postcard?
-E

***

[a postcard of a street in Back Bay, Boston with a magnolia tree]

*

The opposite side of the card:

I'm still waiting for a confession of undying love.
♥,
Charles

***

[the front of a greeting card that says:]

There's a term for how much I think of you

*

The inside of the card:

restraining order

♥,
E

***

[a postcard of the MIT campus]

*

The opposite side of the card:

Dear Erik,

I suppose that's acceptable. The first few weeks have flown by. I'm getting some fascinating insights into my book. One of the lab techs reminds me of you. However, it turns out that without your tendency to occasionally cater to my whims, your personality is far less attractive.
Eleven weeks until I'm done, four weeks until you visit, three hours until you get home from work and I can call you to complain about Doctor Who.
Love,
Charles

***

[a postcard of an illustration of a pigeon]

*

The opposite side of the card:

Five days since all of those things happened. Really, Charles, carrier pigeons would actually be faster.

-E
PS: Thank you for the concession to my pride. Though, admittedly, I suppose Harvard does make a prettier postcard.

***

[a postcard of Fenway Park, a baseball stadium]

*

The opposite side of the card:

Erik,

I like to assault you with communication on all fronts. Are you remembering to water my plants?
I actually went to a baseball game yesterday. It really is a fascinating sport.
All my love,
Charles>

***

[a postcard of Albert Einstein holding an MIT pennant]

*

The opposite side of the card:

If I promise to water your plants, do you promise to never talk about baseball again?

-E

***

[a postcard overlooking Cambridge, MA]

*

The opposite side of the card:

I'm just trying to get into the spirit of our adopted country.

(Also, Red Sox fans are even more obnoxious and frightening than Yankees fans.)

I'm counting down the days until you arrive. I hope you know this trip doesn't exclude you from getting me a real birthday present.

Yours,
Charles

***

[the front of a birthday card]:

Being known as the "fun one" of the group is a good thing. Unless you're in prison.

*

The inside of the card:

Charles,

Happy Birthday.
Avoid prison.

At least until I'm there to bail you out.

Love you.
See you soon,
E

***

[a postcard depicting a street in Beacon Hill, Boston]

*

The opposite side of the card:

Erik,
Your card arrived today and you don't arrive until tomorrow. You won't see this until you've already seen me. Mail is a funny thing, isn't it?

You're sometimes very sweet, Erik.

You've probably just walked inside and paged through the mail. You're probably tired from the train. The you in the future has just seen the me in the future, but this me in the past is wishing I could speed up the clocks. I miss you. I miss you now, and I'll already be missing you again then.

Love you,
Charles

***

[a greeting card with two stick figures on the front]:

I find your affection overbearing

*

The inside of the card:

I tolerate it.
♥

I miss you too.

♥,
E

***

[a postcard of sailboats on the Charles River with the Boston skyline behind them]

*

The opposite side of the card:

Erik,

I love you too, darling. I may have had a bit to drink before I wrote that last card.

Four weeks to go. I found the note you left in my underwear drawer. Very mature.

Love,
Charles

***

[a postcard of the surface of Mars]

*

The opposite side of the card:

Right now it's the only way I can get in your pants, unfortunately.

-E

***

[a postcard of the Boston skyline at sunrise]

*

The opposite side of the card:

My god, that's low, even for you. Puns, Erik? Really? You really are suffering in my absence.

Thank you for the photos of my plants and the skyline and the bed. I'll be joining you soon. Three weeks! I think I just about have everything I need for this chapter, but best to double check before I leave.

Love you,
Charles

***

[a black postcard with a picture of a cartoon ghost]

*

The opposite side of the card:

Triple check, please. Taking care of your plants has been quite burdensome and I'd hate to have to do it again.

-E

***

[a postcard of Jamaica Pond in Jamaica Plain, Boston]

*

The opposite side of the card:

Well, I've just finished packing the last of the boxes. It's amazing how many things one accumulates in just sixteen weeks. I do believe I'm bringing home rather more than I left with, and I hope there's enough space to accommodate it all.

One week. It's hardly any time at all. I just tried to call you, but it rang through to voicemail, so I suppose I'll make dinner and try you again.

I imagine this is the last postcard. Thank you, my dear, for tolerating my whims in this and everything else.

All my love,
Charles

***

[a notecard with a green wood pattern on the front]

*

The opposite side of the card:

Welcome home. I missed you. I love you.

Love always,
Erik

*****

Notes: Erik and Charles' address in New York is my favorite New York bookstore. Charles' address in Cambridge is my favorite Boston-area bookstore. All the words were written by me, both in the "I am the author of this piece" sense and the "I physically wrote those words on postcards" sense. My regular handwriting is a slightly messier version of Charles'. Thanks to brilligspoons for indulging me in this madness on a very slow work day in early August.