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There has to be someone here who you've met that you feel you can turn to.
[ Thing is, he probably has a few people but Scott doesn't want to burden them with this. Non-mutants will never understand their plight. What they go through.
His next reply comes a little quicker than others. ]
I'll be fine, Professor.
If it helps, I'll come find you when it's too much.
[ Thing is, he's not sure about this either. But if it will help ease Charles' worries even a little, he'll tell him what he'd like to know. ]
His next reply comes a little quicker than others. ]
I'll be fine, Professor.
If it helps, I'll come find you when it's too much.
[ Thing is, he's not sure about this either. But if it will help ease Charles' worries even a little, he'll tell him what he'd like to know. ]
You could come find me for any reason. Even no reason. My door is always open to you.
[ It's hard to be spiraling down while being angry at someone you respected, admired, and loved. While also mindful of not disappointing them. This is all very complicated in a way Scott never expected. And yet here he is wallowing in his own misery.
His next reply doesn't come late. ]
I know.
[ It's tough to reconcile his love for Charles and the feeling of betrayal that's still simmering under the surface. ]
His next reply doesn't come late. ]
I know.
[ It's tough to reconcile his love for Charles and the feeling of betrayal that's still simmering under the surface. ]
[ When he receives this message, Scott takes five hours before replying. Mostly because he needs to drink to somehow be alright with the fact Charles is apologizing to him for letting him down. Even when Scott has every right to feel betrayed. ]
I forgive you, Professor. But I need time.
[ To forget. To accept his fate in the future. To be alright with the fact that this was hidden from him. ]
I forgive you, Professor. But I need time.
[ To forget. To accept his fate in the future. To be alright with the fact that this was hidden from him. ]
[ Charles is feeling many things about this, none of them good, all of them guilty or regretful, but worried above all things. In truth, he's glad Scott replied to him in the first place, but what to say or do to make this better is beyond him.]
I don't want you to be alone.
I know he's Magneto, but I also know that Erik cares for you, and he was upset about your situation. Would you consider reaching out to him if you have no one else?
I don't want you to be alone.
I know he's Magneto, but I also know that Erik cares for you, and he was upset about your situation. Would you consider reaching out to him if you have no one else?
[ The mention of Erik surprises Scott a little. While he's generally fine with the guy, and actually managed to let him in that one time, he's one of the last person he'd want to confide in or turn to. Even when he doesn't doubt Charles' words. ]
I don't think so.
I'm fine alone. [ Sorry, Charles. He's going to be pretty stubborn about this. ]
I don't think so.
I'm fine alone. [ Sorry, Charles. He's going to be pretty stubborn about this. ]
You're not alone, Scott. Not really. Just remember that.
[ Scott almost replied another I know to Charles' text, but he ultimately deletes it, and chooses not to reply at all. Sorry Charles. It's hard to remember he's not alone when he feels like he is, consumed by a kind of grief and anger he can't quite get a hold of. Can't quite fathom during some days.
In the end, he's just not ready to come out of being a hermit. Not when his misery clouds his judgment. ]
In the end, he's just not ready to come out of being a hermit. Not when his misery clouds his judgment. ]
[ Upon receiving the time and place, Scott only sends a brief Got it before stowing away his phone. True enough, he does make Cable wait. Ever since spiraling down once he heard his and Jean's terrible fate back home, Scott has never been early for anything. Meetups, replying to messages, etc. This one's no different.
Arriving at the location, however, Scott's surprised it's not a bar, as he dismounts from his bike to look around. He easily spots Cable on one of the benches, though, approaching him with hands inside his pockets. It's becoming increasingly cold in Panorama over the past few weeks. ]
Thought we're meeting for a drink. [ He doesn't sit beside the man, averting his gaze to wander through the surrounding area. ]
Arriving at the location, however, Scott's surprised it's not a bar, as he dismounts from his bike to look around. He easily spots Cable on one of the benches, though, approaching him with hands inside his pockets. It's becoming increasingly cold in Panorama over the past few weeks. ]
Thought we're meeting for a drink. [ He doesn't sit beside the man, averting his gaze to wander through the surrounding area. ]
You'll want one when we're done. [Cryptically. He doesn't love sitting while his father is standing, doesn't sit well with the orderly part of his brain. But he's also stubborn like his father, so he rests his elbows on his knees like he's comfortable here.
He looks up at Scott, searching his expression for a moment. His mouth is going dry, so he better start talking.]
Listen-- I was harder on you than I should have been when I found you at the bar. [He pauses briefly, but he's obviously searching for words.]
I was surprised.
He looks up at Scott, searching his expression for a moment. His mouth is going dry, so he better start talking.]
Listen-- I was harder on you than I should have been when I found you at the bar. [He pauses briefly, but he's obviously searching for words.]
I was surprised.
[ Okay yeah, that's a bit cryptic, but it only earns a semi-raised brow from Scott as his gaze returns to Cable. At this point, nothing surprises him anymore. What could possibly be worse than the things he experienced here + knowing he and Jean are dead (or going to die) back home? Is there another apocalypse? Did they get all wiped out in an alternate reality? He doubts anything could be worse than those things.
What probably actually surprises him was that admission. He didn't anticipate Cable, who is nothing but gruff and grumpy, to backtrack on his treatment of him that night. ]
Is that an apology? [ Probably this man's way of doing it? He's been around taciturn individuals (see Logan) so he has an idea. ] Why were you surprised?
What probably actually surprises him was that admission. He didn't anticipate Cable, who is nothing but gruff and grumpy, to backtrack on his treatment of him that night. ]
Is that an apology? [ Probably this man's way of doing it? He's been around taciturn individuals (see Logan) so he has an idea. ] Why were you surprised?
It's an acknowledgement. [Firmly, because Scott vomited on his boots so he considers this to be a balanced approach.
He shifts back just a little, jaw tightening while he thinks of how to approach this. In his mind, it's only for Scott's benefit that he's trying to gentle it instead of just saying it. Absolutely not because he feels deeply nervous.]
I've told you I'm from further along than you, right? [He gives Scott a questioning look, checking his understanding.]
I knew about you before you knew me-- from stories. Legacy. [Not just Scott, in fairness. But he's always had a particular fondness for stories about Cyclops.]
You, Jean.. You didn't die like that. Not in my world.
He shifts back just a little, jaw tightening while he thinks of how to approach this. In his mind, it's only for Scott's benefit that he's trying to gentle it instead of just saying it. Absolutely not because he feels deeply nervous.]
I've told you I'm from further along than you, right? [He gives Scott a questioning look, checking his understanding.]
I knew about you before you knew me-- from stories. Legacy. [Not just Scott, in fairness. But he's always had a particular fondness for stories about Cyclops.]
You, Jean.. You didn't die like that. Not in my world.
Edited 2025-10-04 22:03 (UTC)
[ Acknowledgment. He can work with that, so he doesn't comment on it. Scott also only nods when Cable asks if he knows the other man's from further ahead. He and Wade, from what he can recall. Laura, too, of course. He mostly confirmed these from either Logan or Charles really.
Stories. Legacy. Almost akin to the comic books Laura mentioned before. What catches his full attention, though, as both his brows shoot up in surprise is that he and Jean didn't die like that. ]
Huh. But we still died, right? [ There's no pain in his tone when he asks. He's been wallowing in his own misery for more than a month now. Emotional exhaustion doesn't come close some days. Hands falling to his hips, Scott just sighs. ]
If you're gonna tell me another version of how we died, I think I get the picture. [ That he and Jean would never live in any version of the future. That they're always doomed somehow in any alternate timeline. His tone's a bit dismissive when he says this as he looks away again. ]
Stories. Legacy. Almost akin to the comic books Laura mentioned before. What catches his full attention, though, as both his brows shoot up in surprise is that he and Jean didn't die like that. ]
Huh. But we still died, right? [ There's no pain in his tone when he asks. He's been wallowing in his own misery for more than a month now. Emotional exhaustion doesn't come close some days. Hands falling to his hips, Scott just sighs. ]
If you're gonna tell me another version of how we died, I think I get the picture. [ That he and Jean would never live in any version of the future. That they're always doomed somehow in any alternate timeline. His tone's a bit dismissive when he says this as he looks away again. ]
Everybody dies. [He can't help pointing out, only partially because he doesn't want Scott to spiral again.]
There was more ground to cover, as far as I know. [He's visibly picking his words carefully, but he seems decided and he straightens up when he looks at Scott.]
And I know that, because you didn't die before you had a kid. [A beat.]
A son.
There was more ground to cover, as far as I know. [He's visibly picking his words carefully, but he seems decided and he straightens up when he looks at Scott.]
And I know that, because you didn't die before you had a kid. [A beat.]
A son.
[ That right there? That makes Scott turn sharply towards Cable, brows furrowing in clear confusion and inevitable surprise. What the heck did he just hear the man say? And here he thought nothing could be stranger, or worse, than knowing about their deaths back home. Somehow, this is even weirder. Maybe not worse, but definitely more bizarre. ]
What? [ Yeah, he's absolutely surprised by this. ] Jean and I- [ Because there's no other woman he'd have a son with, right? But god, he can't even complete that sentence knowing what he knows back home. ]
Okay, how's this possible? How do you even know this?
What? [ Yeah, he's absolutely surprised by this. ] Jean and I- [ Because there's no other woman he'd have a son with, right? But god, he can't even complete that sentence knowing what he knows back home. ]
Okay, how's this possible? How do you even know this?
[Cable keeps his wince from reaching his face when Scott mentions Jean. They can cross that bridge when they get to it-- and he's not entirely wrong, anyway.
Cable fixes his eyes on Scott. His stare is hard, and it's like he's not really looking at Scott. More like he's looking through him.]
It's possible the way it's usually possible to have a kid. [He's not sure why he's getting frustrated that Scott hasn't guessed the answer to something he's deliberately given him no information about. But he is.]
I'm your son, Scott.
Cable fixes his eyes on Scott. His stare is hard, and it's like he's not really looking at Scott. More like he's looking through him.]
It's possible the way it's usually possible to have a kid. [He's not sure why he's getting frustrated that Scott hasn't guessed the answer to something he's deliberately given him no information about. But he is.]
I'm your son, Scott.
[ The revelation understandably stuns Scott speechless for a moment. Beneath ruby quartz glasses, he studies Cable for a good while, trying to make sense of what he just said because it's so out of left field. How can this old man be his son? Some timeline shenanigans?
So, of course, justifiably, Scott results to the first thing one does when met with something this bizarre: denial. ]
Sure. [ He replies, flat and a little bit sarcastic. He just stares at Cable for a good second or two, expression almost unreadable. ] And I'm the Tooth Fairy.
[ A beat. ] You know, I kind of get why you and Wade are friends. You're both outrageous. [ He's still leveling Cable with a stare. Sorry son, your father's a stubborn bitch. ] Having a kid is one thing, but a fifty year-old man? Get out of here.
So, of course, justifiably, Scott results to the first thing one does when met with something this bizarre: denial. ]
Sure. [ He replies, flat and a little bit sarcastic. He just stares at Cable for a good second or two, expression almost unreadable. ] And I'm the Tooth Fairy.
[ A beat. ] You know, I kind of get why you and Wade are friends. You're both outrageous. [ He's still leveling Cable with a stare. Sorry son, your father's a stubborn bitch. ] Having a kid is one thing, but a fifty year-old man? Get out of here.
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