groovy_mutation: (I'm sorry my friend. We do not.)
Charles Francis Xavier ([personal profile] groovy_mutation) wrote in [community profile] towerofanimus2012-01-09 03:17 am

So much to offer, yet nothing to give.

Characters: Charles Xavier and whomever.
Setting: Floor number twenty-five.
Format: Paragraph format, but anything is fine.
Summary: Charles laying in the meadow with his feelings. Manly tears and angst abound.
Warnings: None. G for tears?


Everything had piled up.

After finding himself needing to be rescued all the time, or not being able to help, at least not anyway that made a difference. Instead usually hurting those he tried to help... Charles was tired. He was tired and worn and he couldn't keep up the visage of being okay anymore.

Having woken up in the tower after the nightmare of all those monsters. People fighting and him not being able to do anything, just be a liability, people probably died, and everyone so close together in such pain, and the anger and the fright and everything had gotten to him, beaten down on his mind and he'd been able to do nothing but curl fingers tight in his hair and hold his head. If he'd died during it, Charles couldn't remember, didn't want to remember. But after waking up from that and feeling numb, not wanting to move or do much of anything, he figured that it would be worse for him not to get up, he'd done enough of not getting up before he'd been brought to the tower as it was.
 So he'd checked to see who was in the tower, a light scan with his mind, Erik was here, Molly, others who's minds he'd touched briefly before, new minds. Minds he couldn't quite touch, but that was fine. He just wanted a basic idea as it was. Happy that he still knew people here, yet not, he decided to take a look around, see if anything had changed, if things were 'normal'. And in doing so found one of the new floors.

It was beautiful really, flowers that never seemed to end, a lovely meadow. Wheeling through it in his wheelchair he'll come to a stop eventually, peering around and inhale deeply. Eyes closing he'll let his breath out, just needing a moment, before he'll work himself out of his chair and awkwardly manage to get himself laying on his back, next to said chair, looking up from the flood of flowers around him. It's there, alone, with only his thoughts and the sea of flowers that he'll feel tears stain his cheeks, sliding down slowly. Fingers touch gingerly at the wetness and Charles will scoff at himself, before letting his hand fall beside him.

No matter how hard he tried to not let everything get to him, to be strong and help people and just do what he thought was right.

 He just felt so useless.

[personal profile] verymuchalive 2012-01-09 10:09 am (UTC)(link)
Even for someone of a race where violence was commonplace, the past days had taken a toll on Aradia. So many monsters and so constantly, and forever having to make sure she kept her distance because whatever those things had been, they'd dampened her powers. And with her skirmish with Dualscar beforehand, she needed some time to herself. Some time to let go of all the fighting so she could get back to happier things.

Of course, the excitement of the new floors helped. She'd stopped only briefly at each, almost yielding to the curiosity of the apparently missing floor but putting that on hold for the time being. And so for now she made her way to the top, stopping and gazing a little in awe at the meadow before her. Not having seen anything like this before, she was definitely intrigued by the different flowers and greenery around her.

It was because of this that she didn't immediately notice that she wasn't there alone. Her first clue was the wheelchair; the Tavros she'd met before hadn't used one so it couldn't be his and there was a part of Aradia which hoped it might turn out to be "her" Tavros. And so she advanced, her curiosity only growing greater as she noticed the unknown human lying in the grass.

"Are you all right?"

Perhaps, she considered, he had fallen out of his chair and had gotten stuck. And, well, she could hardly pass him by if there was a chance she might be able to help.

[personal profile] verymuchalive 2012-01-09 09:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Aradia frowns a little, keeping a distance as she realises she's startled him. She hadn't meant to creep up on him, exactly, she just hadn't expected that anyone else would be there.

Still, it was clear something was amiss. To be expected, after the weeks they'd had, but Aradia wouldn't pry. That wasn't in her nature, curious as she could be about other matters.

"Yes...things have been a little crazy lately. At least the constant fighting seems to have stopped for now."

At his question, she shakes her head. "If anything I should be asking you that question. You were here first, after all."
token_vengeance: (go fuck yourself dont mind if I do)

[personal profile] token_vengeance 2012-01-10 01:52 am (UTC)(link)
"And here I thought I hadn't done anything to upset you."

Erik spoke casually, moving to stand at Charles's head, looking down at him. His face was impassive--but for a moment, a flicker of concern it, before smoothing out into nothing. He had been wandering, looking for Charles.

Despite all that had transpired, he truly hadn't had any time to discuss the situation between them at length. There was always something going on; a battle to be fought, a nightmare to be overcome.

It ran Erik raggid, and he couldn't pretend that he was handling it well. Experimentation...torture. Games. Puppets on strings. It was what he had sworn his life would never become again.

And yet here he was, suffering under it, once more.

But Erik pushed that out of his mind for now, instead focusing on Charles, and his tears.
token_vengeance: (standing at the gap)

[personal profile] token_vengeance 2012-01-10 04:18 am (UTC)(link)
Erik felt the guilt and promptly rolled his eyes.

"Stop pitying yourself, Charles. I am not sure what you feel guilty about, but wallowing in self-loathing and doubt isn't going to get us anywhere."

His tone had an edge to it, a lack of patience. He didn't truly understand where this was coming from. While Xavier was no longer able to walk (and who's fault was that, hm? Not the telepath's, exactly. But someone else entire), he still had his abilities. That wasn't crippled, except by this tower, just as Erik's had been, with time.

But despite his harsh words, Erik moved to kneel down next to his friend, a hand moving out to squeeze his shoulder, running a thumb along a tight muscle, looking into his bright blue eyes.

"Are you going to tell me what's wrong, or am I going to have to continue to make harsh comments that might be very off base." A flicker of a smile then. Come now, Charles. He's trying.

[personal profile] toy_souldier 2012-01-10 10:36 am (UTC)(link)
Vivi had only just returned from... wherever that place was. The place that had once been Gaia, but now nothing but wastelands all over, the great cities and kingdoms destroyed, Mist choking the world to death. Needing a quiet place to relax and calm himself, he'd found this floor, delighted at the flowers.

Then he saw the man in the wheeled chair laying himself down on the ground. Vivi approached shyly and noticed the tear-stained cheeks, biting his lip before asking hesitantly, "Mister...? Are you alright?"

[personal profile] verymuchalive 2012-01-10 01:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Unflattering, perhaps, but to Aradia merely a curious thing to observe. She knew that humans had red blood, though brighter than her own hue, but she hadn't yet had much chance to appreciate that, unlike trolls, humans' tears didn't reflect that blood colour. So if she appears to be staring, as she likely does, it will be more in fascinaiton than any form of disapproval.

"Oh yes? I don't think I've spoken to them...was the boy one of them? I do hope he is all right now."

As he mentioned there being enough room for them both she offers a ready smile. "Yes, I don't think I've been anywhere with rooms quite as expansive as these. Or as differing from each other. But this is a nice floor, as far as I can tell."
myblueskies: (serious moments)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2012-01-10 10:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Romeo had been exploring the new floors. Anyone who knew the little boy, or had even seen him passing in a whirlwind with Molly would notice straight away that he seemed more subdued. His face was bruised from the fighting and he had some cuts that still hurt though he was doing his best to keep his spirits up and ignore the pain. The monsters had scared him and even though his friends had been alright it had made him want to go home even more.

But he had already been home and that was not very nice at all, so he didn't know what he wanted anymore. Piccolo ran through the meadow in front of him and stopped when he saw the man. Romeo recognized him straight away, "Mister Charles!" He ran over and saw the man was crying.

"What's wrong mister Charles?" Even though he was feeling sad himself Romeo knew he had to help the man who had been so nice to him!
guiltapalooza: (☆ (unsure))

[personal profile] guiltapalooza 2012-01-11 12:18 am (UTC)(link)
[Willow had decided to try the new meadow as a meditation site, since the forest had worked out so abysmally, and was equally trying not to get her hopes up too high about it. But despite her initial reservations, it'd actually worked out well. She was feeling calm, refreshed, and overall at peace after her meditating.

As she makes her way to the staircase from deeper in the grass, she's somewhat puzzled to see what appears to be an abandoned wheelchair. As she comes closer to investigate, of course, eventually the grass parts enough that she can see Charles laying on the ground.

She's instantly sheepish, and maybe a tiny bit concerned.]
Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt, [she apologizes.] It's just so beautiful out here.

[Seeing as Willow doesn't know the first thing about him, she doesn't want to just presume to jump right into, and why are you so obviously upset, and you have a wheelchair, huh. Some more tact than that is probably called for. And also dignity.]
token_vengeance: (pic#1319095)

[personal profile] token_vengeance 2012-01-11 03:54 am (UTC)(link)
When Charles tugs away from him, Erik's hand closed into a fist as he tried to control his emotions; the feeling of rejection, simmering hard and hot in the pit of his stomach. He was attempting to help the best way he knew how. He reached out as Charles always wanted him to, and apparently the idiot didn't want that.

Fine.

Fine.

Taking a deep breath, Erik set his jaw, the muscle there flexing as he was silent for a few moments, looking out into the distance, instead of Charles's face. He didn't move to stand; he wasn't giving up just yet. But another sound rejection like that, and Erik would see it as a sign to simply stop trying.

Finally, he looked back down at his friend seriously. "I came to make sure you were all right. Which you're clearly not. I'm--" He paused for a moment, then breathed out. "I shouldn't have snapped at you. But both of us feel useless here. It isn't just you."

[personal profile] verymuchalive 2012-01-11 08:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Aradia nods. "I imagine it would be. Have you spoken to them before?" No-one else had mentioned much about doing so, and so the potential to learn more was too much for her to resist entirely.

She moves to sit in the grass beside him, figuring it's probably a little less awkward that way for both of them. "Yes...it's a little like the fourth floor that way. It seems a nice place to spend some time."

And she sure hopes there are no monsters because she's sort-of thinking that this would be a very nice place to bring Sollux at some point.

"There are a few more. Another food place, and a room filled with art. The one below this is empty, though...well, it looked empty to me when I passed."
token_vengeance: (need a friend)

[personal profile] token_vengeance 2012-01-12 04:20 am (UTC)(link)
"You know me well enough, Charles. If I didn't want to be here, I wouldn't be." He would have stood up and walked away. That was typical for how he dealt with emotion, with things that hit too close to his heart. But Erik was determined that he was going to try. So he stayed, watching his friend with pale eyes. Not touching...but there all the same.

If Charles wanted touch, he'd have to reach for it himself, this time.

"No, but I could have used some tact. Something I sorely lack most days." A smile given, a light chuckle.

Erik felt awkward; would this be the way all their associations went from now on, after that one night? Unsure, hesitant. It wasn't in Erik's nature to be like this, but this was also territory he hadn't broached, ever.

[personal profile] toy_souldier 2012-01-13 10:30 am (UTC)(link)
Vivi shook his head no at the question, scratching his head through his hat. "I just came up to find some more flowers. They're goood for making the room a bit less... blank."

Lucky for Charles that Vivi had brought a few paper towels for bundling the flowers in. Rummaging through his pockets, the boy found one and held it out to the man, head tilted one way. "Are you hurt, mister?
myblueskies: (sadface)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2012-01-13 10:39 am (UTC)(link)
Romeo nodded sadly, "It is really hard to keep our spirits up here mister Charles but we have to try," he looked at him with wide eyes. It was scary to see adults cry, adults were the ones who made kids cry and they were strong and nothing should make adults scared or cry.

But this Tower was bigger and scarier than even Luini had been, Romeo could not imagine anyone not being scared and upset at it. Even mean people like the Highblood.

He nodded at the question, "I'm alright mister Charles, I got a bit hurt when the monsters were here but they don't hurt too much."
token_vengeance: ([c/e] r & s)

[personal profile] token_vengeance 2012-01-16 05:30 pm (UTC)(link)
"I think we can do better than that." After Charles settled against him, Erik tugged him into his lap, pressing his lips against thick hair, breathing in. It was his own distraction as he moved the other's now useless legs into a better position across his own.

Still too skinny, atrophied. But the mind is what mattered most; and that wasn't injured...psychologically a bit, perhaps--but still whole.

"It's okay, Charles."

He wrapped an arm around a waist, squeezing.

"You aren't alone."
token_vengeance: (black and blue)

[personal profile] token_vengeance 2012-01-16 06:02 pm (UTC)(link)
"...it is." Erik frowned, rubbing Charles's back, pressing lips to hair once more. He doesn't know how to comfort anyone. He can barely comfort himself, most days. But this is what he wanted to do, to try.

"...what would the great Magneto be without his Professor?"

We have each other.

It's small, and solves nothing. But Erik, who had nothing for so long, clings to that. Because while he had been through nightmares like this before--it had always been alone.

But this time? He wasn't. And neither was Charles. It mattered.
guiltapalooza: (☆ giles → learning)

no worries!! it's all fine <3

[personal profile] guiltapalooza 2012-01-17 01:33 am (UTC)(link)
[It feels awkward to stand while he's on the ground, so Willow folds her legs under her and settles into the grass beside him, several feet away. She seems totally comfortable there, at ease.

She has enough sense of social tact to go along with the totally innocuous topic, too. That was why she'd brought it up in the first place-- to give him a chance to pull himself together with minimal embarrassment.]
I was pretty suspicious at first, but I spent the last couple hours in that direction, [she nods toward the nearest windows,] and nothing happened at all.

After the forest of dead voices, it's a big relief. Meditating just isn't the same unless it's nature-y.
handpuppeeet: (Ankh-- So I see I'm pissing you off)

Look at how late I am does it dazzle you

[personal profile] handpuppeeet 2012-01-17 06:37 am (UTC)(link)
Meadows weren't really Ankh's thing. Normally he wouldn't give this place a second thought, but recently he found himself with next to nothing to do. There wasn't quite anything he wanted to do either. His lackluster and dull Greeed perception of old seemed to be coming back, even though nothing had changed. So he had taken to rather lying on his bed wastefully, or wandering around the tower aimlessly.

He stopped at the flowery field, only because he noticed the wheelchair of that roommate he hadn't seen in awhile. The guy probably avoided him for the most part, which he was fine with. Regardless, he walked over to Charles and leaned his arm on the back of the chair, looking at the mutant. Charles certainly seemed different than the guy he was when they first met though. And it's not like Ankh had anything better to do.

"What's your problem?"

[personal profile] verymuchalive 2012-01-18 04:42 pm (UTC)(link)
She shrugs a little. "Well, that's one more than I've spoken to. Perhaps they don't like to talk much."

Which, given some of the trolls she knows, isn't so unusual for her.

"Well, it's not like I spent much time looking at it. Perhaps there's something in there that I missed. Something that only appears at certain times, perhaps. All I know is that there wasn't anything about it that made me want to stop and explore."

Which, really, was what she looked for when it came to new rooms.
token_vengeance: (sit and look)

[personal profile] token_vengeance 2012-01-23 05:20 am (UTC)(link)
Considering the history, I think I'm the one who has the better deal.

That after all that's happened, Charles didn't hate him. There were still ideological gaps, chasms that may never be crossed. But emotionally...they had mended the fence. And that was no small thing.

Nosing into the other's hair, he pulled back, hand resting against Charles' neck, a thumb brushing over cheek. "...feel better?"
token_vengeance: ([c/e] kiss)

[personal profile] token_vengeance 2012-01-23 05:43 am (UTC)(link)
Erik wasn't the physic of the two, and while he might have seen the kiss coming, it still surprised him slightly. This kiss was in such contrast to what their first had been--violent, crushing. But it made sense in a way; the first had been a reflection of Erik himself, this one, of Charles.

Giving a smile back, he quirked an eyebrow. "Well I hope you don't kiss everyone who makes you feel better." A chuckle, and he slides a hand up through the other's hair.

"Because I'm horrible at sharing." A tease he feels comfortable making, in light of everything. Erik leaned down to kiss Charles again, deepening it slow and easy.
token_vengeance: ([c/e] fondue?)

[personal profile] token_vengeance 2012-01-25 01:56 am (UTC)(link)
Erik let the kiss continue for a few more minutes, taking his time to explore Charles's mouth in the light of day, away from the darkness, and the desperateness of their other trysts.

Breaking the kiss, he leaned back against he chair, staring up at the ceiling of the room, fingers still stroking through Charles's hair.

"I wouldn't mind spending the rest of the day like this."

token_vengeance: (pic#2213764)

[personal profile] token_vengeance 2012-01-30 02:02 am (UTC)(link)
"Why not?" Erik frowned slightly, shaking his head. "It's not like there is anything else for us to do in this place."

Finding an exit wasn't proving to be very fruitful.
token_vengeance: (pic#2213756)

[personal profile] token_vengeance 2012-02-02 03:07 am (UTC)(link)
Chuckling against Charles's lips, Erik let the other take control of the kiss, wrapping an arm around his waist to help support his body, taking pressure off his arms. Opening his mouth to the other man, he let his tongue dart out, before retreating.
token_vengeance: (pic#1319121)

[personal profile] token_vengeance 2012-02-05 05:24 am (UTC)(link)
"No, actually." Erik chuckled, "But I'm perfectly fine from hearing it from you, now." He brushed his fingers through the other's hair slowly, pressing his lips to his forehead gently.

"Are you comfortable?" Erik couldn't imagine that having to sustain his position with his upper arms could be that comfortable.
token_vengeance: (pic#2213764)

[personal profile] token_vengeance 2012-02-09 01:20 am (UTC)(link)
"And I dislike being lied to." Erik smiled, slightly, and shifted them both down, laying out in the grass. It took pressure of his own back (the chair dug into the lower half), and allowed Charles to spread out more, without having to take so much weight on his arms.

"Better?"
token_vengeance: (regarding)

[personal profile] token_vengeance 2012-02-12 07:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Erik just raised an eyebrow, wrinkling his nose slightly. "Really, Charles." He chuckled, capturing the flower from the other's hand, before tucking it behind the younger telepath's ear.

"I didn't know you were a teenage girl."
token_vengeance: ([c/e] r & s)

[personal profile] token_vengeance 2012-02-21 02:08 am (UTC)(link)
"You look fine." Erik dropped down to kiss Charles again, quickly. He didn't mean to, but this thing was making him sad, on some level. That this wouldn't continue for long.

That they would find a way out, and it would be over. Things wouldn't change. The rift would continue, just as it always had.