[ It's a heavy question, loaded with meaning, and that's why Erik doesn't answer immediately. What will he do, then? Part of him wants to just avoid that level of conflict, which is what he'd committed himself to do when he left in the first place. It's not that he just wanted to abandon their cause, or that he didn't believe in fighting for it still; it's just that he's aware now, more than ever, how his involvement with it was only making matters worse, causing more harm for his own kind, and creating a deeper divide even among them. He hadn't yet thought of how he would approach it, were he to come back to it— if he ever even had that opportunity.
So when asked now, what would he do if other mutants showed up here, the truth is he doesn't know. Even less so when he has a feeling that most of them, if not all, would be at least concerned about having him around.
He stares at the line ahead, still feeling the weight of Charles's gaze on him, but not meeting it with his own. ]
Maybe.
[ It might just be good for him. He doesn't know that he will have the chance to prove that he can be anything else but the villain, the monster in their stories. He would not be surprised if he learned that none of them would be glad at all to see him, and quite frankly, Erik doesn't know if the feeling wouldn't be mutual.
And then Charles goes straight for the nostalgia angle, because of course he does, those memories alone making Erik feel a deep fondness, though it's heavy with the weight of regret, and longing. A lifetime ago, indeed. ]
We may have created it, but I destroyed it. I turned on you all. Do you really think any mutant from our future will see my being here as a good thing?
[ And by 'here' he doesn't just mean in this place; he means here, by Charles's side. There's even some concern here that Charles even trying to speak up on Erik's behalf might just damage what standing he has among his own people. ]
no subject
So when asked now, what would he do if other mutants showed up here, the truth is he doesn't know. Even less so when he has a feeling that most of them, if not all, would be at least concerned about having him around.
He stares at the line ahead, still feeling the weight of Charles's gaze on him, but not meeting it with his own. ]
Maybe.
[ It might just be good for him. He doesn't know that he will have the chance to prove that he can be anything else but the villain, the monster in their stories. He would not be surprised if he learned that none of them would be glad at all to see him, and quite frankly, Erik doesn't know if the feeling wouldn't be mutual.
And then Charles goes straight for the nostalgia angle, because of course he does, those memories alone making Erik feel a deep fondness, though it's heavy with the weight of regret, and longing. A lifetime ago, indeed. ]
We may have created it, but I destroyed it. I turned on you all. Do you really think any mutant from our future will see my being here as a good thing?
[ And by 'here' he doesn't just mean in this place; he means here, by Charles's side. There's even some concern here that Charles even trying to speak up on Erik's behalf might just damage what standing he has among his own people. ]