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*
Receiving the call from Kurt asking to talk, Charles Xavier was only too happy to agree. With everything that's been going on lately, a chance to simply get to know and possibly aid an individual was a welcome change of pace from larger more ominous matters.
It's easy enough to find the church they'd met at once before, dressed lightly against the warmer weather. The professor settles to sit near to where they'd met previously, mind idly reaching out to see if Kurt might not already be in the building.
*
Xavier has partially disconnected.
*
The call might have been made while Kurt was still mostly sober the night before. Or maybe it was made this morning after he managed to calm the hangover down. It's not his first, not his last, and there's probably a scar somewhere on his body to represent that occasional drowning of sorrows. Meeting at the Church seemed like a good plan as he knew they wouldn't really be disturbed there.
When Kurt steps in, he's showered and no longer smelling of booze, although there is still a lingering remnant of the hangover. It may fade by the end of the day. Noticing Xavier sitting where they met before, he first goes to the altar and kneels, crossing himself, before getting back to his feet and returning to the other. He's in his 'uniform' of jeans and a button-down bowling-style shirt, still no shoes, and his hair is still a little damp. He chooses a seat in a pew behind Xavier but leans forward to rest his arms and his chin on the back, his head tilted some to look at the other for, what may seem to be, a long moment. Finally he asks,
"Is Raven Darkholme your sister?"
*
Xavier smiles slightly and nods to Kurt when he enters, waiting with an unhurried silence while Kurt pays his respects.
Of the many sorts of questions he's been asked on meetings such as this, that one is not among the typical. There's the quiet sound of an exhaled breath, Xavier's eyes wandering over the ornamented walls of the church as if it was also not a question with a straightforward answer. Finally though he replies, "Yes, she is. Perhaps not by blood, but in every sense that mattered when," a slightly thoughtful pause, "I was growing up."
*
Now that answer is interesting. Kurt tilts his head a little as he listens to it and thinks about it for yet another long moment before he pushes back so that he's seated properly on the pew. The position doesn't last very long though as a leg is pulled up to his chest and hugged. "She says she is my mother."
He lets that hang there, waiting, perhaps, to see what the other's reaction might be. After all, they don't look to be too far apart in age.
*
Rather than seeming shocked or disbelieving, when Xavier turns where he sits to face Kurt sidelong, his expression is quietly pensive. "In all the years I've known her, she's often been deceptive, but rarely dishonest." his mouth quirks a bit in a bittersweet way, recalling how long she had him believing she was a girl his own age back then, even with his powers.. even though she'd never outright lied about her age. "There is a great deal I don't know about her life before we met, Kurt. I would have a great many questions if it were true that you were her son, but as far as I'm aware, it's not impossible."
*
"I have questions too, but…well, there -is- a resemblance." Sharp teeth show in a little smile as he gestures to himself. But Blue with Yellow Eyes may be a trait other mutants have as well? He doesn't really know for certain. "So…you could be my uncle. In a way." If things are confirmed. Granted, he's not entirely certain how to do that. "Do you mind?" He seems to want to say something else, but waits until there is an answer to that specific question.
*
The comment regarding family resemblance is met with a quiet laugh from Xavier. "Yes," he agrees wryly, "I suppose there is a bit of one."
Xavier falls quiet again as Kurt continues, and blinks as if he'd been too busy being mindful of not getting Kurt's hopes too high regarding his mother to consider that particular ramification. But when it registers his smile this time is untempered with wry humor or bittersweet memories, simple and genuine. "Mind?" he repeats, a bit bemused. "Not in the least. In all honesty, I'd be honored to call someone such as yourself family, Kurt."
*
Kurt's smile widens and he gives a little sigh of relief, "Danke. It would be…" there's a bubble of emotion which requires a few more breaths to be taken before he can continue. "It would be nice to know I have family that is alive," his voice might crack a little. It may be unconfirmed family, but it's more than he had before, even if Raven feels he'd be safer back in Europe.
*
The emotions are too strong to be filtered out by Xavier's usual walls— besides, having once thought all of his family lost after Raven vanished and Cain 'died', he can relate more than a little. He pats Kurt's shoulder with a reassuring smile. "Well, I might not know what passed between you and Raven… But as far as I'm concerned, you have."
Though he adds with good humor, "Assuming you've no objections to being related to a — what was it, cultist? — Of course."
*
Nightcrawler reaches a hand to rest it briefly on Xavier's arm as his shoulder is patted and he takes a few breaths to regain his composure. "I do not know if it is, but everyone who has told me of your school says the same words. It is how the Kult is, ja?" He does feel a little embarassed at that, but what was he to think? "I hope you are not…ah…upset? But I am too old for a school." Not that he ever went, but he gets along fine without it.
*
Xavier shakes his head, seeming if anything amused. "No, not at all. I'd rather those who had doubts spoke them openly; none of us are above making mistakes after all, and I'm certainly no different." he thinks briefly of the mess with the CIA, of Moira, and again before that, of losing Raven.
"I meant the school to be a refuge for those in need, yes." he continues, resting one elbow on the pew back between them. "But more than that I hoped it would be a place where people like us could find acceptance, reason and compassion so they might bring it with them out into the world. I suspect you're already fully capable of that."
*
Nightcrawler pushes a three-fingered hand through his hair, mussing some of it, but he doesn't seem to mind. "I have not tried to hide who I am. Ever." It's a simple statement, but it's true. "It would be too hard," is clarified with another grin. "If we hide, then we tell others that we are beschaemt. Ah. ashamed of what we are. Und I am not und I do not think we should be. People are afraid of what they do not know, so we should be there for them to get to know us,ja?"
*
And that's exactly the sort of thing Xavier was talking about. Kurt might never have sat in a classroom, but he's clearly built a strong sense of philosophy in his years. "I couldn't agree more." Xavier says. "Our biggest enemies aren't individuals but simple ignorance, and the fear it brings."
"In fact some of our instructors and graduates are working towards forming a group to respond to emergencies, to show the public there are those of us who can control our powers, be a beneficial force in the world."
*
"I think it is the hiding that scares them. It should not matter, but I feel it does." The Xenophobia is far too familiar. Kurt tilts his head again and shifts on the seat of the pew so that he is seated on the back, his feet on the seat before asking, "Do you think that will help? Or would it scare them even more? The children are not afraid…they seem to learn faster than their parents that being different is not so bad."
*
"To be perfectly honest, I'm not certain." Xavier replies, another of those wan smiles on his face. In truth, he was rather talked into the idea on many fronts, but some of the points struck him as valid ones.
"But.. for many of us our differences are not so apparent as yours. So perhaps there is wisdom in letting people see our powers too, used to help and not to harm."
"As to hiding, what you're saying is that if one does not act as if there is reason to fear them, then those around them are far less likely to, yes?"
*
Nightcrawler gives a nod, "Ja, that is is I think. If I walk down the street as if I belong there und I have every right to be there, then people may stare und talk, but they may not do anything. But if I walk as if I am afraid, or nervous, or expecting an attack, then there may be one. I find more do not question me if I am not afraid to be there." Like he was when he first arrived. He actually has the kids of Hell's Kitchen to thank for that. He has their backs and they have his.
"Also, we should not act as if we are better because we can do things they cannot. I am sure that most of them can do something that -I- cannot do."
*
Xavier's assertion that he would be honored to call a man like Kurt his kin is only being reinforced, and he can only nod in complete agreement. "Very true. The measure of a person's worth as a human being has nothing to do with relative power, nor appearance nor even skill. Every being who thinks and feels has it in equal measure, and every person has their own qualities that are wholly unique."
*
"Ja, genau!" Kurt beams, "It is what I wish more would see. It does not matter if we are white or black or blue or green, but that we are all people. That we are all different und it should be celebrated, not feared. That is how I try to see people…" possibly because he had such issues as a young child and it was either become bitter and angry or do the complete opposite. "It is hard sometimes, getting others to think that way too."
*
"For some, those fallacies are imbedded deeply." Charles agrees. "But then, sometimes meeting a person such as yourself is all it takes to unseat them, to make a person examine why they react the way they do." he says, his own expression hopeful. In fact, listening to Kurt talk, another thought occurs; "You know, perhaps I should be asking you to visit the school to speak with the students, even if you've no desire to join them." Xavier remarks. "There are a good many children we take in who have a difficult time believing the outside world wouldn't swallow them whole were they to re-enter it. They could use a perspective such as yours."
*
That offer catches Kurt by surprise and he gives a little start and a blink. "I would be happy to do that, but…" he hesitates a moment and looks about, trying to figure out the best words to use. "Do these children not hide at the school? Would that not be going against what you are teaching there? Keeping them safe by staying away?" Not that he necessarily agrees, but others have different experiences than he did.
*
"As I said, it's meant to be a refuge for those who need it, but it's intent was always to help those who stay to eventually go back out into the world." Xavier replies. "For some of them who are themselves bitter or doubtful they could ever live their lives in the outside world openly as they are, meeting someone who has achieved that is a powerful thing."
*
Yellow eyes watch Xavier for a moment as if he's trying to hear between the words. But what he's saying does make sense and there is a nod, "Ok. I would like to show these students of yours that the world is not so scary if you do not let it be. It is not easy all of the time, but it is not impossible." Kurt's grin widens and he leans forward from his perch, "Und it helps if you join a Circus."
*
"For me it was Oxford, but close enough during some post-exam celebrations, perhaps." Charles chuckles. Raven was still around back then too, which reminds him.. "But I'd like to hear more about you myself, if you've time? After all, it would seem as if you and I have rather a lot of catching up to do."
*