xp_communication | Nathan and Moira, encrypted IM (Reply)

X-Spartan: Pssst.
ScottishDoctor: Can't scare me as easily here, can you? Bully. ;)
X-Spartan: Can't say I didn't try. Are you still on the island?
ScottishDoctor: Where else?
X-Spartan: I'm sitting in a very decrepit little bar trying to ignore the fact that the locals are looking at my laptop like they've never seen modern technology before.
ScottishDoctor: *laughs* Well, I'm amazed you're getting to work in that place. How's everything going over in your section of the world?
X-Spartan: This is a very odd little place. Very backwards. I'm shocked they even have a phone line - I'm not so sure about it, so if I vanish suddenly don't be surprised. I just didn't want to be talking to you from MacInnis' place.
ScottishDoctor: A place in the middle of nowhere where it's very hard to establish contact? We need to find a place like that...one with a pool. That worried about MacInnis' et al. hacking back into your feed?
X-Spartan: I'm not sure about some of his people. Just hedging my bets. I've checked in with the mansion, but I stayed deliberately sketchy. You'd like the scenery here, though.
ScottishDoctor: So while you're pretty sure the old man wouldn't snoop, his lower level folks might. _Lovely_. Tell me you took a camera. And how is everything going on over there?
X-Spartan: Photographic memory, remember?
X-Spartan: But it's not going badly, I suppose. These second-gen operatives of his... I know quite a few of them. I mean, they were a lot younger when I knew them, but they remember me, too. And they certainly remember Tim. MacInnis isn't crazy about the fact that they're fixating on us like they are, but he can't really turn down the help.
ScottishDoctor: You know eventually we will have to buy a camera. Because that means we'll have to hand you around instead of a photo album.
ScottishDoctor: ...hero worship?
X-Spartan: More or less. There's me, the one who got away, stayed free for seven years, and then got away again. Then there's Tim, who stuck around and made things as bearable as he could for everyone I left behind. Heh. I'm trying to think of the mythological parallels...
ScottishDoctor: Oh my. I'm amazed you don't have several trying to follow you home or something like that. Poor things, it must be so...eye opening to realize that it can be done like how you guys did it.
X-Spartan: They want me to stay. Hell, I think Tim wants me to stay. He hasn't asked, though.
X-Spartan: I think I will be leaving him here. With the condition that he keeps in touch very regularly. This may be avoidance for him, but he's always been so damned tough... it could be months before it all catches up with him, and what am I going to do? Could hardly have GW lock him in the safehouse in Berlin, even if I wanted to.
ScottishDoctor: Tim would fight his way out, despite everything. Unfortunately, I think he needs to live a little before he'll be able to digest everything that's happened. He'll spend a few months unaffected, roughly, and then it'll hit him. I think he knows that you'll be there for him when it happens.
X-Spartan: I'm going to have a very long chat with MacInnis before I go, that's for sure. I hate relying on him for anything, but someone needs to watch Tim.
X-Spartan: It's funny to be here. Feels almost like the old days.
ScottishDoctor: You think he can be trusted with Tim?
ScottishDoctor: Good way or bad way?
X-Spartan: I'm... still trying to figure that out. And... good way, mostly. There's some of the cameraderie here without any of the crap.
ScottishDoctor: That doesn't sound promising - about MacInnis, I mean. Personally, I'd love to bean him over the head with a flower pot but I think that's the baby talking.
ScottishDoctor: *smiles* Good, I was worried about you going into that kind of environment.
X-Spartan: Our child has exquisite taste already. Why am I not surprised?
X-Spartan: I'd tell you not to worry, but... well, that would be hypocritical of me. I certainly worry enough about you when we're apart. We haven't had any drama here, though, so don't worry about that. I made it very clear to MacInnis that neither I nor Tim was up for anything operational this week.
ScottishDoctor: Because he/she is a mix of both of our tempers and imagination? Good grief.
ScottishDoctor: I don't think there'll ever be a time where I won't worry about you, dear. And good, if I had found out you had gone on a mission out there--*dark look*
X-Spartan: I'll make sure MacInnis knows Tim needs more time to recover from the power overload, too. The problem is that Tim's chomping at the bit to do something. *sighs* It's like he's regressed ten years or so, I swear.
ScottishDoctor: He's been through a huge change in his life--and wants to keep busy so he doesn't have to think about it. Sounds familiar actually, you and I both did it.
X-Spartan: Doesn't mean I don't worry. I'm such a hypocrite, aren't I?
ScottishDoctor: Yes, but don't worry, I still love you.
X-Spartan: I love you, too. I'm looking at being back at the mansion after the weekend, by the way.
ScottishDoctor: I'm aiming for that time, myself. No, no replacement as of yet but hope springs eternal you know.
X-Spartan: I shudder to think of what my kids are up to this week. Independent study, hah.
ScottishDoctor: *giggles* More like sleep breaks.
X-Spartan: Probably.
X-Spartan: Would you worry too much if I said this was kind of... well, nice? Being back in the middle of 'business' like this? (Nice apart from MacInnis being in the vicinity, I mean.)
ScottishDoctor: Hmm...a little. But then again, I've kind of guessed that you've been missing parts of the old life.
X-Spartan: It's kind of... refreshing to be surrounded by people who take me seriously, if that makes any sense. Rather than a horde of kids, much as I love some of them, who see me as your somewhat insane boyfriend with a bad habit of spraining his brain and occasionally endearing narcolepsy.
ScottishDoctor: I can understand that. But the adults--I--take you seriously, even if you don't think we do.
X-Spartan: I know. And it raises the question of whether I'd even want the kids to know me as I am. Or was. And now I'm confusing myself.
ScottishDoctor: *chuckles* You don't want them to see you when you're doing a job, right?
X-Spartan: ... not particularly, no. I get enough sideways looks when I do things like cause localized earthquakes or blow craters in northern Canada.
ScottishDoctor: That's because...well, they're kids. If they had an inkling of what Scott, or Ororo or Wanda could do they'd look at them sideways as well. You've just had the chance to show them that.
X-Spartan: I know. Really... I'm not sure why it's nagging at me like this. I suppose it's just being thrown back into something a little closer to my native environment again. Points out the contrast.
ScottishDoctor: I've guessed that's why you've been trying so hard for the X-Men. That it's the closest you've come to what you used to do. Do you miss it that much?
X-Spartan: Yeah, I do... and there's something else to consider. I don't have that many years left in which I can realistically do it. Whatever it is. X-Man-ly or otherwise.
ScottishDoctor: You're not _that_ old.
ScottishDoctor: Sean's older than you are.
X-Spartan: I know, but I don't know that I want to be running around doing this when I'm his age. I ache enough on rainy days as it is.
ScottishDoctor: So you're trying to squeeze in as much as you can before you retire?
X-Spartan: Pretty much. And please, not the r-word.
ScottishDoctor: Feel that? That was me kicking you on the link.
X-Spartan: Heh. I did indeed.
X-Spartan: Hrrm. Tim just walked in looking disgruntled and stomped over to the bar. I should perhaps go.
ScottishDoctor: Take care of him--and yourself.
X-Spartan: Will do, love. I'll let you know when I'm en route. If you're still on Muir I'll stop on the way back.
ScottishDoctor: Oh good, I was just about to tell you if you don't we were going to have words. ;)
ScottishDoctor: I love you.
X-Spartan: Love you too. Take care.