capeandcowllogs | C'est une partie en français.

WHO:

manlytear
WHERE: Some restaurant, somewhere, where there is lunch.
WHEN: Todaaaay, but probably not this early in the morning.
WARNINGS: French. B|
SUMMARY: Jean-Paul is intrigued by not-Magneto Erik Lehnsherr, and is interested in learning more about him and his silly 60s shenanigans.
FORMAT: Prose.

Jean-Paul is waiting outside the restaurant that he'd given Erik the directions to. He was deeply intrigued by him, and he suspected many of his colleagues and companions from his own world would be just as intrigued as he. Leaning against the front of the restaurant, he looks rather bored as he waits — his eyes quite distant as he's thinking to himself on just why he'd set up this meeting in the first place. Ah, that's right. He'd accused Erik of hiding a non-existant relationship with Charles from him in jest, and just a small part of him felt bad for that and intended to make it up to him.

Though, his mind would not stop telling him that nothing need be "made up for" with Magneto. It was becoming clearer and clearer that this Erik Lehnsherr was not, in fact, the man he was so deeply knowledgeable about prior. It intrigued him, to say the least. And if not for all else in his desire to be entertained, Erik spoke French.

Erik spoke French, and that was enough to prompt Jean-Paul's desire for elongated conversation.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[[Aaand all dialogue is in French as per usual.]]

Erik arrived promptly at the arranged time. He had considered inviting Charles, but there were moments when he had simply given up on attempting to drag the other mutant away from his studies of genetics. Erik was interested in the subject as well, but not quite as obsessively as Charles, and he trusted that if there was any significant information that he had not learned himself then his companion would be more than happy to inform him about it in an animated manner.

He gave a small nod accompanied by just the slightest of smiles before greeting Jean-Paul in French. "It is nice to meet you in person," he said, glad that the difference in dialect had not been an issue during their previous conversations and hoping that would continue today. He knew that the other man could speak English, of course, but he could tell rather distinctly that he preferred not to.

Jean-Paul was delighted to be speaking in French and it showed on his face and in the way he addressed his lunch companion. "You as well," he said then, pushing himself up from his spot where he was leaning against the wall with an easy shrug of his shoulders. His arms were crossed, but he easily loosened up and uncrossed them to reach out with a hand. "Jean-Paul Beaubier." he introduced, naturally arced eyebrows raising somewhat.

He debated informing Erik that he was already quite familiar with him, but he was finding that there was a bit of truth in him not yet actually knowing much about him at all. This Erik was clearly not the Magneto he knew, though he was still hesitant to trust him — and rather unfortunately, it showed, even if he did not mean for it to. "It is nice to meet you."

Erik took Jean-Paul's hand, shaking it firmly. "Erik Lehnsherr. Though I suppose you already know that," he replied, giving the slightest of bemused smirks for a moment. It was quite odd to think that this man and others in the City knew a great deal about him while he knew next to nothing about them, though he was glad that Jean-Paul was one individual who seemed to have come to accept that some of the things he thought he knew about Erik may be entirely different from the man he has previously encountered.

The brunette turned toward the door of the restaurant. "Should we go inside?" he asked, moving to hold the door for the other man before entering the restaurant himself.

Jean-Paul smiled just slightly at himself in a way that was almost proud as he entered the restaurant before Magn—ah, Erik. He addressed the maître d' with ease and they were seated soon enough, across one another in an intimate enough booth for private conversation whilst at the same time not separating them completely from the rest of the restaurant. Jean-Paul leaned back in his seat as they were handed their menus and left to their own devices. He made a bit of a sound as he did, deciding upon his words with ease.

"I would say there are a lot of things I know about you. But I'm made to reevaluate such words." he added, smiling. It seemed he was using more Parisian word choices, and his eyebrows had lifted with interest — just surveying Erik; his features, his dress, everything that he could.

Erik removed his own hat and sunglasses as they entered the restaurant. He set them aside when they reached their table, giving the menu a cursory overlook while trying to give Jean-Paul a polite amount of attention at the same time. He was pleased enough with what the restaurant had to offer, and quickly took a mental note of his own order.

The brunette gave a bit of a chuckle at the other man's words. The way that Jean-Paul was looking at him did not escape Erik's notice, but he did not give any acknowledgement of that. "I am glad that you are giving me a fair chance. Not everyone from your world has been as kind."

Jean-Paul crossed his legs underneath the table and wove his fingers together, setting them on his knee with a hum. He did not say anything yet — though he lifted the menu with one hand soon enough and read through it with an incredible speed, making his decision in an instant. He looked up at Erik a second time and began to speak. "That is unfortunate. I don't see a reason to discount you as an individual. Not yet, anyway.

After all, it is well-known that you and Xavier were close for an incredible amount of time. There are very few people who distrust Charles Xavier, and if he thought so highly of you for so long — there is merit behind it. I trust him in that."

The display of Jean-Paul's abilities was discrete enough, but it was enough to remind Erik that he was quite curious about the full capabilities of the other mutant's powers. If Charles had sought to bring him into the Institute as a teacher in this other world, he must have already possessed a notable mastery of his own abilities. It had been strange to suddenly find himself in a world where there were so many mutants and other metahumans compared to he and Charles' own world.

"That is very reasonable of you," he replied, setting aside his own menu and taking a sip of the water than had been provided for them. "As difficult as it has been dealing with my own reputation in your world... I am glad to hear that Charles is so highly regarded."

"Mm," Jean-Paul sounded at first, nodding and setting his menu aside appropriately so he could then focus all of his attention on Erik. He smiled at Erik and reached to take a deep sip from his water, before clearing his throat to speak again. "Charles Xavier is very highly regarded. Though one could... say the same about you—it is... different." he murmured. Taking a very deep breath then, he met Erik's eyes again and stared seriously into them.

"Xavier is deeply trusted. You — are deeply, deeply feared. Both of them breed much different responses."

Erik gave a nod at that. It is certainly not the first time that he has heard such things about himself since arriving in the City, sometimes in much harsher words. He cannot help but think that it seems a bit foolish for the people of this other world to not fear Charles just as much as they fear himself, but he does not say as much. "I have gathered as much, though details have been... lacking."

Jean-Paul seems to be watching Erik with increased scrutiny, as if he is judging whether or not the man would be prepared for the words he'd share with him. He shrugs his shoulders very momentarily and slides himself back against the booth, making himself comfortable with a bit more ease. He reaches for his glass and sips it quietly, though his eyebrows seem perhaps permanently raised in interest as he surveys his lunch companion.

"I think perhaps they are afraid to tell you. For more reasons than the obvious."

Erik did not seem surprised to hear that. It was an assessment that he had already considered himself. "But you are not afraid, Monsieur Beaubier?" He tilted his head at the other man.

"I am not. Though I cannot say I wasn't at first." he said then, smiling very gently. There was a look on his face that showed just a brief, short hint of distrust for telling Erik something of that magnitude. He sighed and he made himself further comfortable in his own side of the booth.

"You are a man to be feared, that is for sure."

It was not much longer before their drinks arrived. Erik gave his order and took a sip of his drink, waiting for the waiter to leave before resuming their conversation. "That does not surprise me. I suppose I am surprised that Charles is not just as feared."

C'est une partie en français.

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/gives up on trying to make these tags long

yeah that's acceptable

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