Warren and Kurt | Saturday Afternoon

[x-highflying.livejournal.com]

Kurt and Warren chat about religion and rich people after a DR training session.

"I don't know who designed that scenario," Warren said with a laugh as the Danger Room shut down the training scenario he and Kurt had just worked through. "But it was ridiculous. I think someone's been reading too many Dan Brown books."

The scenario had involved them primarily having to flee from various religious agents chasing them through a city that looked a lot like Rome, who thought they were both either signs of an approaching apocalypse or destined to save the world from... something. It wasn't entirely clear.

Kurt snorted. "Ridiculous, yes, but in fact a lot of fun. Although it does make me think perhaps you and I should stay away from the Vatican."

"Probably," Warren laughed. "I'm sure there's irony in this somewhere, but I've never been much of one for religion."

"Which is probably a good thing", Kurt said with a smile. "I am sure you can imagine the reaction at your manifestation had you come from a religious family."

"I would have been completely insufferable," he said with a grin. "Instead of, you know, just a little bit. I don't think my ego really needs me being told I'm a messenger from God."

"I have never found you insufferable at all", Kurt assured him, laughing. "But you may be right if that had happened. For myself, I was also lucky that my adoptive family were not believers."

"Oh no, I can be sometimes. Or at least I have it on good authority I can be." He shrugged. Of all of his faults, he wasn't too concerned by it, whether it was true or not. "Honestly, I don't understand religion most of the time. Belief in a higher power? That's fine. I just absolutely do not get all of the bullshit that goes with it."

"That, my friend, is just humans using an excuse to put others down for the most part", was the more serious response. "My childhood priest taught me better. The basis of my religion is 'love thy neighbour'."

"See, I like that one," Warren smiled. "I know I went to church sometimes as a kid, and I'm sure I got told something about something, but I honestly mostly just being introduced to people I was told it was important to know."

"Ah, the joys of coming from an influential family", Kurt said, amused. "Do you remember any of these people who were so important to know?"

"Technically? Yes. At least some of them. Actually? I tend to skip most of the functions they attend. I'm a little bit allergic to rich people. I break out in a terrible case of 'you make me wish it was okay to hit idiotic, shallow people'." Warren was not very good at being a rich person sometimes.

"Are they all really so bad?" After a moment's thought, he added, "Of course, the only rich person I have met apart from yourself and the Professor is my father, and the less said about him the better."

"A lot of them? Yeah. Even when they're busy 'doing good deeds', it's more important for them to be seen to be doing them, or being at all the 'right' charity events. It wouldn't do to be seen supporting an unfashionable cause." Warren hated charity events more than anything. All of that money spent on glittering parties was much better spent on helping the cause.

"In that case, perhaps the only thing to be done is to direct their idea of fashionable to the right places", Kurt suggested. "At least the causes might get some benefit from it."

"True," Warren nodded. "But there's some pretty strong ideas about what you can and can't throw parties - sorry, benefits for. Cancer research is fine, but not if you start throwing things like 'bowels' into the mix. Cute animals are always a-go, but ugly ones or insects are less popular. Kids of nearly any kind are an instant hit." He frowned a bit. "Anything mutant related, and you won't get a single RSVP. Especially in Manhattan." Rich people didn't forget, especially when their beloved city gets torn up.

"I see", Kurt said sadly. "They have not forgiven us for Apocalypse's actions yet, then? I would be surprised to find you were the only mutant son or daughter among them, though."

"Not at all," he shook his head. "For some of them, it's given legitimacy to their dislike of mutants. And a lot of them don't like being reminded that they're vulnerable as well, even if they're otherwise willing to be liberal minded." He shrugged. "You're right, I'm probably not. But if their parents are anything like my father, they'll do whatever they can to bury their heads in the sand and ignore it. Or force their kids in pretending to not be a mutant."

Kurt nodded. "And those who can pass probably feel they have no choice. Such a great shame all around, though, if they could only see it."

"Exactly." Warren was the perfect example of that. Even with the extreme discomfort it caused, he passed rather than not. "There isn't much reason for them to come out if they wanted to, and far too much to lose."

"As Julian did for a time", Kurt noted. "And you could still, perhaps? Or is your father one of the better ones?"

"Not at all," Warren said with a shake of his head. "He'd probably drop dead of a heart attack if I came out. He has enough issues with me even being vaguely connected to anything mutant related."

Kurt sighed. "Perhaps they will all come around with enough time. We can hope, at least."

"I certainly hope so. Not all of them are narrow minded bigots, they're just scared." Warren shrugged. "It's hard to blame them sometimes, but hopefully we'll be able to show them they don't have to be."

"That would be the dream we all work for", Kurt agreed. "And now... perhaps we should adjourn to Harry's."

"What an excellent idea," Warren replied with a grin. "And hopefully Jared won't be working. Otherwise he might get jealous of you."

Kurt raised his eyebrows. "Is that so? Well, I suppose we shall see."

"Meet you out the front in twenty?" As much as Warren did like the leather look, it wasn't entirely appropriate for Harry's. And it would probably take him that long just to change.

"I will see you there", he said with a smile.