Julian & The Professor: The Homecoming
Sep. 5th, 2014 01:59 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsJulian Keller returns to the mansion under less than perfect situations and is welcomed back by Charles.
Julian waited outside the sizable and very, very aged wooden door that was currently closed, but would otherwise admit him to the Professor's office. His suit was ruffled from the long flight, a carry-on bag and his tablet were the only items with him, with the exception of a teak box he held in his hand. He carefully tried not to think of what was inside, distracting himself with the latest market reports. Wallstreet would be closing soon and if he was to make good on his recent purchases, he needed a new revenue stream. He added several more companies to a list of possible investments and then shut the program, checking his pocket watch that he then re-nestled in his vest pocket.
Charles gave Julian - it was hard to miss the nervous young man standing outside his door - a few moments to collect himself, but it was becoming increasingly obvious that he wasn't going to knock. "Come in, Mr. Keller," he called, setting his book aside and looking up at the door expectantly, waiting for it to open.
Taking a moment to straighten his tie, Julian stood and pushed the heavy door open. Plastering a smile across his face, he strode into the office, leaving everything but the wooden box outside. "Professor, excellent to see you again." He crossed the room and extended his hand.
"And you, Mr. Keller," Charles greeted him with a smile as he reached out to take the offered hand, and they shook. "I trust California has been treating you well?" He had seen the news, of course. He knew what was happening with William Keller, but that was for Julian to bring up if he wished. He had a feeling that wasn't what he was hear to discuss, though.
Taking a seat across from Charles, Julian undid the button which closed his suit-coat and placed the wooden box on his lap. "California treated me well while I was there- which was most of the time since my departure. Of course this last stretch has been a bit rough," he shrugged, "but not much I can do about that." The former scion grinned, "Things here are still...delightfully hectic, I'd guess?"
"Oh, the same as usual." Charles chuckled as he poured a cup of tea, then a second for Julian. "Not much has changed since you left. Cream or sugar?"
"Sugar, please," once the dollop was added to the cup he gladly took it to hand. "From what I've seen that's very true- though, quite a few new faces too." He took a sip from the cup, "Mmm, quite good." Julian set the cup to the side, "Before I forget, I have something for you."
"Oh?" He had noticed the box in Julian's hand - it was hard to miss. "You needn't bribe me if you're worried you won't be allowed to come back." The words were dry. He was sure that wasn't Julian's intention at all. "You always have a place here."
"I do appreciate that," Julian nodded, holding the box out to Charles, "but this is a simple gift of respect. Something I thought the previous owner would want you to have."
Charles took the box, popping it open. Inside was a set of Buddhist prayer beads. "These are lovely," he commented as he ran his fingers along the wooden beads. "Who might the previous owner have been?"
A memory triggered in Julian's mind, a wrinkled, tanned man of short stature and countless years with a safron robe tied around him- seated on a cushion in a great stone hall filled with incense. "Sifu Paris of the Si Huanying Quan, or Temple of the Phantom Fist- my mentor for a stay in China and one of the most skilled telekinetics I've ever met. He shared your philosophy from what I could tell of our talks, and would have very much liked to have met you." Another memory triggered, the same hall, now scentless and without light- empty, save for the familiar traveler standing in the gloam.
"I see." Charles wound the beads over three of his fingers, lifting them gently out of the box to examine them. "I think I would have liked to meet him too, then." He set the beads down again, looking back up at Julian. "It sounds as if you've done some traveling since you left."
"Some," he looked toward the window, "my presence at the temple was a bit of an accident...." Another memory briefly passed, a young, Chinese-American woman with long black hair, "a happy accident." Shaking his head, he took another sip of tea, "Most of my time was spent at Stanford, I only completed two-and-a-half years though, so I've enrolled at New York University. They were more than happy to accept me, despite my now tarnished family name."
"It sounds as if you enjoyed your time though." Charles stopped to take another sip of tea, debating whether or not to pursue the line of his family. "I assume you've come here to escape the limelight?" He finally asked. He wouldn't blame Julian if that was the case - who would want to be caught up in that mess?
"So-to-speak," he took another sip of tea, "I'm hoping I'll only be imposing for a week, perhaps two. I'm already in the process of closing on a place in the city." He set the cup down and leaned forward, "That isn't to say that I don't want to be a part of what goes on here though. I'm not thinking of trying to join the X-Men again- but, you have more students here now, from what I've seen in just an hour-or-so here. I take it the New Mutants program is still active and I'd like to assist with it." He paused for a beat, "If you'll allow me to."
"You're welcome to stay for as long as you need," Charles said with a nod. "As far as helping with the New Mutants, Ms. Jones took over as mentor a couple years ago, you'll have to speak with her. I'm sure she'll welcome the help though. As you've observed there are quite a few new students and they seem to...attract trouble."
"I would have thought that Miss Sefton would have found a way to break that curse by now," he smirked and grasped the cup with both hands as he took another sip of the now perfectly warm tea. "I will seek out Miss Jones- Angelica- as soon as I can then. Thank you for your hospitality, Professor Xavier."
"Ah, unfortunately she has her own students now who consistently attract trouble of their own." Charles chuckled. "I believe they keep her rather busy." He finished the last of his tea, smiling gently. "Of course, Mr. Keller. My home is your home for as long as you need."
Julian waited outside the sizable and very, very aged wooden door that was currently closed, but would otherwise admit him to the Professor's office. His suit was ruffled from the long flight, a carry-on bag and his tablet were the only items with him, with the exception of a teak box he held in his hand. He carefully tried not to think of what was inside, distracting himself with the latest market reports. Wallstreet would be closing soon and if he was to make good on his recent purchases, he needed a new revenue stream. He added several more companies to a list of possible investments and then shut the program, checking his pocket watch that he then re-nestled in his vest pocket.
Charles gave Julian - it was hard to miss the nervous young man standing outside his door - a few moments to collect himself, but it was becoming increasingly obvious that he wasn't going to knock. "Come in, Mr. Keller," he called, setting his book aside and looking up at the door expectantly, waiting for it to open.
Taking a moment to straighten his tie, Julian stood and pushed the heavy door open. Plastering a smile across his face, he strode into the office, leaving everything but the wooden box outside. "Professor, excellent to see you again." He crossed the room and extended his hand.
"And you, Mr. Keller," Charles greeted him with a smile as he reached out to take the offered hand, and they shook. "I trust California has been treating you well?" He had seen the news, of course. He knew what was happening with William Keller, but that was for Julian to bring up if he wished. He had a feeling that wasn't what he was hear to discuss, though.
Taking a seat across from Charles, Julian undid the button which closed his suit-coat and placed the wooden box on his lap. "California treated me well while I was there- which was most of the time since my departure. Of course this last stretch has been a bit rough," he shrugged, "but not much I can do about that." The former scion grinned, "Things here are still...delightfully hectic, I'd guess?"
"Oh, the same as usual." Charles chuckled as he poured a cup of tea, then a second for Julian. "Not much has changed since you left. Cream or sugar?"
"Sugar, please," once the dollop was added to the cup he gladly took it to hand. "From what I've seen that's very true- though, quite a few new faces too." He took a sip from the cup, "Mmm, quite good." Julian set the cup to the side, "Before I forget, I have something for you."
"Oh?" He had noticed the box in Julian's hand - it was hard to miss. "You needn't bribe me if you're worried you won't be allowed to come back." The words were dry. He was sure that wasn't Julian's intention at all. "You always have a place here."
"I do appreciate that," Julian nodded, holding the box out to Charles, "but this is a simple gift of respect. Something I thought the previous owner would want you to have."
Charles took the box, popping it open. Inside was a set of Buddhist prayer beads. "These are lovely," he commented as he ran his fingers along the wooden beads. "Who might the previous owner have been?"
A memory triggered in Julian's mind, a wrinkled, tanned man of short stature and countless years with a safron robe tied around him- seated on a cushion in a great stone hall filled with incense. "Sifu Paris of the Si Huanying Quan, or Temple of the Phantom Fist- my mentor for a stay in China and one of the most skilled telekinetics I've ever met. He shared your philosophy from what I could tell of our talks, and would have very much liked to have met you." Another memory triggered, the same hall, now scentless and without light- empty, save for the familiar traveler standing in the gloam.
"I see." Charles wound the beads over three of his fingers, lifting them gently out of the box to examine them. "I think I would have liked to meet him too, then." He set the beads down again, looking back up at Julian. "It sounds as if you've done some traveling since you left."
"Some," he looked toward the window, "my presence at the temple was a bit of an accident...." Another memory briefly passed, a young, Chinese-American woman with long black hair, "a happy accident." Shaking his head, he took another sip of tea, "Most of my time was spent at Stanford, I only completed two-and-a-half years though, so I've enrolled at New York University. They were more than happy to accept me, despite my now tarnished family name."
"It sounds as if you enjoyed your time though." Charles stopped to take another sip of tea, debating whether or not to pursue the line of his family. "I assume you've come here to escape the limelight?" He finally asked. He wouldn't blame Julian if that was the case - who would want to be caught up in that mess?
"So-to-speak," he took another sip of tea, "I'm hoping I'll only be imposing for a week, perhaps two. I'm already in the process of closing on a place in the city." He set the cup down and leaned forward, "That isn't to say that I don't want to be a part of what goes on here though. I'm not thinking of trying to join the X-Men again- but, you have more students here now, from what I've seen in just an hour-or-so here. I take it the New Mutants program is still active and I'd like to assist with it." He paused for a beat, "If you'll allow me to."
"You're welcome to stay for as long as you need," Charles said with a nod. "As far as helping with the New Mutants, Ms. Jones took over as mentor a couple years ago, you'll have to speak with her. I'm sure she'll welcome the help though. As you've observed there are quite a few new students and they seem to...attract trouble."
"I would have thought that Miss Sefton would have found a way to break that curse by now," he smirked and grasped the cup with both hands as he took another sip of the now perfectly warm tea. "I will seek out Miss Jones- Angelica- as soon as I can then. Thank you for your hospitality, Professor Xavier."
"Ah, unfortunately she has her own students now who consistently attract trouble of their own." Charles chuckled. "I believe they keep her rather busy." He finished the last of his tea, smiling gently. "Of course, Mr. Keller. My home is your home for as long as you need."
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