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Though Erik is still wary about this, after weeks of settling into a freer version of a life he's somewhat lived before, he thinks that he ought to reach out to Charles again. He's tried to give him space, but there's really no reasoning with him. He seems petty and childish, stubborn and wrong and it only infuriates Erik to be around him, but he has to remember that they're from different times.

Besides which, even with their differences, Erik still counts Charles' friendship as the most important one. Like Raven, he understands what it means to be a mutant, but they are in pursuit of a common goal -- or so he thinks, he can't be sure and that has been weighing on him recently, along with getting used to this modern city.

More than that, there is his powers to think of. With them returned, he cherishes and holds them close, practices them as often as he can, and never takes them for granted. Even now, after summoning Charles by phone to this middle neutral ground at a coffeeshop, he practices with the small filaments of metal all around him, none receiving as much attention as the metal base in the chess pieces before him.

He sips at his coffee and absently folds his napkin as he waits, not using his hands to help with his powers -- not needing to as his concentration grows more focused with every passing day.

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Strange, then. Erik's abilities haven't been affected by the city insofar as he can tell, but perhaps there is something different when it comes to the people versus the structures. "Do any of them know the way out?" he asks, which is the pertinent question. He needs to get to Shaw, he needs to find him. If the damage is already done to Charles, then it is even more important.

"If there is one, most of them seem uninterested in acknowledging it," he sighed, "They don't even appear to consider the possibility of leaving. Any thoughts of the world outside seem to be situated well in the past."

It concerned him more than he let on, but the last thing he wanted was to make Erik even more distrustful of Darrow and its people than he already was.

"I don't believe they know any more than we do."

Erik finds that immensely displeasing. He wants to get out and find his way to Shaw and the prospect of being in a city with modernity around it bears much better chance than the island ever had. "And you? Are you happy to settle your heels in and live here?"

"Happy isn't the word I would use," Charles said, a faint curl of amusement tugging at his lips. Resigned was a more accurate descriptor. They were all trapped there, and for now, there was nothing to be done but make the best of it.

"And you? Are you enjoying your stay?"

"I'm pleased to have my abilities returned to me after so long without," he is happy to say, happy to admit to what he is grateful for, because Erik knows better than most what it's like to be deprived of the things you hold dear. "I dislike being caged in yet again. Especially when Shaw is still out there."

Drawing in a sharp breath, Charles looked at the other man-- at his old friend, his jaw tense with frustration. Once, it had been anger, cold and absolute, and it had nearly destroyed him, just the way he'd watched it destroy Erik.

How long had they been having this argument? How many times with Erik need to murder that man, before he was satisfied?

"Shall we start this old, worn-out record again?" he said, taking a sip of his tea. "I'm sure you're tired of it."

"He needs to be locked away," Erik says sharply, giving Charles a look of disbelief that wonders how he could ever condone allowing Shaw to walk the Earth, creating more little monsters like himself. Being on the island, going through the loops of his past had shown him that killing Shaw did nothing, but that was not the only vengeance that could be had. "Somewhere dank and dark, where he will never see the sun again and never hope to hurt anyone else's family."