[He takes a moment to consider the question, tilting his head from side to side.]
We live in a castle, at least until we decide to move out. The Monarchy is... Well, the Queen is somewhat ruthless, I am told, though I have not had the pleasure of making her acquaintance directly as of yet.
[He shrugs.] It is and it is not so different from what I am used to, although the city of Thorne is no London, that is for certain.
[ He settles comfortably in his seat, legs crossed, nursing his drink. Everything that John shares about Thorne marches up with what he's been told or learned about it so far, and none of it really surprises him. At this point, very little would. ]
You're from London?
[ At least, a place he's not entirely unfamiliar with, though he expects they're from different points in time. ]
[ With that, it's much easier to narrow down what point in time John might come from. Briefly, he wonders how much he may have been told about the future at this point; after all, Erik isn't the only other one here from Earth. ]
I am. [ He smiles back, amused at the correction. ] I'm originally from Dusseldorf. But I've lived in several places during my life— including England, and America. Although Pennsylvania and Virginia are no longer called colonies, in my time.
[John blinks slightly at that. No longer called colonies... This sounds like more of the nonsense Claire has given him, about time travel and Benedict Arnold. But he latches on instead to the more familiar, comfortable term in this exchange. Dusseldorf. His eyes brighten and his smile widens again.]
I have spent some time abroad in that part of the world as well. Although most of it was not for leisure, I am afraid, but by necessity of war.
[He states it simply as fact, because that is what it is, although there is a hint of sadness to it. It is not easy. By the very nature of it, it should not be. He brightens again slightly as he adds:]
I have made the acquaintance of the Princess Louisa von Lowenstein, though.
[ It is always war, isn't it. Erik doesn't look especially bothered, but there's a trace of tension at the corner of his lips. He just nods, but looks a little more confused when John mentions that name. ]
I don't think I've ever heard that name. It's possible that there's some good distance between your point in time and mine.
[ Or that John is from a different reality. Then again, Erik might be a little rusty in terms of history. Could just be that he doesn't remember all the names. ]
[Distance between time. John lets out a breath, somewhat disappointed at the idea of it, but --]
It is possible. More than possible, if we are both honest with ourselves.
[But disappointing. It is so frustrating, all of these people from such different lands, not recognizing anything of what he is talking about in the least, with their magic and how different -- everything about them seems to be. He had hoped...
As a last-ditch effort, he tries:] It was last -- the year of 1778, when I was taken to this place, though in truth I do not know whether it will be when I return or not. [He meets the other man's gaze, raising his eyebrows in a silent question. Is it anywhere close...?]
[ Erik takes a drink from his glass, and offers a sympathetic smile to John. ]
1983, for me.
[ So yes, definitely a good distance apart between the both of them. ]
A lot of the people that I've met here are from farther ahead than myself, but only by half a century, at most. It's not the same, I know, but I understand your frustration.
[ It can be isolating, sometimes. Erik tries to take comfort in the fact that many of the people here are at least familiar with Earth. A little more difficult when the word 'mutant' is so unfamiliar even to those from the 21st century. ]
And there are those from entirely different worlds. I've come to learn that it's easier to try to find a different sort of common ground, rather than just the point in time or world we come from.
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no subject
As for Thorne...
[He takes a moment to consider the question, tilting his head from side to side.]
We live in a castle, at least until we decide to move out. The Monarchy is... Well, the Queen is somewhat ruthless, I am told, though I have not had the pleasure of making her acquaintance directly as of yet.
[He shrugs.] It is and it is not so different from what I am used to, although the city of Thorne is no London, that is for certain.
no subject
You're from London?
[ At least, a place he's not entirely unfamiliar with, though he expects they're from different points in time. ]
no subject
Originally, at any rate. Although I have found myself a home these past few years of late in the colonies of Pennsylvania and Virgina.
[He raises an eyebrow at the other man.]
You are familiar with such places yourself, s-- my friend?
[His lips twitch into a wider smile as he self-corrects. What can he say, he has been bred into these manners, and they are hard to break.]
no subject
I am. [ He smiles back, amused at the correction. ] I'm originally from Dusseldorf. But I've lived in several places during my life— including England, and America. Although Pennsylvania and Virginia are no longer called colonies, in my time.
no subject
I have spent some time abroad in that part of the world as well. Although most of it was not for leisure, I am afraid, but by necessity of war.
[He states it simply as fact, because that is what it is, although there is a hint of sadness to it. It is not easy. By the very nature of it, it should not be. He brightens again slightly as he adds:]
I have made the acquaintance of the Princess Louisa von Lowenstein, though.
no subject
I don't think I've ever heard that name. It's possible that there's some good distance between your point in time and mine.
[ Or that John is from a different reality. Then again, Erik might be a little rusty in terms of history. Could just be that he doesn't remember all the names. ]
no subject
It is possible. More than possible, if we are both honest with ourselves.
[But disappointing. It is so frustrating, all of these people from such different lands, not recognizing anything of what he is talking about in the least, with their magic and how different -- everything about them seems to be. He had hoped...
As a last-ditch effort, he tries:] It was last -- the year of 1778, when I was taken to this place, though in truth I do not know whether it will be when I return or not. [He meets the other man's gaze, raising his eyebrows in a silent question. Is it anywhere close...?]
no subject
1983, for me.
[ So yes, definitely a good distance apart between the both of them. ]
A lot of the people that I've met here are from farther ahead than myself, but only by half a century, at most. It's not the same, I know, but I understand your frustration.
[ It can be isolating, sometimes. Erik tries to take comfort in the fact that many of the people here are at least familiar with Earth. A little more difficult when the word 'mutant' is so unfamiliar even to those from the 21st century. ]
And there are those from entirely different worlds. I've come to learn that it's easier to try to find a different sort of common ground, rather than just the point in time or world we come from.