I8: Phantom Universe

[Gaius Montgomery]

Guy was sitting on a bench, looking up at the stars and pretending to create new constellations with tiny glowing wisps.

[Nathaniel Davis]

Nate was walking down one of the walkways in the Quad, wearing a long-sleeve X-Corp jacket despite the weather.

[Gaius Montgomery]

Guy caught movement in the corner of his eye and turned his upward-facing head to look.

Bloody hell... is that...?

He jerked upright, wisps winking out of existence.

It is! Stay cool, stay cool...

He stood up a little too fast, and approached. "Well if it isn't the great white wolf himself. Guy Montgomery. Big fan!"

Damnit!

[Nathaniel Davis]

Nate stopped and raised an eyebrow, "Pleased to meet you."

[Gaius Montgomery]

"Sorry about that," he half-chuckled uncomfortably, trying to get back to his comfort zone. "I've just never met one my... ahem... heroes... before."

[Nathaniel Davis]

"S'okay," Nate said with a chuckle as well. "I'm still not used to having 'fans'."

[Gaius Montgomery]

"Don't worry, I won't regale you with your own exploits. That must certainly be bloody annoying."

[Nathaniel Davis]

"Since I lived most of them, it does occasionally get tiresome," he said.

[Gaius Montgomery]

"I'm far more interested in the undisclosed ones anyway, but of course if you told me you'd have to kill me," he smirked.

The smirk faded. "Aaaand I bet you've heard that line a billion times..."

[Nathaniel Davis]

"And said it almost as many times," he said with a chuckle. "But sometimes the undisclosed ones are that way for a reason. Several of them were... particularly unpleasant."

[Gaius Montgomery]

"Which is why I won't be pressing the issue. No sense in digging up old demons," said the future archeologist bound to someday release a few literal examples.

[Nathaniel Davis]

"So where are you from?"

[Gaius Montgomery]

"Manchester," he answered.

[Nathaniel Davis]

"So how's the University treating you?"

[Gaius Montgomery]

"It's a fantastic place to be, despite the dangers. Or perhaps because of them. I haven't decided."

[Nathaniel Davis]

"One of the few places that when things become dull, you have to start seriously worrying," Nate said by way of agreement.

[Gaius Montgomery]

"Because then the lawn tries to eat you," he said, "Seriously, my first few days, just as I was starting to think the Xavier's reputation was exaggerated.... bam! Lawn attack!"

[Nathaniel Davis]

"For us it seemed to be either Sabretooth or someone crashing the opening day party."

[Gaius Montgomery]

"The more things change, right?"

[Nathaniel Davis]

"I always try to take comfort in the predictability of the unpredictable," Nate said.

[Gaius Montgomery]

Guy nodded in agreement. "So... Any advice for someone looking to use his gifts for defending the innocent?"

[Nathaniel Davis]

"Train. Explore your abilities as much as you can. But always take time for yourself. Selfless hero work only takes you so far." Nate thought for a minute, "Oh, and finish university."

[Gaius Montgomery]

"Of course. I'm not looking to do it for a living. Just... to help when I can."

[Nathaniel Davis]

"Don't let the power go to your head. It's easy to do and has bad consequences when you do."

[Gaius Montgomery]

"It's probably for the best I can't blow anything up," he admitted.

[Nathaniel Davis]

"You don't have to be able to blow stuff up or rip things apart for power to go to your head."

[Gaius Montgomery]

"In that case, my roommate would say I already have. I was... quite the prankster in upper school."

[Nathaniel Davis]

"People think it's funny prankster or asshole prankster?"

[Gaius Montgomery]

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't begin as the latter. I got better... but even then it rather depends on who you ask doesn't it?"

[Nathaniel Davis]

"To some extent, though at some point an asshole is just an asshole regardless of who you ask."

[Gaius Montgomery]

"A friend thankfully turned me off that road."

[Nathaniel Davis]

"Good to hear. Be thankful for that friend," Nate said.

[Gaius Montgomery]

"I am," he smiled.