[The man looks a little more worn around the edges than the slightly crisper young man from five years ago. But the green eyes are the same and the quiet look not all too different. He quietly gets up from the chair and puts his lighter away and walks over.]

No. I wouldn't say sane, but not crazy. [Hand shake? Hug? Victor isn't sure. He offers the hand though.] You okay, Jami- James?

[In the back of his head, he's called James 'Jamie' for years. Habit to break now.]

[The hand shake is returned as he tries to consider what's going through his younger brother's mind. He was considering about breaking his promise to his mother to see James graduate but. Well. That would be the last thing on anyone's mind right now. Or the first thing.]

And here I thought sarcasm was from nurturing and not nature. [There's a slight smile before he gestures James to sit down.] There's coffee and soft drinks on the table. [Victor already got a mug of something steaming hot for himself.] So, what have they told you?

[From what he recalls, their father had something of a sarcastic streak. But he had been eight years old and played too much with watercolors for his father's taste. But that had been... well, James' lifetime ago. He studies the young man now, seeing some of the rebellion that Victor never got to had. Absolutely alien. He sips his coffee.]

Meta human, or mutant. Whatever bullshit label they like calling us. They prefer meta human because of various types of... freaks. [They hadn't been able to answer the question so easily when he was younger. It was easier now.] So empathy and accidental men-

[He pauses, frowns.] James, absolutely not. I've no desire to punch you and not all that keen on someone trying to egg me on to do it. Had enough of that... if anything I just want you to relax. Harder the hell, I know, but that's why they called me.

(ooc: You are doing wonderfully. <3)

[The older man stares evenly at James, the mild interest cooling to something a touch more his usual self.]

Well, you wouldn't be the only one in this department with that desire. And it won't. [He blows the steam off and sips his coffee.] I've spent all your life reigning in control, an untrained empath won't do me in. Few emotionally based things do.

[There's a quiet sigh as he watches the young man get to his feet.] I assure you, it wasn't fun and games. Never fun and games and obviously they didn't check hard enough. I manifested when I was seven and I'm afraid the manifestation was much more obvious. [He gives a simple shrug, his quietness is learned. He understands the anger that's going on.] I don't know, James. Perhaps since you were nine?

James. [There is a quiet sigh, his hand scrubbing his face.] It's not horrific, it's... you know how Mum and Dad are. You know them better than I do. Do you think they wanted you feel like someone would snatch you up at night, taking you away if you did something wrong? I was making people ill and even they didn't know half the story. They still don't. When they collected me up, this whole mutant thing is new, they didn't know what they were doing.

No. By then I learned some measure of control and we had no idea you had powers. [He knows, and some ways he contributed to it. He's no better than their parents at this moment.] We all wanted a normal life or you.

If I was cured, why wouldn't I come home after being so gone for so long? [He crosses his arms.] Perhaps the lie was just as much as for them as it was for you.

[And that shocks him. Shocks him enough that he doesn't even attempt to disguise the sunrise.] You do? It's... old now, isn't it?

No. I'm... I'm touched, honestly.

[He spans his hands before shrugging.] And it's not bad for a back up now. It was cutting edge when I bought it.

Might be the case. We're... well. [He smiles, tried and unsure.] I promise it was by honest means. They pay us well here.

And I wanted to point out they didn't come for you to recruit you if don't want it. The Agency's... not like that. [Pauses.] Or nothing what they used to be.

To letting them help you? Well, as you said, it would be extremely difficult to figure out your footing. What triggers you might be setting off. Biological, telepathic, perhaps both? [And Victor's spent his entire existence trying to avoid what James is facing. While that's changed in the recent month, it took a half a decade to trust the man he's with.] Did they say where they'd like to send you?

Good. Good. They're giving you curtsey, then. [And suddenly he doesn't feel so bad about defending the Agency to others, particularly to Aubrey or Jac.] I'm no longer in England, James. I suppose the accent - [Not the fake Posh he's glossed over for years but the soft blend of Estuary and Middle American.] - might be clue to that.

[Well, of course not. He knows they wouldn't let James out there after the incident. Or give him the option if such a thing was there.] Don't worry, I pose well enough back in the States.

Well. I thought you might want to stay home. You're welcome and I would believe the Agency would prefer you go with me. I'd probably be the best to keep an eye out on you and neutralize your powers on a level. And of course, family. Even if we don't know each other very well.

[Victor sighs for a moment, knowing that came out of the blue.] I don't think you'll be able to live with me right away. But it is an option and I know the director of the Agency. I know how she thinks.

But you know the lay of the land, the culture, the things that made it your home. It's a transition after an already hard enough transition.

James. [His tone is calm and even.] I want you to stay if you can. I'd welcome it. I want what is best for you. Maybe you are right, maybe this is what you need... but you need to think about it. I've a three room apartment. It's warm, it's safe. [The sound proofing between units is questionable at best.] If that is what you want and is allowed, then that's what I want.

[Showing anger was not apart of Victor's MO. It once was when he was James' age, but that had changed over the near decade.] Well, a new start could be good, then. I'll be speaking around as much as possible. [Their parents are probably going to take it hard, yes. They're far too old to start again. But perhaps with that in mind, Victor hopes they won't write off James like they did him. In the end they did it not because they hated what Victor was but on the belief they wouldn't see him again.]

[There is a understanding to this. His reasoning for their parents it really more of a condition to stay right and sane. To think he hadn't been abandoned unfairly. He doesn't know his parents at all.] They'll have means and ways. Simply knowing what you are will give them an advantage in working with you.

I know this wasn't what you planned for.

No, I don't suppose they planned on it despite the stereotype. Even then I doubt anyone who wants to be in a brawl wants to end up in a hospital. [It's unspoken, but implied, that he's sure no one has the desire to cause something like this when rational of mind.]

Well, when they came up with my policy, it was back when dinosaurs ruled the Earth and they didn't have anyone that could deal with me for long periods. But guessing from what I know, a few weeks at most.

[There's a pause.] I have ... [There's that uncomfortable moment because he has no idea what his family thinks about alternative sexuality.] I've someone else living with me. I think he should be fine. He's sarcastic, droll. He should be fine around your powers if they're like mine or mental-based.

[Better than years, little brother. Years at all. There is a reason the parents thought of him as dead. And for his credit, he looks a little sheepish. To his credit, he knew it wasn't very clever.]

Living with me, yes. Ah. An associate of the Agency, we met ten years ago. Would that make you uncomfortable?

The roulette of genetics just fucked with them, didn't they? [He laughs, tried, and he rubs his face.] Well, I like women well enough so there's minor hope to pass their name along.

So obviously I'm not going to be the one to judge what you do all too much if it doesn't bring you harm.

We'll go in the same hand basket then. [He sighs with a slow shake of his head. He's lost all fear of religion in the years of the Agency.] The Agency, by the way, won't mind or consider anything wrong about it.