Golden: 1819.

[ofthefamily]

An old face. Calmer, older, and yet all the same unchanged.

At least he's not running for his life, now. And he knows where he is.

For Carlisle Cullen, this is always a good start.

Comments

[themidnightson]

"There's all of time to figure that out."

He won't begrudge that Carlisle does have a love of travel in him, they all seem to have a yearning toward and for it, but Carlisle always immensely happier, calmer, long term, settled somewhere, doing what he's always done.

[ofthefamily]

And yet I fidget in lectures.

[themidnightson]

"It will pass."





Edward's lip twitched, faintly upward.

"Even if I didn't believe you much when you told me that either."

[ofthefamily]

"Their interpretations of the causes of the Fire were frustrating."

[themidnightson]

Edward raised an eyebrow, looking far too amused already. "Oh?"

[ofthefamily]

"It was all so clinical."

None of them have any idea how many lives can go up in smoke and flame and sewage.

[themidnightson]

"How many lives simply disappear and no one notices."

Edward can appreciate that far too well.
It's still a plague he deals with.

[ofthefamily]

Or the people that you want to have notice (care) can never manage to.

Carlisle shifts in his seat.

"The subjects are interesting; if a little redundant from what I've already covered on my own."

[themidnightson]

The first thought hits more squarely with a force Edward isn't expecting, and perhaps it does wrinkle his expression.




Almost specifically, with a faint shake of his head,

"You are, sadly, still a good deal away from the system that allows for testing out of classes based on what you already know."

[ofthefamily]

Carlisle groans. "How unfortunate."

Carlisle will live without that luxury then.

[themidnightson]

"It's helpful now," Edward concedes.

"Not that we worry too much about degrees."

[ofthefamily]

"And how often do you attend university?"

[themidnightson]

"Whenever we want, and many classes can be audited across continents and oceans now with technological advances incorporated toward the teaching systems."

Edward expression shifted toward more non-pulsed.

"Most of the year is spent in high school, though."

[ofthefamily]

"High school? Sound interesting."

Oh Carlisle. You'll learn.

[themidnightson]

There's a flash-bright first reaction, almost questioning his seriousness but it meets not a millisecond later with the fact this Carlisle doesn't have the pieces of understanding that meter up to what high school is.

Especially, what high school is for (to) Edward.

"It's the America equivalent for compulsory secondary schooling, if how and why and what they teach changes a good deal over time."

[ofthefamily]

"So you're saying it's...not interesting."

[themidnightson]

"Not to anyone who isn't in their first ten years of teaching."

It's a little more wry than serious.

[ofthefamily]

"You would like my lectures I think."

I would certainly like to have you there.

[themidnightson]

It could be debatable. Either he isn't able to stop himself when his lips curl toward the smallest of smiles or he really doesn't notice at all, with some quiet pleasedness toward the thought itself.


His words are quieter, faintly pleased (if problematic for the point), and not nearly the rebuff they could have sounded in any other tone. "You seem to be managing well enough without me."

[ofthefamily]

Carlisle's expression creases in confusion.

"You are misinformed."

[themidnightson]

If the first reaction was double edges, the following one is only more so. He doesn't want to ask, for reason which are proven and founded and have nothing to do with the man sitting in front of him. Well. At least. Yet.

And conversely he does. Want to hear that he's wrong.
Regardless of just how well he might not believe it regardless.

Still ten years have passed for him and Edward wasn't there, wasn't a part of it. Wasn't born yet. Wasn't even in his past more than a handful of days. Hates that he's actually entertaining and encouraging the descent of these thoughts.




It doesn't lead to much more than his pressing faintly together.

[ofthefamily]

Here's the thing, though.

Carlisle's not all that willing to be so forthcoming about his answer. Edward's silent here, when he is usually at least willing to say something. Maybe he doesn't want to know?

[themidnightson]

Of course he does. Even when he really doesn't want to hear the things Carlisle has to say or think, based on his own opinions, he always still wants to know, to hear him.

Whether it's good for him or not.



An unnecessary huff is pushed out his nose.
As though it were simple, and he hadn't. "How so?"

[ofthefamily]

Maybe Edward forgot.

I am happy with you. So I manage.

[themidnightson]

Edward's brain stutters through a number of reactions, all of them simultaneously hitting at once.

Carlisle does not seem un-happy now. With his life. With everything. And he did smile like that the first time he spotted Edward from the door. And some part of him aches with an unfettered possessive pleasure at the idea. But if Carlisle is happier here and now, with him, than he ever is beyond the door, then is he doing him a disservice for the life he keeps having to return to. And it's seconds, only, each time.

Seconds.

And Carlisle.....manages.




This place. This strange room. Crossed between their times.
Uncertain, and rare for it. "I'm not certain what to say to that."