It’s National Cowboy Day!
In honor of all the cowboys through out the Clans!
Coffee House Friday
When tired but still need to finish that project, paper, story etc…
What drink do you go for?
Throwback Thursday: The Pony Express by Bj Jones
Title: The Pony Express
Author: Bj Jones
Rating: Nc-17
Summary: Fate had a way of messing with James Butler Hickok
Link to Fic
Afternoon Fic: Save the Mutant Save the World (Part Three)
Reminder: << >> indicates telepathic communication
***
“PETER!”
Kurt looked up at his brother, and said in a singsong voice, “someone’s in trouble.”
“Just because you’re the goody toeshoes in this family.” He looked around trying to find a place he could hide, maybe someplace in South America … He felt the pull of the metal in his jacket. “Wish me luck!”
The young teleporter waved as Peter was yanked down the hall. He then wandered off to find his Uncle, for storytime.
Quicksilver ended up sliding in front of his enraged father. “Hey dad.”
“Don’t you even …”
Peter closed his mouth, and looked around hoping to find Charles. It would seem luck was not on his side today. “So …”
“You’re mother called.”
He cringed. “I put the records back.”
“Records?” Erik gave him a look, one that was firmly on the side of ‘don’t lie to me, my boyfriend is a telepath and he’ll rip it out of your mind’.
“Nothing, what did she call about?” Peter tried to sort through the many reasons his mother would call. Over the past decade, the two had come to an understanding of how to handle Peter. Erik trusted his mom to take care of him, and she trusted Erik to protect him.
For the past couple of years Erik had taken to upping Peter’s training, knowing he would need to learn to fight and defend his fellow Mutants. Especially as he adopted Kurt as his little brother, and despite the sweet nature that the teleporter had, his appearance scared most people.
Well except the Catholic Priest in town, who adored him to no end.
Who knew?
Erik pulled out some Polaroids. “It seems it’s nice weather in Los Angeles, this time of year.”
He cringed. “I went to see Sean!” Erik’s eyes narrowed, well at least someone else would get yelled at. “Darwin was there.”
“I will deal with them later.” He ran a hand over his face and sighed. There were times he looked older than Peter remembered. Ever since he had that lung infection, two years ago. There was more grey in his hair, and he swore Uncle Charles had a bit less hair. “I know you want to explore. I get it, I do. But you just turned sixteen, and there’s been rises in Mutant disappearances. I can’t always be there.”
“I can take care of myself.”
“You’re my son.” Erik stood and landed a hand on his shoulder. “I would do anything to protect you. And you know how Charles feels about me hurting humans.”
Peter chuckled. “So you’re using Uncle Charles to guilt me into staying out of trouble.”
“If it works.”
“Fine, I won’t go on any vacations without telling you.” He shrugged, then settled into the chair. “I’m feeling a bit hyper, even more so lately.”
“Hormones.” Erik sat across from him. “Charles thought you might as you go through puberty.”
“I need to run.”
“Next time let us know, and we’ll work something out.” Erik frowned when he heard the doorbell. They didn’t get a lot of visitors, and the ones who visited, rarely knocked.
“Go find your brother, stay out of sight,” he ordered.
In a flash he was gone.
***
Logan took in the gate, the plaque on the wall, and then the school. It was exactly as he remembered it, yet completely different. The Brotherhood Headquarters that he had stumbled upon after fleeing Stryker, was intimidating. The school was the exact same building, yet felt more welcoming.
He hesitantly opened the gates, waiting for the mind sweep, but nothing came. Still on guard he made his way up the driveway, parked the stolen car, and as he stepped out of the vehicle he took everything in.
The grounds were meticulous, well manicured. Nothing like the rough patches he had been used to seeing. There were no outside training grounds, no obstacle courses. The fence was still high, but no cameras or barbed wire. But then it was 1970’s so cameras were bulky at best, not the nice discrete ones they had before the Sentinels destroyed the place.
With a shake of his head, he rang the doorbell.
Even that was different.
After a few moments, the door creaked open to reveal a geeky kid. He peered over his glasses, frowning at Logan. ‘What type of place was this?’
“Can I help you?” he asked.
“I’m looking for the Professor.” Logan demanded, they didn’t have time to waste. His instincts was telling him, his future was on the brink of being destroyed. If they didn’t fix this now, there was no hope.
“Do you have an appointment?”
“Look bub, I need to talk to Chuck. This is a matter of life and death.” He pushed on the door, stepping into the building. Everything may seem different, but it was still the same place. The Professor’s office was on the second floor, across from his rooms. A section very few people had been allowed to venture into. If you had the misfortune of being called into his office, no one got into his private residence.
Many whispered that a ghost lived there.
He was halfway up the stairs, when he was attacked from behind. With a grunt, he pushed back and took a swipe at his attacker, only to stumble in shock. “Beast?”
The geeky kid, who was now rippled with blue fur, gave him a contemplative look, before going in for a second attack. The two slammed into the ground, both growling. In a move, ironically one Beast had taught him, Logan tossed the kid upwards. Beast snarled, as he landed in the chandelier.
Logan released his bone claws ready to get down in dirty, when a metal snake crawled up his leg, yanking him down, dragged across the room, and slammed into the wall. He snarled at the unexpected intrusion, only to have the wall sconces melt and wrap around each of his wrists.
“What the bloody hell is going on down here?”
He knew that voice.
Logan looked up the stairs to see the Professor … with hair! But he sure as hell wasn’t the man he knew. This Professor was softer, bright blue eyes, gentle expression, and was wearing a cardigan for god’s sake.
“He tried to break in, Professor.”
“Hank, why are you in the chandelier?” he asked. With a sigh he waved his hand downward. “Get down from there. And the last I checked most burglars don’t ring the doorbell.”
Hank easily landed in a low crouch. His blue fur faded as he stood. “He says he knows you?”
Logan felt the metal tighten around his wrists. He had no idea how Beast was doing it, though if the kid was anything like his older counterpart he was pretty damn creative and sneaky when it came to boobytraps. “Let me down asshole.” He glared at Hank, who shrugged and glanced towards the shadows of the lobby.
“Erik.” Charles voice softened as he came down the stairs. “This is not how we treat guests.”
Logan slid down the wall, his focus on the man who stepped out of the shadows, so this was the elusive Erik. If there was a man who had seen war, it was him, not the two geeks he was supposedly seeking out. He was starting to understand why, Mystique told him to find him.
“Guests don’t attack those they are visiting.” He pointed out, giving Logan a dark look. “He knew exactly where to find you Charles. I don’t like that.”
“Erik…” He amonished, then smiled brightly as he stepped up to Logan. “Welcome to the Xavier School of the Gifted.”
“What the fuck happened to you?” He felt the metal wrap around his wrist again.
“Do I know you?” Chuck gave Erik a side-eye. “Let him go.”
“I don’t trust him.”
“Look bub. You sent me here.” Logan looked between the two men, while making sure he kept Beast in his line of sight. At the moment it looked like Logan could break him like a twig, but he knew exactly how well Beast could fight. “From the future.”
<<Charles?>>
<<Something is odd. He’s not lying, that’s for sure. But he’s not alone his mind.>>
<<Another telepath? Emma isn’t usually this cras.>>
<<It might seem weird darling, but the other presence I’m feeling is mine.>>
Logan looked between them, it was obviously they were communicating. The Professor – he knew – had no problem using his powers to get information, whether the person wanted to give it or not. This one seemed to have a conscience. He rolled his eyes, this was going to suck. “Look the future is in jeopardy, and you sent me back to fix it.”
“How is it jeopardy?” Beast asked moving next to Charles, two steps behind and one to the left. Logan almost sighed in relief it was such a familiar view, even if the two in front of him were far from the hard bitten Generals he knew.
Erik gave Charles an all knowing look. “Let me guess, they found out that there were more Mutants than they thought, flipped their collective shit and started hunting us down. We defended ourselves, and they declared war … destroying everything.”
“Erik!” Charles frowned at his lover. “I know you’re pessimistic but still! I have a bit more faith in humans and mutants, than the two of us wouldn’t destroy the world.”
“Naive Idealist”
Logan stared at Erik, he was starting to understand what they meant now. He smirked, then turned towards the Professor. “Sorry Chuck, he’s right.
<<See…>>
Erik gave him a second look. “I freely admit I’m not nearly as idealistic as Charles here, but we really destroyed the earth?”
“The Sentinels did.”
He began to explain how everything went wrong.
Hallow Thanksmas Eve
What is this? You ask?
Hopefully, by now you’ve read The Russian Spy. There will be a series of Timestamps coming of the variety of Clan Members and other Clans, dealing with the after affects and wanting to talk to Nico or at least get a face to face.
But … *flaily hands at title*
These talks, visits, and calls will all be through the holiday season – to a point where it will all blend.
So on that note.
Welcome to Hallow Thanksmas Eve – Sylum style.
Sylum: Social Media
Sylum Clan: Social Media Accounts
The main one we use is Twitter. If you have a Twitter account, you should be following us @Sylum_Clan.
The secondary one is my Tumblr. Now the catch here is, because of a variety of reasons I’m not on that very often, and contemplating deleting it.
Many people have expressed use of Facebook, as there is still many people who use it.
So to figure this out I’m running a pole!
Afternoon Fic: Save the Mutant Save the World (Part Two)
So one of the things that annoyed me (notice I said one) with Days of Future Past (Oh don’t get me wrong I loved the film) was the major plot holes that no one thought about it.
Like what happened to the plane filled with Mutants after Mystique ‘rescued’ them? No really? Did they just fly off into the sunset?
And I’m not even going to discuss the inability that the government could build a concrete/plastic prison for Erik in what 5 seconds? And y’all do realize that you need metal rebar for concrete construction … right?
A Single Shot (Prequel to this story)
***
Alex followed Stryker into the barracks, knowing that the guy was a) an asshole b) an asshole and c) likely going to either kill or kidnap the small group of Mutants that the army had put together to fight in this goddamn war.
He had the bad luck of having his birthday called. Though if he was honest with himself, he was happy it hadn’t been Sean or Hank. Neither Mutant would’ve been able to handle the horrors he had seen.
Sean was still at University of South California, by this time getting his Phd. Charles made sure he stayed safely away from Vietnam.
Irony, Hank’s feet got him out of the war. His birthday had been called soon after Alex’s, but he failed the physical. Hank had laughed and cried at the irony that the government had turned him away because of his Mutation. The one he hated all his life, only for it to save his life. Erik had sat at the Kitchen table and stared at Hank, not sure if he was offended for him for not being accepted or wanting to lecture him for wanting to get rid of it.
In the end he was thrilled that Hank was safely tucked away in the laboratories at the school.
Darwin lived up to his namesake, and was never called up, and instead moved to Los Angeles, keeping an eye on Sean.
The school hadn’t quite taken off over the past decade. Too many were afraid of their own Mutations. Others lost to the war. Charles took in those he could, gave them some training or education, and then helped them find a new path.
Alex had been thankful for his friends for keeping him sane, sending him care packages from Helen. Notes from Charles kept him going, and the years at war honed his ability to control his mutation. Letters from Erik, made him laugh and he would be forever thankful that dad had put contingency plans into place.
He hadn’t been sure what the plans were until Azazel and Erik arrived in the middle of a firefight.
Erik stood in the open field, holding all the bullets and grenades in mid air, as Azazel got everyone he could out. Alex stayed until Azazel could grab him and Erik, refusing to leave without dad.
Charles would never forgive him.
They ended up two miles to the south, near one of the American bases. Erik told him to stay out of trouble, and the two disappeared. No one questioned it, the Mutants on his squad asked if they were part of the Brotherhood, Alex nodded. The humans on the squad were willing to accept the devil could actually be an angel.
“Sir, is there a reason you brought us here?” Alex asked, eyeing Stryker. He remembered the boys father, didn’t like him either. He paused, when he saw the soldiers step away from the walls, guns drawn. “It’s going to be like that I see…”
Just then Stryker’s skin shifted until standing before him was Mystique. She took out each of the guards, with ease startling the rest of the Mutants. Alex channeled his power through his arm and out his fist taking out the last two.
“What are you doing here?” he asked as the last guard fell.
“Saving you.”
“I don’t think so. I’m just reaping the benefit of whatever you have planned here.” Alex gave her look, knowing she had her own agenda. “I’m sure Erik didn’t send you.”
“No, he’s still being coddled by Charles.”
Alex sighed, the bitchiness between the two hadn’t stopped over the past decade, and it wasn’t worth the fight. “Now what?”
“I’m hunting Trask.” She shifted back into Stryker and headed for the door. “He was expecting your unit at one of his labs.”
Alex stood in front of his men, who watched everything intently. They had gotten used to weird shit happening around them. They also respected their Captain, knowing he would protect them. Many had heard his stories of Charles and Erik, and the school they were building. Some had been curious, others scoffed. But in the end they all watched and waited.
“We will not be your sacrifice.”
She glared at him. “I wouldn’t betray my fellow Mutants!”
“So that wasn’t you who almost got Erik killed?” he snarled.
On a rare trip back to the states, he had gone home. The place had been quiet … too quiet. He learned Erik was resting, recovering from a major relapse.
It was in the middle of the night over a bottle of scotch when Charles told him what happened.
Erik had stepped in to help Emma with a situation, they had discovered the government was moving soldiers who were obvious Mutants to a lab. The few who had families, who cared enough to seek out what happened to their loved ones, were told they died in the war. She needed Erik’s help, Angel and Janus were down in South America working on a seperate mission.
Charles tagged along, to keep an eye on Erik. The Mutant had been sick a month prior and still had a heavy cough.
With ease the Brotherhood had gotten into the lab, leaving Charles talking sweetly to the guards in the front, keeping them distracted. Azazel moved the prisoners, while Emma interrogated the ‘Doctors’. Erik made sure the labs were destroyed and nothing could be gained from their experiments.
As they were leaving, it was Mystique who had discovered there was a network of labs, all owned by Trask. She deviated off the plan, and went into Trask’s office disguised as the man himself.
The only problem, he was in his office and sounded the alarm.
Erik yanked her out, slamming Trask against the wall.
She shifted and blended in with personal as they evacuated the facility.
Erik ended up surrounded by security guards their guns drawn. Charles walked down the hallway, convincing everyone that Erik was harmless. letting the two of them, escape with the rest of the staff.
When they returned to the school Charles, in a rare show of anger, yelled at her for leaving Erik behind. He didn’t care what her attitude was about their relationship, she abandoned a fellow Mutant and a teammate.
She shrugged, and gave the excuse that Erik could control their weapons.
Charles sharply reminded her the last time he faced off against someone with a gun, he was shot.
When Erik yelled at the pair of them, he ended up in a violent coughing fit. Charles pulled out a handkerchief and was by his side instantly. Then panicked when he saw blood soaking into the white. He yelled for Hank, only to yelp when Dr. Gregory appeared out of nowhere. Kurt held onto the doctor’s hand pointing at his Vater, demanding help.
Gregory didn’t blink, used to the unique family, and went to work. He took Erik out of his Charles’ arms and led him towards the bedroom, with the young teleporter holding tightly onto his Vater’s hand.
Charles turned on his sister, and in a voice calmer than anyone expected, told her to get out.
They hadn’t spoken since.
Alex had checked on Erik before he got shipped back out. He hadn’t seen him that pale since Cuba. Despite the underlying fear of losing someone he cared about he couldn’t help but awe at the sight of Peter and Kurt sleeping against their father’s side.
Erik may still be an asshole, but he is a good father, despite what he or others think.
It was soon after, Mystique parted ways with the Brotherhood, hell bent on going after Trask.
“I’m pretty sure, even Emma is now after your head. There’s helping your fellow Mutants, and then there’s going rogue and getting them killed.”
“Well at least I’m doing something.” She pushed against him. “Unlike my pathetic brother and his lover. So how many kids are they teaching, exactly?”
“Well it’s not like they’re raising yours or anything.” He stepped back, knowing she was likely to lash out. “I’m not sending my unit to their deaths.”
“They’ll die here.” She pointed out, glancing at the door. “It’s not like the government is going to let you go home.”
“It’s not like you’re our only transportation out of here.”
Mystique stepped back the moment Azazel poofed into the barracks. He gave his once lover a look, before focusing on everyone else in the room. “For those who want safety or just out of this hell hole, grab on. Those who want to go with beautiful yet deadly Mystique on her crusade – stay here.”
Alex stopped being surprised that a few always stayed behind.
Sylum Inspiration: Cecil Fredericks
Sylum Clan: Member
Cecil grew up in the Bronx and had always been interested in history, but was never able to go to college. As a teenager he got a job working at the National History Museum as a docent, and then as the years went by he moved to guard, and when he came close to retirement moved to night guard.
He is well learned, read everything he could get his hands on, but never formally educated. He never married, his taste in partners wasn’t accepted by society so he decided to be a bachelor than live a lie.
He became a Chosen One not long after the Tablet of Ahkmenrah arrived at the Museum. He ended up meeting Ahkmenrah not long after. He then became friends with Blade, then Hannibal and now gives special tours for Cameron Poe’s kids.
He was set to retire, and was training Larry to take over his job.
Everything was good, until the Museum was robbed. As he lay wounded he took one look at Hannibal and just rolled his eyes, of course he wanted to be Turned, truthfully he should’ve done it years ago.
Sylum Information: Caretaker Change for Vampire Council
So why the change?
First, I never liked Jeeves and Wooster.
Second, in truth Wooster wouldn’t have been a servant to anyone – that was why he had Jeeves.
Third, they never fit.
So why so late in changing them?
It wasn’t until the recent passing of Robert Guillaume, that I remembered Benson and new he was perfect for the Council.
Archived: Bj Jones Fics – Random Stories
Woohoo! More of my older fics have been uploaded/archived to the blog
Random Stories: Pirates of the Caribbean and RPS
Upcoming: Crossovers!
Note: As I did a LOT of crossovers that may take a while to upload/archive all the stories. So you may get those in sections.
So close!! So close!!
Afternoon Fic: Save the Mutant Save the World
This is the sequel to Afternoon Fic: A Single Shot – if you haven’t read that, go now.
Note: Afternoon Fics have always been sporadic, so be prepared to see long moments between updates. It feels good to get back into this. With everything that’s been going on in RL, and then so much going on in Sylum – it’s nice to do something not related to anything.
***
The Blackbird landed at the base of the Chinese Temple, that was hidden deep inside the mountains, making it virtually impenetrable and secluded. Bobby had done a good job finding the place and getting the team secured – away from the Sentinels.
For now.
Charles walked down the ramp as it was lowered, with Hank and Mystique flanking him, Logan and Storm followed, Logan chomping on his cigar as always. How he found on in this nightmare, ceased to amaze Charles. He gave Bobby a nod, as they made their way into the Temple, where Kitty and others were waiting.
They were so few now.
His dreams of a school destroyed by hatred.
“Professor?” Kitty smiled at him, as she took a seat on the large stone altar. “We called you here because we might have a plan.”
“To stop the Sentinels,” Bobby added into the conversation.
“At this rate, any idea is a good one.” Hank snorted, his voice low and gravely with age. The blue fur rippled under the X-Men uniform, the only thing they all still held onto.
Mystique smirked over at him, ready to comment about one of Erik’s crazy plans, but shut it, when Charles gave her a dark look.
“What is this plan?” he asked the younger Mutants.
“We’ve been staying one step ahead of the Sentinels by tricking them with illusions – basically they are fighting us in the past. When they get to Kitty, we all disappear, and they are left where we were, giving us time to escape to the next location.” Bobby explained, glancing over at Kitty, who nodded along with him.
“I think I could use the same abilities to send someone back.” She took a deep breath, her gaze on the Professor, watching him intently. It was him they had to convince. “I know no one talks about the time before the Sentinels, but maybe, if we knew what time to go …”
“1973,” Hank said without hesitation. “It wasn’t when it all started, but that was when Trask Industries got the Sentinel program approved.”
“Trask’s labs had been targeted by the Brotherhood.” Mystique continued Hank’s train of thought. “He’d been experimenting on Mutants for years, but it wasn’t until then the company got the approval…”
“How did they get it?” Bobby asked. He had never been sure how this whole thing started. He had been trained by Charles since he was a boy, after his parents abandoned him, not wanting a Mutant for a son. As long as he had been alive there had never been peace between Humans and Mutants.
“I killed Trask,” Mystique answered honestly. “And from that moment, the war began.”
“It just didn’t start until ten years later when the first Sentinels appeared.” Charles glanced at his sister, she still looked as young and beautiful as those days before Cuba, before the Brotherhood. “Do you think this would work?” His focus turned towards Kitty, she was one of his brightest would’ve made an excellent teacher, instead she ended up a soldier.
“It could, it’s just that I’ve never done it for that long or far.” She glanced around the last of their unit. “We would need someone who was there, but I don’t know how it would affect the person being sent back.”
“I’ll do it.” Logan stepped up volunteering. “I was around at the time, and with my added abilities.” He gnawed on his cigar, giving them a shug. “I should be able to handle it.”
Hank gave Mystique a side eye, then both turned and looked at Charles.
“It might not be like you think it is.” The Professor chuckled humorlessly.
“Oh, I know about the 70’s Chuck. Lava Lamps, free love, the war … it was a different time. I might not remember most of my life, but everyone knows the 70’s.” Logan smirked at the Professor, who gave him a rare smile in return.
“You will need to go to Westchester, find the Xavier School for the Gifted.” Now that was a name Charles hadn’t thought about in a long time.
“It’s in the same location where our headquarters were located.” Hank explained hesitantly, knowing they were approaching ‘never bring up’ territory.
Logan glanced between them, a confused expression on his face. “Wait. You’re tellin’ me that our headquarters was a school?”
“Yes.” Charles gave a warning look to both Mutants before they said anything more damaging. Leaving him to explain the one thing he never wanted to talk about. “Logan, when you meet me, I’m not the same man I am now.”
“No one is bub.” He put out his cigar before settling on the spot Kitty had vacated. He felt like he was going to be a living sacrifice.
Maybe he was.
“I’m not kidding Logan. I was a very different then, naïve and so stupid. Or as someone once put it Naïve Idealist.” He closed his eyes trying not to think about that time or him. “I will be difficult to deal with.”
“Oh for fucksakes, Charles.” Mystique threw her arms up in frustration as pushed past her brother. She looked down at Logan, rippling into her natural form, knowing it would get his attention. “Ignore Charles. You’ll need to convince Erik.”
“Just tell him Charles’ life is in danger and he will listen to you.” Hank added, his hand wrapped around the metal Star of David in his pocket.
“That’s enough!” The rest of the team, startled at the raised voice. Only having heard that tone, when the Professor was beyond pissed and it was usually at the two he was glaring at now.
“No!” Mystique yelled back at her brother. “I know I fucked up back then, but if we’re going to fix this, you’re not going to be the one to do it, not you from back then. He needs Erik.”
“Who the fuck is Erik?” Logan asked wondering what the hell he was going to walk into.
“The reason for everything.” Charles answered sadly.
***
Logan woke up to the sight of a lava lamp.
He took stock of the situation, realizing he was stark naked. Well it was the 70’s and the embracement of free love. He moved out from under the very naked woman next to him, and grabbed his pants.
He searched his memory and came up blank.
He had no idea who the woman in the bed was, or what was supposed to happen.
When the door opened, and angry thugs stormed in, he really wasn’t that surprised. Fighting some pissed off wannabes was par for his life. What was shocking was when he slid down his claws they were bone and not metal.
He finished dressing, grabbed the keys and left the carnage behind. He needed to figure out where he was, and how to get to Westchester and to this Xavier School for the Gifted.
In all the years he had known the Professor, he had never known that he had actually been a Professor. He had thought the name had stuck because of his posh tone in lecturing all of them in the arts of war.
He still had no idea who this Erik was, it was obvious it was a sensitive subject by the way the Professor was ready to shred his closests Generals. He couldn’t imagine the Professor being anyone but the ‘Professor’.
Hopefully this Erik wasn’t an asshole.
Coming Soon: New Sylum Archive
Coming Soon!
We’ve been in the process of building a new Sylum Archive! It’s taken a while, but we’re now at the stage of transferring older stories. This process is taking time as the stories are being edit/updated to fit with the established Sylum Canon.
The old archive will not disappear over night! Any stories that are still in the process of being edited will remain in the old archive, until they’ve been fully updated and moved.
Note: All AUs or Non Canon stories will NOT be moved to the new Archive. So, if there is a specific AU or Non-Canon story – I would start saving them now.
Archive Opens: October 15, 2018