Foreign Correspondence: Letters of Intent
Chapter 7
by
Mo
Disclaimer: The X-Men and Alpha Flight belong to Marvel. The movie belongs to Fox. Hotmail belongs to Microsoft. Belarus is an independent country and belongs to its citizens, mutant and otherwise. Bryn Mawr is a private women's college founded in 1885. It belongs to the women, mutant and otherwise, who have lived and learned there for the past 116 years. The Miami Herald is a real newspaper but AFAIK has never had an Adam Greenfield on staff. I do feel like Scott and Logan are a little bit mine since I've been borrowing them for so long.
From: Scott@mutant.org
To: clawguy@hotmail.com
Subject: Missing You, Boswell Gets Started and Assorted Business Stuff
I'm glad you called last night. I felt awful leaving on bad terms with you. I didn't know what to do, how to break the impasse. So, thanks for handling that. It was so good to talk to you. Well, mostly. Some of it was pretty awful to hear, awful to know. I'm still glad you told me. I just wish it hadn't happened, all of the things they did to you. I'm in awe of you, Logan, the way you've never given up, really worked at making a life for yourself in the wake of the torture and experimentation. I don't know how you feel about meeting Sasha Cherevko when you're here next time, but I think it would be helpful to him to know you, to know that there are people who survive that kind of treatment. You wouldn't need to go into any details with him, of course. Well, think about it. I'm not looking for an answer now - it's just something that occurred to me.
I'm having this highly distractible day and it's a little embarrassing when people keep telling me things two or three times before they register. But I keep thinking about your voice on the phone. I'd rather be there with you, Logan. I'm always making that journey in my head.
I'm committed to my work here but I'll tell you - you're a hard test of my commitment. I find I'm missing you all the time, day and night:
"But day doth daily draw my sorrows longer,And night doth nightly make grief's length seem stronger."
I know what he was talking about, what he was feeling. Can you believe there are still people who say he wasn't talking about sex in those poems? Of course the same "scholars" say he suddenly was when he wrote the ones addressed to a woman. But I digress. I want to feel you for real, on me and in me. What's your opinion on coming here to meet prospective residents? Any chance you'd make that visit sometime soon?
I decided to put all this thinking about you to good use and tried to begin my Boswell/Johnson project. I'm starting by just putting together a timeline of your life, or as much of it as I know about. Later on I'll write narratives for different parts, not necessarily going in order. My timeline starts with Weapon X because we haven't talked much about what came before. I don't know how much you remember of your early life, but tell me anything you feel moved to. I'm attaching a file with the draft timeline. Give it a glance if you have a minute. Tell me if you think I've got it right, as far as you know.
On to business stuff: I got some worrisome news today. I received a letter from Pyotr. Remember I told you about him? He has been back in Russia for almost a year now. Or at least that's where I thought he was. The letter, which was written weeks ago, was mailed from Belarus! He was very careful about what he said, but reading between the lines he is passing as normal, for now, and trying to find out what's really going on there. I'm just terrified for him. And the delay in receiving the letter makes me wonder if it had been passed through some official channels before I got it. He said in his letter that he's moving around a bit, but he gave me a couple of phone numbers to call. Only I haven't been able to get hold of anyone who speaks English. So, I'm wondering if I can borrow Laura to make some calls and see what she can find out. Do you think it's okay to have the calls originating from the outpost? Or I can call from here and just conference her in, if you think that's better.
And, while we're talking about phone calls, do you think it would be okay if Jean-Paul gives Adam Greenfield the number at the outpost? Greenfield is overseas now, trying to find out more about the Belarus situation, and he has been keeping in touch with Jean-Paul. I think this is a good thing - he may have information we can use. Jean-Paul gave him the number here and at Alpha Flight headquarters. I've taken messages a couple of times and passed them on to Jean-Paul. But I'd like him to be able to call Jean-Paul directly and not have the time delay of leaving a message and getting called back, particularly if there were some sort of emergency. I know how you feel about giving information about the Saskatchewan location to outsiders, and ordinarily I think that it's wise to keep it quiet. And I'm particularly leery of letting the press get hold of any information about us. But, Logan, this guy Greenfield has really proven he has the judgment and the discretion to handle this kind of information. I've read all his articles - they are wonderful, powerful, moving. But what impressed me almost as much as the writing was what he *didn't* say. There's not a word in there that could endanger mutants still in hiding in Belarus, nothing that could identify informants who are still integrated into Belarussian society. I think we should trust him. What do you say?
Scott
P.S. Oliver asked if he could come up there for spring break and work with you folks for the week. Some wild spring break, huh? What do you think? Maybe even send a few of the other kids? It would be a change of pace for them, get their minds off of this whole Belarus thing.
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From: clawguy@hotmail.com
To: Scott@mutant.org
Subject: Reply to: Missing You, Boswell Gets Started and Assorted Business Stuff
I'm glad we talked last night, too, Scott. Sex is lots better than fighting, even if it isn't real. The sex, that is. The fighting was real, but I'm glad it's over. At least for now. I can live with being a test of your commitment. Makes me feel like I'm important to you. And, yes, only a total idiot would think he wasn't fucking that guy.
The timeline looked fine, as far as it went. I'll talk to you about some of the gaps and the time before Weapon X. I remember some stuff. I just don't have the patience to write it down, though. Maybe next time we talk on the phone. If we don't get too distracted, that is.
I think we have to assume that all calls into Belarus are being monitored, so I don't want Laura calling from here and I don't think conferencing her in from Westchester is any better. I talked to her about it. She's going to make the calls from pay phones in Saskatoon - I'm sending her and Worthington there for a couple of days to do some errands. And they'll go with prepaid phone cards so nobody can trace the calls to anyone's account.
About Greenfield - Jean-Paul already asked me if he could give the number and I told him okay. I agree that this guy is one reporter who can keep his mouth shut. And it seemed important to Jean-Paul for this Greenfield to be able to contact him.
I don't know about coming to Westchester to meet more homesteaders. We've got two extras right now, and I don't know how long they're staying. So, it's hard to know how many to try to add, or what kinds of skills to look for. So, maybe we should wait and see what happens with Laura and Worthington? Hey, Scott, I hate to break it to you but I think she's totally driven you out of his mind. Not that he was your boyfriend or anything.
But, anyway, don't get too broken-hearted over that. You're on *my* mind. A lot. I'd like to come see you, anyway. You guys need a progress report? Would you be willing to give me something to do in the night, Scott? I want you bad. I have ever since that first time on the Danger Room floor.
Logan
P.S. A bunch of teenagers? What are you trying to do to me? You know Oliver's always welcome here but just the thought of a bunch of those kids spending Spring Break here gives me a headache. How's this for an idea? Send them here, but you and me go somewhere else for the week. I bet Mac would let us use his cabin. You ever take a vacation, Cyclops? We can leave Wendy and Arthur in charge of the kids. Give them an idea of what's in their future.
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From: Northstar@alphaflight.gc.ca
To: Agreenfield@herald.com
Subject: Last night
*So* good talking to you last night, Adam. I'm glad Logan said it was okay to give you the number here. I wanted you to have it mostly so you could get in touch with me quickly in an emergency. But it's great to know you can just pick up the phone and call me. And even better when you do.
Mon dieu! I've had real physical sex that wasn't as good as it is with you on the phone. But it just makes me want more and more to be with you for real. Why won't you let me come see you? We could arrange to meet somewhere. I have to be careful not to be seen landing, but if we worked out a meeting place that was a little bit out of the way it would work. Surely there is some park land or vacant lots or something in Vilnius where a discreet super-fast flying mutant could land. I could spend the whole night with you and be back here by breakfast. Please say you'll let me come there. Please say you'll let me come with you, in you, make you come.
So funny that Kolya told you I like to bottom. I think that's Kolya-speak for "Kolya likes to top." Really, Adam, I wasn't just trying to do what you want - I'm dying to fuck you. I feel like I want to do everything with you. I think about you all the time. People here are starting to ask me what I'm so preoccupied about. I just keep thinking of all the conversations we've had, reading your emails over and over again.
Is this all a little too strange for you, a little overwhelming? It's totally new to me, too, to feel I know someone so well, want him so much, when we've never even met. But Adam, I *do* know you. We've talked more, shared more these past few weeks than I have with people I've known for years. I certainly know you better than I ever knew Kolya. And, no, I wouldn't want to get back together with him. I'm truly joyful to hear what he's doing, what he has become. I worry for him and hope that he will be okay. Yes, we broke up because of his anti-mutant prejudice and I'm glad he has gotten over that. But that chapter in my life is long over. It was years ago. I'm a different person now. He's not right for me. I know what I want. I want you, Adam.
Jean-Paul
P.S. If you won't let me come see you in Lithuania, could we just plan to get together when you get back? You could come out here - I'm sure Logan would let me have you here. You're the only outsider who has been given the phone number and address. Or we could meet in New York and have that dinner we talked about. But not *just* dinner, hein?
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From: Agreenfield@herald.com
To: Northstar@alphaflight.gc.ca
Subject: Reply to: Last night
You said, in part:
> Why won't you let me come see you?
Oh, Jean-Paul, I don't even know what to say. Believe me, I want to be with you, but I feel like I can't. Not yet, anyway.
Yes, I'm feeling overwhelmed by all this, but maybe not in the way you think. And I've hesitated to talk about it for fear of being misunderstood. But I do want you to understand where I'm coming from and I hope that my history and my record will be sufficient to make clear that what I'm feeling isn't anti-mutant prejudice.
I have loved getting to know you, Jean-Paul. And I want just as much as you do to have the kind of sex that two people on different continents just can't manage. But I'm scared. Yes, I'm intimidated. Okay, I understand you look at me and see Adam Greenfield, crusading reporter. But inside I'm still just little Adam Greenfield of East Midwood, whose crowning achievements were getting into Stuyvesant High and then getting a scholarship that let him go to Columbia instead of Brooklyn College (but still commuting from home). Who didn't come out to his mother until he was 25 years old and seven states away from her. Who is just a nerdy kind of guy who's good with words and has managed to make a living out of that.
And then I look at you. I'm finding myself falling in love, G-d help me, with a guy who can *fly* and travel at almost the speed of light. And who has a fucking Olympic Gold Medal in his sock drawer. A guy who risks his life to save other people, regularly, and on a civil servant's salary. Who talks about battles he's been in and things he has done that are all totally beyond my ken. Jean-Paul, where I come from the *skiing* is exotic enough. Not to mention the foreskin. I'm just feeling over my depth here.
Can you give me some time to sort of get used to the idea? To try to feel less scared? It's all happening too fast for me.
Adam
P.S. I realize I sort of slipped in the "L" word there. I've thought of taking it out so as not to intimidate *you*. But I mean it and you might as well know it.
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From: Northstar@alphaflight.gc.ca
To: Agreenfield@herald.com
Subject: Reply to: Last night
I understand, Adam. Vraiment. I want you. I'll do whatever it takes. If it takes time, I'll wait. I can't promise to wait patiently but as long as we can continue as we have been, I can live with it.
About the job: please try not to be intimidated by it. It's just a job. I don't even think it's half as glamorous or exciting as being a foreign correspondent. And after all, I'm on this extended assignment now where I'm doing home renovations and bookkeeping. What could be less intimidating than that? And, yes, there are major differences in background and experience between us. But we have so much in common, too: what we're interested in, what we care about. I feel like there's enough similarity to have a strong bond between us, but enough difference to keep things interesting. And Adam, for you I'd even give up skiing. The other thing stays, though.
Jean-Paul
P.S. See, you're a much braver man than I am. You said it first. Je t'aime, Adam Greenfield. I want so much to tell you that in person. I want to whisper it in your ear. I want to hold you while I'm saying it, to touch you. I want to say it to your body with mine. I'll wait if that's what you need. Please don't make me wait too long, mon ami.
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