They live in Narnia, clearly.oxidantshappenOctober 18 2011, 05:47:26 UTC
[ The storm had been persistent in its path, what started off as mild flurries degenerating into Nor'easter like capabilities, leading to Erik in the kitchen, brewing a cup of tea for Charles, a mug of coffee for himself. Despite the time he spent with Charles, Erik never picked up the same habits as him, other than a strong aversion to the sweet taste he found in tea.
He had hoped Charles would be in the study as he checked there first, nudging the door open lightly with his boot. ]
Clearly. Please direct us to the far land of Spare OombrokenoptimismOctober 18 2011, 06:10:03 UTC
[Charles generally did not mind snow. It was beautiful to look at, an almost mystical appearance of sparkling white that coated landscapes and painted them new. What he did mind was the inevitable cold that came with it. He had been avoiding it wherever possible and had taken to more or less curling up in one of the comfortable chairs of the study with a book on the application of physical sciences on the study of biological systems. He barely noticed the door opening, a thick woolen blanket draped around his shoulders in an attempt to stay warm, but his fingers were chilled as he turned another page.]
Brb, hunting for that mysterious lampost.oxidantshappenOctober 18 2011, 21:36:16 UTC
[ To see Charles return to that sort of early demeanor, reading his usual books on biological sciences, was a rare sight, one Erik yearned to see again. It would be a sign of normalcy, their return to what mattered ahead of them. He shivered slightly in the room, glancing around as to why the library had been so cold, spotting the half dying fireplace and shaking his head softly.
He walked over to Charles, mugs in hand, stopping in front of him and nudged him as well as he could with a knee. ] Are you going to read all evening, Charles?
[ Erik held out the tea for him, letting Charles take it off his hands. ]
If you see a fawn who looks suspiciously familiar, Charles swears he has no brothersbrokenoptimismOctober 18 2011, 23:45:03 UTC
[Charles glanced up from his book when Erik spoke up. He closed the book, taking the cup of tea as a welcome and warm alternative for his hands. He had been lost in the familiarity of his old texts, barely even noticing the dying fire. He offered Erik a small smile, fingers wrapped around the cup for its warmth.]
Thank you, Erik.
[He leaned back against the chair, crossing one leg over the other, a shrug to his shoulders. Picking up the familiar book had been like slipping into a comfortable memory, reassuring and a bit nostalgic, if he could call it that.]
It was relaxing, but I wouldn't mind the company of an old friend instead.
Uh huh. Keep telling yourself that Charles.oxidantshappenOctober 19 2011, 00:57:10 UTC
I doubt I'd be as good company as the book. [ He offers him a brief smile, before moving over to the fireplace. Erik picked up the poker, nudging the logs rather roughly, turning the sparks to get a bigger fire. Soon enough, the place roared to light, enough warmth to spread around the room.
Erik took a seat next to him, cupping his hands around the mug to take a sip before looking over at the book, searching for a discernible title. ] What were you reading?
All right Erik, but if Tumnus is Charles' Brother, the White Witch is your sister.brokenoptimismOctober 19 2011, 05:51:25 UTC
My friend, no book is ever quite as interesting as your company. [Setting the book aside, he pulled the blanket down around his shoulders more firmly, taking a long, slow drink of the tea with an appreciative sound at the back of his throat. Warmth.]
An old text from Oxford. Understanding Biophysics. Fascinating theories, really. I almost felt I should have been taking notes. [He held the cup up, blowing across the surface as he watched Erik, already feeling the warmth of the fire spreading through the room.] How did you know where I would be?
[Not that he had been hiding from Erik. Just that he had needed to find other things to distract himself with. An unsettling paranoia of jumbled memories that resurfaced more often than he liked to admit.]
That's rude. Can I be related to Prince Caspian?oxidantshappenOctober 20 2011, 02:05:18 UTC
Old habits die hard, my friend. [ He offers him a slight smile before bringing the mug to his lips, letting the warmth and scent invade his senses. ] You'd prefer coming here quite a bit, so I thought I'd stop by and offer a change in company.
[ He takes a sip after speaking, letting the coffee warm his throat. ] You might have to explain those theories to me some night. [ Though Erik's own knowledge of biology was nowhere near on par as Charles', he could at least agree it was a fascinating topic and yearned to learn more, if only for potential collaboration between the two. ]
I guuuueess. But only if you smilebrokenoptimismOctober 20 2011, 11:31:25 UTC
Really? [He seems surprised by the interest in the topic. Usually people find his fascination and curiosity on those subjects to be dull, but he really should not have been surprised to hear it from Erik.]
I would be glad to discuss them with you, sometime, Erik. [It brought a smile to Charles' face as he drank down the warm tea.] Right now I would rather just talk with you.
I'll smile for you any dayoxidantshappenOctober 22 2011, 06:23:23 UTC
[ Erik's curiosity had always extended to beyond the inner workings of his ability, and the topics that Charles had brought up only interested him. There was still so much to understand over the course of their kind, better ways of helping them, accepting them really. ]
As you wish, Charles. [ He took a sip of his own drink, placing it on the table in front of him before turning to face the man. ] Anything you're interested in knowing that you haven't already picked apart? [ Erik gave him a slight smile, inviting the man to speak. ]
Anything at all. We're here to converse, after all. [ Erik brought the drink to his lips, pausing to take another sip. It was still hot and Erik wanted to take his time, enjoying the taste in this weather. ]
If you'd rather not, then I suppose you wouldn't mind if I asked how you were doing, Charles.
[The question is always an uncertain one for him lately, but he watches Erik. drawing one leg over the other, pulling the blanket tighter around his shoulders. His eyes focus on the other mutant with an intensity of thought. As if this room is all that really matters.]
I'm doing all the better for being here, Erik. [His words aren't hesitant but they are slightly subdued.] There is still much I am uncertain about. What we do from here. Where our plans will lie in the future. But I am finding it easier every day to keep my mind focused forward. To... learn from the mistakes I made in the past.
[ Erik nods, knitting his fingers together as that wave of words washed over him. It had been tough for both of them, struggling to adjust the way they did, but for a while they can focus on the task at hand -- the sheer fact that it's just the two of them once again for the time being. ]
We'll take it one step at a time, Charles. [ Which is all they could do. Rushing into things would be a mistake this time around, and neither of them could afford the slightest misstep. ]
Knew I was missing a tag somewhere [5/6/8/11/13 They need ALL the numbers]brokenoptimismOctober 25 2011, 01:20:55 UTC
[In a way, he thinks it is probably a good thing that it's just the two of them right now. Charles needs that. He needs to be able to pull himself back together, regain that lost control without worrying about how others might be looking at him. There's an odd strength of trust in the fact alone that Erik is around him when he feels at his weakest. Even after their disagreements, their parting of ways, that the two of them can sit like this in each others' company. That Charles can allow that carefully constructed illusion slip away just a bit.]
We will. [There's a nod at that, a faint smile as he holds the cup close to his face, enjoying the warmth in the room. He watched Erik for a little longer before his eyes shifted to the fire.]
[ Erik's never once needed an apology from Charles, not for all the thing he's been through, all the things Charles has been through especially. If anything, it's Erik who should be apologizing, for abandoning him and the sheer fact that he feels bound to ensuring Charles comes out for the better. That unwavering trust and faith that Erik had in him never fully faded, and even now it only serves to fuel their connection once again. ] You've never needed to apologize.
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He had hoped Charles would be in the study as he checked there first, nudging the door open lightly with his boot. ]
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He walked over to Charles, mugs in hand, stopping in front of him and nudged him as well as he could with a knee. ] Are you going to read all evening, Charles?
[ Erik held out the tea for him, letting Charles take it off his hands. ]
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Thank you, Erik.
[He leaned back against the chair, crossing one leg over the other, a shrug to his shoulders. Picking up the familiar book had been like slipping into a comfortable memory, reassuring and a bit nostalgic, if he could call it that.]
It was relaxing, but I wouldn't mind the company of an old friend instead.
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Erik took a seat next to him, cupping his hands around the mug to take a sip before looking over at the book, searching for a discernible title. ] What were you reading?
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An old text from Oxford. Understanding Biophysics. Fascinating theories, really. I almost felt I should have been taking notes. [He held the cup up, blowing across the surface as he watched Erik, already feeling the warmth of the fire spreading through the room.] How did you know where I would be?
[Not that he had been hiding from Erik. Just that he had needed to find other things to distract himself with. An unsettling paranoia of jumbled memories that resurfaced more often than he liked to admit.]
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[ He takes a sip after speaking, letting the coffee warm his throat. ] You might have to explain those theories to me some night. [ Though Erik's own knowledge of biology was nowhere near on par as Charles', he could at least agree it was a fascinating topic and yearned to learn more, if only for potential collaboration between the two. ]
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I would be glad to discuss them with you, sometime, Erik. [It brought a smile to Charles' face as he drank down the warm tea.] Right now I would rather just talk with you.
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As you wish, Charles. [ He took a sip of his own drink, placing it on the table in front of him before turning to face the man. ] Anything you're interested in knowing that you haven't already picked apart? [ Erik gave him a slight smile, inviting the man to speak. ]
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In regards to what subject?
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If you'd rather not, then I suppose you wouldn't mind if I asked how you were doing, Charles.
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I'm doing all the better for being here, Erik. [His words aren't hesitant but they are slightly subdued.] There is still much I am uncertain about. What we do from here. Where our plans will lie in the future. But I am finding it easier every day to keep my mind focused forward. To... learn from the mistakes I made in the past.
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We'll take it one step at a time, Charles. [ Which is all they could do. Rushing into things would be a mistake this time around, and neither of them could afford the slightest misstep. ]
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We will. [There's a nod at that, a faint smile as he holds the cup close to his face, enjoying the warmth in the room. He watched Erik for a little longer before his eyes shifted to the fire.]
I'm sorry, Erik.
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[ Erik's never once needed an apology from Charles, not for all the thing he's been through, all the things Charles has been through especially. If anything, it's Erik who should be apologizing, for abandoning him and the sheer fact that he feels bound to ensuring Charles comes out for the better. That unwavering trust and faith that Erik had in him never fully faded, and even now it only serves to fuel their connection once again. ] You've never needed to apologize.
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