driftfleet | first one to make that doctor who joke loses

[ The smile is more than a little nostalgic and Hermione pauses, her eyes darting over him for a brief flicker of a few seconds before she smiles. The conversation she'd had with Blade had helped, more than she had expected, and she feels a warmth inside of her as she looks at Charles; he might not be hers, but he's still there. The heart was the same, and the smile, and probably the laugh and the wisdom too. She was just so glad to see him again, no matter the version. ]

I hope it's not too disappointing. [ She's teasing, of course. ] How're you finding things? Are you settled in?

More or less.

[ He pushes some of his hair away from his face. ] Hank has already seized a lab for himself and most likely, the both of us will have our projects to work on. I have a lot of catching up to do, but it's . . . exciting.

Hank and I are going to the library, too. I'm looking forward to meeting him, since I heard so much about him before.

[ She looks around, almost rocking on her feet as she takes in the world. She's bubbling with excitement, mostly because Charles is here - and she doesn't mind sharing that with him either, her mind open for him the way she was used to sharing with him back in the Drabwurld. ]

It's just a shame you arrived on such a harsh planet, isn't it? Other than the poisons for potions and research, of course.

I can certainly vouch for Hank.

[ And will continue to do so, in spite of all the recent stuff said about him. Her enthusiasm was charming. And it was . . . nice to be welcomed in such a way. A lot of tension seeps out of him unconsciously. ]

Oh, it's not too shabby. Personally I find it rather fascinating that we can visit planets so casually.

And I trust your judgement implicitly.

[ Whatever anyone might say about Hank, Hermione would put the word of people she knows and recognises above anyone else. She doesn't know what people might say about him, because he seems quite lovely to her, but that doesn't matter. ]

It is incredible compared to what things were like at home and here. It's strange to think that there are so many plants here that we've never even imagined.

Some of the worlds I've been to had a mix of magical and normal plant life but they were difficult to study and understand. This kind of environment, albeit a bit too congested for my tastes . . . is the kind of environment I hope to gain a lot from.

It would certainly do wonders for my genetic research, to know how plants on other planets grow and survive and adapt. It might even help my -- my future students.

[ A brief stumble. It's been ten years, but ten years doesn't lessen the pain. ]

Maybe that's something I can help you with? I have a Lab Augment, and Hank said he was going to help me learn a little more. I have all the information there, but putting it into practice is still a little odd.

[ The stumble doesn't go unnoticed, and she turns her head away, considering for a moment before she smiled. ]

Did you know, in the Drabwurld, there was a village in the North? It was called Graymalkin, and all the rumours said that it was named after a very good school in someone's world. It was a home for anyone that had powers or wanted to be taken care of - I know that the Lady Morgana owned the castle near it, but not the village itself. That was run by someone like you.

Hank and myself certainly would not dismiss any help we could get.

[ He feels his heart clench briefly, before it releases. While the regret lingered, he no longer hoarded the guilt and pain of what happened to the school. He couldn't afford to. Not when he knew there were so many mutants out there - waiting. Waiting for that sliver of hope he could offer. ]

[ Softly. ] I'm sure it was run admirably. By a better man than I.

I'm going to show him around, eventually, and we're going to work together. It's going to be fun.

[ Hermione - she's careful, she is, and she tries to reign in most of her emotions to make sure that she doesn't trouble others. Now, though, she changes that and shifts, gently allowing herself to project in the way that her Charles had taught her, once upon a time - not just her thoughts, the memories of the Drabwurld and the way she had lived there, but her feels, in this moment. The contentment she feels being beside Charles, the respect she has for him, the sense of family that settles around her like a warm blanket. She's certainly not shouting it at him, but he can't be deaf to it. ]

I think you're putting yourself down far too much. I can't think of a man much better than you.

[ His lips twitch despite himself. He can feel what she's doing and why. While a nugget of confusion remains, Charles can understand it. If he had met one of his former team mates, this is probably akin to what he'd do with them.

Or at least try to. ]

What was the school like?

[ She can't help herself; she wants to help Charles, she wants to make sure that he's alright. It means a lot to her, and she can't really express that without letting it all come out at once in a rush. Finally, she breathes out and hums, smiling. ]

It was wonderful. It was like coming home, and that's hard to describe, but I think a lot of people understood it.

[ He lets that sit for a while, a brief stretch of understanding and contentment. ]

I take it the Charles you knew - your Charles didn't look much like me.

[ He wonders if he should tell her. It is past now, but he rather not destroy her perceptions of him - or what the future held. ]

You mean with long hair and a beard? A little bit like he needs a bath and missed out on it for a week?

[ Hermione grins, rocking on her heels for a moment before she huffs a laugh. ]

That's exactly what he looked like. I know things weren't easy for him - for you - and that it wasn't perfect, I've got no illusions on that. Things were bad, and it influenced him a lot. But that didn't change who he was at heart.

[ A part of him relaxes at that. ]

I think that had to do with the people who were by our side. We wouldn't have gotten very far without them. And I know he wouldn't have gotten very far without you.

[ He pauses. Praise coming from someone else has a tendency to sound off. ]

I don't need to read minds to know - to feel how much being yourself must have helped him.

[ She had seen a younger Charles in his memories, graduating with his sister at university, the happiness... But he had been happy in the Drawurld, too, she was sure of it. Maybe not completely, but he had found his happiness. ]

I don't know. I think he - you - would have been alright, really, in the end, but I'd like to think I helped a little bit.

[ Her cheeks are flushed red, dark, and she rubs her palm against her skin to try and hide it. ]

I'm - I was just his friend. I'm not sure what that did, but... I was never afraid of that. I shared everything with him, because we were family. Maybe that's it, that my mind was open, that I wasn't scared to share myself with him.

That means a lot.

[ To him. To any telepath, he imagines. Erik does it to some extent and so does Hank, but even then Charles rarely oversteps. It is a fine line and Charles needs them more than he needs his telepathy. ]

I don't really delve into minds all that often unless it's necessary.

[ Hermione shakes her head, arms crossing behind her back. ]

I never had any trouble sharing my mind with him, really. It was easier, a lot of the time, because I... I don't like talking about myself, and Charles knew that. He knew when something bothered me, or when I needed him - and I could tell when he needed me too, in a way. We worked together and we worked together, too.

[ Biting her lip, she hesitates before she fights her little laugh, biting her lip. ]

I don't mind if you want that too, with me, but not if it's too fast or too soon. I trust you and I trust your morality.

[ Oh, and wasn't that tempting. Absolute trust, absolute faith. His fingers twitch against his arm rests. It has been some time since he's really used his telepathy to look further than someone's surface thoughts and quite often, he feels like he's dismembered himself.

He swallows lightly. ]

But I do think I need to work to earn your trust. At least, this time around. It wouldn't be fair to you to do that.

Then that's what we will work towards, you and I, together. I know you don't know me and that makes things strange, but we can do it together.

[ Reaching out, she lets her fingers rest over his gently. ]

And when you're ready, when we're at that point, you can be comfortable.

[ He clasps it lightly. He can't shake the feeling that he's overstepping himself, stepping into someone else's shoes. But perhaps, the feeling will fade over time.

A little wry, he says. ]

I should take notes from you. It seems you're doing a fine job of being comfortable.

[ She fights back her laughter, then, squeezing Charles' hand and shifting to hold it closer, letting herself have that moment before she responds. ]

Well, I had a very good teacher. You might have heard of him.

I might have, though I'm allowed to express some disbelief.

[ His teaching skills are fairly rusty at this point. ]

I have to admit, I might be a little bit biased.

[ Squeezing his hand again, Hermione lets her thumb brush over his knuckle. She's been here before of course, but never so suddenly - usually the heart-to-hearts came after tea and biscuits, with a bit of nudging. Still, she relaxes her grip, giving Charles room to pull away if he wants. ]

But I like being biased.

[ A mock sigh. ]

I suppose I can allow it.

[ But he doesn't. A little for her, but he's willing to admit - a little for himself as well. After the welcome he got so far, this was . . . nice. ]

How will you possibly survive?

[ It's so nice to tease, to nudge at him, and she fights back her laughter before she lifts her free hand to brush her hair out of her face. ]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject