driftfleet | may mingle (blameless!)

Yes. It is. [No mincing of words here. Once Hank is out of the way, he takes the toolbox off the table and sets it on the floor. Extending both hands, there's a faint screech as the table lifts off the floor and upwards, until it's high enough for him to flip it over.]

[dryly] That'd be why I haven't told you to shut up about it.

[he's seen Erik demonstrate his powers time and again, both home and in Kyriakos, but even then, he's still amazed whenever he does see it. What a nerd] Are your powers dampened here?

[He lowers the upturned table to the floor, legs up. Stepping onto the base of it, he crouches so he can start unscrewing one of the legs.]

I can't feel or affect the outer hulls of these ships. Either they're not made of a material I can control, or I'm being blocked from it. I couldn't get a sense of what was beyond the open areas of the Marsiva, either.

Huh. [very objectively, he can understand why they'd do it. Erik can lift a damn stadium, so of course they wouldn't want him doing anything here. But it's still an annoyance he can't deny, to see that his and Charles' powers have both been affected]

Charles said something similar. [he huffs a little] Ridiculous.

It feels roughly similar to how I was restricted in Kyriakos, but it's hard to compare. There never was that much metal around in that place. [Whereas the Drift Fleet sings with it, everywhere. He hasn't tried to extend his powers to their natural limits, hasn't had a reason to. And yet, he knows his range is diminished, at the very least.

One screw down. He begins working on the next.]

It's probably the augment.

It's very likely. [all the more reason to find a way to block its signal, he thinks, if there's a signal to block. He's given it some thought since their trip to the moon, but it's been so busy lately that he hasn't had the chance to give it the attention it deserves]

I wasn't able to force any of the doors open on the Marsiva. Even with the serum - that's not usually a problem.

[Vaguely:] I couldn't smash my way through them with the exercise equipment, either. Hold this. [He pulls the table leg off, and holds it out to Hank.]

That poor exercise equipment. [he leans over to take it, then leans back out of the way] I wonder if they realize that only makes us more curious. Not that we can get back over there.

I doubt they care. They aren't the most hands-on captors. [Compared to their other hosts, who were involved in just about everything they did.]

No, they aren't. Though honestly, I think I prefer that for now. [at least until he's settled and fully discovered what he's limited in doing]

It's definitely less... taxing.

That's an understatement.

[On the other hand, he had a very clear idea of what the Echoes wanted from him. What they expected, what they delivered. Where he stood in the balance of power (which was far down the ladder). Here, he can't get a good sense of the Atroma, not from second-hand information and one frustrating audio message. His displeasure shows on his face, as he starts work unscrewing the second table leg.]

I'll have been here for three months, soon.

[it's still strange, to know Erik was here an entire month before he and Charles arrived, when he'd seen the man mere hours before. Like it had been any other day.

But here - a month has felt like a month. Not like Kyriakos, where time had moved in such a way that it felt as though he'd been there longer than just the couple of months he actually spent there. He can't help but think about that when Erik speaks up, and there's the faint sound of metal creaking as he closes his hand around the edge of the counter]

That's three months too long, I think.

I agree. [It frustrates him to be stuck out here in limbo, when they have things they need to do at home. Their world needs them. Their people. Maybe Erik hadn't yet decided what to do, himself, only knowing that he wasn't going to walk the exact same path he was on when he left Washington. Everything here is a diversion from that, a distraction. He's grateful for people he knows, for other mutants, to be here with him. Remind him of what's at stake.

But it's not enough. Raven arriving had hit him like a dash of cold water, reminding him of what he was meant to be doing.]

I'll even take leaving this moon as a positive, right now.

[he huffs a little] No kidding.

[and not the ways he's used to, hiding in a mansion or his dorm when things were quiet. He has a routine, here, albeit a shaky one - and sometimes it bothers him, because it doesn't feel right. And that isn't even taking into account his obligations back home.

But he looks down at Erik and . . . his tone is just a bit tentative, like he's skirting the bigger issue. It isn't hard to guess at what it is, but sometimes he isn't sure where he stands with Erik when it comes to these things. But - he can't help but put out the offer to talk, like he's done before]

I was wondering what was bothering you when I sent you those messages.

[Erik holds up the second table leg to Hank, casting him a look at the question. He didn't think this was a bridge Hank would want to cross, or even observe from a distance.]

Why do you think something was bothering me?

[He doesn't think anything in his text messages indicated that. They were short and to the point.]

[he leans forward again to take the leg, setting it on the counter beside him. And does his best not to shrink back from the look, either. Sure, he doesn't want to be anywhere near the bridge, but -

Erik was his friend, too]

They were very - short.

[a very long pause. He's going to say it]

And I'm not going to pretend that I didn't see what happened.

[okay, sort of say it]

You weren't asking questions that needed long answers. [Really, how is that hard to understand?

If Hank thought Erik was going to open up without a fight, he was dead wrong. If Erik doesn't want to say it himself, he's going to make the other man work for it.] See what, Hank.

True. Maybe I'm more used to people who - I don't know, like messaging like that.

[nngh. He shifts, nervous about bringing up the topic - bringing up her, when the last time they spoke about her, they'd gotten into an argument about it. And - he won't lie, the thought of attempting another discussion with that on his mind makes him want to forget trying all together. In a distant part of his mind, he can't help but be amazed that they're all connected so closely to a single person, all for different reasons]

You and Raven.

[there, he worked for it]

[There's a tense moment where he just holds Hank's gaze, eyes narrowing. So he has the nerve to bring it up. Bold, for Hank. And absolutely not his place. He hasn't even discussed it with Charles, not really. He'd said barely enough with his posture and attitude to get across that there was a problem, that he was having difficulty with it. Looking at it head on is enough to make his chest constrict with a million feelings.

So while he's distantly impressed that Hank even wants to try this, he's not willing to go there.]

It happened. That's all there is to it.

[it takes every ounce of willpower not to look away, not to abandon this conversation all together for something far safer. And he can't help but be thankful he's under the serum's effects - with it comes a strict need to keep himself in check, at least emotionally, which . . . hopefully, will help direct this terrible conversation away from any emotional outbursts. From either of them.

But he does huff at the answer and lean back after a moment, bracing his hands on the counter behind him]

So I saw. [until he couldn't watch the feed anymore.

. . . this was more difficult than he thought. He blows out a sigh and finally looks away]

I don't know why I'm bringing this up. I'm worried, okay? —about you, before you - assume things.

[He has to remind himself that it's not worry about what he's going to do. They're past that.]

There isn't anything I want to say, Hank.

Then don't. I'm not going to make you. [as if he could make Erik talk in the first place] Just - listen to what I have to say instead.

What's happened between the two of you is none of my business, and I'm not - trying to make it otherwise. [he wants to make that clear, that he won't step in where he doesn't belong] And you - know how I feel about her, and that I'm not - all that great at being . . . unbiased.

But if you - eventually want to talk it out - then the offer's there. If you want to dance around it and just blow of steam? That's fine, too. [a pause, and he makes a noise] Hell, if you want to blow of steam and take it out another way, I know a blue guy who can take a couple of punches.

[he runs a hand through his hair and glances down at Erik] What I'm trying to say is - don't stubborn your way through - whatever you want to call this alone. I know I'm your very last choice when it comes to this - especially this, but - you're still my friend. And I'm still going to offer that, regardless.

[He settles back on his heels and gives Hank his full attention, instead of working on the screws. What they are... Hank and himself, it's always been a tough one to categorise. They had hardly been friends before Kyriakos, even before Cuba. Afterwards, definitely not. Things changed, when they were in that other place. Once someone has dragged your corpse out of a room voluntarily, you have to admit a certain affection for them.

Erik remains silent and still, giving little indication of what he thinks of this speech. Other than that he's listening intently to every word of it. No, this isn't something he wants to talk about with Hank. As much as they can both claim it's none of his business, there's a bit of a lie in that. The four of them are all each others' business. It's been that way for a long time. Eventually, he just sighs, some tension dropping from his shoulders.]

You're wrong. [A beat.] You're not my last choice.

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