Heron May mingle

[grandstanding]

Who: Heron crew and visitors
Broadcast: nope
Action: the Heron
When: all May!

[Birds of a feather mingle together.]

Comments

Charles Xavier | OTA

[axiomed]

[ a - kitchen ]

[ The glamour of being on a spaceship fades very quickly when you realize that all the shelves are too high to do anything with. He briefly thinks about his old chair (magically modified) to give him the rail support that he needs. Until then, like the stubborn man that he is, he pushes himself up on the counter to reach what he needs. ]

[ b - the lab ]

[ Even though for the most part, Charles has appropriated Hank's lab, he still finds himself using the one on the Heron. Mostly to check up on the current research (and a small space to put his books as he would fill up his own far too quickly). For now, he goes through the plant and soil samples intently, making notes as he goes along. ]

[ c - wildcard ]

a

[paraclete]

[Technically, this isn't Kaworu's ship... It's just that he visits so often, and he's tactless enough to make himself entirely at home in a foreign space. So he glides into the kitchen with the grace of someone who is gliding for real — hands in his pockets, calm in expression, Kaworu manages to look like he belongs here. He's very domestic in how he reaches a cupboard, opens it up, and retrieves two mugs, both handles in one hand.

The mugs clack together lightly as he halfway glances over towards Charles.]

Are you near the tea?

[He's so casual and polite that one might wonders if he even notices Charles' position.]

[axiomed]

[ Show off

But Charles doesn't scowl and attempts to look like a man who hasn't been that put out. ]

I believe it's on that shelf, if you don't mind.

[ If Kaworu was going to get it, then Charles might as well ease himself back on the chair. ]

[paraclete]

[Again, Kaworu is tactless... Though in this case, he just has no idea what it must be like to have your body be unable to do... anything. It's one thing to be a human who has a hard time understanding another person's circumstances; Kaworu, on the other hand, can't even conceptualize being anything but hardy, since it's just not possible for him. A sheltered upbringing has only fostered that disconnect.

He does, however, have a warm smile, and is tender towards human beings regardless of their physical capabilities, so Charles is immediately treated like an old friend, with Kaworu's welcoming body language and all. He steps over, reaches for the shelf.] Now, does tea really help one sleep? [he asks. There's more than one box, and he seems to be trying to make a decision between them.]

[axiomed]

[ Charles blinks. ]

It depends on the tea in question. Why, do you need a sleeping aid?

[paraclete]

Asking for a friend, [Kaworu says cheerfully.] Well, if it does or doesn't, I'm sure it can't hurt...? [So he plucks up one of the boxes. Could be some sort of tea made out of space roses? He thinks it sounds nice.]

If you'd like, [he says,] while I'm here, I can make an extra cup. I'm using your facilities, after all.

[axiomed]

[ Charles is quiet. His self-sufficiency wars with his often, occasional need to lean on other people. He doesn't like it, he never has, but there's no denying the reality of his situation. And he rather not hurt himself. ]

If you don't mind. Chamomile is supposed to be good for helping people sleep.

[paraclete]

No, I don't mind. [There's a mellow light to him. For what it's worth, Kaworu's offer didn't come because he thinks Charles is incapable: rather than pity, it's just an innate love. Kaworu likes to do things. He likes people. Sharing a cup of tea seems like a reasonable conclusion.

And Charles' advice is nice to have, too. Prepared to abandon the rose hip tea if necessary, Kaworu examines the other boxes to see what they are.] So, chamomile? Is that the kind you want as well? This one is... Oh, it's peppermint — and, I've found the chamomile.

[axiomed]

I'll take the peppermint please.

[ He leans back against his chair, watching the man move and shuffle through the contents of the shelf. Not human, his mind supplies. While Charles isn't reading his thoughts, the low level hum of activity he feels is different from most minds. ]

[paraclete]

Peppermint, [says Kaworu indulgently, retrieving that box,] and chamomile, and... [He turns his head to smile over his shoulder at Charles, very pleasant in countenance but maybe a bit sheepish, like an adolescent who's embarrassed himself.] I admit I want to drink the roses.

[So, three bags of tea, from three separate boxes. Luckily, Kaworu's at least learned that preparing tea isn't particularly complicated. Though he's not exactly orthodox about it... Once he fetches a third mug, meant for Charles, Kaworu's pouring water directly into each mug, so that he can pop them into the space-age microwave.]

[axiomed]

[ Charles chuckles lightly, bemused. ]

Rose hip tea isn't made from the rose itself but from the hip, a small part of the rose itself.

[paraclete]

Is that so? But I still think it sounds very nice. [Perhaps that makes him sound idealistic, or naive, or...

Well, they're half-true, or somewhere close. He also doesn't seem to fear looking ignorant. (That one isn't quite as true.)]

I don't know very much about plants. Just a little, here and there.

[axiomed]

Oh, it probably does. I imagine many other people have fallen under that misconception.

[ The smell of tea permeates the air. Charles exhales softly. It reminds him of things long ago. ]

Not many people do. I'm not much of a horticulturist myself.

a

[grandstanding]

[Erik comes in while Charles is half-up on the counter, stretching for the shelves above. He knows better than to swoop in and do something for him right this moment, so he just takes a mug from the cupboard, aiming to get some tea.]

I wonder if we'll ever find a place that sells better drinks.

[axiomed]

[ Charles valiantly reaches for the tin and finally grabs it triumphantly, grinning. Carefully he slides off. ]

Do you mean another planet?

[grandstanding]

[Opting for the dispenser, Erik pushes his mug under it and hits the button for green tea.]

I'd settle for a roaming coffee cart, no matter whether it's on a planet or in space. Somehow.

[axiomed]

That would solve a lot of our problems.

[ Especially mine, he thinks but he doesn't linger on it. He fishes out the tea bag and heads for the kettle. ]

[grandstanding]

Enjoy that, it cost a lot of credits. [Real tea was ridiculously expensive out here. He pulls his steaming mug out from under the tap, and moves to settle on a kitchen stool.]

But we have plenty of those lately.

[axiomed]

I'll pay you back later for it.

[ He pauses briefly before smiling faintly. ] True, but I do think that they're being dealt with . . . sensibly.

[grandstanding]

[He waves a hand, brushing that off. He wouldn't have put it in the communal space if he didn't want anyone else to use it.]

We're not outliving our means, no. I had a large amount of savings from the cargo run we did before you got here, besides.

[axiomed]

Not the kind of paying back that I meant, dear.

[ He blows him a kiss, bemused as he stirs his tea. ] Cargo run?

[grandstanding]

[Quirking an eyebrow, he doesn't comment further. That's payment he'll accept, for sure.]

While we were docked at the space station, all the ships had crates of cargo we were meant to deliver to another ship. The Maldua. Everyone on Heron got a lump payment once it was completed.

Even if I did break and steal some of their helper machines. [This would explain the collection of gears he keeps in his storage locker.]

[axiomed]

[ He glances at Erik. ]

Robots?

[ His voice had a little bit of apprehension. Not because of Erik, but Charles remembers the Sentinels. ]

[grandstanding]

[The shift in tone doesn't go unnoticed. He shakes his head, no. Not like those. Erik would hardly speak of them so late if they had been anything like the Sentinels that haunt their nightmares.]

They were little more than wind-up brass things, human-sized. Crumpled in a heap if you tried to do anything to them remotely disruptive. I decided to keep the parts.

[axiomed]

[ Huh. ]

Anything useful?