Heron May mingle

[grandstanding]

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

[Birds of a feather mingle together.]

Comments

[grandstanding]

[Folding his arms, he shifts his weight from one foot to another. It isn't a pleasant thing to do to a person. It's downright brutal in some respects. And that's what Charles is clearly trying to tell him, that he had taken away Moira's choice and how repellent that was. He knew why. Charles's struggles with not thinking himself a monster in the library were etched on his heart.

His losses, too, had made their marks deep.

Erik runs a hand through his hair, biting back a dismissive remark. If this is important to Charles, he needs to take it seriously too.]

You thought that then, but now you don't.

[axiomed]

[ That's true. Why was he panicking? Erik knew that. Erik knew him better than anyone else here.

I'm waiting for your noble act to fall.

That was why. Coupled with his tenuous step by step process of trying to reconnect with Raven, too much was happening and it all caught up with him in a dangerous blur of emotions.

Well, enough of that.

Eventually he lets the tension loose, pulling at Erik's arm and saying very emphatically. ]

I'm going to kiss you now.

[grandstanding]

Is that how you always end difficult conversations?

[He steps over and bends down regardless. Charles gets what he wants.]

[axiomed]

[ He tugs on Erik's collar, kissing him fiercely because he knew that Erik didn't care about Moira, not after what happened and Erik was still here, solid and real and yes, maybe he'll have to go, but they had this, they'll always have this. ]

[grandstanding]

[The kiss burns some of his irritation and dour mood out of him, like sun driving shadows away. It was ultimately not important. Neither was MacTaggart. This was.]

[axiomed]

[ Good, because Charles is going to keep at it, his feelings warm and bright and all over the place, a jumbled mix of fear and sadness slowly leaking away and being replaced by the steady drum beat of Charles' regard for Erik. ]

[grandstanding]

[He breaks it for a moment, muttering against his cheek.] I take it you're feeling better.

[axiomed]

A little.

[ He softens. ]

It's been a tough week. I'm sorry. I've put a lot of pressure on you.

[grandstanding]

Keeping me on my toes. [He shakes his head, straightening up.] You haven't been. It's just... this place. [They can both feel it, in their own ways.]

[axiomed]

[ Charles nods. They're reliving things here, things they had forgotten while tackling on the new.

But Charles feels . . . he has healed a little by stepping forward. ]

You'll tell me if you need . . . [ Anything, everything. ]

[grandstanding]

Yes, I'll tell you.

[He even means it.]

[axiomed]

[ Charles smiles, brushing his fingers against Erik's cheek and kisses him again. ]