driftfleet | Let's all hold hands and sing Kumbaya

No - it's evening now. I'll go tomorrow.

[Taking up the other package, he comes over to where Charles is sitting on the bed and leans down slightly.]

I did pick up something for you at the market.

[ He leans up to peck Erik on the lips. ]

Oh? What did you find?

[Smiling a bit under the kiss, Erik pulls a woven throw blanket out of the bag. It's in earthy colours, a dark brown background with a lighter pattern on top - designs that look like the silhouettes of deer, or something close enough to it. He sets it on Charles's lap.]

[ He stares at it a little unbelieving, before he speaks, in a choked noise. ]

Oh. That's . . . It's lovely.

[He reaches out and places his hand on the back of Charles's neck, drawing them closer together. He already knows by now about contact on this planet, and what it means. They realised this in the very first hour. While it had taken Erik a little while to warm up to the idea, with Charles it wasn't much of an issue. They had already been sharing in this manner more often in the last month; the only difference now was that Erik was capable of doing it too.]

I saw it for sale and thought it was worth getting.

[ He leans against Erik, resting their foreheads together. He had already fallen in love with this planet and its people. For Charles, it wasn't about the physical contact but how open their minds were. No one seemed ashamed or bothered that memories and thoughts simply flowed through into other people.

It's beautiful, he thinks, looking it over, it must have been expensive too. ]

[Not as much as you'd think. I haven't been spending anything on food today, besides. Thanks to the aforementioned head chef. He settles on the edge of the bed, relaxing into the touch. He'd glad Charles likes it, and it's tangible through the link. The last couple of days have worked wonders for his mood, dissolving the tension that had built up through long hours in cramped ships.

He reaches for Charles's hand, weaving their fingers together.]

[ He curls an arm around Erik, soaking up the contact as he rubs small circles in Erik's neck with his thumb.

It sounds like you have a lot of plans. ]

[Idly, he shifts the fluff slug that's in danger of being squished between them, dropping it onto the bedside table. There's a sense of amusement emanating from him now.

I do have a few... how's your chest?

They've been healing for a few weeks now. Erik dispensed with his cast once they stepped off the ship, having had some extra healing from Nightingale to speed up the process. He's not as concerned for Charles as he had been in the days just after Winter's attack, but traces of it linger, all too aware of the soreness and difficulty cracked ribs had entailed for the other man.]

[ I get twinges now and then, but I think it's fine, Charles murmurs, stroking Erik's hair.

He watches the slug curl up in a sulk, be nice to them. They really are quite gentle. ]

[They're slugs - they can't be violent. I thought you'd be upset if we accidentally sat on it. He smirks a bit at the confirmation that Charles is healing, though, all teeth.

Then some of my plans can be acted on. He's telegraphing his intent loudly enough that it will come as no surprise when he captures Charles's mouth with his own, kissing him slowly.]

[ Charles laughs into the kiss, drawing Erik closer with his arms wrapped around his neck. ]

[Erik's removal of the fluff slug was prescient. He shifts and leans into Charles, into the kiss. The warmth he feels slips across the connection easily.]

[ His humour and love seeps in like the low tide, vibrating with need and joy. Every conduit in Charles is open, electric and every feeling and touch is heightened. ]

[It's almost laughable, how picture-perfect this little corner of the planet is for them. He just bought Charles a throw, for goodness sake. Maybe it's just giddiness, a whiplash effect from the weeks of negativity they've endured. He finds himself thinking back to their reunion on the steps of the mansion, not long after leaving Kyriakos for good.

The memory passes through the link, the natural contact funnel this world provides making it brighter and more clear without any effort on Charles's part.]

[ It's like coming home. Or coming to a place where we can simply be and nothing can touch that, Charles replies. It's not true, of course, but there's no reason to enjoy what they have.

Erik's feelings are what really cements it. They've had this kind of contact before but it's been months since they've reignited it. Charles has never doubted Erik or Erik's feelings in this but having Erik reach out in this manner was exhilarating. Like he's run a marathon and he's standing at the end of a fulfilling race.

Your mind is beautiful, he murmurs. ]

[Erik breaks the kiss finally, but not the connection. It's true, he thinks, that this is similar to what things were like months before. Only there's no desperation crawling under their skin, no dark need to blur the lines between themselves to the exclusion of all else - even their own minds. They had come to recognise later how twisted they had become, in that place, and so been more careful.

He huffs a laugh, amused. Only to you. He knows full well what dark chasms and roads lie in his mind like pitfalls. That has never bothered Charles. It has taken him a long time to really believe it. Yet, here they are.]

[ Then take it from someone who knows, Charles says, cupping Erik's face and tracing his jaw with his fingers. ]

You're biased. [He says this aloud, but there's affection behind it. Erik's come to accept more of what he is, through the last few months of his life. Rebuilding it from scratch, bringing more positivity in where before he hoarded the darkness... it's been a hard road, and he won't pretend he's at the end of it. He'll never be a genuinely good and peaceful person, that much is certain. Some things are set in stone.

Brushing Charles's hair back, he pinches his ear lightly.] This is a bit like living in a fairytale forest, isn't it. I half-expect there to be a gingerbread house in the woods.

It does give off that feeling, doesn't it? I sensed some odd creatures in the forest when I was wandering around. I hope I can get better look at the flora and fauna here.

[ He nudges Erik lightly. ] Try and get me some samples.

I've seen a few. A lot of the animals are close enough to Earth ones, though. [He tilts his head slightly, giving Charles an appraising look.]

There are some walking trails in the forest. Boardwalks. You can come get some yourself.

I sensed some odd minds. So be careful anyway.

Are there? [ Charles is vaguely surprised. The planet is fairly accessible, but he wasn't expecting much. ]

They're for tourists, I think. They only go around the edge. So if it's deep woodland creatures you're after, it won't do.

[ Charles mock-sighs. ]

I suppose I can't really complain.

There's transport around, besides, if we want to see other areas.

[He gets up from the bed, going to fetch his communicator from the table.]

Have you heard the story about the tree?

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