driftfleet | (no subject)

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(no subject)

Who: Erik and you
Broadcast: Text, fleetwide
Action: the Heron
When: July 23rd

text.

If anyone - for whatever reason - wants some novelty fridge magnets, there is a sponsor crate of them on the Heron. You can take as many as you want, though there isn't that much variety.

I will note at the outset that no, there are no alphabet pieces.

[Along with this rather brief message is attached a photo of the crate's contents. Half the magnets seem to be little cartoon planets. The other half are... well... magnets.]

action.

[Anyone inclined to visit the Heron to take up this exciting offer - or just to visit - will find Erik leaning against the crate in the cargo hold. He has a number of the magnets suspended in the air above one hand, and every few minutes he flicks his fingers, sending one flying into the hull wall.

The crate itself is emblazoned with the message "To the most ATTRACTIVE guy on the Fleet! - Magnecessities". Maybe that's part of why he looks faintly irritated.

Flick goes another magnet.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[His nose wrinkles slightly with distaste.]

It's a minor thing, in the end. [It's just galling to know someone was paying attention... and decided to try and profit from it.]

[ Charles nods slowly at that. It would be uncomfortable. Charles knew that they had listened in - the swimming caps were a clear indicator.

But instead he wheels closer to Erik and runs his fingers over Erik's knuckles. ]

They don't know what matters.

Of course they don't. [He looks down at Charles, briefly touching the man's hand with his own.] It still bothers me.

[ There's no cure for that. Charles knows better than to pander words of hope in situations like these. ]

I'd be surprised if it didn't.

[With a huff, he lets the magnets drop into his palm and closes a fist around them.]

If they aren't all taken by the passengers, I'll just dispose of them.

[ He pats Erik's hand lightly. ]

I'll spread the word about your attractiveness.

That sounds a bit raunchy, Charles.

I've been told I'm a bit of a showoff.

That, I can believe.

[He quirks a smile, hard around the edges. The tension has broken a little, light as it was. This is a small incursion into his calm; an important one, nonetheless. It serves as a reminder to Erik that he has to keep on his guard, and not forget the stakes. This is not a holiday, nor a voyage by choice. The hands of others keep steering them.]

I'll try and restrain myself.

[ Charles knows, which is why he doesn't offer sympathy or any other pithy words. He's doing well because the planet itself caters to his likes enough to soothe away any qualms he might hold. ]

Considering I only came back to the ship so I could make repairs to that hole on the Iskaulit, they certainly timed this well.

They are supposed to be watching, though there have been no signs of cameras anywhere.

There never have been. [Monitoring could be done by any means. The technology level here is so far beyond their own, they may simply not be able to comprehend the methods used. Cameras might not even look like cameras anymore.]

I was talking to Wanda and I might have a theory of sorts. About this place.

[He drops the magnets back into the crate, glancing at Charles.]

Like what?

This place exists in a different time. I know, it sounds obvious, but what if our bodies and minds have been split? Like Logan was. He could travel back because he existed in two times - this one and the future. But his mind could only be conscious of one.

Apparently Wanda remembered any entire year of her world while she was unconscious here. I think that's what has happened. We're split between times but we can only recall one.

Wasn't Logan's presence in our time only possible because of a mutant's power? [To do this on such a grand scale defies belief. Then again... so does everything else, observed critically.]

We also remembered things in long spans, if you recall.

Yes, but how we did it was quite different from this. It's quite possible that the Atroma has replicated that woman's power. The one I saw in the future.

[Erik folds his arms, rolling this new idea around in his mind. What Charles is saying has the weight of possibility, only that would mean that these bodies may be false. If it was similar to the prison Kitty was in, this whole thing could be faked, a virtual reality. That could explain 'remembering' something they hadn't before.]

Not everyone suddenly remembers new events here, though.

Of course not. I imagine the "remembering" happens at the whim of the Atroma. To boost ratings, to encourage drama and the like.

[Once again, the notion that they're all playthings for an unseen audience makes his expression twist, something dark in his eyes. Getting memories purely to see how they'd react is repulsive. He shrugs tightly.]

Of course.

[ Charles looks away briefly. ]

It's only a theory.

[After a pause, he jerks his head in the direction of the doorway.]

I'm going to be minding this for a while. If you'd rather not wait, I'll meet you later.

[ Charles smiles briefly, taking Erik's hand and pressing a kiss to his knuckles. ]

All right, dear. Don't stay up too long.

Don't worry. If they're not all gone in an hour, they're going into the garbage.