(no subject)

[grandstanding]

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.]

Comments

[axiomed]

[ Charles rubs his eyes, the contact of another mind nudging against his. Still, he smiles, sleep-tinged. ]

Welcome back.

[grandstanding]

[Erik welcomes the brush of thought, a sensation he's come to associate with coming home. Pulling off his shoes, he crosses to the bed.] Hi. [He leans in to kiss him briefly, affection flaring through his skin.]

[axiomed]

[ He runs a hand over Erik's shoulders. ]

How are you feeling?

[grandstanding]

Spiteful. [He doesn't sound it, because it's not directed at Charles. Sliding onto the bed, he slots himself in next to Charles, wrapping one arm around his shoulders.]

But the magnets are gone.

[axiomed]

[ Teasing. ]

I knew your attractive powers knew no bounds.

[grandstanding]

That was never in doubt. I attracted you, after all.

[axiomed]

And how many others, I wonder.

[ He brushes Erik's hair back, smoothing over his wrinkles. ]

[grandstanding]

Not very many, I'm sure. I'm not approachable.

[He gives Charles's shoulder a squeeze, warmth filtering through, thawing some of the ice despite himself. He's still infuriated at the implications of that sponsor drop. It's nothing he can help, or change. He can only let it slide into the darker part of his mind, to wait coldly for a moment when he can do something in response.]

[axiomed]

[ Charles murmurs. ]

They just don't know you like I do.

[grandstanding]

That's a good thing, you realise.

[axiomed]

Oh, I'm not discounting it.

[ He continues to rub small circles into Erik's back and neck. ]

[grandstanding]

[He mutters something formless, pressing his face into the crook of Charles's neck. The feel of Charles's fingers against his neck is relaxing.]

Isn't this usually the other way around?

[axiomed]

How so?

[grandstanding]

I haven't given you a massage in some time.

[Only a few weeks, give or take. There had been a myriad of other ways to unwind here, so it had slipped their minds. Charles's ministrations had reminded him though, of all those other times.]

[axiomed]

[ Charles chuckles, pressing a light kiss to Erik's forehead. ]

You look like you could use it more than me right now. Take a rain check.

[grandstanding]

Are you volunteering?

[He huffs slightly, trying to bank his lingering annoyance.] It's frustrating. I already knew they could see more than I wanted them to. [The incident with his augment had proven that much, images of his cell beamed directly into his mind and taking over his life. Maybe they had only tweaked the nameless terror that still lurked in him rather than constructed the image themselves, but... but.]

[axiomed]

You're allowed to be frustrated. Be angry if you need to. I won't blame you for it.

I'm here for you, Erik. Even when you're angry or upset. Even when you feel no one should bear the brunt of that.

[grandstanding]

I know that. [He doesn't tend to hold back much. Though he recognised the signs of it earlier, and gave Charles the opportunity to get out of range. Blowing out a breath, he looks at Charles again, a mixture of irritation and gratitude written there.]

There was no point snapping at you when this wasn't your doing.

[axiomed]

And I appreciate that. Truly.

[ He continues his ministrations, hands gently slipping under Erik's shirt to knead at his back. ]

[grandstanding]

[By now Erik has shifted to lean into Charles, the better to give him access to his back. It results in him resting his head on the other man's shoulder, so his words are spoken into his chest rather than his face. It doesn't matter.]

I'd rather not do that when we're in this for the long haul. [Not when things have been travelling so well between them. It's been weeks since they had faltered and failed to communicate. But it's also been more weeks spent adrift in space.]

[axiomed]

[ Charles pauses briefly before resuming. He can't help the brief flush of pleasure at hearing that. ]

I imagine it also helps to let it out. Besides, we're both made of sterner stuff.

[grandstanding]

Well, I'm hardly going to go on a rampage because of a box of magnets.

[Annoying though it is.]

[axiomed]

I should hope not. Think of all the jokes I would have to use.

[grandstanding]

[A low chuckle ripples through him.]

We can't have that.

[axiomed]

We certainly can't.