driftfleet | (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

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.

And I appreciate that. Truly.

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

[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.]

[ 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.

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

[Annoying though it is.]

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

[A low chuckle ripples through him.]

We can't have that.

We certainly can't.

[For a while he's quiet, relaxing under Charles's hands. The pressure that had threatened to build under the surface is easing. It will happen again; he knows it will, as long as they're trapped here against their will. It doesn't need to overcome him though. He'll store the slight among the others, another mark on the list of wrongs done here.]

I was surprised you came out to the ship at all.

[ Charles huffs lightly. ]

I was checking up on some things. And I need to keep up with my exercises on the Iskaulit.

How are those going?

[He shifts, raising his head off Charles's shoulder.]

No real change. I just have to make sure I don't lapse in keeping up.

If we go at the same time, I can make sure of that.

[ He smiles, massaging Erik's scalp. ]

It does help to have an extra pair of hands around.

[Humming in agreement, he watches Charles's face for a moment.]

What else were you checking on? The crew?

To some extent. I've agreed to work with one of them on their powers. Shinji, I believe. The others, I don't know as well.

I didn't know he had powers. [The boy was so shy and retiring, it was hard to know much about him. All Erik knows is they share a sense of cynicism about the world.] I imagine most people are on the planet, like we are. I saw Winter in the market the other day.

[ He smiles again at the mention of Winter. ]

He's not too fond of the planet. I imagine he only attempts it because there are other people down there.

The planet poses some challenges for the uninitiated. [That's the most polite way he can put it. He still doesn't like strangers grabbing him and getting a blast of their feelings.]

He doesn't strike me as the sort who'd like it.

The other planet was easier on him. Hopefully he'll be okay. Though I'm sure he would tell me if it wasn't the case.

[He raises an eyebrow at that.] You've grown fond of him, haven't you. [Ever since the incident where Winter's programming took effect, he's noted the change in Charles's attitude towards the other man. The pleasure Erik had seen when Charles told him about removing the problem was hard to forget.]

[ Charles chuckles. ] Too much?

[ After a pause. ] He . . . trusts me. He has no reason to, even if I did help. But he - he does and it's . . .

[ He stops to wipe at his eyes, smiling faintly. ]

I think I know what too much looks like. [It looks like Erik. He reaches up and cups Charles's cheek with one hand, brushing a thumb over the wetness there.]

It's no small thing.

[Erik knows how difficult it was for Charles to gain acceptance among the worlds they've been to. For Erik, it was never such a hardship, as he grew up in a trustless, thankless space. Charles, though, had been sheltered in his own way. His gift was something threatening to many - it had been to Erik, when they first met. In those cauldrons of violence and competition, it had only been worse, and Erik had often had to claw Charles back from the abyss on his own. Not a job he was suited to. Whatever Winter's reasons, this was something Charles cherished. So a trace of Erik's own understanding crosses the link between them.]

[ Silently, Charles moves to kiss Erik softly, pressing their foreheads together. I trust you, he says, I love you ]

[Threading his fingers into Charles's hair, Erik kisses him back. I love you. I trust you. These were immutable truths they had built together.]

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