(no subject)

[exothermia]

Who: Erik, Charles, and those aboard the Heron
Broadcast: No
Action: The Heron
When: Now

[Erik feels groggy when he wakes. How long had he slept for? Time didn’t hold the same structure that it used to for him, not when he was off alone, but he was certain he had slept before midnight… Shifting in the bed, he automatically casts his arm over the person sleeping next to him, a habit that usually leaves him bereft when it comes up empty. He cracks open his eyes, something nagging at the back of his mind even before he sees--

Charles. He jerks his hand back, confusion taking over. Charles shouldn’t be here, not in Poland. He’d left the mansion weeks ago. A rapid glance around the room (metal walls, a locker, that odd-looking hovering chair they’d spent so long building--) only serves to disorient him further. Where was he? Erik sits up, pressing a hand to his eyes as he tries to think. He had been in Poland. Somewhere remote, an abandoned house in the woods somewhere (not his house, he had already gone there and left again) on his road east, and… information rises out his whirling thoughts. A ship. This was that spaceship. He could feel it now, extending out through his senses. But that had been years ago. This wasn’t right. Something was terribly wrong.

He pulls his hand away from his face and stares at it, jaw tight. On his pointer finger was a slightly irregular silver ring. On his ring finger was his wedding band.

He remembers that his heart is broken. He remembers why he went back to Poland to begin with, why this is the wrong place. He remembers.

Something shakes apart inside him, and the Heron does the same.]

[Days ago, the two mutants on the Heron fell asleep and didn’t wake up. A few days later, their appearance started to change, Erik’s hair growing scruffier and the odd few silver threads starting to creep in, while Charles’s simply disappeared altogether. Anyone paying attention would notice they had grown noticeably older in just a few days. Now, it seems like they’re waking up. And Erik’s return to consciousness stands to shake everyone else to attention whether they like it or not.

It starts as a vibration, humming through the metal surfaces of the ship. It increases rapidly, getting noisier and more violent, until everything is rattling. Loose metal items begin to lift off from wherever they lie, floating jerkily into the air. Those closer to the walls around the edges of the ship will find less of a disturbance, though the floor still does its best to mimic an earthquake.

And then, just as abruptly, it stops. Most of it. Those vibrations are still shivering through everything, screws and spoons spinning drunkenly on the floor. Strange... should anyone investigate that closed bedroom, the culprit is easy to find.]

Comments

wtf guys

[reconstitution]

[ It's been a weird few days, and both Charles and Erik being indisposed makes things more complicated. There's really only one reason he can think of that it would happen. The thought is solidified when everything starts vibrating. Bucky almost dismisses it as a tremor in his hand until the entire ship starts rattling. The spoon to his coffee mug shakes off the table, and he stands quickly, moving into action.

Check on the crew, first. See if the disturbance is anywhere else. Some of the cleaner bots are hovering pathetically a foot or so above the ground, which feels unstable under his foot. It's a very brief thought that they're being attacked again. Bucky is tearing down the hall when the tremors stop. Things stop floating, but still twitch, like they're not sure what to do.

He needs to check and make sure everything's okay with Charles and Erik the two that haven't been accounted for. They could still be out for the count, but He raps on the door with a knuckle before pushing to door open. ]

don't rock the boat

[axiomed]

[ Charles is immediately wheeling towards the door and stops when he sees Winter stepping through. He smiles, but it's tight and fraying at the edges. ]

Winter.

[ It takes him a second to realize why he was here and he continues smoothly. ]

I take it all is well with the ship?

[reconstitution]

[ The immediate threat of danger is gone, though he still remains wary. He's startled briefly.

Bald. Charles is bald. That must have been some stressful glitch.. |8 ]

Still in one piece. Are you-- [ bald. ] okay?

[axiomed]

I'm afraid I'm coping with some large doses of information. Ten years worth.

[ He touches the back of his neck, vaguely self-conscious. His appearance had not been his concern, not after everything that had happened in Cairo, but Charles realizes now that he'll have to field a lot of awkward questions. ]

I'm all right. Really.

[reconstitution]

[ Bucky winces in sympathy. He knows what dealing with that magnitude of new information. 'I'm fine'. That, he's skeptical about. Charles, you are dealing with the reigning king of I'm fine, nothing is wrong. Who do you think you are fooling? ]

Physically uninjured. Mentally?

[axiomed]

[ He opens his mouth and shuts it abruptly. Ten years had passed, but none of that time had dented Charles' deep regard for Winter. Winter, who had trusted Charles completely with his mind and heart. He looks down on his lap, pressing his fingers together tightly. ]

I -- I don't know if I should tell you. Since you're familiar with the experience itself.

[reconstitution]

[ It's okay. He doesn't need to talk about it if he doesn't want to. Charles respects his need for space, so he can do the same. ]

You don't have to.

[ As long as you're okay, it's fine. ]

[axiomed]

[ Charles chances a glance at Erik before he faces Winter. ]

I know.

[ He exhales, trying to put it into simple words, words that keep it bare. Empty. ]

Someone tried to take over my mind. They wanted my powers to invade every mind in the world.

[reconstitution]

[ The only thing Bucky can feel about that situation is horrified. Someone trying to take over Charles' head? That's.. It's not impossible, probably, but it's worrisome. He believes Charles could have the power to do that if he had the intention to, but he's a better man than that. ]

Tried. So they failed. Hmm.. Is everything taken care of?

[ If it hasn't been resolved and they were thrown back, that adds another level of stress. He'll help how he can. ]

[axiomed]

He's dead.

[ His tone is curt and short. Charles winces at it, but he had no empathy for En-Sabah-Nur. ]

Everything is . . . fine.

[reconstitution]

Good. [ One less world-controlling douche bag to worry about. ]

[ Fine. He raises an eyebrow at Charles, and he's tempted to bite his tongue on the situation, but.. ]

Does it have to be fine?

[ Bet you're eating those words now, huh? ]

[axiomed]

. . . No.

[ He sighs. ] It's complicated in a different manner. But I am fine on my part. I just need to change my expectations.

[reconstitution]

You don't have to talk about it right now.. but you've listened to me enough. I can do the same.

[ He shoulders enough of Bucky's problems, he can damn well help carry Charles' burdens. ]

[exothermia]

[Erik glances up when he door opens, as Charles sails straight to it. It takes him only a second to place Winter, even though it's been years since he saw him last. He gets to his feet, only slightly off kilter.]

It's under control.

[reconstitution]

You're sure?

[ He has to make sure, because if it's not, they could be in some serious shit. Bucky looks at Erik, brow furrowed. What's up, old guy? ]

Do you need anything? You were asleep for over two days.

[exothermia]

[Age has started to tell on him, though not as much as might be expected. He's a little more haggard, a bit thinner. The light beard is new. So is the gold band on one finger. Erik takes a deep breath, and the last vibrations stop.]

I'm sure.

Is that all it was? [Putting a time to the vast gulf of years between states was surreal.] I haven't seen you in ten years.

[reconstitution]

[ Everything stills, but that doesn't do much to dispel the tension. Bucky's gaze flicks briefly between Erik and Charles, assessing. The differences are subtle, but there.

Fuck, ten years? In two days? That amount of time is rough.. Too much flux in not enough of a span. It's a difficult adjustment, and he frowns sympathetically, brow furrowed. ]

It wasn't as long as some people have fallen asleep for.

[exothermia]

That only means there's no connection between the two.

[Erik glances to the door again, concern furrowing his brow.] Is-- I don't feel anything broken out there. I think I got it in time. I never was able to reach the hull. [That's something Erik had never admitted the first time he was here, wanting to safeguard his weaknesses.]

[reconstitution]

No, nothing's broken. Scared the shit out of us, but it's fine.

[ He pauses, rubbing the side of his neck. ] The uh.. cleaning droids are going nuts, but that's about as much damage as there is.

[exothermia]

The... oh. [It took him a few seconds to remember what Winter meant. Droids. Even having finally seen at least one Star Wars film (that he recalls), it still strikes him as odd.] I think I should be able to fix them, if there's a problem.

...sorry.

[reconstitution]

I'm sure they'll be fine. They apparently don't like being anywhere but the floor.

[ The frown comes back. ]

If either of you need anything, call.

[exothermia]

[He's becoming rapidly disillusioned with people asking him what he needs. This isn't Winter's fault, however, so he just nods vaguely.]

Are we still in that system with the factions? [Best to move on. Practicalities.]

[reconstitution]

We are. Should be for another week or two.

[ He still hasn't figured out the best way to go about with a conversation with Erik, anyway. Most things have been strictly business. ]

[exothermia]

[He hums in agreement. The periods between systems... right. Erik isn't certain he wants to bother with anything down on the planets. Right now, just speaking with four or five people is difficult enough, so recently ripped from his isolation. Going into an inhabited area was a bit much.

Erik glances over to Charles, then back to Winter.]

I'll leave you to it. If anything's broken... let me know.

[reconstitution]

We should be fine, but I'll let you know. Take care of yourself, both of you.

[ He gives Erik and Charles another once over before heading back out the door. ]