[Closed]

[exothermia]

Who: Erik, Charles and Raven
Broadcast: N/A
Action: a birthday on the Iskaulit
When: November 3rd

It was some time in the early morning, between fits of sleep, that Erik realised he was fifty-three. He had known it was coming for days, in the back of his mind, but it strikes him suddenly when he wakes from another unremembered dream and knows it must be nearly morning. The knowledge sinks into him like a stone, having broken the surface just as suddenly. It doesn't take long for the grief and loneliness to seize his heart again, always waiting for a moment to strike. He curls up under his blanket in the dark and wills himself to be silent, unseen.

His last birthday had been a happier affair. They were never grand or exuberant, but he didn't need or want them to be. Having a family to celebrate with was gift enough to Erik's mind. He vividly remembers the paper party hats Nina had made for the three of them to wear, the breakfast Magda had served up before he had to go to work. It was shocking to think he'd almost become used to it, after those initial few years where he hadn't been the most receptive to Magda's insistence that they do something. Even just a dinner.

Now he was to have his birthday in outer space, far from Earth and where his family lay beneath it. It was hardly worth acknowledging... just like all the years before they'd entered his life. His broken heart begs to differ, though, so he has to give it its due.

After a while, he wipes his face and gets up. Charles wants to spend time with him today, so he sets about having an early shower and shave (down to faint stubble, at the least). Another couple of hours listening to the terrible music the communicators have on offer, in the company of his fluff slug, was enough to settle his turbulent feelings into something manageable.

By the time Charles knocks on his door and they head to the Iskaulit, he's put himself back together.

Comments

[axiomed]

[ Erik was never one for grand affairs, so Charles had kept it simple. A small spot in the garden with drinks, a few snacks and a cake that he had made himself (and something he's sure Erik will comment on). Still, small as it was, he's proud of managing to bring it together.

Charles discreetly sends a message to Raven. She knew that they were meeting there, but it was best to let her know that they were already on their way. ]

You're very quiet today.

[exothermia]

Am I? [He's quiet a lot of the time, though he supposes he's been more talkative lately. He shakes his head a bit, as they walk through the corridors.] It's probably tiredness. I should have had the tea last night.

[axiomed]

So you have been taking it lately?

[ He's vaguely surprised, but pleased all the same. ]

[exothermia]

When I need it. [He's not inclined to use it as a crutch perpetually. Only when he feels dead on his feet and can't manage to sleep any other way.] It's bitter stuff.

[axiomed]

[ He nods. ]

Probably to offset any kind of addiction.

[ Charles turns his chair towards the gardens. ]

[exothermia]

Or the plant just isn't that pleasant. Bitterness does have its place, though.

[Everything exists in opposition to something else. Otherwise, how would they know the difference, what was preferred? Sweetness and bitterness. Heat and cold. Mutant and human. He shrugs, putting his hands into his pockets.]

I've wondered if any of the plants on the world here could be used in tea.

[axiomed]

We can probably test it in the lab.

[ Testing for sugars and other properties needed for edible plants. ]

If we collect enough samples, I'd be able to tell.

[exothermia]

[He hums his agreement, mulling over the plants he had already brought back. None of those, but maybe others...]

Hank tested all the ones we got from the shipwreck, so I imagine you can do a similar test.

[axiomed]

[ Charles huffs good-naturedly. ]

I see Hank gets preferential treatment over myself.

[exothermia]

Hardly. He just already had his hands on the goods.

[axiomed]

The advantages of travel, I suppose.

[ Finally, they arrive at a small corner near a couple of flowering bushes. There's a cloth laid on the ground along with a basket full of goodies and the cake neatly displayed. ]

[exothermia]

[He smiles briefly, but it fades in surprise when they reach the neatly arranged corner of the garden. Erik stops, taking in the spread, and thinks that maybe his heart stutters for a moment.

When he looks to Charles there's a question in his expression, though he knows full well why. He hadn't expected this.]

[axiomed]

[ He smiles widely. ]

Happy birthday Erik.

[athru]

[ Raven isn't quite as ready and as planned as she's sure Charles is. She's never been that good at birthdays in general, and actually thinking up any kind of present has always been difficult for her. When she was younger and it was just her and Charles it was easy - he loved handmade gifts and, as they got older, easy things like baked cake or a bottle of something fancy that he would never buy himself. Erik is different, and the idea of finding a present for him is just... Hard, especially with everything that's going on.

It doesn't take her long to track him down, and she slips into the room with a tilt of her head and a twitch of her lips, watching him with a careful expression. She doesn't have anything for him, not really, but she's here, and she's not going to push. She can only imagine how hard this is for him - harder than her first birthday without Charles, and he had been a witness to that. ]

Hey.

[exothermia]

[He's already seated with Charles in the garden when Raven arrives... and thankfully, he's past the first overwhelming emotion he had when he realised that Charles had prepared something for his birthday. When he spots Raven, though, some of it comes back. His tiredness is etched into his face, vestiges of too many bad nights' sleep. But he manages a smile for her, genuine.]

Raven.

[athru]

[ She's a little softer around the edges, and she shifts as she watches him, uncertain and wondering what she ought to do or say. She decides, really, that she ought to treat it like she would have if they were together in the Brotherhood or if they were still before Cuba, and she moves up to nudge his arm gently, her lips twitching into a soft smile. ]

Happy birthday, old man.

[exothermia]

[He looks up at her, and blows out a breath.]

Name calling, really?

[athru]

It's not name calling, it's telling the truth.

[ She calls Charles an 'old fart' and means it just as endearingly as she does now. ]

How're you feeling?

[exothermia]

...surprised, mostly. [It encompasses only a fraction of what he feels, but it's the most relevant to this moment. The darkness hasn't abated, he knows that. It's still sitting there in his heart. Charles and Raven have just brought him a candle to keep it at bay.]

[athru]

Really? [ Raven crosses her arms, tilting her head up to look at him before she shakes her head. ] There's nowhere else I'd rather be right now, you know.

[exothermia]

[There's a faint quirk of his lips, knowing full well what he's choosing not to say. He finds there is little point in explaining the rest of his emotions when he's certain Raven can guess well enough on her own.]

It must be a quiet day, then.

[athru]

[ There's no point trying to make Erik talk about things when they both know what they're avoiding talking about; he's hurting, and she gets that. What she does instead is reach out, grabbing onto his hand with a nod. ]

Oh, that's what I do. When I get bored I decide to come and annoy you, right?

[exothermia]

[The touch is a bit unexpected, so there's a pause before he wraps his fingers around hers.]

History would back me up on this.

[athru]

It's not annoying you, it's spending time with you. It's your fault if you get annoyed.

[ But she's smiling, and she reaches into her bag with her free hand to pull out a square present. ]

Happy birthday, Erik.

[exothermia]

[You'd think Raven had pulled out a live snake, for all that Erik is suddenly looking at the package like it's going to bite him. He'd only just gotten used to Charles's picnic efforts, and now this?]

What...