You can check out anytime you'd like.. [Hotel Corona Mingle]

[thespaceopera]

Who: The Fleet!
Broadcast: If you want
Action: Hotel Corona or Planet Ikke
When: December 7th onward



[After the mystery and isolation of their last destination, the Marsiva seems determined to head to brighter, busier territory. After a long journey through remote, nebula-painted space, speeding along at a brisk pace for the Host ship, the Marsiva brings her Fleet to a sudden and prominent point of traffic.

It seems that the Fleet has happened upon some sort of vacation destination! Maybe Atroma thinks that the passengers deserve some rest and relaxation... or just wants to distract them with something huge and shiny.

Welcome to Hotel Corona! Feel free to enjoy yourselves and enjoy the sites! If a hotel resort isn't your thing, you can head on over to the nearby planet and explore it's icy wonders.

In order words: it's a mingle!! Everyone get in! ]

[>> Plot Post]

Comments

[exothermia]

Yes. Because... I know, that it was me talking about myself. But it was still a conversation; you were still part of that. You and how you felt about it.

[axiomed]

. . . How do you think I felt about it? Out of curiosity.

[exothermia]

[Erik shifts back in his seat a little, not really expecting the question. He'd had a sense of wrongness about Charles's reaction then. That much had been clear immediately. But he had been drowning in his own feelings then.]

...I knew it hurt you. And shock. [He pauses, collecting his thoughts.] You said you know me so well, but I don't think you expected that. ["I was afraid that everything had changed."] It was another change.

[axiomed]

[ Another change. That was a neat way of saying it. For Charles, it had almost been the final change, the final blow. And it annoys him that he didn't see it coming, that he didn't think Erik was at that precipice, even though it was a familiar one.

(or he just held on to the stupid belief that Erik would come home someday.)

So he nods because Erik was right. ]

I like to think I can handle it better now at least.

[exothermia]

It wasn't something I should have put on your shoulders. But it's over with, now.

[axiomed]

[ Is it? But Charles lets it go regardless. ]

[exothermia]

[Erik hasn't felt that way since he snapped out of En Sabah Nur's control. It was closer, in those early weeks here, still twisting inside him. He knows that he's past the feeling. It may have only been a few days it lasted, but it has impacts far beyond that. For himself... for Charles. For everyone.

He moves his queen, taking Charles's knight in the process.]

[axiomed]

[ He rests his chin on his hands, looking at the board. ]

You're still rusty, I see.

[exothermia]

[He huffs, flicking the white piece off the board.]

I've been teaching Wanda how to play, but I haven't played otherwise. I spend more time reading. [Among other things, or nothing, depending on his mood.]

[axiomed]

Teaching Wanda?

How is that going?

[exothermia]

Ahh, well... it's intermittent. You saw what's happened to her recently.

[axiomed]

I'm aware.

[ He's worried about how her powers might hold up. It's hard to broach the topic of her classes in light of her amnesia. ]

[exothermia]

[Erik huffs sharply through his nose, irritated once more at the glitches and manipulations the Fleet unleashes on people.]

I hadn't seen her for a while before that. So it's not really progressed far.

[axiomed]

Give it time. These never last long.

[exothermia]

It doesn't make them any less concerning.

[axiomed]

No, it does not.

[ But if Charles has learned anything lately, it's that such things must be weathered, not fought over. ]

But her brother is here with her. She'll be fine.

[exothermia]

Yes.

[That is the hope, at least. Erik takes another pawn, surveying the board.]

Check.

[axiomed]

Not bad.

[exothermia]

Are you giving up so soon?

[axiomed]

Hardly. I was merely complimenting you.

[ He moves his knight, taking the rook. ]

[exothermia]

[He smirks, and concentrates on the game for a while, as they check and counter-check each other.]

[axiomed]

Checkmate.

[exothermia]

[Erik leans back, lacing his fingers together.]

So it is. Well done.

[axiomed]

Thank you.

It was a good game.

[exothermia]

Mm. I enjoyed it.