'tis the season

[beathach]

Who: Hank, Raven, Charles, and Erik
Broadcast: none
Action: Corona
When: Forward-dated to after Christmas

[docking at the hotel had been something of a godsend. Originally he was going to attempt to cook himself, but with all of the restaurants at the hotel available, he opted to choose one of them instead. Likely for the best, because he wasn't the greatest cook.

He'd done his research, however, and the dinner - while nothing overly fancy - still had some traditional Christmas and Hanukkah foods - or at least, as close as they could get to them, all things considered. He tried, okay.

But it was a holiday dinner for the four of them, and that was the most important part. It was a first for their family, after all]

Comments

[axiomed]

That's you. The pinnacle of stealth.

[exothermia]

[If only. He still smiles, a bit softer. He's keeping his thoughts away from the dark tonight.]

I can own up to my mistakes, at this point.

[axiomed]

. . . I don't think you made as many as you think.

[exothermia]

[He watches Charles for a moment, smile fading into something more pensive. He shakes his head once, picking up his wine glass.]

I made enough.

[axiomed]

Maybe.

Only you would know that.

[exothermia]

[There's no doubt in Erik's mind as to the extent of his mistakes. He knows them as well as he knows himself. He takes a sip from the glass, glancing at Hank and Raven briefly. This isn't a night for dwelling on such things.]

Well. This isn't one of them.

[axiomed]

[ His lips twitch slightly. ]

At least you noticed that.

[exothermia]

I'd make an appalling dinner guest otherwise.

[axiomed]

As opposed to your usual dinner manners?

[exothermia]

There's a subtle difference.

[axiomed]

Very subtle, I'm sure.

[exothermia]

[That brings a faint smile back to Erik's face, and he merely shrugs. It's up to others to spot the difference, if he were to come to dinner with slightly worse manners.]

[axiomed]

[ He would know.

Instead Charles takes a bite of his food, letting the pleasant hum of people's thoughts sink in. ]

[exothermia]

[It's a strangely comforting feeling, sitting down to dinner in the company of the three people he thinks of as his family. He had had his reservations initially, uncertain if he would be up to it when the day came. He's at a point now where he's grateful to be able to do things like this with good humour.

He talks to Raven and Hank as well, settling into the mood.]

[axiomed]

[ Charles on the other hand lapses into silence. This is what he wanted. Always wanted. But like most things on the Fleet, it's hard to fully enjoy. He had told Erik once, that places like this had taken his simpler dreams and made them real but also made it seem unlikely that it ever could happen anywhere else.

It's savage.

He takes another long sip. ]

[exothermia]

[The dinner passes like that, peppered with conversations between the four of them, good food and good drink. Eventually Hank and Raven say goodnight to them, heading off together. The restaurant crowd has thinned out a bit, though it's by no means empty.

Erik waves them off, wishing them goodnight.]

[axiomed]

Not leaving yet?

[exothermia]

Soon - I thought I'd ask the waiter what was in that drink we saw at the other table.

[axiomed]

[ His eyebrows go up. ]

You're really going to try it?

[exothermia]

I didn't say that.

[He flags the waiter over and asks. The response is a long list of completely foreign ingredients, none of which sounds familiar. Erik nods along politely and thanks him for his time. As the waiter walks off, Erik catches Charles' eye.]

Definitely not.

[axiomed]

Just as well. It seems the adventure is coming to an end.

[exothermia]

I'll be adventurous with something else that doesn't spout pink smoke when opened, I think.

[axiomed]

I look forward to seeing that.

[exothermia]

Do you, now.

[axiomed]

[ He blinks. ]

Y - Yes?