'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]

It shows.

[beathach]

Ah. Well - good.

As long as everyone enjoys themselves, I'll consider this a success.

[axiomed]

[ He smiles. ]

I'm sure everyone will. Hank.

[beathach]

I know. I'm not too worried.

[axiomed]

. . . Neither am I.

[beathach]

You have no reason to worry.

[axiomed]

Why would I be worried?

[beathach]

I don't know, but you'd find a reason.

[axiomed]

[ He huffs. ]

I like to think I've improved.

[beathach]

You have. Immensely.

But you'd still find it.

[axiomed]

[ Charles grimaces. He has been pessimistic of late and it's hard to fully shake off. ]

[beathach]

[he's mostly teasing, but it seems he hit a nerve of some kind]

I do the same thing. It isn't a bad thing, necessarily.

And like I said, you've improved.

[axiomed]

Improved still seems far away for what I'm trying to reach.

[beathach]

Rome wasn't built in a day, professor.

[axiomed]

That would work if I was building Rome and not myself.

[beathach]

You know what I mean.

[axiomed]

I do.

I guess I still have my own frustrations.

[beathach]

We all do. But don't let those overshadow your accomplishments.

[axiomed]

It doesn't.

[ He says it out loud and purses his lips. It's not his accomplishments that bother him. The school is fine. The X-Men are underway. Apocalypse is dead. ]

[beathach]

[this is usually the part where he gives that little push, that encouragement for Charles to talk about what's on his mind. But with Raven and Erik sitting nearby, and the whole dinner being an important thing . . . he bites his lip for a moment, then sighs out]

Good. It shouldn't.

Talk to me later? About what it is that's actually bothering you.

[axiomed]

[ He hesitates before nodding. ]

[beathach]

All right. [there's a touch of relief in the voice] We can do it over drinks.

[as per their tradition]

[axiomed]

Fine. Let's enjoy the evening.

[beathach]

That's the plan.

[axiomed]

It's a good plan.