Iskaulit mingle

[lord_wizard]

Who: Anyone!
Broadcast: No
Action: Iskaulit
When: Feb. Drift Week (and beyond?)

[The fleet, more or less patched up after their battle, has once again left civilization behind for empty space. Maybe it's a good time to distract yourself and get away from the endless repairs and nothingness, though there might still be cleaning up that needs to be done here too.

Whether you're grabbing a broom or grabbing a drink, this is a fleetwide mingle for the Iskaulit.]

Comments

[dancingmd]

Oh, Charles.

[She smiles back before kissing his cheek and wrapping her arms around him again, but this time, she's the one offering comfort, not seeking it.]

[axiomed]

[ He curls his arms around her, a wordless sob that is both grateful and miserable. Wrath had been his home too, a safe haven he knew he could always trust. ]

[dancingmd]

[She rubs his back and rests her head against his, sharing in his grief but also a little relieved that he's allowing himself to have this release. It's painful but in the long run, she feels it'll be better that he did.]

I'm here.

[axiomed]

[ She is here and that means so much to Charles, to know someone is here, still here and the fear of being left behind isn't so oppressive in his chest. He knows intellectually, no one meant to leave him behind. It's not how it happened, but it's an old wound that keeps coming back to haunt him. ]

[dancingmd]

[She only wishes she could promise she won't leave him but she can't. Atroma has taken that away from them, along with so many other things. So she simply does what she can for him now, holding him for as long as he needs. As long as they both need.]

[axiomed]

[ After a few minutes, Charles finally manages to gather his control. He pulls back just a little. ]

I'll be all right. What about you?

[dancingmd]

I'll get through it. I always do.

[She offers him a small, sad smile.]

Sometimes you just need a good cry first.

[axiomed]

I've always been rather shabby at that.

[ Which is half true. Charles does get teary a lot, but he holds it back. ]

[dancingmd]

[She nods.]

It's a lot harder than it should be, sometimes.

[axiomed]

Mmm. I think it's meant to be hard, but that knowledge doesn't soothe anything.

I guess . . . sometimes I'm glad it's hard.

[dancingmd]

To let yourself cry?

[axiomed]

Yes. And . . . just to be able to cry at all.

[dancingmd]

[Her brow furrows. Sometimes you are very confusing, Charles.]

Why are you glad that it's hard to cry?

[axiomed]

Because it makes the moments you do that much more meaningful. It's not an easy thing. I've touched every mind in the world. Every joy, every heartbreak, it's all there, every single day.

So to know I can cry is important. And that I can bear it without crying as well.

[ Charles feels he's cried enough. He's certainly wallowed in his own fears and pain for a lengthy period of time. Discarding the fear of going down that road once more is always hanging over his head. He had his students to put it aside. When you're surrounded by people who need you, the loneliness isn't as prevalent. ]

[dancingmd]

[Her expression of confusion relaxes. That does make sense to her, especially after experiencing his powers for herself - and that wasn't even at full capacity. To bear all those emotions... she can see how it'd be difficult to maintain the balance between being overwhelmed by them and becoming too hardened by them.]

Well, whenever you do need a shoulder to cry on, I'm here. And... thank you, for being here when I needed you.

[axiomed]

[ He reaches out to squeeze her hand. ]

You're welcome. And thank you as well. I want to be there for you - as much as I can be.

[dancingmd]

[She squeezes back, entwining her fingers in his.]

You always have been. [Small wry smile.] At least this time I'm not glitching.

[axiomed]

Not that it matters.

You were a lovely child, by the way.

[dancingmd]

[That elicits a soft chuckle.]

Thank you. You were lovely too. I think if you had told me you were going to adopt me I would have been quite happy about it.

[axiomed]

I've been known to do that a lot. At least I'm not too bad with younger children.

[dancingmd]

[She shakes her head. "Not too bad," he says, when he was wonderful.]

You'd be a good father.

[axiomed]

[ His smile is rueful. Charles doubts he'll ever find out if he is. ]

I hope so.

[dancingmd]

I know so.

[Her Mom Senses tell her this.]

[axiomed]

Then I'll take your word for it.

[dancingmd]

[She huffs softly, not sure he entirely believes her, but she'll take it.

Seeing as she's been sitting in one position for a while now, she shifts to get more comfortable and in the process, something in one of her pockets hits her hip.]

Oh!

[She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a pack of cards.]

I almost forgot. Wrath left me these. I thought we could play a round, for her.

[At least she knows what to do with this unlike certain other... toys Wrath left her with.]