Just Keeping Swimming | March Planet Mingle

[thespaceopera]

Who: Everyone!
Broadcast: If you want!
Action: Anywhere on Mafik
When: The month of March



[Welcome to Mafik, the water world! Hope you brought your best swimming gear and don't have a paralyzing fear of water, because that's all that's here! So get out those wet suits and enjoy life under the sea!

In other words, it's a mingle! ]

> System Information

Comments

[axiomed]

It sounds like you have a thorough check list.

[exothermia]

I might be giving a false impression, then.

[He pauses to give it some thought.]

Some calm, I suppose.

[axiomed]

[ As an afterthought, Charles reaches out to squeeze Erik's hand. ]

It seems to be a fine list, regardless of whether you have one in mind or not. You look good.

[exothermia]

[Erik curls his fingers around Charles's. He can't help the flush of warmth he feels at the compliment.]

Is that so?

[axiomed]

[ His lips twitch. ]

Absolutely stunning.

[exothermia]

[He has to laugh a bit, a little self-conscious.]

It must be the starlight.

[Still... he leans over to kiss Charles lightly.]

[axiomed]

[ With a faint smile, Charles leans into it. ]

[exothermia]

[Erik brushes his fingers against Charles's cheek as he pulls back.]

[axiomed]

Anything else on the list we should check off?

[exothermia]

I can't think of anything... unless you've noted something else?

[axiomed]

[ He shakes his head. ]

This is more than enough for me.

[ And Charles isn't ready to risk being greedy. ]

[exothermia]

[He glances over at Charles, feeling at ease.]

For me as well.

[axiomed]

[ His smile flickers. ]

Good. I'm glad.

[exothermia]

[Erik pauses, noticing that even in the dim light of evening.]

Are you?

[axiomed]

Of course, Erik. You worry too much.

[exothermia]

Consider it an item on the list of things the night brings out of me.

[He squeezes Charles' hand after that remark.]

[axiomed]

[ Charles softens a little as he looks out into the sea. ]

I suppose I don't really know. If it is more than enough or not. The last time we talked about it . . . it didn't change anything.

[exothermia]

[He watches Charles for a moment longer, before turning his gaze to the water. He has his own ideas about what changed after their talk on the mountainside, but maybe Charles means something else.]

What is it you thought could change?

[axiomed]

[ He shakes a little, before sending a thought over. Not that talk and projects a memory of the ring, Charles' emotional breakdown over asking Erik to stay despite his own misgivings, his desire to do the right thing. ]

I think I'd like to change my fear. Which isn't how this works, I know.

[exothermia]

[Erik's grip tightens on Charles's hand, anchor and support both. The memory touches on old scars for the both of them, and he lets out a short breath. The metal of the ring he still wears on his finger stands out brightly in his mind... easy to see.]

It isn't. But I don't agree that nothing changed.

[axiomed]

[ He turns his eyes on Erik, questioning. ]

[exothermia]

[There's a few moments of silence, while Erik gathers his thoughts on this. It's a difficult subject, and their own hurts and losses are woven throughout.]

I think of it as two sides of a coin. On one side, you asked me to stay with you, and I agreed. On the other side, we didn't have that conversation, and I left because of my own reasons, with your agreement.

Now the coin's been split down the middle, and the two sides folded together. Things changed on both sides. But it's still the same coin.

[axiomed]

[ Charles huffs because really, a coin metaphor? Still he's smiling, eyes crinkling at the corners. ]

And what does the coin mean, Erik?

[exothermia]

[It was the most suitable analogy, even if he had prepared it a slightly different way from his original idea months ago.]

It means just because you can't always see both sides at the same time, it doesn't mean they aren't both there.

[And maybe that's cold comfort to Charles. But Erik doesn't take one to be the exclusion of the other. Both sides happened. Both were right.]

[axiomed]

[ It doesn't soothe his heart, but it does soothe some of his misgivings. He may never trust the Fleet and its finite tight grip on their time and their memories. But if it's still remembered in some small way, in some distant future . . . then Charles can live with that and be happy with it.

He lifts Erik's knuckles, pressing a dry kiss. ]

I love you.

[ It feels like a blessing and a curse. ]