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]

[ He strokes the back of Erik's neck quietly, holding him close. ]

[exothermia]

[He shakes his head, and gives a snort of self-derision.]

I'm all right - really.

[axiomed]

We both are.

[ He smiles faintly. ] Still.

[exothermia]

No... I think I'm more of a mess than anything else. Just not as much as I was a few months ago.

[Erik has no illusions about his emotional state. He's painfully aware of every fracture and break in his psyche, his reactions, his ability to go about daily life. There are holes he'll stumble into where there used to be none, and expectations that surface when he doesn't expect them. But he doesn't lock himself in his room most days anymore. He has projects he's working on, people he can talk to.

He's not just coping, though the difference can be slight some days.

He presses his forehead against Charles's, letting the wetness dry on his cheeks.]

[axiomed]

[ Charles doesn't know what to say, brushing his thumb gently over Erik's face. He knows Erik has been trying hard to pull himself together. That much is abundantly clear to him. ]

You're not a mess to me.

[exothermia]

[He smiles faintly at that. It's nice to hear, though he privately doesn't quite agree. There are some parts of his grief that Erik sections off to himself alone, and doesn't allow the others to see. Those are the real messy parts. They are growing less with time, but still very much present.]

[axiomed]

[ Gently, he pulls his hands away, feeling a little self-conscious. ]

[exothermia]

[Erik leans back slightly, reaching to catch one of Charles's hands before he pulls away entirely. He laces their fingers together.]

Thank you.

[axiomed]

[ He smiles. ]

You're welcome.