Iskaulit Mingle

[passingthrough]

Who: Everyone!
Broadcast: Nah!
Action: Iskaulit
When: April!

[So many spaces to explore. So little time.]

Comments

[exothermia]

[Erik returns his gaze, though his brow creases slightly with confusion. It isn't hard to see past the veneer of placidness, for those who know where to look. Wanda's departure rubbed part of him raw, and the bracelet had cracked his composure. He's already shed his bewildered tears over it - put the emotion away hours ago when he was done. It's a reminder that his wounds still run through him, ready to be jostled at any given moment. There's nothing for it but to make do, as always. He knows how to calm himself down by now.

After a moment Erik's expression shifts into something less composed, but more open.]

What are you looking for, Charles?

[axiomed]

[ Charles' expression softens as he reaches out to touch Erik's hand. ]

I just wanted to see you. I'm not looking for anything in particular.

[exothermia]

[The touch relaxes him somewhat, and he huffs through his nose.]

I wanted to see you too.

[In every sense of the term.]

[axiomed]

I can tell. You even brought tea to lure me in.

[ There are probably deeper feelings under the surface. But the fact that Erik let him see them, even briefly is enough. If Erik wants to talk, Charles can wait. ]

[exothermia]

No, that was the scones.

[Much harder to come by in the Fleet, and freshly made. Doing things in the kitchen is one of his stand-bys for distraction, when he's sufficiently motivated to do it. Erik had also thought privately that Charles was likely to appreciate a distraction too.

He takes hold of Charles's fingers, brushing his thumb across his knuckles.]

[axiomed]

[ He squeezes back. His own feelings were wound up in his need for logic. Charles is a teacher first and he was Wanda's teacher. Getting frustrated and hurt over her loss is a trenchant situation he can't fall into. Deep down, he knows he'll never be fully rid of the sting of people leaving, of watching people leave. ]

Well I appreciate them greatly.

[exothermia]

I'd hope so.

[axiomed]

Of that, there is no doubt.

[exothermia]

[Erik lets go of Charles's hand, so he can pick up a scone. It's enough, he thinks, to do something like this. Take some of the pressure off.]

[axiomed]

What did yours say? Your bracelet.

[ There would have been a message on it, no doubt. ]

[exothermia]

[He pauses with the scone halfway to his mouth, and then lowers it. Letting out a sigh through his nose, he replies, switching smoothly between Polish and English.]

Ojciec - it means 'father'.

[A crease forms on his brow as he touches the bracelet in his pocket. It's a question that's run around and around his head for hours, and he still has no answer to it.]

I don't know why.

[axiomed]

[ Ah. Charles takes a sip of the tea. He can't say he knows either. It was an odd move by Wanda, but she's not here to explain herself. ]

Maybe there doesn't need to be a why.

[exothermia]

[That's unlikely. Wanda would have had a reason... but Erik will never know it. It won't stop him gnawing it in his darker moments, though.]

...and yours?

[axiomed]

[ His smile is faint. ]

Hope. Apparently I'm a one-track record.

[exothermia]

Still... it's a meaningful gift.

[axiomed]

I won't deny it.

[ There seems to be more on his mind, but it clears away. ] As I said, she was always considerate.

[exothermia]

[Erik watches Charles for a moment, before returning to his scone at last.]

Mmm. She was asking about gifts in the last conversation I had with her.

[Not that he had been in the mood for that topic. He was rather terse with the woman.]

[axiomed]

[ He chuckles. ]

She was still annoyed that she provided a chess set. I really need to be more varied in my interests.

[exothermia]

It was the right gift - just one that others had already thought of. She shouldn't have been hard on herself for that.

[axiomed]

I probably shouldn't have mentioned it to her.

[exothermia]

[He shrugs.]

It was still a very different kind of chess board. We haven't even used all the functions yet.

[axiomed]

They take forever to figure out.

[exothermia]

Let's have a game later, then, and dedicate our time to getting one to work.

[axiomed]

[ He blinks, surprised by the offer. ]

Certainly.

[exothermia]

[And why not? It seems fitting to play a game on the board Wanda got for both of them.]

Good.