(no subject)

[balancingminds]

Somehow after the discussion with Erik, Charles managed to sleep though his dreams were complicated and vivid as he thought of Erik's touch.

He woke early and went to make himself a strong cup of coffee in the kitchen, his hair wet from the shower and his shirt not fully buttoned.

The past few days have been so full, he wonders what's to come next.

Comments

[balancingminds]

"I've been there and I thought I saw a thought or two about it another time, but hadn't pursued it. It didn't seem terribly important but now it might be rather useful. I'm not reading your mind at the moment as I'm sure you can tell,"

As the cabinets shake, Charles pours out the tea, he's not going to be intimidated by that. He has not gone into Erik's mind since they first met without being invited.

[markedformore]

The metal in the kitchen calms somewhat, but Erik's guard stays up. He regards Charles out of the corner of his eye, a derisive scoff loosed as he gets up to pour the tea. "And what makes you think I'd be more comfortable in some strange place?"

[balancingminds]

"I don't know for certain if you would be, but its worth trying. If it doesn't work then at least its been tried,"

Charles gets his mug of tea and takes his time adding milk and sugar, he wants Erik to stay and is going to find out how to make that happen.

[markedformore]

Erik still finds it absolutely odd how more than one person can have found their way to that strange madhouse. "I thought I was going crazy," he says, airing his true and deepest fears about that place. "I thought...I thought that I had utterly lost my mind."

[balancingminds]

"No, Erik, I promise you that you're sane. Raven and I have been there a number of times,"

Calling it a madhouse seems rather unfair, Milliways is fascinating and hopeful.

[markedformore]

"There is another option," Erik concedes, given that he is not sure how much he trusts Milliways either, especially not to fall asleep. "It involves you and a judicious use of your abilities." He trusts Charles, he knows that much.

[balancingminds]

Charles takes a sip of his tea as there are many things he could do, but he hadn't brought it up as he's not certain what Erik thinks of his ability,

"Oh, what were you thinking?"

[markedformore]

"You simply go into my mind and you calm the thoughts the way you did the night we met. Turn me off," he says, searching for a better way to express the intent, but finding that works.

[balancingminds]

"It would be simpler to actually put you to sleep. Calming is slightly different though they are connected. Though I can't make any promise of what your dreams will be like. They have a way of being hard to control. We might have to try a few things to see what's ideal for you,"

Though if he was there while Erik slept, he could probably alter the intensity of the dreams.

[markedformore]

"Then we'll try that." It seems the simplest solution on the table. "You stay near and you put me to sleep, keep me from waking up. That is, if you really do mean what you say about intending for me to have a night of good rest."

[balancingminds]

"I do mean it and that would work best. You're no good to yourself or anyone else if you haven't slept well,"

If that will help Erik decide to stay then Charles will happily do it. It's also something he can do for Erik and a chance to know him better and be with him.

[markedformore]

Erik takes a deep breath and nods, thinking that there's no time like the present. He's still caught staring at Charles' state of mild undress, wondering if he might be able to touch, but he locks those thoughts away. "What did happen with Raven and Hank after I interrupted them?" he asks. "Do you know?"

[balancingminds]

"Not in great detail, no, only that they both seemed quite happy as we were leaving. I don't know anything else other than that,"

He hasn't had a chance to ask Raven what happened but he does hope she'll tell him. Erik's question plus the way he's looking has Charles drinking his tea rather quickly.

They could go through to Milliways and experiment, try and find more ways to understand each other. It would just be a matter of finding a door.

[markedformore]

Erik maintains a steady expression, but perhaps Charles can sense the thrum of anticipation and hope mingled with worry and fear, the usual things combining as they often do when he is in the presence of Charles. He cannot begin to understand the things that Charles does to him and is not sure he wants to put it into words. "Well, I interrupted something. I refuse to feel bad, however."

[balancingminds]

He can sense some of it, he's not reading Erik's mind but emotions are close to the surface. The mixture of them is familiar, almost a complement to the way Erik gets him off balance,

"I wouldn't. If she wants you to feel bad then she'll find a way. Shall we see about finding a door? I haven't seen one since England but its just a matter of finding it."

[markedformore]

Erik had seen one after Argentina, but then Charles had blasted his way into his life and he hasn't had time to think of the place again. "I'm not wearing a hat," he says, knowing it may be out of place, but it is the first thing that comes to mind. He feels silly for saying it, but there it is. "Usually, when I go there, I have a new hat, decent clothes."

[balancingminds]

Charles almost laughs into his tea before giving Erik a long look over,

"Then Milliways will have to be disappointed that you're in clothes you've worn before. You always look elegant so I wouldn't worry."

There's one last swallow in his tea and he gulps it down before looking around the kitchen, there aren't that many doors.

[markedformore]

"Elegant?" Erik echoes, following Charles perhaps an inch (or three) too closely as he awaits his direction, craning his head to one side as he regards him. Idly, he reaches out and finds that he must button up that perilous part of his clothing that has been taunting him. "Can't have them thinking you've been debauched, now can we?"

[balancingminds]

When Erik buttons his shirt, Charles smiles though its not quite as certain as he likes it be.

Erik's hand doesn't touch skin but it almost does and he closes his eyes to find a moment of balance. Then he tries to focus on the doors as he wouldn't mind what anyone thought about him and Erik,

"Yes, um elegant. It looks like our options are the main door and the pantry."

[markedformore]

"If the others find us standing in the pantry expecting a bar," Erik points out dryly, "I will put all the blame on you," he forewarns, exhaustion taking most of the bite out of his words as he gestures, a given offer for Charles to lead the way.

[balancingminds]

"Fair enough. Our stable door was in the linen closet of our flat, a pantry makes just as much sense,"

He rests his hand on the knob thinking of Sallie and the feel of Bar, a comforting presence in his mind before it opens to the bustle of Milliways.

[markedformore]

At first, Erik is taken aback by the sudden noise and assault of bodies. He takes in deep breaths, but it threatens to undo him, yet. He shoots Charles a look (desperate, tired) that wants to ask why he thought this a good idea.

[balancingminds]

Charles turns to take Erik's hand, projecting his own calm for Erik to rely on,

"Meet me on the stairs. I'll get us a room key."

[markedformore]

Deeper and deeper into the mouth of the whale, Erik finds himself venturing. He regards the bar warily, but does precisely as Charles says, making his way to the stairs, whereupon he stands as straight and tall as possible and waits, realising that he does not have a change of clothing.

[balancingminds]

At the counter, Charles has a brief discussion with Bar before getting a room key.

He can feel Erik's tension and presses the key into his hand, using the touch for reassurance, "Erik, stay with me."