(no subject)

[balancingminds]

Charles is tired and everyone at the Facility is feeling a bit too close. Cerebro is at the point where they can start finding and meeting other mutants which he should be celebrating but he's not ready yet.

Dealing with Javert in Milliways and wondering if everything will come together has left him tired of selling what he believes. He goes up to the roof to watch the sun go down, there's some space up here.

Comments

[markedformore]

"Only to the surface, Charles. You shouldn't take a mile when I've given you an inch," Erik chides with a cluck of his tongue, but he sits there poised and ready. His mind is guarded to the lower depths, but he's trying to offer Charles somewhat of an open vibe.

[balancingminds]

"I wouldn't do that,"

His mental touch is incredibly light as he doesn't want to startle Erik as he looks in. He's turned to rest his hand on his face as he looks at Erik.

[markedformore]

He still feels it, akin to a light tickling of the nape of his neck. It's disturbing and comforting at once to know how aware he is of Charles when he does that. "Well?" he prompts. "What do you sense?"

[balancingminds]

"Your impatience at this entire situation but at the moment, me, how strange it is to you to feel me in your mind,"

Since the light is fading, his small smile isn't fully visible but Erik will be able to feel some of his joy that Erik allows him in even this far.

[markedformore]

"It is a strange thing. I've spent my whole life trying to keep people out and even when you aren't traipsing inside my thoughts with your reach, you're there," Erik accuses, in a way that doesn't speak highly of his thoughts, which directly contradicts how comfortable he actually finds it. "You're happy," he says, taking a measure of it in mind.

[balancingminds]

"Pleased, yes, I'm always happier when you let me in a little farther. You've done the same to me, I find myself constantly comparing others to you, few of them quite match you,"

He nods at that acknowledgement that he's found a way inside Erik's mind and life and does his best to temper how much of that warmth and want that goes through the mental connection.

[markedformore]

"There are none like me," Erik says, firm in that belief. If not for his human characteristics, his mutant ones make it a sure bet that there will never be another Erik Lehnsherr, not in name or in body. "Well? Have I woken you up or put you further to sleep?"

[balancingminds]

"No, there aren't and you've woken me up. I will leave the roof, come join me for a drink."

[markedformore]

"A drink, now?" he muses to himself, but it's merely teasing. Honestly, for all that Erik holds impatience for a great number of people, it never extends to Charles. He truly always enjoys the time they spend together. "What sort? And where?"

[balancingminds]

"I've got a bottle of scotch in my room since I'd rather not have it out where anyone can get it,"

Erik though is Erik and so Charles will always choose to share with him.

[markedformore]

Erik isn't sure what to think about drinking privately in Charles' room, but it does afford them the privacy that he does so enjoy. He inclines his head with a brief nod. "Sounds amenable to me," he allows. "Tell me, was the bottle for a special occasion of sorts?"

[balancingminds]

"Of sorts is the right way to put it. I bought it after a horrible month in Milliways, October when a god thought I was rather tasty,"

He stands with a smile that twists, Slenderman brought him down low in a way he hated.

[markedformore]

Erik's expression goes icy cold at the news. He knows that Charles has come into contact with less-than-savoury characters before, but he never likes to hear about it. "You do know that telling me this is a prelude to me finding this god," he says, spitefully, "and doing something about it?"

[balancingminds]

"He's defeated and gone from Milliways by others and not worth your anger. His skill was to find weakness and probe within it through fears and almost haunts. He took my shields apart with great skill and I have rebuilt them. Now drink, I'm grateful that you would fight for me but in this there's no need. I just thought you should know of it because even my shields are imperfect,"

As they talked, they've reached his room and Charles has pulled out two glasses from his bedside and poured the scotch.

[markedformore]

"If you thought you were ever at all perfect, then you were deceiving yourself," Erik warns, taking a seat in the room and gratefully accepting the drink when poured. "Not flawed, but never perfect. There is always something we can improve upon, within ourselves. Especially when it comes to our powers. I believe it's you who's been teaching me that thought."

[balancingminds]

Charles nods as he raises his glass,

"Conceded and I'm constantly improving my shields, Slenderman simply gave me a shock."

[markedformore]

"One you're recovering from," Erik says, echoing Charles' own words. "Well, then, if that's the case, then will you be ready to continue our work at a near point in the future?"

[balancingminds]

"Mainly recovered from and I am always ready to continue our work."

[markedformore]

"Perhaps not immediately after tonight," Erik concedes, glancing at the bottle and how full it was. "Perhaps the morning off? Or better yet, a filling breakfast?"

[balancingminds]

He laughs and gets comfortable in his seat, "I think both would be ideal."

[markedformore]

In thanks for that compromise, Erik lifts his glass in salute, affording a smile to Charles that's as pleased as it is relaxed. "So, something terrible gave Charles a fright. I'm afraid that's only confirming my reticence in keeping away, you know."

[balancingminds]

"Yes, but you're not terrible, Erik. Powerful, dangerous, arrogant and fascinating but not terrible,"

He smirks and leans forward to clink Erik's glass.

[markedformore]

"All those words save arrogant aren't exactly insults, Charles," Erik mildly remarks, arching his brow as he takes a sip of his alcohol now that it's been baptized, so to speak. "And even arrogance has its uses. I'm glad to hear you find me fascinating, however," he muses.

[balancingminds]

"It does, yes, people don't question you when you know even when you perhaps shouldn't know. Oh I do, I'd also add intriguing, because I've seen parts of your mind but you are unlike anyone I've ever met,"

Erik has a way of making some of his words feel rather small and he's good with words.

[markedformore]

Erik raises a brow at the compliment, finding it pleasing without being insulting given that some compliments that he was inclined to receive were over things he would rather not be discussed, fully. "Well, then, if you're only going to say pleasant things about my mind, please continue."