action; 01

[atthemercyof]

[ He’s slumped over on a bench, his shoulders hunched in against the chill, mind frantically trying to piece together something half forgotten as he wakes. Erik opens his eyes, grey meeting a strange land for the first time. He doesn’t even remember falling asleep, and that should worry him, but it’s nothing compared to what he sees. The fog is

Comments

[psychic_labrat]

*The breeze is what stirred him, the brain melting presence around him is what jolted him awake with a sharp cry and nearly sent him tipping towards the ground. He clutched at his head until he could breathe, pulling his power in as close as he could until his mind was merely throbbing.

Once he thought he could handle it, he opened his eyes to get his bearings. The first thing he noticed was the fog around him to all side, and then that there was no floor. He was sitting in a car of some kind, not buckled in, and after a moment of peering below him he could only conclude that he was on a ferris wheel.

Now, he wasn't afraid of heights, but when he couldn't see the ground, and there was no clear way to get there other than falling who knew how far, he could admit to a sense of unease that settled at the back of his neck.

His ears then picked up a sound from below, and he chanced calling out*

Hello? Is anyone there?

*the sound stopped, then resumed, a little louder. A sure, heavy footfall that sounded awfully familiar, something he hadn't heard in years.

Without realizing he was doing it, Charles fell quiet, and nearly prayed that he wasn't noticed.*

[atthemercyof]

[ There's something eerie about it. Erik had wanted this to be a dream, waking up in that old house, he'd desperately hoped for it all to be so, but this feels too real even in it's unnatural horror. (Erik has known a lot of unnatural horror.)

Shifting his power from each rung of the railing to keep himself focused, like a child skipping stones, he moves further into the fairground, trying very hard to keep his head.

He hears something though, shifts to the right and keeps moving, listening out. ]

[psychic_labrat]

*the heavy steps move away and he breathes a sigh of relief before scolding himself*

You're being ridiculous, Charles, that could have been help.

*he shifts to try and see over the side, and the car creaks as it tilts with his weight. He tries to adjust for the difference and clutches the safety bar as the balance evens out. Right, getting down was definitely near impossible. From the angle of the bars, he was near the top of the ride*

[atthemercyof]

[ He's passing the low edges of the rides, cutting his glance to the rust and decay around him. He hears something creak, tilts his head to look up, curls his power around the ride without thinking about it.

There's no reason he should think anyone else is here. ]

Yeah, Charles, what was that about recklessness?

[psychic_labrat]

*impossible or not, he wasn't getting down by just sitting here. He carefully leaned forward again, using his weight to tilt the chair just enough so he could see down into the fog.

Yeah, definitely near the top. He could probably slide down if he were lucky, but if the bars were damp the chances of him being able to hold on significantly dropped.

First thing's first. Removing the safety bar. He was definitely NOT going to try climbing over it. He preferred to have full control of the car's balance*

JEEZ CHARLES, LET ERIK KNOW YOU'RE THERE, if you kill yourself

[atthemercyof]

[ He can hear it again, the scrape of metal above him. He's not scared of the sound, because whatever it is, he has the advantage here. He could easily trap something.

How quick his mind turns to that.

Still, Erik's not melodramatic. He clears his throat, ignoring the chill in his lungs. Calling out. ] Who's there?

HOW WAS HE SUPPOSED TO KNOW YOU'D CONVENIENTLY SHOW UP?

[psychic_labrat]

*Would it be too soon to feel like a very lucky man right about now?*

Erik? I don't think I've ever been happier to hear you, my friend.

BECAUSE YOU CAN'T BE THE ONLY ONE WHO SAVES THE OTHER FROM CERTAIN DOOM, OKAY?

[atthemercyof]

Charles? [ He sounds incredulous for a moment, then worried. He still can't see him up there, squinting through the gloom. ] What are you doing up there?

FAIR ENOUGH. I WILL AFFORD YOU THAT POINT.

[psychic_labrat]

I couldn't tell you. I just woke up here. Do you have any idea where we are?

*the car creaks again as he moves, struggling to see Erik. It was an odd way of locating someone, for him, but he had a feeling he'd have to get used to it. His power was next to useless right now*

GOOD. IT'S LIKE A JOINT VENTURE OF SAVING

[atthemercyof]

I don't no, it doesn't look before, it's unnerving. [ Tersely. ] Stop moving, I can feel the cart swaying and if you fall and break your neck, I'll - [ Well. He's not sure what he'll do. ] Can you see? This damn fog is horrid.

THEY CAN GET A TIMESHARE.

[psychic_labrat]

This isn't the manor, that's for sure. *choosing not to answer the second bit. He has every faith in your abilities, but he does stop moving.*

I can't see anything. It almost feels like I'm floating in nothingness. *his tone was a little ironic, trying to find some humor in this situation*

YES. GOOD PLAN. CHARLES, YOU'RE A GENIUS.

[atthemercyof]

Do you want me to bring the cart down?

[ He could, it's possible, he could turn the Ferris Wheel if he had to. Or de-attach the cart. But he'd rather not do that. ] I've never seen anything like this. I'd rather you were down here where I can actually see you.

BUT OF COURSE. I HAVE THE DOCTORATE AND EVERYTHING.

[psychic_labrat]

Yes, that would be ideal, if you would.

*Charles doesn't particularly care how he gets down, so long as he has solid ground beneath him soon*

/SWOOOOOOOOOONS

[atthemercyof]

[ He has to concentrate with the creeping despair running up his spine. His fingers flex slightly at his side and the whole thing lurches a little, Erik's teeth gritted when he starts to turn the wheel. It's a slow, silent process, but anything to break through the fog. ]

/pets

[psychic_labrat]

*Charles waits patiently, impressed as the wheel moves. He'd honestly just thought Erik would bring down the car, but this...this was progress he hadn't expected to see.

Just how far into his future was he? Part of him desperately wanted to know, while the other part didn't for the same reason he tried not to ask Emma anything about his life*

/puuuuuuuurrs

[atthemercyof]

[ It takes a long moment, but eventually it breaks through the fog, and Erik can see him again. He ignores the dart of relief in his chest, pulls the wheel around further so that Charles is closer to the ground. ]