l'art pour l'art [open]

[magnetiferous]

Who: magnetiferous and YOU!
What: Erik is dabbling in the art of hedge trimming this month. COME BOTHER HIM!
When: Nnnnnow.
Where: In a garden-like area on the ship.
Warnings: None.

Comments

[stimuli]

[the park's been privy to Charles's sporadic visitations since he walked the same paths with a young Katherine Pierce ( -- a nagging feeling there; dark, dark red behind sheets of not-quite-clear, letters and numbers he can't arrange knotted next to tubes), particularly when he needs a little freshly cultivated air from his stays in the library]

[it's Uni all over again, even if the stakes are higher]

[and the same way he uses air, he uses mental waves -- when the air is stale, one can taste it; when rain is coming, one can smell it. so too can he sense Erik's presence in the vicinity, his unique arrhythmia of thoughts]

[ -- well. he hadn't contacted him on the Guides to arrange a proper meet, but perhaps a coincidental meeting said more than an arranged one. that was how it happened the first time.]

Baraqué.

[when Erik turns, he will be smiling with his hands laced around his chosen book, feet spread apart]

A new hobby, old chap?

[magnetiferous]

[Erik immediately turns his head when he hears the all-too-familiar voice echoing from behind him. He raises his brow in mild surprise, as he wasn't quite expecting to see Charles' face until they had actually taken the time to plan a meeting.

But the look is soon swept away, as he realizes that it does not really matter. A face-to-face meeting, in the calm and quiet atmosphere of the park - anything prearranged could not be more convenient than what was already presented to him now.]

Charles. [And so he merely waves his friend over, to come forward and sit with him.]

A new hobby, at least until the end of the month arrives. A little mundane for my tastes, but it affords enough time in solitude.

[stimuli]

[a grin and he's there, spreading arms over the back of the bench and relaxing down into the foreign smell of earth. as always, he respectfully avoids skimming the foam from the top of Erik's thoughts, putting faith in the words that have never failed him before.]

A pity I did not find you during its creation, then. Surely I could irritate you into the snipping of an appendage, yes?

[solitude is never something he wished Erik to be comfortable with -- though that is a futile wish, and he knows it]

[magnetiferous]

[He chuckles a bit as Charles settles next to him.]

I have complete faith that you can. Though I think I could manage it myself well enough, with enough time.

[solitude is a long-time friend, Charles. Not something he so easily dismisses.]

How have you been?

[stimuli]

[alas, it's probably one of two things Charles suspects is closer to Erik's heart than he himself -- the other, he doesn't even like to acknowledge]

Well, all things considered. It is... a lot to take in.

[distantly, he wonders how Erik took it in, how it was suddenly being without any sense of recognition, and he realizes suddenly the gratitude he has for Erik's presence]

[still, words and theories nag at him from the back of his mind, as much as he tries to ignore them. for now, he won't address it.]

I miss Raven terribly, as I'm sure you suspect.

[magnetiferous]

[Erik took it in the best he could, given the circumstances; he's often prone to adapting to terrible situations, or simply surviving them, thus it was not nearly as difficult as one might think.

Barring the confusion, exasperation, and general sense of helplessness, of course.

It's better, knowing there's something of a familiar face to share his misery - a selfish thing to think, undoubtedly, but if you asked him he would not deny it.

There are other things that nag at Erik now, perhaps along similar to the ideas that Charles tries not to entertain. He merely latches onto Charles' spoken statement for now:]

...Yes. I would be surprised if you didn't.

[He crosses his arms and leans back, taking in the view of the gardens a little more before responding.]

I imagine there are a lot of things we will come to miss, soon enough.

[stimuli]

Mm.

[quietness and solitude without text are far more welcomed while in Erik's presence, and the man reaches out with one hand to make a grand motion across the scenery]

[fingers on his temple, the surroundings blossom to life in both of their minds. flowers grow bigger and brighter, the air smells and tastes fresher and more natural in a way Thor's generators cannot conceive, wildlife blossoms around them, and the animal Erik has carved out of flora rears its head with a chilling realism, inspecting the two men curiously as it stamps its feet softly and twitches its tail]

[it is only illusion, of course, but the imagination is a fun thing to entertain]

There are always memories to be conjured.

[magnetiferous]

[Erik blinks a little as the illusion sets in. It is always difficult to discern the exact moment that Charles initiates such imagery - it all flows rather well into reality, weaving itself in with its subtleties.

Until Erik's hedge art begins moving on its own, of course, moving about much like a real animal would.

He merely shakes his head after a moment, though he can't seem to pull his gaze away from everything before him.]

Illusions are not the same as memories, though perhaps a bit more welcome in this case.