[ The CIA can get quite demanding with what they ask of Charles, and for the first time since he played hardball with them over collecting the young mutants, he finds himself making demands in return on behalf of his wards, ink smudging his cramped hand as he unintentionally drags it over the letter - rather, recommendation - addressed to the government for them, law books and discarded drafts of the letter fanned around him, spilled across the great oak table in the cool of the library.
And at the call, the hair on the back of his neck prickles, Erik's voice tinged with electricity the way it always compliments the smooth metallic sheen of his thoughts. Keeping the stress out of his voice in favor of the relief of hearing from the one person whose quiet company he could stand just now. ] In the library, Erik.
[ It's easy enough to pick his way through the house now, tread light and sure of himself. He's not actually certain when he stopped following the pipes in the floor and just knew instinctually what route to take, but it's happened. On the way, he passes Raven and Alex in the hall, blinks at the smiles directed his way, nods in return simply because he knows less about being friendly to them then he does to anyone.
Pushing the door of the library open with the flat of his hand, stepping neatly inside to locate Charles, Erik's better able to pick out his belt-buckle this close, his watch too, the staples in the paper scattered around him. Shutting out the rest of the house, Erik finds the table easy enough, hand curling around oak. ] Are you drowning in there?
[ There might be a wisp of blue ink on his cheek but it doesn't mean he needs rescuing. Possibly. ] In a manner of speaking. [ It's tired, the kind reminiscent, but not exactly resembling the norm when he and countless other students were studying for insane finals, when they weren't spending hours in the great halls of education writing thesis papers, and there was little time for socializing and even less for sleeping in between the two. Charles is returning to a well-worn groove of making his case to a faceless panel of men not inclined to give him what he wants, and using his considerable skill at persuasion to do it.
Turning to him after taking a lengthy moment to finish a sentence, then frown stubbornly at it, he visibly perks up to find Erik nearby. ] But I'm very pleased to see you all the same.
[ Erik's eyes fall on the smudge of colour before taking in the whole of Charles' tired expression. It ticks over his face for a long moment, before he leans in, runs his thumb over the ink. It's surprisingly gentle, but the sun has made him loose and warm, blood a slow push through his veins. ] I'm not sure if I should leave you to it, or save you from the breeding pages.
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And at the call, the hair on the back of his neck prickles, Erik's voice tinged with electricity the way it always compliments the smooth metallic sheen of his thoughts. Keeping the stress out of his voice in favor of the relief of hearing from the one person whose quiet company he could stand just now. ] In the library, Erik.
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Pushing the door of the library open with the flat of his hand, stepping neatly inside to locate Charles, Erik's better able to pick out his belt-buckle this close, his watch too, the staples in the paper scattered around him. Shutting out the rest of the house, Erik finds the table easy enough, hand curling around oak. ] Are you drowning in there?
Reply
Turning to him after taking a lengthy moment to finish a sentence, then frown stubbornly at it, he visibly perks up to find Erik nearby. ] But I'm very pleased to see you all the same.
Reply
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