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[markedformore]

After the assault at the party -- deserved, needed, desperate -- Erik had shrugged off any help before making his way through the cold and dark streets. His lip bleeds sluggishly with no need for attention and the bruises on his face will fade. If anything, the cold weather is a balm to the pain and so he takes his time

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[madeuptoerase]

Walking home was a bad idea. Carla Jean recognizes that now, with the sun gone down and the streets mostly quiet, and while it's always true that hindsight is twenty-twenty, in the moment, she hates herself a little for it. She's usually more careful than this, especially since she found out about what happened when her husband was here, knowing full well that she's possibly less safe on the island or in London or whatever this is than she was back home, and she wound up dead there. To be out here alone now, it's just an invitation for trouble, and she should know better when this is the last chance she's got

[markedformore]

Erik tries to keep walking, but soon realizes that the comment is meant for him. It seems odd, really, for someone beyond Charles or Nina to even care that he's fine. He knows that there are others here who care about him, but he worries that his future is bound to cause a severe prejudice, no matter what he does. "I was in a fight." Which is a kind way to say that he allowed himself to be the victim. "I can easily say it was the worst holiday party I've been to." Especially given that he only went to keep an eye on Charles.

"What are you doing out here?" he asks critically. "It's cold, you'll catch flu."

[madeuptoerase]

"There're worse things," Carla Jean says pointedly, shoulders lifting in a shrug. Coming down sick would be unpleasant, but she could deal with it; she's more concerned about who else might be wandering these streets. "Besides, I could say the same to you," she adds, though she relents after just a moment, teeth pressing to her lip before she answers. It's not like she has a reason not to tell him, even if she's mostly distracted now by the idea of this fight he was apparently in. If it was at a party, it's probably not anything for anyone else to be worried about, but it still happened and he's still hurt. When he was there for her before, she might as well return the favor now. "I was headin' back to my own place, but I'm in no hurry to get there. Why don't you let me go with you?"

[markedformore]

"I'm not sure we'll ever make it," he admits, a pained look of frustration coming over wounded features. "I've lost my way," he gets out, wishing more than anything that he had a source upon which to take out his anger, but the only people who deserve it are all still at that accursed party and Erik refuses to give in and play on their level. "Do you know where the boarding house has got to?"