[ drift fleet ] overflow

[noprophecies]

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[exothermia]

Does it bother you?

[noprophecies]

[she considers his question for a moment, staring down at her glass]

Sometimes, if I consider it too long. Wanting to live in general is a . . . new feeling. So thinking about how long it will be is a bit frightening.

[exothermia]

[Tempest wasn't wrong when she said they agreed on many things. Erik may not be destined for a life as long as hers, but everything else... it resonates with him, some of it more strongly than the rest.]

It's best not to think about it.

[noprophecies]

[her lips twist a little, briefly glancing over at him before down to her drink]

I try not to. [if she does, and she spends too long dwelling, she second guesses her decision not to try. And she can't do that, not yet]

[exothermia]

Easier when someone doesn't ask, I would think.

[noprophecies]

[she shrugs a shoulder, lifting her glass to take a long drink]

I don't mind you asking. I don't really mind talking about it, either.

It simply is. I have to come to terms with it sooner or later.

[exothermia]

[Easier said than done. Erik has some of his own drink, quiet for the moment.]

[noprophecies]

[she goes quiet as well, slowly swirling the remaining liquor in her glass]

[exothermia]

How is your ship?

[noprophecies]

I like it there. [that's an easier topic to talk about] I have become - friends with one of my crewmates, and my captain is adorable. In general, though, it is rather quiet there. [with a bit of a wry smile] A big difference from the last ship I was on. [Tiamat]

What about yours?

[exothermia]

About the same, for the most part. [He takes a mouthful of his drink.] There's one man I want to throw out the airlock, but I think he avoids me now.

[noprophecies]

[she pauses as she reaches for the bottle to refill her glass]

Ohh? What has he done to earn your ire?

[exothermia]

Blew up an entire planet.

[noprophecies]

[she very calmly refills her glass and sets the bottle down]

I imagine he avoids you for good reason.

Shall I set him on fire for you?

[exothermia]

Yes, because I threatened to kill him if he didn't leave the ship.

[Or at least heavily implied it. He hadn't wanted to cause that kind of strife on board back then, and even less so now. He had thought Hux would be smart enough to get the message. Apparently not.

His reply is idle. Not a yes, not a no.]

His name is Hux. Reddish hair, straight-backed, unrepentant.

[noprophecies]

And he did not listen? Goodness.

[she tilts her head a bit when she isn't given a straight answer, and then the corner of her mouth quirks upwards. That sounds like a yes to her]

Ah, my favorite type. [she hums, finally lifting her glass to take a drink] Should we cross paths, I will make sure to introduce myself.

[exothermia]

[He knows what Tempest is likely to do. He's not of a mind to dissuade her, or give his blessing. Not saying no is the same as some kind of support, he knows, but it's Hux. He doesn't care.]

Yes, well. Other than that things are okay. The other nuisance disappeared not long after arriving, so there's little else to say. The captain is asleep, which is concerning.

[noprophecies]

[she's the type who needs very little encouragement. A description is enough, and she knows better to do anything that would cause trouble for Erik or his ship. She's good at biding her time]

I am glad you are rid of the other nuisance. [she frowns a little, though] That is a bit concerning. How long has he been asleep?

[exothermia]

A couple of weeks. It seems to happen in this place, for varying periods.

[noprophecies]

So I have heard . . . I hope he is not asleep for much longer.

[exothermia]

So do I. [He likes Winter, and he knows Charles does even more. It isn't something he needs to raise with the man; they're both aware of Winter's slumber. Erik swirls the liquid around in his glass, raising it to finish it off.]

[noprophecies]

Mmm. [she takes a sip of her drink, before resting her chin on her hand]

Our pilot is asleep, but it has not been for very long.

[exothermia]

It's different... from people just disappearing, the way they used to. [In Kyriakos.]

[noprophecies]

[she glances over and tilts her head before she frowns, dropping her eyes back to her glass]

Mm, I remember. My teammates disappeared often. I stopped caring after a while.

[exothermia]

It makes things easier. [He had never managed it, in either Kyriakos or the library. The library had been harder, with the constant turnover in Fawn. And even before those places Erik had mastered the art of cutting people from his life and moving on.

Only he hadn't, really. It still hurt. He just pushed through the pain until finally a day arrived when he realised he didn't want to do that anymore.]