[ drift fleet ] overflow

[noprophecies]

Comments

[exothermia]

I think so. [He hadn't discussed that much with Adelina.] And you're right that it's for the best, for her.

[noprophecies]

Mmm. So I cannot be too upset.

[she says, and finishes off her drink in one go. She's not upset at all, no really]

[exothermia]

[He raises his eyebrows. He knows Tempest likes to drink, and he hasn't bothered to refill after his second glass. So her streaking ahead isn't that unusual.... except for their topic of discussion.]

I think you mean you think you shouldn't be too upset.

[noprophecies]

Same difference, yes?

[her streaking ahead is completely normal, regardless of topic. She isn't really intending to get drunk, at least. Not completely drunk, anyway]

[exothermia]

[Erik's own tolerance has dropped over the years, after he stopped drinking quite so often or so much. He already feels tipsy, and he won't go further.]

You know it isn't.

[noprophecies]

[she just shrugs, and reaches for the bottle to once again refill her glass]

[exothermia]

[He watches without comment.]

I only spoke to her one time after I came back. I didn't even see her in person. [When Tempest sets the bottle back down, he reaches over and takes it himself. He keeps talking as he drains the rest of the bottle into his own glass. It's more to keep her paced than any serious need to drink it himself.] I thought that was for the best, really.

[noprophecies]

[she watches him refill his glass, but the comment has her lifting her head to look at him instead. She frowns, sitting up a bit in her seat]

Why would that be for the best?

[exothermia]

Because. If she had seen me, I would have had to explain what had happened.

[noprophecies]

[ah. Understanding crosses her features and she glances down, at her glass. She doesn't drink]

Perhaps. She would have worried for you.

[exothermia]

Yes. She would have. [And that thought alone would have rendered him silent. She was too young for him to burden her with his experiences. Ten years ago, it hadn't been so stark. But now... he had told some of it to Hermione, even though she was only a few years older. Even so, the difference remained.]

[noprophecies]

Would you have tried to frighten her away?

[it's a lighter tone, but it's frank. And the only reason it is is because she knows she can be that way with Erik]

[exothermia]

[He can't help but feel irritated. He had done that with others; an element of it snuck into his showdown with Kitty and Kurt. Erik's not sure what he would have done with Adelina had she asked, but it's a moot point now. It lends some backbone to his argument.]

No, I would have just refused to tell her. [Not much of an ask, considering how hard it is to talk about it at all.]

[noprophecies]

[she purses her lips a bit, but nods, accepting it. Erik was not forthcoming in general, not before, and less so now. She can't say she's surprised]

I was just curious. [she reaches across to pat his hand, apologetic in action and tone]

[exothermia]

[He grimaces, though less at Tempest than himself. Adelina was still someone he cared for, though in a more distant way than he had before coming back. For that reason, he had resolved not to say anything too dire to her. Some people were inextricably bound up in his disaster of a life. Adelina hadn't needed to be one of them.]

[noprophecies]

[she can't help but look a bit guilty at his expression]

You do know that if I ever ask something you do not want to answer, you can tell me to shut my mouth, yes?

[exothermia]

I do know that. It's fine. [He's a bit gruff, but he means it. It's rare that he's challenged on the way he handles his friends.]

[noprophecies]

All right.

[maybe she should elaborate. Explain why she brought it up. But that means admitting to things she hates to admit to] . . . it was not meant to be a judgement, you know. Regardless of how you answered.

[exothermia]

[He picks up his glass and sips at it, for something to do. The question itself was loaded in that direction, he thinks. Or it would be from most people.

"No. You're not going to horrify me, it's not going to make me budge." Charles had said once, and the thought twists his lips a bit.]

I doubt it would have come to that, with her.

[noprophecies]

Mmm. You are rather quiet these days.

[again, it isn't said unkindly, simply a statement of fact. She finally picks up her glass, but still she doesn't drink. She watches it instead of him quiet almost to the point where she might not even continue.

Finally, she takes a breath, and just says it]

I tried to do that with her, once or twice.

That is why I asked.

[exothermia]

[...he shakes his head finally.]

I never did with her. She ended up seeing some memories at one point, and there was little I could do about it.

[noprophecies]

Mmm. She's seen some of mine as well.

[her lips quirk, wry] I still tried.

[exothermia]

[Adelina had had a calming effect on him, she always had. He had tried to terrify others away - Maya, Schooler, Wrath - but never with her. Somehow, he'd known it would be pointless.]

The ones closest to us never do know when to stay away.

[noprophecies]

[she had tried with her team, and at one point, even tried with Ampere. Lace had been one of her first attempts, and not even literally killing the girl had changed anything]

No, they don't.

[exothermia]

[He had tried it with Charles, with Magda. Just about the only person he knew he'd never attempt it with was his own daughter. She hadn't lived to see how terrifying he could be. He sips at his drink again.]