wecanavenge: (you can't take that from me)
Erik Lensherr | ( Magneto ) ([personal profile] wecanavenge) wrote2012-11-19 03:58 pm

✘ | 015 | VIDEO

[When the camera clicks on, there's just the Cloverfield/Blair Witch Project effect: everything is shaky and slow to focus. The feed shows one of the suites, and the movement blurs things over - is that confetti on the floor, or just dust? Is the drapery meant to be that red, or was something splattered there? But there isn't long to dwell on those mysteries, because the camera finally focuses on Erik. His eyes are wide, and a little wild; at first the camera is too close as he shifts his grip on the device, and that's all there is to see: very wide, very angry eyes.]

Shh, [he says sharply, pulling the communicator back again. The door into the hall is behind him, and wide open.] Can you hear it?

[Maybe you'll hear nothing. It's faint, certainly, and Erik scowls, glancing around.] Shh, shh!

[And then, just maybe, you'll hear a song drifting up. It's old, decades old, but he recognizes it. His eyes leave the device, and he stares at something off screen for a moment. Then he lets go of the communicator, and for a moment, the camera is in free fall - but it lifts again, steadier this time, without Erik's hand holding it. It hovers in front of him again. Behind him, the door is closed.

Some of the anger clears from his face, and as the song gets louder - for him, at least, he joins in the verse.]


Il me dit des mots d’amour
Des mots de tous les jours
Et ça me fait quelque chose

Il est entré dans mon coeur
Une part de bonheur
Dont je connais la cause.


[For a moment, everything is still and (mostly) quiet. Then the anger floods back, and Erik waves his hand; the communicator is thrown across the room, where it falls, propped up against the wall. It has a good view of the suite, and of the damage Erik is doing to it. Mirrors shatter as their metal frames twist in on themselves, drawers with metal runners launch themselves out of dressers and desks, the room seems to destroy itself. And Erik steps into the frame amid the wreckage, pointing at - well. At what might be nothing, or what might be a man in a silver helmet.]

You son of a bitch! You son of a bitch, you turn it off!

[He sweeps his arms wildly, and cracks appear along the ceiling; dust filters down on the communicator, and then there is nothing as beams fall on it.]

[Spam for Charles]

[He has to get out of here. Charles was right, he was so right, everything is wrong here. Because Shaw is here. Schmidt. Erik has seen him - how many times, now? Once in the helmet, twice in the glasses and suit he was so fond of in Germany. He left his communicator in the suite when he barreled out of there, abandoning everything. He doesn't even stop to find a jacket, or gloves - glad only in his turtleneck, Erik rushes down the main stairs, swings his arm to throw the front door open ahead of him, and rushes out into the snow. He's soaked halfway up his calves in seconds, and it's frigid, but he doesn't stop.

Du und ich werden viel Spaß zusammen haben. He spins to the side, but can't see Schmidt, can't even hear him anymore. Over his harsh breathing, and the shivering in his limbs, there is only the quiet of snow falling.]


[Spam for Tosh]

[He was still shivering, even after sitting in front of the fire in the lobby for a long few minutes. His clothes were still damp, and so was the blanket he'd found laying about and wrapped around his shoulders, but it didn't matter. He was already warmer, and he didn't much feel like venturing back up toward the rooms to find dry clothes. He didn't feel like venturing back there at all, certainly not to retrieve his communicator.

Charles had left him to warm up, though not to be alone with his thoughts; Erik knew that Charles was handling this place poorly, that it was wreaking havoc on his mind, but - and he couldn't help the sardonic little smile - he wasn't alone in that. Charles had gone off to actually eat or sleep, two things he hadn't done much of since getting here, and that was fine with Erik.

Being alone was nothing new for him.

And so far, everything had been normal. Schmidt wasn't whispering in his ear anymore, wasn't telling him that the pain would stop once he learned to control his gift. But that had been a lit, because the pain had never stopped. Erik shook his head to clear his thoughts, and stood, grabbing for the poker to stoke the fire higher.]


(OOC: Lyrics translation: 'He speaks to me words of love/Words of every day/And it makes me something/He has entered my heart/A place of happiness/Of which I understand the reason.' For maximum dear God why-ness. The German is 'You and I are going to have a lot of fun together.')
wedonot: (Well this can't possibly end well.)

[Spam]

[personal profile] wedonot 2012-11-19 10:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[Charles hadn't needed his communicator to see what was going on. He'd been keeping a telepathic ear out for his friend - and for most of the people he cared about - the entire time they had been here, and Erik's distress was as obvious to him as it had been on the night he'd almost drowned himself trying to lift a submarine out of the ocean.

So he tore down the hall, down the stairs, distantly almost impressed that he hadn't tripped over his own feet and ran out the door after his friend.]


Erik, stop! [He almost hesitates by the door, just like he'd done at the CIA facility when Erik had almost left, but this is more desperate, because the idiot wasn't wearing a jacket and there's no where to run to, he knew, he'd been outside before the snow had started falling even harder, and he was already shivering as he waded through the snow after Erik, despite the fact that he was wearing a sweater and shirt under his jacket.]

Where are you going?
wedonot: (I'm the good parent.)

[Spam]

[personal profile] wedonot 2012-11-19 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[It's easier out in the snow. Things are quieter, and he feels like his mind is better focused, he can concentrate, and the cold makes him feel more awake and alert. He chases after Erik - and God, it had been a long time since he'd had to race after Erik and stop him from doing something incredibly stupid - feeling the angry panic as if it was his own and bit back a sob.

He crouches next to him in the snow, carefully putting a hand on his back, not bothering to filter out the desperation and concern in his voice.]


Erik, please come back inside. You'll freeze out here.
wedonot: (This is the opposite of what I wanted.)

[Spam]

[personal profile] wedonot 2012-11-20 04:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[Charles isn't exactly bothering to erect much of a barrier between their minds right now, and the thought makes him want to be sick, because as much as they don't agree, even though everything he seems to hear about their future has the two of them as enemies rather than friends, he really doesn't want to live in a world without his friend, and he's not going to let him freeze to death out here in the snow.]

He's gone, Erik, Shaw's not here. He's dead. It's over. [We killed him was the desperate, painful thought, because Charles was just as accountable, wasn't he? He was a murderer, too.

His hands were cold. He hadn't had time to grab gloves before following Erik out here, and he swallowed thickly, trying to fight past the tightness in his throat.]


I don't know what's happening, but please come back inside.
wedonot: (Why you no listen.)

[Spam]

[personal profile] wedonot 2012-11-20 06:48 pm (UTC)(link)
[Charles didn't say anything, physically biting his lip in an attempt to not let his own thoughts on the subject bleed over, because he'd felt every second of it, too, but he couldn't let him know that, not now. He just watches him, shivering, feeling his face go numb and shakes his head slowly.]

No. I think- [But he didn't think, he knew, didn't he?] Something very bad happened here, Erik, and whatever it was hasn't really left. It's making us see things that we're [He almost chokes on the word, because really, this was something he was afraid of, and he carefully puts a hand on his friend's shoulder again to make sure he's really there.] frightened of. They're not really there.

[He hesitates for a moment before moving to unzip his jacket, pulling it off with numb fingers and throwing it over Erik's shoulders.] Come on, I'm afraid, too. But we're going to get through this, and that can't happen if you freeze to death out here first. [It's somewhere between insistent and pleading, and the snow's already starting to cling to his navy sweater, half melted in his hair.]
wedonot: (I hope I remembered sunscreen.)

[Spam]

[personal profile] wedonot 2012-11-20 08:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[Charles just stubbornly pulls the jacket back around Erik, frowning at him even as his teeth chatter uncontrollably. If Erik isn't going to bother looking out for his physical well being, someone else has to, and it was a task he was happy to fulfill.

And that's a good idea, really, because they'll be marginally safer there, but there's one problem.]


You can't feel it at all?
wedonot: (Everything's going to be fine.)

[Spam]

[personal profile] wedonot 2012-11-21 03:28 am (UTC)(link)
[Charles doesn't bother trying to contact them. He'd already done it, and couldn't feel anyone they'd left behind. Tony might as well have never existed.]

I can't feel them either. [But they didn't leave them here. They'd come back, this would only carry on for a few more days. They'd been rescued when they'd been trapped with the Vanquish. They'd find a way out of this, too. He projected that thought at Erik, and kept the idea maybe we're still on the Barge to himself.

He shifted closer as the wind picked up, shivering, tugging the jacket tighter around his friend's shoulders before wrapping his arms around himself.]
I'm frightened, too, but we'll get through this, Erik. Please don't do this. [He might be agreeing to come back inside for now because Charles was cold, but Charles didn't want him trying some other suicidal stunt later on, either. He was afraid of the hotel, but he was more afraid of Erik's suicidal streak making a sudden return, and some of that fear bled over, not entirely intentionally.] Can you stand?
wedonot: (Don't be stupid.)

[Spam]

[personal profile] wedonot 2012-11-21 07:18 am (UTC)(link)
[Charles put an arm around Erik and slowly moved to help him up to his feet, sticking close for warmth and support and reassurance that this was real and actually happening. He glanced up when he spoke, and quickly looked down again when he spoke.]

I know. [There's a part of him that feels like he should say more than that, because while he can't blame him for wanting revenge, or for killing someone who'd wanted to commit genocide, he can't really fully condone it, either. And again, there was the horrible, nagging memory of what it had felt like to have a coin shoved through your forehead, so he kept his mouth shut.

It was easier to just tighten his arm around his friend and focus on starting to wade back towards the hotel, even though he was still afraid. He'd still rather take his chances of getting out of this alive than freezing to death out in the snow.]
wedonot: (I could really use a wish right now.)

[Spam]

[personal profile] wedonot 2012-11-25 12:44 am (UTC)(link)
[Charles was silent apart from his chattering teeth, clinging to Erik and focusing on just putting one foot in front of the other. He was freezing, and he could feel his control starting to slip, picking up on some of what Erik was thinking and probably projecting some of his own thoughts by accident, even if they weren't particularly interesting beyond I'm cold and the hotel seemed farther away than it had been when they'd first run out here.

Still, he almost wanted to change his mind when they actually stood in front of the building. He was freezing, and he knew they wouldn't survive out here, but he really didn't want to go back inside.

He tried to grit his teeth and keep walking. At least it would be warm in there.]
wedonot: (We'll get it right sometime Alex.)

[Spam]

[personal profile] wedonot 2012-11-25 01:55 am (UTC)(link)
[He didn't let go of Erik until they were both standing in front of the fire in the lobby, and it still took Charles a long moment to unlatch himself from his friend. His hands were numb, and felt bleary and confused with cold, but he finally managed to let go of him and clumsily tried to brush melting snow out of his hair and off his face.]

You need a blanket, [He stuttered through chattering teeth, and looked around for one, wrapping his arms around himself in an attempt to conserve heat.] I'll be right back.
wedonot: (Fuck Russia.)

[Spam]

[personal profile] wedonot 2012-11-25 02:54 am (UTC)(link)
[Charles frowned but didn't shrug the coat off, just focusing on finding a blanket or two or seven, especially after he'd picked up on that stray thought. He couldn't handle the idea of Erik freezing to death. He couldn't.

He came back quickly with a blanket, and wrapped it around Erik before nudging him over towards one of the couches.]


Here. Sit down, you need to get warm.
wedonot: (I hope I remembered sunscreen.)

[Spam]

[personal profile] wedonot 2012-11-29 08:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[Charles mostly felt confused, like there was something he'd meant to do but forgotten everything but the need to do something. The fire didn't seem to be doing much good, even with the jacket, and he was cold and wet and confused.

He wanted to sit next to Erik and huddle together until whatever this was passed and they warmed up, but that was it, wasn't it? They needed dry clothes or more blankets or food or sleep, God, when was the last time he'd slept? He looked dazed, eyes glassy and face pale, his thoughts fuzzy and disconnected.]


We n-need- [He blinked, shivering violently and forcing himself to focus.] Dry clothes. I'll go get some.
wedonot: (Hey listen up bro.)

[Spam]

[personal profile] wedonot 2012-11-29 10:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Erik- [That at least cut through the muddled feeling, and he put a hand on his friend's shoulder, moving in front of him so he could look him right in the eye.]

If you need me, call. I'll be right back.
wedonot: (I could really use a wish right now.)

[Spam]

[personal profile] wedonot 2012-12-04 05:24 am (UTC)(link)
[He doesn't. The idea of Shaw being here at all, let alone following Erik around makes him want to be physically ill, because that's one demon he really doesn't want to face, or to watch his friend go up against again. Shaw was dead. It was over. That should have been the end of it.

He squeezes Erik's shoulder one more time and heads for the stairs. He'll be right back. There's nothing to worry about.]
breakingmyheart: (sadness | washed out)

[Spam]

[personal profile] breakingmyheart 2012-11-19 11:28 pm (UTC)(link)
[Possibly for the first time, Tosh has been....relieved, that Erik barely seems to know she exists.

It's given her a lot of time to get reacquainted with old friends.

She's never shrugged off her guilt. The lives lost because of her - she carries them around with her, dull scars on her heart that still throb with pain whenever she holds still long enough. And the Barge - the Barge is good for nothing if not encouraging stillness. She finds distractions for herself but it's never enough, not really, and if the Barge is painful then the Overlook Hotel is torture.

She wakes on Monday morning to find Tommy Brockless in her bed and he asks if she slept as well the night after she sent him to the firing squad. When she stumbles out of the shower, Mary hands her a towel and tells her that all she'd wanted was to go home. Owen watches her eat in the kitchen and tells her that he'd known she loved him, he'd always known, but the day would never come that he wouldn't take his empty one-night stands over the love of someone as screwed up as her.

When she curls up in the corner of her room on Tuesday evening and presses the heels of her hands against her eyes, Harper chips in, asking softly if she remembers her other self, the woman she briefly became who couldn't feel guilt or pain or love. If she didn't miss that pleasant, predictable numbness and she does, God help her, she'd give anything for life to be so simply again.

He touches her pale cheeks and rubs her quaking shoulders and tells her she can make that happen, and she just nods.

She doesn't even really remember walking back downstairs. She's been longer than thirty-six hours without sleep before, and handled it better, but right now she feels floating and disconnected. The lobby's warm but she observes it rather than feels it.]


Erik.

[She knew he'd gone. More or less.]

Thank God you're alright. I was worried.

[Entirely true, for entirely the wrong reasons.]
breakingmyheart: (Default)

Re: [Spam]

[personal profile] breakingmyheart 2012-11-20 03:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[She doesn't respond to that. She doesn't know if she trusts the Admiral - the only evidence she has that her first deal was fulfilled is that she went back to her world and it was still there. It doesn't matter, anyway. The Admiral, the Barge, it feels very distant now.

She feels Harper's breath on her neck, the heat singing across her implant like a brush against an exposed nerve. You don't have to feel like this. You don't have to feel anything any more.]


You're shaking. Come upstairs, get some dry clothes on. Losing your toes after the fact would be pretty futile as well.
breakingmyheart: (sadness | checking out)

[Spam]

[personal profile] breakingmyheart 2012-11-20 04:36 pm (UTC)(link)
No. No. All I can hear is you.

[Liar.

And she doesn't turn around at Owen's voice because either she'll see him - sneering mouth oozing blood, hair burnt away, radiation sloughing off his skin - or she won't see him at all - and she doesn't know what's worse.

Always keeping it together, aren't we, Tosh? You're already as weak as a kitten to him. He doesn't need to see all the screws you've got loose, eh?]


Please. At least for long enough to change your clothes and have a hot drink. I'm worried about your core temperature.
breakingmyheart: (neutral | pendant)

[Spam]

[personal profile] breakingmyheart 2012-11-20 06:46 pm (UTC)(link)
[The fire isn't going to deal with depressed internal temperature, Erik. But she's not going to argue when he's conceding, and not when Owen's so close by that she can almost reach out and touch his annihilated flesh.

She offered him her deal, she reminds herself. She offered and he refused -

Yeah, like I was going to trust you to save my life when you did it so bloody well the first time.

She doesn't flinch.]


Alright.

[She doesn't offer him a hand up but she does go ahead.]
breakingmyheart: (surprise | say what)

[Spam]

[personal profile] breakingmyheart 2012-11-20 09:02 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm fine. I don't think this place bothers much with humans.

[That's right. Wallow in your own insignificance. You never meant anything, after all.

She's glad Erik can't see the way her face becomes a mask of shock. She hasn't heard Gray's voice since he stood over her in the Hub and asked her how it felt to die. For a second, her knees buckle and her hand goes tight around the balustrade.]


I just haven't been sleeping, that's all.

[It's not much further to the door to their suite.]
Edited 2012-11-20 21:18 (UTC)
breakingmyheart: (neutral | covering mouth)

[Spam]

[personal profile] breakingmyheart 2012-11-20 10:44 pm (UTC)(link)
I suppose.

[She goes over to the dressing table at the other side of the room, hands hovering over its little electric kettle and teaset.]

Tea or coffee?
breakingmyheart: (smile | early morning)

[Spam]

[personal profile] breakingmyheart 2012-11-21 08:23 am (UTC)(link)
[While he's in there, she crushes a few sedatives against the back of a spoon, tips the resulting rough white powder into the cup alongside the coffee grains and pours the boiling water over it, stirring mechanically until the floating crumbs of white residue have dissolved completely.

It takes a little less time to do than it takes him to dry off and change and she spends that time staring at the cup, and it occurs to her that maybe she'd be better off drinking it herself. What's in there constitutes a (nonlethal, but likely hazardous) overdose and maybe it'd just be better all round if she spent the rest of this outing unconscious.

But why would that make it stop? Surely by locking herself into her own mind she'd only be making it worse. She makes herself a cup of tea she doesn't plan to drink, and when Erik reemerges she holds out the coffee to him.]


Here. It's the foulest instant I've ever tried, but it's warm and there's caffeine.
breakingmyheart: (neutral | pendant)

[Spam]

[personal profile] breakingmyheart 2012-11-24 10:23 pm (UTC)(link)
[She sits down on her own bed, opposite him, cup of tea held lightly between her hands.]

I don't think I'm doing it 'for the Admiral'. It's just part and parcel of the life I've chosen, for now.
breakingmyheart: (Default)

[Spam]

[personal profile] breakingmyheart 2012-11-25 12:16 am (UTC)(link)
No. I told you that I'm here for the long run, and I meant it.

[And where the hell else would she go, anyway.]
breakingmyheart: (neutral | covering mouth)

[Spam]

[personal profile] breakingmyheart 2012-11-25 12:45 am (UTC)(link)
I don't...

[But then she just shakes her head and watches him. It won't be long now.]
breakingmyheart: (sadness | green profile)

[Spam]

[personal profile] breakingmyheart 2012-11-25 01:01 pm (UTC)(link)
[Tosh just watches him for a minute or so, the steady rise and fall of his chest, and when she's absolutely certain he's unconscious she gets to her feet. She doesn't even remember reaching into her jacket for the gun, only that it's in her hand.]

I don't deserve it.

[It's a whisper, and he doesn't stir. She holds the barrel of the gun less than an inch from his heart and pulls the trigger twice, and nothing changes.]