backwaterbelle | eudio

[its been almost two weeks since their last big talk. since he invited her to his house and did his best to try and explain where he's come from. there's more, of course. details that he doesn't plan on sharing with anybody. but as of right now, rogue is the only one he has here who he doesn't need to lie to. which is why this message come, fairly late in the afternoon. why, rather than ignoring everything and spending another night trying to bury his memories in a bottle of whiskey, he's finally able to reach out--]

Are you busy tonight?

Not anymore. What's up?

[She keeps from asking if he's okay, and then what he needs, opting to go with something more casual on purpose.]

[there's a delay before his reply. something that will likely make sense once he finally manages to find the words he needs.]

Spend the night with me.

[he may not be talking about sex, but given the fact they're both aware that he only owns a single bed, some intimacy is certainly to be expected]

[When his reply does come, it surprises her enough to stop her in her tracks and stare at her phone, causing someone behind her on the sidewalk to step headlong into her. She doesn't even apologize, not with her words caught in her chest and her mind churning.

There's no hesitation on her answer, but there's some time before she manages to send it.]

I'd be happy to help.

[There are selfish reasons for her smile, but they're mutually beneficial at least.]

What time?

Any time after 8.

[it gives him time to get into the right frame of mind. time to prepare himself for the fact she even agreed to coming over in the first place.]

Have you ever had bigos?

I'll let you know when I'm on my way.

[She's still stunned he even asked, so she's a little thankful for the time delay.]

Bigos? No. Is that food or drink?

It's a stew with sauerkraut and kielbasa. I found somewhere here that makes it. It isn't as good as Magda used to make, but I have enough to share.

[it's only after he's sent the message that he realises he's managed to type out her name without the same debilitating sense of guilt that usually accompanies it. he isn't sure what to think about that.]

That sounds delicious. Thank you for sharing.

[The food, but more specifically the memory.]

Keep focusing on the good memories. And remember I ain't ever trying to replace her or those.

[Don't feel guilty for the hate of others Erik, or for trying to find a good night's sleep.]

[his first reaction is a shift to anger at her reply. an automatic response to those who try to offer him advice or support. he knows he doesn't deserve it after all he's done. so while rogue may not be aware of his colourful history, he isn't any more willing to accept it from her than he was from charles.

it's only after taking a moment to close his eyes, to breathe, that he turns back to the message again.]

We aren't talking about either of them.

[magda or nina. he just wants one evening where he doesn't need to think anymore.]

[Unlike this Erik's Charles, Rogue has done dark things, has accidentally killed people with her power as well as intentionally hurt them beyond self-defense. She'd like to think she's better now, but there will always be a guilt that lingers.

And that doesn't even include her stint as Legacy.]

Don't make it any less true.

I'll see you at 8.

[Whether he likes it or not at this point.]

[breathe. breathe. he knows she isn't doing this to anger him, but there's still that residual feeling running beneath his skin. it's something he knows he needs to rid himself off before she arrives.]

Until then.

[and then he's putting his phone away so he can head back outside to calm himself down again.]

[Rogue's prompt, early even considering the trek up the path from civilization. Dressed in jeans, a tank top under a green, oversized sweater with a hood, and tan cowboy boots, the younger mutant comes toting a purse over her shoulder and a bag containing something box-shaped. She bypasses the door to his house and instead follows the path around the house to where they had endured that big talk.

If he's not there, she'll try the front door, but she has a feeling he'll be in that peaceful spot.]

[he's spent most of the time tidying up the inside of the house. the interior is still a work in progress and all too far from completion for him to technically be living there. but he's lived in worse conditions before so he hadn't seen a reason to not have moved in.

by the time rogue turns up, the oven is already on, the bigos keeping warm inside. there's next to nothing by the way of furniture in the building though, which is why there's simply a blanket on the floor in the clearing, bowls and cutlery already out in wait. her approach is easy to pick up on, the disruptions of a living body nearby being enough to catch his attention even without the addition of any metal she may be carrying.]

Rogue.

[there's a soft smile on his face as he greets her, a clear enough sign that he's managed to set aside the tail end of their earlier conversation. it's something else to work through on another day.]

[She will undoubtedly appreciate the effort, as well as make mental notes of little projects and supplies she'll pick up the next time she comes around.

Until then, she'll just need to be content with the outside picnic area he''s gone and prepared for them. When she sees this, Rogue appears doubly surprised and impressed, lips curling in a smile which only widens when he greets her.]

Hey sugah. [It's a warm greeting, more than her habit of the Southern pet names, and she finds herself relaxing as she notes the distinct lack of irritation or anger.

She lifts the box towards him.] Consider this a housewarmin' gift. Open it later though, ah'm as hungry as a horse.

[It's a colorful hummingbird feeder, to add to his outdoor collection, but she doesn't want to upset him when he looks to be having a good day.]

[he knows better than to refuse the gift, even if it's one they're both aware she doesn't need to provide. he doesn't mind having rogue around. she's a welcome distraction to his own thoughts. but more than that, he actually enjoys her company. he may not know many people here on a personal level, but of the few that he does, rogue is the only one that doesn't seem to expect anything from him.]

There's beer in the fridge.

[it's an offer this time for rogue to come inside with him. not that she hasn't already seen the inside before, and nor will it be the last time given just why erik invited her. but it's a comment meant to make it clear that he has nothing to hide this time. he wants to be able to share this with her, at least for now.

heading inside, he makes a point of leaving the box on the floor just inside the door. it's something to be looked at later, once they've eaten. so instead he makes his way towards the kitchen to collect the pot from the oven, his abilities coming in to play in order to handle the boiling hot metal holding their meal. a brief check inside, and then he heads back out so he can start serving them both.]

[Good man, he's learning that she's almost as stubborn as him, maybe more so, which in probably helps their growing friendship if she were honest about it. She enjoys this version of the Magneto she knows back home. He's... Different than she's accustomed and than she remembers, but he's such a vibrant echo that she feels right at home with him, able to accept the unique baggage he carries in his heart. It's a strange feeling, so she focuses on simply enjoying her time with him while they're here.

She perks visibly at the offer of beer as well as the invitation to come inside, the smile softening to one of content as she walks with him inside. When he sets her gift aside, she places her bag near it, not wanting to wander off into his 'bedroom' without him escorting her.

As he tends to the pot with his powers, Rogue heads to the fridge (upgrade!) and snags two beers between the fingers of one hand. Closing the door with her hip, she's examining the bottles to determine if an opener would be necessary when she stops and simply follows him outside. She'll wait until the pot is safe from spilling before brushing her fingers over his hand, borrowing just enough to pop the metal tops off of their beers, catching them in her other hand and offering him a sheepish grin.]

Couldn't let you have all the fun now could I?

[Gracefully, she takes a seat. He'll get his beer once he's settled as well. Picnics are notorious for spilling things.]

I suppose not. Though perhaps you should keep it this time.

[under any other circumstance, the idea of sharing his power with somebody else wouldn't sit well with him. but of all people, rogue is the only one here that he'd trust with it. it may only be a minuscule portion of what he has, but the sentiment is still there.

turning his attention back to the pot again, he starts dishing up for the two of them, his expression turning contemplative as he does so. it'd be easy to get caught up in the past again, this brief taste of home being enough to draw him back. but he's doing his best to stay in the present. to keep his focus on what's going on around him right now. so when he finally passes a bowl over to rogue, it may help explain why he watches her for a moment too long.]

It's something of an acquired taste. I won't be offended if you don't like it.

[there's a loaf of bread in the kitchen already waiting, just in case.]

[The offer is startling, both because she knows how much his power means to him and because it's a heavy statement. Keeping someones power involves taking enough of their life force that it kills the other person, or that's how she understands it, not having tried to take everything from someone in quite sometime. She'd rather not try that in this situation, so beyond the surprise, her features falter slightly before she smiles and shakes her head, hair framing her face and acting like a shield of sorts.]

It ain't permanent, ah didn't borrow much. [It's the truth, and she flicks the bottle caps in her hand at him playfully, aiming them to his lap without much force at all.

When he offers the bowl, she carefully takes it and inhales, smiling. It reminds her of food that Kurt would cook sometimes, and that's a rabbit hole she tries to avoid as well.]

Reminds me of Kurt, actually. [God she misses him, the sad smile tribute to that sentiment. The food's too hot to eat currently, so she sets it on her lap and idly picks up her spoon to stir it.]

eudio | ic inbox

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