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socketeer) wrote in
bakerstreet2016-05-07 06:46 pm
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THE RANDOM SCENARIO MEME
- Post your character, name, and series in the subject. Include any preferences as well.
- Go to RNG and enter 1-7 for a scene type, and 1-20 for a scene to play out.
TYPE OF SCENE.
① Action → Gun fights, bar brawls, fights to the death are all possible scenarios.
② Angst → Characters suffer emotionally or physically from relationships breaking up, death, injury, etc. Hurt and comfort themes are included.
③ Crack → Genderswaps, super powers, sudden compulsions are all possible outcomes.
④ Fluff → Something that is devoid of angst. It's light-hearted and might have the overtone of romance.
⑤ Gen → General fun, things that didn't fit in the other categories.
⑥ Sex → First times, kinks, even dubcon are all possible themes of sex related scenarios.
⑦ Your choice → Think of your own scenario, choose one of the above or make a combo even!
ACTION.
① Zombies → It's the zombie apocalypse, lock and load!
② Bar brawl → You had one too many drinks, said something wrong, and now you're being asked to take it outside.
③ Chase → You're caught in a high speed chase.
④ Gun fight → You're caught in a big shoot-out.
⑤ Fight with a friend → You're fighting with a friend, all out.
⑥ Interrogation → You're being interrogated for some offense you've done.
⑦ Aliens → Aliens are attacking and you're not going to take your probe laying down!
⑧ Final battle → This is it. The battle that will end all the fighting for you. Will you win? Will you get that peace you want?
⑨ Training → You're not actually fighting, just training for the inevitable.
⑩ No hope → You know this fight has no hope. It's not going to end well for anyone involved, but you can't turn away.
⑪ Sneaking in → You're stealing a diamond or sneaking in to kick some bad guy butt, but whatever it is, you have to practice stealth.
⑫ Blue wire → You're faced with a bomb that needs to be disarmed.
⑬ Fight for honor → You've been disgraced or someone you care about has, so it's time to fight for honour.
⑭ Showdown → Time for a cowboy-style showdown. Whoever draws the fastest wins.
⑮ War → You're caught in the middle of a war here. Remember to keep your chin up and keeping fighting.
⑯ Apocalypse → The apocalypse finally happened and now you're left to scavenge and fight for whatever is left.
⑰ Sabotage → It's time to sabotage someone's plan! How is entirely up to you. Do you set up a bomb in their toilet? Do you double cross them at the last minute?
⑱ Big damn hero → You know you have to handle this one alone, so that means disarming or knocking unconscious the person who wants to join you.
⑲ Fight club → You know the rules... you're in an underground fighting ring and you're fighting with all you've got.
⑳ Threaten → You've just been sent here to rough them up a little, threaten them into behaving.
ANGST.
① Injury / illness → Your character has become injured or ill! To what extent is the mun's choice.
② Last moments → You character has been gravely injured and this is their last chance to say their last words.
③ Depression → Your character is depressed, what actions they take is up to the mun.
④ Betrayed → You character has been betrayed by the other. How do they react?
⑤ Tortured → Your character is being tortured and needs rescuing or at least a sympathetic ear to help him through it.
⑥ Jealousy → Your character is feeling jealous and must deal with it, how will they do it?
⑦ Breakup! → This relationship has gone as far as it can, it's time to breakup.
⑧ Broken → For whatever reason, the character is broken, mentally or or physically.
⑨ Fight → You can't even be in the same room as your friend or lover without arguing anymore.
⑩ Lost → You lost the biggest fight of your life and now all you can do is try to pick up the pieces.
⑪ Worst nightmare → Whatever you fear the most is now real or maybe you're just trapped in a dream together, but whatever it is, it feels too real.
⑫ Addicted → You're addicted to something, alcohol, drugs, sex, whatever. It's destroying your life and you can't do anything to stop it.
⑬ Hurt you → You're being forced to hurt someone you love either by betraying them or even being forced to shout things you don't mean. It's for their own good in the end though.
⑭ Separation → You were forced to leave this person for their own safety and while you've been miserable without them, you really didn't mean to run into them again... maybe it was by accident or you were watching them from afar this whole time.
⑮ Becoming a monster → You are slowly changing, becoming a monster: vampire, zombie, demon, something you can't recover from and no-one can help you.
⑯ Frozen → You are entirely helpless, frozen, to stop some kind of disaster.
⑰ Prison → You were very bad and now it's time to pay the price by turning yourself in or maybe the law just finally caught up to you.
⑱ Fear → You're not sure why, but you are suddenly terrified and you can't deal with it. You need help.
⑲ Hated → You are now hated by the person you loved the most.
⑳ Down and out → You're living on the streets, you've hit rock bottom, and you don't know what to do.
CRACK.
① Sexswap → Uh-oh, you're suddenly the opposite sex!
② Forced confessions → No matter what it is and no matter how hard you resist, you're going to be compelled to spill some deep dark secret!
③ Mind-reading → You've suddenly got the ability to read minds!
④ Animal → You're suddenly part animal or transformed into an animal!
⑤ Awkward pick-up lines → You're compelled to use bad pickup lines on whoever is closest!
⑥ Back in School / Graduated → You're suddenly back in school! Or if you were already in it, you've aged and long since graduated!
⑦ Vampires, werewolves, and zombies, oh my! → You're suddenly a vampire, werewolf, or zombie! Maybe even a demon or a devil, whatever creepy crawly you can think of. What do you do now?
⑧ Ghost → You're suddenly a ghost or at least invisible. What are you going to do with this new ability?
⑨ Awkward conversations → So did you just fart or what? Any conversation goes, as long as it's embarrassing and awkward.
⑩ Crossdressing → For whatever reason, you're suddenly dressed in clothes of the opposite sex.
⑪ Suddenly naked → Oops! Your clothes are suddenly gone.
⑫ Suddenly a kid → You're a kid again! Have fun with that second childhood.
⑬ Fortune cookie → You've suddenly received a note with something that will happen in the future, either precise or vague.
⑭ Super power → And suddenly you're like Superman! Any power goes.
⑮ Bodyswap → Somehow you've changed bodies with the other person.
⑯ Back in time → Somehow, you wound up in the past again. Do you try to correct something or just sit and wait for time to jump? Maybe it jumps to various points in your life or maybe you actually think you're back in the day. Have fun, run wild with the idea!
⑰ To the future → Is it everything you've dreamed? Is it horrible? Whatever happens, you're here to witness what happens to you in the future. Either you take the place of your future self or you're just there to watch. Might cause some confusion if people start seeing double though...
⑱ Angels, mermaids, and fairies! → You're not necessary something dark or evil. You're just something different. How do you deal?
⑲ Locked in a closet → For some reason, you're locked up in a closet with someone else. Do you make nice and try to figure your way out or what?
⑳ Finger trap → You're caught in a Chinese finger trap... with somebody else! You can't figure out how to get loose either... have fun with that.
FLUFF.
① Cuddling → For whatever reason, characters feel like being close and cuddling.
② Pillow talk → After the main event, characters are up for some pillow talk.
③ Celebration → Anniversary or some other big event is taking place and characters want to celebrate!
④ Love confession → Someone has finally decided to confess their love and today is the day!
⑤ Appreciation → You feel the need to show appreciation for that person closest to you, even if it's just a pat on the back.
⑥ Apologies → You made a mistake and now it's time to make it up in some way you know the other can't refuse!
⑦ Get back together → Why did you break up again exactly? Whatever the reason, it was a huge mistake and you both know you can work through it.
⑧ Date night → You've planned for a wonderful night together and you can't wait to get it started.
⑨ Family → You've either found out you're pregnant or you've already got that addition to your family.
⑩ Marriage → You're just about to get hitched or maybe you're enjoying your honeymoon. Maybe you've been together for years now! Whatever the case, it's time for that next big step.
⑪ Meeting again → It's time for that happy reunion finally!
⑫ Love at first sight → For whatever reason, you are now insanely in love with the first person you set eyes on.
⑬ Flirtation → You can't resist to do a little bit of harmless flirtation all of a sudden.
⑭ In the snow → Look outside! It's a winter wonderland, so why not go out and play in it?
⑮ Engagement → You've planned it all out and now it's time to finally pop the question.
⑯ Friendly games → You've set up the game station or board games for a friendly competition!
⑰ Gift → Time to give that special someone a gift just because.
⑱ Recovery → You're taking care of someone who's just recovered from some illness or injury.
⑲ Healing → Time to help mend that someone who's been through hell and back.
⑳ Better than ever → You've finally got everything you've ever wanted here. What is your ideal life and who does it include?
GEN.
① Nice meeting you → It's your first time meeting this person! You bumped into each other on the street, in a bar, at work... whatever!
② Drinks → You're out for drinks! Or just chilling at home with some beers. Wherever!
③ Lost → You're lost and you kind of need help finding your way to where you're going. A little help with directions?
④ Costume party → You're at a costume party, both of you are wearing masks. Do you keep the anonymity or take it off and see whose company you've been enjoying?
⑤ Wrong number → Oops, actually you didn't mean to call that person...
⑥ Drunk → You're already drunk! Drunk dialing, stumbling into someone, showing up unexpected... what type of drunk are you anyway? Aggressive, loving, happy? How does the other react?
⑦ Old friends → you haven't seen this person in a long time!
⑧ Rivals → you're suddenly rivals! Or maybe you have been all along...
⑨ Problems → you've got a problem with each other, just got in a huge fight, whatever. Try to work it out!
⑩ What are your intentions... → This person? They're dating a close friend, family member, etc. You need to find out if they're going to hurt them! Or you need to discuss your friend/family's dating choice.
⑪ I saw you → you saw the other person doing something bad and you need to confront them about it.
⑫ Sorry but no → the other person has feelings that you just don't share. They don't necessarily have to be romantic... maybe you just don't agree with their sudden desire to quit their job and start a business making tiny, fuzzy teddy bears.
⑬ My hero → you need to tell this person how much they mean to you. They've been your best friend or your role model your whole life and they need to know.
⑭ Enabler → you're enabling the other (or each other) to do something bad, really bad. Addiction, stealing, killing, or just any other self-destructive behavior.
⑮ Cooking → Time for an impromptu cooking lesson!
⑯ Oh, sure, I remember you... → It's that awkward moment when someone comes up and seems to know you, but you have no idea who they even are!
⑰ Rescue! → One of you was in trouble, but you came to the rescue!
⑱ Boss → One of you works under the other. Is your relationship good? Are you scheming things? Or do you hate each other?
⑲ Perfect crime → You and the other person have just pulled off the perfect crime... or you're planning to! What are you doing? The heist of the century, an assassination?
⑳ Movies → movie night! Maybe it's a sleepover. Whichever the case, it's time to eat a lot and have fun.
SEX.
① First time → it's your first time together or your first time ever! Enjoy the awkward times!
② Bondage → You and your partner decide to experiment a little with ropes or handcuffs or whatever you'd like to tie your partner up with.
③ Rough / Aggressive → Your characters want it rough.
④ Romantic → Slow and gentle, meaningful, that's how characters want it.
⑤ Dubcon → Character A wants Character B and it doesn't really matter if Character B wants it as bad or not.
⑥ In public → Characters feel like taking a risk and doing it in a public place.
⑦ Roleplay → Naughty nurse fetish? Pirate kink? You and your partner decide to try it out now!
⑧ Healing → You've both fought hard or gone through a rough time and it's time to get some R&R in.
⑨ Last time → This is the last time you're going to this because you're breaking up or maybe your lover is running off to sacrifice their lives in some heroic way. The possibilities are endless, but you better make this one count.
⑩ No strings attached → You're just friends with benefits. Nothing wrong with that, right?
⑪ Anonymous → You met in a restroom or bar, any location of your choosing, but you don't even know each other's names.
⑫ Toys → You're eager to try something new, so why not toys?
⑬ Aphrodisiacs → You've been slipped a strong aphrodisiac somehow and now you absolutely cannot control yourself.
⑭ Show → You're putting on a show by either doing it right in the club or filming it for a bunch of people.
⑮ Ménage à trois → It's time for that threesome you've always dreamed of.
⑯ Non-penetrative → Frottage, handjobs, whatever you want to try out.
⑰ Controlled → You are under mind control and must do whatever your lover asks of you.
⑱ Hate sex → It's not just rough or aggressive, you absolutely cannot stand each other.
⑲ Extreme → Fisting, knife play, whatever you can think of so long as it tests the boundaries.
⑳ Fantasy → This is just a fantasy, a dream, and you know it, but what is your ideal fantasy and how willing is your partner?
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[ It comes in the dead of night. The quietest of whispers, like leaves shivering in the breeze. So easy to be overlooked, especially in sleep, but Erik would not be Erik if he weren't paranoid--hyper-vigilant, he'd argue--even in Charles' childhood home. The wide expanse of land that sequesters them from humanity is only the illusion of safety. It cannot protect them from the world, no matter how much they might wish it so.
The touch against his mind is foreign and familiar all at once, prompting awareness to return to his person. An attack? Is Charles reaching out to him?
Silence.
He's up and out of bed, banishing the sleep from his eyes and mind, bare feet padding against cool, hardwood floors. He wouldn't dare be seen in the halls in such a state--hair in disarray, shirtless, pajama pants hanging low on his hips--under normal circumstances. The children have no need to see him this way. The children, however, are the last thing on his mind as he crosses the hall and knocks on a certain telepath's door. Two firm raps of the knuckles, and then he waits a beat.
What comes next--it's like a surge of water, like the ocean's rage crashing atop his head and silencing the world, dulling his senses with its mighty roar. The voices--who? Who?--reverberate within his skull. Louder, louder still, until he's gasping under their onslaught, the noise ringing and ringing. His hands tremble.
It's akin to when Frost touched his mind, yet amplified tenfold. He grits his teeth, hand reaching up to clutch at his head, falling to a knee when the voices reach a deafening level. He doesn't realize that he's opened the door to Charles' room, practically smearing himself onto Charles' bedroom floor. ]
Charles-- [ Choked. A breathless gasp, like a man drowning, looking for salvation. ]
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That should probably be his first sign that something's wrong, so attuned that he is to the shape of Erik's mind in the background. But sleep has a funny way of rendering the reality to comprehend a situation obsolete. He only knows he's there when the first sharp knock comes, Charles swinging himself off his bed instinctively. The second hint is a little stronger, because it takes the form of a collapsing giant of a German. ]
Erik?
[ Charles is beside him in an instant, sinking to his knees, his hands doing their best to ease him upright. ] Erik, Erik, what is it? [ Fingers lift from his friend's shoulder to press against his temple, to search him for pain perhaps, or the feeling of foreign attackers in the mansion. Except --
Except Charles' voice is the only one there. His power has been snuffed out like fingers folding over a candle flame. The panic that wells up inside him is monumental, catastrophic, and if he were alone when he discovered it he might have gone mad. But he isn't, and so it's pushed aside in favour of placing palms on Erik's face. ] Breathe for me, Erik. You have to breathe. What's happened? What is it?
[ He doesn't hear the creaking of metal behind him, an answer to his own body's questions. ]
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The worst part yet: beyond this influx of sensation, he cannot feel. No hum of steel, the vibration of pipes in the house, the life of the planet itself with metal scattered every which way. There's no siren's call of the poles, north and south, a constant companion if he could only focus.
But if he listens just so, there is metal grinding around them. Groaning, bending to a will that is... not his? He blinks, pale eyes focusing on too blue ones, his mouth agape, jagged breaths gusting from his lungs. How can metal bend to the will of another? Is that-- ]
I can't... [ Thickly swallowing. Eyes wild. Thump-thump-thump goes his heart, as if it transformed into a hummingbird in his chest. ] I can't feel it.
[ Someone's taken my power. Erik shudders, instinctively leaning into the touch on his face. Like a blind man, he reaches for familiarity and comfort. And Charles is more comforting than he might ever realize. ]
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[ He assumes then, that Erik's fit is due to no longer having his power. It is understandable, Charles himself is five seconds away from a nervous breakdown and the only thing keeping him from it is the fact that Erik needs him. And the other man has such an attachment to his mutant nature that of course he's spiralling without it. Charles just has to figure out a way to get him to calm down long enough for him to think.
He keeps a hand on his friend's face, not wanting to pull away just yet. His other moves to Erik's arm and helps him to a sitting position, leaning against the wall by Charles' bedroom door. He makes soft, soothing noises in the back of his throat. He needs to call for Raven, or perhaps Hank, but without his power he cannot do that without leaving the other man alone. He will not do that. He cannot.
A nail pries itself from the floorboards and skitters across to them, stopping only an inch from his bare foot. Charles looks at it and then lifts his gaze back to Erik's face. ] That isn't you?
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[ I'll kill them. The thought is the clearest one he's had since awakening, cutting to the surface, projected.
He stares long and hard at that nail, frown lines appearing between his brows the longer he watches. It skitters across the floor, clearly being manipulated, yet its silence is deafening in a sea of noise awash in his mind. No matter how much he tries, neatly organizing these thoughts and... baser feelings--contentment, fear, anger--is near impossible. And that, that is unsettling. Where is his white hot rage? Why does he feel safe when his power is gone? How can he feel both relaxed, and of all things, anxious, at the same time? ]
It isn't me. [ Voice husky, thick. There's a lull between thoughts, where he's lost to the noise, and during this time, he leans fully into Charles' hand. The wall may be to his back, but it might as well not be there, for how he's unconsciously pressing into Charles' space. Amidst the maelstrom of sensation, there's a tinge of familiarity, of warmth, like a candle's flame in a sea of chaos. He's drawn to it. ] You're in my mind, as well?
[ He wouldn't mind it--he doesn't mind it--under normal circumstances. During an attack he's essentially blind to, however... ]
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[ Charles takes a breath, his hands still hovering above Erik's shoulders. Again the wave of panic threatens to overwhelm him, the silence in his head deafening and terrifying. He once more tries to reach out, find the thread of his friend's thoughts and latch on, but it's like the mental equivalent of pushing against a brick wall. He cannot escape the inside of his skull.
The nail moves again, but this time others pull free from the floorboards to follow. Charles stops trying to reach out. ] Ah.
[ His hands flutter uselessly, his head tipping to catch his gaze. ] You're hearing things, aren't you? Everything's too loud and too much and it feels overwhelming, yes? [ He can still remember how much it had hurt, even after decades. He cannot imagine what it must be like for Erik, so used to life being one way. Gently, he presses the tips of his fingers to the other man's temples. ] You have to imagine a wall. Feel it sliding up and into place. It has to be strong, the strongest metal you know, all right? You have to think it. Right here. [ He taps, lightly. His voice says soft and soothing. ] Keep it between you and the outside world. Can you do that for me, Erik?
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Yes. [ Lids flutter. He fights to keep his eyes on Charles'. Misses the additional nails joining the first during this effort. ] Worse than Frost. [ Different as well, for he doesn't taste any malice with this onslaught. Though, Charles' explanation...
He follows these instructions down to the minutest of details, and it's not until that wall is erected, firm and unyielding, that his body sags and he gasps for a breath. Relief, like a cool breeze, soothes his mind. Momentarily, at least. The implications of that explanation are quickly sinking in, now that they're unblocked. Head whipping up, he searches for that nail, finds others along with it. They don't respond to his will, which means-- ] You.
[ Speechlessness overtakes him. First thing's first: after steadying breaths, he forces himself to push past that surge of panic (his own, not a combined force), shoving a wave of calm to coat the surface of his mind. Imagining it settling atop Charles is easy; here's to hoping like hell it actually works, and that this is not, in fact, an attempt at the ridiculous. Quiet and calm: that's what Charles needs in this moment, and that's what Erik aims to offer.
He's not sure at what point he reached up to tightly grip Charles' arm, but the grip loosens, and he lightly rubs his thumb against the man's inner arm. ]
I suddenly see why you find me so alluring.
[ Poor taste in jokes. ]
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Christ.
[ He's doing his best not to tear the fixtures and fittings from the floors and walls, but it's a near thing. Now he's no longer worrying about his friend, he can feel everything vibrating around him, humming in response to his will. It's intense and a little terrifying. ]
You're always alluring, darling. But I think we've found ourselves in a little bit of a pickle. [ Which is the nicest way to say fuck, we've swapped powers.
Opening his eyes again, concern replacing the relief. ] You're all right?
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Erik falls back against the wall, the back of his head thunking against it. ]
You've become a metalbending flatterer. How cute. [ It comes out flat, dry--yet it lacks the bite of any true ire. ] I'm-- [ Silence. ] --better. [ Not alright, by any means. Better now, yes. Thanks to you, he thinks. Which isn't an unfamiliar instance, at all. Charles always did have a knack for saving the day.
He fists that nail, relishing the way its sharp edges dig into his skin. So they've gone about a power swap... The question is: who caused this? Why? ]
And you? Not about to crush us with metal, I hope?
[ Their wellbeing first and foremost. Then he'll mull over their attacker. ]
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Without thinking he buries his face into his hands, taking the time to breath as deeply and slowly as he can. ] I don't think so. [ He feels shaken, yes. But fear has always been something Charles can squash down inside of him and so he imagines they're in no great danger from that.
They'll have a problem if he can't fix it though. That's what's rattling around in his head, a chorus of oh god that spins it's way in circles through his thoughts. ]
I don't want to alarm the children, but we need to check on them. Do you think you could --? [ He lifts a hand, waggling his fingers beside his forehead. ] I'll talk you through it.
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But for as stinging as his loss is, he can only imagine what Charles feels. No, no... he knows what Charles feels. Oh god, the mantra, spins within his head, like a hamster wheel squeaking on each turn. For as successful as this wall he's erected is, it is not an impenetrable fortress surrounding his mind; there are kinks, and those kinks leave space for too much to still rush in.
Is this what Charles deals with on a daily basis? Unfiltered thoughts and sentiments, despite the most fortified of walls?
It's he who bridges the gap between them. Fingers dig into rigid muscles, lightly massaging his friend's neck. ] We'll fix it. [ There is no other option. Charles' ability is brilliant, enthralling, even. That doesn't, however, mean he wants it as his own. ]
I can try. [ Erik's silent for a beat, watching the finger wiggling. His brows furrow. ] I heard you, Charles. I might have heard them, as well. I didn't feel mass panic.
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We might just be the lucky two, then.
[ Or unlucky.
But Charles is drawing himself up to his knees to face Erik. ] Try it with me first. You have to go around that wall. You don't want to let it down completely because it's protecting you. But you want to go beyond it's boundaries now. Then stretch out. It helps if you, oh if you think like a limb moving. Imagine your thoughts stretching out towards me, all right?
[ He just hopes he has enough of his wits about him to protect his more secretive thoughts. ]
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The fact that he fumbles with this like a new babe isn't lost upon him. He's like one of the children now, only worse. And that thoughts grates far more than it should. ]
And if I delve too deep? [ Eyes cracking open, until he can regard Charles warily. ] You're inviting trouble.
[ It's not that he minds poking around inside Charles' mind if the man is willing to play lab rat, but to do so with the children? Teenagers with their... dear god, what are you asking of him, friend?
Apparently, he doesn't feel the same compulsion to check on their wellbeing as the man beside him. ]
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It helps that it distracts him from his panic and the very real threat of him pulling the Mansion apart pipe by pipe. ]
You won't hurt me. [ His voice is soft, earnest, his gaze holding Erik's. This close he still can't tell if the other man's eyes are more predominantly blue than grey. ] I trust you, Erik.
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Of course, he's had years to master his craft, just as Erik's had years to do the same with his. His. Ah, god. Blindly, he's grasping for the hand not in his hair, pressing the nail he'd held as a lifeline into Charles' palm. ]
Feel it. Not just the weight in your palm, but its essence. [ By doing so, the deluge of metal around him should be less overpowering. Ideally. ] You put too much faith into me, Charles.
[ But he's closing his eyes, regardless, following the instructions given. It's with great hesitance at first. Wariness at what will crash upon him the second he passes that wall. And much akin to a child darting across the hall in the dead of night, Erik's darting across the space between their minds, crashing into Charles' head like a freight train. ]
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Charles hadn't even realised it had been coming from him, but the minute Erik draws his attention back to it is the minute he has to take a breath and remind himself to calm. It had been so easy to focus on his friend, because that had been a part and parcel of his own power. It had never been like this. The sound stops just before Erik comes slamming into his thoughts, which is probably lucky because he might have wrenched the pipes from beneath the wallpaper if he'd still had a hold. It's rather like having someone run full force into you while you're holding several priceless antiques. Charles winces, his thoughts scattered. Erik probably catches half-thoughts and fragmented memories before Charles has his walls back up. That's at least something he had learnt, rather than been gifted. ]
Bloody hell.
[ He looks wrung out for a second, lifting a hand to rub at his temples. ] I think we'll try the human approach, Erik. [ He'll creep down the hallway and listen in, he thinks. ]