Backtagging a late night

[antinouswild]

Who: Magneto and Enjolras
What: Two sleepless souls and a late night
When: After the gift exchange but before Grantaire's arrival
Where: House of Awesome, Kitchen, Zero Dark Thirty
Warnings: Discussion of nightmares, PTS, battle scars, survival guilt, and other deaths... FUN FOR ALL AGES!


Enjolras sits bolt upright in the bed.

He's acutely aware that it's never his own death, it's never standing against the wall, facing his own executioners that does this to him. His neck itches as tendrils of blonde hair stick to the sweat, and his breath comes hard and ragged.

It's never his own death. Not once has he ever dreamed of that.

Seeing his friends, comrades... no, that's wrong. Seeing his brothers cut down one by one as the barricades feel. That is what keeps him in fevered dreams. The sheets are twisted around his legs, and he fumbles gracelessly as he fights his way off of the futon.

Water... maybe milk... Just anything to be up and doing something. He's dimly aware that it's an instinct to leave that's driving him out of the room, rather than hunger or thirst.

Barefoot he walks down the hallway to the common kitchen in the HoA. The pajamas he's acquired he found to be too short. But, the ones that were long enough were too wide in chest and hips, and bunched around him and made him hot as he slept. So he stood with his feet bare and his wrists and ankles well exposed.

Then, light. He almost blinks at it, coming out of the darkened bedroom and hallway. The sound of cooking... dishes moving, utensils striking, seem a little comforting, and he feels some small relief that he is not alone.

"Excuse me?"

Comments

[antinouswild]

"I'm not quite certain I believe that. I can't imagine too many have done much worse than I have. I may have martyred myself in Paris, but here I haven't even managed that. This is far worse."

He tugs at the spoon, then lets it go again. It's as though he's placing it in the air.

"If I wouldn't be a bother to you, Monsieur. I have precious little else to do with myself here. I may as well learn as much as I can. How is it that you can understand powers here?"

[magnetic_magpie]

"There are thousands enslaved by AGI - some in far worse situations than you. And what SERO does is worse." It's quite, but firm. He wasn't going to indulge in a pity party.

The spoon drifts away and then pokes Enjolras' knuckle.

"You aren't a bother. I about powers here because I worked in Skye Medical for a while and I studied them back home. They are my specialty, really." Of one of them.

[antinouswild]

"And I tried to do something... I really did but I..." He shakes his head and seems stiffen his resolve. "There is more that I can do. You have shown me a different way. Perhaps I am not without hope."

He blinks at the poke and shakes his hand. He flicks at it with his index finger, still interested, still amused.

"Then, I would like to know what I can do.... if what they said is true. If I have it I might as well understand it."

[magnetic_magpie]

"A friend of mine keeps telling me that as long as life exists, we have hope." Magneto didn't believe it, not really, but he'd attempt to preserve it in others.

It flicks back, loops it's self, and the bowl hangs on his finger.

"I know ways of running tests. Other than fatigue and a headache, the risks are low."

[antinouswild]

He allows the spoon to hang for a moment before setting it down gently on the table.

"Hope? I am in the process of deciding if hope is beautiful or terrible... perhaps both. Yet, it doesn't matter. We hang on to it."

He shrugs. That doesn't sound like much. "This place makes me weary as it is. I don't think that you can do worse. I'll submit to any tests you would like. It would do me good to understand, I think."

[magnetic_magpie]

"Both, I think, yes." He knew the feeling.

"I think it would be, yes. Safer for you, certainly."

[antinouswild]

He sighs, throwing up his hands. "Whatever you say. It isn't as though I'm overwhelmed with work or goals here. I might as well learn. So, I would consider it a favor."

[magnetic_magpie]

"You know - there was another of your countrymen here before. Had a similar ability." That had just dawned on him - and it was amusing.

[antinouswild]

"One of my countrymen? With a similar power? Could you tell me about him, Monsieur?"

[magnetic_magpie]

"Francis, his name is Francis. A rather accomplished swordsman, and a brilliant chief. I was quite honoured to be called his friend. He used to stay up with me, like you are now, or check on me when he would come in the mornings, see if I was still up, or if I had slept. He was an artist. When he left, he left a will behind to sell his artwork and donate the money to the Newcomer Fund - a charity for Newcomers, to help those who have just arrived get on their feet or start businesses. He's a good man." Francis' patience with some of his personal space issues had been a even greater support, but Magneto didn't detail that.

[antinouswild]

Enjorlas seems to smile a little at the description.

"He sounds French, indeed." There's a dry note of humor in the patriotism. "It's a good thing to have such a friend. I am very glad that you did. What happened to him? Is he no longer in the port?"

[magnetic_magpie]

"He vanished about a year ago. I miss him, but I would not want to wish someone to be returned here." His face clouds - he's lost many, so many. That doesn't just apply to Francis.

[antinouswild]

Enjolras knows the look, the look of longing for someone who cannot return. He recognizes, and understands. He doesn't say anything, but lays his hand on the older man's shoulder.

[magnetic_magpie]

Magneto pats Enjolras' arm, sighing softly. "Not sure this topic will settle either of us." It's a direct request to change the topic, as polite as he could mange.