ximilialog | ( open ) I like to call myself wound but I will answer to knife

CHARACTERS: Erik Stevens / Killmonger You
LOCATION: The Station
DATE: Post-Mission Conclusion
CONTENT: Aftermath / Settling back in the station
WARNINGS: scarification, body modification in the first prompt

( i. infirmary - new wounds ) cw: body modification, scarification

[ a success.

not that erik would say so in public, but he accomplished his personal goal and the mission. he has solidified his use as player, even if his integration into the team was haphazard. he let too much slip to people, they know too much. but that can be a problem for another day. no one knows the extent of it after all, just patches of erik. and erik isn't real anyway. it's not his name.

erik sits on one of the medical beds, his shirt tossed to the side. his skin is littered with crocodile scars. he has a scalpel in his hand, as he assesses the free space to his side. ]

Hmm, think I got a little room there.

( ii. lab - spellwork and metalwork )

[ he hadn't gotten to use much charterwork in the field, preferring to lean on the abilities he did have and the panther suit. he wasn't fully comfortable with spells just yet, but erik is a scientist in his own right, not simply a war strategist. and what he needed was more comfortable exploration in his own time and space.

so erik has a bunch of different metals laid out on a table with a notebook littered with various charter configurations as he tries to find the best combination to strengthen the durability of each one. this would be best with vibranium, but erik wasn't going to risk his suit on an experiment.

he taps his forehead, drawing upon the marks for strength and shielding and weaving them into iron. satisfied, he plucks it from the table, idly tapping the side to listen to the vibrations and noise. he makes a little sound of disgruntlement before he bends over his notebook, scribbling his theory. ]

Sounds denser. Can charter affect molecular structure? Gotta give it an acid test later.

( iii. simulation room - oakland apartment )

[ he's not sure why he comes back.

lack of self-preservation? a reckless need to let all his secrets out? to see if his father will appear just like it had once with the heart-shaped herb? but erik no longer had the herb's effects pumping in his veins. at least he thinks so. he has no way of knowing for sure. he doubts t'challa would have left it in him. he doubts . . .

erik leans against the window. the wakandan sunset beats down on his face. it seems he's at his rawest here, caught between two worlds. two homes that never wanted him. and erik . . . wants something. wants more. he thought he had bled it all out, but talking about it again had given him the twist of yearning in his heart. where was he supposed to go? where was he supposed to be? was he meant to give up the dream and just settle in another reality?

out loud, he says. ]

You should have taken us back.

[ it is the first kernel of resentment for his father. who believed in the dream, who bled for it. who wanted a better life for others. but erik can't help thinking that the minute his mother died, alone and unwanted in a prison, they should have gone home.

but he thinks of his father's tears and he ducks his head, guilt churning. ]

( iv. wildcard )

[ got a prompt in mind? you can reach erik here / pm this account / hit me up @ timmtams ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ it's how erik approaches everything. with a single-minded intensity. even when he's playing it close or coolly, there is a laser-focus to all that he approaches. and that's how he kisses, every touch like a burning brand upon skin. ]

[ Works just fine for him, though it does leave him breathless before long. He has to break the kiss just to take a few inhales, licking his own lips and glancing up to meet Erik's eyes. ]

[ erik smirks, liking that look. ]

Guess it's a tie.

[ Jim snorts and laughs at that, swatting a hand lightly at Erik's shoulder. ]

Okay. Yeah, I think I'm fine with that.

[ he smiles faintly. ]

Glad to hear it.

That was... really nice.

[ It certainly made his heart race. ]

I'd like to keep doing that, if you would too.

[ erik chuckles. ]

What do you think the game was for?

Yeah, I know. [ He smiles too, tugging a little at Erik's shirt. ]

I just... lack some experience in this. Not kissing, or sex. Just liking someone, I guess. Never made the time to really get close to someone like that.

If it helps, I ain't exactly the poster boy for that either.

Guess we'll figure this out together, huh?

[ Well at least Jim won't feel like he's lagging behind. ]

[ erik gives him a long look, deep embers in his eyes. his palms reach out to cup jim's face, thumbs brushing against his cheek. ]

It's a plunge. You wanna take it?

[ Jim’s heart beats fast for different reasons, but just as equally exciting. He rests his hands over Erik’s, tilting his head to press a kiss to his palm. ]

Yes. I want to take it. Do you?

[ does he? perhaps it's not the plunge erik fears. he's always taken it, in everything he does. with abandon, without fear. but perhaps there is one, that erik might still have something to lose.

not that he'd let that stop him. ]

Yeah. I want to.

[ If Jim didn’t take a plunge every time he had something to lose, he’d never have risked a thing in his life. But this time it doesn’t feel like a risk, it doesn’t feel like fear; it feels like excitement, adventure, the worries obfuscated by all the things he actually looks forward to. ]

Left me waiting for a second there, Stevens, [ He teases, smiling. ] Trying to make me sweat, huh?

[ that's not my name, erik thinks to himself. he pushes it aside. that's a conversation for later. he manages a grin, gold teeth flashing. ]

Ain't no fun without a little sweat.

I could make a terrible shameless joke about that, but I won't. [ He winks. ] Want another glass or are we done with that?

[ he chuckles. ]

I think we're good.

Alright. I'm gonna put it away.

[ There's still some tequila left, so he puts it back should anyone else want to help themselves. The glasses are quickly washed, then he goes back to Erik is. ]

Let's go for a walk? Or do you want to go somewhere else?

[ erik rolls his shoulders. ]

I'm down for a walk. Need to stretch my legs after all that.

[ Jim waits for Erik to get up to take his hand and they can start walking. ]

What's your favorite spot on the station so far? Simulation room doesn't count, since it can be whatever you program it to be.

[ erik ponders this for a moment. ]

I guess it'd be the lab. I'm no genius, but we used to have big labs at MIT to tinker with. Wasn't all too bad there.

Good choice. I'm not a scientist or anything either, though I've spent some of my time there recently doing research and data collection.

But I think my favorite place is the sunlight room. Real or not, it looks amazing.

[ erik nods. ]

That place's definitely a perk. On a station, it means a lot.

It really does. Considering the size and current state of this station, I'm actually impressed by the complexity in that room.

Too bad we can't get any flowers out of there.

[ flowers huh. ]

Maybe we just need to look into it. And think creatively.

(no subject)

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