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

[scarcastically]

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 ]

Comments

[scarcastically]

Let's start off with some tequila. Can't go wrong there, even in space.

[winscenario]

[ Brilliant choice. Jim manages to get them a bottle, along with a couple shots. He likes to drink it straight, but just in case Erik likes the extra kick, he gets some lemon slices and salt, then steers them to one of the couches with a low table nearby, quiet and relatively far from the rest. Not that there are many people around right now, thankfully. ]

[scarcastically]

[ erik gives it an approving look. ]

Bottom's up.

[winscenario]

[ Jim lifts his glass up slightly, bringing it to his lips. He knocks it back in one quick shot, letting out an audible breath. ]

Oh, that's good.

[ Better than he was expecting on a space station like this. ]

[scarcastically]

[ erik knocks his back as well, letting out a satisfied sigh. ]

Damn, that has a nice burn to it.

Should we drink to somethin'?

[winscenario]

[ Well he doesn't want to drink to the mission, that was all crap. So— ]

To... new friends?

[scarcastically]

[ erik's gaze slides over jim as if he picks up that train of thought before it is carefully shielded. ]

Works for me. Cheers.

[winscenario]

[ Those little moments of quiet always intrigue Jim, but he doesn't think much of it. He pours them another glass, smiling against the edge as he takes it up for another gulp. The point was to get drunk after all, right? ]

So are you telling me about that suit of yours?

[scarcastically]

[ erik dangles the glass, contemplative. ]

It's cultural. Passed down my family.

[winscenario]

[ It's a pretty vague answer. The kind that leaves him wanting to know more, but feeling as though asking more about it will be prying. ]

Is that why you like jaguars?

[scarcastically]

[ he chuckles. ]

Sort of. They're big on panthers. Me, not so much.

[winscenario]

Really? [ He hums. ] Suit looked really good on you. Though I may be a little biased, I think everything would look good on you.

[ He can't even blame the tequila for that one. ]

[scarcastically]

[ he chuckles, answering in a low drawl. ]

Nah. I definitely look better with it off.

[winscenario]

[ Jim huffs, giving Erik a slow once-over with a shameless grin. ]

Mm, I'm sure you do...

[scarcastically]

[ erik lets out a little laugh. ]

Is that what you're lookin' forward to?

[winscenario]

Maybe. Among other things.

[ He does like Erik, and he likes spending time with him. Even if he does realize that there's plenty he doesn't know about him yet. ]

[scarcastically]

Maybe we can table it for later.

[winscenario]

[ He gives only a nod to that, picking up the bottle to top up his own glass again. ]

Another one?

[scarcastically]

Sure. Let's go all the way.

[ he raps his knuckles against the table. ]

Gotta let loose once in a while.

[winscenario]

[ He laughs. ]

Oh, I don't know about that. Last time I let loose like this, I ended up thrown over a table, nose dripping blood like a faucet. Not exactly one of my fondest memories.

[scarcastically]

[ erik puts it together in alarming speed. ]

Bar fights happen. What was the reason?

[winscenario]

[ He smiles tightly at Erik over his glass, knocking it back before he answers. ]

I was the reason. I was a complete jackass. Had it coming, honestly.

[scarcastically]

[ erik's eyebrows go up. ]

Gotta say, that's a little hard to picture.

[winscenario]

[ He shrugs. ]

Like I told you, people change.

[scarcastically]

[ erik frowns. ]

I dunno. It depends if people wanna change.