[ The drive was long and numerous stops to keep sane and take breaks. The radio kept changing as they went through diffusion zones, and got stuck on the Monster Mash for thirty minutes that felt like thirty hours. Charles drove all of it since it's not easy for anyone else to drive his van, and they needed the space in the back for if they found something to bring back. That was the point of this, but luckily, Charles has a lot of experience sitting all the time and doing not much else. He often preferred to drive of the two of them on their last trip.
They arrived in Acreage well past sunset to the little inn that they stayed at the last time they were there, after the train. It was cute, so Charles suggested they go back, this time in a better mood. The city has mostly calmed down past the EMP, and while the Sanctum has fallen, everything appears to be integrating well. It's time to move on. The hospital is under control and working on getting restocked, and there's a strange calm there now, like the storm was so bad that everyone is having a breather on purpose.
Acreage is a different matter; it's already with that calm. They settle into the room, and it isn't long before Charles is out, exhausted from the many hours of driving. He sleeps heavily, but he's an early riser, so the sun is just rising as he stirs. Erik has a tendency to spoon him, which he doesn't mind given that he can't do the same back, and Erik's arms naturally wind around him. Even in sleep he's a bit possessive.
The room smells fresh and a bit like fresh grass, fitting the gardens outside, and it's so different from the motels. He sighs contently and feels rather refreshed, energetic even. He runs his hand over Erik's arm around him, smiling.]
Wake up.
[ He whispers into Erik's mind, intertwining their minds not unlike their arms at the moment. They didn't get to sleep together for pretty much the entire experience in the city, and then Charles has been busy doing various things in the aftermath. Having a sleepy morning with his love feels like the perfect way to start this.]
[ Erik's fondness for Acreage is no secret at this point, at least when compared to Panorama. Even being out on the road is already enough to lighten his mood, especially after everything they've been through, so the long drive hardly bothers him. It is tiring, though, so it's still a comfort once they get to their destination, and Erik is very much ready to have some needed rest.
Besides, they may have come here with a purpose in mind, but he's also thinking of this as a little vacation, some time off where he gets to have Charles entirely to himself. Lord knows there's plenty to keep them both incredibly busy back in Panorama.
Sleep comes easily as soon as his head touches the pillow, all the more so with the warmth of Charles's body against his own. Both an early riser and a light sleeper, as soon as Charles stirs, Erik too starts to waken, though he makes no particular effort to move or even speak.
He does let out a soft little hum when Charles slips into his mind, lips curled into a faint smile. The scent filling his nose leaves him in an even better mood than before. He's sure to love the sight once he opens his eyes, but he's delaying that for a bit. ]
I am awake.
[ His arm curls tighter around Charles for a moment, and he tips his head to bury his nose into Charles's hair. ]
[ Charles keeps himself busy on purpose, like slowing down is something he's allergic to. Now with the Sanctum open, and their library cards given, he's been sneaking away in some free time to look through what files he can get. It's not the information he'd want in a perfect world, but it's knowledge, and he's voracious about that. There are researchers available to talk to too which is exactly what he wanted.
He's very social and active, and while that's his preferred way of living, having a vacation with Erik is absolutely needed. They've had a lot going on, and he wants to lounge with him and have couple time. He's lucky to be with someone who knows how he is. He's lucky in many ways. He's thought about that a few times since hearing about Logan's break up and seeing the aftermath with Karen over it. He and Erik will never break up here, but it's left him even more grateful for it.
He smiles and hooks his arm up to ruffle fingers into Erik's hair, caressing through it. To think he used to fantasize about this, and still wouldn't know how perfect it truly would feel in reality. They'll never have the perfection that would be Erik in the mansion again, part of the X-Men, but this is close to it. ]
I plan on talking to the wood seller today. But it can be later.
[ Acreage is not a place that is open until 10 pm like the city, but this is early morning, they have plenty of time. There is a carpenter in the city who has taken a liking to Charles and if he brings him wood material, he's willing to build him furniture. They need an outdoor patio idea for the community center.]
[ It's lucky indeed that Erik knows precisely how Charles is. They're both incredibly driven in their own ways, and Charles in particular is happiest when he has a set goal in mind. Something that Erik has learned about himself here is that he is content to simply lead a life of (relative) peace, but he knows that for Charles it's important that he has more than that.
Things here may be far from perfect, but Erik gets to have so much here that he knows he wouldn't back in their world. Not only a relationship with the love of his life, but also the opportunity that he threw away of working beside him. Whatever dreams they had for mutants, things they would get to do together as a team, do seem a little different here, but in a way they've come true. What a fool he was before. But a lucky one, having been granted a second chance.
His lips curl into a wider smile at those words, and he finally opens his eyes, propping himself up on his elbow so he can look down at Charles's face. ]
Absolutely. I'm not letting you leave this bed so soon.
[ Especially after so many nights apart. They both deserve this. There will be plenty of time to go out and take care of business later. He leans down to press his lips to Charles's in a good morning kiss, fingers weaving into his hair. ]
[ Charles has always been about second chances. He proved that by giving Erik a second chance on the plane that day, so technically Erik is on his third chance. (And if you count the future him, fourth, fifth, and sixth chance.) But he is not sorry at all about it right then. They have moved into the relationship they would have had from the start if it went right, and he is mostly done making trouble over that. There's been a marked lack of reminders about the past, and more focus on the present.
In truth, he missed having a full life. After those years declining into depression and addiction, he thought living in isolation was never going to change. Now he's back on task and it feels amazing. He regrets that time, but also thinks it was necessary to bring him here. To truly appreciate where he is. (Sometimes he gets restless wishing for the future he had, but he doesn't let it hold him back.)
He laughs and kisses Erik back, not minding the morning breath. At this point it may as well be sweet with how often he gets to linger in the daylight hours with Erik. It happens less than he'd like, so he's going to enjoy it. It takes a little effort for Charles to move his legs along with his body to be on his back, it's normal by now so no problem, and reaches out to brush his fingers through Erik's hair too, sending them both into the astral plane with a tiny touch.
And it's an exact mimic of where they are now. The same room, every detail down, but he can tug Erik on top of him where he can feel him.]
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In Acreage
They arrived in Acreage well past sunset to the little inn that they stayed at the last time they were there, after the train. It was cute, so Charles suggested they go back, this time in a better mood. The city has mostly calmed down past the EMP, and while the Sanctum has fallen, everything appears to be integrating well. It's time to move on. The hospital is under control and working on getting restocked, and there's a strange calm there now, like the storm was so bad that everyone is having a breather on purpose.
Acreage is a different matter; it's already with that calm. They settle into the room, and it isn't long before Charles is out, exhausted from the many hours of driving. He sleeps heavily, but he's an early riser, so the sun is just rising as he stirs. Erik has a tendency to spoon him, which he doesn't mind given that he can't do the same back, and Erik's arms naturally wind around him. Even in sleep he's a bit possessive.
The room smells fresh and a bit like fresh grass, fitting the gardens outside, and it's so different from the motels. He sighs contently and feels rather refreshed, energetic even. He runs his hand over Erik's arm around him, smiling.]
Wake up.
[ He whispers into Erik's mind, intertwining their minds not unlike their arms at the moment. They didn't get to sleep together for pretty much the entire experience in the city, and then Charles has been busy doing various things in the aftermath. Having a sleepy morning with his love feels like the perfect way to start this.]
no subject
Besides, they may have come here with a purpose in mind, but he's also thinking of this as a little vacation, some time off where he gets to have Charles entirely to himself. Lord knows there's plenty to keep them both incredibly busy back in Panorama.
Sleep comes easily as soon as his head touches the pillow, all the more so with the warmth of Charles's body against his own. Both an early riser and a light sleeper, as soon as Charles stirs, Erik too starts to waken, though he makes no particular effort to move or even speak.
He does let out a soft little hum when Charles slips into his mind, lips curled into a faint smile. The scent filling his nose leaves him in an even better mood than before. He's sure to love the sight once he opens his eyes, but he's delaying that for a bit. ]
I am awake.
[ His arm curls tighter around Charles for a moment, and he tips his head to bury his nose into Charles's hair. ]
Good morning.
no subject
He's very social and active, and while that's his preferred way of living, having a vacation with Erik is absolutely needed. They've had a lot going on, and he wants to lounge with him and have couple time. He's lucky to be with someone who knows how he is. He's lucky in many ways. He's thought about that a few times since hearing about Logan's break up and seeing the aftermath with Karen over it. He and Erik will never break up here, but it's left him even more grateful for it.
He smiles and hooks his arm up to ruffle fingers into Erik's hair, caressing through it. To think he used to fantasize about this, and still wouldn't know how perfect it truly would feel in reality. They'll never have the perfection that would be Erik in the mansion again, part of the X-Men, but this is close to it. ]
I plan on talking to the wood seller today. But it can be later.
[ Acreage is not a place that is open until 10 pm like the city, but this is early morning, they have plenty of time. There is a carpenter in the city who has taken a liking to Charles and if he brings him wood material, he's willing to build him furniture. They need an outdoor patio idea for the community center.]
no subject
Things here may be far from perfect, but Erik gets to have so much here that he knows he wouldn't back in their world. Not only a relationship with the love of his life, but also the opportunity that he threw away of working beside him. Whatever dreams they had for mutants, things they would get to do together as a team, do seem a little different here, but in a way they've come true. What a fool he was before. But a lucky one, having been granted a second chance.
His lips curl into a wider smile at those words, and he finally opens his eyes, propping himself up on his elbow so he can look down at Charles's face. ]
Absolutely. I'm not letting you leave this bed so soon.
[ Especially after so many nights apart. They both deserve this. There will be plenty of time to go out and take care of business later. He leans down to press his lips to Charles's in a good morning kiss, fingers weaving into his hair. ]
no subject
In truth, he missed having a full life. After those years declining into depression and addiction, he thought living in isolation was never going to change. Now he's back on task and it feels amazing. He regrets that time, but also thinks it was necessary to bring him here. To truly appreciate where he is. (Sometimes he gets restless wishing for the future he had, but he doesn't let it hold him back.)
He laughs and kisses Erik back, not minding the morning breath. At this point it may as well be sweet with how often he gets to linger in the daylight hours with Erik. It happens less than he'd like, so he's going to enjoy it. It takes a little effort for Charles to move his legs along with his body to be on his back, it's normal by now so no problem, and reaches out to brush his fingers through Erik's hair too, sending them both into the astral plane with a tiny touch.
And it's an exact mimic of where they are now. The same room, every detail down, but he can tug Erik on top of him where he can feel him.]
Shopping