003. video.

[sorrycharles]

Prior to the jump, an emissary of our local human population melted the door to my quarters shut.

[ Erik glances aside and then back again. Terse. ]

Accidentally, [ he qualifies. He does not make much of an effort to look (or sound) convincing on that account. ]

If anyone has a means to forcing it open again, I have my favor to offer in return. Contact me via this message or in private.

[ There must be an implied thank you somewhere in his reach cross-body to terminate the transmission. Surely. Those with prying eyes may notice an off-color tinge under his arm, and there’s a glimpse of faded blood stained brown at the sleeve. Even after frequent washing, it looks as though he’s been wearing the same shirt for several days. ]

Comments

video » comm encryption

[unbalancer]

[ Bonnie's still sitting at her console, this time without a bottle in front of her. And she is sober by now. Day-drinking had ended. ]

I could be of help.

video » comm encryption

[sorrycharles]

How might you be of help, [ Erik doesn’t-quite-echo back to her, flat affect devoid of optimism. It’s hard to tell where he’s at, exactly. Someone else’s quarters, perhaps. ]

video » comm encryption

[unbalancer]

I think I could open it. If not by forcing it open, by fire. [ When she says the next part, it's clear this information is privileged information. ] I'm a witch. [ So, there you go. ] It might be too stuck, but that's what heating it up would be for, right? [ Not that she was an A+ chemistry student. ] I've done smaller spells on board. [ Including a botched locator spell. ] But, I've opened doors before. [ Giant stone doors. ]

encrypted;

[chuffle]

Do I want to know how someone accidentally melts doors shut?

drifting obliviously on your encryption bc 60s

[sorrycharles]

[ Erik rolls a toothpick through his teeth.

He looks like he's only just finished trying to get in himself, worn down. ]

Thermite.

excellent

[chuffle]

Thermite.

How did-

You know what. I don't know, I don't need to know.

[Consider, consider, consider.]

I could take a hand at it.

text;

[redhotsummers]

I can.

text

[sorrycharles]

I know.

At your earliest convenience.

text

[redhotsummers]

You could have just sent me a message privately you know.

Just saying.

[mindtricks]

How did that happen?

( the raised eyebrow is not so much out of curiosity but because of his phrasing. an emissary of our local human population — anderson considers herself human despite her mutation. )

[sorrycharles]

Accidentally.

[ Erik raises his brows right back at her.

Haven't they done this dance already once before? ]

[mindtricks]

What kind of accident.

( are you being deliberately obtuse, erik?

and yes they have, but that does not mean they cannot do it again. )

[klutziness]

First off, how do you accidentally melt a door shut?

[sorrycharles]

You'd have to ask a human.

[klutziness]

[squinty eyes]

I feel like for just a regular person, it'd be super hard to make it an accident.

( video. )

[overthought]

Is it something that someone could just pry open for you or do we need to get it welded off the frame?

[tools tools tools say tools. she's going to rope the master chief in, no matter what.]

Either way, I have someone just right for the job.

[ video ]

[sorrycharles]

I have someone en route who I trust will be capable of removing the door from its frame, [ or simply melting through it, as the case may be. Erik’s expression is inscrutable on the subject of how faithful he is that Alex will succeed. ]

If he’s unsuccessful, welding through may be our only recourse.

[ But. Cortana is blue, and exhaustion aside, Erik sizes her up for a long moment through the screen of his comms device. ] I don’t believe we’ve met.

video;

[doggedly]

[Not interested in the state of your wash, thanks; also impervious to terseness (at least for starters)--but favors for tasks he could do with his eyes closed

yes.]

Easy.

I see you've got your offers, but. [He shrugs, one shouldered, dismissive. Those offers, this shrug suggests, will be totally less effective than this offer, which is superior in all ways. 100% confident of that.] Let me know if they don't work out, mate, 'cos mine definitely will.

[ video ]

[sorrycharles]

[ The Shrug is such that Erik ticks his eyes down to mark the incline of Sirius' shoulder specifically, singularly, independently of the rest of his presence

such as it can be contained

within the frame of his screen.



When he looks up again, he is abrasively unimpressed. ]

I'll be sure to let you know. But, [ but: ]

In the off chance the door is no longer an issue, what else are you good for? [ he smiles -- really more just a show of his bottom teeth. ]

Aside from authoring surveys.

[trusted]

[An emissary of the local-

Right. When Bucky turns the screen on he's staring real hard to figure out exactly what population this guy thinks he's from. Generally, so far as his own experience goes, the people who like to hand out labels are the same as the ones who figure they're above them. And that's a dangerous thing.]

I might know a battering ram.

[His tone's careful, but friendly enough.]

[sorrycharles]

[ Bucky stares hard. Erik stares harder, eyes seething like coals beneath the stoop of his brow. It’s not anger, exactly.

More along the lines of intense, highly-concentrated confusion.

There’s irritation, also. Recognition.


As far as antipathy goes, Erik is queerly intimate for a man he’s never met. ]


Show me your hands.

text. private.

[forgodssake]

any luck?

[text] private

[sorrycharles]

define luck within the context of this shit hole

video.

[debts]

Have you tried knocking?

[ Natasha "Professional Troll" Romanoff. ]

[ video ]

[sorrycharles]

[It’s like flicking pennies at a tiger through the bars of its cage, and the effect on Erik is much the same: a slow burning bristle that bunches in his shoulders and ghosts dangerous behind his eyes.

He glances to her room number. ]