secretasshole | 018 웃 VIDEO

[David has been in the infirmary since the door opened. As an inmate - both here and on the other Barge - he hasn't had access to any of the dangerous supplies, but he's done his best to keep things tidy and organized, ready for the (inevitable) flood of people who will be filing in with the injured and the dead.

When the Barge rights itself, he blinks and takes a moment to take stock of the situation before clicking on his communicator.]

The infirmary is open, and back to normal, if anyone is in need of medical attention. The death toll also appears to be functional once more.

Dr. Banner, I would appreciate hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

[Private to Erik]

[And now he clicks on a filter, and is providing you with a view of a cleaned up, clearly alive if unconscious Charles, tucked into a bed in the infirmary.]

I hope you're well.

[ooc: David is available for spam, but since he is not officially on infirmary duty, he doesn't have access to things like painkillers. Still, he will happily(ish...) bring you other things if you ask nicely. c:]

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[They're his favorite outfit, and that registers in the periphery as Erik stands, taking the pile. There's a moment where he's distracted, almost confused by David's return: his thoughts have wandered firmly back to the other Barge. He's been giving himself a terrible headache trying to sort it out.]

They're fine. Thank you. [He takes a step toward the bathrooms, then pauses, glancing at Charles. He wants to ask David to stay with him, but that feels like too much.]

[He doesn't have to ask: that look makes it perfectly clear that he's reluctant to leave his friend, and it isn't as if David has anywhere else he needs to be.]

I'll stay with Dr. Xavier until you return. I can also clean your old clothes, if you'd like. [Or destroy them, if they turn out to be unsalvageable. Or maybe just an unpleasant reminder of something he'd rather move on from.]

No, that's fine. [His mouth twists just a little, a wry hint.] I asked you to take care of him, not me. [A nod of thanks, one more glance at Charles, and he turns to head for the washroom. He changes quickly, dropping his bloody clothes in the waste basket when he's done. He shrugs the jacket on, too, though he can't decide if the chill he feels is psychosomatic or not.

He returns after he's splashed water on his face and fixed his hair as best he can. He looks better, though he didn't look particularly bad when he arrived.]

Why did you stay?

[The question is out almost before he thinks it, but he doesn't try to take it back despite the lack of lead up. He stands behind the chair he'd claimed as his own, hands on its back as he looks from Charles to his metallic twin.]

[For a moment, he's tempted to just repeat what he'd said before: Erik had asked him to, so he had, but he knows that's not the answer the man is looking for, so he reaches for something else.]

You have been consistently tolerant and understanding of both myself and my beliefs, when very few others have done the same. I sincerely appreciate that. And as it's readily apparent to anyone that Dr. Xavier is extremely important to you, and you to him, seemingly regardless of which reality the Barge is forcing you to experience, I wanted to do what I could to help you.

[Erik isn't one for expressions of gratitude: he's bad at it. It's uncomfortable, recognizing that moment where you needed someone else's help. His whole life has taught him not to accept assistance from others: they will betray you, they will serve their own interests, so you must serve your own.

That has been changing, slowly and steadily, and it would feel a touch alarming to look back on - so he doesn't. He offers his hand to his blond twin.]

Thank you, David.

[David regards the hand for a moment with something like confusion, because it's just such an unexpected gesture. It's something people do for a colleague, an equal, not something you view as an appliance.

But then again, maybe it isn't, coming from Erik, and he accepts it with a small, genuine smile.

It's good to know that he can help someone, and still be treated like a person, not a thing.]

You're welcome.

[He clasps tight, maybe too tight, but that doesn't matter. He's grateful, and he only has so many ways to express himself.

Besides, David can handle a tight hand shake.

Slowly, the smile is returned. It's been a long time since he thought of David as some hideous representation of Aryan success: he's his own man, however he wants to define man.]

You don't have to stay, [he says when he finally lets go. It's not a dismissal: it's an acceptance of whatever David wants to do.]

[It's a good feeling, and it reinforces that he made the right choice. Not that he had thought it would backfire on him, but it's still good to realize.]

I've offered to assist Dr. Banner until things have calmed down. [Or until Bruce pisses him off enough to quit, whichever comes first.]

So if you're in need of anything else, I won't be too far.

[Erik nods; he doesn't say thank you again, doesn't give him more than a small smile. But he's made the gesture that needed to be made, and though he doubts he'll need anything, he trusts that David will be uncomfortably attentive.

He settles down in a chair by Charles' bedside, and waits.]

["Uncomfortably" is probably the wrong word. Erik's an adult who's more than capable of looking after himself, even if he's recovering from pretty intense personal tragedy, so he'll keep an eye out without hovering.

That said, he might drop off food at some point.]

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