markedformore | (no subject)

One of Erik's steady routines has become a drink at eight PM, after dinner, at the closest bar to his apartment. Since Neil has re-opened his bar, he's transferred his patronage there, given his loyalty to the man (or perhaps it's merely a sense of shared commiseration given their last shared home). Tonight is no different. At eight, he's found his way to the bar and has ordered himself a beer, choosing to drink light tonight. It's become a respite for his thoughts and with Charles taking his serum, those thoughts have free reign in a way they rarely have since the island.

There, he had no worry of Charles diving into his mind to search and find the secrets he's been shielding (from what he had done when sent back to that camp, how he had nearly jumped off a building, his feelings for Rogue and much deeper than that, much deeper than all of it, his feelings when it comes to Charles). It's been frustrating to keep those thoughts locked up, knowing that only shielding can keep Charles out, but with the serum at play, he needs not worry about that.

It's why he feels capable of having a second, then a third beer, scoffing wryly as he thinks of the ones they'd shared on the road during their recruitments.

Time's passed a great deal for him and doubly so for Charles.

The world is no longer what it used to be.

Threaded | Flat

It had been debated, between he and Hank, just how keen the addictive properties of the serum were. It shouldn't have created physical dependence, Hank had assured him, but psychological dependence? That was clearly another story.

There were five doses left. Or there had been, the previous night. He injected one, perhaps to spite Erik and all his petty judgement. He injected one to drown out the noise of his students, though the day was Saturday and he had no reason to be on campus. He took the serum and spent the day drinking, though he'd thought he was beyond all this. He'd let go of his past, had seen the call for peace in the future, but he could already feel himself pissing it all away.

Fixing the broken pieces of himself wasn't as simple as he'd hoped.

He'd come to this place, despite knowing that this dosage wouldn't last much longer, scaling the steps heavily and saddling up to the bar.

"Scotch, neat," he said, his shoulders flagging when his focus shifted to his left, bringing Erik into focus.

"Bugger."