universal_charm | SANCTUM IC CONTACT

All right, you do look good - for an almost forty-year old.

_{[ It was the truth, at least. Charles didn't look bad, he wouldn't
have pegged him as being near forty on his own. ]}

Uh, so the conspiracy theorists were right. Well, at least that LHO didn't do it. And that is some serious jail time, jeeze.

_{[ He raised his brows at the mention of parents. That seemed to come
up rather quick between him and a few people he knew, but it wasn't like he
was keeping his own past a secret. ]}

My mom told me, once, that my dad agreed to to my names before he died. But I never knew him - died when I was born, and my mom wasn't around much so I couldn't really quiz her on it. So I'm either named after my grandfathers, or I'm named after several English kings and a Roman general.

_{[ Try at all. And he was not even going to mention his older brother.
He almost never did. Out of everyone, he had hurt the most. ]}

I'll take the compliment.

[He probably looked younger underneath the hobo getup and facial hair.]

He was in the middle of several life sentences when last I checked.

[Charles had no personal attachment to his relationship with his parents. The only picture he had taken with his mother had the two of them standing several feet apart. She never lifted a finger to do anything for him, unless she ordered the maids to do it.]

I am terribly sorry about your father, regardless--it seems like we have a few things in common.

_{[ Hobo chic was nice, but Kirk was sure he'd look nicer with a proper
hair cut. But that was a challenge for another day, maybe. ]}

It's okay. I didn't ever know him. He's just a name on paper.

_{[ There's no bitterness there, just bald fact. He was a hero, but
that's all he really knew of him. An image in a book, some glowing words on
paper. It was hard to feel any sort of love for something like that. ]}

Hopefully we have a bit more in common than crap childhoods and questionable middle names.

[Charles had no idea that his hairstyle was really such a commodity, but he did have a nice head of wavy hair underneath his hippy mop...so perhaps he could see the appeal? As long as no one threatened to shave his head it was fine.]

I can relate...but for a man who was simply a name on a piece of paper I inherited quite a bit of the expectations.

[If Charles was bitter with anyone then he didn't let it show. As of now he had no parents, he had an adopted sister who softened his hardships greatly, but that was a long story.]

That depends on how much you have in common with a nerd, I read books and play chess in my spare time.

_{[ Well if he cleaned it up it would be even more attractive. Hobo chic is nice, but it doesn't every inch of you must be true to form. It's not nearly as sexy if your fingers get caught in a tangle when stroking some's hair. ]}

Oh come on, I wouldn't use the word nerd. Besides, in case you haven't noticed, I'm making a business on building electronics and computer parts. In some ways I'm the definition of a nerd.

I'm actually fairly decent at 3D chess too.

[Oh come on, Charles combs his fingers through his hair every morning after waking up, though Charles might have to wonder why you're caught up in fingers being able to run through his hair.]

I use it because Raven used to...ah...but then she'd want me to read my thesis to her at night because it sent her right off. And I don't think being handy with electronics is nerdy...it's pretty groovy actually.

Well, when I came here so did my chess board...so...

_{[ Fingers are not a comb. And because it's nice hair.}

He couldn't help but laugh a little at that explanation though. ]

I'm sure it wasn't that boring. And thank you, I like to think it's pretty groovy too.

If you ever want a game, call me up.

[They do the trick in a pinch. And...he's flattered.]

Not to me, I suppose, but she did fall asleep. You're welcome.

I'll remember...I'm used to playing by myself, so it will be refreshing to play against an opponent.

_{[ Well, you know, give it a wash, a good brushing. It's quite the mane. Should make use of it. ]}

I'll have to knock the dust off my skills, so go easy on me the first couple times, okay? Been awhile since I've played regular chess.

[Pff...fine, perhaps he'll wake up one morning with an epiphany and a comb.]

You don't like it rough? [Okay, interesting choice of words, but still.] I no longer have my telepathy, so this might actually be a fair fight. Though I never did use my abilities in a game since it made it less fun...

...have you ever played chess by yourself?

_{[ It could happen. That or a shampoo and comb intervention. ]}

I didn't say that. _{[ He's grinning at you Charles, his mind went to
the bad place this time. ]}

No, never by myself. Usually played it against an AI - or is that playing by yourself? I would grab Spock when there was down time on the Enterprise.

[He needs all kinds of intervention.]

I might have picked up on an implication. [It's okay to pretend he doesn't notice right?]

Well more specifically than playing by yourself is playing against yourself which I absolutely recommend.

_{[ Baby steps, Charles. ]}

Really? I dunno, it sounds... odd. I mean, you know what you're going to do, right? Feels like it would be less exciting.

Well that is the assumption, but playing yourself is actually beneficial and strong players do this quite a lot. It's a stiff mental exercise, more so than most tend to realize at first. I can play a single game against myself for several days

Uh. I don't know if I have the attention span for that. On the Enterprise there was never time.

I don't actually spend days at a time sitting at a table playing myself. It's something I go back to at my leisure.

I would kind of hope not. If you did, I might actually have to call you a nerd.

_{[ He reached forward and lightly bumped his fist against Charle's
shoulder with a small laugh. ]}

I might actually not be offended by that...though I've had to write three dissertations. I think I spent days writing those, probably wouldn't have eaten or slept if it wasn't for...ah...well...not that important.

[And Charles to his fist bump to the shoulder like a man, not that he was entirely used to this kind of contact.]

I've never written one, but I've read quite a few.

_{[ He could write one if he wanted, just... well, that wasn't his
thing. He was a smart guy after all, he just never had a good outlet for it
until he got into Star Fleet. Being smart and angry hadn't worked so well
for him growing up. ]}

Wasn't for what?

That's why most people prefer masters or ABDs, it's certainly daunting.

[If Charles didn't have his original idea inspired by his mutation he wasn't at all certain he would have attained as many degrees either.]

Sister. My sister...her presence softened the hardship.

I don't think I could sit at a desk long enough to write it. Maybe if they accepted a video format...

_{[ He's quite for a second at that. ]}

I'm sorry. It... I know it sucks, having your sibling missing. But at least she's not here, right? Being mad a lab rat.

You've a very active mind and body, you need to always be doing something physically. I suspect a desk would drive you stir crazy.

[Charles has a distant look about him for a moment before he's drawn back to the conversation.]

Well...her heart and soul belong to someone else. I haven't seen her in a very long time.

Well, depends on what I do with the desk.

_{[ And at this he stepped in closer to Charles, that grin back, promising many things if Charles would but take them. It softened though when he saw the distant look, and he couldn't quite keep himself from tucking a stray bit of hair behind his ear. ]}

Only thing I can keep saying is sorry. I know it doesn't help, but... always some hope, right?

I have to give you that one. Desks are versatile.

[And Kirk was very pretty and it was very tempting, but at the moment Charles was still reeling. Not a telepath anymore he wasn't attuned with what people called flirting, joking, and what was meant to be comforting. He figures Kirk is doing the latter.

He's out of practice.]

You don't have to, I suppose I've spent a lot of time feeling pretty sorry for myself. Being here gives it some perspective.

So long as the people are too, they can be a lot of fun.

_{[ He chuckled, an image floating through his head that was so very not
appropriate for a work engagement. Though frankly did it matter at this
point? ]}

Mmm, so long as you don't let it become a twenty-four seven pity party, I think I'll give you a pass. It's hard being without your sibling, and it's okay to miss her. It would be weird if you didn't.

_{[ He knew that particular ache, though his was colored more now with
the odd flash of rage when he thought of it that quickly cooled to
indifference. Like the rest of his family, he just couldn't muster the
energy to care anymore. ]}

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