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FORTY FOUR ✖ VIDEO
[So, it's the year anniversary of Charles and Erik being on the Barge. Clearly, the best way to celebrate? Is to get completely wasted.
It's pretty apparent that this is an accidental post: Charles seems to have elbowed the communicator off the table by accident and for a moment, you're getting a good view of the ceiling of the pub and can hear Charles and Erik laughing somewhere close by, but off screen.]
No, no, I'm serious! It works, you have to trust me- [Charles keeps laughing as he leans down and scoops up the communicator, not noticing that it's been turned on and deposits it back on the counter, so now you can see both of them, even if it's still kind of a weird angle. They are both pretty clearly drunk and getting silly, although definitely Charles more so than Erik.] It's, you have to- No I'm serious, Erik, don't make that face at me, just listen-
[Erik is totally making a face and you need to deal with it, he is rolling his eyes and everything.] Come on, Charles, nothing you say will convince me that you have actually found genetics pick up lines useful.
[It's kind of hard to see from this angle, but Charles is making a face back, even though he looks like he's about five seconds away from cracking up, anyway.] Well, I was already in England, so you can't blame the accent.
No, I used to comment on their hair or their eyes or something and say it's a very groovy mutation, and explain that "mutant" is a compliment because mutation took us from single celled organisms to the dominant form of reproductive life on the planet. [He shrugs, still grinning sort of smugly and takes another drink.] Women like an academic.
[It's Erik's turn to laugh and be silly, shaking his head on the edge of the screen.] Emphasis on reproductive life, no doubt. And that works?
[Charles nods and puts his glass down, obviously trying not to grin.] Want to hear another one? I promise it's worked, you should use it sometime.
[Erik just gestures expansively: GO ON. Which is really just making Charles try to hold back laughter again, trying to hold himself together long enough to tell it and more or less half succeeding.]
If I were an enzyme, I'd be a DNA helicase. That way, I could unzip your genes.
[And there is a loud, LOUD groan, and Erik is waving the hand holding his beer about, half threatening to spill it all over, while Charles has completely lost composure and started laughing as Erik responds.] You're joking. You've used that? You must have been slapped at least once!
[Charles shrugs again, still basically giggling.] It gets a laugh if nothing else.
It's pretty apparent that this is an accidental post: Charles seems to have elbowed the communicator off the table by accident and for a moment, you're getting a good view of the ceiling of the pub and can hear Charles and Erik laughing somewhere close by, but off screen.]
No, no, I'm serious! It works, you have to trust me- [Charles keeps laughing as he leans down and scoops up the communicator, not noticing that it's been turned on and deposits it back on the counter, so now you can see both of them, even if it's still kind of a weird angle. They are both pretty clearly drunk and getting silly, although definitely Charles more so than Erik.] It's, you have to- No I'm serious, Erik, don't make that face at me, just listen-
[Erik is totally making a face and you need to deal with it, he is rolling his eyes and everything.] Come on, Charles, nothing you say will convince me that you have actually found genetics pick up lines useful.
[It's kind of hard to see from this angle, but Charles is making a face back, even though he looks like he's about five seconds away from cracking up, anyway.] Well, I was already in England, so you can't blame the accent.
No, I used to comment on their hair or their eyes or something and say it's a very groovy mutation, and explain that "mutant" is a compliment because mutation took us from single celled organisms to the dominant form of reproductive life on the planet. [He shrugs, still grinning sort of smugly and takes another drink.] Women like an academic.
[It's Erik's turn to laugh and be silly, shaking his head on the edge of the screen.] Emphasis on reproductive life, no doubt. And that works?
[Charles nods and puts his glass down, obviously trying not to grin.] Want to hear another one? I promise it's worked, you should use it sometime.
[Erik just gestures expansively: GO ON. Which is really just making Charles try to hold back laughter again, trying to hold himself together long enough to tell it and more or less half succeeding.]
If I were an enzyme, I'd be a DNA helicase. That way, I could unzip your genes.
[And there is a loud, LOUD groan, and Erik is waving the hand holding his beer about, half threatening to spill it all over, while Charles has completely lost composure and started laughing as Erik responds.] You're joking. You've used that? You must have been slapped at least once!
[Charles shrugs again, still basically giggling.] It gets a laugh if nothing else.
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Right now, the focus was definitely more on making it back to their rooms and whether or not Erik was actually bothering to learn the words to "Ten Thousand Men of Harvard" or if he was just humoring him. This is serious business, Erik. Charles had maybe thrown an arm over his friend's shoulders at some point, which he would deny was for any amount of support if asked, even though he was definitely not even bothering to try walking in a straight line at this point.
And he's singing rather loudly at this point. Sorry, anyone in the vicinity.]
Ten thousand men of Harvard
want victory today,
For they know that o'er old Eli
Fair Harvard holds sway.
So then we'll conquer old Eli's men,
And when the game ends, we'll sing again:
Ten thousand men of Harvard
gained victory today!
[He stops, laughing, and glances over at Erik, grinning. There's definitely been a slur to his words for a while at this point, but he's still a very articulate drunk.] There's also another verse, written in 1953, which is dog Latin. The opening line "illegitimum non carborundum" loosely means "don't let the bastards grind you down." The phrase originally popped up during the Second World War thanks to British army intelligence.
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I like that, what was it? Illegitmon carbodum? [New motto. 8|]
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"Illegitimum non carborundum". You should put that on your family crest. That or that other one, that um- Bachmann quote. ["Rise up and walk", he provided telepathically, even though Erik would likely know what he was talking about anyway.] That was better, by the way. I'll make a Harvard man out of you yet.
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Honorary student. Makes me feel like a child again. [But he's smiling, so really he just means he feels too old to be a student, rather than having anything to do with his childhood.]
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He'd been about to say Erik should come with him to a football game at Harvard when they got home, but Merlin's words from earlier in the day caught up to him, reminding him that this couldn't happen back home the way things were. Without the Barge, they would never have any of this.
But at least they still had a chance that maybe things could be like that. All Merlin had to look forward to when he got home was knowing Arthur was gone, and Charles could remember that ache, knowing that person who mattered most was gone and might not come back. At least Erik had. Again, they were lucky to be here. It wasn't something he often thought, but it was true.
So he considered what to say, staring at him for a long moment.] I know I've said something like this before, so I'm sorry for being a bit repetitive, but something's come up that reminded me that I'm really not sure what I'd do without you, and I'm not particularly interested in finding out.
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Clapping his hand on Charles' shoulder, he laughed a little - not dismissively, not entirely, but in a way that said everything was all right, between them. As all right as they could be.]
I'm starting to think you're bent on making the Barge think we're romantically involved, [he said dryly, because it was easier. But it wasn't very fair, either, so he should Charles a little and started forward again, pulling his friend with him.] I don't think you'll have to, in any case.
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[And it almost seemed like he was going to leave it at that, go back to being cheerful, obnoxious and very drunk as they kept walking. But he wanted to explain, even if he'd promised he wasn't supposed to tell anyone, but really, anyone who told him not to say anything about something should know it would probably end up back with Erik eventually. There weren't exactly many boundaries in this relationship.]
Arthur's dead. Back home, I mean. For Merlin. You can't tell anyone.
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Squeezing the bridge of his nose, eyes closed, Erik shook his head. His contact with Merlin and Arthur was minimal, but occasionally Charles spoke of them, and he listened; they were not his friends, but they were important to Charles, and he listened well. Arthur dying - King Arthur - was no small deal.]
What happened?
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I didn't ask. I'm not sure if I want to know. [Because he was very certain it involved Morgana, and he wasn't overly interested in hearing about how far gone she'd become, by the time Merlin returned from.
He was quiet for a moment before making another face, more at his own expense this time.]
Sorry. I'm not usually so maudlin when I'm ridiculously drunk. This was fun, though. I'd say we should do it more often, but I'm fairly certain I'll change my mind tomorrow morning.
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If I sound [telepathically] like I in agony and desperately want to die, don't be alarmed. [He tugs at Charles again, moving down the hall toward their cabins.]
I won't even mock you for being particularly maudlin. Possibly because I anticipate the aforementioned agony. [What he really means, and can't quite say, is that he understands why Charles blurted it out; he isn't going anywhere. Quite literally.]
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Noted. Not that I'd probably be able to come to your rescue until I've gotten some coffee or something, anyway. [And even then, who knows. It had been a while since he'd gotten just this drunk, and he's expecting it to hit him like a freight train.
He doesn't bother saying it again, but does project some affection and appreciation towards Erik anyway, when he picks up on that understanding. The connection's fuzzy and gentle, because again, pretty drunk, but it's still something.]
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Erik, I'll have you know I'm quite familiar with how to attempt warding off a hangover. I did have an awful lot of them when I wasn't neck deep in biology coursework. [Sometimes it's amazing to think he actually got his degree(s). B(]
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And how many degrees did you manage to acquire, again? [No seriously, how did he do it B(]
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And yet you still choose to put up with me. [And hey look, the door is open. Be proud.]
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My mutation is tolerating you. [Well done, sir, Erik's helping him inside, but you're on your own where pjs are concerned bro B(]
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He finally lets go of Erik and more or less just collapses face first on the mattress and definitely does not look like he's in the mood to move again any time soon.] Sweaters are very comfortable, you know. Do you need any help getting next door?
[Not. That he's going to be that helpful necessarily but. He can rally for your sake. B(]
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I'll be fine. [And he is not-quite-stumbling for the exit.] Good luck in the morning. We'll both need it. [Mistakes were definitely made. B(]