[IC] Day 37, very late evening

[thexfactor]

[ knocking on Epona's door ]

Comments

[thexfactor]

No, of course not. She never would have hurt anyone. She doesn't have it in her.

[grandstanding]

None of them wanted to. I was the one making the decisions.

But as soon as that Echo forced me to choose your team, I was done. If Star hadn't done that, I would have.

[thexfactor]

[ sucks in a shaky breath ]

[grandstanding]

So don't apologise for what my team felt.

[thexfactor]

[ . . . leaning against him ]

[grandstanding]

[kisses his temple lightly]

[thexfactor]

[ murmurs ]

Thank you.

[grandstanding]

Mmm.

[thexfactor]

[ cupping his face and kissing him lightly ]

[grandstanding]

[kissing him back, arms loose around his waist.]

[thexfactor]

[ keeping it slow and gentle ]

[grandstanding]

[no one is after intense. not tonight.]

[thexfactor]

[ pretty much ]

[grandstanding]

[he breaks the kiss after a time, placing a hand against Charles's cheek.]

[thexfactor]

[ tilts to kiss his palm ]

[grandstanding]

[uses his other hand to trace the line of Charles's jaw.]

[thexfactor]

[ closes his eyes at that ]

[grandstanding]

[his fingers stop under his chin, and he tilts his face up to kiss him again.]

[thexfactor]

[ kissing back ]

[grandstanding]

[he keeps it light, but steady.]

[thexfactor]

[ curling his arms around Erik's neck ]

[grandstanding]

[mmm. pulls apart again.]

Do you feel like being sober tonight?

[thexfactor]

Not particularly, no.

[grandstanding]

Good.

[pulls a bottle of whisky out of the bag, and then two glasses.]

[thexfactor]

You were certainly prepared.