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I can meet you at your place. You don't need to go out for my sake.

Sure. Whatever works for you.

I'll be there in a bit.

[ And true to word, it's another twenty minutes before he's knocking on Erik's door. It looks like he's thrown on the first clothes he could find, a pair of sweatpants and sweatshirt along with sneakers, but he wasn't exactly worried about dressing to impress.

He's also holding a bottle with some nice liquor. Feels like the least he can do when he's bothering Erik so late, but also he really could use a drink right now. ]

[ erik's hair looks a little more mussed than usual, dreadlocks all over the place. he's also shirtless, only wearing a loose pair of pants and a necklace around his neck. there's a ring hanging from it that doesn't quite catch light the way metal would. and of course, all his scars, plain to the naked eye. he jerks his head to show jim can walk in, opening the door. ]

I take it you can't sleep.

[ Jim's lips twitch a little when Erik opens the door. He does always appreciate a nice view. ]

What gave me away?

[ He steps inside, showing Erik the bottle. ]

I have no idea if this is any good, but fetch us a couple glasses and we can find out?

Call it a hunch.

[ erik heads to his cupboard to pull out two wine glasses. His apartment is still pretty bare, not one for personal touches. and of course, he has hidden cabinets. just in case. once a spy.

he places them on the table before pulling out a seat for himself. ]

So. What's keepin' you up?

[ Jim works on opening the bottle, pouring them both a generous amount. The smell is nice, at least, though he doesn't take a sip just yet.

Erik's question draws a sigh from him, and he takes a seat too, leaning back. ]

You know, when I first got here, I thought... this is fine. Just some fluke. I've been stuck on so many planets and moons before and my crew always got me out, so I figured this time shouldn't be any different.

[ Saying it out loud, he almost feels stupid now. For believing that. ]

I don't know. I've looked through the information over and over again, I've searched this city up and down, and I've just... I've learned nothing. I've found nothing, I-- I don't even know where we are in the universe. If it's even the same universe. I have no idea how to contact anyone back in my world.

[ He glances at Erik, pressing his lips thinly. ] This is nothing new to anyone here, I know. Guess I just... hoped. Stupid of me.

[ erik can't fully grasp such a thing, though rationally he can understand the feeling. no one has ever come for him and no one ever will. he doesn't get a grave though that was by choice alone. sometimes he wonders if it would have been better if t'challa had saved him. but that thought dies quickly. t'challa isn't knowing for saving people.

you can have anything in life if you will sacrifice everything else for it. what has his sacrifices gotten him?

erik swirls the drink in his glass. ]

Are you afraid of being trapped? Or you afraid no one will come for you?

[ Jim's quiet for a moment, actually processing that question. It's not that he struggles to know the answer, he's just trying to best express what he's feeling right now. ]

No, I know that my crew will come for me, if there is a way. But that's the thing.

[ What if there's no way? What if they have nowhere to even start searching? What if they don't even know he's gone? ]

I'm just... upset, and frustrated. I'm not used to being this helpless, there's always something I can do. [ A pause, then he adds. ] And... yes, I am scared. That I might be trapped here for much longer than I thought I might be. That there might not even be a way out of here, back home.

[ erik contemplates that quietly. ]

Maybe you need to turn it on its head. Looking for a way in to find a way out. Look, everything's kind of locked out for us, right? The government's kinda tight on details, random shit keeps happening and vanishing before anyone can follow up on it, the moon phases.

You gotta crack the system to get out.

[ Jim nods slowly, taking his glass. Nothing of what Erik is much of a surprise, really. Those same thoughts had occurred to him, that there is a way out of here that people just aren't supposed to know of. ]

Yeah. Just... not really sure where to start, honestly. I feel so... lost.

[ He takes a sip from his drink, humming. ]

At least the drink's good.

Being lost ain't so bad.

[ says the perennially lost boy. erik shrugs. ]

Look, I don't fully get it. I had direction before but I don't have that anymore. For me, breathing's getting me through the day. But that just means there may be more to find.

Are you lost or is what you do leaving you lost?

I've felt like that before. Aimless. No direction. It wasn't easy... finding my way. [ Jim meets Erik's eyes. ] I'm sorry.

[ That he's stuck too in that same state. Especially while being in a new, strange place. ]

Guess I'll have to find my way too. One way or the other.

[ erik shrugs. he's dealing with it better than most, but to be fair. being alive is still surprising. ]

You can still make something here. Something real.

It may not be flight, but at least you can put roots for something to grow.

[ Jim probably would be facing all this a lot differently if he'd died in his world. Just a slight shift in his point in time, and he would've thought he'd have nothing to go back to. So anywhere would've been better than nowhere at all.

He watches Erik quietly for a moment before asking, honestly curious. ]

Have you made something real here, yet?

[ the corners of his lips twitch. erik isn't made for making things. only breaking them. governments, kingdoms, world orders. he learned from the best and became the best. he knew how to beat the privileged at their own game. ]

Not yet. But I'm not in a rush. I've got time in my lungs.

That's good.

[ Not rushing, that is. It does feel like they have plenty of time, here. Too much sometimes, when compared to what Jim's used to. Maybe that's just another reason why he's been feeling low.

With a smile, he adds. ]

Well, I've met you. So it's not all bad.

[ he raises his glass to that, taking a sip. ]

Glad to see I rate so highly. I'm not very good at motivational speeches.

No, you do alright.

[ He chuckles, matching that toast and drinking from his glass as well. ]

My best friend's like that too. Both my best friends, actually. They suck at motivational speeches. But... I don't know, they always manage to help me through tough times, so I think they're good when it matters.

Well, maybe it's not the quality of their speeches.

Just givin' an avenue to be heard.

Maybe it's the same with you.

I appreciate it, by the way, [ He tips his head, as though thanking him. ] I really needed to just... get all that out of my head. Being alone in my room wasn't helping much, either.

[ erik cocks his head. ]

Dunno. Never had that kind of connection.

Well, it's like you said. Maybe you can take the time now to set down those roots and let something grow.

[ It's good advice. Erik should listen to himself, too. ]

[ he shrugs. how well he succeeds there, well . . . erik doesn't know. he's not really looking for those kinds of roots. ]

That's the plan, at any rate.

Solid start.

[ He tips his glass back, downing the rest in one go, then filling it up again. He did bring a whole bottle, so he may as well. ]

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