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[balancingminds]

Charles is tired but all the thoughts about Lecter in Milliways make him feel like he should be available if anyone needs him.

His shields are a little stronger than normal as he sits and reads through a stack of scientific journals with a glass of Scotch.

(OOC: He's passively listening but his shields are up more than normal so he will only hear thoughts if someone's within about twenty feet of him. All threads take place before Guppy's.)

Comments

[electro_kinetic]

Coming by is a Noriko with a clipboard, filled with messy design sketches of some kind of fountain. She's still working on the idea, though as she's in a good mood she stops near Charles.

"You look like you're in a fabulous mood, Professor," she says, pulling her ponytail over a shoulder with a chime from the bells on the end of the flowers in her hair.

[balancingminds]

He looks up from his journal at her, "Yes, a lot of people I know are currently unhappy."

Its surprising she hasn't noticed it, it feels to him like there's this cloud of nervousness and fear in the air.

[electro_kinetic]

She resists saying that if he's around X-Men for long, everyone feels that way, though she definitely thinks it. "About anything in particular?"

Noriko's been around people who're nervous and afraid a lot lately; the Legacy Virus and its fallout took their toll on everyone, affected directly or not. It's part of the package that comes with her world; not exactly a vacation trip.

[balancingminds]

"Its not something I'm at liberty to speak of, because I'm only tangentially involved,"

Guppy is doing his best to proceed in what he thinks is best and Charles knows telling more people won't help, it will only make the situation worse.

[electro_kinetic]

Well that's not a familiar phrase at all, nope. "...Fair enough," Noriko says, though she wonders what's upsetting him.

"What are you reading?" Distraction generally works to improve mood, if nothing else.

[inspector_blueeyes]

David is nursing a pot of tea at a table not far away, his eyes half closed. His mind is a quiet storm of discomfort, mostly centring around a handsome young man with warm brown eyes. It's clear his thoughts make him feel deeply guilty.

[balancingminds]

The quiet of his discomfort makes Charles look up and he lifts his glass to David in greeting.

[inspector_blueeyes]

David returns the gesture with a polite nod, his thoughts put aside in a moment of analysing the gentleman greeting him. Nothing malicious, simply the reflective action of a seasoned detective. "Good evening."

[balancingminds]

At the moment, Charles is the picture of a tired academic with his journals and his drink,

"Hello, I hope its a good one for you."

[inspector_blueeyes]

Comfortably wealthy and well educated. And friendly confident too. David muses casual if Charles was political.

"Regrettably unproductive." He sighs. "I fear I'll get little done this evening. Yourself?"

[cook_the_rude]

One of the people passing by Charles tonight is Dr. Lecter himself, carrying a small stack of cookbooks and thinking about the recipes in them. His thoughts are dwelling on a particular aspic with pineapples and chicken at the moment.

[balancingminds]

Charles feels his mind, takes a long drink and keeps reading, he has no desire to interact with Lecter unless he has to.

[cook_the_rude]

... the enzymes in the pineapple helped to make the meat as tender as chicken ought to be. Very fine, white meat.

Then, Dr. Lecter's thoughts turn to upstairs, and to the place in his book-case where he's going to put the cookbooks, and to shifting around a few things in his office. Perhaps another book-case?

[balancingminds]

And Charles continues to ignore him, there are some interesting develops in understand how the mind functions.

[cook_the_rude]

... perhaps a taller book-case even. This is an ideal place for keeping some of the books he wouldn't like to lose in the oncoming midden-hit-windmill situation.

He walks up the stairs to the landing, and then he turns to look back at the bar. Patrons' faces flash before his eyes, with names and information attached.

Charles Xavier. Telepath. He is looking straight at Charles, and his mind's eye zooms in closely on his face, and the journal he is reading.

Then, Dr. Lecter turns the corner of the landing, continues upstairs, and is gone.-

[guppy_sandhu]

It must be rough for Charles having to feel all the negative thoughts around here.

Guppy looks somewhat sheepish, when he approaches, and sits opposite Charles.

"Hey. You got a minute?"

[balancingminds]

Its part of who he is and he smiles at Guppy, "Yes, I do."

[guppy_sandhu]

Hesitation, then.

"Please would you help me?"

[balancingminds]

"Of course. What do you need, Guppy?" He reaches out a hand in case that might help.

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy isn't sure if he should take the hand, but he doesn't push it away.

"I haven't slept properly in a week." he says. "Before... you mentioned you might be able to help me get a night without nightmares."

[equal_of_any_man]

Olivier's sitting at a nearby table, sorting herbs and binding them onto drying racks. He's thoughts are a song, sung in his mother's voice. He struggles to hold onto her face sometimes but the sound of her voice never seems to fade. It's a sweet little song in Arabic, repeating and rhythmic, like a child's song and just as happy.

{ooc: thought I'd throw Olivier at him. Charles deserves some happy thoughts.}

[balancingminds]

(OOC: I do love Olivier.)

The music is wonderful and Charles smiles as he looks up to find who's humming it. When he sees the herb sorting, it reminds him of his childhood, that would sometimes happen in the kitchen.

[equal_of_any_man]

Olivier has a terrible singing voice but like most people, he sounds good in his head. The song shifts as he sorts, to something slower and more solemn but no less beautiful. It's a Latin hymn, singing the glory of God. Music makes Olivier's soul soar and it makes his heart lighter to sing it, even in his head.

His hands move swiftly and sure over the work, the smell of herbs wafting.

[balancingminds]

Charles stands up and ends up humming along as he approaches, "They smell wonderful."

[equal_of_any_man]

Olivier smiles warmly, picking up a sprig of lemongrass and offers it to Charles. "I am glad you enjoy it, sir. I know the scent will linger in my hands for hours."