expiationnet | text; un: shades

[Scott's been feeling all kinds of ways since returning to Aldrip. A little off his feet? Not upset exactly, not when he remembers everyone important to him, but it's still a lot. Kind of weird that he's actually older here than back home, and that's not mentioning suddenly getting almost two years of memories shoved inside his head that he completely forgot about until now. But he's trying. A part of him wants to just lie on the bed with Kotone and just take more time to himself, but he figures that he should say something to his friends.

Maybe focusing on them will help. Better than thinking about Alex or how Apocalypse sort of ruined everything back home.

He breathes in, fiddling with his tablet. Something in him wants to change his username from 'shades' to 'cyclops,' but maybe not right now.]

hey, i'm back now. sorry if i worried anyone. a lot happened, like, back home. yeah i went home and came back. i'm okay though.

[None of that sounded super awkward, right.]

if you wanna meet up, i'll be at the diner. you're paying though.

[ooc: Scott's back from his canon update and just Dealing with Stuff. Totally open to threading Scott meeting others in person! Also, he'll be back in regular clothes for the time being, but he will be wearing his visor for now.]

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[One would think that since Scott lives and trains with a teleporter, he wouldn't be surprised by something like this. He manages to catch his friend stepping out of the mirror and--

A small little noise breaks from Scott's throat when Charles is suddenly right here and pulling him into a hug and it's tight enough that it nearly brings something watery to his eyes. Not because it hurts, but because of the implication behind it and how much Charles had missed him since he was gone. He's another solid, significant reminder of the people he left behind in this world and it hurts to think he ever forgot about them in the first place. They've talked about memories and how even if they forget, they'll still carry a part of that person in them, but it's so hard. He just wants to remember everyone. Remember all the people that helped him when he arrived as an angry mutant almost two years ago.

He's still for a couple of seconds before Scott fully returns his hug, arms wrapping tight around his friend as he sucks in a shaky little breath.]

I'll try not to. [Weak laugh.] I'd kind of prefer that, actually.

[ when scott finally hugs him back, charles squeezes his eyes shut, fights against the tears he's refused to let out for the duration of the week — repeating to himself that he'd be back, he'd be back, of course he'd be back. he wouldn't join shinji and mikey and yosuke and so many others in just being gone, like that, because... god, because charles would be devastated, otherwise.

so to have him back, and not just back but with the confirmation that he remembers, still — yeah, excuse him for feeling a little shaky, a little overwhelmed with all the relief that's churning inside him. ]

Great. I'd prefer that, too. [ he keeps holding on, until finally he pulls back, but really just slides his hands to still keep a hold of scott's arms as he smiles at him, a little misty-eyed still. ] Scott, you're my best mate here, you know that, right?

[ in two seconds, he's going to ask about the visor, and about everything he's been through... but now, he needs to make sure scott knows just how much charles really cares about him. ]

[As they pull back, Scott pauses to really take in his friend. His appearance.

He didn't manage to get a good look before being embraced, but he can now see the light veil of water covering his eyes. The genuine smile that's open but also shaken. The grip on him like Charles doesn't want to let go still. All of it leading to how much his friend was worried about him and the ultimate relief that he did end up returning. And it's not like Scott didn't think people would miss him, but having this evidence right in front him-- combined with Charles's admittance you're my best mate, the mutant can feel his lower lip start to tremble.

Charles missed him that much and he really just forgot and--]

I-I know.

[Scott responds, weakly, voice slightly choked up even though he wanted to be the composed one. He was the one that disappeared on all his friends and made them worry, not the other way around. But he can't stop himself, a flicker of red appearing behind his visor as tries to stop himself from crying in front of him. It might be inevitable at this rate, but he's going to try for a little longer.

Or maybe he'll just step forward a little to pull Charles back into another hug.]

Hey, hey, [ he says then, soft and quiet and an attempt at some reassuring, or maybe it's you don't have to feel bad about this said not in so many words; but he's happy to draw scott back into a tight hug, breathing in and out, like just the fact he knows scott is right here and not going anywhere is enough to calm him a little. ]

I refused to give up hope, [ he says when he pulls back, with a small smile. ] I knew you'd come back to us.

[ he wanted to believe it, more like, despite the odds being well against it. ]

[He hugs him tight once more, still so grateful for the solid hold of the other teen's arms around him. It's warm, comforting, at least, those are the attributes Scott associates with Charles, perhaps now more than ever after everything that's happened back home. A sense of belonging that he feels with a few people in this place. He doesn't want to forget it again, or take it for granted.

And if he can comfort Charles at the same time, even better. It's clear that he wants this too. Not every day you see your friend emerging from a mirror, just for you. His friend's been through so much shit and Scott's glad that he can be with him for a bit longer, continue to be there when needed.

He pats the ghost's back with his hand before they pull away once again, Scott smiling back at him with that hint of Emotion, still bordering on something wet.]

Of course. [His voice cracks a little, don't mind him. He tries to cover it up with a cocky little grin, mouth twitching upward.] You guys would be totally lost without me.

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