"Of course I missed you. Who else bakes for me? Erik certainly won't." Charles was relieved to see that the teasing continued unabated in person and seemed as genuine as ever. It was a good sign for Raven's mental health. If she was in a mood to tease then she wasn't so distressed by their situation as to be transported outside of herself.
Charles followed Raven to the couch, briefly pausing on the way to collect a heavy silver-backed hairbrush from a little night table. He sat with one leg over the over with the hairbrush beside him as he unwrapped his cupcake: icing and hair ought not to mix on general principle, and Raven took deserved pride in her hair.
"Yes, sister dear," Charles said, putting his arm around Raven's shoulders over the back of the couch, "You have my full attention. Talk to me."