Players:
Summary: James Proudstar asks Robyn some questions to better understand the student(s).
Date: May 11, 2010
Log Title Curiosity
Rating: Pg
Xavier Mansion - Art Room
The Art Room has pictures of classic artists and small sculptures of famous pieces of art around the room. Any art supply you need may be found in this room, a large variety of paints, charcoals, markers, pencils, clays, canvases, easels, paper, and much more are accessible for the students. A large kelm is in one of the far corners of the room as well. On one side of the art room are a few sewing machines with a large variety of fabrics and sewing supplies for the students as well.
It's early morning and classes haven't started yet, thus why Robyn is in the art room trying to get some work done before he has his day filled with school stuffs. He looks like he's fairly awaked and recently showered so he's been here maybe about fifteen or twenty minutes, but Robyn's already painting away. The cactus vs tiger sculpture has all the base colours there and he's just adding detail and depth. One thing about his works is that Robyn is good at what he does. He's got that artist talent.
Quietly moving about the mansion, Proudstar seems to be getting familiar with areas he's never really visited. Not even so much that he has to visit this area either, but he's making a habit of it to acquaint himself it would seem. For a moment he passes the art room and observes through the door. Even as the young student inside paints away, he looks on in silence. After a quiet respite outside, James finally opens the door, enough to poke his head in for a look. As if to see if anyone else is tucked away in corners painting as well perhaps, but mostly looking at the young lad in side. Finally, "This a bad time?" The call is soft but enough to be heard, as if to check if he might break the concentration of the other should he come in and strike up conversation.
Robyn looks up at from what he's doing, removing the thin paintbrush from the tiger's face. "Oh hello Sir..Warpath..Sir. No, it's not a bad time. I'm just getting some more work done on this before class." It's not that Robyn has to do it for any project, just something that is done for himself. "Sorry about yesterday, with Connor sir. He's just dealing with a lot."
Moving in, there is a nod from James as he listens to the other. Grabbing one of the horses, he flips it around with the neck facing towards the young man rather than the center of the room. As if he were going to draw the boy as a subject, but rather its for convenience for as he sits down, he folds his arms over it lazily as one might the back of a chair when its turned around. "Warpath works, so does James. I'm not a teacher here, unless they want a special lecture on the Apache." Looking between the boy and the painting a moment, he amends to the words offered by the younger. "You have nothing to be sorry about. I am curious though. Is it merely a case of deflected crush, or is there more to Connor that I'm not aware of?"
"I think that's part of it, the deflected crush. Which I knew was gonna end badly as soon as Connor told me." Robyn says as he puts the paintbrush down in a small glass of water he has there. "He's also really OCD and his powers make things hard for him. I dunno, I think it was because he hadn't slept and then went crazy cleaning then went running…James pointed that out to me. I mean, we really are friends, Connor and I. So I'm not going to be mad at him."
"Well," begins James in ponderance, "There is that indeed. You're his friend … what if he'd have done that with another student?" A slight grin from the larger man then, a shrug even. "There's another issue he's having with a roommate as well?" Catching himself, he realizes this may be a little direct. "I'm not trying to pry here Robyn, I think its a concern for both his safety and the safety of others. I think he's in the best place he can be for his situation, but it might need a little help to ease the situation for him and the students around him."
"His roommate's a jerk." Robyn says flatly, it's rare for him to just say that but he didn't get a good first impression off of Quenton. "I only met him once but…Connor was trying to explain to Quenton about his OCD issues and how he's trying to deal with them and Quenton was like 'just leave me the f alone'." Robyn explains and sighs. "And it's like I dunno, it seemed like he just wanted to be a jerk and get people to dislike him."
A silent nod again from James, "Sounds like I should speak with this Quenton fellow then." As if that settles the case regarding connor. Though he doesn't get up, instead he returns, "And how about you Robyn, your chest feeling ok? Nothing too bad today?" Sincerity in his voice, James looks into the other eyes as if trying to read more out of the answer that he may provide rather than simple yes/no or direct approach.
Robyn looks down at his chest, kind of on instinct, and shrugs. "It's fine, just hurt at lot at first. My shoulder is actually a bit more sore from when he wrenched it behind my back. I think I was just really confused at first." He says running a hand through his still damp hair. "I dunno, I just met him once but I offered to Connor that we can see if we can swap roommates or something, cause even after yesterday, I don't still don't mind rooming with him. I think I can deal with his OCD issues."
"Understandable, I talked with James a little after you two left, I'll put a word in for the room transfer. Worse case, Connor can borrow my bed until we figure out the situation with Quenton." Leaning more onto the neck of the horse now, he holds himself back just a little from placing all his weight on it. "However … I grew up in the shadow of my brother. He was always better than me. How are you doing after that display on the lawn?"
"A lot better. I think I just wanted answers yesterday and was just getting more pissed that I wasn't getting any." Robyn says as after getting attacked by someone he considers a good friend just left him confused. "I still don't get why he had the urdge to defend himself, not like I can do much." Pyscially that is, Robyn is about as strong as he looks, which isn't that much. "I don't have any siblings, well…I didn't grow up with any siblings. I found out I have a twin brother but I don't know him much."
Rubbing a hand under his chin, James responds first, "I'm not sure yet why he attacked you either. I'm not completely familiar with his OCD. We'll just have to keep an eye on him for the now." Unfolding his arms, he grips the wood of the horse with his hands and leans back slightly. "It wasn't a planned thing he did Robyn, it was a reaction. I don't know what he's been through in his life." The brief pause indicates nothing else can be said from his standpoint. "As for you though, you're training with a squad … have you been training much in self defense?" Again blunt, but no gentle way to approach that topic perhaps.
Robyn shakes his head at the last question. "No, but I'm gonna talk to Forge. We've just had three team leaders since I've been here." And that's been just over a year. "Rob was cool, Van was…not cool, and Forge is cool. All my powers are mental based, I'm a psonic but without the telepathy or telekinesis." Which most people seem to assume when you're powers are mental based. "I can posses people so I've been working on more defending my mind then myself physically but I need to do both.
One corner on his mouth turns up with a smile as James listens and nods. "You've that going for you, mental defenses. I could train more in that regard, but …" trailing off, he perches both brows in a noncommitted fashion. "Well, you are part of a team and it includes working together. While you may have some who can take care of the physical work and defend you, there's always those times when you're alone or stranded from your team." Not like he needs to say it perhaps, but its out there. "I'm glad you're willing to approach Forge with this, communiction is also key. If you'd like, I can give you pointers until you get the time with your team to focus on self defense."
Robyn smiles at the offer and nods. "Sure, that'd be great. Just have to figure out when we're free since I'm also doing extra work with Addison with mental defense. I'm not that great with it." Robyn admits, but then he's probably better than he thinks he is. "Yeah, our team is a bit…I dunno. Half the team isn't always there." He says with a shrug as it's hard to build up teamwork with Alpha Squadron when only three or four of you are there regularly.
Grinning, James returns, "And make sure you're getting enough time for rest. Take it while you can, don't exhaust yourself now. You'll have plenty of time to do that later. I imagine between training in physical and mental defense, you'll be pushed enough." Slightly a chuckle there, "Though I caught you talking about going to the mall with James. There's one not far away?" Again the look as if pondering something deeper in that questioning while being less direct for the now.
"In Salem Center there's a mall. And a coffe shop and a place to get ice cream. The art store there isn't a great but I can get what I need until I get the chance to go into Manhattan." Robyn says as he's from Brooklyn so he gets the chance to go home at least once a month or so. "Yeah, but everything here happens so fast that I need to prepare and be able to protect myself. I'm not always going to have James or Jordan watching my back….not like I asked either to but I appricate it." He says with a smile to show he's not complaining.
"And for your friend James," ponders Proudstar, "I mean … at the mall. Does he, shift perhaps? Or appear more normal?" Not familiar with the young hyena-like lad it would seem, James presses his curiousity. He moves one hand off the horse to his knee, the other one folds over so his forearm rests on the neck of the art device now.
Robyn shakes his head. "No…he used to be able to but he found out that he can't change back. Not right now." Robyn still hasn't given up hope that maybe someday James will be able to shift back and fourth, it's hope he holds onto for the sake of his friend. "I think he has an image inducer but I've only seen him use it once." And that was a long time back.
Image inducer … James turns it over a moment, "Something that Forge has created, this inducer?" Then a grin even, "I was only curious. I don't know how your friend James feels about his circumstance, but I know I've had …" A search for the best word, "Acquaintances, and it was a touchy subject with them - it was hard to discuss being, well, normal. Even if just a break to go to the city for real fast food even."
"Honestly, I don't know." Robyn says as he doesn't know the details too much. "I dunno, I don't talk to him much about it. Some subjects are best left unsaid." Also some people like to talk about their emotions, some people don't. James is one who doesn't. "I just know he's trying to stay on the positive side and not let it keep him down. It's just…as you know Sir, it's not easy being a mutant."
Pursed lips a moment, an idea is wrestled in his mind. Then Proudstar nods to the younger, "Its not easy Robyn. We can hide it as much as we like, even those of use who look normal, but there are others out there that make it difficult. Its something we learn to deal with, each in their own way." Then an open moment of honest, "But I'm not sure that's the best way. I've been through a lot - and I've dealt with it myself. I'm not sure its meant to be bottled up, and this opportunity you have here, with the teachers. Its the environment for it, I had it but I choose to leave - I just don't want others to follow that path I guess."
Robyn gets really quiet for a bit and doesn't say much. At one point he did try to run away, that lasted less then a day before Jono dragged him back. "We're young, and we already feel like we've been through a lot James." He says not calling him Sir this time. "Sure I look normal, my powers don't seem bothersome but I functionally normally on a day to day basis with out having to absorb psychic energy from someone, that's why I haven't left here. I don't know how to handle that in an environment where I can't rely on someone for that. Jono and Addison, I don't hurt them when I do it."
James lifts a brow in thought, "That's a curiousity isn't it? I'm curious how you operate when you cannot absorb this energy? I mean, assuming it comes to you being away from Jono and Addison, do you have to rely on consuming this from others, or is there other means you can absorb this energy?" This is perhaps more new to him and he shows curiousity for the now.
"It's psychic energy, so I can absorb it from anyone, but if I don't, I get really bad headaches and once, when my powers first kind of manifested, I went into a coma. When I woke up a few days later I ended up getting sent here. So I adjusted to a new school and have powers at the same time." It really wasn't that bad for Robyn as he was able to mange just fine. "It doesn't have to be Jono or Addison but the two of them have an abundance of it from their powers I don't really harm them. If I was to absorb it from someone else they'd end up with a headache or worse. I know if I can put someone in a coma for a short period of time, but I only did that with the nurse after I went into mine."
The expression James has in one of 'ah' and understanding, a slight nod from his head even. "Thus, the school is the only option you have for the moment; with the help of Jono and Addison. Forge is hopefully looking into more options for you … to preserve this sanctity as it is? As with Conno, I mean, it regards safety for yourself and others … especially with the possibility of putting people into comas." Then on a side note, "This energy that you aborb, aside from needing it to maintain yourself, is there something you can do with this?"
"Well I think it's what is used to help me use my powers. Besides possessing people I can Astrally project myself and I can make psi-weapons. Not very well but I'm getting better with those too." Robyn says, which is part of the reason he would like to learn hand to hand combat since he can psionically create weapons. "At least I can go out to get a hamburger or go home for the weekend. Some people here can't."
Solemn nod, James agrees, "And you have a home to go to. I'll let you get back to painting Robyn." Dismounting the horse, he puts it back facing the center of the studio. "If you see Connor, can you let him know I'm looking for him, I'd like to discuss with him as well what happened on the lawn - assuming he heasn't received an earful already from the teachers - or Scott." Grinning of course, he gives one last look at the painting as well.
