Players:
Summary: James is happy to see Rashmi….at first.
Date: August 25, 2010
Log Title: Good Hellos And Bad Goodbyes
Rating: PG
Xavier Mansion - Quad
There is a square side walk of pavement with a nice grassy area in the middle with a few stone benches and trees along the corners. The pavement leads to the paths to the grounds of the school, the Dining Hall in Xavier's and the Ramsey Dormitories. It's not particularly large but it's a nice place for students and teachers to relax and enjoy the outdoors.
Between work, moving, work, protective custody, more work, *extra* work in the form of interning at the Genosha Embassy, it's been nigh impossible to find time to go to Xavier's lately. And with her phone barely twitching, and the school year about to start, Rashmi decides to take matters into her own hands, this Wednesday evening. Her old password, combined with a wave to the security cameras, seems to suffice to get her into the Mansion's gates, and now she walks briskly across the Quad, seeking friends she'd worried about these last two months, but barely had the chance to talk to.
Out in the Quad with a book in hand entitled 'The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories' is Robyn lying on his stomach. He's wearing a sleeveless shirt and a pair of jeans as he flips through the pages of the worn out book. It seems he's read though it several times and it's no surprise since the print isn't exactly small as it's a bunch of quick stories and it's by Tim Burton. He seems to be relaxed with his head a bit in the clouds, lost in his own world.
Not far away from Robyn, James is playing football with some of the smaller, younger students. Which is mostly him holding the ball out of reach while they try to knock him down in various ways. Grinning widely he tromps around somewhat gently with about 4 kids hanging—at least until his friends scents catches his, "Rashmi!" He looks around and dead runs towards the ex-student, sending the remaining kids flying off. He grab-hugs Rashmi, pulling her off her feet and into the air as he grins widely, a long pink scar easily scene that runs up his neck, across his cheek and over his muzzle, "HI!!"
The look of determination of the redhead's face softens as she spots Robyn, stretched out and reading on the grass. Lifting an arm, she opens her mouth to shout a greeting… but then James' call rings out over the Quad, and her head snaps around. There's just enough time before impact to steel herself a bit, and it's with a bright laugh that Rashmi is swung about, dropping down to wrap her arms around the hyena's neck and hug tightly. "THERE you are, James! I've been so *worried* about you why didn't you call me?" She pushes herself up, eyes falling on the deep scar and widening in shock. "Oh, God… what *happened?*"
Hearing the yell from his friend, Robyn looks up and smiles as he sees James envelop Rashmi in a big hug. He stands up and heads over to the two, offering Rashmi a hug as well once James is done. "Heya Rashmi!" He says but he doesn't volunteer much more at the moment as it's James' story to tell and let her not be as worried, hopefully.
James moves Rash out of Robyn's reach, "Mine! Go get your own." Setting his friend down he 'uhhhhs…' "You were gone?" He grins and shoulder bumps, "First I thought you were mad or something because you never said good bye. And I also never got your number, and I also hate phones…and I'm a lousy friend." Deft nod to the last part. He gives Robyn a bump too, offering, "Ran into an Canadian abdominal snowman." Yes, abdominal. "He killed me. But I got better. Should have seen it earlier…it'll be gone by saturday…along with the rest."
Being swung out of the way is a novel amusement, but as she's set down Rashmi loops an arm over Robyn's neck, hugging tightly. "Well a) I can give you my number now, b) sorry, but I sort of can't help it anymore, and c) no you're not." Falling silent as James gives the Cliff's Notes to his encounter with the Wendigo, her face pales, and she remains silent for a moment. Finally, "James…. seriously. *Are you okay.*"
Robyn sticks his tongue out a James in full childish fashion as he pulls Rashmi out of the way. "Fine be selfish then." He teases with a big grin on his face. "Yeah, I did see him earlier, he looks a lot better." He doesn't say much more though as it's not his place to. "I already did my freak out when I heard Rashmi."
"Ehhh," James says with a roll of his broad shoulders, "Another day in mutant paradise. I went North fro a vacation, ended up earning a purple heart. It's my lot. But….check these out!" He lifts his shirt a little, showing off a maze of the same think, long lints that probably start at his hip and end at his shoulder, "I got these protecting Jinx. I'm officially a Hero now." Chicks dig scars, right? They're the bee's knees, you know. Everything else, though, is a familiar tactic Rash has probably seen him use a million times: Dodge and Blur. Don't talk about the subject and it can't bother him, right? Robyn gets a little push oh the Hyena's hip for almost not helping.
The revelation of the scars has the redhead rearing back, mouth falling open. The brush-off, earning the hyena the Look of Infinite Patience. "Seriously, James… I've been *worried.* I heard about everything that's going on, but only mostly after the fact, when I couldn't *do* anything or *say* anything especially after being sort of in lockup when I wasn't working, you know?" Robyn gets another squeeze, and a quiet sigh, then Rashmi lets go, reaching up to put her hands on James' shoulders. "Please… I *need* to know. Are you *okay?*"
Robyn looks at James and nudges him back. "You're officially a hero now? I think you earned that spot in my book a while back." Mainly when James was trying to save his ass when the school was attacked by Sinister's minions. He is curious to what James has to say to Rashmi though so he doesn't really say much but at the same time he kinda thought everyone was trying to move past this a bit and just…get back to 'normal'. Or what passes for normal at Xaiver's.
The hyena sighs and looks between his two friends, "Hey…this is supposed to be a 'happy' moment. Rash is here…and could be more often so she'd hear things more often?" That…won't work. Putting his ears back, James offers a less jocular, "Mostly? I mean…I'm a tank, right? It's what I'm good at. Can't be upset about that right?" He grimaces a little, "They have me seeing someone. No choice…they make anyone who dies do it."
Rashmi nods slowly. "That's all I needed to know, James," she says softly, wrapping her arms around his waist and squeezing again. "You could stand to take your own advice now and again, you know?" Closing her eyes, she sighs quietly, then steps back, a bright smile on her face. "Right. Happy. Well, I *did* get some photos made up… I don't know how much either of you deal much with Twitter, so, I just thought I'd give you the slideshow firsthand." Her book-bag is dug into, a pair of bulging Kodak packets revealed. "Most of those are from that party Mr. Stark had, but there's a bunch of others I thought you might like to see. Sort of road-trip stuff, when Ms. Walters and I needed to see a client… and um…. drive into space to go there… um. …Also the Embassy… You know, the one Magneto built? Yeah… I'm working there Saturday mornings, now."
"I tried to get into Twitter but I found it was too many people saying stuff I really wasn't that interested in? I haven't checked mine in a long time." Robyn admits as he'd rather stick to Facebook than twitter. "Oh nice, pictures." He says going with the subject change and not dwelling on James' sanity any longer. "You do too much Rash, seriously, you're going to burn yourself out. When do you have time for yourself?" He asks as now it's his turn to be concerned for her and how much she's putting on her plate.
James seems pretty excited by the idea that Rashmi is hanging with Tony Stark and the She-Hulk, "Woooooow…that's awesome." But, suddenly, it all fades. If Jinx were here to catch the smell, she'd feel threatened. A cold look from James is all Rash gets next, "Magneto, huh?" He goes still, tight, and unfriendly—even to Rashmi. Then, suddenly, he pokes at his security badge, "Listen, guys, I've got a shift coming up. So I need to vanish. See ya both later." Pulling away, he turns on heel, saying nothing more as he walks towards the dorm entrance.
Rashmi coughs, once. "…Sundays?" She says airily, light and false-evasive. "Also evenings. But it'll back up a bit once classes start, so I'm not *really* worried. Besides, the doctor at Barnes told me I need to start prcticing making my brain keep track of a bunch of different things at once a—" Trailing off, she rolls her eyes briefly as James makes his exit, reaching out and catching hold of James' wrist. "No, you don't, James. Get *back* here, you don't get to hug, evade, snap and leave. I *missed* you, and I *want* to see you for a little longer before I have to dive back into school."
Robyn looks at James and chews on his lip. "James, you were just telling me the other day how much you missed Rashmi, now that she's here you don't even have the courtesy to spend more than fifteen minutes with her?" He knows that James needs Rashmi as a friend and right now, this is one of the few times he's going to step in and say something because he doesn't want him to leave either. It's back tracking to how things were a few weeks ago to him. "If you two want to catch up, I can take off and the two of you can talk."
James looks down at Rash as if she were something to be scraped off, "You drove? I'm sure Magneto could have given you a ride. He's here all the time I hear. So is Selene…and half the other idiots that keep messing up things for the rest of us. You picked the wrong thing to *miss* Rash…that man *kills* innocent people. And you're working for him. Knowingly." He raises a clawed paw and points it at Robyn, "And you…Mind your own fucking business." Having dropped the F*Bomb, a rarity for him, James displays his unhappiness for the entire quad to witness.
Rashmi's head jerks back at the look, as though struck across the face. Her eyes narrow, however, and she takes in a slow, deep breath, not having let go of the gnoll's wrist. "…All right… I deserved that, I guess. Maybe. But probably not really. Robyn?" The redhead turns a bright, cheery smile the boy's way, her eyes shouting apology at him. "I think maybe James and I need to go someplace and get a lot of yelling done. Don't worry though, everything will be fine, all right?"
Robyn blinks and the words do sting a bit. He just looks at James for a bit a mix of anger and hurt but he doesn't say anything, not to James, not to Rashmi. He just turns and leaves walking off towards where the woods are probably not to return till later tonight.
James looks down at the girl and frowns, "Should have let me go." Either it's his rep, the words used, or the fact that Rashmi was just basically yelled at, but the quad has cleared out as if an old west gun fight were about to start. "What ever you have to say, save it. Actions speak louder than words in this case…and while you associate with 'him' I ain't got nothing to say."
"You're going to want to apologize to Robyn," Rashmi continues blithely. "He didn't deserve that, and you know it. But I'm not letting go until you've said whatever you're stopping yourself from saying." Arching an eyebrow, she looks up at the hyena, lips pressed together for a moment. "After the greeting I got, I'm not *about* to believe this 'you are not my friend' crap, you know."
James crosses his arms, well aware that he's close enough to the dorm's door that others are bound to be listening in. "I never said I wasn't. I just think you made a really stupid choice that really makes me upset, Rash. I've done some stupid thing…I've made some stupid choices. And I do continue to do both. But, at the end of the day I don't *aim* to hurt people. Not really. That stuff when I did? That wasn't me. It hasn't been me for awhile. But I'm *me* now, and I have to be the type of person who can wear these goggles…" He points to his head, "And these scars…" Hand on his chest. "And it surprises me that you can't." It might almost be heroic…if not for it being little off the mark.
Rashmi's frown slowly starts to melt away, her head shaking slightly, and she heaves a long, slow sigh. "That was… really inspirational, James… Honestly. And I hope you keep what you just said to me in your heart, because you could inspire a lot of people to do a lot of good. But, um… you sort of missed a bit. I'm working at the *Embassy,* James, not under him personally. I'm like one intern of a couple dozen, doing filing and organizing and crap, doing volunteer work for *another country.* And when I'm not doing that, um, did you forget the boss that's paying me is a *defense attorney for supervillains?*"
James isn't buying it…mostly because once he has his hackles up he needs to be right, "Mentioning his name in casual conversation id far from being just another intern, Rash. He's a symbol to a lot of awful people. And hiding behind that embassy or country…or whatever he's doing…is just a front for whatever is gonna happen next." He grits his teeth, wondering for a moment if her boss is in on it too…but that's just how he thinks.
"Do you know how weird it is to even *say?!*" Finally letting go of the gnoll's wrist, Rashmi throws up her hands, eyes wide. "I *have* to slip it in, because otherwise I have to stop and go 'Are you *insane,* Rashmi?' And I *know* I'm not… well… okay I'm *pretty* sure. Maybe. Probably. *Anyway.* The *point* is, this is a chance to have a part in helping an *entire other country,* James, and if I can do that in *any* way I can manage and still be fine with myself, *I will do it.* Because at the end of the day? It's not about Magneto. Or me. It's about however million people are living there, and the tiniest possibility that I can see them taken care of the *right* way, not *his* way."
"'Not his way' until he decides he's not happy with the way their being looked after…or whatever goes through his mind right before he puts in a phone call to the mansion through the 6-o'clock news," James retorts, "You want to worry about your million people…you go right on ahead. But this place is my home. I don't have the luxury of leaving it. And those kids I was playing with earlier…they're the ones that will be effected the next time he brings his fight here. So…just…go back home or something and keep your megalomaniac employer's coffee cup filled or whatever he has you doing."
"The project we've been working on right now?" Rashmi says quietly, "figuring out just how many millions of dollars in medical supplies Genosha needs, and how much of that can be supplied by the few trained doctors who live there." Shaking her head, she turns away, sighing. "Nevermind… It doesn't matter. It was really good to see you, James… actually happy for once, too… That was nice. You need more of it."
James narrows his eyes a little, watching Rash turn. He 'hmphs' gruffly, feeling a little vindicated by his high horse. But he doesn't understand why it feels so sucky to win. "Yeah, well..you to. Have fun in New York or whatever. He walks towards the door giving one last look before walking in, ears pinned back the entire time.
Rashmi pauses as the door opens, looking back over her shoulder. "I'm trying. But I miss my friends, you know?" Sighing, she lifts a shoulder, dropping it. "I'm sorry I couldn't be here when you were having all these problems. Maybe I could have helped? I don't know."
If the hyena hears Rashmi, it's never known. At least for now. The only response is the sound of the dorm's doors shutting soundly. and probably the sound of a small stampede of eavesdropping students trying to get out of the angry gnoll's way.
Rashmi spares one last look over her shoulder, then shrugs to herself, heading on out toward the woods, where last she saw Robyn headed. The confrontation, apparently as inevitable as it is temporary, and Rashmi will waste no time on the risk of making things worse when time can smooth over the rough edges. For now, Robyn, and gentler conversation.
Xavier Mansion - Woods
Pine, Oak, Birch, and many other trees can be found in these woods. Paths lead all through out them for students to take walks. The occasional bench can be found along the paths. Students shouldn't worry about wandering too deep in these woods as its almost impossible for them to get lost here.
Sitting against a tree is Robyn, his face buried in the book he had. It's not a long book and it doesn't take long to read through it but he's re-read it a few times since he left. He's just tired of dealing with it all and wants the drama to end. He's not even sure if trying to be friends with James is worth it at this point. He's been staring at the same page for the last few minutes, reading the same four lines over without registering them.
The sound of crunching leaves can be heard from far off, Rashmi's voice rising in the distance. "Robyn? Where are you? It's okay, everything's all right… I wanted to talk to you before I left, okay? Robyn?"
Robyn looks up at the voice and shrugs. "Hey Rashmi, yeah I'm here. I'm not mad at you or anything." He says as he's not really sure if everything's okay or not. "I'm just gonna be hanging out in the woods for a bit before going back to my room is all."
The crunching of leaves and twigs draws closer, and soon Rashmi ducks into view, brushing off her skirt, a gentle smile given the boy. "Oh, I know you're not… And James will apologize once he cools off. So… What're you reading?" By the looks of her expression, as she plops into the dirt in front of Robyn, things are indeed pretty much okay.
"Right now James can go fuck off, I really don't care about him right now." Robyn lies in a fairly flatly tone, he's a bit pissed right now. "And I don't want him to apologize cause you're gonna make him." He shows the book to Rashmi. "It's just The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy and Other Stories. It's a bunch of stuff by Tim Burton they're all like poems about kids who are messed up and then they die. I use it for sculpting inspiration. I've read it over a dozen times, it's an easy read. What about you, are you really sure you can take on everything you're doing without burning yourself out?"
"He's not," Rashmi replies first. "He's going to apologize because he was mad and when he cools off he'll realize what a jerk he was and I didn't have anything to do with it." Shifting a bit, she folds her legs up beneath her, tilting her head. "Well… I'll be back to part-time once school starts. And the first year shouldn't be *too* hard, but if I've got too much on my plate I can pick where I back off. I don't really mind, honestly."
Robyn nods as it's her choice he just fears it might mean him seeing his friend even less than he does now. "I was gonna try to plan a picnic before the school year started but it seems everyone hates each other again so what's the point. I was gonna invite you, James, Jinx, Connor and Lucas and you know, try to do something fun for once but….god I hate this place Rashmi. It seems to bring out the worst in people."
Rashmi leans over, reaching out to wrap her arms around the boy's neck, hugging gently. "Everybody doesn't hate each other, Robyn… I talked to Connor, did you know? It just seemed to me like you weren't on the same page, nothing that can't be fixed. And James doesn't hate me, and Lucas and I are just fine. And you know me, I like everybody," she says, chuckling. "Honestly? I think we should still do that. And if there's any awkwardness? We deal with it like friends do. By looking out for each other, y'know?"
"Connor and I are on good terms again, we went for ice cream yesterday after having a long talk and agreeing to move on." Robyn says and there's a small smile at that and he does eventually give her a hug back. "Good, I'm glad Lucas and you are just fine. Maybe I'll still try to plan it, I'm just….tired of all this. I want a week, just on god damn week without something seeming to blow up."
Rashmi shrugs faintly. "I know… just… sometimes stuff has to happen, you know? I mean I don't know about you, but I haven't trusted 'I'm okay' ever since Lucas tried to pull that with me back when we were dating. But now that James and I have dealt with it, and when we talk later, it'll be all right. So… yeah. Plan that picnic, okay? We can have some fun before school starts."
"I trust it, less hassle of it blowing up in your face." Robyn says as he knows what happens when you say to much, it happened with James not to long ago. "Alright I'll plan the picnic, I just need to know when you're available so I don't plan it when you're in space saving the world or something." He smiles a bit as he says that as he is proud of the work she's doing even if he does think Magneto is an evil terrorist, he's got other things that are worth worrying about.
Rashmi chuckles, snorting at the comment. "If I'm in space, it's to take notes while Ms. Walters plans the defense of some weird floating brain against the People of the Crab Dimension, or whatever… I don't even bother to make sense of all that, just write down what's being said and try not to pull the earpiece out. But if you can give me, like, three days' notice? I'll take the time off, I can *promise* that."
"Alright, and I'm gonna need to know what people want to eat or I'll just as Mr. Parker-Mayfair to put something together. I don't cook much." It's not that Robyn's a bad cook he just doens't do it. "Though speaking of cooking, next time you come, bring your curry. I miss it." He says as he leans forward to give her a tight hug. "I think I'm gonna head back to my room, or the art room. And before I forget, can you make copies of like two or three of those pictures of you for me?
Rashmi chuckles, returning the hug. "No, I made those for you to keep," she says, pressing the packet into his hands. "I've got a bunch of them, one for everyone. And I'll remember… I told Mami and Papi to go visit the Old Country with the tuition money they don't need to spend on me anymore, so, I've got the kitchen all to myself hen I go back. I'll make extra for everyone, okay?"
Robyn stands up and offers a hand for Rashmi to take to help her up, if she does get up, he'll throw an arm around her shoulders. "I'll walk you to where you gotta go next. And thanks for the pictures, you're face is gonna be all over my room." He jokes but one or two pictures will go up around his desk. "And that's awesome about your parents and the curry sounds great. Thanks Rashmi, for being awesome."
Rashmi chuckles, accepting the hand and hauling herself to her feet. "Just the gates, is fine… I can catch the late bus back at Salem Center to get home," she says, turning to walk out of the woods with the teen. "Just try to keep things from getting you down, okay? I mean, even if things are horrible, doesn't mean they'll always be."
Robyn nods with a smile in agreement but he's still a bit ticked off. "I know Rashmi, I know." He agrees as he walks with her out of the woods and to the gates. "Get home safely and we'll have to get together soon. I don't wanna become strangers." He says teasing her as he gives Rashmi a big hug good bye.
