Players:
Summary: Rashmi comes to visit Xavier's and it's a face that Robyn very much needed to see.
Date: August 8, 2010
Log Title: No Trust In The System
Rating: PG-13
Xavier Mansion - Attic
Every wall is made of glass up to the domed ceiling. Storm has really done her work up here over time and turned it into quite the indoor garden. The room is separated into different parts for the different plants that are in there. There are flowers, vegetable plants, herbs, shrubs, small trees and much more. There are plants that shouldn't even be able to be found in this northern climate but they thrive up here. Anyone wanting to come up here for fresh herbs, fruit or vegetables are welcome to steal from the indoor garden. Depending on the time of year, various different species of flowers and different fruits and vegetables grow. In one area there are a few small fountains and a bench with some fresh dirt on the the ground with trees and plants all around. It seems like a good spot for meditation.
Taking a break from spending hours in the art room, Robyn is now up in the attic eating some dinner. Turkey sandwich on a Portuguese roll with some chips and a bottle of coke. He's slowly picking at the sandwich as he sits cross legged on the ground among a bunch of plants. There's paint on his clothes, hands and like usual, a bit on his face as he's been working on his latest sculpture all day, it should be finished soon. It's obvious though that he hasn't slept much in the last few days, he's got that tired look he gets when he's spent too much time in the art room.
With the threat of Ahab gone, Rashmi has been gnawing at the bit, trying to come up with excuses to return to Xavier's, and check up on her friends, and the moment she and Jennifer parted ways after work, she turned immediately to Grand Central, getting a bus ticket out to Salem Center. Robyn, always, the largest worry in her mind, but after a peek-in at the art room turned up nothing, she began searching his other haunts that she knew of… And a soft sigh of relief escapes her lips as she climbs the stairs, seeing the boy in question. Gently knocking on the floor before coming all the way up, she clears her throat. "Hey… it okay if I join you?"
Hearing Rashmi's voice brings a smile to Robyn's face. "Rashmi! Hey!" He says standing up and giving her a hug. "God it's been lonely around here without you." She was the sane one among him and his friends so her lack presence has been noticed. "Don't mind me I was just having a small dinner and just relaxing up here." Robyn just likes the attic but what's not to like about an indoor garden. "So how's the job going?"
The hug, enthusiastically returned, though when she leans back and gets a good look at Robyn's eyes, she starts to get that worried mother look. "Long. I was supposed to be working part-time, but then all that happened, and Ms. Walters wanted to keep an eye on me. So… All of a sudden, 9 to 5, then the lockdown at Barnes… I think I was starting to lose it, a little, but it's fine now. School'll be starting in a couple weeks, and I can go part-time again. …I gotta say though, Robyn… you don't look like you've had an easy time of it…"
Robyn runs his hand through his hair and sighs. "No..just, I honestly don't know how to deal with this all. I tried to talk to Jinx and she used her powers on me. Sure I felt better for a while but when it wore off, I felt worse. And just remembered the last time someone fucked with my emotions." He says shaking his head. "And I can't talk to James, he's just as bad as I am and I'm worried about him. I miss Jordan, the rumour that Selene is still hanging around here really bothers me. I mean how can they let her hang around after what she did?"
Rashmi sighs, gathering the teen up in her arms, shaking her head. "I don't know… Maybe they think it's safer if they have her where they can keep an eye on her? I mean… I don't know much about what's gone on about that, but… I don't think they'd keep her here if she was really a threat now, you know? There's like *so much* that goes on with the adults, probably we don't even know half the whole story, if that huge thing of locked files says anything."
Robyn shakes his head. "Fuck that Rashmi, seriously. She tried to kill me. She pushed me in front of a car. She used me to try to kill Jinx as well, then she was going to go after Lucas. She's here, and you're saying she's safter and okay? You really believe that?" Robyn can't believe she's 'okay', not after what she did. "I have to live in the same place as her, I don't like it. I don't know, I just wonder if Jordan had the right idea and got the hell out of here." He says sounding a lot more bitter than he intends and the hate for Selene shows on his face.
Rashmi is silent for a moment, then pulls her head back, resting a hand on Robyn's cheek and locking eyes with him. "Robyn… I'm *guessing,* okay? All I know is what happened to you, then a few weeks later it was all over. I've been worried sick all that time, and the only thing I could possibly do to keep from losing it was just trusting the adults to know what they're doing." Her lips press together, the worry clear on her face. "…I'm sorry, Robyn. I guess I shouldn't be talking about what I wasn't here for."
Robyn looks at Rashmi for a bit after she talks and then pulls her in for a hug and rests his face on her shoulder. She might be able to feel that he's trying not to cry. "Rash….I don't trust the adults here anymore. There are very few I trust anymore. I'm scared living here, I don't know what's going to happen next but I know things are gonna keep getting worse. Sure things get better for a bit then the shit just hits the fan again. I feel like I'm trapped here a lot of times. I'm actually kind of glad you weren't here, means you didn't get hurt."
Rashmi closes her eyes, one hand coming up to gently stroke the boy's hair. "Ssssh… it's okay, Robyn… I know." Her voice, a hushed whisper, like that of a girl whose younger brother was awoken by a terrible nightmare. "I know, it's hard… just let go, okay…? I'm right here."
Robyn hates to cry, most the time he thinks it doesn't solve anything and as emotional as Robyn is…he kinda believes that 'guys don't cry', but he does let go and just lets the tears fall. "I'm sorry Rashmi, I hate being like this but…things all happened at once and, it's too much. It's all over but I still feel it.
"And that's why sometimes," Rashmi whispers, trying to smile even as she bites her bottom lip, "you just need to cry. It's not a bad thing, you know… Especially for someone who feels things as hard as you do. It's all gotta come out sometime…" And she shows no signs of wanting to get away, or of being embarrassed with the boy… Instead, she seems intend on keeping ahold of him, until the tears have run their course.
Robyn does let his tears run his course and he doesn't say anything until he's done. "Thanks Rashmi." He says finally pulling away and wiping his face. "I hate this but it hasn't been easy. It was just the getting pushed in front of a car, the Selene messing with me while I was in the medbay and using me to try to kill Jinx, then Future Connor and him telling me about what I'm like in his future, then Jordan leaving and then your news…it was too much. I'm just glad he's gone, Ahab that is, and that you're safe too. I miss you a lot, you know that?"
"Yeah," Rashmi says, her voice heavy. "I don't blame you for wanting to lose it, honestly… But, it's okay now. James is back, and Ahab's gone, and we're never going to be those people we were supposed to turn into." A shadow passes over her face, and she shudders. "…I didn't much like what I saw of myself, either…"
"Yeah, I wish I was in better shape, then maybe I can help James. He's going to be taking off for a week or so to go camping. I think it's a good idea. I'll be going home for a week soon too." Robyn says as sometimes you just need to get away from a place. "I don't know where things went so wrong, I used to like it here. I like Addison, I like Forge, Jono isn't around much anymore but.." Then Robyn sighs. "Yeah, I saw myself in a wheel chair."
Rashmi nods. "That's a good idea, I think… Both of you. And… yeah. I was shooting people. Lots of them. ….In the face. …Like I really wanted to." Shaking her head slowly, she leans forward to rest her cheek on Robyn's shoulder. "…But it's not going to happen. None of it. We can make sure of that, right now, okay? Maybe none of the rest we could do a lot about… But we *can* do that."
Robyn slips an arm around Rashmi and rests his head against hers. "I'm really happy to have a friend like you in my life Rash, you're amazing." He thinks very highly of her and doesn't know what he'd do without her. "Yes, I told future Connor I'd make sure he didn't become that asshole he was, and I'm going to make sure of it. Just make sure we don't become someone we hate. So what's it like so far at Barnes…is it something that you think would be good for me?"
"I don't know," comes the answering murmur. "Maybe… but you can tell it's a government thing. From what I read, and a couple of the staff I talked to… they're trying to teach people how to use their powers, kind of the same way police people are taught to use guns, you know? So ike, not just getting better and better and better at it… but also stuff like when and why. Sort of like powers training and Mutant Etchics combined… except maybe your teacher is an alien or a guy with magic tattoos or something."
"I think I'll stick with art school once this is done. I'm gonna have to start working on a portfolio soon too." Robyn says as he still looks tired but a little worn down than he was. "Maybe tonight I'll actually get some sleep, so, while I'm in the city we should hang out and go to the movies or do something fun. Just..act like we're not mutants for a few hours. Maybe I can even drag you to one of my Dad's shows."
"Probably for the best," Rashmi agrees of art school. "And that sounds like a *really* good idea. Maybe go to the Melting Pot? My treat… it's *literally* not like I have anything to do with all the money I make from work, now…"
"Melting Pot?" Robyn's never been there but he's heard about it. "Uh..sure. Okay, it's a date." He says with a chuckle as he is feeling better already. "One of these days, when I get a job, I'll have to take you out." He jokes. "Wanna walk down to the kitchen with me so I can clean this up, I think I'm gonna head to bed soon actually, getting really tired."
Rashmi bobs her head, stepping back from her friend and smiling gently. "Sounds lke a plan, then… And I *do* hope you sleep well… you look like you could use a good night's rest really badly, you know? C'mon… let's get you cleaned up."
Robyn smiles and nods. "Yeah…I think I'm gonna sleep, I can finish my piece tomorrow." He throws his arm over Rashmi's shoulders as he goes to head down stairs with her before crashing out for the night.
