2010-09-09: Strength In A Friend

Players:

Rashmi_icon.jpg Robyn_icon.jpg

Summary: Robyn and Rashmi meet up for some much needed friend chat.

Date: September 9, 2010

Log Title: Strength in a Friend

Rating: PG-13


Westchester - Grind Stone

The Grind Stone is a quaint little coffee shop with tables surrounded by various shape chares and even a few couches with coffee tables. Baristas in yellow aprons are ready to take anyone's order from a latte to a hot chocolate to one of their many specialty drinks.


Late afternoon, and out of all the places Rashmi picks to unwind after school and work, Salem Center would be the last one most would think of. However, with the phone call she'd gotten not long before, the redhead has made a point out of heading to the suburbs, and is currently seated at one of the tables near the back, a cup of red tea steaming in front of her, and a mocha set out across from her. A finger idly taps the lower corner of the PDA given to her as a graduation present, and she reads, faint worry lines seen between her eyebrows.

Walking into the coffee shopw with his backpack slung over his shoulder is Robyn and he looks a bit worn out after his first day. He looks around and spots Rashmi and gives her a wave. He's about to just go to the counter when he notices the second cup on the table. "You didn't get me somethind did you?" He asks as he sits down. "Sorry for dragging you out here I just…need to vent to someone I guess."

"Of course I did," Rashmi replies, turning the PDA off and nudging the mocha closer to Robyn. "You sounded like you needed it. Mocha, right? Anyway… what's up?" Her head tilted, she sits back in her chair, clearly concerned after the tone of the phone call.

Robyn takes the mocha in his hands and nods. "Thanks just…we met with our team leader for this new Junior X-Men type team, which I was really excited about until I found out it was Selene leading it." Robyn says and he tenses a bit when he says her name. "I hate this Rash, I don't trust her at all but..I did decide I'm staying on the team but not for me. I just…I don't know how I'm going watch myself around her."

Rashmi, mid-drink, manages not to spray her tea everywhere, but from the brief lurch seen as Robyn names Selene as team leader, it's a near thing. Pausing to make sure her drink goes down the right tube, she sets her cup down carefully, and takes a deep breath. "…So… Wait. Selene. Possessed-James-Selene." Holding up a finger, she closes her eyes, mind racing. "…Okay… yeah… that's a problem. You've talked to Mr. Summers or Ms. Frost about this?"

"Yup." Robyn says sounding pissed off. "It's that bitch leading and god, how am I supposed to try to work with someone who killed me. Someone who tells me I need to be on a regiment lithium and therapy." He wasn't happy about hearing that. "I talked to Forge about it, apparently Ms. Frost gave the okay and it's all set in stone. Which is total bullshit! I mean what are we going to be trained in, constantly watching our backs?"

Rashmi says, "*What.*" *Now* Rashmi is furious, sitting ramrod-straight in her chair, eyes narrowing. "Lithium. Yeah. *Now* you need to talk to the Headmaster and Headmistress. Because unless *I* got amnesia over the summer, thanks partially to Lucas there's a *lot* of new rules over the medicine cabinet, and I *doubt* anyone got your parents' permission for stuff like that." A finger taps on the table, her breathing slow, calming. "….You want to know what you should do, Robyn? Stand up. Show her you're not going to be pushed around. Show her you have friends who will jump in and fight for you, and you're worth taking *seriously.*""

"I thought about leaving the team, I really did Rashmi but after talking with Forge, I know I can't." Robyn says as he looks at his drink. "I hate her Rashmi, I can't even explain how much I do, I can't ever forget what she's done but I know she's trying to push my buttons and knows how to." He looks up at Rashmi and the anger on his face is clear. "I can't leave Jinx or Connor or Lucas or even Theo alone with her, if something happened, I have to be there. This may just be a joke to her and whoever else but it's not to me."

Rashmi nods her head sharply. "Then the only thing that can be done is to show her *just* how serious you are. She's a *bully,* Robyn, very old and very creepy and probably a little insane, but mostly just a *bully.* And bullies need to be taught why it's a bad idea to run around pushing buttons." The redhead purses her lips, eyes falling to the table for a moment. "…I'd be more than willing to help you on this, Robyn. I know exactly what needs to be done and I want to see this woman with my own eyes, anyway."

"Thanks Rashmi." Robyn says before taking a deep breath. "This is just supposed to be my senior year and everything is just so screwed up. Why do they even keep someone like that around? It doesn't make sense. She tried to kill Jinx and Lucas too. She left some mark on James that he had to go get rid of, she possessed James! And now they're letting her teach us. It's like letting Charles Manson babysit small children. It doesn't make any damn sense." He then looks back up from the table at Rashmi and says in a serious tone. "So, what needs to be done?"

"Okay," Rashmi says, taking in a deep breath. "First, you or I need to call Ms. Frost. Set up a meeting. Have Selene be there. Tell Ms. Frost about the lithium and therapy, which she literally *cannot* do without permission from your parents, and could stand to get the school in a lot of trouble over. *We* don't want the school to be in trouble. *She* doesn't want to be in trouble thanks to the school. *She* will have to adjust her plans for you accordingly."

Robyn gets a little bit of a worried expression on his face. "I don't think she was really serious about that, I thought she was more just trying to, well, be a bitch and push my buttons but if she was being serious…" Now that he's thinking about it, Robyn wouldn't put it past her. "You really think I should talk to Ms. Frost about this, even if Selene was just pushing my buttons?"

"*Yes,*" Rashmi says, two fingertips thumping the tabletop for emphasis. "Because if she wants to push your buttons, she can do it in a way that isn't treading on *criminal charges.*" Straightening, the sort of smile begins to grow on her face one would normally see on the athletically-inclined students, just before a Danger Room trip. "It's time to push back, Robyn. Establish boundaries. Show her there are lines she *will not cross* if she knows what's good for her."

Robyn nods slowly and there are some nerves being hit right now. "Okay. I guess I just have to make it clear I'll accept her as my supervisor and nothing more. God this is gonna suck." He's not big on confrontation like this but he knows Rashmi won't let him sneak out of it. "I forget your the law girl now so it's like argueing a case or something with you. You know what bugged me though, how easy Connor went along with all of this like, he just accepted it."

Rashmi shakes her head. "I'm not so sure about that, come to think of it… Has he told you much about his Uncle Yuri?"

Robyn shakes his head. "Not really much about him but he does mention him a lot. He did try to keep me calm and from exploding but, it's so hard not to explode with her around. I just want to…is it horrible of me to want horrible things to happen to her?" He takes a deep breath. "I don't know, I just don't want to see her do well in anything."

Rashmi lets out a slow sigh, closing her eyes. "No, Robyn… it's not horrible. It's *human.* But just because it is, doesn't mean you should encourage that. But, the thing is… this is kind of a weird situation. I mean, there's a lot of good that could come out of this, you know? If she *does* end up doing well… maybe it'll drive some actual sense into her, too?"

"Or it will just drive her harder to make sure we fail." Robyn says pessimistically, she is one woman she can't have Rashmi's hope for. "I don't know, right now I'm just going to tolerate it but I won't stand for any shit she throws our way. I won't put up with her crap and I'm going to make sure she doesn't do shit to the others too." He says as the swearing shows he's not in a happy mood. "I can't let her hurt them."

Rashmi nods slowly, lips pressed into a thin line. "….Did you want me to handle the meeting, Robyn? I mean regardless of everything else, she is *not qualified* to be stuffing pills down your throat and hauling you off for therapy without permission. She *needs* to be hauled up short for that, and I am *more* than happy to go to the mat for you on that one."

"I…I don't know Rashmi. If you handle it, it's like you're doing it for me and not standing up to her. If I do, I'm taking a stand and holding my ground." Robyn says taking a deep breath. "I don't know, I just don't know what her agenda is. Why she's doing this, there's gotta be some other motive she has. I know I might seem paranoid but I gotta keep both eyes on her even if I know the school is too."

Rashmi reaches out, taking Robyn's hand and squeezing gently. "All right… I'll stay out of it unless you ask me otherwise." Sighing quietly, she settles back, frowning into her tea. "I kow what you mean, Robyn… I do. I really do. Just… honestly? Whatever her agenda is? Don't let trying to keep your eyes on her keep you from taking the *class* seriously, all right…? But whatever you do, *definitely* talk to Ms. Frost or Mr. Summers. They can't help with anything they don't *know* about, you know? Just because you're standing up for yourself, doesn't mean you have to stand alone."

Robyn squeezes Rashmi's hand almost like he's clinging to it. "I know, if you want to be there with me, maybe we can go together instead of by myself?" It's an option. "But I will talk to Ms. Frost or Mr. Summers. Probably Ms. Frost since she's talked to me before about things." He then gives a small smile as he still holds her hand. "I want to do well in her class to prove her that we can do something and we're not some stupid week kids, I want to excel at anything she throws at us."

Rashmi smiles gently, nodding. "Okay. That sounds like a good plan, Robyn… all of it. I'll help however you need me to, okay? So will the others, if you talk to them. As for Connor…" She chuckles, shaking her head. "I've talked to him before, about how he grew up. I'd be surprised if all he was doing was nodding and saying okay… There's a lot that goes on in his head, you know?"

"I can't nod and say okay to some like her but I also keep forgetting he missed most of what happened. He didn't suffer the worst like James, Jinx, Lucas or I did." Robyn says as he kinda thinks Connor was lucky for that. "I don't know, it's hard to just go with it sometimes. This is one of those cases….do you think I'm taking this all too personally?"

Rashmi purses her lips for a moment, letting a breath out through her nose. "…I think this is one of those super-weird cases where I can't say yes or no. You've had a lot of horrible stuff happen to you, and Selene was at the heart of the latest thing. Connor was out of his mind… um, sort of literally… for most of the time… Honestly? I think it's mostly just a matter of perspective." Patting Robyn's hand, she sits back, toying with her teacup. "…Frankly… this could be really good for you, in the end. This is something you *want,* right? And if you want it to go the way you want it you, you've got to fight for that, right?" Looking up, she turns a dazzling grin on the boy. "Well then, fight for it as hard as you can."

"We've all had horrible stuff happen to us and we all know it's not the first and it's not the last thing that'll happen." Robyn says honestly as he smiles at her. "So anyway, enough crap about my delemia, what about you, how was your first day at Barnes? College is going okay?"

Rashmi chuckles. "College is going to be… Interesting," Rashmi says, shaking her head. "Intro to Law, Beginning Latin and Supernatural Studies on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Public Speaking and Powers Training on Tuesday and Thursday. *Then,* I go intern for Ms. Walters for four hours… then back to Barnes in the evening and work with the Colonel on his accuracy course."

"Don't forget to throw coffee dates with friends in there." Robyn teases her but also he wouldn't mind making something like this regular. "But Supernatural Studies, can I say I'm jealous right now. Let me know how that class is, I'd love to take something like that." Big surprise there. "It's not much different from me this year to last year but I get to pick up German again which is cool. I always liked German."

Rashmi bobs her head, chuckling. "I think I can manage that, yeah… And it *is* interesting, seriously! Like, did you know that Camelot and Merlin and all that were *real?* And our professor's an *actual faerie.* I mean just… Wow. *Wow.*"

"Seriously?! Of course your serious." Robyn says as Rashmi isn't the type to pull someone's leg like that to his knowledge. "So Camelot, Merlin, Excalibur, all that is real? That is..wow. I wanna learn more. Can I go to Barnes to just take that class?" Robyn jokes as he finally drinks more of his mocha even though it's getting cold. "And a real faerie that sounds so much cooler than my headmaster fire laser beams from his eyes."

"Hey now," Rashmi chuckles, "Mr. Summers is really nice once you get to know him. Just, you know, it's hard to get to know him, since he's got so much on his plate. But anyway, I'm saving all my notes for James, I'd be happy to make you a copy too." Finishing off her tea, she looks over at Robyn, considering. "I'm not… actually sure you'd like Barnes all that much, honestly. It *sounds* cool and all, but it's really hard to forget that no matter what you're doing, you're learning from a very, very big government agency, and they're probably going to call in that favor at some point in your life. Really… I'd say you'd probably be happier going to the Academy of Arts, or NYU, or something."

"I'm not saying anything bad about him but faerie just sounds cool." Robyn says with a chuckle. "I know, I don't think I'd go there anyway. I don't know if I want to do Xavier's part two after high school, ya know? I really want to get my portfolio together and start applying for art school. I have to figure out how many pieces are good to include and what kind of picture they want. I just hope I can get a scholarship since…well…it's gonna be a lot of money."

Rashmi bobs her head. "Yeah… That was one of the biggest reasons I went to Barnes over NYU. Free ride, in exchange for having been given a free ride, you know?" The redhead grins, shrugging slightly. "I've seen your work. You could get into any college you want, and I'd be *startled* if you couldn't scrape up scholarships for most of it."

"It's just an art school in New York City, I'd kinda be scared of the competition." Robyn admits with a chuckle but then there is a blush there as well. "Well, the main thing I have to worry about is getting the vampire thing under control. That's kind of one of my big goals for the year. I just have to figure out how to go about it, ya know?"

Rashmi nods. "Ms. Frost would probably help a lot with that. Maybe Addison, if he's still of staff, you think? I don't know. It's worth asking anyway." She shakes her head, sitting back in her chair. "Seriously, Robyn… The fact that there's any competition at all? That's *good.* It means you'll *want* to get as good as you can manage."

Robyn stands up and nods. "I think I'll talk to Ms. Frost see what she can do. I'm already doing mental defense with Addison." He then motions for Rashmi to get up and give him a hug. "I gotta head back to the school, first day, home work and all that. I'm sure you have a ton too. Thanks so much coming out here you're the best you know that?" He says. "Thanks for all the help, I won't let her get the best of me."

Rashmi rises from her chair, slipping around the table and hugging Robyn tight. "That's what I wanted to hear," she says, smiling. "Call me and let me know when the meeting's going to be, okay? I'll make time however I can."

"Will do Rashmi. Take care okay and if you need anything call me, okay?" Robyn says returning the tight hug. He wants to be able to be there for her like she is for him. "Have a safe trip back and we really should make this a regular thing."

"I will," Rashmi says decisively, nodding. "How about Sundays? Or Friday afternoon, I don't usually have too much to do then?"

"Friday afternoons, Sunday's I have practice with the new team so I don't want you to see me pissed off every Sunday." Robyn says as he'd rather it be a good thing. "So see ya next Friday but I'll call you before then." He says to the girl whose friendship means the world to him.

Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License