Players: Jill, Warlock and Cale
Summary: Cale, er, Kaylee, is working on their computer in the lab when a couple unexpected guests walk in. Awkwardness ensues, as usual.
Date: June 11, 2012
Log Title: Vampires and… Vampires.
Rating: G
Xavier Mansion - Computer Lab
Twenty computers are set up on four different round tables to allow the students access to writing papers and searching the Internet. Everything runs on a high speed line to make research efficient. Computers are blocked from searching inappropriate websites and installing programs. The room is usually on the cool side to prevent any machinery from over heating.
The computer lab is nice and cool, which is nice on a hot summer day. It's also rather lacking in windows; which helps cut down on the heat on warm days, again. There are computers around for students who don't have them (rare nowadays), but the other great thing about the lab is the plentiful availability of tools and space. Quite a bit more than Cale's own room.
Thus, what greets anybody who should wander into the room (which is usually pretty quiet) is… an unusual sight. A monster custom gaming tower sits laid out on a table, cords and little bits and pieces of computer splayed around it, as if it were a patient on an operation table; there's even a high powered desk lamp centered over it so that he can see what he's doing. That's the first odd thing; the second is that the tower is painted a royal purple with lighter pink trim and neon lights on the inside.
Only, it's not exactly Cale that's working on the computer. It's Kaylee. Wearing a long flowing green skirt and a tight blue t-shirt with Japanese writing across the back, and having painted her nails… it's rather hard, indeed, to tell that she's actually a boy without first recognizing Cale; the only hints being her lack of any real bust and perhaps overall skinny figure. She seems more concentrated on the computer, at the moment, than any of that, a worried look crossing her face as she fiddles with it.
The computer lab is nice and cool, which is nice on a hot summer day. It's also rather lacking in windows; which helps cut down on the heat on warm days, again. There are computers around for students who don't have them (rare nowadays), but the other great thing about the lab is the plentiful availability of tools and space. Quite a bit more than Cale's own room.
Thus, what greets anybody who should wander into the room (which is usually pretty quiet) is… an unusual sight. A monster custom gaming tower sits laid out on a table, cords and little bits and pieces of computer splayed around it, as if it were a patient on an operation table; there's even a high powered desk lamp centered over it so that he can see what he's doing. That's the first odd thing; the second is that the tower is painted a royal purple with lighter pink trim and neon lights on the inside.
Only, it's not exactly Cale that's working on the computer. It's Kaylee. Wearing a long flowing green skirt and a tight blue t-shirt with Japanese writing across the back, and having painted her nails… it's rather hard, indeed, to tell that she's actually a boy without first recognizing Cale; the only hints being her lack of any real bust and perhaps overall skinny figure. She seems more concentrated on the computer, at the moment, than any of that, a worried look crossing her face as she fiddles with it.
The lack of windows and constantly running air conditioning in the computer lab is good for more than just keeping the heat of the oncoming summer. While some would already classify the kind of students who frequent the space as daylight-shunning vampires of a sort, the real kind shows up with a small white netbook under one arm, cords trailing along the floor behind. A blonde-haired, red-eyed girl comes to a hard stop in the doorway, obviously not expecting to find a new girl elbow deep in computer guts. Apprehension flickers across Jill's face, seriously considering just turning around and leaving rather than interrupt the work of someone she's never met before. After only a few seconds of standing there awkwardly, Jill knocks gently on the door frame with her knuckles to announce herself. She's been finding it all too easy to sneak up on people lately, even when she doesn't mean to. "Ahem," she adds, perhaps unnecessarily, to the new girl's back.
"Ah, AHH!" squeaks Kaylee, who, deep in concentration, didn't notice Jill appear in the room. Maybe it was also vampire-related; who knows. The screwdriving she is holding squirts out of her hand, and she does the old 'try and grab the item only to have it bounce further up into the air' thing multiple times before it comes clattering down to the table, scatting tiny screws all around. She finally slams a hand down over it, turning to look at Jill finally; all this happens in the pace of a few seconds.
"Oh! Jill! Um, h-hi! " Kaylee greets the vampire girl nervously, looking slightly guilty. "I, er, I didn't think there'd be anybody else in here… it's usually pretty empty… My compy overheated, you know. It's, pr-probably the water cooling cooling pumps again, but I can't figure out which one's bad." As if that explains /everything/ Jill might have a question about. EVERYTHING.
Warlock is having some trouble with his laptop so is headed down to the computer lab to see if he can grab a computer to do his research which needs to be done ASAP. Dressed in jeans and a blue poloshirt Lock hurries down the corridor with his bag over his shoulder nearly crashing into Jill before he can stop himself.
It's almost a shame that being a vampire doesn't do as much for one's mental faculties as it does for the physical kind. Jill blinks a few times, mouth open, as the new girl panics, then calls her by name. Ponderously, like an old tower clock grinding and clanking as it gathers the strength to move its hands forward on the hour, disused neurons wake up. Not all at once, of course, as she hardly notices Warlock almost bumping into her from behind, but the results finally appear. "You're Cale," she says, as if this might be news that needed pointing out.
Kaylee stammers, "I… um… I…" while she backs off slightly, finding herself bumping against a wall before too long. Her skin begins to shift color slightly to match her surroundings, before she takes a deep breath. "I am," she answers shakily, gulping. Does this /ever/ get any easier? EVER? This whole 'dress how you want, be who you want to be' pep talk of Skyler's is much harder to live than it is to talk about. "Right now, I'm Kaylee, though," she notes, clearly torn between making a break for the door and having to leave her most valued possession sitting there on the table.
Warlock frowns, for a second as he fits the girl with the boy he met the other day, "Well, thats a different look, hey Jill", with that he slips past Jill over to one of the computors where it's hard to see the screen for the angle of the other two, reaching into his bag he waits to see how awkward the two girls can get themselves into.
Mutual embarrassment makes Jill's cheeks change color too, a warm pink. She clearly is trying to shift mental gears with a stubborn clutch. "Ah… umm… okay." The blonde girl fidgets, sucking in her bottom lip as she lays her little white computer on a bare desk. "I like your skirt?" It's meant to be casual, with an air of 'oh hey, that's cool, I don't care' but somehow comes off as an uncertain question. The situation is not helped at all by Lock's casual indifference.
"Th-thanks!" Kaylee replies brightly, breaking out into a wide smile, "I just got it yesterday," the young mutant nods, ponytail bobbing up and down as she pauses for a second, looking at Warlock. The worst when meeting new people is always whether they're like you or not, so after Jill comments and she knows things are okay, she relaxes /immensely./
Hey, Lock is always awkward, he deserves a few moments of casual indifference. He boots up the computor as he pulls a couple more things from his bag, "Not really dispelling any stereotypes here girls", he gestures for Jill to come in, "To i have to stick my hand in more paint to break the tension? cos i'll do it"
Tension bleeds away quickly now that the situation has been defused, Jill's shoulders slackening. She briefly gives Lock the evil eye with feigned exasperation. "This is clothes talk." Serious business. The blonde girl lifts a hand awkwardly, somewhere between a shrug and a gesture of appeasement at Cale… no, Kaylee. "Umm, sorry. I just… y'know…" As if that explains everything.
"It's fine," Kaylee shakes her head, "Totes. Totally. I'm. Erm," she bites her lip, "Kinda new at this. Whole. Thing. Skyler," she says haltingly, "Skyler said that I should be myself, how I want, and not worry about people not liking me. Especially around the mansion. So. I decided I'm going to start being who I want," she glances over at Warlock, sticking her tongue out at him immaturely. It's quite a long tongue.
Warlock nods at Kaylee, "Always good advice, i sent a few years being my dad and that sucked soo much more than being me and i occasionally can't get off the ceiling", as Jill gives him the evil eye and the tongue from Kaylee, he realises he's technically outnumbered.
Jill scratches at the back of her head, still feeling a little awkward as she opens up her tiny little laptop. "S'just kind of a surprise, that's all. I didn't mean anything, like…" She trails off, not entirely sure what she didn't mean but decides to gloss over it since Cale/Kaylee seems okay with it now. It's a little trying not to say something stupid. Still, this school is likely the best place to be accepted for one's differences. It's rarely even come up that Jill's dead, and if people can work around *that* speedbump, this is less by comparison. "It's brave of ya," she offers, slotting the computer's power cord into a wall socket. "You look nice."
"Thanks! It… really helps to hear someone say that," smiles Kaylee, nodding. "You look nice, too!" she laughs, breaking the tension a little bit more perhaps, while looking over at Warlock, "Wait, you spent, a few years being your dad? Wha? Is that even possible?" she wonders, padding back over to her computer and resuming work on it.
Warlock shakes his head, "Not literally, i just acted like he wanted me to rather than how i wanted to", he types something into the computer beforegiving a mock sigh, "Is no one gonna say how nice i look?", he nods over at Jill, "Ever gonna tell me about the new look?"
The vampire girl beams shyly at the compliment, eyes flicking down toward her shoes. Hovering just behind Lock's left shoulder to see what he's up to, Jill rolls her eyes melodramatically. She pats the boy on the head, more than a little condescendingly. "Yes, yes, you look nice too." His second question makes her frown and worry at her bottom lip with a fang. "Uhh, I kinda thought everybody knew already. You know how gossip spreads 'round here." Her hand is still on the top of his head. "It's, uh, it's not like a new setting on a holo-thingy. Y'know, like, I'm a vampire now?" One bright red eye is exposed as she pulls down her lower eyelid, then draws her top lip back. Fangs, yup. "After the whole gettin' kidnapped by Count Dracula so he could force one of us to marry his son? If I had a mirror, I'd prove it."
"Well, your goggles /are/ sorta cool looking, very steam-punkish! And…" Kaylee smirks a little bit, "Well I suppose I could go on. About your swimmer's physique and your mysterious scar," the corners of her mouth turn upwards slightly, "But, do you reeeally want me to do that?"
And Lock is well and truely shut up. The boy goes bright red at Kaylee's words, "Ok. You win, i'll be quiet now". Lock moves his computer screen to stop Jill from seeing what he's doing over his shoulder, he almost jaw-drops when Jill tells him what happened, "I've been in Montreal so havn't really spoken to anyone, can we discuss this a little more at some point?"
Jill's mouth turns down in a frown too. Her hand slips away from the top of Lock's head as she backs away from invading his digital privacy. "Uhh, sure. Some other time, since it's kind of a long story anyway." She slinks away from him and over toward Kaylee, oblivious that her computer has long since booted up and is waiting for a password. She looks briefly into the dissected case, suddenly sure that she can't offer any help.
"You like it?" Kaylee glances over at Jill, noting the vampire girl looming slightly. "I built it myself, from scratch! Well, I mean, as scratch as you can get," she laughs a little, beginning to reassemble the thing. "My room's pretty messy, and I like to work in a place that's clean so I don't lose pieces." She glances at Lock again, however, eyebrows furrowing curiously at his behavior.
Warlock is still a bright shade of red when he nods at Jill agreeing to speak later and clicks a few things on the page, "Wow, so you're really good with tech then?". He remembers something he meant to tell Jill, "Meant to say, the whole time you were gone, the art teacher still doesn't trust me to use the sink unattended".
Jill looks uncertain, like she doesn't even want to get her fingers too close to the computer's exposed guts for fear of wrecking something delicate. "Ahh, wow. I'm sure it's really… nice, but I don't really know if it's good or not? I don't think I could do that. I'd cross some wires or plug a thing into the wrong… thing." Holding her hands up like she doesn't want to offend the machine's delicate spirit, she backs away from it slightly and toward Lock, carefuly not to peek at his computer screen any more. Even though he seemed to be looking at pictures of… himself? Or someone like him. Freaky. "Between gettin' paint everywhere and setting off indoor sprinklers," she says, regarding him with an amused grin between friends. "I think you might need adult supervision."
Kaylee's cheeks take on a rosy tint, "N-no, I mean, I'm okay. With it. It's really not that hard. It's just like legos! It's designed so you can't plug a wrong thing into another thing," she removes her hands from it and places them on her hips, leaning back to regard it carefully. "Most of the work was in modding the case… they don't exactly sell purple ones, for some reason. …And making sure the parts had adequate cooling for safe overclocking. I'd say, I dunno, I got like a 20-30% increase in clock speed over stock on both the video cards and the processor…" she rambles on. "That, and, I mean, I program. I'm okay at it. Not like that Theo kid. He's supernaturally good. I couldn't compete with that…" spauses, glancing over at Lock for a moment again. "You know, you look kinda familiar… for some reason…"
Warlock sticks his tongue out at Jill, "Hey i was fine until your bad influence, being all girly and corrupty, no one ever believes the excuse 'the blue girl made me do it'". He runs his hands though his hair to flatten it, "You've probably just seen me around school and not really registered it".
"That's, umm, that sounds… neat," Jill compliments Kaylee's computer uncertainly. Unbidden, the mention of Theo brings a vague grimace to Jill's face. "Theo's… Theo. That's his mutation, doin' like technical stuff. We were on the same squad for a while." Slowly she leaves Lock to his web browsing and moves back to her computer, plugging in a cable that goes to the lab's squat, heavy laser printer and keying up a document. "He's better with machines than he is with people." Without taking a seat, she leans over her little netbook and flicks through windows rapidly. Obviously she's better with using computers than trying to build one. "Oh sure, blame it on the blue girl," she says with an eyeroll, oblivious for the moment that she's not 'the blue girl' anymore.
Cale looks a little bit sad, looking down the machine as she begins to put the case back on. "Sorry… I… do that sometimes. If I'm being too geeky, just, slap me or something," she smiles faintly, rubbing the back of her neck nervously. She glances at Warlock again, "I dunno. Maybe that's it. I swear though…"
"Well it was your idea", Lock smiles at Kaylee, "Don't worry about it, it's the computer age, nerds are in", he nods, "Yeah thats definatly it, i mean what other explaination could there be you know?"
"Hey, hey," soothes the blonde vampire at the sad glint in Kaylee's eyes. "I didn't mean it like that. Everybody's got hobbies an' stuff. You should hear me go on about classical music or somethin'." Clicking away, the laser printer hums and chugs to start spitting out several pages of densely packed text. But, speaking of pictures… "Ca-… I mean, Kaylee? You never got to see what I used to look like, didja?" Jill pages through some more folder trees and comes up with a set of photos, the kind taken casually by a phone's camera or just an amateur photographer. Several of the people in them are recognizable: Shane looking grumpy, Nick looking grumpy, Sage like he isn't sure what he's supposed to do in front of a camera, and a strange cyan blue girl with slick shiny skin and a vague transparency, like an ice sculpture. "That's me," Jill points out, tapping the blue figure with a smile on her lips and a slightly distant look in her eyes. "Was me, anyway. Go back far enough, a couple of years, and I'd k
"Was me, anyway. Go back far enough, a couple of years, and I'd kinda look like I do right now. Without the red eyes and the pointy teeth and stuff."
"Wow, that's pretty cool," Kaylee leans down, peering at the monitor. "Is that Nick? And Shane? It is!" Her eyes flick back and forth between present Jill, and goo-Jill. "You're like. See-through, almost. Kinda," she nods. "You know, Nick talked about you a lot when you were gone. He likes you a looot. I mean, I'm sure you know that. But," she pauses, seeming to have stepped into an area maybe she didn't wanna go to. "He's a good guy…" she murmurs softly. "ANYWAY," she rubs the back of her neck, looking embarassed. Very embarassed. You're not supposed to tell the girlfriend of your crush that you like him, too, right? Even if it's something that would never happen. "Ugh. Sorry. Sorry! My mouth just. Says stuff. Ugh."
"Yeah," laughs Jill softly, fingering blonde hair back behind one ear. "I was pretty weird-lookin', huh? Didn't, like, having bones or organs or that stuff. Just blue slime." Soft tap-taps at the keyboard slideshow through more photos. Birthday parties, field trips into the city, a much smaller portion of the student body gathered for Christmas or Thanksgiving holidays. She pauses on a picture of Nick, sweaty and red-faced at the school's small stables, holding up a hand with fingers splayed to stop the picture from being taken. He was evidently unsuccessful. "No, you're right," the vampire beams, looking up from the picture to smile fangily at Kaylee. "He is. He had it real rough when he first got here, but I think he's really opened up lately. I'm sorry I made him worry." She hastily adds, "And… and everybody else, too, I mean."
"Hehe. I wouldn't worry about it too much. Everything's over now 'n… yeah. Besides, it's not like YOU made him worry about you. Unless you like, intentionally ran off to Romania and the whole thing was just a big cover for a three month long party trip," Kaylee smirks.
The blonde girl's face darkens for a moment, the joke apparently not going over too well. It passes quickly as she mentally shoves the feelings aside, but the souring of mood was definitely there. "Well… I'd've picked a nicer place to vacation," she says, putting on a paper-thin smile. The little white computer cycles through more photos automatically as Jill goes to pick up her printouts from the tray. In almost every one where the shiny blue face appears, it's grinning, broad and bright, not just mugging for the camera but as if caught in a fractional moment of genuine delight. When she comes back the flash of dark mood has evaporated as if it had never been, the girl smiling softly again. "I wouldn't, like, be worried about it happening again or anything like that. I mean, weird stuff goes on around here all the time, but I'm pretty sure that was a one time thing."
Kaylee doesn't comment on the constant smiling but - it makes her smile herself to think about it. Yep! "Yeah! I'm sure there'll be other weird stuff that happens. Instead," she snerks, "But, it's good to have you back. You look. I mean. I think you're fine. Whether you're peach or blue or… whatever," she glances at the pictures again. "Though, I'm sure there's a way to find a cure, if you want one. I believe everything that can be done, can be undone, or… whatever. It's sorta what keeps me going."
Jill taps the sheets of printouts to straighten them up, giving them a little flap. "That's what all this is about, anyway. There's… not a whole lotta info on how to stop being a vampire once you are one. And most of 'em are…" She minces words carefully. "… a little too 'final' of a cure. Like, cuttin' off their head and stuffin' their mouth with garlic and stuff." She pauses, looking at Kaylee with those bright, blood red eyes appraisingly. Her mouth is open to say something more, but there are no words. "S-something like that, yeah," she lamely reponds.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to be all, depressing, err," Kaylee's cheeks flush red for the thousandth time that day, it seems like. "Anyway. If you don't want to be something, then you should work towards not being it! That's all there is, really. I'll definitely help as much as I can! And not in the form of beheading." Because she really likes Jill. And also Nick. And that would make Nick sad and mopey and well… that would just be /not cool./
"Nah, it's okay. I know whatcha meant." For all that she is, slow, shy, a bit on the dizzy blonde side, Jill isn't stupid. There's subtext here. Her mouth works as if chewing loose skin from her lips, worrying at them. She taps the sheaf of papers again, even though they're already as straight as they're going to be. Still, maybe now isn't the best time and so she lets it all go. "It's okay," she repeats as she starts to unhook her computer from the various cables she'd just attached. "I gotta swing by the med bay to get dinner and stuff, then I got a… uh… I gotta go see somebody about somethin'. If you're still havin' trouble with your computer, you could always ask Miss Pry- I mean, Kitty. She's probably about as good with 'em as Theo is, and a lot easier to talk to."
"Oh! That sounds like a good idea. I might do that. I think I got it working though," Kaylee pauses, "We'll see." The teen smiles, giving Jill a wave as the vampire…ess? starts to head off. "I'll see ya later!" she smiles.
