Players:
Summary: Sophie comes to Robyn about his video plans.
Date: September 24, 2012
Log Title: What We Do For Friends
Rating: PG
Xavier Mansion - Danger Room
A product of Shi'ar technology, the room generates apparently solid, realistic imagery by manipulation high-resolution force fields and holograms. The walls and floor appear as a steel room until a program is turned on. Overhanging the room in the center is a control Room managing the room's mechanisms to oversee the exercise while ensuring the subject's safety.
Robyn has been working on setting up a camera in the Danger Room and more importantly, learning how to work it. "I'm so not a film student." He says trying to make sure that the tripod is at the right angle for the chair in front of it. "Danger Room - Lake Side." And with the command the chair and camera are in the middle of a random lake beach. "Good, Great Wall of China." And the background changes again. "The Woods….A Castle….Big Ben…" As he goes through various backgrounds he seems more and more satisfied.
"Hello?" The quiet greeting comes from another student, who has found her way down here. Sophie stands in the entrance, cane in hand. She clasps her hands around the top of it, and stays still, facing in Robyn's overall direction. "Robyn, that is you, si? …Rashmi told me that I should come and find you, last night," she murmurs. "I hope… I am not interupting?"
Robyn shakes his head and then realizes she can't see that. "No, not at all. I just don't know much about film so I'm trying to get everything set up to have it be as anonymous as possible for those who want their story to be heard but their face not to be seen. I haven't started recording anyone yet, so….so how have you been Sophie?"
"Better," Sophie replied. "After the attack I haven't felt so low in all my life, but talking to Rashmi last night…" She pauses, and shrugs lightly. The soft tapping of a cane guides her into the room, as she follows the sound of Robyn's voice. "Well, she is very good at helping you to feel better." She smiles pleasantly, and bobs her head. "How have you been, Robyn? Are you managing to keep well?"
"It sucks Sophie but at least you're here and with friends and around people." Robyn doesn't want to get too much into it as he doesn't want to start with the 'compare' games as he knows he's been through way to much in his twenty years. "I've been okay, worried about Connor, but trying to keep busy. Which is why I'm doing this, if I can help Connor in anyway that I can, I will. He's been there for me so many times, I have to help him."
Sophie nods slowly as she listens. "And Nicholas, Locke, and Quenton, too," she murmurs. "That is why I am here. I have a story to tell, and… I wish to tell it, if it will help those who are in danger." She lifts her recently healed hand to brush her fingers through her hair, straightening things out as she takes another step forwards. "I would like to help you, if I may."
"That's great, we need to let the public out there know what it's like to be a mutant, show them that we're just normal people or show them what we have to put up with being a mutant, how it interferes with our goals and such." Robyn says as he does some testing with the camera. "What are you thinking about talking about?"
The blind girl hmms softly. "I can talk about anything you'd like," she murmurs. "But, I wouldn't mind talking about what it was like when I found out that I am a mutant, what it means to me… what I can do… and what my hopes are, for the future?" She pauses, biting her bottom lip lightly. "Would that be enough for you? And… Robyn?" She shifts her feet as she fidgets idly. "I do not wish to hide behind anonymity, this time. I will identify myself to the world. I would have the truth be known."
"It's not about what I want you to talk about, it's about what you want the world to know about you." Robyn says as he finally finishes setting up. "Okay, but that's something you might want to think about. Just because if you let the world know who you are, then your privacy is gone. Out of curiosity, what are your plans after you leave Xavier's?"
"University," Sophie replies. "I… well, I would like to go to a proper university, I think. I am not sure yet what I will study… I have been considering mathematics, or physics. Maybe music… I am not sure." She shrugs her shoulders lightly. "Why do you ask? Is there anything you think I might need my anonymity for?"
"Honestly I don't know, you might have more trouble getting into colleges if they know or you might get less in scholarships. I know schools aren't supposed to judge based on this sort of stuff but you know they do." Robyn says as he looks to the command both. "Danger Room, giant bean bag chair." And one appears that he quickly flops in. "I'm fully expecting to lose my scholarships, if not my college admission, after this."
Sophie sighs softly, and shrugs her shoulders emphatically. "I am told that there is a spot on my chest, beneath my throat, that glows," she replies. "It shines through my clothing, even. I am not sure there is much point in concealing the fact that I am a mutant… I would expect that it is fairly obvious, to anyone who looks at me for longer than a passing glance. I…" She pauses, considering. "Allow me to think for a moment, please. Is there a chair I may sit in?"
"Danger Room, bean bag chair for Sophie." And behind the blind girl is a giant bean bag chair. "Feel free to sit, there's a different chair for when the film is rolling. "Definitely think it over, I just want to make sure that everyone is making a decision they won't regret later. With me, Connor's my best friend, he's been there for me ever since we became friends, I have to do anything I can to make sure we get him back."
Sophie prods the space behind her with her cane, before sitting down carefully in the bean bag chair. She mooshes it about a bit to get comfortable, and collapses her cane into itself. She taps it against her palm, falling silent as she mulls things over. At last, she shakes her head. "You are acting with courage," she murmurs. "So has Rashmi, and Nigel. I will not shrink to hide behind anonymity, not… not this time." The blind girl pauses, clasping her hands in front of her. "And besides, my face is already on the news as a terrorist. I will give my name so it might be cleared. I have nothing to fear from the truth."
Robyn is quiet for a bit, so it's hard to sense what he's doing after Sophie speaks. "I don't know if brave is the word, I never really considered myself brave. I just, Rashmi and Connor mean a lot to me, they're my best friends. They're more than best friends, I love them so much I can't imagine what thing would be like without them. When Rashmi went missing in Africa and then again with you, the whole Dracula incident, I knew she'd be okay. Rashmi is a glue that holds people together, she has this unfailing way of holding onto hope that's inspiring. Connor though, he's always been worried when I've gone missing, like I couldn't handle it. Sometimes I couldn't and it drove me to dark places where I just was unbearable. Now, I'm afraid it's going to do that to him, what if he can't bear it like Rashmi could or like I could, he's strong but he's also always on edge. I'm just worried and if me, doing something can help him…I'd do anything. Even if that means sacrificing my life dream, he's that important to mme, so is Rashmi." He stops talking and messes up his hair a bit nervously. "Sorry, I was rambling, any ideas on what you wish to talk about? What story you want to tell?"
Sophie bobs her head once. "Si," she replies. "When I was in Dracula's tower, if it were not for Rashmi, I think I would have gone to pieces." She folds her arms across her chest, and drops her gaze. "She listened to me a couple of days ago, when I was upset about the attack in Salem Center, when Nicholas and Locke were both kidnapped right from beside me," she adds. "I think there are many people who would describe Rashmi as a best friend. I have no met Connor I do not think, but from what I have heard, I expect he is a wonderful person too, si? And deserving of much better than to have his freedom taken from him." She sits up a little straighter, and purses her lips as she thinks. "Would it be wrong just to ask that you put the camera in front of me, and let me speak? I know I wish to talk about a few things, like what happened when I first knew I was a mutant, and what it has been like since then, and what I wish to do with my life… but it might be easiest if I just… talk?" She shrugs her shoulders lightly. "I have never done this before."
"Yeah we can try that, just, try to keep it as much to the point as possible in in a three minute time frame, the longer it goes on the more people will lose interest, especially if I get many of us in on this." Robyn says looking around the danger room. "Now what kind of back drop do you want, remember we're in the Danger Room, you can have it be whatever you wish. Also choosing what you want might even have impact on what you're saying too." He takes a deep breath and when he talks, there's a slight quiver to his voice. "Connor, he's great. He's on the same level as Rashmi when it comes to action and planning. Sometimes I feel I'm over my head but then, I'm the artist, she's the politician and he's good with action and planning. If it wasn't for them, I'd probably still be with that loser Jordan."
Sophie nods slowly, "Si, I will do my best," she replies. "But… for a background?" She pauses, and taps her chin before shrugging. "I think just… no background at all," seh replies. "Or rather, a blank wall. I am wearing light clothing, si? I would stand out against a dark color, and I think that would help? I would want people watching this to focus on me, and what I am saying, and think about what who I am and what I have to say. A fancy backdrop would seem a needless distraction, I think." She folds her hands in her lpa, and sighs softly. "Rashmi tells me she believes that Connor and the others will be alright," she murmurs. "I think we can believe that, si?"
"You have to always have hope." Robyn says with a small smile. "Will they be alright though? In the end yes. It's getting to the alright part which is always hard." He knows from to much experience. "I know, like I've been there for others in the past and they've been there for me, I have to be their for Connor, with lots of Dr. Pepper." He says the last word with a bit of a chuckle. "Anyway, okay I know exactly what colour to use as a back drop. So, do you want to do this now or give it a day to prepare. I don't know anything about video editing so having a script to work off of so it can be edited as little as possible would be best. I just don't want to have jumps while people are speaking so that the media can harp on those."
Sophie pauses, and scratches the back of her head. "…I had meant to do it now," she replies. "But perhaps preparing might be better, what you say about jumps and breaks makes sense. Only, I will have to memorize anything I say anyway; working from a script in braille is something that always have I found difficult." She tilts her head to one side as she considers. "Fortunately, I am used to doing this, with my music. Should I come by tomorrow at the same time, then?"
"Yeah, I'll put out a notice for anyone to come down tomorrow, and let them know what they need and try to get you done first and then any one else who wishes to. I figure I'll go last since it's so hard to figure which direction to go in." Robyn says with a bit of a frown. "Can I ask your opinion on something?"
Sophie bobs her head once in response. "Si, of course," she replies. "What is it you wish to know, Robyn?"
"Okay, so we're trying to appeal to the more human side of this, I know I'm putting this together but I'm so lost as to what to focus on." Robyn says. "I started at Xavier's when I was 16, in those three years I've been taken many times, had my mind taken over, been through more injuries than I care to talk about. Do I focus on what mutants go through just because of how we're born or do I talk about how even though I'm a mutant I go to college full time and am focused on my life dream, to be a sculpture in Hollywood. Ya know, show that I'm no different than others. Both would be effective but I worry that saying both would be too much and too all over the place."
Sophie listens carefully to the question, and lifts one hand to rest her chin in her fingers. She remains silent for a long moment, as she turns over the question in her head. At last, when the silence just approaches the point of being uncomfortable, she speaks. "I think," she begins, "That… that being all over the place, as you say, might be a strength. I think the problem a lot of people have is that they see us as 'mutants', and not as people. Mutants to them are all one thing; something to be feared, all the same, all bad. But… if you show them how different we all are? Show them that we are people, with hopes and dreams and hurts and pain and joy? That might be the best way to chance opinions. Show everyone that we are just as… unique and special and even fragile as they are."
"Well that's where the issue lies, if I show them how different we all are, that defeats the purpose. I want to bring us together, to show that we are people to. The more differences you point out, the more the gap widens not shrinks." Robyn says as he stands up and starts pacing a bit as he tries to work things out in his mind. "Can you identify with someone whose significant other was turned into a demon? Identify with being kidnapped, on more than one occasion, for your powers? Having been mind controlled or even something as simple as being turned into a frog or having your powers switched. There's just so much I've been through that it's hard to pick what to talk about."
Sophie shake hserh ead quickly, "Oh! That's… not what I meant. I think I mispoke," Sophie answers hurriedly. "I mean to say, show that we have the same diversity as ordinary people, and that we aren't just faceless mutants. But, show that we have the same diversity as they do, that we… we've all been through things." She pauses, and her face darkens a little as she blushes. "I am sorry, my answer perhaps does not help you very much, Robyn? I have never done such a thing as you are undertaking, either. I think in the end perhaps the thing to focus on is that we all have a story?"
"I'm an artist, I'm just more used to sculpting what's in my head then writing it or telling it as a story." Robyn explains as he goes and sits back down. "I'm over thinking everything as well. I'm mad, angry, upset…..wait a minute! That's it!" Robyn says sounding excited. "I should just talk about that, how I'm angry, mad and upset by this whole thing. How I thought for the most part I was through with this, focusing on being a normal college student but with everything that's happened I've had to stop going to school, stop perusing my dream and how I'm not even sure I'll be allowed back or to keep my scholarships! Thank you so much Sophie!"
The blind girl's eyebrows rise, and she giggles nervously. "Uhm, you are quite welcome," she replies. "I am not sure what I said that was so helpful, Robyn, but I am very glad that it was!" She pulls her cane out to full length, and slowly rises up out of hte beanbag chair. Her cane sweeps the floor around her, and finds it satisfactorily free of obstacles, as one might expect. "So, I shall come back tomorrow, si?" She pauses, and tilts her head. "And may I ask… what color do you mean to put behind me?"
"Uh…a dark grey blue, it's a nice dark colour that will be a nice contrast with your hair and complexion. Also with the grey, blue colour it'll bring about a more serious tone." Robyn says standing up with her. "Sure, just, I don't know what you did either but talking to you reminded me of a song I like. Mayonaise by the Smashing Pumpkins. There's a part at the end where he builds up the song and sings 'Can anybody hear me, I just want to be me' and I think that's what I need to focus on. Anyway, yeah, tomorrow is perfect. For now I'm gonna go grab something to eat, you want to come to the kitchen with me?" He sounds excited, knowing that the final thing he's been looking for has clicked.
"Oh, certainly." Sophie bobs her head once. "I would not mind a snack, also. …I will make toast, and perhaps if you do not mind, you may help me distinguish the marmalade from the multitude of other jars that do not contain marmalade, which nobody every puts back in the same place, leading to a collection of mystery jars, so far as I am concerned." She turns, and then pauses, before finally turning towards the door. "You know, Robyn, it is not only Rashmi and Connor who are great friends. …You are too, si?"
