New Moon Rising

[Jack Russell]

Like a forgotten dream, the scenery whips by him in dark stretches, punctuated with the glow of street lights and stop lights. He can’t make out the details, but he knows that something far more complex is out there. Beneath him is a sleek motorcycle, its roar growing and dying as he cuts around corners safely but almost recklessly, his body close enough to shadowed obstacles that they would take off a limb if he veered to far to one side. The dark is comforting nonetheless, and Jack can’t help but find solace in its dampening of all light.

Almost taunting danger, he zips up the winding road that diverts from the main highway and plunges into the darkness. Albeit a foolhardy venture to drive without his headlights down the primary stretch, Michael had warned him about the increased anit-mutant riots breaking out, and Jack hardly wants to attract attention to his destination. Besides, he had heard no one approaching for miles. It’s not until he winds out of sight does he turn his lights on again. They illuminate the asphalt before him, and he relaxes at the familiarity of the path.

It all comes back to him, a nostalgic reminder that things are not the same. Even when he can make out every angle of the roof of Xavier’s Institute, Jack knows the meaning of time, and just how long a year is.

This is a bad idea.

The thought comes to him in passing, just like the trees and the sky and the buildings rushing past him as he presses onward, pausing for the gates and continuing on.

This is a really, really, really bad idea.

Jack’s nagging doubts grow in quantity, screaming what if’s in his mind and almost prompting him to turn around. It’s been too long, but then again it’s too late. Undoubtedly someone has seen his headlights by now, perhaps suspiciously mentioned it by word of mouth--and even so Jack pulls to a stop at the front, killing the engine and his lights. He pulls the helmet from his head and holds it between his hands, gazing over the exterior of the institute. The school year had started by now, and undoubtedly has some new faces, but then again, there are still old faces.

He breathes in and the doubts dissapate.

Despite the fact that it’s the dead of night--just a stroke past nine--and the idea of calling beforehand had never occurred to him, Jack dismounts his bike and utilizes the kickstand, leaving his helmet on the seat.

Briskly starting up the front walk, Jack ponders what he should say. Oh, hi, I’m really sorry I kind of abandoned you and took off and then tore up the basement a lot, but I’d like to come back now, doesn’t seem like a conversation starter, and Jack shifts to the more positive side. He’s.. somewhat normal, and he has no reason to leave again--a win-win situation that he still has mixed feelings about.

Suddenly enraptured with the idea of a surprise, he tries the doorbell instead of the intercom and waits. He looks back over his shoulder and studies the sky, eyeing the sliver of the waning crescent that reminds him that even though times had changed some things never would.

[Bobby Drake]

(( OOC: So, in the interests of tying together some threads that haven’t gone anywhere, I’m playing fast and loose with site chronology. This picks up from Peripatetic, pathetic, and weak. Don’t worry too much about when exactly it’s happening. It’ll be fine. Trust me. ))

Bobby’s pointless walk up the driveway has turned into an equally pointless wander through the grounds when he hears a motorcycle engine approaching, and laughs at his own sudden excitement. He doesn’t know who this midnight rider is, but he knows for damned sure who it isn’t, and unless it’s the vanguard of another attack on the Institute, that’s really all he cares about right now.

Still, curiosity keeps the driveway in sight, and eventually he spots an unfamiliar figure walking towards the front door to ring the doorbell. Doesn’t look like an invader, he thinks to himself, though given the X-Men’s enemies it’s not particularly obvious what an invader would look like.

On the other hand, a pointless fight with some previously unknown mutant adversary wouldn’t be a bad way to burn off some aggression, come to that. So Bobby quietly closes the distance between them, and when the new arrival rings the doorbell he calls out from about ten meters away "We didn’t order a pizza. And besides, you didn’t bring one."

[Jack Russell]

A closing scent causes Jack’s body to coil, but he doesn’t move, knowing better to alarm anything that was near him. Whoever it is, it’s young—mutant, and a male at that. He inhales subtly, testing the odor of the newcomer, at the same time eyeing the door, hoping that some kind of secret alarm hadn’t been raised. Instinct tells him to shift and slink out of the light, but the human part of him has sense enough to make a point that changing into something that looked threatening wasn’t smart.

He turns, studying the dark and trying hard to make out figures in the shadows. As a human, though, his eyes are not as strong, and Jack does nothing but discern a lost baseball in the yard and give himself a headache.

We didn’t order a pizza. And besides, you didn’t bring one.

The voice definitely sounds familiar, but Jack can’t even find a name to place with it, and he blinks a little in alarm. ”Er.. I’m on your side,” he announces back into the dark, stepping apprehensively away from the door and holding his hands up a little, trying to prove he’s unarmed, though it probably won’t help his case much, considering how late it is and how odd it looks to have a visitor at this hour.

Shit. I should’ve called ahead.

He hears movement within the institute in the foyer, but no one approaches the door. Anticipation within him surges, and his heart picks up a little. Jack mentally panics, leafing through names and faces.

”..I, uh.. ..it’s Bobby, right?”

It isn’t until after he’s said anything that the idea strikes him of knowing someone’s name who probably doesn’t know him is probably really creepy and alarming.

[Bobby Drake]

The guy seems nervous, though that doesn’t really tell Bobby much… either he knows where he is, or he doesn’t, and either way nervousness is understandable.

> “Er.. I’m on your side. I, uh.. ..it’s Bobby, right?” ”

The first comment earns a wry chuckle, as does the hands-up pose; the second gets Bobby’s attention. Sounds like he knows exactly where he is, then. Bobby’s not one of the public-face mutants like Josh and Warren, but his status isn’t exactly a well-kept secret, either… whoever this guy is, he’s not just a random passerby.

He nods, warily. "Yeah, that’s right. And you are?"

[Jack Russell]

Yeah, that’s right. And you are?

Although the tension eases considerably, Jack doesn't quite follow suit. If the kid were intent on ripping his brains out, he would have done it by now, or at least tried. Complete opposition isn't eminating at him, but he couldn't be sure. "Jack.. er.. Jack Russell. You know.. like the little dog. I mean, obviously I'm not some terrier or anything.. but uh.. you probably don't remember me. I'm usually awake at night. Er.. that's why I'm here right now. You know.. at.. night." At this point slapping himself in the face seems appropriate, but making himself legit to this guy was a more important matter.

"I taught here a year ago. Environmental science." He's trying desparately to ring a bell, anything that might help Bobby's brain click onto something familiar. "I kind of.. tore up the basement a lot. Accidentally, but um.." Jack's running out of ideas, and it's clear that he's uncomfortable, as he'd come unprepared to a hostile welcome. He drops his hands a little, feeling silly after holding them up for so long, as though he were on trial for ringing a forbidden doorbell.

[Bobby Drake]

Bobby’s foul mood dissolves in the sheer goofiness of the new guy’s introduction… and the name and the business about the basement does ring a bell.

"Gotcha. Sorry, a lot’s been going on lately, it’s hard to remember everybody… are you the one that accidentally acid-etched a hole in the foundation, the one who short-circuited the electrical system, or the werewolf?"

(( ooc – sorry it’s short…))

[Jack Russell]

(It's cool. No worries.)

Gotcha. Sorry, a lot’s been going on lately, it’s hard to remember everybody… are you the one that accidentally acid-etched a hole in the foundation, the one who short-circuited the electrical system, or the werewolf? He nearly falls out with relief that he's remembered.. though in a slightly destructive way. "Yeah.. the werewolf.. that's me.." A shy smile is all he can manage after the conversation did a 180 in mood, but the lack of apprehension in him is gone. Maybe if he'd mentioned who he was at first the awkwardness of the situation could have been avoided; Jack makes note of it for the second time, though he hopes there won't be one.

"You really scared me there for a minute. I didn't think I'd be out of the picture so fast..," he rubs the back of his neck that's still heated from his moment of panic. "So uh.. I guess I'll call before I show up next time."

He notices that Bobby is still in the dark, and that possibly the reason no one has come to the door is that he can't be seen from the angle at which he's standing.. "Well.. I.. don't bite or anything," Jack adds hastily.

"I uh.. is it.. okay for me to go in? I didn't mean to scare anybody.. not that I don't sometimes.." The face he pulls borders on innocent and unaware, though with his real face he probably can't manage to make the same.

[Bobby Drake]

> “You really scared me there for a minute. I didn't think I'd be out of the picture so fast.. So uh.. I guess I'll call before I show up next time."

Bobby shrugs. "Sorry about that. There’s been a lot going on, like I said. Don’t know how much you’ve heard. Not many of the old guard left."

> "Well.. I.. don't bite or anything, I uh.. is it.. okay for me to go in? I didn't mean to scare anybody.. not that I don't sometimes.."

"Sure, I guess… you visiting anyone in particular, or just visiting the old homestead?" He taps the entry code quickly, careful to shield the pad with his body, and adds the extra code that indicates an outsider being let in, probably harmless. He holds the door open for their visitor. "Been up to anything interesting since you were here?"

[Jack Russell]

Sorry about that. There’s been a lot going on, like I said. Don’t know how much you’ve heard. Not many of the old guard left Jack tilts his head a little, shuffling his feet slightly. "Really..? Well.. I haven't.. really kept in touch since I left.." Growling noises don't sound real friendly on the phone he adds in his head, shrugging and stepping aside as Bobby approaches.

He watches as Bobby approaches a key pad he had not noticed before. Jack is slightly surprised as Bobby stands in front of the key pad, hiding the code he taps in from view. Tight security. There must've been another raid. Jack concludes, politely averting his gaze to somewhere over the treetops. Sure, I guess… you visiting anyone in particular, or just visiting the old homestead? He turns back again as Bobby holds open the door. "Oh, no.. I was kinda hoping.. to stay this time. I mean, if I'm welcome." Almost blurting out the reason, he promptly shuts his mouth.

He murmurs a thank-you as he steps inside, casually gazing around the foyer. Inside, it appears to be the same apart from a few new modeling touch-ups. Been up to anything interesting since you were here? He shakes his head, putting his hands into his pockets. "Nah.. just some... personal stuff. I uh.. spent some time with a friend in L.A."

Feeling awkward, he quickly adds,"I er.. sorry about showing up so late at night. I would have come in the day time.. but.. I have this issue with sunlight.."

[Bobby Drake]

> "Really..? Well.. I haven't.. really kept in touch since I left.."

Bobby nods. "Yeah, well. You probably heard about Dr. Grey and Professor Xavier… it was all over the news last year. Scott didn’t make it. Kurt and Pete and Kitty all took off for parts unknown, though Pete’s sister just started here. Storm and Rogue and Toni’re still here though… and her little brother’s a student here, now. And John came back. "

> "Oh, no.. I was kinda hoping.. to stay this time. I mean, if I'm welcome."

"Oh! Sure, no, I didn’t mean that. Just figured, you’ve been gone so long… never mind, I’m just putting my foot in my mouth again. Sure, I guess we can find you a room… should talk to Jake or Storm first, though."

> "I er.. sorry about showing up so late at night. I would have come in the day time.. but.. I have this issue with sunlight.."

Bobby shrugs. "No biggie… I was already up. Though I thought that was vampires, not werewolves?"

[Jack Russell]

Yeah, well. You probably heard about Dr. Grey and Professor Xavier… it was all over the news last year. Scott didn’t make it. Kurt and Pete and Kitty all took off for parts unknown, though Pete’s sister just started here. Storm and Rogue and Toni’re still here though… and her little brother’s a student here, now. And John came back. Jack nods slightly. He'd known of the fate of Jean and the Professor, but the loss of Scott as well is slightly a shock. He wants to ask, but he thinks it better to keep his mouth shut and does so. Oh! Sure, no, I didn’t mean that. Just figured, you’ve been gone so long… never mind, I’m just putting my foot in my mouth again. Sure, I guess we can find you a room… should talk to Jake or Storm first, though. "Yeah, that's cool. I'll sleep anywhere you've got room.. I mean.. someplace without windows if you've got that.." Jack eases up a little, the earlier tension almost completely gone. It's nice being back again, albeit that things have changed.

No biggie… I was already up. Though I thought that was vampires, not werewolves? A small smile starts up on Jack's expression as he shrugs slightly, almost amused. "Yeah.. I did too. And then I started getting pretty wicked sunburns.. laid up for a day or two when I was still a student after we went to the beach one day. I thought one day wouldn't hurt.. and then I had second degree burns in an hour.." He could recall the situation with clarity, remembering how he'd tried several times to shift into his bestial form to speed up the healing. It hurt like a bitch to force fur through every pore of your body from underneath a patch of severely burned skin. Not to mention that he had been reduced to squinting for several days after from focusing in sunlight.

The severity of the situation settles in a little and Jack's expression slowly turns back from his moment of recollection. "So uh.. I guess Jake and Storm are the heads now..?" He scuffs the floor with the toe of his shoe, a little embarrassed that he doesn't even know the basics. Truthfully, he'd wanted to keep in touch. Leaving this place was a hard thing for him to do, but looking back on it now, he didn't regret it. It had to be done.

[Bobby Drake]

The startled look on the guy’s face when Bobby mentions Scott earns a grim nod. It’s been over a year and he has trouble believing it sometimes, himself.

> “I'll sleep anywhere you've got room.. I mean.. someplace without windows if you've got that."

"We can do better than that… when we rebuilt after the Invasion, " and he’s surprised by the way he capitalizes the word in his head, as if it’s become part of Institute legend, like “Alkali Lake” and “Alcatraz,” though in retrospect that seems right, "we installed serious shutters on all the windows. We close those puppies and nothing gets through, certainly not sunlight. And there’s plenty of room… we’ve been hiring like crazy these last few months, but we’ve still barely caught up to last year’s staff levels."

He’s a little uncertain about giving too much information out. After all, he has no way of knowing for sure that this guy is who he says he is, and even if he is Mr. Russell… well, he’s been gone for a while, and people change. The guy seems legit, though, so Bobby is just making a point of keeping him in sight for now… besides, it’s not like he can get into the secure zones without his prints authorized in the system.

I’m just hyper from that Danger Room session and fighting with John, is all, he reminds himself, and calms down with an effort as Jack talks about his sunburns. "Ouch! That’s got to hurt. Anyway, don’t worry… it’s not that late, most everyone is still up and around. We’ll get you squared away soon enough."

> “So uh.. I guess Jake and Storm are the heads now..?"

Bobby nods. "And Wolverine, when he can be bothered to show up." He winces slightly and adds "Sorry, that wasn’t fair. He’s got a lot of personal stuff to take care of, is all… we don’t see much of him."

[Jack Russell]

We can do better than that… when we rebuilt after the Invasion, we installed serious shutters on all the windows. We close those puppies and nothing gets through, certainly not sunlight. And there’s plenty of room… we’ve been hiring like crazy these last few months, but we’ve still barely caught up to last year’s staff levels. His suspicion of increased security is proven true. But Jack nods all the same at the fairly open hospitality. "I uh.. well thanks, I really appreciate it." Checking into a hotel had proved difficult on the road from L.A, considering most hotels don't have completely opaque curtains, as it turns out, and this promise of shutters is a really good change. But Bobby's straining to make this feel like a relaxed conversation, that much he can tell. We’ll get you squared away soon enough.

And Wolverine, when he can be bothered to show up. A mixed look of empathy and almost embarrassment crawls across Jack's face, and he decides to keep his mouth shut on that one. Sorry, that wasn’t fair. He’s got a lot of personal stuff to take care of, is all… we don’t see much of him. Jack rubs the back of his neck, nodding,"I know how that is, I guess." On Jack's part, personal stuff didn't even begin to describe what he'd done while scouring the world. From what he'd learned, Logan had a past he couldn't remember, and Jack had one he'd rather forget.

"So uh.. I'm not really good with words or anything, but I appreciate this. Really. I didn't like being away when I was needed, and I guess what I'm trying to say is.. I want to stick around this time..." He pauses and shaking his head a little. "Anyway.. I'll go work it out with Jake or Ororo. I have some.. things.. they really need to know about." Some of those things are the type that Jack isn't sure he wants to know himself, but he's got to have something to let them know he means business.

Now he's got no reason to leave.