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Post by Rogue on Oct 31, 2006 5:12:23 GMT
”Mar-Rogue?"
She looks up at the sound of his voice, a chill settling within her, because there's no way that could possibly be John's voice, except it recognizably is his, underneath the unfamilliarity of his toe. He sounds so...small. Fragile. It's more chilling than seeing him without hs ligher had been.
"Y’just borrow powers, right?”[/color]
She eyes him. He hasn't moved. "Yeah, far's I know, sugah." she responds, "Why? Y'okay? Is it..gone?" The last part is added softly, her confusion and concern and guilt leaking into her tone.
What if she'd damaged him, stolen his powers from him for good? She squashed the little part of her that was pleased by the prospect of having these abilities forever, because, while that would be enjoyable, she didn't want it to happen at that sort of a cost.
She extinguishes the flames she still holds, and shifts, letting her feet drop to dangle off the bed, and turning to roll onto her stomach across the width of the bed, leaning in and peering at his face from under his arm, though she still can't see all of it. She wants some reassurance that he's okay. That maybe he's just a phenominal actor, and he wants to make her nervous like this. Yeah, and in a moment, he'll grin, and they'll both laugh, and that'll be it.
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Post by Pyro on Oct 31, 2006 17:25:34 GMT
John turns slightly so he’s looking up at her, because for some reason her being concerned is still more important than flipping out… and at the same time, kinda gives him more leeway to be something other than totally confident. Sort of. Which – although still not him at all, really – makes him less, erm, him, because the hyperactive part of that is allowed to start to kick in (he might have taken that as a good sign, because he’d always linked that mad energy to the whole fiery thing, but now he’s not so sure…), and besides, isn’t there a bleak freedom in the moment before you hit the ground? (Erm, not really, but it sounds good…)
”Might’ve been a little hasty to say you didn’t kill me” he smiles, that weird smile which says nope, nothing’s all right, everything is fucked beyond reason… sorry...
... only saying it feels wrong, really. Because it's still... unbelievable, or close enough to incomprehendable for it to be so. And getting her worked up and guilty with a whole dose of him ontop of all the other psyches is not a good idea, especially now he hasn't...erm, now he's not really in a state to protect either of them from that.
"Kidding" he says, a little too quickly, a little too desperately. "Just feel... wasted, really. Don't worry about it"
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Post by Rogue on Oct 31, 2006 19:15:18 GMT
He looks at her, and she's a little relieved to see that he's mostly-normal looking. Not that he wouldn't be, but somehow, she hadn't had a hard time imagining him to be deathly pale and sickly looking. He looks like he's not feeling well, granted, but not nearly as almost-skeletal-or-corpse-like as her mind had been drifting towards.
”Might’ve been a little hasty to say you didn’t kill me.” [/i] He's smiling, but somehow, that's even more worrying, because ...it just is. She can't explain it, but it's unsetling that he's smiling what he so obviously feels like crap.
He's being vague, which, while it should reassure her that he's at least somewhat-normal, it's frustrating, because she just doesn't know, between the implication that he doesn't have his powers, and the mention of killing him...
"Kidding." he adds quickly, before she can respond to his previous words, "Just feel... wasted, really. Don't worry about it"[/color]
"Make up y'min', sugah." she mumbles, "Kin'a hard not t'worry when y' make it seem like y'dyin' an' all tha'..." She tries to keep her tone somewhat-light, then gives him a measuring look for a moment.
"Y'hones'ly okay? None'a y'male pride, here, hon, this ain' worth it. If somethin's wrong...I c'n g'get someone..." Of course, if she has to go get Jean or Professor Xavier, the explanation's going to be...interesting, but she'd rather that than have him die on her.
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Post by Pyro on Nov 1, 2006 5:50:37 GMT
It’s the mention of getting someone which finally galvanizes him into doing something (yep, that. Not the fact she’s so obviously really worried) because whatever’s really happened being found like this is… mortifying (like this meaning… well, it could mean the powers thing, or having to admit to touching Rogue in the middle of the night (thought Bobby’s reaction would of course be priceless), or just having the teachers trying to *help* him again). Knowing has to be better than this stasis, right?
He sits up, twists so his back is to her, and retrieves the Zippo.
Deep breath. Far more concentration than he’s used to, because this has always been an impulsive thing. Remembering to pick something small, unimpressive… attainable. Just sensing the flame would be a start and…
…click…
Fuck yeah!
It’s tough not to punch the air in response. Instead he lets out a small, relieved half-sigh… Guess it’s not permanent after all, fate smiling on him for once.
He’s still not totally content, however. Sensing is one thing, and all very well, but it’s not the main point of it all… and hell, he could put hearing that call down to a mixture of seeing the flame there and manufacturing delusions based on sheer desperation…
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Post by Rogue on Nov 1, 2006 5:58:05 GMT
She almost expects him to protest and say he was just fine. He doesn't. Doesn't speak at all, rather, and sits up, turning away. At first she's not sure why, and sits up as well. She can hear the lighter clink open, and then the awareness that's not her own, but is still somehow very familliar kicks in, and she can feel the flame.
What's he doing? Testing? It makes sense, if he's worried about still having his powers, as he seems to be. But she can't tell if he's doing anything because, from this angle, she can just barely see the light reflecting off him.
"John?" She keeps her tone soft, and doesn't try to peer around him, just watching him from behind. Feeling the flame there's tempting enough, and she doesn't want to do anything to it - especally if that's what he's planning on. Besides, if something is wrong, it'd be best for her not to rub it in by doing what he couldn't.
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Post by Pyro on Nov 1, 2006 6:09:06 GMT
He jumps at the sounds of her voice, and the flame dies (”Shit”) before he, without looking round, reignites it, fumbling the spark the way he never, ever does, as if he’s not used to handling a lighter.
Come on, light you fucking... *fwoosh*
Is that a sign? Did he nudge the spark? Or is he clutching at straws here? It’s so instinctual, using his powers to aid the lighter, make the art of the flick more impressive because it’s bloody hard to pull off every time...
Nope, that’s crazy talk.
Only one way to know for sure. Time to bite the bullet and...
Big flame. He sends a suggestion to the yellowing cone, *asking* it unusually poilitely, and it... flickers. The edges turn sort of blue. And he’s reading far too much into stupid little things.
Take two. Big flame. This time it’s more forceful, more desperate... and no more effective.
Big fucking flame. Now. The last is not a request... and...
”Shit!” It flares, finally, far more than he’d have expected (though if his powers are indeed back it makes sense, given how his emotions tend to mess with these things...), a rush of crimson and gold... and he’s laughing madly and calling the spark over, toying with it... Holy shit. It worked. It’s – I’m – not broken.
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Post by Rogue on Nov 1, 2006 6:32:20 GMT
She simply watches from where she is. She feels a little bad that she'd startled him, but she makes no move, from then on, just watching, so she doesn't do it again. Instead, she focuses on the flame.
She can feel the minor effect he's having on it. It's very small, at first, almost inperceptable. Then, suddenly, there's a rush of "flamesense", and his exclaimation.
”Shit!”
Then he's laughing, almost crazed-sounding...well, for John, it is. Not really crazed for other people, she's sure, but it seems it, in the moment. She has to laugh herself, though it's only faintly, more of a giggle, really, and she shifts to peer over his shoulder a little at what he's doing with the fire.
"I take it y'feelin' better, hon?"
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Post by Pyro on Nov 1, 2006 6:47:19 GMT
”Damn straight” he grins, before re-thinking and switching to something a more casual ”Er.. y’know. Fine. Whatever” complete with stagey scowl and all in order to reinforce the *normal* state of affairs.
‘xcept that this isn’t normal, and though the flame is energising him he’s simultaneously really whacked and, without really thinking, leans back against her and slides down so his head and shoulders are almost in her lap, concentrating (unsurprisingly) far more on the flame than on her presence as anything other than a vague notion... because shit, that was terrifying. And now he’s got this *spark* back he’s sure as hell not letting it go out. Ever.
As the confidence returns it’s not enough to just play idly with the flame... he has to push it, to re-affirm the scope of his gift. A brief flash of almost childish focus (furrowed brow, sidelong glance, tip of tongue pinched between teeth) and the flame spirals up, reforms into a surprisingly realistic (if stylised) rose which bursts into perfect flames (flames made of flames... ooh, arty!) which in turn spiral up into a butterfly (which, okay, doesn’t move quite as it should... but whatever)... Take that Drake and your stupid ice-rose. John turns slighly and flashes her a grin, all excitement and pride, before slipping back and returning to the game.
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Post by Rogue on Nov 1, 2006 7:14:46 GMT
”Damn straight. Er.. y’know. Fine. Whatever”
She snickers slightly, but the laugh is short-lived as he flops backwards so he's basically laying across her lap. She's uneasy, but it fades once she reassured herself she's covered, and settles for watching the show he's putting on, grin crossing her face.
It's impressive. She almost wants to use the lighter he'd given her and try to match his skill, though she knows she wouldn't be able to. She settles for just watching and feeling as the flamerose bursts into flames, and then into a butterfly..
"Y'really good a'that." she says, looking down at him with a smile. There's a chunk of his hair that's draped itself across his forehead, and she absently pushes it off with a gloved hand.
Randomly, it seemed, she realized she was hungry. More appropriately, she realized it as her stomach growled, and she casts a slightly sheepish look at John, assuming he'd heard it, since it'd been fairly loud.
"Y'hungry's I am? Pizza soun's really good f'some reason..."
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Post by Pyro on Nov 1, 2006 7:33:45 GMT
< Y’really good a’that
He rolls his gaze upwards away from the flame for a moment and grins, halfway between I know and aww, thanks... the second’s probably a better option, really, and for his next trick he’ll be spelling that out in flame... or at least that’s the plan. Because handwriting’s bloody difficult to maintain, and he gets as far as THANRX before it collapses back into a sphere, prompting a melodramatic pout which spins into a laugh. An M he can manage, however, making it all curly and embellished, morphing into an R and finally returning to a rose before he closes his first around it and puts out the flame, yawning and re-positioning himself with a stretch-squirm…
…growl…
He jumps – in a weird sleepy slow motion – and looks up at her quizzically for a moment before putting on ear to her (carefully covered, he does check) stomach and listening, trying not to giggle madly at the absurdity of it. He’s about to pass some comment when she speaks…
Pizza? Okay, that’s weird. Because he’s been craving pizza since dinner, and… Nah, that’s silly. He could put it down to her knowing him really well… although, thinking about it… exactly how well? How much of any awareness is now down to their little experiment?
He has to ask, right? ”Did I tell you that the way Logan tells you to smoke and drink cheap beer?”
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Post by Rogue on Nov 1, 2006 7:45:50 GMT
She laughs slightly as he attempts to spell out a 'thanks' in flames, which is done fairly well, especally considering he'd been absorbed twice in well under an hour. And then it's an M, and an R, and then another rose, before he puts out the flame - a sensation she can still feel, and is almost dissappointing - and he shifts, as if he's going to simply use her as a pillow and fall asleep.
At the sound of her stomach growling, he jumps, then he's listening to her stomach, as if for another growl - which is really amusing, and prompts another laugh from her.
”Did I tell you that the way Logan tells you to smoke and drink cheap beer?”
She blinks, and gives a tiny half-shrug, trying not to move too much and jostle him, even if it is entirely odd, though not in a bad way, that he's there in the first place. "Maybe... 'M not sure - I jus' know we need t'order some. Now. 'Cause...it soun's really good..." Psyke!John agrees wholeheartedly, and she's assuming Real!John will as well, but, then, she's not sure.
"There ev'n a place open this late?" There better be, she adds silently. Not that it'd be easy getting a pizza up here, what with Logan's senses...oh. No, never mind. He's not even here, anyway. That works, even if it is annoying under other circumstances.
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Post by Pyro on Nov 1, 2006 8:17:05 GMT
Pizza would definitely be very, very good right now. Hell, pizza is always good, and part of the Philosophy of John is that it can solve pretty much any problem the Institute can throw at him. He’s not sure this comes under that remit, but regardless, it’ll no doubt make him feel less dead.
But then there’s the issue of having to sneak pizza in, which would be sorta fun if he wasn’t still spun out, but means having to get up… and for some reason he really doesn’t want to do that just now.
He slides a little further, so he’s properly lying down, still using her as a pillow and tilting his head back so he’s sort of looking at her upside down… kinda. ”Maybe… Only that would mean moving… But… erm, Pizza… Hmm. I don’t know”
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Post by Rogue on Nov 1, 2006 8:25:59 GMT
”Maybe… Only that would mean moving… But… erm, Pizza… Hmm. I don’t know”
"Wordy, ain'cha?" she teases playfully, shaking her head a little, looking down at him in his newly-ajusted position. "S'only minor movin', suagh. I'll g'find a phonebook, an' come back. An' then w'can d'cide what w'want."
Her mind is set, because, somehow, the craving is oddly magnified, as if it's both her own, and his, which makes sense. It's certianly different from when she had Logan's smoking and drinking cravings, though it's just as strong. Maybe it's just because she agrees with the random craving this time, rather than being disgusted by Logan's. Seriously, how did the man like that stuff?
"But y'are gonna have t'move y'head." she adds, after a pause. "Thare's a real pillow ov'r there y'can use..." she motions to the pillow that's at the head of the bed with one hand.
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Post by Pyro on Nov 1, 2006 8:38:15 GMT
”Like this one better” he play-scowls, but he moves away as directed anyway, partially because she asked, mainly because he’s starting to realise that it’s a little... odd (by which he of course means that Bob wouldn’t like it, though that’s not usually a reason to stop...). Besides, he can’t really fall asleep there, can he? That would be... erm, that wouldn’t work. For some reason (Hell, his head hurts. He can’t be expected to make much sense).
Yawn. Whatever. Pizza at least he understands, and doesn’t need to look at a menu to choose… though there’d be something sort of *nice* (in a friendly, non-creepy way, of course) about the whole ritual. Rogue’s never really been in on one of the late-night pizza marathons, has she? Those were Bob-things, back before they were a threeso – erm, a trio. And it does feel sort of weird, not having Bobby around, but he understands enough to know it would be weirder still to drag him in now.
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Post by Rogue on Nov 1, 2006 8:45:09 GMT
”Like this one better”[/color]
She gives him a mock hurt look. "Y'sayin' 'M gettin' fat'n' pillow-like?" she asks with a slight smirk and laugh, then stands once he's moved off of her. "I'll b'righ' back."
She leaves the room, and, once in the hall, her door closed behind her, becomes aware of how dark it is. She momentarilly hesitates, then realizes she still has the lighter John'd given her. With a small smile, she lights it, using his powers to create a small floating orb of fire that followed as she moved down the hall.
There was a phone book in the kitchen, she recalls, and heads that way. It's near the phone - cordless, luckily, so she can bring it back in there - and she takes both, heading back upstairs as quickly and silently as she can.
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