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Post by Ororo Munroe on Mar 3, 2007 17:55:50 GMT
> “He wouldn’ have t’fight ‘im alone.”
Rogue sounds upset. Ororo glances over at her. "I didn't mean to imply that. Those were two separate thoughts. First off, I'm uncomfortable with splitting up the team when the crowd could suddenly turn ugly. John being by himself in the crowd is a cause of concern for me. Secondly, I have no major problems with him coming along. However, I'm unconvinced he's ready to face Magneto and his former friends in a combat situation - psychologically." At this, she turns to John. "And I don't mean that as an insult."
"Does anyone have any other concerns?" Ororo looks around to the other students assembled.
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Post by Warren Worthington III on Mar 3, 2007 21:01:44 GMT
> " John being by himself in the crowd is a cause of concern for me. [..] I'm unconvinced he's ready to face Magneto and his former friends in a combat situation - psychologically. "
He was doing all right fighting his ‘former friends’ before he switched back, from what I saw during that fight at my dad’s lab… Warren thinks, but doesn’t say out loud.
He feels a twinge of guilt over the thought, albeit a small one. He knows people can change, especially when they’re young, and believes they deserve the chance to do so; it would be hypocritical of him to claim anything else, given his own less-than-inspirational adolescence. And he has to admit John hasn’t done anything particularly suspicious since his return – if he’d been a new student without any of the history, Warren wouldn’t give his reliability a second thought. Even his muttered comment earlier is strangely reassuring – a real spy would either never have said it, or made sure it was heard widely.
And yet… he’d changed sides twice now, which hardly makes him reliable. Warren doesn’t really know the circumstances behind either change of heart… he gathers the last time had something to do with John’s relationship with the Drake kid, though that seems to have ended at around the same time; he has no idea what sparked the first one, or what might spark the third. Certainly it’s not ideological – everything seems to be personal with this kid.
He wants to shrug his shoulders and decide it’s none of his business, but like it or not the students here are his business now, and not alienating them is part of his job. Besides, a power like Pyro’s would play way too frighteningly on the news if he goes criminal again, and Warren would rather not have to do damage control in that scenario… not to mention that the kid is an old friend of Josh’s, however weird the circumstances of that friendship.
So, however much he agrees with Ororo in this particular case, it seems that extending an olive branch is called for. "On the other hand," he adds thoughtfully, "that fire-shield of yours could save a lot of lives if this somehow turned into a live-fire exercise. " He frowns and adds tentatively to Ororo "I suppose if I kept an eye-in-the-sky on John and he stayed in mental contact with Josh, we could intervene pretty quickly if one of his old… colleagues…" he almost says “friends,” then decides that would be too provocative, "happens to recognize him. And having an agent on the ground could turn out useful, if we needed to do something without revealing ourselves?” He shrugs uncertainly. "Of course, team security on this sort of assignment is hardly my forte… I’m just whiteboarding ideas here. It’s your call, Storm.”
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Post by Pyro on Mar 5, 2007 5:08:11 GMT
… so, this is what being part of the X-Team is like, then?
It’s odd; he’d have expected ‘serious planning’ to feel more, well, serious – the sort of alienating formality where he’d sit on the edge and stare at his feet and feel about three years old. This, on the other hand, isn’t exactly relaxed or cosy – there’s too much hanging unspoken for that – but it’s not what he expected, and for a moment or two he thinks he can slip into this, is starting to get geared up for…
< I’m sorry, John, but perhaps you’d better sit this one out
… bzuh?
No, he misheard that. She can’t possibly mean…
… ah. Apparently she can. Except… no, she can’t. Because that’s bullshit… and what really irks is that in the second or two it takes him to opt not to explode at that she’s moved on, like that’s an end to it; it’s a mission, John’s not allowed to go… and ooh, do you think the leathers or the civvies are a better look?
Whoopee-fucking-doo, just like before, right? Everyone else gets in on the act, but Pyro doesn’t look right in the flatliner-loving promos, so we’ll keep him on the bench… John cuts that thought dead as Rogue speaks, convinces himself the way he’s getting used to doing that it’s Magneto’s voice and not his which pipes up with those sort of thoughts… and pretends it doesn’t matter either way because Rogue’s on his side so it’s okay to think it’s wrong and not just Brotherhood!Pyro sparking up at being downgraded from right-hand to reserve.
He’s relieved enough that someone’s backing him up – and, further, that someone thinks him worth backing up, and not a lost cause – that he doesn’t object to Rogue pulling the same sort of act he used to joke was her in ball-cutter mode back when it was Bob’s defence she was leaping to, just waits for Ororo’s response.
< ”And I don’t mean that as an insult”
”Of course not” It would be a mistake to think he’s not pissed off right now; okay, sure, he hasn’t exploded, and isn’t burning anything. No, this is the quiet treatment, the casual ‘but see, I’m smiling… anything you’re reading into it is just you and not the incredibly sarcastic tone… of course I’m playing nice’ usually reserved for psychologists and social workers and the like ”So what you’re saying is that I need a babysitter to hold the reins if Buckethead shows up…”
< ”On the other hand…”
… okay, seriously, what the hell? First Mommy-Ororo expressing some sort of doubt about his allegiance… and now Warren defending him? That’s beyond weird, and if he’s way too stumped to be grateful, he’s far further beyond snarky and antagonistic and just sort of stuck at … whuhbzuh?
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Post by Ororo Munroe on Mar 5, 2007 5:41:01 GMT
> ”So what you’re saying is that I need a babysitter to hold the reins if Buckethead shows up…”
> "It’s your call, Storm."
Ororo resists the urge to roll her eyes at John. Yes, John, that’s exactly what I mean. She nods at Warren, agreeing with him… it the person in question hadn’t been John.
It wasn’t what she meant. She was more than sure that John could hold his own in a fight, especially considering that he’d thrown himself into a fairly regular training regiment along with the other older students - regular for John, anyway. Bobby’s efforts in trying to make him think creatively about the fire had gone a long way. No, it wasn’t that she was worried he’d lose head-to-head. It was what he would do.
Storm stares at the obviously-upset John. “Alright, John. Tell me this one. Magneto and his lackeys descend on the rally and begin creating mayhem. The rest of us are pinned down, and you see Magneto moving to attack bystanders. What do you do?” She continues to stare, unblinking. “Or better yet, you do start to move against him, and he threatens to hunt you down and kill you. Or…” She considers for a moment. “He threatens to hunt Bobby down and kill him. What do you do now?”
She shakes her head slightly. “I don’t think that any of us would handle a threat like that against our loved ones well. But you’ve been through a lot in the last couple months. John, you performed admirably at the Baxter Building. I trust you.” She did, mostly. Of course, everyone had that little fear of him leaving them again in the backs of their mind. “But I don’t think you’re ready to take the Brotherhood on yet. You have to still have ties to some of those people. You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t. I don’t want to ask you to have to deal with that yet.” Ororo shrugs. “Frankly, I don’t want to have to worry about that factor on this mission. There’s going to be potentially enough to deal with. But I understand, and don’t blame you for it.”
Ororo glances at him. “It’s not time yet. The uniform’s on order, red trim and everything. It will be time, sooner than you think. But not yet. I’m sorry, John.” She looks around the room at the others assembled. “Guys - we’re leaving in an hour.” Ororo turns on her heel and heads towards the door.
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Post by Josh Dalton Worthington on Mar 5, 2007 6:02:08 GMT
Josh can sense Warren’s conflict over John, and his urge to smooth things over brings a slight smile to Josh’s lips, and another squeeze to their linked hands. You’re definitely the diplomat of the family.
John being pissed at Ororo’s decision didn’t come as a surprise to him, and probably didn’t surprise anyone else sitting there, save perhaps Warren, due to a lack of familiarity. Warren was so dialed into Josh’s emotions that the veiled anger of John’s reply probably didn’t catch him off guard, either. What did throw Josh, however, was how blunt Ororo was.
Granted, she’s not usually the queen of subtlety. But John’s not a big ‘feelings’ person, and bringing them up in front of everyone else could have been a mistake. He wasn’t really sure whether John should come along or not. John had definitely come a long way from the day he’d demanded all of his lighters in front of Brotherhood Headquarters… but was he ready for this? Josh didn’t know. Glad it’s not my decision, then.
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Post by Warren Worthington III on Mar 5, 2007 18:01:10 GMT
> You’re definitely the diplomat of the family.
Warren doesn’t respond in words exactly, so much as with an appreciative mental shrug and a communication of his overall sense of the room.
The truth is he’s not really sure what to say. It’s clear that John feels alienated, and Rogue feels her loyalties divided, and Storm is more worried about their survival than their emotional state… which is entirely reasonable, but may have consequences, especially given his weirdness about Drake, and Drake’s weirdness about – well, everything.
But on the other hand, he can’t think of anything she ought to have done differently… protecting the team is her job, after all, and she can’t let herself be swayed by sentimentality – that’s what a field leader is for, and Warren would trust her far less if he thought she wasn’t up to doing it. One way or another John will have to learn to deal with that.
After Storm leaves, John’s face is a fascinating study in superficial acceptance, covert opposition, and utter confusion; the expression of every project manager who has resolved to implement his preferred solution despite their department head’s indefensible prejudices. Warren would laugh if this weren’t ultimately a matter of life and death.
(It startles him, sometimes, how much of what he learned at his father’s knee turns out to be directly relevant to his new life as a mutant commando; he wonders what Warren Sr. would say if he mentioned it. That is, if they were talking, which he really ought to get around to doing, especially now that he’s gone in the public eye from mutant spokesman to mutant government agent, and his relationship with Josh is nationwide tabloid-fodder. But he digresses.)
He shrugs more visibly and sympathetically at John, trying and failing to come up with something reassuring to say. Finally he settles on honesty, for lack of anything better. "Sorry. I know it sucks being seen as a liability rather than an asset. Especially when you’re among the few field-trained who haven’t been ‘outed,’ on a public job like this one." He frowns at the kid’s scowl and adds "There will be other missions, John. Trust me."
He doesn’t let the incredulity he’s feeling show on his face. Great… now I’ve gone and committed myself to defending this kid to my own management. Allerdyce, you had damned well better be worth the effort…
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Post by Pyro on Mar 6, 2007 5:37:29 GMT
< Alright, John. Tell me this one
”Alright, ‘ro, shoot” – and yes, he’s still smiling despite the thinly veiled snark, because this isn’t anything to worry about. He’s John, scourge of the ‘so, let’s talk about your problems’ profession; always, always able to come up with an answer. Nothing Ororo can throw at him’s going to pose a problem.
< you see Magneto moving to attack bystanders. What do you do?
Set sarcasm to overdrive, Mr. Allerdyce. We’re going to need the boost. John rolls his eyes at the question. ”Oh, obviously I fall back into line like a good little terrorist and… what the hell do you th..?”
< Or… he threatens to hunt you down and kill you
She cuts him short, but that doesn’t phase him. ”This is news?”
Really, he smirks, she’ll have to do a hell of a lot better than that if…
< Or… what do you do now?
… no. She didn’t just say that. She didn’t bring Bobby up.
It’s like a well placed kick well below the belt (hah, fitting…) – the moment where the first ‘oh-fuck-ouch!’ recedes and the nausea hasn’t yet started but you know full well it’s coming. John doesn’t say anything, because there’s nothing he can say to that, but he almost doesn’t need to; once the shock dies, his expression is a fairly perfect approximation of the appropriate degree of ‘bitch, no… you didn’t dare do that. Really’.
< You’ve been through a lot in the last couple of months
… no fucking kidding. And the whole kidnap debacle non-withstanding, now he comes to think about it… how much of that’s been down to them? The Invasion had nothing to do with him. Neither, really, did the shit that went down at Baxter, where he’d been… okay, it sounds harsh, but in light of this conversation he’s doing some heated reassessment; human shield at best. Disposable. ‘It’s okay if John suffocates / gets haylon’d / explodes… he’s not one of the team’.
Fuck that.
It’s a pathetic and petulant little whine, but really, shouldn’t they owe him by now? What more, seriously, can he do to prove that he’s not going to slit their throats while they sleep and run back off to the Brotherhood?
Ororo’s trying to do understanding, to make like she’s on his side, he can read that. Shame it’s having the opposite effect, all her attempts to win him over coming off pathetic and patronising, trying to buy him off with toys and ‘understanding’ and totally missing the big point.
< Sorry
… and now Wings is doing the same fucking steps. It’s sickening, really, watching everyone dance to Ororo’s tune and try to placate him like he’s some three year old throwing a tantrum over something trivial rather than… fuck it, it’s not self centred to say he’d be doing them a favour. So Warren’s words are met not with him rolling over and begging to be petted by the gracious rich kid who’s deigned to play nice, but with a withering sidelong disdainful glare.
< There will be other missions, trust me
”Su-ure… other missions. Great. ‘xcept that the next time it comes around you’ll pull the same fucking card. How the hell am I meant to prove that I’m not going to run back to Mags, Wings, tell me that much? Every fucking time the chance comes up I’m stuck on the bloody bench!” John scowls, and sighs.
”Fuck it. You lot have fun taking them on without insider knowledge or any real firepower. Sure it’ll be a blast.” No, he’s not beaten, despite the resignation in his tone, not if he’s still got a couple of shots left… and no, he doesn’t care that they’re petty and vindictive. He sinks deeper into the sofa, scowl notched up a couple of levels, and would turn on the telly to make the ‘fuck you. End of’ point more explicit if only that didn’t mean uncrossing his arms and moving out of the ‘not paying you any attention… fuck off’ stance.
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Post by Warren Worthington III on Mar 6, 2007 16:19:51 GMT
> " How the hell am I meant to prove that I’m not going to run back to Mags, Wings, tell me that much? Every fucking time the chance comes up I’m stuck on the bloody bench! Fuck it. You lot have fun taking them on without insider knowledge or any real firepower. Sure it’ll be a blast."
It’s all Warren can do to keep from laughing at the way John scrunches himself up into the sofa with his arms folded up and his face screwed into a permanent scowl… the effect is reminiscent of a petulant nine-year-old. He doesn’t even allow himself a long-suffering sigh as he gets up off the couch.
And there’s no point to repeating what he’d said before. The kid doesn’t trust him, and Warren can’t blame him. Warren’s made the offer now, so it’s up to him to follow up with an assignment worth having (not that the Invasion and the Baxter Building business were cakewalks, but neither were really assignments so much as crises), much as he’s not looking forward to it.
But he can’t leave without saying something, even if it does mean playing the grownup and potentially alienating the kid further, even if it does mean talking into that “I don’t care, I’m not listening” body language. After all, it’s not like his earlier attempt to reach out got him very far, and it’s not like the kid can shut his ears off.
"John, maybe you’re right. Maybe firepower is what we need today, maybe we should send you in and leave me behind.
A year ago that would have been up to Scott Summers. Now it’s Storm’s call. Things move fast around here; next year you might be in charge and have to decide whether to drop an overemotional pyrokinetic with seventeen outstanding arrest warrants into a crowd of mutant-hating civilians on national television, and live with the consequences if that kid gets hurt, or hurts someone else, or attracts the wrong kind of attention.
Frankly, I don’t think you’ve ever been in charge of anything bigger than your own ego, and I don’t think you’ve given much serious thought to what that’s like. So here’s something to think about when you’re done sulking: what do you tell Drake if he insists on coming along, and it’s your call? "
He starts walking towards the lockers, then – slowly enough that John can get the last word if he needs it, but emphatically enough to let him know Warren’s done talking.
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Post by Rogue on Mar 6, 2007 20:18:35 GMT
"I didn't mean to imply that. Those were two separate thoughts… “[/color]
Her eyes drop, flashing from the indignant-defensive to a somewhat muted embarrassment that she’s likely making this harder on Ororo, causing problems…
”So what you’re saying is that I need a babysitter to hold the reins if Buckethead shows up…” [/color]
…Though she seems not to be the only one. She looks over towards John a second, almost amused, but still… not, really, seeing as this is serious, and she wants to keep both John and Storm happy, and … it’s just confusing. And, heck, she should just be grateful Ororo hasn’t decided not to send her along; the way things’ve been going in her head, lately, she wouldn’t have put it against her or anything…
“ […] Or…He threatens to hunt Bobby down and kill him. What do you do now?”[/I]
It’s not even meant for her, and it stings. Green eyes flick up from where she’s been staring at nothing, over to Ororo a second, before they’re on John another second, almost making sure he’s okay, as if just the glance will be enough for that – then it’s back to staring absently at nothing.
Wouldn’t do him any good to threaten something like that anymore… And that would truly be the most horrifying thought of the day, the weight of it alone starting her eyes burning. That she thought it, in itself, makes things worse, because the denial and ignoring that she’s been hanging onto didn’t come into play, and… she doesn’t like that. Really really doesn’t…
“It’s not time yet. The uniform’s on order, red trim and everything. It will be time, sooner than you think. But not yet. I’m sorry, John. …Guys - we’re leaving in an hour.”[/color]
Rogue gives a small nod in response, and an almost apologetic smile – she hadn’t meant to cause any trouble, and she makes a mental note to apologize later… not for siding with John, because that wasn’t anything she should be sorry about (and, really, having him along would be a helpful thing), but for the disturbance to the planning and whatnot.
"…There will be other missions, John. Trust me."
”Su-ure […] ‘xcept that the next time it comes around you’ll pull the same fucking card. How the hell am I meant to prove that I’m not going to run back to Mags, Wings, tell me that much? Every fucking time the chance comes up I’m stuck on the bloody bench!”[/color]
She wants to say …something that’ll help – though she’s not really sure what would, right now. She just shifts in her seat, looking over at him and hoping he’s not going to be upset over it for too long… It’s not like she can win Ororo over by boycotting the mission, or whatever, not when she might be needed, and something like this… she’s not even sure if it’s worth it, when Ororo’s already going to give him a chance later…
"[…] Frankly, I don’t think you’ve ever been in charge of anything bigger than your own ego, and I don’t think you’ve given much serious thought to what that’s like. So here’s something to think about when you’re done sulking: what do you tell Drake if he insists on coming along, and it’s your call? "[/color]
…Why does everyone seem to insist on bringing up Bobby? It makes it very hard to ignore that issue when it keeps popping back up over and over … And there’s a flash of guilt at the thought that not talking about him would be somehow far worse, and that she shouldn’t have thought that way…. She really needs to get her mind on something else, something that’ll keep her distracted for awhile. Hopefully the mission’ll do that. She looks back over to John with a small, almost tentative smile.
”Sorry hon. …I’d rather have y’along, m’self…”
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Post by Josh Dalton Worthington on Mar 6, 2007 21:35:01 GMT
Josh glances at the others throughout John’s reaction. Wow.
It’s sickening, really, watching everyone dance to Ororo’s tune and try to placate him like he’s some three year old throwing a tantrum…
He catches the general gist of John’s mental processes, along with the glare tossed in Warren’s direction. The combination almost makes his jaw drop. You jerk... He’s so intent on giving John a piece of his mind that it doesn’t even register that the prior statement wasn’t verbal.
“John, you are acting like a three-year-old throwing a tantrum. And the sickening part is how you seem to think the world revolves around your inflated head! We’re going to try to keep people safe, not show off for the cameras, for God’s sake! Warren even tries to help you, and you bite his head off. And Ororo gives you a place to stay, safe from the Brotherhood, and food to eat, and you repay her by acting like a dick?” Josh gets up from the couch, thoroughly pissed, and starts off after Warren.
> Fuck it. You lot have fun taking them on without insider knowledge or any real firepower.
That’s really the last straw. “Here’s a shocker: the Institute didn’t go spinning off its axis when you left us… and it’s not going to do so if you stay behind for this one.” Josh stalks towards the French doors leading out of the rec room, and they slam open before he reaches them, the glass panes rattling. He turns back for a moment. “Call me crazy, but I’m thinking that we’ve got enough ‘firepower’ between the four of us to handle the job.” He shakes his head.
“Come on, Warr. Let’s get changed.” He turns again and heads for the door.
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Post by Pyro on Mar 7, 2007 22:19:40 GMT
OOC So, Ororo, Warren and Josh are on the way out, leaving Rogue, John... and Puppy. Yet more pathetic and immature snarking from the diminutive jackassy one.
< John, maybe you’re right
The fact that Warren keeps talking gives him an excuse to move and get the remote, segueing from the scowly fuck off sort of not-listening to something nearer bla bla bla… yeah, whatever flippant not-listening, a mildly over-played yawn the only acquiescence to the fact Angel’s said anything at all as he flips the box back on, pointedly turning the volume up a few notches. It’s not like this is any less petty a reaction, but whatever; it makes the point – this conversation is over, and Wings is the clear ‘lo-ser’ for hanging around and forcing the issue.
< seventeen outstanding arrest warrents
That raises a half-smile, because it’s too easy to just let that one roll off his back. ”Outstanding? Flattery’ll get you nowhere… seventeen’s kinda underselling me n’all. But hey, glad you appreciate my work, Wings.” He shrugs, eyes never leaving the screen, and notches the volume up again, flicking away from the news with a slight pout, not really caring what it lands on so long as it’s loud and colourful and serves both to distract him and make the point that he’s no longer paying much attention.
< I don’t think you’ve ever been in charge of anything bigger than your own ego
… yeah, back to petulant, and resisting the urge to add If there’s anything bigger than my ego on this ship, I want it shot as another smartass whatever, not taking you seriously, buh-bye now throwaway… but that’s really only because he doesn’t think of it until after Warren’s brought up Bob again. It’s a cheap shot, and if it’s meant to make him think then they should have realised by now it’s having the opposite effect by stripping away what little respect has built up because… fuck, there are some places you just don’t go, right? Trying to get to him by playing that particular card smacks of desperation, and is just plain low and too many other sorts of pathetic to count.
At least Warren’s leaving now. That’s got to count for…
< John, you are acting like a three year old [….] it’s not going to do so if you stay behind for this one
… what the fuck?
<Come on Warr, let’s get changed
Shell-shocked is really the only word that can capture John’s reaction to whatever that was, because… seriously, what the fuck? Josh doesn’t lose it like that… ever, really. Even back with the lighter handing over and all he hadn’t lost it, and being on the receiving end now pretty much floors John, leaving him staring after the departing telekineticist with what starts as a stunned huh-what? kind of expression and matures into something more confused and speculative, as if he’s giving serious academic consideration to figuring out what the hell just happened… and still drawing a blank.
”Huh he says, eventually, still looking sidelong after Josh before shrugging and going back to the program. ”Looks like someone didn’t get their morning fuck from Big’n’Blonde.” He’s cut off before any further petty bitchy critique can slip out by a whine from the sofa opposite. ”Left you behind and all, did they? Bastards. Poor Pup, stuck with them as parents…”
< Sorry hon. …I’d rather have y’along, m’self
… oh right, Rogue’s still there. He should feel guilty for forgetting that, right? After all, she’s been pretty much his most staunch defender (no, he’s not going to let Warren anywhere near that role… git) through all this…
… not that his instincts seem to be tacking much notice. ”Shouldn’t you be off getting ready with the rest of Team ‘Mutant Poster Boys’?”
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Post by Rogue on Mar 8, 2007 2:43:52 GMT
….No one’s supposed to get angry. John’s entitled to be a bit pissy, yeah, but he always sulks for a little then gets right over it. She’s …not really sure what’s going on, aside from that suddenly Josh’s really angry, and… She doesn’t know what that means, really. Sure, John can hold a grudge, but usually doesn’t care enough to hold it very long… And having Josh mad right now isn’t good. Shejust sort of sits in place, fidgeting with her gloves, watching Josh almost warily (but it’s more stressed over the fact itself that he’s upset, rather than scared - because it’s not like he’s insane and going to do anything worthy of fear; this’s Josh…).
“Here’s a shocker: the Institute didn’t go spinning off its axis when you left us… and it’s not going to do so if you stay behind for this one.”[/color]
Rogue doesn’t visibly wince at the comparison – or mention of his leaving in general – but …it’s close, the way she sort of blinks and looks down at her hands. The sharp bang-rattle of the doors flying open snaps her head back up, though, and she looks from the door to Josh.
“Call me crazy, but I’m thinking that we’ve got enough ‘firepower’ between the four of us to handle the job.” [/color]
And then he’s leaving, and she … sort of keeps looking at the doorway. Hopefully… he won’t stay angry? She doesn’t know if his anger’ll carry over to her for defending John (which… she still doesn’t see that she’s done anything wrong by doing that) or not, and … it just doesn’t feel right. It’s quiet a moment, then John speaks, and she glances over.
”Huh…Looks like someone didn’t get their morning fuck from Big’n’Blonde. […] Left you behind and all, did they? Bastards. Poor Pup, stuck with them as parents…”[/color]
Her eyes drift over towards the puppy on the couch, and she smiles slightly. It’s cute, and it looks a little saddened by being left, in as much as animals actually look sad… But cheers up, so to speak, when John talks to it – seems John likes it more than he’s letting on or something? Her smile’s a little more visible for a moment, even though she’s still upset, somewhat. (Really, she should stop worrying about…everything so much… But she just can’t, somehow.)
”Shouldn’t you be off getting ready with the rest of Team ‘Mutant Poster Boys’?”
”What, you want me to go?” She hadn’t totally intended to sound as biting as she did, and as soon as she realizes, it’s followed by a quick ”Sorry.”, and her eyes drop again to her hands in her lap. Then, in a more mild but less spooked-meek tone (which takes a second to gather properly; sort of a blend of the two previous tones to make something mostly-normal), ”Got time. Was gonna wait a bit...”
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