Not so alone in the Garden (open)“Deep eyes like the rolling sea, my lover lays in my arms.
His last words fade like the morning dew but his memory forever in my heart.
‘The sun may fall never to rise again, but my darling forever I’ll be here’ it says.
‘Leaves may fall, seasons may change, but my darling forever I’ll love you’ I say.
Deep eyes like the rolling sea, my lover reached out to me.
His last touch as cool as the rain but his memory forever warming me.
‘The stars may dim and sun go out, but my darling you’ll see me again.’ it says.
‘Times may change in the next life my love, but my darling I’ll see you then.’ I say.
Deep eyes like the rolling sea, my lover drifts away.”
Her voice was soft but clear as she sang the same song she had sang on the day of Kevin's funeral. It was the second year annuversary of his death. Due to her knowing that her mother would try to get her to come over and spend the day there, she had turned her cellphone off and left it in her room. If she had gone to visit, her mother would have had her trying to be unnaturally cheery and woud have been spoiling her rotton... Tessa didn't want to be spoiled or to be cheered up when she didn't need ot be cheered up. She was better about handling Kevin's passing now. She had mourned over him long and hard and now all she had left to do was try to move on. Except on this day.
She was moving on but she wasn't going ot forget him or lose him. Tessa wasn't going to act like he never existed or that she never cared for him becuase that would be too big of a lie for her to pass off. But she wasn't going ot let herself sink into depression again or cling onto him too tightly... And she had to do something on this day for him so he would know that he meant something for her... So she sang the song she wrote for him. It was something he would have liked. He also wouldn't have wanted to see her hurting so she was calm as she sang, keeping relaxed and not letting herself be drawn into the sadness that she had felt the first time of singing the song.
She could feel the sun warmming her as she stood there in the garden and as the song drew to its end, she opened her eyes and gave a small sigh as she looked down at the flowers around the bench she sat on. It was noon and most of the population at the manshion would be in classes most likely so she had felt that this would be a good of a time as any to not get caught actually singing. A small grin came to her lips as she thought of the fit her mother would pitch if she had found out that Tessa actually liked singing. That was followed by another sigh. "Hey Kevin... I haven't forgotten you, you know. I know I haven't visited you today but I promise I'll visit soon. Mum wouldn't let me escape if she caught me there with you, you know how she is." She stated softly.
She looked up at the sky, it was clear with the occasional cloud here and there. "I hope you're alright wherever you are. Me, I am fine so you don't have to worry about me. I'm a lot better than I was a year ago. Been having a couple of issues with controlling my powers but you see where I am now, I'll be having help here. They're good people. I have to admit, my first day of being here was a bit... exciting and startling... but it didn't scare me away." She told Kevin.
"Well, it looks like Dad got his way in a way." She stated with a small chuckle. "I'm playing lil miss medic. I just have to make sure the parents don't find out. You know how they'd just try to nag me. I like helping at the med lab though. Dr. Mc Coy is a friend of Dad's and except for that one time when things got a little messy, he seems like a really nice man. His wife though..... She can be a bit intimidating.... Well, not can be but is. But I can deal with that. I just hope I don't make her angry again. an angry Zia is a scarey Zia." She commented.
"I might have made myself a buddy or two already in the time I've been working in the medlab. Ran across a certain individual too. I have to admit it, Kevin, you were right, he is real. And don't pretend like you don't know who I'm talking about... But I was right in telling you that if he is real, he's not seven feet tall and built like a weightlifter on steroids." Tessa stated with a chuckle.
"I like him, he seems like a good guy... although he also seems a bit stubborn about resting when he should. In that aspect, he's kind of like you used to be." She told Kevin with a small smirk. "I'm about to head in for lunch now, Kevin... I'll talk to you again soon and I won't forget about visiting." She said before lowering her head back to normal and standing up from the bench. It was then that she saw that she hadn't been alone after-all.
"Oh!.... Um... This is a bit embarrassing... I didn't expect anyone to come here this time of the day..." She stated, blushing impressively.
There were only a few hours left before the auditions. Not enough time to miraculously learn to act but more than enough to decide to back out.Which he was seriously considering doing. But still….. it was Shakespeare for gods sake. And Miss Clay would be there. How could he possibly pass up a combination like that? Besides, there was even a part he could probably pull off. Physically that was. Even if it wasn’t the one he was longing to play. *Don’t go there* he told himself sternly. *Getting up on a stage is suicidal enough without getting carried away. Friar Laurence will do me fine. Leave Mercutio to someone who can actually stand unassisted*
In all honesty he thought he could maybe bring something to the role of the priest. After all there was nothing in the play that actually said he had to be old and if they did decide that they wanted him to be that was nothing that some makeup couldn’t fix. Or maybe even a handy illusion or two knowing the institute! For all he knew there was even someone around who could turn him into the worlds greatest actor… at least for a little while. *Now that would be useful right now* he thought with a smile *But it looks as if I’m going to have to do this the hard way.*
The play he knew of course inside out. There were even great screeds of it stuck in his quirky brain, part of the ever growing stock of quotations he had acquired over the years, eagerly gleaned from the books he had read and loved. But even so you could never be too prepared. Especially if you were planning on getting up in front of the prettiest teacher in the school. His stomach started to flutter at the mere idea but whether it was with excitement or fear he wasn’t sure. He only knew he didn’t want to make a complete fool of himself and there was only one way to avoid that. Practice, practice and more practice! Which was exactly what he intended to do! The question was, where?
Somewhere private that was for sure where people wouldn’t see him try out the moves. Well the very few moves he could actually manage that was. Though he had to admit that he was getting better at manoeuvring with the crutches again. *Guess its like riding a bike* he though philosophically. *Once you learn you never quite lose the knack. Even if its something I wish Id never had to do in the first place! * That wasn’t a train of thought he wanted to get pulled into though. Self pity was a waste of time, accomplishing nothing besides making you feel miserable and that was something he definitely wasn’t prepared to do.
Besides this was a new start, in a new school, where being different seemed to be the norm. At least as far as mutant powers went that was. Though being a so called geek seemed to be as problematic as ever! Now was that reassuring or a pain in the ass? Michael hadn’t been there long enough to decide. He just knew that it was still a factor in his life and one he was ready to deal with rather than to give it up. Books! Plays! Poetry! These were the things that had always kept him sane when everything else was trying to pull him down. And he didn’t doubt that they would continue to do so.
Soooooo ….. All hail the bard! He was a fan, and always would be! And if that made him a geek then so be it.
It did give him some headway when it came to dealing with this audition though. *Maybe enough to give me a chance at it despite the competition* he thought.*If there is any that is.* To be honest he rather doubted that people would be rushing to audition for the role he had chosen. After all it wasn’t exactly prestigious. Why go for the priest when there were sword fighting romantic hero’s just waiting to be snapped up. He could understand the reasoning After all hed have been doing the same himself if circumstances had been different but as it was….. *Ok Lets find a place and get down to business*
He had thought for a time that he could perhaps find a vacant classroom and ensconce himself but that was seeming less and less like a good idea and more and more like a recipe for getting walked in on by a whole class of students wondering what the hell he was doing. Likewise going back to his dorm room was out of the question. He had managed to establish a routine now which involved climbing up and down the stairs as little as possible and even this predicament wasn’t enough to encourage him to break it and head up the two flights to his bedroom. So that left the garden, which he had to say was looking inviting under the light of a spring sun. Not that he had fully investigated all its nooks and crannies of course , far from it, but he had found one or two spots not too far from the main gate that still held a good chance of privacy and that, he reasoned, was just going to have to be enough.
It didn’t take him too long to get to the spot he had been thinking of nor was the journey too hazardous the gravel paths being slightly more user friendly to his crutches than the sometimes treacherous grass. Still even so the thought of the bench that awaited him there was welcome even after such a short walk. *Michael Grant. Favourite pastimes, literature, history, and sitting down at every given opportunity! Now there’s a list that really says a lot about a guy!* This time however it seemed that the seat in question could very well be occupied. Someone was singing, their voice sweet and true, the words unfamiliar, but like the melody reminiscent of the songs of his homeland. It spoke, like so much of the best music, of loss survived and hope renewed and it brought him to a halt as visions of Scotland flooded over him.
It wasn’t the first time he had been overwhelmed with homesickness. It was just the most unexpected. It held him there lost in memory even after the song had finished. Then when he had regained finally control of his wayward emotions it made him want to see whoever it was who had produced such an effect on him, to tell them that, even if their song hadn’t been meant for him it had touched him all the same. He didn’t want to just barge in though, especially since there seemed to be some sort of a discussion going on . Or rather, no! Though the words themselves were unclear not carrying on the still air as the song had it was still clear that this wasn’t actually a discussion It was a monologue. One voice talking, no one replying, And that too was strange enough to make him want to know more.
Crutches didn’t give you the luxury of being discrete, at least not easily, but he did try. And fail as usual. . "I'm about to head in for lunch now, Kevin... I'll talk to you again soon and I won't forget about visiting." the woman concluded as he drew nearer. Michael was just looking round for the second person when the young woman spotted him, her surprise obvious as she said "Oh!.... Um... This is a bit embarrassing... I didn't expect anyone to come here this time of the day..."
"Oh I’m sorry," he hastened to reply, feeling his own face redden as he once again cursed his curiosity for getting him into just this sort of situation.” I didn’t mean to disturb you.” He shook his head realising how stupid that sounded since he had just walked up on her without a by your leave. “Well yes, I suppose I did in a way.” he admitted awkwardly “Well not disturb really…… This was hopeless and getting worse by the minute.*For goodness sake string some words together before she thinks you’re a complete idiot. Though it might well be too late for that as it is.* Michael told himself taking a steadying breath.”its just........ I heard your song and well…..it was lovely. Reminded me of home. And I wanted to tell you that. I hope you don’t mind.”
Re: Not so alone in the Garden (open)
The person who had been there whens he stood up from the bench was Michael, one of the patients from the Med-lab. She had seen him a couple of times, had read up on his files and knew his condition, but had yet to have the chance to converse with him. Well, it seemed that had changed. The timing had been a bit off though, her not having been prepared for someone walking in on her while she was doing what she was...
"Oh I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to disturb you.” He spoke out. He wasn't the only one flushing in the face, her own tinted with a small amount of crimson. “Well yes, I suppose I did in a way... Well not disturb really…… its just........ I heard your song and well…..it was lovely. Reminded me of home. And I wanted to tell you that. I hope you don’t mind.” He said a bit awkwardly. She turned a bit redder in the cheeks and rubbing the back of her neck. "Um... Thank you." She started, not really sure of what esle to say at first. Then she brought herself to recover bedore she lost any more cool points. "Kevin used to like to hear me sing and it was a song I made for him..." She told him before giving a bit of a sheepish smile.
"It's probibly your luck that you did come unexpected, I usually keep my singing to myself. Thank you for the compliment also.... Michael, right?" She gave a short pause, smiling again, it being a more relaxed one. "Let me introduce myself properly; my name is Tessa O'Meara. I'm the new help in the medical lab. One of Dr. Mc Coy's assistants." She said. Had Michael not been on crutches, she would have offered a hand to shake. "How are you doing?" She asked gently.
"Is it alright for you to be out? Your body took a lot." She asked, concern in her tone but at the same time, she wasn't indicating he should leave. She was thinking about the file she had read. He had a broken leg that was still healing, and a punctured lung... and had just only recovered from pneaumonia.
Re: Not so alone in the Garden (open)
Once again he had excelled himself in his handling of women! That much was clear from the way she blushed. . "Um... Thank you."she said awkwardly while he contemplated having the ground open up and swallow him where he stood Now that would be a really useful mutant power. Just one he didn’t happen to possess. "Kevin used to like to hear me sing and it was a song I made for him..."
The smile was there, but that didn’t keep the loss from making its way into her voice. Michael sighed. He had hoped this explanation; the one he would perhaps have jumped at before he had spent some time at the Institute would have proved to have been wrong. He had thought there was a chance that she had perhaps been singing and talking to some unseen but nevertheless ultimately real being, invisible, intangible even, just as he could be on occasions but intrinsically alive, ready to respond in this life and not just in the next. But her eyes told him this wasn’t the case, even as they told him that she was coping. And that, no matter how well she tried to hide it, he had intruded into what was a very private moment. For which he was truly sorry.
And yet she didn’t resent his interruption, or at least she didn’t seem to. Instead she welcomed him as best she could, her words kind despite his untimely presence. "It's probably your luck that you did come unexpected,” she told him” I usually keep my singing to myself”. That wasn’t strictly true apparently but he knew what she meant. After all he came from a long race of those who sang songs for the dead even if she couldn’t know that.She shared the lovely voice with those she chose and he had usurped that right . Even if she was being nice about it!
Very nice in fact. “Thank you for the compliment also.... Michael, right?" Strangely enough her tension seemed to ease even as his suddenly mounted, wondering how she knew his name. After all he hadn’t really been around much nor had he made any kind of impression on the school as a whole.
Still.. he supposed that the teachers would perhaps have some sort of file on him Watch out! Cripple heading your way! The bitter though had crept in before he had a chance to exorcise it, a testimony to his fatigue more than anything else. Michael took a deep breath, knowing that the reflection came from him not this unknown woman. Which in the end made it all the harder to get past! Though he was an expert in doing just that! Dealing with negative thoughts and overcoming them. And in the end this was just one more. Taken in! Shelved! Case closed. Moving on! All part of the daily routine that he lived with, even if he wished he didn’t have to. And as long as no one knew what it cost him to do so it was all good. Though it wasn’t always easy.
In any case his theory as to why she should know his name soon proved to be unfounded though the real explanation was perhaps even more delicate. "Let me introduce myself properly” the she continued. “My name is Tessa O'Meara. I'm the new help in the medical lab. One of Dr. Mc Coy's assistants." Ahh! If he had uncovered one of her secrets she probably knew all of his. Something she more or less confirmed with her next question "Is it alright for you to be out? Your body took a lot."
Now it was his turn to blush, not from the awkwardness of having walked in on her at such a moment but at the thought that she might know of his fragility. Not just the obvious mobility problems that he couldn’t hide even if he wanted to but the underlying addiction that accompanied them. *Oh for gods sake don’t be so sensitive* he scolded himself sharply. *If she’s helping Dr McCoy then of course she’ll have to know about these things. Just be grateful that she seems nice because lets face it you’re probably going to be seeing quite a bit of her in the weeks to come. *
So he conjured up a smile even if it was an embarrassed one and said “Oh sure! I’m fine now really. The machines fixed me right up.” It was true as far as it went. The aftermath of Connors attack and the later illness had effectively been repaired. As for the rest…….” Well apart from the things that were already beyond fixing that is” he admitted ruefully. “And I’m getting physio to help with that.” The smile was more relaxed now that the subject had been broached and defused and the slight tension had left his voice to be replaced by his usual humour. “So you’ll be falling over me in med lab for a while yet no doubt.” he told her wryly.
Re: Not so alone in the Garden (open)“Oh sure! I’m fine now really. The machines fixed me right up.... Well apart from the things that were already beyond fixing that is. And I’m getting physio to help with that." Michael told her. Tessa gave a small nod, telling him she understood. “So you’ll be falling over me in med lab for a while yet no doubt.” His comment brought out an amused chuckle from her, her eyes lightening to a paler green-hazel.
With the amount he had been blushing before, she hadn't expected that last comment to come out of him. That only caused the statement to be even more amusing. "Not if you're the one falling over me first." She teased with a grin. She had no intentions of teasing him too hard though due to his being five years younger than her but a little would be alright. Hopefully it would bring a little more humor into things so the atmosphere of the medlab was even lass tense than it already was.
"So, what brings you out to a lonely place like this? Not many people wander out here, especially this time of the day." She commented. It wasn't that she was trying to get rid of him at all, she was just curious and it showed on her face. Had her abilities amplified the distance her voice carried or something? She was pretty sure that that wasn't the case but with them fluxing as they had been lately, she couldn't be a hundred percent on that. Most likely than not though, he had come out here for his own reasons and she just happened to be here too.
((OOC- sorry from both PK and myself about the short posts we've been giving lately. My laptop has for some reason gotten the habit of cutting off every 5-10 minutes or so. might be a problem with the adaptor or something.))
Re: Not so alone in the Garden (open)
Things weren’t so bad then if she could still laugh. . "Not if you're the one falling over me first." she said, the mischievous glint in her eye taking any sting out of the words as well as any implication that she was making a direct reference to his handicap. T
hat was always a problem, language not always adapting itself to the peculiarities of circumstance leaving people looking awkward when they said such harmless things as “ could you run down and get the phone” He still remembered the guilt on his mothers face the first time she had said that to him after the accident little realising that being treated and spoken to like anyone else was a good thing as far as he was concerned. *A ‘step in the right direction’ so to speak* he thought with a smile.
So he joined in and appreciated the comment as she had meant it adding his own grin to hers, feeling the atmosphere lighten with their mood. "So", she said "what brings you out to a lonely place like this? Not many people wander out here, especially this time of the day." “
"Which is exactly why I chose it” he admitted readily “The fact is…..theres this play.” This play? Had he really just said that! Shakespeare would be turning in his grave. “I mean its not just any play” he added hastily “..its Romeo and Juliet” And that said it all ,didn’t it! Or at least anyone looking at Michael in that moment would have thought so. Star crossed lovers. Swordfights! Tragedy and romance What more could you ask for?
Mercutio! You could ask for that! But it didn’t mean that you should! “anyway….. I thought Id have a go at auditioning!” he explained rather shyly knowing how ridiculous that sounded given his obvious restrictions. “Don’t worry I’m being reasonable ….. going for something I may be able to handle. Less of the ‘fairies midwife’ and more of the God pardon sin! wasn’t thou with Rosaline?Friar Lawrence... No sword required "
Re: Not so alone in the Garden (open)"Which is exactly why I chose it... The fact is…..theres this play. I mean its not just any play, its Romeo and Juliet.” Michael told her. Tessa smiled a little. Romeo and Juliet was classic. Almost every school had the play one time or another. She could even remember when she had participated in the play... Of course, she hadn't tried for one of the 'big roles' not having been one for the spotlight back then. She had played as Juliet's nurse.
“Anyway….. I thought Id have a go at auditioning!" Michael continued. Tessa raised a brow, a look of concern coming to her face but before she could say something, Michael added in more to his statement. "Don’t worry I’m being reasonable ….. going for something I may be able to handle. Less of the ‘fairies midwife’ and more of the God pardon sin! wasn’t thou with Rosaline?Friar Lawrence... No sword required " He told her.
"Glad to hear you are trying ot be careful." She told him, relief seeping in to replace the worry that had been there earlier. "Did you need someone to reherse with? It's been a few years since I've been in the play but I still remember a good part of the lines. And if not, I'm sure you could fill me in." She offered.
Re: Not so alone in the Garden (open)
She was concerned and that was to be expected he supposed. Especially if she had seen his files! He knew they didn’t make for easy reading. But then he also knew that he was more than just the damaged body they described. And he wasn’t only talking about his power when he said that. "Glad to hear you are trying to be careful." she said and he smiled and nodded taking the remark in the sense it had been meant, kind and caring, even if something within him rebelled against it.
And that was silly, wasn’t it. After all he knew better than anyone his limitations. He had just realised over the years that you had to look beyond them . Ok They were there alright ! But going for it! Even when thingw seemed out of your grasp.That meant that you were still fighting, still on your feet, and not just in the metaphorical sense. Besides, whether Tessa realised it or not, going for any part in the play was a major risk as far as he was concerned. It was a declaration that he was there at the Institute not just as a spectator but as someone who had a part to play. The academic equivalent of being on a team.
His smile broadened at the thought. Did Tessa know about the rather unique ‘extra curriculum ‘ activities that took place at Xaviers? It was hard to tell. One thing was sure at least. She be surprised to find out he was a part of them. *Oh yes* he thought *Tackling Connor, trogging through jungle, getting myself injected with pneumonia. I’ve been really careful recently.And you know what I cant see that really changing in the future.* But there was no need to worry Tessa by telling her all that. Especially not when she was being so nice.
. "Did you need someone to rehearse with? she asked, making him suddenly wonder if he did. He had come out here to avoid making a fool of himself in front of people but, when all was said and done, he was planning on getting up on a stage in front of a hall full of students in a couple of hours, so maybe having at least some kind of an audience now wouldn’t be a bad thing. At least then if he was really terrible he might be able to realise it before things got out of hand. After all there was going for it, pushing your limits .. and then there was making a complete idiot of yourself in public. And Tessa did seem eager to help.
It's been a few years since I've been in the play she told him but I still remember a good part of the lines. And if not, I'm sure you could fill me in."“I’ve got a copy in my back pack” Michael said taking the plunge. ”Hold on just a minute.” He was getting used to the balancing act required to get the bag off of his shoulders, making it look almost easy as he manoeuvred it round and opened it up, revealing the plethora of books inside. Not all of them required for classes. There was Bleak House to be shared with Paige later. Hemmingway for the fun of it and lodged between them…..
“There it is” he said emerging triumphantly from his search. ”Now what bit should we do “ He looked at Tessa and grinned. “You look a lot more like a Juliet than a Romeo so how about Act IV scene 1” He made a slight bow “Fair lady! Let us go and prepare your death! If that’s all right with you that is”
Re: Not so alone in the Garden (open)
Tessa looked over the script, a slight smile touching her lips as she read over the familiar writing and as memory came of when she had been rehersing with her schoolmates. She remembered almost the whole play, having had to sit in for people and play along as they practiced their lines. She had even played the part of Paris before. That memory almost made her chuckle, her pausing in the reading for a moment before going on with flipping through the pages.
Her eyes rose up from the pages after a couple of minutes and she looked at him, smiling. "I think I'm all set now. Thanks for letting me use this. I needed the reminder." She told him. She wasn't only talking about the reminder of the words that needed to be spoken but the flashback of when she had first interacted in this play. It had been one of those memories that hovered at the edge of the mind threatening to be forgotten for years. "Are you ready, Friar Laurence, for I have gathered my barings once more." She stated, raising a brow in amusement. A slight smirk touched her lips and her eyes paled slightly due to her being entertained.
She set the script down. "Might be easier if we start off with Paris' departure... Hope you don't mind." She stated before getting in touch with her abilities. She reminded herself that she would have to keep from laughing when she saw his face after what she was about to do. With her back still turned, she spoke out Paris' line. "God shield I should disturb devotion! Juliet, on Thursday early will I rouse ye: Till then, adieu; and keep this holy kiss." She had manipulated the sound well enough to slow it to where the words souded like they had come from a man.
She managed to put on a worried face as she turned to face Michael quickly, running her fingers though her hair as if she were stressed. "O shut the door! and when thou hast done so, come weep with me; past hope, past cure, past help!" She said in a hushed tone but while she was in the mood to use her abilities, she upped the volume some so he wouldn't have trouble hearing her.
Re: Not so alone in the Garden (open)
Shakespeare was a touchstone; an endless source of inspiration, feeding inevitably Michael’s insatiable hunger for quotations. But then again he was also so much more than that . If his plays had endured for so long it was because each and every one of them struck a chord within the human soul that couldn’t help but resonate. It was what made them so powerful…. And such fun to act.
And so Michael had been prepared for the intensity of the words, and ready to try his best to do them justice. What he hadn’t been prepared for of course was what happened next. He hadn’t been complacent about reading through the scene with Tessa. He had after all had no right to suppose that he would be faced with anything less than a consummate actress. But her powers took things to a whole other level
And so the exquisite voice than came from her as she delivered Paris’ lines was unexpected to say the least . “God shield I should disturb devotion! Juliet, on Thursday early will I rouse ye: Till then, adieu; and keep this holy kiss." Wow !The young Scot did a double take. This sounded like a guy talking! Emm no acting! For it was far more than just the timbre that was convincing, it was also the skill behind it.
Michael had to choke back his comments. The inevitable congratulations swiftly followed by all those questions that he would have asked just a few short days ago. Before he started truly coming to terms with what living in a school full of mutants really entailed! So yes later he probably would ask about her mutant ability since she didn’t seem to be exactly shy about it. Start the whole ‘Ill show you mine if you show me yours’ thing that Tessa had now opened the door too. He just wasn’t going to let it spoil the moment, not after she had set it up so nicely.
And so when she made the transition to a distraught Juliet he was there to meet her with his own performance, less polished perhaps, still feeling his way into the role, trying to make his physical limitations an integral part of the character and in doing so turn them from a disadvantage into an asset. It wasn’t a case of getting it right first time. This wasn’t the part he had fantasised about. Given Mercutio to read he would know exactly what to do but here he was still searching.Even so it was a good beginning, and Tessa was a wonderful foil. Even the things that went wrong were constructive ; knowing what you really didn’t want to do went a long way to showing you what you did.
So they read and reread a few times, polishing as they went, offering and listening to each others comments, and it wasn’t at all awkward as he had feared it might be. In fact it was fun. Fun enough to make him push his limits, to make him careless. As they spoke of poison and hope he had turned a little too enthusiastically, the crutches slipping slightly on the grass not enough to make him fall but sufficiently for some of his weight to be thrown onto the stiffened leg .I nstantly he stopped, the breath catching in his throat, cutting off the eloquent words as efficiently as any knife. “Damn” he said softly closing his eyes. “I think I need to sit down.”
Re: Not so alone in the Garden (open)
Tessa flinched when she saw the slip and saw the pain that registured on his face. “Damn...I think I need to sit down.” The boy stated and Tessa couldn't blame him for needing to. She assisted him the best she could onto the bench, her brows coming together some in worry for him. It seemed that they had gotten too deep into the rehersing, neither of them being careful enough with his actions. She knew better than to barrate though, the crutches slipping some on the grass hadn't been something they could predicts... Although she should have thought of that... It seemed she found something to yell at herself about after all...
"We should draw the practicing to a close for now." She suggested. "When was the rehersal schedualed? I haven't had the chance to get too deep into the events at the manshion." Tessa was worried about Michael's leg but she made sure not to seem like she was blinded by the fact he was injured. He might have not wanted that to get in the way of things and she was going to let him have freedom with that.... even if she were going to watch to make sure he did not go too far with it.
"Is it feeling any better now that you are sitting down?" She asked. Tessa may have been giving him space on the topic but there were just some things she could not go without asking. That was one of them. She needed to know the extent of the pain and how it was feeling now to know the percautions that needed to be made. Also to know if she would need to ask assistance of the Med Lab.
Tessa was worried that much was clear and Michael hated it. Still he could hardly refuse her aid as she helped him to the nearby bench fussing more than he thought was necessary but making sure he got there safely all the same. Then again he wasn’t the one who had seen the blood drain from his face when the pain hit. Nor, despite all the mirrors he had crossed in recent days did he realise just how frail he really looked after his long ordeal. It had taken its toll on him, the experiments, the imprisonment and everything that had transpired since. And if his spirit remained strong still there were moments like this when his body reminded him forcibly that it sometimes called the shots No matter how much he railed against it.
"We should draw the practicing to a close for now." Tessa said gently. She was right of course. Now he had stopped he realised just how tired he really was. "When was the rehearsal scheduled? I haven't had the chance to get too deep into the events at the mansion." Later thank god. Michael wasn’t quite that suicidal. He had programmed in time for resting before the big event. Just in case. Which given the circumstances was just as well wasn’t it. It wasn’t the knock that that was the problem, though that was what had brought him to his senses. It was the enthusiasm with which he had plunged into the rehearsing, giving it his all as he always did. It’s just that his all didn’t seem to go very far at the moment.
And apparently that showed for Tessa asked "Is it feeling any better now that you are sitting down?" “I’m fine” Michael answered raising his head with a wan smile. “You don’t have to worry, this happens all the time. Well when I get careless, that is. The trick is to go with the flow till it passes. Which it will in a minute. Honest.” And it was true. This really was just a minor mishap as far as he was concerned. Already the pain was passing as he massaged the leg gently, the action almost automatic, easing the ruined muscles back into some form of peace.
“ And Ive got time to recover... the rehearsals not till this afternoon. Still....You can take my mind off things while I wait for this damned leg to behave itself, if you like” he said sounding better if still far from good. “ That’s a cool power you ‘ve got yourself there. Sounds like a whole heap of fun. So tell me, what else can you do with it?”
Re: Not so alone in the Garden (open)“I’m fine... You don’t have to worry, this happens all the time. Well when I get careless, that is. The trick is to go with the flow till it passes. Which it will in a minute. Honest.” Michael told her. Tessa let the worry line that had formed between her brows fade away... even if her concern for him was still there. The last thing she wanted him to think was that she was going to baby him. Different people had different levels of pride and she didn't know him enough to risk bruising it by pressing the issue any further. So instead, she took a seat beside him.
[n]“And Ive got time to recover... the rehearsals not till this afternoon. Still....You can take my mind off things while I wait for this damned leg to behave itself, if you like... That’s a cool power you ‘ve got yourself there. Sounds like a whole heap of fun. So tell me, what else can you do with it?”[/i]
Well, there was a topic that she still needed to get used to being brought up even if she had started getting more used to not hiding it as much.
"Well..." She began, trying to hink of where to start. Tessa still didn't know completely on how her abilities worked but she would do her best to tell him. "I just manipulate sound waves... Make sounds louder, softer, or even stop the sounds altogether..." She gave a small chuckle.
"I guess you can say that the world is almost like a radio and me the remote... Besides volume control, there's what you heard earlier. The change in pitch of a sound... I haven't experimented too much out of the job life so I haven't gotten the chance to figure out all I can do with noises yet but I guess that's what this place is for." She commented with a smile.
"There have been a couple of times where I had to use my abilities for a defensive reason... I am guessing that I can use the abilities for offensive too but I haven't ever done that. Not too long ago, I had used the sound manipulation to throw a sound back at a threat to send the threat back in the other direction... It was almost as if the sound wave had become so compact it made an impact as if something had actually struck out... But enough about that... How about you? What brings you to Xa She asked, raising a brow.
Re: Not so alone in the Garden (open)
It was a good idea! Asking her about her powers. Distracting him from the immediate pain Though that wasn’t the only reason he had asked . Michael was genuinely interested in what she could do. Even if he wasn’t sure he could completely understand it
Maybe this was what it felt like when he tried to describe his abilities. One fleeting moment of comprehension, when you felt you had grasped what the other person was talking about! Then….a vague understanding followed by an overwhelming desire to smile and nod! Loud and quiet he could of course take in and as for the alteration in pitch…..well that Tessa had amply displayed. But as for the rest….
That sound could be used as a weapon he could appreciate all too well. After all if you exploded some serious decibels in the ears of your enemy it was bound to hurt! What Tessa was describing was more than just that though. Condensing the sound waves down till they became a force in their own right. *Sounds more like Ben’s domain than mine* Michael thought ruefully. *I’m sure he’d love to get into the physics behind it….* “But enough about that...” Tessa said, catching him unawares. “How about you? What brings you to Xaviers”
Now what was he supposed to say to that? If he had been sure that Tessa knew all about the teams and other extra curricular activities that went on at Xavier’s he wouldn’t have hesitated to tell her the truth. But since he wasn’t Michael decided that a somewhat edited version of what had happened would probably be wiser.
“Ahh” he said softly,”That’s a bit of a messy story.” His eyes stayed fixed on his hands still gently massaging his stiff knee as he continued “These guys back home decided they could make some easy money out of one of my powers.” ‘These guys! His own brother and a doctor he had trusted But that wasn’t something he was willing to share with anyone just yet.
“So anyway they grabbed me and brought me here to the States where they planned to sell me off to the highest bidder. Michael glanced up at Tessa giving her a reassuring smile, letting her see that he was ok talking about this. “Yeah I know! Hard to believe anyone would want to buy me but hey it takes all sorts! It seems that mutants, even ones with dodgy legs, can fetch a tidy price if you know where to go!
No reason to labour the point, after all it was already ugly enough as it was. “Anyway,” he declared mildly ”as you can see, things didn’t go quite as planned. Thankfully. To cut a long story short some other mutants had got wind of what was going down and they came and rescued me. But I got hurt in the proceedings and so…. ” Michael’s smile was back as bright as ever Where else would they bring me but here? After all Dr McCoy is something of a legend from what I can make out. And I can’t say that I’m sorry. There’s no better school for someone like me than Xavier’s and now that I’m here I fully intend to make the most of it.
Re: Not so alone in the Garden (open)“Ahh... That’s a bit of a messy story.” Michael stated. Tessa may not have been at the institute for too long but she had been there long enough to get the idea that a lot of the people in the manshion had unsettling pasts. It was a saddening and unfortunate thing but at least... At least they were in this place now and in a place that they may be able to call home and look to as a safehaven.
“These guys back home decided they could make some easy money out of one of my powers... So anyway they grabbed me and brought me here to the States where they planned to sell me off to the highest bidder.... Yeah I know! Hard to believe anyone would want to buy me but hey it takes all sorts! It seems that mutants, even ones with dodgy legs, can fetch a tidy price if you know where to go!" Almost her whole body tensed. A mutant slave trade? The thought of it disgusted her. She had never been fond of the thought of slavery and this was no different.
“Anyway,as you can see, things didn’t go quite as planned. Thankfully. To cut a long story short some other mutants had got wind of what was going down and they came and rescued me. But I got hurt in the proceedings and so…. Where else would they bring me but here? After all Dr McCoy is something of a legend from what I can make out. And I can’t say that I’m sorry. There’s no better school for someone like me than Xavier’s and now that I’m here I fully intend to make the most of it. "
Tessa smiled. That was the best way to go aout it, to make the best of things after having survived through a rougher part of your life. "And we're glad that you are here to be able to make the most of it." She said with a brighter smile.
Re: Not so alone in the Garden (open)
The idea of the Market had shocked her more than a a little, that much was clear. But then again that was only natural. After all the idea that there were people out there ready to trade mutants like so much merchandise was enough to faze anyone. Well anyone with an ounce of morality in them that was. Which probably explained why George had had no problem fitting right in! Once he had got his head round the whole demon thing that was!
Michael was glad he had decided to leave that bit of the story out. It had made grim enough hearing as it was without adding the supernatural nature of the buyers. Maybe some day Tessa would be forced to confront the creatures herself though Michael sincerely hoped that wouldn’t be the case. He wouldn’t wish that on anyone! Especially not someone he liked. And he did like Tessa. He liked the way she could be concerned without descending into pity. The way she had so readily volunteered to help him with his audition. The easy smile that came to her lips.
There was one there now as his story came to an end as if she like him knew the importance of celebrating what you had now rather than lamenting over what had happened in the past. The past was gone, there was no going back and tinkering with it till everything came out just the way you wanted. But the future! Ah now that you could shape. Or at least try to. And Michael intended to make his a good one.
So when Tessa told him "And we're glad that you are here to be able to make the most of it." he smiled back readily enough and said “Aye well taking part in school activities is part of my master plan for doing just that so hopefully getting a part in the play will be a good first step Even if, as usual where I’m, concerned it might be a shaky one. “Though thanks to your help I might not embarrass myself to badly. .
The British humour was firmly in place as he eased himself back to his feet positioning the crutches carefully before trusting his weight to them. “In any case I’ll let you know how I get on. But as for now…..rest I think is the order of the day.” If it was good to push your self to your limit it was also good to know when you had reached it and Michael acknowledged his own encroaching fatigue with as much good grace and elegance as he could muster.
A couple of hours lying down and I’ll be ready to take the stage by storm. Then who knows… Broadway..Paris, London……. Maybe you should get an autograph now before my career takes off and I’m whisked away to perform worldwide…. Or more likely ” he said with a grin ‘Ill just give you a blow by blow account of how things went next time I’m in med lab. I’m sure we’ll be seeing plenty of each other in there. Which, at least as far as I’m concerned has just made idea of trogging in every day a whole lot more pleasant.
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