Green Dorm: Are We Saying Goodbye?Thursday 22 of March: late evening.
Yes, I know, many posties... but I realized that Matt could kill us all if the free time went on too long and since there's so much we've planned I'm trying to start as many as possible! Sorry if I'm overloading people XD
Gusts of winds whistled against the school, the downpour drenching everything, Scott’s body sat cross legged and numb on the window sill outside the main room of the Green Rescue’s dorm. The ground was gloomy, shadows crept the world around him, every blade of grass and every swaying branch dazzled with crystal drops that plunged from the sky. Soft silver rays of moonlight gently touched the earth, though even the moon was half cast in shadows this night.
The Prince sat with the edge of his body visible from inside, just so they didn’t lock the windows or close the curtains on him, he wasn’t in the mood to camp out and hardly cared to venture through the halls soaking wet. Then again, it wasn’t like everyone would notice him. It had only been just over half an hour when Scott came outside, though it felt like hours to him, the oncoming of darkness wasn’t noticed really as Scott’s mind drifted from one trouble to another. Chill caused a shiver to shudder through him often, signalling he ought to get back in… well he probably ought to have gone in already but he was torn between wanting company and wanting time to think on his own. Tender finger tips stroked against the delicate leaves of his favourite plant, the vibrant yellow and crimson tips with faint freckles along the outline as well, streaks of hot pink outlining the fiery orange at the very inner core of the petals. The leaves were edged in a pale blueish purple with a gradually greener core. A dull yellow veined through the leaf elegantly like a feather. It was bright… that’s what Scott liked about it so much, bright, vibrant, colourful and with a smell so soothing, calming, like a breeze from the gardens of heaven. At least that’s how it seemed for the Prince, likely not everyone thought so articulately towards the precious bloom.
The flamboyant flower was homed in a dark blue pot , which contrasted greatly to the striking petals and helped them stand out all the more. The beloved item usually sat on the dinning table, but Scott often shifted it about, carrying it back and forth form his room or the kitchen bench. It wasn’t that Scott couldn’t decide where it best fit, it was just he adored it so much he liked to have it near him when he was reading and most of the time he hovered between the table Riley was often unpacked at and studying or the edge of the kitchen bench where Scott also occasionally perched himself.
Inside Riley was right now sitting at the table studying, his books scattered out at one end and his pen constantly scratching away across his page, the occasional flicking over to a new side as he reached the last line breaking his otherwise silent session. There was also the hum of his laptop, once notes were set and information was gathered Riley typed them down into his computer and filled them out further in his own words. But the longer Scott remained outside the more distracted from his work became. At first there had been a light drizzle, it was cool most of the day so Scott had to have known what he was going out into, the fairy seemed a little detached and not at all himself due simply to the downer in mood he had all evening. Huddled on his bed with an open door, Scott spent the last few hours finishing the book Riley had gotten for him, which in itself was out of routine as Scott had been reading it chapter by chapter to make it last, only tonight he had finished the entire thing.
"I have the feeling he isn’t going to come in and tell us what’s bothering him any time soon." Riley rested his chin in the palm of his hand, which was supported by his elbow as it rested on his work, his left hand very quietly tapping the blunt end of his pen down onto the book he was reading from. With a sigh he dropped the pen and laced his fingers together, both elbows supporting him as his chin rested on his thumbs which were tucked under it and his lips pressed against his gripped fingers.
One of the others in the room was May, but she didn’t really react to the comment from Riley, not because she didn’t care about Scott but it was hardly a secret that she made the fairy nervous so if he was down she wasn’t the best to lift his spirits. The spider powered mutant did however turn down the TV she was watching, when no one was using she usually lounged around watching the news if she had nothing to do. It wasn’t a treat she was used to having so May was taking some pleasure in this arrangement. The younger red head turned her gaze to watch as Riley made his way towards the kitchen, intent on preparing a pot of hot chocolate topped with a sweet sugary froth of melting marshmallows. There were few problems sweets and an outreached hand couldn’t solve when it came to Scott, who’s troubles were often simple, another student having knocked him off his feet or a teacher looking right through him, a new bout of homesickness or bored restlessness. One time Scott had gotten angry and detached when he crossed students throwing stones at a birds nest, they couldn’t see Scott but the fairy had managed to startle them enough to stop their terrible game.
So Riley hardly expected the truth as to what was bothering Scott, he wouldn’t have guessed that come a few days from now Scott would be insisted out of the school, his family determined to return him to his home… and even worse, that they would act as if they didn’t know when Scott would be able to return.
Rain was something you learned to live with when you came from Scotland but all the same…. He was getting cold just looking at Scott. Michael had only been playing at studying for some time now He suspected Riley was doing the same. *What the hecks got into him?* the astral mutant asked himself as he shot another worried glance in the fairies direction. *I’m the one who disappears off for hours on end with a book not Scot. And gloomy introspection is most definitely not up his street*
They had been sharing a dorm for a while now so Michael was aware that Scot wasn’t always bubbly and bouncy * Just most of the time* he thought with a fond smile. Even so when Scott was upset he was usually pretty vocal about it as well * He doesn’t do quiet. He doesn’t do still. Not like this anyway* Michael pondered worriedly. *The question is does he want to talk about whatever’s worrying him or not?*
It was a tricky call to make. Obviously Riley was wrestling with the same problem for Michael could catch him directing similar looks towards the half open window. "I have the feeling he isn’t going to come in and tell us what’s bothering him any time soon” the older student said with a sigh, unconsciously echoing Michael’s own unspoken thoughts. *Well I don’t think I can go out and join him * Michael thought *Wet high window ledges are not what I do best Though I’m sure Hood could manage it.*
That was an idea. Scott reacted well to Michael’s ‘elven’ form and apart from obvious physical advantages it provided Hood would also keep Michael’s ever present under currant of pain well out of the empaths range * No point in burdening him with that as well when he’s got his own worries the astral mutant thought It cant be easy enough for him to deal with at the best of times And this definitely doesn’t look like being the best of times.*
Riley was moving now. For a moment Michael thought that he was going to go over to the window but instead he headed over to the kitchen facilities Food. Always a good way to cheer Scot up. Provided it was sweet enough that was. *Ok That’s plan A underway Now for plan B.*“Think Ill take Hood out for a bit of a talk with him” he said quietly to May as he prepared to leave his body. Always wise to warn people when he was going to roll over and play dead. Otherwise it could get embarrassing.
He settled himself comfortably in the armchair and left his physical body behind as he floated through the window and out onto the sill, making sure he was securely positioned before he materialised himself. It was pretty high and though he was almost certain he could become insubstantial in time to save himself if he did happen to fall he wasn’t willing to take the risk.
He materialised slowly letting Scott register the fact that he was there. No point in giving him a fright. The ledge was pretty cramped. He didn’t want them both tumbling off if the fairy got startled. The rain on the other hand didn’t bother him. It seemed to run off of Hood’s form leaving him dry and untouched *Can’t say the same for me* Michael thought ruefully *There will be a puddle on that armchair before too long. Anyhow that cant be helped and a good drenching is a small enough price to pay if it makes Scott feel better.*
“You were looking kind of lonely out here” he said finally as the transition was completed. "Reckoned I’d come and see if you fancied some company. Since it’s such nice night and all. ”
Re: Green Dorm: Are We Saying Goodbye?
All the fuss seemed overboard in May’s opinion, then again she was used to people carrying heavy burdens on their shoulders, everyone needed time alone to deal with their troubled thoughts. Fairy, human, everyone had their problems, it didn’t mean people had to work themselves up because someone was a little down. Then again, May found it sort of sweet that people worried about each other, even if it were just a small thing. Considering Scott didn’t seem very social May could only assume it was a dull matter which got the inhuman all bundled up in his gloom.
“Think Ill take Hood out for a bit of a talk with him” The astral abilities of Michael were something May was sure could have been awfully handy in her timeline, then again his injury would have made the whole surviving thing almost impossible for him, and anyone who tried to stick by the guy would undoubtedly put all their lives at terrible risk. Still, despite the symbionts nature and twisted path, the cynical attributes that poisoned May’s personality couldn’t help to fade and give way to the feel of sympathy towards others around her. Sometimes it was almost like feeling human again, feeling alive, part of something simple yet important. While May’s personality was adjusting slightly as she grew used to her surroundings and the people, part of her was held back with the knowledge that in her time these people, with all their hopes and dreams, all the efforts they put forward, all this in the end was for nothing. Because one day, in a future she was born in, one she grew up in, all this would fail and a dream of coexistence will be lost. The only dreams mutants would have in that time would be to simply survive another day, they would die to achieve what these people now had, at least the X-men had a place to be themselves, they weren’t hunted like rats carrying a plague. But that was human nature wasn’t it? To always push for that slim chance of creating something better for themselves, May doubted humans could truly survive in a completely perfect society.
Watching Michael settle himself down kept May distracted as his body seemed to slowly fade of life, always a strange thing to witness and yet a wonder to her curious mind. The scientist in May screamed out for a chance to learn more about his power, all their powers in fact, what made them tick, other then Riley’s apparent ‘strength’ May had no idea what his ability was. Ben didn’t show off his darklight abilities so it could be that Riley had a really mundane power, or it was extraordinary and he had to limit its use, the new member of their group didn’t appear to be freely willing to shed any light on his abilities.
Out on the ledge the fairy could feel the emotions swirling inside, his eagerness to bring happiness to people causing guilt as he realized his actions instead caused concern and worry. Usually Scott never had anything to fear though, he never had any real worries which effected his state of mind, being young allowed him to shy away from trouble and focus on what he was involved in, forgetting at times the troubles his home faced. The creatures in this realm took to Scott’s presence, they involved him in their lives as they had once down to his ancestors. For once things actually came to him feeling he could help them when no one else was around to do so, he could do for them what they needed and what others wouldn’t do. It was a responsibility Scott never thought he wanted, and one that on few occasions have left him exhausted or overwhelmed. Just a few short nights ago his team mates arrived from their classes to find him curled on the couch with his own CD in the player singing out its mystical melodies in strange and enchanting voices and his cuddled with his book. Even words of desserts didn’t stir the Prince after the group sat for dinner, though he didn’t want to go to his room and said the others could use the TV and turn off the music if they wanted, he just wanted to stay with company. It was a nice night, a night Scott wanted more of, many more. Gathered with friends, unafraid of closing his eyes around them as he had once been, confident enough and trusting enough to know he would never be harmed by them and he could let down his guard. In happiness or in fears, he could open up to them and not have to carry a constant mask to hide his true state of mind from others, a way of protecting himself, a way Scott really hadn’t yet learned to master in any case. But it didn’t matter, not here, not with these people, not with his friends.
As a figure began to appear next to the fairy, crystal eyes remained downfallen on the vibrant petals of his beloved flower. Why did it feel so bad right now? It wasn’t like he was in pain and yet he was hurting, the Prince didn’t realize he could feel any sort of pain beyond that of a physical kind. Riley and Connor had such pains, a lot of humans did, perhaps Scott was foolish not to realize that he too was just as susceptible to it, foolish or naive, the Prince wasn’t sure which was worse. It was hard to assess how Scott felt inside, was he glade it was Michael that came out if it had been anyone at all, or was he sad that it had been Michael and no one else? Everything felt thrown up in the air, what was nothing became something and what was silly became important.
“You were looking kind of lonely out here” In a way… The Prince could never really feel completely alone, but with his connection in nature, at times it haunted him, the moonlight whispered its gentle hymns, the flora sang their enchanting tune, and the world around him was filled with an unforgettable mantra. There was always something, even in the emptiness there was something, the wind spreading its secrets, the grass dancing graciously as the air slithered through it. Even as they all spoke, Scott still felt lonely, he still felt set apart, even when at the same time he was one with everything he wanted more. And for a little while he really started to feel whole, he started to realize what he wanted, and he wanted this, what he had with all of Green, with their members, with Connor and Riley and Michael… With Tess. "Reckoned I’d come and see if you fancied some company. Since it’s such nice night and all."
"Michael…I know I haven’t been doing well here, and I spent most of my time alone or with Arlen. But now it is different, now I have all of you, I’m trying harder to not just hide away because I am nervous. Sometimes I actually feel that it doesn’t matter that I’ll never fit in with this world, just as long as I fit in with all of you." The delicate voice spoke wistfully, feeling strange speaking in so sad a tone with someone who usually Scott found himself lighting up around. Though in a way, Scott did feel secure now, but was it just a false security? And at this point did it really matter? Was he willing to neglect a comfort which Michael’s presence offered, being angry (at least as much as Scott could muster, which wasn’t really that great deal at the moment) wouldn’t help ease the pain of losing them, but being angry with his family wouldn’t help him cope being away from his friends either. Assuming Scott was asked to return back with his parents, but that’s what it sounded like, as if his situation here was being assessed more thoroughly and the outcome of that wasn’t going to be too positive.
"Riley was right, I do get homesick, and I did leave for home…but every time I went back it became harder for me to return.. I wanted to, I like it here Michael, I like who I am here, I like how I’ve been able to grow and no one holds me back, but you all help me move forward.." Sure Scott missed his parents, but he was growing so much more without them tying him down, holding him back, over protecting him to a point it was just stunting his growth and spirits. Family here was strange, like the way Connor felt when speaking of his parents, be it in anger or frustration or hope, Scott could tell more then what Connor let out, the Prince could see what was buried under all the anger and sense of neglect the eldest Enright felt. And Riley had his mixed emotions, Scott was almost positive that the young man was as confused about his emotions towards them as Scott was confused about his own emotions towards wanting to stay or giving into his family’s wishes and departing with them. "I feel pain so often. You, Riley and even May, there’s a sense of longing every time home is mentioned, so I haven’t been able to think how to talk of what bothers me. There’s pain and sorrow, anguish and betrayal, yet there is loss, I do not wish to stir such emotions again," The diamond gaze was focused on the petals of the plant, a difficult struggle of keeping himself calm obvious in his unusually tense voice. His eyes closing shut as he recalled everything, his mind drowning in memories, weighing the good and the bad, judging what was worth the most to him.
"When I came here, I had only one friend, but it was so long between seeing Arlen, and he lived so far away, it wasn’t like what I have now..." It was always hard to sort out his own feelings, because it was so easy to confuse them with what others were feeling and mistake them as his own. Emotions in general could be a fickly thing, having others muddling up inside of him was definitely not helping the young creature as he tried to sort out things in his mind, and his heart. Usually Scott wasn’t too big on keeping people in the dark, if he had a problem he spoke of it, unless people looked as if they could use without hearing his complaints then he left it alone for a later time. But this problem felt so huge, so complicated and serious that he wasn’t sure where to start, or how to deal with how it was making him feel.
"I learned things, good and bad, and it feels like so long but I have made more friends now and though I am only with twelve celebrations of life you do not hold my age against me. I am not limited because of my youth, I am not held back, or told I am unable or too weak, or too young. I do things for myself, I take care of myself but I also have friends who will help take care of me as well. In a world where so many people can not see me, I have found myself in the few who can." And what precious few they were, to know their years were so short was more painful then Scott was willing, or ready, to bare at this point. Still Scott hadn’t considered the mix up humans would easily make when Scott turned of his age, as he and Arlen often referred to themselves as being twelve and people would initially assume they meant as in ‘years’ not centuries. How ironic was it though? That in a culture who was blinded by their disbelief the Prince would find a group who respected his identity, who cared for him, for who he was and what he does, regardless of what bloodline he was from.
"I miss my home Michael, I miss the meadows and the lakes, the distant mountains, the beauty of them in the moonlight or the sun’s golden glow, I miss riding the unicorns and swimming with the mer-people, praying with the elves and eating with the dwarves. Helping the great Ents and sawing seeds with the gnomes, I miss the songs of my people and the dances and games. I miss travelling the lands and seeing the different places with my mother on her journeys, I miss my fathers voice and my mothers arms, my brother’s tackles and our laughter together……But I think.…I know…I will miss this more. I would miss you all too much," Guilt, it stung as bad as any spider toxins could. Selfish, that’s what he was, all this time Scott just figured he wanted something more, to experience something new, but now he knew better, he was just selfish, he just wanted what he chose and obviously he didn’t feel bad choosing against his own family, his people, his way of life. As far as Scott was concerned though, this was his way of life, this was now what he wanted, what he liked… even if at first Scott had been hesitant on taking on responsibility of problems the creatures of this world brought to him, now it was different, now he wasn’t afraid to step in and voice his opinion, or set down demand or suggestion. No longer was he just a child, a clueless toddler stumbling about in a strange world. Now he was someone of his own making, people judging him by his own actions, for reasons which were unaffected by who his parents were or what blood ran in his veins.
Re: Green Dorm: Are We Saying Goodbye?
It seemed he had been right to make the effort. Scot needed to talk, That much was clear And Michael knew how important it was just to listen. He had done it many times in the hospital, his own experience teaching him at a young age that sometimes silence could be a healing force providing that friendship was behind it. So now Hood listened in his stead, the rain dripping indifferently from his astral form. Some of the words he didn’t fully understand. *Maybe I haven’t been here long enough* he thought as Scott explained his solitude
"Michael…I know I haven’t been doing well her and I spent most of my time alone or with Arlen the fairy said, causing Michael to frown uncertainly. He had assimilated the fact that there were people that couldn’t see Scott but still.. He himself had almost run foul of Riley merely because he had doubted the others sincerity when he had spoken of fairies It seemed to Michael that Scott had succeeded in making many friends at the institute and he was glad to count himself amongst them
" But now it is different, now I have all of you, I’m trying harder to not just hide away because I am nervous." Scott nervous?, That just didn’t add up. He had always seemed such a bundle of positive energy like a sugar high with wings Michael thought with a smile. But then people always thought that Michael himself was such an easy going person. They didn’t realise what an conscious risk he was taking each time he left himself open to their comments Could it be that Scott felt much the same?
The fairies next words seemed to confirm his thoughts. "Sometimes I actually feel that it doesn’t matter that I’ll never fit in with this world, just as long as I fit in with all of you."
It was a bittersweet feeling and honestly one that Michael would have preferred not to share, although in many ways it brought him closer to his team mate. He himself had been an outcast for so long, not by race like Scott but by intellect and sensitivity.
The ready wit had always been there but there had been few of his age that had been ready to recognise it. Likewise even in the few days he had been at the institute he had discovered the gulf there was between the European and the American mentality.* Henry James didn’t understand the half of it* he thought briefly *Though in certain ways I am closer to these people than I ever was to my schoolmates.* British or American. Fairy or…. whatever May was.. They were still team mates and that seemed to transcend any barriers that life had placed in their way.
He hoped that Scot felt the same although he couldn’t help but sympathise as the fairy continued “Riley was right, I do get homesick, and I did leave for home…*So what??*After four months absence Michael knew that he too would have gone home if it had been possible Just for a visit Just to see how everyone was getting on. But of course he couldn’t. Still that was his problem not Scott’s and personally he didn’t care if the fairy needed to leave every weekend or even every evening The astral mutant wasn’t going to think any less of him on that account.*As long as he’s happy that’s what matters* he thought to himself *Surely he doesn’t feel bad about wanting to go home does he??*
Still it seemed like he did as Scott continued . "but every time I went back it became harder for me to return.. I wanted to, I like it here Michael, I like who I am here, I like how I’ve been able to grow and no one holds me back, but you all help me move forward.."
Was that it? Did he want to go home? Michael had to admit that he would miss Scott if he left for any length of time but still…. As a friend he wanted him to be happy and if he wasn’t happy here in the institute then…
"You, Riley and even May, there’s a sense of longing every time home is mentioned, so I haven’t been able to think how to talk of what bothers me. There’s pain and sorrow, anguish and betrayal, yet there is loss, I do not wish to stir such emotions again,"
Michael turned anxiously towards the empath Was that it? Was it his emotions that were tearing Scott apart?, ‘Pain and sorrow, anguish and betrayal’ It certainly seemed to fit the bill.* I’ve tried to keep it secret* Michael thought desperately. *I never thought I’d be living with someone who could read my emotions. How could I have known that?*
Maybe he should change teams. The thought didn’t please him but it was an obvious solution and in all honesty he couldn’t continue to inflict his problems on someone he considered a friend And who considered him as one as well from the sound of things.
"When I came here, I had only one friend," Scott went on "but it was so long between seeing Arlen, and he lived so far away, it wasn’t like what I have now... "*Yes now you have other peoples problems crashing in on you all the time. Michael thought guiltily Yet it didn’t sound as if Scott was complaining . "I learned things, good and bad, he said as if this was the last thing he had expected to happen. and it feels like so long but I have made more friends now
That at least was good wasn’t it? Michael didn’t want to think he had only brought trouble into Scott’s life. He knew that wasn’t the case. Scott liked him and the feeling was mutual. But still Maybe the inconveniences his presence brought outweighed the benefits. And if that was the case…
Another team wouldn’t be so bad They could still see each other as often as they liked. He just wouldn’t be pushing his pain down Scott’s throat all the time. He’d talk to Lexi about it. Or Hank perhaps. Not Scott Well not at the moment anyway. The fairy had enough on his mind. And he wanted to share it by the sounds of things *It was a good move coming out here Michael told himself *Even if it may mean I lose Green rescue Squad, still I’m glad he opened up to me.*
But Scott was far from finished."and though I am only with twelve celebrations of life you do not hold my age against me. I am not limited because of my youth, I am not held back, or told I am unable or too weak, or too young."
Michael wasn’t sure he had heard properly or perhaps he just hadn’t understood. *Is he telling me he’s only twelve Surely that cant be right I mean he looks about my age .* Then again Scott wasn’t human. How could Michael presume to measure his age by human standards It would explain a lot. The childlike innocence. The stuffed toy that meant so much to him. The way he looked at Tess, entranced, blissfully happy to be in her company but had there ever been a shadow of desire in the bright eyes. Not that Michael could remember.* I would have treated him differently if I had known. I’d have been more careful. I wouldn’t have expected him to understand ……..*
Suddenly Michael realised what he was thinking. ‘you do not hold my age against me’ Scott had said but he would have. He’d have looked at Scott and seen not a fairy, not a friend and team mate but a child. *I’d have judged him just like people judge me* he thought ashamed.* As if age or broken legs make you less of a person. As if it changes the Scott I’ve come to know. It doesn’t. How could it. It just makes him all the more remarkable that’s all.*
“I do things for myself,” the quiet voice continued ” I take care of myself but I also have friends who will help take care of me as well. In a world where so many people can not see me, I have found myself in the few who can." It was positive It was more than that It was courageous and Michael admired him for the resolve that had lead him to take that point of view. But still behind it all there was sadness.
"I miss my home Michael, Scott admitted How could you not Michael thought as the fairy continued his evocative description of the enchanted realm he had left behind So much beauty. So many strange things and yet so much that struck a chord in Michaels own memories. Mountains Glittering mist that spawned rainbows from the very centre of the lochs.’ the songs of my people and the dances and games’ How much of Scotland’s history was reflected in its music? The plaintiff songs, the wild heady dances. It ran through the heart of the people, shaping them, giving them continuity that treachery and exile had tried to take from them. And failed.
*They always said my country was only a step away from the fairy kingdoms.* Michael reflected. * Maybe it’s true. Of course its true. I’ve always known it. You only have to be in Glencoe at sunset to feel the barriers coming down. Fear and wonder mixed so tight you can’t tell one from the other. That’s what holds us back. Fear, not so much of passing through, but that what waits on the other side may not live up to our dreams. Now I know that it does would I take that step?? It would be tempting. It all sounded so wonderful and yet it wasn’t the magic that Scott missed the most.
It was what every child no matter what their age would miss Family The essence of home."I miss my fathers voice and my mothers arms, my brother’s tackles and our laughter together……But I think.…I know…I will miss this more. I would miss you all too much,"
Michael didn’t fully understand the last phrase. Had he been right in thinking that Scott wanted to go home? Was Scott worried that he would lose their friendship if he did? That was silly and the sooner he understood that the better.
“It’s Ok to be home sick” Michael said softly.” I am too. Maybe that’s part of the problem. After all you have to deal with our feelings as well as your own and that can’t be easy.” His smile was gentle as he looked at his friend. ”And if you want to go back and see your folks that’s fine too. You don’t have to worry about what we’re going to think about it. Hey I’d go back in a flash if I could. Just to make sure everyone’s alright.” Well maybe not everyone Pain and betrayal. He kept the thoughts from his mind. Hood might not share his physical pain but the mental anguish still carried over.
"I miss my brother Frank and my sister Kirstie She’s a couple of years younger than I am". he said looking up at the dark rain clouds that cluttered the night sky. "We fight all the time. But she’s a good kid. Hes older and we have nothing in common but he’s my big brother all the same and in his own way he’d look out for me if he had the chance."
It was true Which was why he could never find out what George had done Not that he’d have believed it anyway. Mutants and demons were way out of his league. Which was lucky for him. But then he'd never have been able to have a conversation with a fairy . Everything balanced out, didn’t it?
" I haven’t seen or heard from them in…. just over four months" Michael went on . "Seems like a lifetime.” It had been a lifetime in many ways. One in which he had learned what it was to be betrayed and used. Now he had a chance at a new beginning And yet the past still called out to him.
” Anyway” he said quickly before his emotions intruded too much into the conversation. Or at least he hoped so. "We all need family “So if you feel you want to go home then just go. Its OK. Don’t worry about us. We’ll be fine. We’ll store up all the good gossip for you" he said with a grin "and we can all get high as kites on your mothers cakes when you get back. Oh did I mention that? Micheal added mischeviously "You can only go if we get cakes. Otherwise no deal”
Re: Green Dorm: Are We Saying Goodbye?
Family. Scott never deluded himself into thinking he could cope never seeing them again, but he did prepare himself months ago for the chance that it could be a long time between visits if his family was going to become more insistent that he not return to the school. Compared to a human life, Scott had forever to spend with his family, but time with his new friends was so much shorter, he only recently learned that they may only have a chance of celebrating one century with him. It would be a lie if Scott tried to convince anyone that he wasn’t looking forward for the coming year when his celebration of life was to occur on the twelfth day of the sixth month. The enthusiastic Prince was already wondering if it would be held here or if he could bring his mortal companions to the palace… anxiety always settling in as he realized to do the latter would mean revealing his bloodline and then wondering how they may react to him afterwards. He had faith in them, of course, but even so, Prince Vohan was someone completely different to the Scott they were used to, he always wanted to be just Scott with them, sometimes that name seemed like the one he was born to have, he didn’t want them to see him as anyone else.
Just like human families, Scott’s family had it’s ups and downs, his mother constantly leaving to tend to the suffering and needy, his father always overwhelmed with the chores of running a nation and fending off its enemies. Brothers who all fought in their own way, not with violence, but sheer determination, all struggling to earn the right and respect to lead the kingdom in their fathers stead. Gegor, the eldest, often dominating his younger brothers, too long an only child and too old to really consider them as anything but children compared to him, never really taking them seriously even when he tried. The other three, when not competing for their father’s attention, usually got themselves in more trouble then was bearable and even more trouble when they let Scott go off on his own in the palace grounds. They all had their gifts, Gegor was strong and a good leader in battle, with creative ideas that impressed even the royal guards at times. The eldest was more adapt at the dangerous spells, magical projectiles that he could easily cast at his opponents, able to enchant weapons and soldiers alike in order to protect them as well as boost their chances at succeeding.
Stero, the next one down on the sibling ladder, was highly skilled at trap setting, his magical snares were constantly used in the games he and his brothers play, from magic nets to hidden traps, Stero had a natural talent of casting such spells and absorbed the knowledge like a dry sponge. Krelan and Levon both practiced more on the elemental enchantments, Krelan a natural with ice and Levon could spin fire spells like a spider spins webs. The youngest of the Devark lineage appeared to be much like Stero in the fact Scott shied away from harmful or offensive spells. Not that they had an options of what they preferred, talents were talents and it was what they were born with and developed over the years, they all had their strengths and they all had their weakness, Scott had yet discovered his, taking more pleasure in learning playful spells to entertain himself and others with. Queen Lillian was a healer, she knew potions and remedies for all sorts of ailments, as well as possessing a healing touch, only the negative side effects of it often caused Lady Lillian to avoid using it in certain situations. Not only did it drain energy and life from the nature around her, therefore making it ineffective in a mechanical environment, there was always a momentary bond in which her and her patient are connected and she feels their pain. Which in itself was a sacrifice the Queen was prepared to make, if it stopped there, if there wasn’t enough lifeforce in the area for her to absorb, then her enchantment would only temporarily ‘heal’ the patient by taking the injury or illness from who she was touching into herself, leaving the other feeling perfect.
In general Scott’s brother’s seemed to have taken after their father in many regards, and Scott was much more like his mother, a reason she agreed to letting her youngest journey with her at times. It allowed Scott to learn her trade, and she hoped to teach him her spells and potions, Scott already knew of the dangers involved in her magic since she told him that it was likely one day he may develop similar, if not the same abilities. There had been a few nights where he stayed awake, Riley’s occasional nightmares enough to disturb Scott from his own sleep, prying unintentionally into the state of his companions, and more often then not Michael radiated a sense of disturbing anguish. More then just once a fleeting thought crept into Scott’s mind as he wondered how Michael would fare knowing that one day Scott may have the power to heal him or if not completely at least ease the pain, and yet by then it would probably be useless as Michael could have passed away considering how short human life spans were. One Scott found himself wondering what would happen if he offered to take away Michael’s broken legs and give him a small glimpse of normality, even if it were just for a few hours or a day or however long the spell may last. Would Michael even want that? To be reminded of the things he could never do again, things that Scott wasn’t really able to realize until actually seeing the effort Michael put into even the simplest of chores.
Then again, in a way Michael had his own spell, he had Hood, maybe that’s enough… but Scott still wanted so much more for him. Legs were important for dancing, yeah the fairies have a lot of airborne choreography, however they also had their fair share of ground dances, and dancing played a dramatic role in their lives, it’s how they expressed themselves, and no courtship was complete without dancing. Guilt, and Scott wasn’t the only one who was feeling it for some reason, Michael had started fighting it as well, which confused Scott who wasn’t sure why the human would feel such a thing… maybe because Scott had earlier mentioned about how he found it hard to talk about his feelings towards going home due to their own personal feelings regarding their homes. Here Scott was trying to explain how he didn’t want to be taken back home, for his safety or not, he just didn’t want to leave, and yet Michael and Riley, and probably everyone on the team had their own more serious problems. Tessa didn’t even have a home to go to, a human home perhaps, but not one with other fairies, one Scott knew she dreamed of seeing one day. Riley was growing more fearful of an upcoming dates he only explains as being an ‘operation’, which Scott wasn’t able to understand much other then it having to do with Riley’s health. Not to mention Michael, even though Scott didn’t want to pity him, the Prince couldn’t help but think of how short his life was and how much pain he went through every day, a mortal lifetime of this same pain lay ahead as far as Scott was aware and it didn’t seem fair.
The fairy had seen the marks on Michael’s arms, they were like Riley’s the previous year, and Connor had been disturbed by them, even if he didn’t bring it up with Riley after the initial question which got a reply about the needles being some form of medication. Scott didn’t understand what the marks were, and would have easily missed them if it wasn’t for the fact that they riddled the middle of his arms, some healing but fresh marks every day, and when Connor stressed about it Scott was there to listen as the eldest Enright explained things that bothered him. Most of the time Riley wore long sleeves or woolen sport bands around his elbows to hide the marks, and Connor knew Riley wasn’t seeing McCoy, and knew that Riley had the injections around 1 in the afternoon during lunch. A few rare occasions Connor even complained that he saw Riley’s hands start to tremble at 2 or 3, usually when Riley was forced to stay somewhere and missed the time he disappeared off somewhere for his ‘medication’. Although Scott didn’t talk to anyone about it, he did wonder if Michael was on medication as well, and if it was something he should be worrying about as Connor had worried about Riley. But medication was supposed to help people so it always confused the fairy as to why Connor fretted over it. Sure, Scott hated the idea of people stabbing things into someone’s skin, he’d take a herbal remedy and well brewed potion any day, and had half a mind to bring it up with Michael but was too nervous to breech the subject since he knew how negative Michael felt towards his injury.
And as Michael sat there listening, Scott could once again feel the struggle of emotions going on, conflicting with his own and gradually blending together. If thoughts were as easily read as emotions then Scott would be pain stricken to think Michael would depart the group because of what had been said. After all, if Scott had been content with just meeting people in the halls or during lunch, then he wouldn’t have spent every night with one friend or another and definitely wouldn’t have danced all his way here upon hearing they were all living together. Even sleeping in his room here in the dorm sometimes felt like he was too far away from others, which is why he occasionally drifted off on the couch or arm chair, shrinking to his smaller form and curling up on a pillow the entire night while others stayed up for one reason or another, usually the TV was on or books were being read, late hour studying or some other distraction keeping the fairy’s teammates from their bed.
“It’s Ok to be home sick” Assurance was always nice, even if it was towards a silly concern, but in a way Scott didn’t need to be told that, he knew how everyone felt, it was only natural to miss the place they grew up in. ”I am too. Maybe that’s part of the problem. After all you have to deal with our feelings as well as your own and that can’t be easy.” The empathic abilities came from Scott’s mother, Gegor had them to a weaker degree and so did Levon at an even lesser one, he barely noticed the abilities effects. So no one aside the Queen could really understand the draw backs it had as Scott’s own sense had started growing more potent, he always had it, unlike his brothers who gradually developed it in a weaker form, Scott seemed to develop it from birth and it probably helped aid his affection of getting out of the often active palace. The chance to feel what others felt though helped shape Scott’s own personality, he was more understanding of what others were going through and surprisingly more aware of his environment, to a degree his own brothers weren’t aware of. Only the tentative mother saw Scott’s growing abilities, things that could so easily be overlooked and the Prince never talked about it really, at least not so bluntly. To hear Michael realized that the capability left its mark on Scott was a welcomed surprise, no one but his own mother had expressed a sympathy for what he went through, even he himself took it for normal and often forgot others didn’t have to struggle in the same way to both control and deal with the bombardment of outside emotions as well as his own.
”And if you want to go back and see your folks that’s fine too. You don’t have to worry about what we’re going to think about it. Hey I’d go back in a flash if I could. Just to make sure everyone’s alright.” It would be nice to go back so freely, to tell his brothers about the strange behavior some humans have, it was always fun to talk about that sort of thing, things that seemed off what trying to talk with other humans. A fairy had great positives in their personalities, but also they bore great negatives as well, a woman’s wrath is child splay compared to that of a fairy’s. And while Scott had gotten into more then one run in with people, it seemed most of the time it was the same ones, more interested in getting attention then hurting anyone and so in the end they’d just have a tumble and then walk away, the worse case being hurt pride… One time recently Arlen got his tail bitten, but not too badly, and the first run in with the ones responsible had ended up with Scott feeling as if the very essence of life was being ripped out of him as they laughed heartily saying they didn’t believe in fairy’s. Apparently Riley had to haul Arlen off them, but Scott had passed out right away and didn’t wake up for a good few hours. If those humans wanted to be malicious Scott knew they had figured out a weakness and go exploit it if they wanted to, but since all those months ago they hadn’t said it again, even if they met up with Scott and somehow started a tussle. Which was easy considering the leader, Tom, could take someone’s tie without them feeling a thing.
Scott always liked going home and talking about the strange things he saw or was involved in, the peculiar habits of humans and their odd eating styles. Being naturally vegetarian it always struck Scott as a little sickening to see them eat meat, but with his people being so heavily involved with outsiders at times, they tried to begin eating low quantities of meat, usually only fish, and very finely chopped in salads. Not everyone’s taste, Scott was revolted by the mere thought of sitting at a table with a dead creature, let alone actually eating it himself. His brother’s on the other hand had small portions in order to grow accustomed to the taste and let their bodies try and adapt, that way when they were outside in other nations they could try eating the food served them without being overly picky, something that was dangerous or at least highly insulting to do if in certain places. Scott always wondered what his brother’s were up to, what mischief they were getting themselves into and where his mother was, unlike Michael however, Scott could simply ask for news about his family, a few key messengers always waiting for his call should he require to make contact with home, a way for home to keep contact with him as well Scott suspected.
"I miss my brother Frank and my sister Kirstie She’s a couple of years younger than I am". Curiously Scott’s gaze studied Michael’s features, slight differences with Hood compared to Michael were easy to spot but Michael’s soul still shone through, his essence will showed and his heart was as strong as ever. It never occurred to the fairy that Michael would have brother’s and sisters, in a way Scott figured everyone did, but again if they did they would talk of them wouldn’t they? People here didn’t seem to talk a great deal of their private lives, it was sad in a way, Scott knew them more by their feelings instead of what they had confided to him. Having a sister was something Scott wondered about often, the chances of there being a sixth Devark was impossible, but then again a fifth child was just as impossible considering most of his nation were limited biologically to two or three children. Maybe a sister would have been easier for him to get along with though, maybe she wouldn’t have been so combative as the other brothers, instead she would have been sensitive and kind, generous and willing…It had been a wishful thought to know what it would have been like to have a sister, so he felt envious and curious at the same time towards hearing of his friends sister. "We fight all the time. But she’s a good kid. Hes older and we have nothing in common but he’s my big brother all the same and in his own way he’d look out for me if he had the chance." So would Scott’s brothers, sure they had a habit of overlooking him at times, as the age gap for their maturity and age was vast as far as they were concerned, they still were protective over each other. From the eldest to the youngest, each one would look out for the other. And to be honest, Scott felt the same way towards the friends he was making here, Michael, Connor, Riley and Tess, as well as the others he was fond towards.
" I haven’t seen or heard from them in…. just over four months" Which Scott found strange, considering humans had telephones just like his world had their forms of long distance communication. By the sounds of things Michael missed his family, and as the fairy’s friend continued it became all the more obvious that that was the case. "Seems like a lifetime.” Whose lifetime though? Scott supposed either one would fit, after all, no matter how short Michael’s was in comparison, in the end it meant the same thing, so much precious time was lost, time that could be spent with loved ones, but at the same time, at least right now it was being shared with another group of loved ones, blood relatives aren’t the only family someone could have.
” Anyway” Over the past year Scott has learned that was a word people generally used when switching to another topic, usually one that was less awkward or negative to the previous one. It was exactly what Scott didn’t want to do, to stir feelings of homesickness in others, but then again he guessed that would be inevitable if he planned on telling them about his situation. "We all need family “So if you feel you want to go home then just go. Its OK. Don’t worry about us. We’ll be fine. We’ll store up all the good gossip for you" They would be fine, wouldn’t they? They would get up in the morning and go about their day and little else would change other then when they returned to their room. He wouldn’t be there with the music on dancing about, he wouldn’t be wrestling with Katie or rolling around play fighting with Arlen as he had been caught doing when someone returned during lunch time. No more animal’s turning up at the windows or trying to find their way into the dorm, anything that could fly or crawl found its way to their windows or otherwise tried getting noticed at the front door. Like when one of the resident cats clawed at the corner of the door early one morning while Riley was preparing breakfast and then when Riley opened the door the female orange feline bolted for the couch where Scott was exhaustedly sleeping. Everyone had problems, but sometimes only a selected few could really help someone with their problems, and Scott seemed to be the first on the list of all the creatures, Scott and Arlen, but Arlen was more highly acclaimed in the seas, not on land, so it was usually Scott who got the throng of animals trying to get his attention, ranging from anything, even bees and bats have cornered the Prince in his room. They probably wouldn’t miss the onslaught of troubled animals, more then one night passed where Scott had a wounded bird or rabbit resting in his room with a specially made herbal remedy to help heal their superficial wounds.
"and we can all get high as kites on your mothers cakes when you get back. Oh did I mention that? It was then that Scott realized Michael misunderstood what Scott was hinting at, yes he was homesick, but it wasn’t that which bothered him. Going home wasn’t the issue here, it was staying here. "You can only go if we get cakes. Otherwise no deal” By now Scott was soaked, his hair sticking together, a hand occasionally brushing the fringe aside as it stuck down over his forehead. With little effort Scott could use his air bubble to shield him from the falling droplets, but he had little motivation to do it, even as the chill started to numb his skin. Black bottom leggings absorbed the water so well that it gradually drained to the base of the pants where the excess was then absorbed by the socks he wore and in turn created what felt like a small puddle at the toes of his shoes. The long sleeved shirt Scott wore wasn’t much more effective against the rain, the design of the top looking as if he wore a dull grey blue t-shirt with a white long sleeved top underneath, though in actuality it was just one shirt. Still the Prince cradled the pot plant, perhaps now more so as Michael spoke with a nation that, should Scott leave, there was a chance of his return. The look Scott had as his now steely eyes stared at Michael was filled with enough pain that Scott was sure Michael wouldn’t need to have the talent of reading emotions in order to feel how much the fairy was hurting at that precise moment.
"Michael," The troubled friend began with a whisper of despair in his soft voice. "I do not want to go home!" Not when he was being told that he may never see the people he cared about again, not when he knew he would be locked away just as he was before, always for his own safety, always for his protection, but never once did they ask him if that was what he wanted. Maybe he didn’t want to be safely hidden, maybe he wanted to do something else with his life, maybe he has decided that he would rather be involved in something rather then sit back and miss out on everything he felt was worth fighting for. A suspicious glimmer touched Scott’s eyes as he looked away, something that caught the pale moonlight in a different manner to the rest of the moisture which ran down his elegant features. "They arrive tomorrow, and upon their demands I am to depart with them when they leave.. they shall not allow me to return. They say it is for my own well being, locked away behind safe walls since I was born.. always they must protect me and keep me from life so that life will not harm me. To be safe I cannot live a worthy existence, and on my misery I vow to you Michael, I would rather die of harm then a broken heart.." A life inside the confines of his family’s walls was hardly a life he looked forward to leading, where even a trip to the outer grounds was considered a risky event and done only in the companionship of palace guards or other siblings. "And such a thing is as fatal and painful to my kind as any mortal wound to yours." Assured the Prince, let there be no mistake, terrible misery was as murderous to him as any spiders bite could be. Here he was happy, despite its dangers and regardless of the drawbacks, this was where he felt most free to be himself. "Please, do not let them take me from you." Another whisper, a plea, his disapproving tone melting away again to the wounded child he was. If only he knew that Michael, or any one else, actually did have the ability to turn down his parent’s demands, who exactly was coming was still a mystery to Scott, but he was sure they wouldn’t take no for an answer… if there had even been the slightest of chances, they wouldn’t have decided to come here in the first place.
Re: Green Dorm: Are We Saying Goodbye?"Michael» I do not want to go home," Wait a minute that wasn’t true. It couldn’t be could it Michael told himself. Surely no one could have spoken with such longing in their voice of a place they didn’t dream of.
And yet it was clear that Scott was dreadfully unhappy. There was something here that Michael didn’t understand, some element he had overlooked. *Maybe they treat him like a kid.* he thought. *Maybe his brothers aren’t all that great. God knows mine aren’t. That doesn’t stop you from missing all the other things. The good things. Even the not so good things*
His own feelings had surprised him. He supposed he should have realised that he’d miss his country though even that wasn’t all that obvious. But he’d certainly not expected to miss the family squabbles. The sound of the door slamming as his mother cheerfully abandoned them for the bingo. His fathers drunken happiness as a horse romped its way home to victory.
All of the things he had wanted to get away from. But he had wanted to do it on his own terms. That was what made the difference The difference between a choice freely made, the result of years of hard work that would have liberated him from the intellectual confines of his daily existence, and a brutal kidnapping that had left him bereft and alone in the hands of brutal men who had used him..
His sights hadn’t been set that high. University! The chance to become something, someone his parents couldn’t imagine. Someone his brothers hadn’t wanted to become. Himself. Whole and fulfilled despite his handicaps.* Is that it?* he wondered as he looked at Scott’s distraught face. Not abuse Not humiliation. *His folks wouldn’t do that from what I’ve heard.*Michael thought . *Not consciously at least but still but still….. * There was more than one way to keep you from flight and sometimes love was the strongest weapon.
"They arrive tomorrow, Parents day. Strange Somehow he hadn’t expected Scott’s folks to show up. What will they do Drive up in a nutshell drawn by crickets? No somehow he didn’t imagine Scotts parents to be the fairy tale characters everyone imagined They would be sidh. Strong and beautiful. The fairies of Michael’s homeland. With all the beauty and danger that that implied.
“ and upon their demands I am to depart with them when they leave.. they shall not allow me to return.” Maybe he should have seen it coming but he didn’t The shock hit him hard causing, Hood’s unnecessary breath to hiss between his teeth as Michael absorbed it.
It was a joke It had to be; They couldn’t just pull Scott out of the school Out of his life. Not if he didn’t want it. But of course they could Michael realised. That was what parents did. If you were a minor Which Scott was. They took control of your life and decided what was best for you.* He was hurt We let him get hurt* Michael thought suddenly *That spider bite. He could have died if Dr McCoy hadn’t been there And Riley. Not that I would have let him But they werent to know that. What parents would let their son run that kind of risk?* Not Scotts apparently
“They say it is for my own well being”, the fairy continued miserably. “locked away behind safe walls since I was born.. always they must protect me and keep me from life so that life will not harm me.”
It wasa ll too logical .Whatever Michael wanted to believe Scott was still a child as far as his parents were concerned.* But then if he was so protected why did they let him come here* the astral mutant wondered.*Did they know what he was getting himself into or did this all come as a horrible surprise?
One stupid spider! It wasn’t even as if Scot had been hurt on the actual mission They had got through it all safely, better than safely they had done well . With a little training they could have done even better .They could have made a difference. Scott thought so to for there was a catch in his voice as he said. “To be safe I cannot live a worthy existence, and on my misery I vow to you Michael, I would rather die of harm then a broken heart. And such a thing is as fatal and painful to my kind as any mortal wound to yours."
It didn’t sound like an empty threat It sounded like a promise. *They’re saying they don’t believe in fairies* Micheal thought *At least not in this particular one..And that’s the worst thing anyone can do to him, Cant they see that We have to make them see that. *
"Please, do not let them take me from you." Scott pleaded, suddenly sounding as young as he claimed to be. “ Of course we wont” Michael replied determinedly. ”We’ll talk to them. We’ll tell them what you mean to us. What you bring to the team. All the good that you still have to do here.” Would it be enough ? He wasn’t sure . But what else could they do. There was only one thing..
” And you Scott” he said turning to his friend ”You have to tell them what you want to do. You have to make them see that no matter what they think you’re not a child. Prove to them that can make your own decisions. Lead your own life. And we’ll make sure that they know that you have friends ready to help you do it.”
Re: Green Dorm: Are We Saying Goodbye?
“ Of course we wont” Came a firm reply, one Scott was so desperate to hear in order to ease how distraught he was becoming. ”We’ll talk to them. We’ll tell them what you mean to us. What you bring to the team. All the good that you still have to do here.” Knots were already twisting inside the fairy’s stomach, growing so tight he wasn’t sure if he could even fly at this point, the numb chill wouldn’t help either. It would have been nice to just get away, to play across the grounds as if nothing was bothering him again. The letter which they sent on Tuesday had given him an early warning, a conscious effort on their part not to just turn up and drag him off, but it didn’t help, if anything it spoiled his last few days. At least he had been able to push the fret aside up until tonight, somehow ‘in a few days’ had made his family’s arrival seem distant, but ‘tomorrow’ was something else entirely and the panic just flared.
” And you Scott” Gentle hands cradled the pot plant closer to him, the leaves of the magnificent specimen catching the droplets of water, but also seeming to catch the glow of the moon as the petals began to give off a pale gleam. Sad spheres of icy steel kept locked on Michael as he addressed the upset fairy. ”You have to tell them what you want to do. You have to make them see that no matter what they think you’re not a child. Prove to them that can make your own decisions. Lead your own life. And we’ll make sure that they know that you have friends ready to help you do it.” It sounded plausible, it sounded like if they just tried hard enough it would work. However as Scott listened he could help but feel overwhelmed by so many other things. For example, would Michael say these words of freedom had he known that Scott was a Prince, born to watch out for all those across his family’s ancient lands. Though these realms were gradually lacking more and more from care of their family as millennia’s past and humans drove both Scott’s people and nature itself from the lands they dwelled.
And yet in a way, Michael was right about another thing. 'All the good that you still have to do here' It was more then just his work on the team, which didn’t feel as if he was offering much at all, but then again they had not done a great deal to really test his usefulness. Tess didn’t even know about her people, and Scott knew she was not the only half blood to wander this world, others had been cast out, exiled for one reason or another, not always for the right ones but they always had it hard since the ancient wars. If Scott wanted, he could find any mortal with enchanted blood of his people, he could track them down and see how they fared, see if they were doing well in this world or if they needed help. Maybe some wanted to return to the home of their kin, the neutral territory where half breeds of many kinds, not just fairy, often gathered in groups, making their homes and living their lives where otherwise they may have had it too difficult to cope in the lands they were born. It was a wonderful place, Scott had been there more then once when his mother venture passed there, it was how he had seen so many different cultures without really traveling across all the realms, but he still hoped to do that when he was older.
Back home they all had not only his mother, but his father and his brothers and all their people and all the other people who thrived on tending nature, from dryads and Ents, Elves and druids and so many more entwined with natures ways. Here, so few of his realm still paid undying attention to these lands, their ancient homes which were being destroyed with every new generation of human flooding the planet. But they were learning, there were still people who cared enough to guard what was precious, to protect what was here, to stop further loss. 'And we’ll make sure that they know that you have friends ready to help you do it.' The sliver of moon gained Scott’s attention for a moment as his thoughts drifted with each word Michael had spoken, his eyes still dull but his heart starting to lift with a morsel of hope he was being given. A pause later had the fairy looking down at his ring finger, the center one on his right hand, studying it thoughtfully despite no ring being there. Against all laws Scott had given it to Tessa, it was still his, but it was hers to protect, the enchanted band filled with a power that called only to him, a magic which responded only to his own.
"They know how I feel, my mother can feel emotions as well. Yet I will say to them what I have said before, I will speak with greater passion and brighter hope, and this time I will have all of you there to support me and what I have to say." Soaked lips curved into a smile and his voice did pick up as hope glimmered in the clouds of distress much like the moon itself in the dark skies. Tentative eyes searched the shadow night, from the dimly seen grounds to the cloudy filled skies, his heart doing the seeing despite his eyes struggle to gaze beyond the falling rain.
"Michael, will you remember what I am to say?" A thoughtful decision had been made, one which hinted of responsibility and trust just by the tone of voice and the emotion which grew in the fairy’s eyes as they turned back to Michael’s own. "Nahov," The strange word was whispered carefully to the Scottish lad, or at least his other half, one which remained untouched by the watery downpour. A gentle smile was given as Scott continued. "Will you promise to say this if you were ever in need, if you have nowhere to go, if you have too little strength left to fight, in your darkest moments just say this name, whisper it, cry it, scream it, but promise you will speak it.." It’s what friends do isn’t it? They look out for each other, but sometimes they couldn’t, they couldn’t because they were too far away, too involved elsewhere to know of the harm taking place to their companion. Perhaps if Scott was taken he would not return, but that did not mean he would forget them, he would never dare, they were too important, and maybe one day they would need a light to guide them, or an extra hand, and even if it wasn’t him personally, he wanted to try and give them that help. "I trust you would use it wisely, knowing the right times to call, it is not something to be shared freely, but I want you to have it… especially if things do not fair well in the coming days."
Re: Green Dorm: Are We Saying Goodbye?"They know how I feel, my mother can feel emotions as well." That was a blow Michael had to admit. Most of the problems he had had with his parents had been because they just weren’t able to understand his feelings If this wasn’t the case with Scott’s mother then it was certain that they would have a hard time convincing her to let him stay. But then If Scott’s own emotions told her that deep down inside he wanted to go home should they really try to keep him in the human world?
It was all so confusing? If Michael trusted to his own instincts, his own heart then it was obvious that Scott wanted to stay with them at the institut . Every word he spoke seemed to support that theory* But Im not an empath like her? What can I know? .
He knew that Scott was unhappy. That was clear in his voice as the fairy said vehemently. "Yet I will say t them what I have said before, I will speak with greater passion and brighter hope, and th is time I will have all of you there to support me and what I have to say."
*Could I be wrong?* Michael asked himself *Could Scott be wrong??* He didn’t take into account Scott’s youth though perhaps he should have. Instead he listened to the ‘still small voice of conscience’ that lived within him .The soul that shone so brightly that it had attracted demons set upon its destruction. There wasn’t anything miraculous about it. He simply listened to the emotion in his friend’s voice and chose to believe it.
Already he could see a glimmer of hope igniting in his friends face , a renewal of the radiance he had come to associate with Scott’s presence. And yet it was still shaded by the falling rain. Although the intensity of the emotions in Scott’s voice was unmistakable."Michael, will you remember what I am about to say?”.
Part of Michael’s eager mind yearned for the information his friend was about to impart. The other half tried to flee before the word burned itself into his conscience. . "Nahov," There it was . Enshrined in his brain. Whether he wanted it or not.
“You can stop all of this”Michael heard all to clearly "You can stop all the pain if you want to. And I do mean ALL the pain.” Imaginary voices. He had known that then. He knew it even now. But still! It had seemed so real. Paige’s life or Scott’s name. In exchange for what? An end to torture?A release from the grinding pain that greeted him every day? It couldn’t have been real. Simply because he wasn’t strong enough to have resisted the temptation if it had been.
*Where does belief stop?* he asked himself as Scott continued. *Did I say no because I believed they were there or because I knew they weren’t?*It made a difference. One he didn’t even want to think about. So he concentrated on Scotts words instead. "Will you promise to say this if you were ever in need, if you have nowhere to go, if you have too little strength left to fight, in your darkest moments just say this name, whisper it, cry it, scream it, but promise you will speak it.."
He had already done so and the name he had cried was Hood. Not that that had done him much good.*Alone I couldn’t save myself* Michael admitted as the rain continued to fall,. chilling his frail human form, as it must have chilled that of his team mate* Maybe it’s the same thing for Scott* the boy thought suddenly *Have his parents ever had to listen to the emotions of those close to him?? Have they ever listened to a human at all?
It didn’t seem likely from what Scott had said. But maybe they were ready to. After all why would they have let their precious son venture forth into the mortal realms if they didn’t expect him to interact with humans? And he was doing more than interacting that much was clear. "I trust you would use it wisely”, Scott continued merely reinforcing Michael’s idea of the value of the word that had been confided to him“knowing the right times to call, it is not something to be shared freely, but I want you to have it… especially if things do not fair well in the coming days."
“Stop”Michael said firmly.” I appreciate the gesture, don’t doubt that for a moment. But I wont need it. You will be there beside me when I’m I danger. Just like the rest of the team and that will be enough.”
Maybe it was stupid to think they could change Scott’s parents mind but then but then if Michael hadn’t been capable of belief then he wouldn’t be there on a wet window ledge talking to a fairy In fact none of Green Rescue Squad would have been able even to see Scott let alone care for him.. *That must count for something* Michael thought. *That all of us care for him. But now we need a plan.*
“ Listen ," he said . "I’m glad that you told me what’s wrong. But we’re not in this alone The others are waiting .Some of them bearing hot chocolate. What do you say if we go back inside and tell them what’s going on? Then together maybe we can work on a way to keep you here with us?"
Re: Green Dorm: Are We Saying Goodbye?
As soon as Scott finished speaking he seemed cut off by a stern demand from Michael. It was confusing for the fairy because no one had ever spoken to him like that. The tone was firm and passionate, drenched in the essence of the Scot’s accent. Bright grey-ish blue eyes examined the others features, a contrast to Michael’s ‘human’ form, a week of Riley’s cooking however and the occasional leftovers his mother Martha brought, were at least helping put some health back into Michael’s starved body and hopefully soon some proper weight will be built up. Blinking away the water drops which spilled down the fairy’s face, Scott’s head tilting ever so slightly as he listened to Michael continue on.
“I appreciate the gesture, don’t doubt that for a moment. But I wont need it. You will be there beside me when I’m I danger. Just like the rest of the team and that will be enough.” The smile which bloomed grew in a steady motion, like the dawning of the sun creeping gracefully from behind the mountains, radiant and yet soft, torn by the tender gesture with pride, hope and a dwelling despair that such devotion would be lost if Scott left the school.
"Listen," The request was unnecessary, Scott was already offering Michael his undivided attention, a fact Michael must have undoubtedly known by now, and since Riley sometimes had a habit of saying ‘look’ and ‘listen’ when about to say something important Scott just braced himself for a similar action from Michael. "I’m glad that you told me what’s wrong. But we’re not in this alone The others are waiting .Some of them bearing hot chocolate. What do you say if we go back inside and tell them what’s going on? Then together maybe we can work on a way to keep you here with us?" Hot chocolate? Attention couldn’t help but drift as he thought of the treat, an eagerness vaguely sparkling in his eyes as a glance was thrown beyond Michael to the window which led both indoors out of the wet and into the comforts of a steaming hot liquid chocolate.
There was a strange comfort when talking with people here, and like any race different people had different highlights, different areas of greater success when it came to certain topics being addressed. For example, when Scott wanted to know a few tricks on how to stay on his feet in a scuffle or ask something regarding human psychology, then Riley was excellent to talk with. On the other hand he didn’t like discussing family, home or relationships, he got awkward when discussing past experiences and seemed confused on what paths he wished to travel for his future experiences. Michael seemed to be the one who always brought a smile, but who could be serious as well. While having his own sever troubles he could still sympathize with others having their own dilemma’s.
Tessa was… well it was hard to say exactly but she was different and it wasn’t just that she was half fairy. There was something about her personality, her human nature blended with her other half and developed a unique outlook, a chance to see both sides of the mirror. On many things Scott may be naive, he may be more then naïve, but he wasn’t so foolish as to brush off the fondness of her company as being so simple as an every day friendship. Under the façade of ignorance the Prince could be found thinking of what it would be like in years to come when he may be ready for such steps, but beyond the most simple of thoughts Scott never really thought about such things. To have a companion for the grandest of dances was one thing but to have anything substantial, as far as Scott was concerned intimate contact was to hold hands and a kiss on the cheek would be enough to render him dumbstruck.
Thinking of everyone inside and all the others who had become close to Scott, it made things harder as the fairy realized that he had so little time to say his goodbyes if indeed they failed in their attempts of changing his parent’s minds. There was so many things Scott wanted to tell Michael, so many things he wanted to show Tessa… even hopes of building a better friendship with Ben were high on his list and May was gradually becoming what one could probably call an anti-hero in the Prince’s mind. Sure he still jumped or twitched every time she seemed to sneak up on him, or he’d turn around and she’d be scurrying across the ceiling or hanging from her webbing. But that was hard to overcome, there were traces of arachnid in her that he could sense and his first instinct was to recoil defensively in some way.
A slight sigh was offered as Scott looked down at his plant, half lost in his thoughts for the moment that he almost forgot Michael had suggested they head on inside. Carefully the Prince placed his vibrant flower aside, resting it down on the window ledge with plans of coming back for it in the morning or sometime other time tomorrow. Riley was pretty much head strong with keeping things clean, he seemed to feel responsible for tidying up a lot of the times and it was hard for others to even get a chance to moan about cleaning the kitchen since Riley cleaned it thoroughly enough each time he cooked or prepared a meal. A dripping wet pot plant would leave smudges all over the glass table top (and Scott knew this from the last time he brought it in from the rain), what with Scott himself currently soaked he figured one messy problem at a time was best, not that Riley would complain, these things happen was basically how easy Riley shrugged most messes off. But Scott didn’t want to be responsible for making his friend run around tidying up after the fairy, all Scott had to do was worry how much water may drip off him between the window and his room. What Scott wasn’t expecting was Riley having already set up the hot chocolates and marshmallows in the seating area and returning with towels in his hands. Catching a cold wasn’t common for Scott’s people but they still felt the cold, it did take such a wild guess to figure by now Scott would start shivering from the wind and moisture.
"Michael," The Prince hesitated a little as his hands brushed through his soaked hair and trying to rid himself of excess water. The fairy’s eyes searched Michael’s face for a moment, taking in the differences between this one and the other. "I have my entire life to be with my family," And such a long one that was, their time on Earth reduced only by the pocket they hid themselves in, where time runs like the raging river, making their long lifespan seem wasted to many other kin who may live no more then five centuries or so. "Yet I only have your lifetime to be with you, and I am not even certain for how long Tessa will live since she bares human blood. I will fight to stay here, but I will not be foolish and believe I will not leave. I would rather prepare for my departure and say what things I have to say, then leave without having said my proper goodbyes.." Just because he may sound as if he thought he was leaving didn’t mean he had no hope in being able to stay, as far as the fairy now figured if Michael used his charms on Scott’s mother then she would sway and if Riley spoke to his father then perhaps he would be inclined to let Scott stay as well.
"Oh, and Michael?" Scott continued a moment later after balancing himself on his knees rather precariously on the ledge with not so much as a twitch from his wings to help balance the youthful fairy, "Thank you for being here."
Re: Green Dorm: Are We Saying Goodbye?
Strange that he who had grown up with the legends concerning fairie as part of his heritage should have somehow overlooked that most essential part of their nature. Or if not overlooked at least forgotten to place his own mortality into the equation.
* Maybe I just didn’t want to think about it.* Michael realised. But Scott would have to Every day he spent with them it would become more and more apparent.* Lord that must be hard To know you’re going to outlive everyone you care about*. Everyone human that was . *To live forever. A dream we all have but would we really want to do it if we had the chance?*
It was a question Michael probably wouldn’t have asked if his own life had turned out differently. At 17, death still should have seemed a lifetime away and even then something to be avoided. But Michael had already stared it in the face and honestly it had seemed peaceful, an end to hardship that was sometimes too hard to bear.
But he wasn’t old enough yet to envisage real separation. Even now he was only just forcing himself to come to terms with the fact that he couldn’t contact his family.Sure he had lost people in the past but somehow that was different .His grandparents had been old and though they’re loss had hit h m hard it had been in the end acceptable. There was a natural cycle to all human life that had to be obeyed. Birth. Life. Death. No one escaped it. Or at least no one he had known till now.* If Scott goes home even for a short time in his life I could be dead before he gets back;* Michael realised with a start. It was a difficult concept to come to terms with. *If we say goodbye now it could be forever.*
The mere idea sucked all the optimism from his being leaving him shocked and saddened; Now he understood all to well Scott’s concerns and the courage it took to face them.Fragile friendships hardly begun.A sense of belonging and maybe more; .Would innocence have turned one day to passion with Tessa?I f he left now Scott wouldn’t have the time to find out. “I will fight to stay here] his friend said , but I will not be foolish and believe I will not leave. I would rather prepare for my departure and say what things I have to say, then leave without having said my proper goodbyes.."
*I wont let him go* Michael thought *We wont let him go. . Not like that. Not forever.* And yet….. Wasn’t Scott being the more adult of the two accepting the possibility of separation better than Michael ever could? Almost certainly. The Scottish mutant had already lost everything he had ever cared about. He wasn’t sure he could lose a friend as well. But he had to face up to the possibility that it might happen. * If this is goodbye there are things I should tell him* Michael thought *Things he has earned the right to know.*
"Oh, and Michael Thank you for being here.]Scott said , his simple sincerity harder to bear than any outburst of frustration or anger. “ No thank you” Michael replied softly "Thank you for existing when I needed you. Im not ready to admit that you’re going away but you’re right Just in case we should say what we need to say.” So many things. Not all of them pleasant.* Be honest! Few of them are pleasant* Michael reminded himself. *But some of them at least need to be shared.*
“I’ve already told you that I was rescued from Harmony market” he went on quietly “What I didn’t mention was that it was kind of a low point in my life even for me.”
The absurdity of the statement was lost upon him . As if being sold at auction could be anything other than traumatising. And yet if it hadn’t been for the nature of the bidders it would almost have been an improvement in his situation. At least he hadn’t been alone At least there had been the possibility of escape.
But the demons . Nothing he had experienced before had prepared him for them and the mere realisation that they existed had affected him more than he had hitherto admitted.
*If Riley, Ben and the others hadn’t intervened than maybe they really would have touched me* Michael thought with a shudder that had nothing to do with the drenching rain.*And that would have been worse than anything. Worse than death.* But even their presence had cast a shadow on his soul One which Scott had helped to lift. If Michael told Scott nothing else he had to make that clear.
” There were demons there. Demons who wanted to buy me" he forced Hood to say "and I was so scared. Though I wouldn’t have let them take me. Id have died before I let that happen."
"Then the X men came and rescued me and I thought it was enough But it wasn’t." Rain ran impotently off his astral form giving an echo of life to the tears Hood couldn’t shed." Even when I was here the memory clung to me , demon fingers on my soul. It was like there wasn’t enough beauty in the world to rid me of them and what they had wanted to do to me." .
“I still have nightmares” he admitted for the first time "but at least now I have something to fight them with. You brought back wonder into my world " Michael said awkwardly "and that is why, even though I owe you explanations about other aspects of my life , if this is really goodbye, I’m not going to give them to you.
"They’re ugly Scott" he said simply "and I don’t want you to think of them when you think of me. Maybe its selfish but if this is all the time we have together than Id be happier having you remember me as I am tonight. Rather than knowing the thingsthat brought me to this place.”
Re: Green Dorm: Are We Saying Goodbye?
“ No thank you” Puzzlement caused the fairy to balance himself more carefully on the edge, to stop feeling the almost instinctive playfulness that swelled every time he dared gravity… not that it really threatened him, but amusement could come from any little thing as far as the young Prince was concerned. A hand reached for the wall, followed shortly after by the other one only instead it soon after dropped to the edge of the ledge as Scott sat on his knees. Another fluid motion of his hands thereafter letting them rest on his lap gently curled into firsts while listening to Michael continue on with a focused expression. "Thank you for existing when I needed you. Im not ready to admit that you’re going away but you’re right Just in case we should say what we need to say.” It was a strange thing to be grateful for, but at the same time it was so fundamental that Scott was a little taken back, no one had ever thanked him for behind born, or ‘existing’ as Michael had said, sure his family had their way of expressing their joy, their boundless love was sometimes a burden when Scott wanted to spread his wings and explore the world around him, but he knew they just cared about him too greatly, the thought of him getting hurt to painful for them to conceive. The fact he was hurt here perhaps only amplified his wishes to stay, a strange concept for some but Scott now knows he can face danger and has a chance of making it through, he could face what lurked in the dark and come out on the other side.
It didn’t matter that he had to be helped, because fights shouldn’t always have to be fought alone, it meant a great deal that these people would be there to help Scott fight his battles, just like he’d be there to help fight theirs and when the times needed it they were stand by and allow each other a chance to fight their own battles. A simple concept which for so long had been unimaginable to the Prince, it seemed unfair that now he achieved such a thing it was already slipping through his fingertips. Such thoughts however were irrelevant at this time, Michael’s expression, his body language, his voice, everything about the way he was this instant told Scott that they had come to another paint in their lives where jokes and delight were pushed aside, where every word, every thought, was at times painful but honest. A moment of truth which so few times before had anyone entrusted Scott with, it was as much a sign of devotion and caring as any other aspect of friendships, the core to a true bond between any two people. Sometimes Scott wondered if he was ready to hear the darker sides of every story, and the answer was always no, he may never be ready to hear them, but he would be strong and listen, he would listen because one day he knew he would have dark secrets to whisper, and he knew that he would tell no other then the ones who were closest to his heart. It was strange that Michael, one of his newest friends, was becoming the one whom Scott felt more inclined to share his deeper secrets and just as willing to share the pains which haunted his friend.
“I’ve already told you that I was rescued from Harmony market” Bright pale blue eyes searched his friends face, ignoring the chill of the wind as it brushed against his already numbed body, oblivious to the water that poured down upon them. It was a change really, Scott was drenched so deep his bones felt the moisture chill their core every time the wind picked up on the edge of the building. Michael on the other hand seemed untouched, the water rolling off him as he had a shield which kept it at bay. That thought brought up another in Scott’s mind even when keeping his attention sternly on Michael…the Prince too had the ability to detour the water, there was blink of his eyes at the realization he had allowed slip his mind, he could just activate his air bubble and then he’d stop any more water hitting him. And yet, part of Scott didn’t really see the pain in the feat, it’d make it look as if sitting in the rain listening to the astral projection mutant wasn’t really something Scott could bare doing without aid of a little magic. No. Scott’s focus hardened and his determination to sit it out was stronger then when it had been grief and worry which discarded his use of magic earlier. The stomach ache or headaches worrying always brought him had caused his stomach to cramp a little earlier on, but it wasn’t so bad as it had been while reading his books. Now they were returning a little, more from worry over Michael, over what it was he was feeling and what it could be that he felt he had to share.
“What I didn’t mention was that it was kind of a low point in my life even for me.” Scott could image, at least partly, what Michael meant, not only was he capture by the demons of Harmony, but he was injured by Connor as well, Scott was still uncertain as to what accident had taken place, but he knew from Riley that Connor had been out of character, and Scott could see the feral’s emotions rampant inside of him before the team missions ordeal to prove what Riley had said as true. The aura of what Michael felt hit Scott as intensely as it thrived within the mutant, being closer always strengthened the link but Scott had an attachment to these people so it was always as if a part of him was constantly reaching out for them, sensing their presence as a telepath may try, only the Prince felt their emotions instead of thoughts. Whatever diamond blue hue had returned to his gaze was now once again draining away, leaving the steel grey orbs to show the negative emotions which effected the Prince’s spirit.
” There were demons there. Demons who wanted to buy me" That’s what Riley had said, being friends with Connor had meant Scott demanded more then just a few comments, and had even been present when Connor was talking to Riley about what he went through. Somehow it was different now that Michael was saying it, perhaps because Connor had been going through his emotional imbalance… perhaps because Michael was telling Scott himself, telling these painful memories to him, instead of how Connor was just telling it to Riley and all Scott did was overhear. "and I was so scared. Though I wouldn’t have let them take me. Id have died before I let that happen." Slowly the Princes eyes lowered away from Michael’s face, unable to bare the thought that there had been a chance to have lost his friend to his enemies, not that there was an open war against these specific creatures, but it was a very similar attitude towards the whole ‘cat and dog’ relationship. Creatures of the dark couldn’t stand the pure light which radiated off the souls of entities like Scott’s people and other enchanting beings, just as these beings couldn’t stand the blackened hearts in return. Now wasn’t a time for such mourning, Michael was here, Scott was still here, their time together was threatened and worrying about what could have happened and what may happen were best left for later when leaving wasn’t just a possibility, but a fact.
"Then the X men came and rescued me and I thought it was enough But it wasn’t." It wasn’t? Steel eyes lifted again to try and read the thoughts which swirled behind Michael’s eyes, to pull them forth and understand every aspect of what he needed. In a way, it did make sense, because when Scott left his home and came here it seemed good enough, hanging around the halls and playing in the outer grounds, it all seemed ok. But now, now Scott regretted all the time he had wasted, all the friends he could have made if he just put more effort in trying instead of giving up to the fact most people wouldn’t see him. The only time Scott realized how little he had was when he walked into this dorm room the first time, when he spent a day with his new friends, when they ate and talked, when they laughed and sat quietly in each others company, it all tormented him with what he could have missed had he never stepped from the shadows he had been hiding in.
" Even when I was here the memory clung to me , demon fingers on my soul. It was like there wasn’t enough beauty in the world to rid me of them and what they had wanted to do to me." A fear so many had, especially now as war ran unending across the lands of the enchanted realm, another attempt from the dark half to tilt the balance and claim victory over the souls of so many pour spirits. Lands were filled with skirmishes, people withdrawing to their own sides, forming their own alliances, building their forces to protect the innocents caught up in the onslaught of violence. It wasn’t as rare as some would like to hope, there was always one land that seemed to be in turmoil, always one group of people that cried out for help, every few millennia though the fights seemed to intensify, turning into open wars and disrupting the peaceful lands, destroying what wondrous elegance they held yet again. Traveling with his mother, Scott had been all to privy to what chaos demons and their kind brought, the harm and suffering they caused, even his mother’s love couldn’t protect him from the stories which followed the waves of havoc and corruption.
“I still have nightmares” Nightmares. A burden Scott was only recently being exposed to, sure he had a scattering of them before coming here but now Scott was so much more aware of things and of what mattered to him, his mind could weave together terrible stories to keep him up at night if it wanted to. Luckily he also had other things, things he found so important were fighting their way into his dreams, demanding to play themselves out, vague notions of what he desired in his future and desperate hopes of what he wanted now all combating for attention during his sleeping hours. As far as Scott cared Nightmares were terrible, they were a battle to fight like any other, and he only wished that he would be allowed the chance to help fight the ones which troubled his friend, but short of lifting Michael’s emotions there was little else he could do, but maybe it could be enough……enough to chase away the pain that troubled the sleep. "but at least now I have something to fight them with. You brought back wonder into my world " It didn’t really make sense at first, Scott hadn’t done anything really special to achieve such recognition, even though it was another breathtaking compliment which stunned the Prince. "and that is why, even though I owe you explanations about other aspects of my life , if this is really goodbye, I’m not going to give them to you.” There was a double blink shortly after that comment, something Scott tended to do habitually when he was confused over something and he wasn’t sure if he was being insulted or not. Most people were oblivious to it, only a few picked it up, Connor realized the connection when they were talking and Connor tended to avoid getting into anything serious by saying he didn’t feel it was something he was comfortable talking to a fairy about.
"They’re ugly Scott" Came the reason as to why Michael wished to keep his secrets untold, but the Prince didn’t see it as a good excuse, if they’re ugly it’s all the more reason to share them, to help lift the burden they place on his shoulders. Scott could listen, he could take the responsibility of holding Michael’s secrets, he was determined to prove he could, that he was strong enough to do so, but as Michael continued Scott’s eyes were clouded with a regrettable understanding. "and I don’t want you to think of them when you think of me. Maybe its selfish but if this is all the time we have together than Id be happier having you remember me as I am tonight. Rather than knowing the things brought me to this place.” It felt like an eternity as Scott sat there, lifting his eyes once again to look at Michael’s face, he wasn’t the only one that had secrets, but he wasn’t also the only one that wanted to be remembered like this, like who he was right now and no one else.
"I too have things I wish to share, which are held back for the sake of keeping a memory, there are things which will change the way you think of me, even if just in the slightest, I have seen it in Riley since he was told last year. I have no doubt what we will share to each other will carry a weight of burden in some way, but it will not change the face of friendship we have become familiar with." Scott reasoned, bringing up his own similar feelings, though he felt drawn to Michael’s secret, wanting to know what pains lay hidden in his past. It was more then just Scott’s wish to know, it was much more deeper as well, the fairy’s very nature was to protect and defend not only themselves but those they loved and cared for with a great passion, resulting even to trickery and misdeeds in order to punish the guilty. Some could joke that hell has no fury like a fairy’s scorn. And while Scott was gentle, his protective and loyal nature made him prone to this need to have the villains punished for their crimes, and there were few better to judge and punish a crime then a Prince as far as Scott and his brother’s were concerned deep down.
"And speaking of friendship, we should probably get inside, before they all decide to come out here and sit with us in the rain." Scott mused lightly with a slight curve in the corner of his lip, still daunted however by the mixture of emotions and thoughts inside of him. It was overwhelming to hear what Michael had to say, and Scott wasn’t sure how he should reply, he hoped sharing the fact that there were things he too were holding back might help balance things. It was strong though, Scott’s need for honest had forced him to reveal his true name when telling them the alias he was called by here, it’s like they were so close to knowing the truth, but he kept them in the dark nonetheless. Now with Michael’s admission the Prince wondered if everyone had a secret that made them feel like that…
"I too have things I wish to share which are held back for the sake of keeping a memory Scott said his bright eyes already transformed by the darker emotions that were whirling round in Michaels mind. Michael had seen it happen before and knew that he was responsible for it as if even the memory of what had happened had somehow leaked out to drag dirty hands over the fairies innocence. Yet Scott didn’t back away,suddenly reversing the roles, offering comfort now instead of receiving it.
There are things which will change the way you think of me, even if just in the slightest, his team mate went on. Maybe Michael thought That happens in life but it wont change the fact that we’re friends that’s for certain.
Strange that he should be so sure about that but it was true he didn’t see how anything Scott could tell him would make him feel differently towards the fairy. Just like he had never expected the revelations he could make to push Scott aay from him. That wasn’t what held him back. he supposed he was ashamed. Ashamed that members of his family could have acted the way they did. And that he had let himself be taken in by their fine words and promises even when deep inside he had known what kind of people they were.
He forced his thoughts away from regret and concentrated on Scott’s words. “I have seen it in Riley since he was told last year.” So Riley knew this dark secret did he? And he hadn’t taken it in his stride. Well that was his problem. Though if it had affected the way he felt about Scott it really didn’t show. He seemed sincerely to care about him.* I wonder what has changed then* Michael thought curiously. Because they still seem like the best of friends to me.
“I have no doubt what we will share to each other will carry a weight of burden in some way, but it will not change the face of friendship we have become familiar with." At least they were in agreement. Michael was glad that Scott had realised that their friendship if new, was solid enough to withstand whatever life was going to throw at them, whether it be separation or revelation.
Then, as it so often did around the enthusiastic being, the mood lightened as Scott added "And speaking of friendship, we should probably get inside, before they all decide to come out here and sit with us in the rain."
Michael laughed softly” Aye that wouldn’t be a good idea. There’s not enough room out here for a party." he agreed "besides I’ve probably made the armchair soggy enough as it is. Not to mention that hot chocolate is always better when it is hot. Though I bet you had forgotton all about that, hadn’t you Scott?" he concluded mischievously.
Re: Green Dorm: Are We Saying Goodbye?
Now there was a sound Scott missed, even the slightest whisper of a laugh always lightened his spirits and of all people it seemed there were a selected few of Green’s members who needed to laugh more often then they seemed to.
"Aye that wouldn’t be a good idea. There’s not enough room out here for a party." And humans got ill easily, Scott wondered how it would look come tomorrow and all of them were sneezing and recovering in their beds. At least that’s what it seemed like with Heath, who’s immune system was horrifically impaired considering the immune systems of todays people. And to top it off he was at risk with more evolved viruses compared to those from his time, which were often fatal in any case. Winter had been a scare when he got a terrible cold and the severity of it stunned everyone who cared for him. Thankfully Beast knew just how to treat it and their friend pulled through for the better. "besides I’ve probably made the armchair soggy enough as it is. Not to mention that hot chocolate is always better when it is hot. Though I bet you had forgotton all about that, hadn’t you Scott?" First was confusion, how was Michael’s body getting wet if it was inside, then temptation as a reminder of hot chocolate was brought up. A shiver ran through the fairy as another cold breeze chilled him, leaving nothing but eagerness for that treat which would warm the icy feel soaking into him.
"Hot chocolate does sound wonderful right now," Admitted the Prince, who felt strangely tired, mostly just emotionally drained but it was enough to drag him down. Still, crawling a little more to the window as he watched Michael disappear inside, Scott couldn’t help but wonder if instead he should have told the other about the prestigious rank the fairy held. To just spit it out and be done with it, who cares if Michael worries that little bit more over him, frets about everything that befalls him in a grander scale… Maybe Michael wouldn’t be like that, maybe it was just how Riley was, it was apparent that their newest member tended to take the burden of responsibility, even if he didn’t realize it. Scott knew Riley would always look out for him, it was in the humans nature to be over protective when it come to those around him, but there was something more pressing in his manner. Like when Scott was sick it wasn’t just Scott he worried for, but what repercussions may occur if the fairy’s family blamed humans for the harm which touched their son. There was always that personal fear and then the concern of what greater harm may come to others, especially the fragile relationship already between the human world and the fairy one. If Scott wanted to do something that was particularly dangerous Riley may try to stop him not just because it was dangerous, but because Scott bore too great a responsibility to his people and others relying on him to just jump head on into danger and risk losing his life and all good he may have done. Or even risk his family lashing out with the afore mentioned blame they may be likely to justify against the humans. It wasn’t happening as much anymore, but it would rear its head now and then, even in small comments like when Riley spoke to him with relief after Scott was almost fully recovered from the spiders venom.
There was a moments hesitation at the window as Scott peered in, staring at Michael’s soaked body with another glimmer of surprise, feeling even more certain for his decision not to cast his spell now that he knew Michael was really suffering from the rain as he too had been doing. A towel was already placed over Michael’s lap, Riley now handing one to Scott as he stumbled down off the window sill. When Scott blushed a little and stood up again he had taken Riley’s offered towel, though just dabbed his face with it, in the end Riley scoffed teasingly and took it back off the fairy to rub it over his hair. The Princes arms flailed about for a moment in disorientation before mumbled words started spilling from him, too drowned out by the towel to really make sense but Riley had stopped moments later, leaving a still dazed look on Scott’s features as the towel was thrown about his shoulders.
"Go get changed, quickly before the hot chocolate turns into iced chocolate." Iced? The thought brought a shiver down Scott’s spine as he rubbed the corner of his towel against his face, then went to try and tame his hair which had gotten messy from the previous abuse. Soggy and soaked to the core, Scott bounded off to his room, each step still strangely filled with a playful bounce, Katie also leaping off the couch where she had been curled up beside Tessa and leaping after the other fairy. When she grabbed onto the back of the towel as Scott opened the door to his room he glanced back at her but his fingers were too numb to hold onto it when she tugged back hard and ended up with the fluffy yellow towel thrown over her body. An amused look flickered into Scott’s expression as she tumbled over herself within the towel in an attempt to break out of its confines, but he disappeared into his room and let Katie occupy herself with escaping from towel as he struggled to peel off his shirt, which wasn’t so easy consider it had carefully made slits for his wings to slip through. Looking rather awkwardly balanced at his doorway, Scott hopped on one foot long enough to allow his other one to gently close his door for some privacy, his room being one of the three located in the main area instead of off down the hall. The position of his room kept him close to people but at the same time not stuck close between a group during the night, which was important with his empathy abilities, even if he didn’t admit to the troubles he had dimming them down.
"Did he tell you what was wrong? I’ve see him come out of fights more cheerful then he is now." Although Scott made it clear the bullies who gravitated towards Arlen, thus often Scott got caught up in them, were just doing it for amusement, or entertainment, they never hurt Arlen or himself, it was more like the three bullies who focused on them just enjoyed a good scuffle now and then. Riley’s voice was quiet so not to be overheard, but hoping to be told something, especially if both of them where going to go off and get changed, Riley wasn’t sure he could wait any longer to find out what was happening.
The black young dog managed to struggle free of the towel, her teeth clamped down on it with a determined growl but Riley gave a stern ‘hey, leave it’ and Katie reluctantly padded off, casting another look behind at the discarded towel Riley would end up scooping up once he was done with what he was doing. White paws found their way back onto the couch with Tess, her white tipped tail wagging happily but the pup having no intentions of settling down. Instead she walked cheerfully over Tessa’s lap and hopped off the other end of the couch, cautiously moving towards Michael’s seat and dropping to a crawl. She’d been told off enough to figure out Michael wasn’t someone she can play frantically with but that didn’t detour her determination to be around him. The New Years born canine letting her baby brown eyes watch him carefully as her tongue flicked out and touched his shoe, her slender head lifting up and resting on the armrest of his armchair and looking hopeful, her tail wagging with a glimmer of excitement but expecting another shrug off. Scott already told her that the human had bad legs, and she couldn’t tackle him, but she didn’t understand why that meant she could curl up against him or play with him, it was like forbidden fruit, if you know you can’t have it, then you want it all the more.
Re: Green Dorm: Are We Saying Goodbye?
It seemed that Riley had been as vigilant as ever. Warm towels were already waiting for them as the two friends made their way back into the room. Which was just as well. Settling back into his body again Michael realised with a shudder just how cold he was. One of the side effects of his power. When he was out being Hood his body temperature dropped anyway as his vital functions slowed Add to that a good soaking and the problem doubled.
Not that he would catch cold His secondary power made sure of that but that didn’t stop him shivering nor did it keep the dampness from seeping into his joints, promising to make his night even more uncomfortable than usual. Still it had been worth it. There was a renewed lightness to Scott’s movements as he responded to Riley’s affectionate teasing and ran off to shower.
Michael would have liked to do the same but first there were questions to be answered, so he rubbed off the worst of the rain trying to friction some warmth back into his body as he did so and waited for them to come. He didn’t have to wait long. "Did he tell you what was wrong?" Riley asked with concern. "I’ve see him come out of fights more cheerful then he is now."
*Well there was a difference between taking part in a training exercise and being told you had to leave the life you had started to make for yourself and go home.* Michael thought, the idea that Scott could have been involved in some other sort of fight never crossing the astral mutants mind for an instant. Now he wondered if he should tell the others what Scott had revealed or wait for his friend to get back and explain the situation himself.
A slight movement caught his attention and as he emerged from under the towel he found himself looking into Katie’s expectant brown eyes. They had been co existing now for five days and she had been so careful round him that he had no doubts Scott had talked to her about the situation.
Strange when he had head that the dog would be coming to the dorms he had immediately he had seen the problems she could have caused for him What he had overlooked was the inconvenience he would be for her. It was hard to see her making such a effort. She was still a puppy and yet she calmed her natural exuberance every time he was near, crawling rather than bounding keeping a safe if rather uncomfortable distance though Michael knew she wanted to be friends.
As did he. He would have liked nothing more than to roll on the floor with her in a playful heap or to run around the grounds with her as Scott did but it just wasn’t possible. *She understands that* Michael told himself still admittedly having difficulty with the whole idea of being able to talk directly to animals via Scott’s powers. *And it doesn’t look as if she holds it against me.*
In fact if anything he was the one who had been a little distant, trying to keep out of her way as much as possible to make life easier for the little dog . Not wanting to encourage her to playfulness only to be brought face to face again with his own limits. But now the puppy’s eyes were looking at him as only puppies can and the temptation to respond was overwhelming.» Good Lass” he whispered softly as he reached down and scratched the velvet ears. They felt warm against his frozen fingers. “Good dog” he said again with a fond smile.
However Riley’s question still hung in the air waiting for an answer. With a sigh Michael tried to give one. “This is a biggie Riley” he said seriously, turning to include May in the conversation as he went on”.”Scott’s parents are coming down tomorrow for the parents weekend.” That in itself sounded like good news. He wondered how they would react to the bombshell that followed. “ And when they leave they intend to take Scott back with them. Maybe for good. So you can see he has reason to worry And so do we.”
Re: Green Dorm: Are We Saying Goodbye?
"Good Lass” The small black head seemed to both tilt and lean into the numbly chilled fingers, the tailing’s pace increasing to a thrilled excitement which had Katie’s lower back swaying along with it, her white back paws shifting around a moment as balance because awkward. “Good dog” By now usually Katie’s habit was to crawl up rather dramatically onto the couch, sometimes stopping with her back legs still hanging over the edge since it brought amusement and attention, but right now there was nothing more then a restrained wiggle, a pink tongue flicking out but disappearing once again.
Surely it couldn’t be bad…maybe Scott just got homesick, or he tried to help someone, or something, and it didn’t go right. Riley wished he could say the shift in gloom with Scott was a positive sign, but the kid tended to be all over the place with his own emotions. The slightest thing could bring a smile. As Michael had been comforting himself with Katie, perhaps mentally bracing himself for what was to come, perhaps aware that there was nothing really there to worry about, in any case Riley drifted back a few feet and typically enough picked up the towel which Katie discarded.
“This is a biggie Riley” At that, and Michael’s obvious attempt to inclue her, May turned the TV down to a whisper, a little reluctant it seemed since she would become strangely absorbed in even the most mundane of news shows. ”Scott’s parents are coming down tomorrow for the parents weekend.” While May couldn’t possible imagine why that was a thing to whine over, Riley visibly tensed, but not for the reason Michael was about to give. “ And when they leave they intend to take Scott back with them. Maybe for good. So you can see he has reason to worry And so do we.” Negativity drained from May as she realized the whole of the situation, always touchy when it came to family, even before her parents were murdered but all the more so since. Riley still looked a little tense as he looking over towards Scott’s door, trying to imagine what it would be like not to see him come charging out of it and diving for the floor on top of Katie or on his seat for another meal. It was already starting to hurt a little to think that he was going to be removed from the team which had Scott, mainly because Scott was the only one who seemed to constantly radiate enough happiness, and his bond with Katie made her happy, which in turn made Riley happy… The team seemed nice enough, and perhaps because Riley met Michael a little bit before being assigned it had been a little easier to settle in, and Scott definitely brought Riley right into the group without hesitation. The others were nice but Scott was the only one who really understood Riley enough to bound around carelessly without hesitating or uncertainty. Riley tended to take things to extreme, at least emotionally wise, if he got angry he let people know, just like if he was hurt, upset, insulted or in love or out of sorts. And the blunt straightforwardness of it all threw people off, it’s how he was raised to be since leaving the farm only with the overwhelming influence of drugs it all so much more controlled.
"No point sitting there shivering Michael, best to get into dry clothes if you’re going to sit around talking all night." May suggested, Riley looked back at Michael as if having forgotten the younger boy was soaked, his autumn forest eyes peered down at the towel in his hands. Riley didn’t really see what they couldn’t talk about in regards of getting Scott to stay at the school, another matter influenced by what Riley knew and something only Scott may be able to judge as being linked to the secret of the fairy’s own linage. What were they going to do? Stand up against a king and queen? Refuse to relinquish their Prince?
Re: Green Dorm: Are We Saying Goodbye?
Michael could tell that he had his team mates attention now. They both looked concerned thought Mays invincible practicality still came to the fore "No point sitting there shivering Michael, best to get into dry clothes if you’re going to sit around talking all night." She was right of course. It would be the sensible thing to do. It was nice to know she cared and that coupled with the underlying implication that she was up for an all night discussion of the Scott’s problem brought a grateful smile to Micheal’s face as he nodded over to her.
“Aye sure Ill do that in a minute” he said hurriedly” But first maybe we should get in touch with the others and let them know what’s on the cards?” Although……. Maybe we should let Scott tell Tess himself.. I don’t know.”
Michael didn’t even want to think about how upset Tess was going to be when she heard about Scott’s possible departure. But shes going to have to be told sometime soon the astral mutant thought to himself unhappily. And lets face it we’re going to have to work together as a team if we’re going to convince his parents to let him stay.*
Michael was only glad that Scots folks were coming on the Friday. At least that way he and Ben would be around to help He had been touched and he had to admit grateful when Ben had invited him to spend parents weekend at his place From what he could gather they didn’t yet know about Bens powers and the thought of them wandering around the school even under the guarded circumstances which apparently were going to be put in place over the first day hadn’t exactly reassured Darklight. Instead he preferred to go to them and had kindly asked Michael to accompany him on his visit home. But now…..
*Maybe we should cancel the trip *Michael thought. But that didn’t seem fair either Ben had been looking forward to seeing his folks again and it was true that any last minute alterations in their plans could make them worried enough to maybe make the journey down to the Institute themselves. *Well I can always back out if I have to* Michael told himself reasonably*They already think this is some kind of hospital facility. I’ll just tell them I’ve taken a turn for the worse.* Though maybe it wouldn’t come to that. He and Ben weren’t due to leave till the Saturday afternoon That still left them time to talk Scott’s parents round didn’t it?
"I reckon we should just ask the others to come to the dorm" he went on thoughtfully "Then Scott can fill them in when they get here. And we can start thinking of a way to convince his parents to let him stay. Its not going to be easy from the sounds of things but its what he really wants to do. So I say lets get the team together and help him do it."
Re: Green Dorm: Are We Saying Goodbye?
“Aye sure Ill do that in a minute” The accent of Michael’s homeland came through clearly, though not so strong as the typical Scottish with their strong accents that were at times hard to distinguish if they spoke to hastily. “But first maybe we should get in touch with the others and let them know what’s on the cards? Although……. Maybe we should let Scott tell Tess himself.. I don’t know.” What do they do for that? Lock Tess in Scott’s room and hope they talk business? Riley figured if Scott was going to feel comfortable telling anyone he would have talked with Tessa right off, not waited until Michael went out to pry it out of the fairy. It was hardly going to help her to have them all talking to Ben and Lexi while Tess was locked outside patiently waiting to be let inside. And Scott would probably end up just distracting her off whatever he had to say with one magical trick or another and in the end nothing will progress a great deal. But could anyone bare to handle the look which will undoubtedly fall over Tess’s face? She was so sweet and kind and especially bubbly around Scott, Riley had seen her occasionally at various times before she met Scott but Connor knew her a little better, being with her in a few classes together meant Connor’s description of her was different to what Riley saw now. And with Connor’s memory issues it wasn’t like Wolverine’s son was in any condition to agree with her positive change.
"I reckon we should just ask the others to come to the dorm" May began to stand up, stretching her arms and legs, lifting her arms above her head before dropping them again, fighting back a yawn which seemed to have been influenced by the stretching. "Then Scott can fill them in when they get here. And we can start thinking of a way to convince his parents to let him stay. Its not going to be easy from the sounds of things but its what he really wants to do. So I say lets get the team together and help him do it." May’s com badge was attached to her bra strap, so she was walking towards the kitchen and tapping her shoulder at the same time.
"Connect me to all Green Rescue members excluding Scott Freeman." A soft beeping chime signalled her commands were followed and May continued while opening the fridge and pulling out a small bottle of water that had a spider insignia scribbled over it for owner identification purposes. "Would all Green Members please report to the dorm room for a discussion, it’s important. Mayday out." There was a sudden silence before a quick correction was enforced. "I mean May out." It had been a very long time since her nickname had slipped so easily from her lips, May always enjoyed the nickname, it was amusing and full of mischief, always called out with an air of humour and a playfulness about it. The name brought up the her high school memories of being on the basketball team, so quick was the flash before it was pushed aside yet the desire to go outside and try out those cold empty courts lingered still. "There’s that done, go dry off." The red head instructed Michael as if calling the others had been some condition that needed to be met before he left to change. Riley was a little too caught up in staring back at Scott’s door, even neglecting Katie as she pulled herself off Michael’s seat and half followed May before diverting her attention to Riley and eventually ending up sitting on his feet when she got uncharacteristically ignored. Puppy brown eyes peering up at him constantly, just waiting for even the slightest of eye contact before she felt she could bound off on some other adventure, possibly charge down Scott’s door and see he if would play with her.
Re: Green Dorm: Are We Saying Goodbye?
Ben was in the science room working on his latest project based on how many photons made up each of the main colours of light. He was making steady progress and hoped that he might actually be able to prove something that was up until now unknown. He had to admit that he had an unfair advantage in this field as his powers actually allowed him to see the individual photons, but advantage or not it was still a gruelling task.
He was frowning with concentration over the colour blue when the now familiar beep warned him of a communication coming through on his com badge. "Would all Green Members please report to the dorm room for a discussion, it’s important. Mayday out."
Mayday? As in mayday, mayday the ship is sinking? Ben had to admit that he was momentarily confused and had no idea what May was on about, for it had to be May as he recognised her voice. Confirmation of this came but moments later when his team mate made an amendment to her last statement. He shrugged, it was obviously something that was part of the spider mutant’s life that he was not privy to. He had found that there were a lot of things he did not know about May but he had the sense to avoid asking the questions that so intrigued him.
He now turned his curiosity towards what they could possibly have been summoned to talk about. Was there a mission in the works? If so what kind? He sighed, there would be no way to know unless he got himself up there and no way to do that unless he put his experiment away. He set about dismantling the expensive equipment and carefully putting it back in its place.
When he was finished, he made his way through the maze of corridors and up the stairs to where the new team dorms were. He walked to the Green dorm doors and gently opened them. When he stepped in he was greeted by May, Riley and the dog.
Re: Green Dorm: Are We Saying Goodbye?
As if following May’s command, Michael made his way to his room, his body supported by the awkward and crude tools which aided him in a chance of mobility, no matter how awkward it was. May was then left to watch Riley pour the hot chocolate into a pot on the stove and kept it on a low flame, adding to the quantity to compensate for the additional people, though didn’t bother adding any more sugar to the mix since Scott’s serve was more then enough to add the desired sweetness to the brew. Figuring people would probably want to sit and comfort Scott, May dropped herself down in one of the armchairs and left the sofa free, still finding herself distracted by Riley who’s mind didn’t appear to be with his actions even as he wiped down Michael’s seat. Katie had stuck to Riley like glue, almost getting stepped on twice and constantly letting her head rest against Riley’s leg even if she was still standing up, since he was moving around a lot sitting down proved pointless anyway.
Eventually Riley sat down at the table, turning one of the nice chairs about so he faced the rest of the seats and wasn’t with his back to the group when they arrived. He never handled it well when people just up and left, even if it wasn’t their intention to do so or they had no choice, usually it was death that took people away from him though so at least this departure wasn’t so grim. But if Scott was to leave for good then it had the same effect on Riley’s life as he had to deal with losing any of the very few friends he had actually managed to not only make but grow comfortable with. It was easy to see, Riley seemed so casually playful around Scott but was more formal with all his other team mates, the woman especially since he’s never roomed up with woman aside from his time living with Clair and that hadn’t turned out very well in the long run. A bark from Katie drew each of their attentions, the black pup alert and facing the door, suddenly darting off Riley’s foot and heading towards the door in an excited prance. For a moment her noise pressed against the crack in the door, trying to see who was one of the other side and succeeding in identifying the scent of Ben just before she darted out of the way as he opened the door.
“Right guys, so what’s up?” Katie danced along with Ben as he moved, May only giving a glance at Riley to tell he looked too caught up in staring off at Scott’s room again to have a chance of replying any time soon so she spoke up instead.
"Take a seat, we’re waiting for Tess, Lexi and Michael will be back shortly, we want to wait for everyone." The bottle of water was brought to her lips once again for May to take a sip and she motioned to one of the other armchairs rather vaguely while leaning back into her own, making a cozy mold for her body as she shifted and snuggled down more comfortably.
Re: Green Dorm: Are We Saying Goodbye?
No sooner said than done One thing you had to say about May was that she didn’t waste any time. Michael smiled as the as yet unheard nickname slipped from her lips. He wasn’t sure she liked it though from the way she so swiftly corrected her mistake. Which was a shame. Mayday. It suited her. She was definitely someone you could call on if you were in trouble. And certainly not someone you argued with, especially when you knew they were talking sense So when she told him to go and get dry Michael just grinned and did exactly that.
It was such a godsend having a shower in his room especially at times like this when his numbed fingers made the task of getting undressed even more difficult than it usually was. Not to mention the added bonus of the handrails and other arrangements that had been made for him Little things, but all too important when the least slip could lead to disaster. The hot water felt wonderful, bringing warmth back into his body, sending the aches scuttling away at least for a little while. He wished he could wash his worries about Scott away as easily but that wasn’t about to happen. It was a difficult problem and there was no getting away from it. Still if they all put their heads together surely they could come up with something.
With this thought in mind Michael dragged himself away from the soothing water though his body tried to get him to stay longer.*No time for that now* he told himself sternly. *Just hurry up and get dressed before the others arrive Im damned if I’m going to be the one to hold things up.*
But still, although hurried, he had as always to give himself a moment for the pain to recede after the effort of dressing. After all there point in going out if all he was going to do was raise further concerns. And besides he hated having the others see how much simple everyday acts could affect him So he lay on the bed with his eyes closed till things reached an acceptable level and the towelled his hair at least partially dry and set off for the common room.
Not a moment too soon by the looks of things. Ben was already there. He supposed the others wouldn’t be far behind.
Re: Green Dorm: Are We Saying Goodbye?
Tessa Macneil was not fond of the rain. She never had been as a child and her position towards it had not been helped by the years. When at first the downpour started she stood by the window and scowled, an especially sour expression for the often smiling fairy. As if the incessant noise of the rain wasn't enough, there was also a chill in the air and she felt the hair on the back of her spine raise as goosebumps formed on her bare arms. Wearing a t-shirt apparently not a brilliant idea, she thought to herself and pulled a favourite sweater from her closest door, where it had been hung from the hood for times like these just in case. She pulled the hunter green sweater around her, revelling in the warm material which felt like the soft fabric of a housecoat.
She made for the couch and got company in the form of a tail-wagging canine. Katie promptly curled up beside her and her prescence was somehow comforting amid the downpour of rain. The other fairy sat up a little straighter when Scott entered not more than five minutes later but he headed promptly for his room and while she hadn't gotten more than a glimpse of him Tessa wondered if something was wrong. She didn't know what it was but she felt uneasy and her intuition was, more often than not, correct.
Her thoughts were put aside for the time being as the black dog found her way back found her way back to Tessa, tail wagging furiously behind her. "Hi Katie," she greeted the dog, speaking to her so that Katie could understand thanks to her fairy powers. Although Katie moved on for Michael she had been enough of a distraction to tear Tessa's thoughts from Scott and she abandonned all thoughts of problems for the moment. She smiled a hello at Michael and Riley but, remembering that she had forgotten to turn off the light in her room Tessa jumped up from the chesterfield and headed into her room down the hall. She was particularly good when it came to power, remembering her adopted mother's endless nagging about how lights were to be turned off to conserve energy.
However now that she was inside her private room Tess was casting glances between the tempting bed covered with blankets sure to keep her warm and the door. Finally deciding that the bed was a better idea she turned on the bedside table lamp and pulled out the novel she was supposed to read for English. Covering herself in thick blankets and the afghan her mother had crocheted for her Tessa began to read and lost track of time.
She didn't know that it had been only a matter of minutes since she had left for her bedroom, particularly since the dreary weather made time seem to pass slower than usual for Tessa. May's voice coming from her com badge startled her and Tess sat upright, knocking back a few layers of blankets in the process. She had nearly forgotten that she had been wearing it at all and the sound was muffled for it had been pinned to her tee shirt rather than her sweater. The blonde kicked off the blankets and unzipped the sweater, in order to get to it, and was just in time to hear, "Would all Green Members please report to the dorm room for a discussion, it’s important. Mayday out." There was a moment of confusion before the correction came. Far from judgemental Tessa understood though. She hadn't yet gotten used to wearing a com badge around, let alone to using one and May's blunder seemed commonplace to her.
Message recieved Tessa rezipped the ivory sweater and took one brief look in the mirror. She was far from a vain person but she did care about her appearance enough to try and look decent. The part fairy hadn't been able to muster the effort for a straightening iron today and her curls hung in golden ringlets but with far less bounce than usual, an omen of things to come perhaps. She headed out the door and into the general dorm area, remembering this time to turn off the light after she had marked her page carefully with a bookmark which had been a gift.
Feeling the chill most people would having left behind a stack of blankets Tessa took a detour and made herself a microwaved cup of tea before heading towards the group now assembled. They were an incomplete group, missing Lexi and Scott namely, but most were assembled and Tessa sheepishly wondered if she should have hurried more and left the tea for after the meeting. After a moment she took a seat on the couch closest to a table and set her mug down carefully on a coaster. It was still too warm to drink and she didn't care for the idea of burning her tongue.
Before she could speak up and ask what the meeting was about the door was opened and Lexi entered the room. Her auburn hair was damp from a brief run through the rain to get back inside and she too wore a sweater, although hers was a deep hunter green that brought out her eyes. The team leader didn't often recieve messages from her team members and especially not May so she was sure whatever it was it was important. This wasn't some debate about living space or eating the last cookie that was for sure. Electing to stand, the five foot four woman folded her arms across her chest, assuming a serious expression and hoping superficially that her hair wasn't a rat's nest. When she spoke it was as one of the group, not so much as a team leader but as a concerned friend who happened to have some authority and what she said was on Tessa's mind too. "What's happening?"
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