It was clear that Max hadn’t expected him to cut to the chase. Clearer still that he didn’t like the fact that Michael had . "I said no one cared to ask the question," he said agitatedly as he moved closer to the Scottish boy. "I didn’t say it was a question I cared to answer.
It was a cop out of the most basic kind and one that Michael had hoped wouldn’t come even if in all honesty he wasn’t really surprised when it did .After all Max must have become something of an expert when it came to avoiding dealing with all this crap, otherwise things would, no doubt , have come to a head long before this day ever arrived.
‘There are none so blind as those who will not see’ Wasn’t that how the saying went? Well it was certainly true in Max’s case. As far as his fathers unacceptable behaviour was concerned he not only closed his eyes, he also put on a hefty blindfold as well, just in case he ever had to face the ugly truth.A blindfold made up of self blame and excuses just like the ones he has handing out at the moment.
"You probably wouldn’t talk to me if I answered you,” Max went on I’ve seen it happen before, I’ve seen people get hurt for it,” Somehow Michael didn’t need to be told who had been doing the hurting. Or that he had enjoyed doing it. And yet still noone did anything to stop him! Was he really so untouchable? It was hard to believe. Especially here at the Institute where defending those in need was a duty readily undertaken!
Somehow Michael didn’t see the teachers here running from a fight of any kind, and certainly not just because the person they were dealing with had money. But then again maybe that was exactly what Mr Summers was going to explain to Max. That the help he needed to end this was there for the taking. If he would only realise that.
For the moment though he was still lost in self recrimination. “I was just being stupid…” he told Michael sounding as if he was trying to convince himself of the truth of his words as much as he was the youth beside him “so he’s disappointed in me”
Michael couldn’t help but shake his head despairingly . How many times had Steven been ‘disappointed’ in his son he wondered. And how long would it take Max to realise that no matter what he did his father always would be? That was how it worked. It would always be Max’s fault. It would always be him that wasn’t good enough. At least that’s what Steven would say. And as long as Max believed him then this would keep going on.
It made Michael sad and angry at the same time and, as Max continued to talk, both sentiments only strengthened. “and he never liked Xavier, he doesn’t even know I’m on a team," That piece of information did come as a surprise. Why would you send your son to a school run by someone you didn’t like? But then again, Michael sighed , who could tell what was going on in the head of someone like Max’s father.
At least Max seemed to have rebelled in some small way, keeping the news that he was part of the schools effective fighting force from his father. Though Michael supposed he might have done that to avoid the inevitable violence that would come when he did find out. Still.. it would have been easier just to refuse to be on a team, wouldn’t it? And Max hadn’t done that. So surely that was a good sign. Even if a small one.
….I thought he might have come to apologize," Michael didn’t even want to imagine what Max thought his father might have wanted to ask forgiveness for. But he was pretty sure that it had involved fists and pain. Just as he was sure that remorse had been the last thing on Steven’s mind when he had come to get his son. "I would have gone.. Max insisted I just wanted to shower first, I didn't mean to make that scene, he thought I was being insolent,"
Michael could stay quiet no longer. “Oh come on Max” he said “You didn’t make that scene, your father did. And I don’t care how insolent he thought you were he was still way out of line. You’ve got to stop blaming yourself for the way he treats you. Imagine this was Matt and his father”.the astral mutant said vehemently “Or Paige and hers. Would you still think everything was all right? Would you find excuses for them the way you do now? Because if the answer is no then you should have a serious rethink about your own situation. And you should do it very soon.
Re: Judgement Day"Oh come on Max" It wasn't often that someone talked to Max in such a manner, they were usually too scared, or just didn't care... or often enough a lot of both. The tone felt almost strange to hear from someone outside of the family, the Scottish accent flung the words at him as a both a slap and a challenge. "You didn’t make that scene, your father did. And I don’t care how insolent he thought you were he was still way out of line. You’ve got to stop blaming yourself for the way he treats you. Imagine this was Matt and his father" Matt and his father? There was no real way that Max could even hope to try and picture that.... it wasn't often his father made a public scene and it wasn't often that Max saw other parents make big scenes either.... well... parents with young kids commonly did, Max found it almost annoying, they just whined and screamed and over such pathetic silly things. Usually Max ignored them.... the kids... but Michael wasn't referring to children getting told off, he was referring to something a little more closer to Max and his father's situation, Max wasn't exactly a child but that didn't change the fact that Max's father was still trying to both scold him and teach his son that Max couldn't just do or have anything and everything he wanted. But Michael seemed so serious... it was difficult to understand.
"Or Paige and hers. Would you still think everything was all right? Would you find excuses for them the way you do now? Because if the answer is no then you should have a serious rethink about your own situation. And you should do it very soon." But if their parents starting shouting at them then ... it's what parents are supposed to do, what right did Max have to leap in and interfere? But then..... Michael and Matt had... and so had Mr Summers. Was it really that strange for them to understand? It was a parent's role to do these things, to lay down the law and enforce it! Tougher laws for tougher kids...
"Paige is a mouse," It was almost defensively said, confused and unsure of how Michael could even put him in the same league as Paige when it came to parental guidance. "She sits through her entire classes with her nose in the books, she rarely, really rarely, does what one can define as reckless," They were nothing alike! "I heard her parents were part of the X-men, she goes to the same school they did, in her little world, she's following mommy and daddy's footsteps like it was a hopscotch game," Same school, same ideals, same affiliation, was there anything Paige did that her folks didn't approve of? Aside having met Max, of course, he pretty much got the impressive that was something her and her folks really butt heads over, at least initially, before she got upset with him. "What the F'ck are her parents going to punish her for, getting too high grades?" Anger started to swell, and with it a greater sense of agitation and defense, "I am not Paige, or Matt.. and I don't know what the f'ck their parents would do, but I wouldn't throw myself in the way, what right would I have? It's not my place to decide, it's the parents, there's no way I'd just get involved unless-" There was a slight hesitation, the pause in which Max's body irritably inched even closer to the other youth, standing now a mere 30cm away, the span of a common ruler, "-maybe it was my fault they got put in that position,"
There was a slight shrug, a soft smirk that struggled to make its way onto the handsome features which usually found it so easily, all this made little sense, and why Max was justifying himself to Michael, a stranger, made even less sense. And yet there he was, moments away from spilling out things that were really none of the others business... there was just something about the way he had stood up to Steven that was almost.... astonishing... intriguing... it was really a rare moment that Max ever saw anyone stand up to Steven Chad stone, let alone one so... young, let alone crippled. "I know why Matt stepped in...... but tell me... why did you?"
Re: Judgement Day
In spite of what his attire sometimes suggested, Matt was no pessimist. As a matter of fact, he usually was quite optimistic, believing that if you just tried hard enough, you could manage just about anything you wanted. With limitations in the form of the realm of possibilities of course. As his eyes wandered over the items on Scott's desk, however, not really seeing anything but just keeping busy, he felt a jab of hopelessness in his chest. It was certainly no stranger to him. Where Max was concerned, he had been shown all too clearly that simple belief in a positive denouement wouldn't bring it about. As things stood, it would take a deus ex machina to make things right. Matt hoped it would either have wondrous mind-controlling abilities or remember to bring a lot of rope and a gag to keep Max from protesting and running off to his father.
When Cyclops started to reply, the light-elemental could barely constrain himself from interrupting his teacher to tell him he was wrong. There was nothing unchallenging about keeping Steven from seeing his son, not unless he did want to hold Max in a cell at the Institute against his will. Matt wasn't entirely sure, but suspected that kidnapping was a crime of a seriousness at least equal to that of beating up your son. Except that Chadstone Jr would never testify against his father but rather confirm whatever ludicrous story Steven would come up with.
It soon became clear that Scott had in fact understood the problem. They wouldn't be able to count on Max in this regard, no matter how right they were or how many arguments they could produce. When it came to his dad, Max had a big "Not Subject to Logic" label stuck to his mental folder. And it was exactly because of that why Contrast was more than hesitant to jump onto the band wagon and sue this man, even if in the end there may be some form of justice. While he wanted to do everything possible to emotionally detach himself from Max, Matt didn't want to be hated by him. And that was likely to happen should he press charges against Steven. And that wasn't all.
"But sir, who do you think they will believe? Famous Steven Chadstone, known for his generosity, donating money to hospitals and whatnot,.... or two students from mutant high?" The Sentinels may not have been in use for a while, but the public hadn't suddenly become all mutant lovers anyway. Being different still inspired suspicion and doubt. "I don't think it's common knowledge that he's a mutant himself," Matt continued urgently, "so even if we do sue, chances are there'll be more lost than won." Like Max. I don't want to lose Max. The words remained unspoken, and yet they weighed to much heavier on his heart. It was pretentious and selfish, but he couldn't help thinking that he would rather his love stay dependent on someone so despicable than endure his look of loathing.
*I'm not strong enough for that.* The thought stung, releasing a wave of self-pity. And it seemed there was nothing he could do against it. He had to get out, had to breathe. "Is there anything else, Mr Summers? Otherwise I'd really like to go, there are some things I've got to get done," he lied, getting up and feeling the weight of responsibility. He ignored it the best he could. Surely there would be somebody else so much more fit to help. As long as it didn't have to be him.
There comes a time when everyone of us has to take over responsibility for their actions.
It stands to argue whether there is also a time when we can get rid of it again.
Re: Judgement Day
Testing the students, especially those who showed the rare spark of promise that meant they could become so much more than they realised, had become second nature to Scott over the years. It was harsh and unfair in many ways, but it was a job that someone had to do, and one that he had always assigned to himself.. Because it could in the end sift out the leaders from the pack. And leaders were something they sorely needed, not only at the Institute, but in the mutant community as a whole. So he waited for Matt’s answer, acceptance or refusal, both an indication of character depending on the reasons behind them.
It would be foolish to accept without reflection. Steven Chadstone wasn’t someone you took on with impunity and a leader had to assess his enemies before engaging the combat. Still a stand had to be made somewhere, a line drawn in the sand that couldn’t be crossed no matter what it cost. Even if at Matt’s age it was hard to see that.
Though his arguments, when they came, didn’t lack logic. Merely faith! "But sir, Matt said urgently who do you think they will believe? Famous Steven Chadstone, known for his generosity, donating money to hospitals and whatnot,.... or two students from mutant high? It was rational thinking. The very essence of what Scott was supposed to represent. The steady hub around which the potential chaos of the x men turned! And yet..
Boring! Pig headed! Inflexible! All of the above were words that had been applied to Scott over the years. And the arguments Matt put forward now were ones he that he would certainly have taken into consideration if he had found himself in the same circumstances. Taken into consideration… and set aside. Oh he had argued diplomacy over bloodshed more times than he wished to remember. But he had never stepped back from a battle that needed to be fought, no matter who the enemy was.
Still it was a lot to ask of someone Matt’s age. To take on the might of Steven Chadstone! And the troubled look on the young mans face showed that he was all too well aware of what he would be getting into if he chose to do so. "I don't think it's common knowledge that he's a mutant himself," Matt went on earnestly "so even if we do sue, chances are there'll be more lost than won”
It was clear that no one involved in the action would come out unscathed. Steven wielded too much power for it to be otherwise. It was also true that, while the knowledge of his mutant status was in the public domain, Chadstone did what he could to make sure it wasn’t constantly splashed over the tabloids. A confrontation would be messy all round and Max’s father knew that as well as any of them.
Not that he would expect a charge of this kind to be brought against him. He was too arrogant for that. He saw himself as untouchable, above and beyond the rule of law,that applied to lesser mortals. But in reality he wasn’t. He was a mutant like the rest of them and, despite all his wealth and influence, there were many who would be all to glad to see him brought down because of that alone. If this case went to court it would hurt him, win or lose, though there would be a heavy price to pay for bringing him to that impasse. The question was, would Matt be willing to pay it?
The answer wasn’t long in coming. "Is there anything else, Mr Summers? he asked quietly Otherwise I'd really like to go, there are some things I've got to get done," “No Matt” Scott answered gently “That’s all.” One window of possibility for helping Max had just closed but that couldn’t be helped. And he certainly wasn’t planning in making Matt feel bad about it. Not that he needed to. If he was any judge of character. Matt’s conscience would unfortunately do that all by itself. Which was in the end unfair! Ok Matt hadn’t felt himself up to the challenge. The truth was that few would have. And the fact that Cyclops had believed that he might just be one of those few was an endorsement in itself.
” Thank you for your time “ Scott continued with a sympathetic smile “Just remember my door is always open if you want to talk about this or anything else. Oh and would you be so kind as to ask Max to step in on your way out. There were no reproaches, no trying to talk him round. Just a quiet acceptance of his decision and a continued faith in his potential! One day he would be ready to take on people like Steven without faltering, of that Scott was certain. And when he was the X men would, as always, have his back.
Re: Judgement Day"Paige is a mouse," Max announced, his words drawing Michael’s eyes up to his in a surprise that would have bordered on outrage, if it hadn’t been obvious that the Chadstone youth didn’t seemed to be, consciously at least, using the word as an insult. Even though that was what it was! The astral mutant shook his head in silent disagreement. Max was supposed to be Paige’s friend, wasn’t he? She in any case, thought of him that way from what Michael had seen and heard. Could he really not see how much more she was than just that quiet facade?
Apparently not, judging from what he said next . "She sits through her entire classes with her nose in the books, Max went on she rarely, really rarely, does what one can define as reckless, I heard her parents were part of the X-men, she goes to the same school they did, in her little world, she's following mommy and daddy's footsteps like it was a hopscotch game "
They had been on the same team, Paige and Max, a fact that Riley had provided Michael with that very morning and one that the astral mutant had taken as a contributing factor of their friendship. They had been on Training Island together! Hadn’t Max seen how hard it was for Paige just to be on a team? God she had nearly died! Didn’t that count for anything? "What the F'ck are her parents going to punish her for, getting too high grades?"
Michael forced himself to stay calm, reining back his natural instinct to jump to Paige’s defence, reminding himself that Max wasn’t exactly in the right state of mind to think about what he was saying. Already his mounting anger was plain to see, an anger that was just looking for an excuse to turn itself from the subject of his fathers behaviour and focus instead on any straw Michael might throw its way. But it was so hard not to throw it all the same.
"I am not Paige, or Matt.. Max declared and I don't know what the f'ck their parents would do, but I wouldn't throw myself in the way, what right would I have? It's not my place to decide, it's the parents, there's no way I'd just get involved unless--maybe it was my fault they got put in that position,"
Was he really this far gone? Michael wondered as Max stepped in far too close for comfort given his present state of agitation. Would he really stand back and watch Matt or Paige be mistreated providing the one doing the mistreating was a parent? Or was it just too hard to imagine them being put in his position? Michael had to hope that it was the latter, that there was something left here to save, or rather to convince to save itself.
Max had stayed on a team knowing his father wouldn’t approve. Max had stepped forward when his father had hurt Matt. There had been a spark of defiance in him that had been ready to defend, if not himself, then at least those around him from Steven’s cruelty. And that was what held Michael’s own anger back. At least long enough for Max to calm down slightly and ask unexpectedly "I know why Matt stepped in...... but tell me... why did you?"
“I was heading your way because of that 'mouse' you mentioned” Michael told him steadily “The one who tried so hard to be part of a team that she almost died! The one who still wants to be an x man in whatever way she can, despite her parents ordering her to step down! Because I though anyone a person like that considered to be a good guy would be worth getting to know.”
“ But I’d have stepped in anyway. Even if she didn’t like you! Even if I didn’t like you. Because.. Michael frowned slightly searching for words to explain what he had felt. Because what was going on yesterday between you and your father wasn’t right! Because , like I said, I’ve seen that look before on someone’s face and I know what comes after. And once you know that… you can’t just walk by and do nothing”
Re: Judgement Day"I was heading your way because of that 'mouse' you mentioned" For some reason Michael was touchy on the definition given for Paige, though Max was used to people going weird over silly things… at least what he considered silly. "The one who tried so hard to be part of a team that she almost died! The one who still wants to be an x man in whatever way she can, despite her parents ordering her to step down! Because I though anyone a person like that considered to be a good guy would be worth getting to know." That surprised Max, or at least confused him, hadn’t she been telling her family he tried to rape her or something, the manner in which her brothers addressed him it had seemed so. The girl seemed sweet enough, if a touch neglected by her parents, she knew next to nothing about guys, what kind of parents allow their child to be so naïve?
"But I’d have stepped in anyway. Even if she didn’t like you! Even if I didn’t like you. Because.." But that made even less sense! An annoyed sigh slipped out silently as Max looked away, as if staring down the hall for some hope of seeing a translator wandering by who might be able to hep them understand each other. "Because what was going on yesterday between you and your father wasn’t right! Because, like I said, I’ve seen that look before on someone’s face and I know what comes after. And once you know that… you can’t just walk by and do nothing" It just felt as if Michael wasn’t getting it at all!
"I know some of the things Paige is capable of, I didn’t say she had a lack of backbone, you have no idea what we’ve gone through together…and it was all your precious Riley’s fault to, the crazy freak," Max retorted agitatedly, side tracking off the current issue at hand and recalling Riley’s moment of seeming insanity where he shot at some blonde guy Max had since noticed hanged about Rogue for a period of time. The young Chadstone couldn’t blame the guy for not wanting to hang around the school so much since then, or at least it seemed Max hadn’t noticed him shadowing Rogue, and for a little while rumours were going all around the school regarding the guy. Some students said he wasn’t a mutant, others said he was, some said they’d seen him in Hank’s medlab pouring plasma into a mug, it just got really weird. But living in a school of freaks made the weird rather common, so Max didn’t feel the need to seek out the truth… he didn’t really care who dated who, or who dated what for that matter. "I just meant she’s a good kid ok, she doesn’t get involved in many stupid things, not unless Finnicky starts shooting up half the school or we’re dragged off into the middle of nowhere just for the heck of it so we can get shot at more, stabbed or even kidnapped," There were footsteps approaching the door on the other side, close enough that Max could make out the steps though couldn’t be entirely sure who’s they belonged to. The door opened, and Matt looked anything but cheery as he looked over at Max, an expression the younger student hadn’t seen outside the time Matt had gone to Medbay to talk to him.
"He didn’t mean to hurt anyone," It was only a partial lie, because Matt was someone Steven would target with aggression, Max had seen it before, but it was so much easier to just ignore all that, "He’s just angry," The look Max offered the dark haired student was almost the most apologetic look Max may have ever given, "It won’t happen again, I can talk to him, I can talk to mum, my mother would have a fit to know he came here, she hates it when he loses his cool in public, it’s bad PR," Glancing from Matt to Michael, the renowned bully added almost defensively, "He’s my father and he’s not the monster you’re all making him to be, he doesn’t mean to be rough, it’s my fault he got so upset and I knew he would if he found out and he did so I need to deal with it,"
Re: Judgement Day
The defiant state of mind Matt had almost automatically assumed after his announcement felt - in hindsight - a bit like readying for a storm that never came. Had he been steadying himself to avoid being blown away, half leaning against it in preparation, he would have fallen over. As things were though, he just blinked a little, realising he had been expecting less understanding and more arguing, then nodded. "I'll tell him," he replied to Scott's request before walking towards the door. It took all of his will power not to break into a run. He just wanted to get out of this office and drown himself in music, deafen out the sound of his thoughts, of his conscience.
It was only when his hand touch the door handle that the sudden rush of gratitude Cyclops' words had called forth found its way into the world. "Thank you," Matt said quietly, leaving more unsaid than uttered: that he wanted little more in the world than to see Max freed of his father's influence, that he was scared of jeopardising this fragile connection he had to Chadstone, the one he knew now he wasn't ready to completely abandon. And that, above all, there was a shame burning inside of him the likes of which he had rarely ever felt in his life. None of that was said; maybe it was better that way. Speaking things out loud makes them true, and Matt was anything but sure he was ready for that yet. He pressed down the handle, and left.
A look at Max sufficed to see that he was agitated. No sooner had Matt stepped over the threshold than his friend started defending his father again, the same old excuses spilling out of his mouth. Suddenly, the light-elemental felt as tired as if something had sucked all the life out of him. He merely gestured for Max to enter the room he had just left. Was there a point in trying to argue again, in attempting to make him see just how ridiculous his reasoning was? *Probably not,* Matt thought, feeling the old helplessness settle in his heart. Running away from problems was never solving anything, but at least it postponed having to deal with them.
"Ah, my bad. Must have been the lack of oxygen that made me think he wanted to hurt me... silly me," he said flatly, though underlying his resignation there was an edge to his sarcastic words that showed all too clearly how he felt. "But sure, talking to him will really do the trick. Maybe you'll even be able to get to the MedLab on your own this time." And with a short nod at Michael, he began to walk away, towards his room, towards this evanescent oblivion he was craving. "Just make sure nobody sees you... wouldn't want the truth to spoil your dad's reputation, would we?" The bitter words resounded slightly in the empty corridor as Matt turned a corner, into the shadows, and vanished from sight. He had no illusions of his words having changed Max's attitude whatsoever.
There comes a time when everyone of us has to take over responsibility for their actions.
It stands to argue whether there is also a time when we can get rid of it again.
Re: Judgement Day"I know some of the things Paige is capable of, I didn’t say she had a lack of backbone,” Max told him, as if the term mouse could be seen as anything other than belittling. “you have no idea what we’ve gone through together… and it was all your precious Riley’s fault to, the crazy freak,"
It was so frustrating , all this past history he knew nothing about and yet was somehow supposed to take into account. Paige and Max. Max and Riley. Not Michael’s business he knew, yet he had already had the crap beaten out of him because of a comment made about Paige and this tortured young man. And it was hard to leap to a teammate’s defence when you had no idea what you were defending him from.
The suddenly Max did fill in a few of the blanks, though it had to be said that the information only left Michael more confused than before. "I just meant she’s a good kid ok,” Max went on, gruffly. she doesn’t get involved in many stupid things, not unless Finnicky starts shooting up half the school or we’re dragged off into the middle of nowhere just for the heck of it so we can get shot at more, stabbed or even kidnapped,"
There was surprise and confusion in the young scot’s grey eyes. That didn’t sound like Riley. Shooting up the school! What could have got into him. And as for Paige…. Had she really been caught up in so much violence? The very thought that she might have been made him feel sick. But Max had been there to what? Protect her? Save her life? That would explain the strange bond between them. Shared danger often produced unlikely friendships. Just look at him and Madison.
"He didn’t mean to hurt anyone," Riley? Of course he hadn’t! You only had to spend five minutes in the same room with the guy to know how devoted he was to the school. The thought of him suddenly going all psycho killer on the other students just didn’t make any sense. Something must have happened to him or…… Michaels chain of thought was disrupted by the realisation that Max hadn’t been talking about Riley at all but rather had moved back, stubbornly and unreasonably to defending his father.
"He’s just angry," Michael shook his head sadly before the look in the other boys eyes. Who exactly was he apologising for. His father? Or himself for still clinging to this fiction that he insisted in surrounding himself with. A fiction in which he was the one who needed to be punished and his fathers actions sprang from love and love alone. "It won’t happen again, Max said, not, Michael suspected for the first time. Or the last. “I can talk to him,” Oh yeah that was soooo going to work. How could he be so blind! It was unbelievable. “I can talk to mum,” And where exactly did Max’s mother fit in to all this? Was she too beaten into submission? His next words made that seem less likely.
“my mother would have a fit to know he came here, she hates it when he loses his cool in public, it’s bad PR," Bad PR….. BAD PR! For once Michael was speechless. Was that really the only thing that mattered to her? Not that her son was being hurt but that someone might actually notice? Good grief what kind of family did Max come from? And why the hell did he still want to be part of it!
Because he so obviously did. The old excuses were being recycled yet again as the office door opened and Matt emerged. "He’s my father and he’s not the monster you’re all making him to be, Max was saying he doesn’t mean to be rough, it’s my fault he got so upset and I knew he would if he found out and he did so I need to deal with it,"
The look on Matt’s face said it all. But he also had some words to back it up. "Ah, my bad. Must have been the lack of oxygen that made me think he wanted to hurt me... silly me," Yes! Michael gave a silent cheer of support as the young goth continued “ But sure, talking to him will really do the trick. Maybe you'll even be able to get to the MedLab on your own this time.” Sooo… more history that Michael had been unaware of. And for cause.This wasn’t something Max had wanted out in the open, but it was too late now. It had been too late ever since Steven had made that scene in the garden. This particular genie was well and truly out of the bottle and there was no way of getting it back in.
Matt wasn’t sticking around to see if anything he said made a difference to Max though. Indeed he looked resigned to the fact that his comments would fall on deliberately deaf ears as, Michael now realised, they no doubt had before. A nod in his direction was acknowledged by one of his own then Matt’s parting comment was thrown over his shoulder as the black clad youth walked away. "Just make sure nobody sees you... wouldn't want the truth to spoil your dad's reputation, would we?"
Harsh as the words were they needed to be said and Michael was heartily glad that Matt had managed to say them. Would they make a difference? Maybe not. But they couldn’t be ignored. And that had to count for something. “You have a good friend there” Michael told the Chadstone boy “ You should listen to him. Even if you don’t listen to anyone else. “
Re: Judgement Day"Ah, my bad. Must have been the lack of oxygen that made me think he wanted to hurt me... silly me, " But.. it was different with Matt, surely Matt could see that, surely he could understand how Max’s father felt considering what Matt had done.. what they had done together. "But sure, talking to him will really do the trick. Maybe you'll even be able to get to the MedLab on your own this time. " That wasn’t fair, that was different too! Max’s hand absent-mindedly reached for the watch he wore, rubbing his fingers over the refurbished glass face that showed the lucky coin his brother had once given him so long ago. It was odd, because since then Hank got James back, and Kevin too, but Max felt so disassociated with them... as if the brother he knew was gone and the one around today was just some imposter. They tried so hard to spend time with Max and yet Max made so little time for them, the thought that he had brothers out there who made no attempt to find him was... just not a thought he cared to think about.
"Just make sure nobody sees you... wouldn't want the truth to spoil your dad's reputation, would we? " Exactly... though Max could tell Matt was hardly caring what happened to his father, hadn’t Max warned Matt all about this, hadn’t he said how careful they had to be? But by the time Max even thought of retorting Matt had turned the corner and left him there, left him with those comments flung at him as if intentionally to sting and not caring if Michael was there or not to overhear
"You have a good friend there" Stated the crippled boy, drawing Max’s attention from where Matt’s form had previously vanished, "You should listen to him. Even if you don’t listen to anyone else." There was a pause, Max’s arm seemed to be draw against his chest and held firmly, as if the pain of the previous broken bone had returned, and with it so had his sour mood.
"Like you even care," The accusation was flung at Michael tetchily, "And if he is so great a friend," Max began, glaring down the hall and raising his voice as he continued, "Then why the hell is he always being so shitty about things," ‘Things’ being the incidents involving his father, as if just because Matt was a friend it would mean he’d not make Max feel bad or somehow different or ignorant over them. He was tired of Matt walking in with stupid comments that were meant to mean something, tired of being told he was insufferable and stupid and blind to the obvious. An irritable look at Scott’s door was cast, with Max moving towards it with brisk heated strides, "Friends are overrated," He said bitterly as he shut the door angrily behind him, it wasn’t like Max actually had the sort of friends that made him feel this comment was harsh, aside Matt and one other guy he helped out once, Max didn’t really have any friends that have been there for him to help him understand why people held friendship in so high regards. Inside the room Max felt even more irritated, waiting to hear just what this individual felt he had to say about his evil deceptive father and how poor little clueless Max didn’t know any better.
Re: Judgement Day
This had never been going to be easy. Getting someone to open their eyes, when all they wanted to do was keep them firmly shut! But from the words they exchanged before Max came in it seemed to Scott that the boys had given it their best shot. Just as Hank had some days previously! And, regrettably, with the same results! A fact which no doubt fuelled Matt’s parting comments.
"Ah, my bad. Must have been the lack of oxygen that made me think he wanted to hurt me... silly me, "He told Max cynically "Just make sure nobody sees you... wouldn't want the truth to spoil your dad's reputation, would we? " Cyclops could understand Matt’s bitterness. It was hard to see someone you cared for leaving themselves open to abuse like this. Harder still to have them treat your legitimate concern for their safety as some kind of personal attack. Especially when you had just put yourself in physical danger to keep them from getting hurt! Again!
Michael at least seemed to have recognised how badly the young goth wanted to help Max. "You have a good friend there" he told the Chadstone boy seriously «You should listen to him. Even if you don’t listen to anyone else." His words though, like everyone else’s were angrily thrown back in his face.–-"Like you even care," Max snapped at him. "And if he is so great a friend, Then why the hell is he always being so shitty about things " The stone mutant had raised his voice, obviously intending Matt to hear the snide comments even as he retreated down the corridor. His final words were quieter however, caught only by the Scottish boy who was left outside and the teacher whose concern Max had now become. "Friends are overrated,"
This was it, Scott realised with a sigh. His turn to try to get through to Max! And there weren’t many arms left at his disposal. Compassion had already been tried. And support! And understanding! Brothers had been tracked down and brought back into Max’s life. People had been hurt fighting his battle. Hank had more or less declared open war on Steven. And yet here was Max, still defending his father, still refusing to accept what was all too obvious to everyone around him. That the man was a sadistic bully who deserved to be behind bars.The chances then that anything Scott had to say could make even the slightest indent in the barrier Max had placed around himself were remote to say the least. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to try. Even if it wasn’t going to be pretty!
Niceness, it seemed, had crashed and burned long ago in this particular fight. Emotional pleas had been made and had achieved nothing. Which only left cold hard facts! Coupled to a scathing logic that Scott mastered years ago and which, in its own way, could be as destructive as the beam that came from his eyes. So it wasn’t the counselling session he had feared that Max walked into. It was a debriefing. Which is why instead of some consolatory remark, designed to defuse the harshness of his statement, Scott said coolly “I’m surprised you know anything about friends at all. Considering how few you have. And how nice you are to the ones who do seem to give a damn”
“But that, in the end is, your problem not mine. As is your relationship with your father! Except when , as it did yesterday, it interferes with the smooth running of this Institute.”Scott motioned to the boy to take a seat, glad for once of the visor that covered his eyes and helped him retain his mask of calm authority no matter what his actual feelings were. ‘This is the second time he has waltzed into Xavier’s as if he owned the place.’he told Max coldly“ And it also brings to three the number of students he has hurt while he was doing it. This, as you no doubt realise, is…… unacceptable”
“My immediate reaction” Cyclops went on ” was to ban him from the premises.” It was a lie, of course. His immediate reaction had been exactly the same as Hank’s. To go and make Steven Chadstone aware that messing with Xavier’s was a very bad idea indeed. By a judicial application of his fists to the millionaires face. However he wasn’t Logan. Cyclops could and usually did take a step back from the anger and try to see the bigger picture. Though in this case it wasn’t any prettier than it had been close up and personal.
Above and beyond all else they had to keep Max safe. Or as safe as they could while he still refused to come to his senses. Which meant, hard as it was to live with, working out some sort of compromise! For the time being at least! Though one day, Scott promised himself, there would be a reckoning with Max’s father over this whole business! He only hoped he would be around to see it. But here and now he still had his role to play. Bad cop to Hanks good cop. As he had so many times in the past!
Well at least he knew he was up to the task. No matter how unpleasant it might be. ”But” he continued, letting cynicism seep into his words “ as you’d probably be stupid enough to go and let him beat you to a pulp somewhere else I’ve decided against that. At least here you have, like it or not some form of protection. We look after our own, no matter who may be coming against them. I think Michael and Matt proved that yesterday. As for me” Scott aimed the ruby visor directly at Max’s eyes. “I’ll do all that as par for the course. But I’ll go that extra mile for each and every student that wants my help.
“You don’t want it though, do you Max? Scott asked with a bitter smile. “You just want me to get the hell out of your life. And I will. Because I personally no longer have any time to waste on those who sit back and let themselves be abused. So I’ll do what I can. Anytime your father comes here to see you a teacher will be either present or not far off. And if he lays one finger on you then I swear I will either turn Hank loose, as I didn’t this time, and he will kick Steven’s sorry ass of this campus or I will do it myself. Now do you have any questions? Or was I sufficiently clear?
"I’m surprised you know anything about friends at all. Considering how few you have. And how nice you are to the ones who do seem to give a damn" To be honest, Max wasn't sure how to take that, from the tone it was clearly a negative comment and yet all Max could do was hold a steady gaze that indicated clearly how upset and irritated Chadstone was. "But that, in the end is, your problem not mine. As is your relationship with your father! Except when , as it did yesterday, it interferes with the smooth running of this Institute." So that was the case was it, his dad probably called and chewed Scott out for not insisting Max just up and leave without a fuss, but what did Scott know about anything, he was just a stupid old geezer that barked at people and had as much humour as a pile of horse dung from down at the stables where his wife used to help out at. If Max wanted to have a damn shower before getting into a car he ought to be allowed to it wasn't like he was asking for so god damn much!
"This is the second time he has waltzed into Xavier’s as if he owned the place." This sort of threw Max, and it showed more then Max would have liked if he only knew, but thankfully the surprise that broke out in his eyes was only seen by others and completely ignores by Max as he found himself in a bit of shock. "And it also brings to three the number of students he has hurt while he was doing it. This, as you no doubt realise, is…… unacceptable" Three? Michael got shoved.. Matt got semi chocked.. was there someone else Max was forgetting? Unless the third was Mr Summers pride.. but somehow Cyclops seemed to high and mighty to let anyone know his pride was hurt in any way.
"My immediate reaction" The Headmistress's husband continued on, "was to ban him from the premises." Ban... Steven Chadstone?? Was This guy from another planet? No one forbid anything to Max's father, not if they had any common sense, his dad was a cold businessman and relentless with getting what he wanted. And so what if Steven lost his temper, it wasn't like Max's father had no reason, but to hell with telling them that, especially if the one person who did know acted as if it was hardly a course for someone to be alarmed about. "But" The teacher added, "as you’d probably be stupid enough to go and let him beat you to a pulp somewhere else I’ve decided against that. At least here you have, like it or not some form of protection. We look after our own, no matter who may be coming against them. I think Michael and Matt proved that yesterday. As for me" Rebellion formed inside of Max at the suggestion, furious protest over the thought that he just enjoyed being beaten, to furious protest over the idea his father had a habit of doing it, or that he walked into the situations willynilly. Max knew this would come, he didn't expect half the school to be involved at the time however, but he knew doing something so stupid as he had done repeatedly with Matt it would lead to something so serious between he and his father.. and that was Max's fault. "I’ll do all that as par for the course. But I’ll go that extra mile for each and every student that wants my help." Help? Max didn't need help, and it seemed that Scott somehow had developed his wife's abilities as he continued on.
"You don’t want it though, do you Max?" Uncertainty hovered clearly on Max's displeased features. "You just want me to get the hell out of your life. And I will. Because I personally no longer have any time to waste on those who sit back and let themselves be abused. So I’ll do what I can. Anytime your father comes here to see you a teacher will be either present or not far off. And if he lays one finger on you then I swear I will either turn Hank loose, as I didn’t this time, and he will kick Steven’s sorry ass of this campus or I will do it myself. Now do you have any questions? Or was I sufficiently clear?" They intended to assault his father?! Scott spoke as if he was not the only one to share a dislike towards Steven Chadstone, the charmer and praised millionaire who shined in the public's eye.
"Dude, seriously, yesterday was a bad day, we all have bad days, he's not always like that," So focused on the previous day had Max become that for a moment he completely ignored any chance that they might also be tieing him to the earlier thrashing he had given Max, but that involved no one save Max himself so he really didnt see it as a disturbance to the school. "And my parents love me, alright!" He insisted almost viciously, a sudden defensive shield raising in anger. "I made him angry so it's not his fault, it's mine.. why do you all act as if you want me to be some pathetic victim you can save - what has he ever done aside lose his temper once in school grounds? Like all of you have never lost your tempers on a bad day." There was an exasperated groan as Max added irritably "Dad's exactly the same now as he was when I first came here years ago, none of you whined or moaned about him then."
Re: Judgement Day
Scott had expected an angry outburst at the very least. After all Max wasn’t exactly renowned for his self control. Yet in the end, given the reaction he actually received, he would by far have preferred a storm of passionate emotions to the defeated acceptance Max offered him. "Dude, seriously, yesterday was a bad day, we all have bad days, he's not always like that, I made him angry so it's not his fault, it's mine.. "
As excuses went it was one of the lamest he had ever heard. But then again excuses of any kind must have been hard to come by after years of living with someone like Steven. Yet here Max was, still dragging them out. Forgiving the unforgivable! Shouldering the blame for his father’s behaviour! It was, from any point of view, depressing to watch one of the Institute’s students reduced to this, not to mention frustrating as hell.
Xavier’s had been set up to teach youngsters like Max to control their powers so that they became, if not always a blessing, then at least less than the curse they could so easily have turned into. But it was also there to show them that, although they were no better than anyone else, they certainly were no worse, no matter what other people might have said to the contraire.
Chipping away at the inferiority complexes long years of being treated as less than human had built up in many of the pupils was just as hard, if not harder, than calming down the rampaging ego trips that some of the students went on, but it was just as necessary. Broken teenagers had to be taught that they had rights, that included the right to defend themselves if they were in danger. Even if they means they used were, by normal standards, unorthodox in the extreme. So why was it that ,Max of all people, had failed to learn that particular lesson?
Because it was very obvious that he had taken nothing in. As far as his private life was concerned anyway. Then again that was always the hardest barrier to break down and Scott was better placed than many to know that. . Family! Whether you claimed to love them or hate them, in the end they were the ones that formed you. How could it be otherwise? After all as a baby you were delivered helpless into their hands, completely at the mercy of their least whims and desires. Thankfully the nurturing instinct kicked in for most parents. Unless of course you happened to be born with obvious mutations, that was, and even then love was far from being out of the question. Sometimes though even the most ‘normal’ child found itself face to face with a monstrosity! Someone whose own childhood may have been terrible enough to have warped their minds, or who had simply been born with a desire to hurt others! In either case they had to be either helped or stopped and Scott doubted that Steven would ever let himself be helped.
As far as Scott himself was concerned his parents had been everything a boy could ever have wanted. Kind! Caring!. Ready to give their own lives for the sake of their children! As indeed, for many years; Scott thought they had. When they had strapped that on last parachute on him and told him to take care of his brother they had done so out of love. The crippling guilt he had carried around once he had woken up and found them all gone had never been all his something they would have wanted him to bear, though it had taken him years to realise the truth. Because his parents had taught him better than that! They had taught him that all you could do was your best. A lesson he had tried to pass on to his students all the harder since it had cost him so much not to have had faith in it back then. Back when Mr Sinister had pushed him into self hatred and he had believed.
Still…. the bases! The lessons that he carried in his heart! The ones that had let him turn his back on all that Sinister had planned for him and instead follow Xavier into a brighter future. The ones that had made him the man he was today. Those had been covered again and again even before the aeroplane had crashed. He had been cared for in every sense of the word. Whereas Max… Scott sighed again. All he had encountered was a violence and contempt which had perhaps marked him beyond all redemption. For after all you could only offer help, you couldn’t, no matter how much you wanted to, force people to accept it. And Max was certainly still very far from grasping the hand that Scott amongst others was extending to him.
Why do you all act as if you want me to be some pathetic victim you can save he asked petulantly, obviously unaware of the glaring irony of his words. - What has he ever done aside lose his temper once in school grounds? Like all of you have never lost your tempers on a bad day." Max groaned as he added "Dad's exactly the same now as he was when I first came here years ago, none of you whined or moaned about him then”
Scott looked up sharply, his visored eyes meeting Max’s “If we had known what he was like back then, then believe me we would have moaned and whined with the best of them. We should have caught this earlier that’s true. But the fact is we’ve caught it now. Your father doesn’t have bad days Max. Scott went on implacably “He doesn’t just lose his temper.”
“Your father comes in here and beats you so badly you have to be taken to med lab. He leaves you with broken bones on the floor. And you? You let him. Now someone who can stop themselves getting hurt not even by raising a finger but simply by turning themselves to stone and yet who lets themselves be pounded on like that?. What exactly would you call them? Because Victim seems like as good a definition as any to me. Even if its one I wouldn’t want to apply to any student at Xavier’s.
Re: Judgement Day
It would seem that Max may have said something which triggered even more of a reaction, the way Scott’s head snapped up and stared across at the youth, despite the eyes not being visible, it was slightly intimidating, even more so perhaps. "If we had known what he was like back then, then believe me we would have moaned and whined with the best of them. We should have caught this earlier that’s true. But the fact is we’ve caught it now. Your father doesn’t have bad days Max." Sure he did, Max’s inner voice moaned knowingly, the guy had a few bad days… especially when Max did something that was considered remarkably stupid or what his parents called ‘intentional bad publicity’. "He doesn’t just lose his temper." The current Headmistress’s husband continued, leaving this uncertain sense of … well Max wasn’t entirely sure but only a bit of it was dread, maybe a touch of humility and embarrassment, it was all so muddled up inside the youth was starting to get anxious.
"Your father comes in here and beats you so badly you have to be taken to med lab." Actually, Max didn’t remember how he got there… Hank had mentioned Garnet had taken him, though the young Chadstone couldn’t entirely picture her carrying him all the way, and if she had, how embarrassing. "He leaves you with broken bones on the floor. And you? You let him." It was just one harsh sentence after another; something that the Chadstone’s would say was none of Summers’ business anyway! And that made Max feel oddly dirty to have someone shoving these comments in his face. It wasn’t like Max exactly LET his dad do that, it was more along the lines there was no other choice, a good son doesn’t start beating on his dad, especially when the son was in the wrong – and Max knew he would get his father’s wrath having made the choices he had recently.
"Now someone who can stop themselves getting hurt not even by raising a finger but simply by turning themselves to stone and yet who lets themselves be pounded on like that?" Arms firmly folded across Max’s chest, not out of rebellion or anger, but more out of defence, Scott was attacking, verbal assaults of fact that made it difficult for Max to retort without sitting around explaining half a million things and suddenly he felt very helpless on the matter… maybe Matt would understand, and yet … Matt seemed very argumentative when it came to Steven Chadstone, and Max wasn’t sure Matt really cared to hear how annoyed Max was over all this fuss.
"What exactly would you call them? Because Victim seems like as good a definition as any to me. Even if its one I wouldn’t want to apply to any student at Xavier’s." For a moment Max stared at the floor, hearing the words, registering them, and yet feeling as if his mind were blank and switched off. It might seem like all that to others, but they didn’t understand what was going on behind the scenes, they didn’t understand the rules or reasons, they just pointed their fingers and threw out accusations. The student clenched his fists, arms still folded as sapphire eyes glared off to the walls for a moment of thought. To say this was uncomfortable was seriously not explaining it all, there was a tensity, and the way Scott was staring down at him, Max hated it, for a moment he hated everyone all over again that seemed to do nothing but get in his way and try to nosey in where they don’t belong.
A chime broke Max’s glare that came from his pocket, obviously a phone, too short to be a ring tone so likely some message that arrived, Max’s gaze shifted towards Scott’s desk and another chime occurred, slightly different. It seemed to push Max’s anxiety a little as he took in a small breath and asked almost frustrated though obviously upset by what Scott had said and everything else going on at the moment. "Is that all?"
Re: Judgement Day
Surely this time there would be a reaction? Something! Anything! Some small glimmer of hope that might have made the whole painful process worthwhile! Not that Scott had been the one to bear the brunt of this particular intervention. Not physically at least.
If here and now he had forced himself to serve up harsh reality to Max on a platter, it had still been Matt and Michael who had actively put themselves in harms way during the all too brutal confrontation with Max’s father the previous day. Both of them were competent mutants in their own right, with powers that could in theory have easily negated the brute strength Chadstone had at his disposition. Invisible or intangible targets were hard to hit and the two boys in question had those resources readily on hand, even if in Michael’s case this would have left his physical body vulnerable to attack. Provided that was, Steven happened to make the radical mental jump from frail adolescent to athletic archer, which was far from being an obvious transition no matter how astute you . !
In any case, confronted with Max’s particular and delicate situation, neither of them had chosen to use their powers openly to get themselves out of danger. Instead they had stood there and taken the abuse, not, as Max had, out of some sort of twisted filial obligation but rather, Cyclops suspected, in a doomed attempt to make him open his eyes. Now though, all their efforts, each and every moment of pain they had suffered were, like his own futile attempts to bring Max to reason dashed upon the rock of the stone mutant’s granite determination to absolve his father form all blame.
Had his words, however harsh, even registered on Max’s radar? Cyclops wasn’t sure. It certainly didn’t feel like it from where he was sitting. What would it take to break through this barrier the Chadstone boy had set up around himself? Already Hank had more or less laid his life and career on the line for his sake. Scott himself had offered not just his but the institutes help in the matter which, if Max knew anything at all about his father implied an immense commitment on their part. Even if it was one that they were willing to undertake for each and every student who crossed their threshold!
And the list didn’t even begin to stop there. Garnett had carried him to med lab. Paige had healed him at whatever cost to herself. His own brother had not only faced but articulated terrible memories in the vague hope that somehow that might bring Max to his senses. And yet all that hadn’t been enough. Which was why yesterday Matt and Michael had still felt the need to bear the brunt of Steven’s anger rather than let it fall on his son! Because Max, whatever his potential as an X man might have been, wasn’t able to stand up to his father! No matter what help he had.
It was sad in the extreme. But in the end someone had to admit defeat. If only to spare other people’s suffering on his behalf! Xavier’s institution was after all there to protect their students. All of their students! Even those who, for the very best of reasons, got in the way of someone’s deliberate blindness! Max would benefit from that policy if and when he ever decided to accept the institutes help In the meantime though… Hank had let Michael walk into Steven’s path in the desperate hope that it might bring Max to his senses. Matt had, like the Scot’s boy, stepped in of his own accord! Both in the end however had been hurt while teachers looked on. Something which would not happen again no matter how drastic the circumstances might be! Especially not in the cause of someone who could let a text message interrupt what could have been a life changing discussion.
Ok Max didn’t exactly look unmoved by what had been said. But in the end it was clear that he wasn’t looking for a solution his problem but rather a way to put an end to this all too awkward interview. So the text offered an easy pretext and one that he was more than ready to seize. "Is that all?" he asked sullenly to which Scott could only reply “Yes , you can go.”
Cyclops shook his head in disappointment and disbelief. “You obviously have much more important things to deal with. Oh and on your way out… maybe you could send in someone who’s actually thinks he’s worth a damn. Although its true.. he didn’t get hit by an abusive father he could actually do something about.. just by a car he didn’t see coming.. that probably makes all the difference.
<!--EZCODE CENTER START---<div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE IMAGE START---<img src="http://h1.ripway.com/catfood74/cycsig.jpg " style="border:0;"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END---</div><!--EZCODE CENTER END---
Re: Judgement Day"Yes , you can go." Technically that should have been it, but as Max readied to turn and leave, Scott continued to speak, causing the youth to pause and turn his face back towards the Teacher and leader of the X-men and consequently all the new and old teams alike. Even though Storm helped out more readily nowadays with the student teams, and the students themselves worked together to relieve the pressure, just as all the older more experienced teams had different able bodied leaders, in the end they all reported back to Scott… and Scott in turn to Xavier, before the Headmaster had gotten sick.
"You obviously have much more important things to deal with. Oh and on your way out… maybe you could send in someone who’s actually thinks he’s worth a damn." Why did everyone make it sound as if Max was so damn worthless or careless or useless!! Why was everything so negatively put, all these wild assumptions and finger blaming in some bizarre good guys bad guys game everyone seemed to be playing lately!
"Although its true.. he didn’t get hit by an abusive father he could actually do something about.. just by a car he didn’t see coming.. that probably makes all the difference." There it was again, the accusation of abuse! The hint of Max’s incompetence! There was a frustration in these accusations, and why the hell other people seemed so annoyed with him when it was all their own doing that things were getting so out of hand.
"I’m not going to fight my own father," The anger was sudden, and a burst as if that was the main thing that people seemed to demand from him right now, and the young man’s body drew away from the door in his anger to lift a finger and point it towards Scott, as if somehow it might increase the impact of his following words, "You think I’m an idiot, that I don’t know anything, well I do! In ancient Rome sons that raised their hands to their fathers had them removed as punishment," So why was everyone acting as if him not fighting was somehow bad? "Yeah, I can read books, and I can surf the net… but you know what, I actually am busy! I have a hotel I run, I have stupid friggin’ dinners and events I have to attend, people I have to socialize with," It had never really been a topic Max discussed, his hotel was never used as a reason why homework was late, or why he was tired or why he skipped a day or two of classes when something went wrong. He always belittled things with excuses people more readily believed, like he was drunk, or out, or something that matched the social.. as if it were more easy to joke about it with his class mates then saying – hey, I have a life outside booze and girls.
A hand, the finger tips of which had greyed slightly as the skin began to turn to stone from his emotions, pressed firmly against Max’s chest as he continued "What do you want from me, you all think bringing my brother back makes it all better… for all I knew he coulda died, he was there one day, gone the next… we have phones, I’m not at home all the time, how fuckin’ hard would it have been for him to call?" And that was it in the end, that was what made what should have been a happy moment, instead a painful and confusing one. "And who’s bright idea was it to put me on a team? Yours? You put the son of a mutant activist on a team of goodie goodie freedm fighters for equal rights, and you call me the idiot? And then you take me to a freaki’ island, and deny me the use of a phone even after I said I needed it, and then you let me get shot, and then you wonder why Dad gets angry with me? Are you that dense?" There had been moments Max had talked with Jean about being taken off the team, and yet each time she had managed to convince him to stay, brief off hand comments that she brushed aside with ease… from asking him to just give it a try to suggesting if he didn’t think he was capable then she would be willing to remove him… if he wanted her to talk to his parents about any discomfort they might have…
In the end Max didn’t know what he wanted, not from this school, not from the people, not from his life. And maybe that was his biggest flaw, the thing that tied him down the most, because how could he fight if there seemed nothing worth fighting for? It seemed at that point however, as Max noticed his own lack of control spreading through his form as it so often did when emotions were high, it seemed to make matters only more strenuous for the youth. The yell which proceeded showed his wavering tone that was, for the young Chadstone, a relatively rare sound, "I can’t be what you’re all trying to make me!" While empowered by the insistence and certainty Max felt by this, the breath inhaled that was half choked upon in the back of the throat as a soft sob seemed to unwittingly entangle itself in his breaths. Though, as if just to toy with him, Max’s phone once again buzzed, causing a momentary silence as his grey hands stressfully hide away his face, and within moments the from a buzzing it turned into a ringing and it seemed to rob Max of whatever little restraint he might have managed to cling to. With a loud growl in a tidal wave of frustration, Max turned once more towards the door, refusing to give the well known X-men any chance to stop him, shutting the door with a thud, though not exactly the most impressive slam Max could have managed, especially considering his additional strength in stone form.
There was being angry and then there was damaging school property and getting even more crap thrown his way, though outside the door he retrieved the phone instantly, his fingers gripping it tightly as he briefly glanced at the caller ID. There was a snapping noise, the crack of glass as the delicate phone was partially crushed in his hand, dropped to the floor and swiftly being rewarded with a heel to the screen. "You screwed up yesterday, not me, so you come here and deal with that crap," A sharp finger seemed jabbed towards the door, the words tossed down angrily at the remains of the once expensive phone, "I just want to be left alone!" At this it seemed to be the first time that Max bothered to throw a glare at Michael, as if only just remembering he was there, and yet being in no mood to care, all the astral mutant got was a glower before Max stormed off down the hall and out of sight. While he stopped yelling, his anger seemed to soak the very air about the mutant as he moved.
Topic Commands
Click to receive email notification of replies
Click to stop receiving email notification of replies
