04 . action

[calmbeforethe]

[ Storm returns from her week-and-a-half long mission midday on the 12th. Well, she hadn't known it was the 12th when she came back, just that she'd been gone a while. The first thing she'd done when she got back was return to the X-House, but since Rogue had claimed dibs on the only bath in House 16, Ororo decided to indulge herself in an outdoor shower. She needed to find a relatively secluded place for that, so quickly she decides to detour to somewhere high above the flatlands beyond the forests where (hopefully...!) she wouldn't be disturbing anyone.

It'd been a while since she had done such a thing, bathing in rainclouds of her own making, and the mission had been long and tedious despite having Rogue by her side for much of the fighting... So she uses up most of the afternoon for herself and takes the scenic route home.

It's only after she returned to the X-House refreshed and energized that she thought to check the journals and realize belatedly that it was the 12th of January, today. That... gives her pause.

So, thirty years old. Strange; most women gave that number quite a bit of significance. It was supposed to be a milestone (or at least, that's what her sister told her) where by now she should be thinking about whether or not she was ever going to get married, have children or what kind of career she was supposed to focus on. Food for thought, she figured.

In the end, she decides to celebrate it with little fanfare. Evening finds her stopping by Good Spirits for a drink or two, dressed with a little more care than she would have taken on a regular day. She's warm and friendly for the most part, even if towards the end of the night she seems more introspective than normal. Feel free to approach...! ]

Comments

[herotypical]

Mmhm. Me neither. [ though, she too has quite a few teenage charges. slayers, all of them. except for... ]

Unless you count my sister.

[calmbeforethe]

[Ororo smiles at the memory of her own sister. Except -]

A younger sister? I have an older one myself; she has a son of her own, who I might as well have raised.

[herotypical]

Younger. [ or older, depending on how you look at it. ] But I've been her legal guardian for the last...God -- if you count this place? Well over five years.

[ not that dawn's here right now. ] What's his name? Your nephew?

[calmbeforethe]

Evan. He's fifteen, now. All set to face the world on his own, you know. [She means for that to come out amused, but can't help the resigned touch to her voice.

But, anyway.] And your sister? It must be difficult, being separated from her like this. Especially if you are her guardian now. [Ororo decides not to inquire further on how that happened, figuring Buffy would tell her if she wanted her to know.]

[herotypical]

[ very difficult. ]

She's been here. Once -- twice if you count the week where she seemed to be gone before I could blink. I probably shouldn't confess to all the things I'd give to have her with me again. Even for a little while.

[calmbeforethe]

[Ororo just nods.]

I can understand that. This place, it is not the easiest to live in, and I would not really wish it on anyone... But it helps, to be with people you love.

[herotypical]

[ now is not the time to explain that this place is actually marginally easier to live in than home. not that buffy prefers it, really. but she's never had this kind of freedom before luceti. ]

Has...Evan ever been here?

[calmbeforethe]

[A shake of the head.]

Fortunately, or unfortunately, no. A few of his friends have been, and are still here, however. [And though it most definitely isn't the same, it's close.]

[herotypical]

...Do you have many friends from home? Here, I mean?

[calmbeforethe]

A few. Two of them students, and one who I work with. All of them dear friends.

And you, Miss Buffy? Do you have friends from home here as well?

[herotypical]

Not any longer, I'm afraid. The last just recently left. Not that she was an out-and-out friend, to be honest.

[ her tone borders on good riddance. ]

[calmbeforethe]

Ah, I see. [ And just how does one respond to something like that? ]

Well, friend or not, I'm not sure I would wish this place on anyone.

[herotypical]

Not anyone? You don't think it's possible to -- say -- put down roots? Maybe enjoy it a little bit?

[calmbeforethe]

There's nothing wrong with being happy with what we have here, I suppose. [a pause, while Ororo peers into her drink thoughtfully.] But there is also the danger in becoming comfortable or attached to Luceti. So much so that we may forget that we were brought here against our wills, for less than noble reasons.

[herotypical]

...I'm not sure I enjoy the notion that one could ever be too comfortable. Or too attached. Attachments make the world go 'round, don't they?

[calmbeforethe]

[Well, she has to give her that. Ororo nods.]

That's true. [beat.] It's just - there are days, that I hope I do not forget of the family I have back home, the duties I've left unattended and unresolved.

[herotypical]

Now, there's a premise I can buy into. Even still -- after so many years? I'm not sure it's possible to forget. Without some kind of a Shift involved, of course.

[calmbeforethe]

[Or an after-effect of dying. But Ororo prefers not to bring that topic up.]

There was a week or so, a few months ago, when several people lost their memories. Do you remember that?

It's distressing, I think, that they have that much power over us, over our very minds, and our wills.

[herotypical]

It can be resisted. Rarely, I mean. But sometimes -- you can leave clues for yourself. Maybe you won't know what they mean but they can stop you from doing anything too stupid. Ideally.

[calmbeforethe]

[Ororo looks at Buffy thoughtfully before smiling a little.] Spoken like one with the voice of experience.

[herotypical]

[ she draws her shirt collar aside, revealing a delicately lined tattoo: a stylized bird. ]

I got this. To remind me. Even if I don't always know what it means, it usually gives me a moment's pause. Y'know. Mid-Shift.

[calmbeforethe]

[She peers at it curiously. Ororo didn't know there were places here that did tattoos.]

And what is it supposed to mean, if you do not mind my asking?

[herotypical]

It's a sparrow. Ideally, I'll be able to see it and identify one Captain Jack Sparrow as being rather...important to me. It doesn't always work. But it sometimes does.

[calmbeforethe]

Even if it may not always work, that's a clever way to get around those sorts of experiments. Perhaps I will look into getting one for myself as well.

[herotypical]

Mmhm. If it makes you doubt their substituted "reality" for even a minute? It's worth it.