Bobby's aftermath threads

[never-too-cold.livejournal.com]

Characters: Bobby, Laura, John, Jono, and anyone else who wants to jump in
Setting: Various places
Content: There's a lot of things to deal with in the wake of the past couple of days...
Status: Open(ish) and incomplete

Okay, so, in order to preserve my sanity while I get back into the rhythm of things with class, I'm trying something a little different. This will work kind of like the day-in-the-life posts, except I'm just going to throw up a few comments for a few specific characters, and then a general "Bobby's in the kitchen eating ice cream; come say hi" one which anyone can tag into after that. =)

Comments will be in vague chronological order, but we all know that TIME IS IN FLUX at XMH, so it doesn't matter too much when this stuff happens!

Hope it's not confusing!

Comments

For Laura

[never-too-cold.livejournal.com]

[Bobby stands in front of the door of Kitty and Laura's room. He's come almost straight from his debriefing with Emma, detouring only to change out of his uniform and into more a comfortable jeans-and-t-shirt ensemble.

He knows - and has had reassurance from Emma - that everyone involved in the attack on the mansion is okay, and he knows that includes Laura. But he can't help needing to see for himself.

So he knocks.]

Re: For Laura

[trainedweapon.livejournal.com]

[Laura has heard Bobby's recognizable gait. She had heard the jet's landing. She has been showered and sitting quietly in her room for hours, ever since Polaris had impaled her claws into Josh's chest and threw them both miles away from the mansion.

She blinks as she remembers this, remembers Josh's blood - Josh, her friend, the word warming her with such affection - and his blood, staining so much of her skin. It was only lucky odds that she had not ruptured major organs, that Josh could heal himself. And even then, he was not entirely well. She had nearly killed him.

She stayed in the infirmary until someone - a nurse there - told her to leave.

This did not make a difference. Tattered uniform, covered in blood or not, Laura had nothing to do but sit, and think. Think about her friends. Think about Kitty. Josh. Bobby. What fate they might have met.

She raises as his knocks, pads over quietly, in no rush. And opens the door, her expression blank besides the wideness of her eyes, dressed in jeans and an old faded jersey.]

You went on a mission.

Re: For Laura

[never-too-cold.livejournal.com]

[When the door swings open, Bobby lets out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. She looks fine, physically - though as always, he's not sure how to read her face, carefully neutral as it is.]

I... yeah, it was covert, to retrieve Logan, John and Kevin.

[The look he gives her is piercing, scrutinising her expression. Yet she gives nothing away.]

Are you alright? What happened here, with you?

Re: For Laura

[trainedweapon.livejournal.com]

[The question makes her pause; Laura merely looks to the side and turns to walk into the room, leaving the door ajar. Her heart had pounded in her chest seeing him, smelling him; now it quiets. She felt a fading tug of something painful and strange in her gut when he mentioned his mission.]

Polaris and a group of Brotherhood mutants attacked the mansion. They were all neutralized. We all sustained injuries. Kitty left me a note about your mission.

Re: For Laura

[never-too-cold.livejournal.com]

[He follows her in, shuts the door behind him. She takes a seat on her bed; he leans on the edge of her desk.

There is a strange distance between them now, and he wonders if it has always been there. Uncertainty - a very familiar feeling whenever he's been with Laura - swamps him now, and he automatically reaches up to knead the back of his neck.]

Yeah, she told me. I'm sorry I didn't come and tell you myself. I just... nobody else was supposed to know about it, and I had to prepare. It was the first time I ever led a mission solo.

[He knows she will understand; nobody understands better than her that the mission is paramount. Yet somehow the thought leaves him feeling hollow, and he's not sure why.

He re-focuses on her, asking more questions as though they might cajole her into revealing something of how she feels. Concern for her safety is largely irrational, he knows, because of her skill and her healing factor. But he makes a habit of worrying about the people he cares about, and he can't switch it off.]

You were injured? What happened?

For John

[never-too-cold.livejournal.com]

[This entire mission has gotten Bobby thinking. So many people went after Kevin to bring him home, and as a result of that, he's back with the people who care about him.

A few years ago, someone else Bobby cared about took off, and nobody went after him. And it's now that Bobby realises how much that might have hurt, how much of a betrayal that must have been.

So when he sees John walking down the hallway towards him, he doesn't give into his first instinct, which is to set his jaw and keep walking without looking at him.

Instead, he stops.]

John.

KDSJL;KWREJGOEIRG

[fireaholic.livejournal.com]

[Jesus, can anyone just go to the kitchen without being accosted here? And has it been mentioned that John would sooner jump off a cliff on his own volition than stop in the hall for a little chat with Bobby Drake? That could explain the slightly surprised and entirely suspicious look on John's face, the hateful curl of his lip. But he stops, because he's sure this is gonna be good.]

You want something, Iceman?

Re: KDSJL;KWREJGOEIRG

[never-too-cold.livejournal.com]

[Bobby isn't expecting anything other than hostility. He never does - not from John. And he accepts it because maybe it's not entirely undeserved.

He decides to keep this short; the words seem to fall out of him even though they cost him immense effort to say.]

Look, I get that you're gonna hate my guts no matter what I say. But I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry. I'm sorry for not trying to find you and bring you back after Alkali.

Re: KDSJL;KWREJGOEIRG

[fireaholic.livejournal.com]

[John's not sure what he expected - maybe a very unappreciated clap on the back for being such a good little X-men soldier and seeing the light and rainbows and unicorns and shit. Maybe a proud little nod over being some heroic suicidal idiot going in to get some poor kid out. Fuck, maybe even one of Bobby's infamous lectures about not being as good and kind and smart as he is.

But an apology? It's hard to describe what John's expression morphs into: his open amusement fades in favor for something serious, but his hostility lingers on the line of his lips, his indifferent gaze growing grave and depthless with anger. He pauses after that bullshit, stares at him. And then laughs, mirthlessly, bringing his fingers to his lips as he looks to the side a moment.]

You're sorry, Bobby? I didn't ask you to and it was the last thing I fucking wanted. So why don't you take your self-righteous bullshit and shove it up your ass. 'Cause I ain't buying it.

THEY MAKE ME SAD D:

[never-too-cold.livejournal.com]

[Though his jaw tightens at John's words, this is nothing Bobby hadn't expected. Bobby's not an idiot - he knows their friendship is irreparably damaged, and probably was on its way there even before the events of Alkali Lake.

And the thing is, he doesn't need or want John's acceptance of his apology, or his forgiveness. He just wants him to know, and what he does with that knowledge is his business. Like he said, he knows John's going to hate him no matter what he says or does.

Maybe he is doing this to make himself feel better. That doesn't stop him from being sincere. After all, once upon a time, John had been his best friend.]

Yeah, you might not have wanted it, and you could've torched me as soon as I came after you. But I still should've tried, and I'm sorry I didn't. That's it. I'm not asking for anything from you; I'm not an idiot. I just wanted to tell you.

For Jono

[never-too-cold.livejournal.com]

[Okay. That's it. Bobby needs to blow off some steam. He's hungry and he needs to get out of the mansion. He needs some company who will be fine with just sitting and eating and talking about things that aren't war or the damage to the mansion or emotions or betrayal.

He grabs his keys and heads to the kitchen. Jono's there, looking in the fridge, just like Bobby knew he would be.]

Hey man, let's go out for wings. My treat.

Re: For Jono

[jono-stars.livejournal.com]

[Jono straightens up, looks to Bobby with wide eyes, and immediately drops whatever he was going to take out of the fridge.]

I need chicken wings and beer.

Re: For Jono

[never-too-cold.livejournal.com]

[Bobby chuckles.] Yeah, I figured you might. I just need to get out of here. Come on, get your jacket.

Re: For Jono

[jono-stars.livejournal.com]

[Jono's face is, as usual, mostly expressionless, but on the inside he's immensely relieved. In fact, he'd been thinking the same thing as Bobby - he really needs some guy time about now - so he runs up to his room to grab his coat and wallet and runs back down. He and Bobby head over to the garage.]

So... you really just go out for fried foods and choke out our arteries, or did you want to do some yelling, too? [Jono's tone is light, but there seems to be a touch of apprehension, too. Seems getting verbally by Emma, then Forge in succession took its toll on the Brit.]

Re: For Jono

[never-too-cold.livejournal.com]

I already did my yelling back in Vermont, remember?

[Bobby glances over at his friend as he pulls out of the garage, his expression a little unreadable. He's still a little vexed about Jono and Ali's rash decision, but he can't deny that they were a lot of help in the fight, and they've all come home safely. He knows why Jono did it. And Bobby can't help thinking that, when he had faced a similar situation, he hadn't been brave enough - maybe hadn't even cared enough - to do what Jono had done.

So he offers him a small smile and shrugs.]

I think you've probably suffered enough.

For ANYONE! Also: probably the next evening from the comments above.

[never-too-cold.livejournal.com]

[It's not that late - people are still up, watching TV, studying. Bobby hasn't decided what he'll do tonight - he doesn't feel like studying, and he's not tired yet.

He walks into the kitchen, because when in doubt, he always goes for ice cream.]

next evening is a good time for josh, since he's probably been passed out

[golden-elixir.livejournal.com]

[Josh stumbles into the kitchen with a low groan, and finds the fastest meal he can manage. Just a frozen burrito thrown into the microwave. He collapses into a bar stool while it heats up.into the infirmary.

Re: next evening is a good time for josh, since he's probably been passed out

[never-too-cold.livejournal.com]

[Bobby, now seated at the table, glances up at Josh, one eyebrow raised.]

You okay, man?

Re: next evening is a good time for josh, since he's probably been passed out

[golden-elixir.livejournal.com]

(OOC: Hahha, sorry, totally messed up some html there, as usual. It was supposed to have dialogue too, so I'll just stick it into this tag!)

Stupid sick bay food. That stuff'll put you back into the infirmary.

Whoo! Playtimes for our kiddies!

[dazzlerock.livejournal.com]

[Ali can't sleep. After a long day of being yelled at and avoiding the urge to drink herself into oblivion, she's finding her thoughts are whirling around her head so fast it makes her dizzy.

After an hour of debate, she decides to let herself have a beer. Maybe two, to try and unwind. She's beelining for the fridge pretty intently, so at first she doesn't notice Bobby chowing down on his usual staple.

When she turns around, beer in hand, she pauses, frozen in space for a second at the sight of the Iceman. She's really hoping she's not in for another lecture tonight.]

Hey.

YES! AWESOME.

[never-too-cold.livejournal.com]

Hey yourself. [It's not said in an unfriendly manner, and he uses a foot to nudge a chair out for her.

To be honest, Bobby is debating with himself whether or not to say a few words to Ali about what happened in Vermont. But considering the number of lectures he knows that Jono received, he figures that Ali's heard it all already.

He nods at the beer in her hand.]

Long day?

Re: YES! AWESOME.

[dazzlerock.livejournal.com]

Long enough.

[Ali shrugs, opening the bottle and rising it in a cheers. She considers the stool, then plops down into it after a moment of consideration.]

What're you sayin', Vanilla?

Next evening also works for Rogue who has also been passed out

[canstillkickass.livejournal.com]

[Rogue's been doing a lot of sleeping lately and as a consequence, not a whole of eating but she's trying to change that. Starting with right now. She walks into the kitchen and heads straight for the fridge, grabbing materials for a sandwich. As she turns around, she catches sight of Bobby with his usual and offers a small smile.]

Oh, hey Bobby.

[never-too-cold.livejournal.com]

Hey, Rogue.

[He pauses to eat another mouthful before going on. The tone of his voice remains light and friendly, but any careful observer will see the concern behind his smile.]

I, uh, read the reports about what happened yesterday. Are you... everything okay?

[canstillkickass.livejournal.com]

Oh god.

[It's hard not to wince as she drops the sandwich stuff down on to the counter before slowly half turning to face him. Her expression's somewhat resigned and she's totally avoiding the question right now.] I should of figured you would've already read them.