xmutanthigh | Bobby's aftermath threads

Entry tags:

Bobby's aftermath threads

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!

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[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.

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?

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?

That you look tired.

[No lecture from him tonight. He can tell she's had enough; he wouldn't be saying anything she hasn't already heard at least three times today.]

Is your sister going to be okay?

[Ali dummies up for a couple minutes at his question, sipping at her beer thoughtfully.]

Dunno. Guess so? Frost said I could go down and see how she is so long as she's here but once she's transferred over to SHIELD, I dunno how much more she'll be able to do for me. She said she'd try.

[She takes another long swallow of her beer, clicking her tongue thoughtfully.]

I was thinking of bringing her a down an old acoustic or something, just so she's got something to do down there--it must be so boring--but I don't even know is she still plays. It's been a long time since we jammed.

[Bobby nods, scooping a spoonful of ice cream into his mouth.]

Might be nice. Think she'll... appreciate it?

[Ali snorts, nearly spraying Bobby with beer.]

Probably not. She hates me, if the whole trying to kill me thing didn't tip you off. [She gestures to the thin welts fading on her neck from where Lois had tried to throttle her.] Guess I'm just a glutton for punishment.

No, I get it. She's family. [Bobby pauses to eat more ice cream, though it's more a method of self-distraction. Most of the people here have depressing family stories, and Bobby's one of that majority.] You can't choose your family.

I just...I know she's not a bad person. I keep thinking that if I just try hard enough, maybe she'll figure that out, too. [She looks over at Bobby, trying to peer into his life. He's got much more experience as a hero than she does, his leadership skills are a testament to that, and she can't help but hope he has some kind of answer for her.] Is that totally crazy? No matter what she's done, I just...

[Ali flounders, her thoughts and words and feelings a horrible jumble of conflicts, the only thing she's truly sure of is that blood is blood and regardless of their differences, she and Lois have the same running through their veins.]

Guess it doesn't really matter what I do now, anyway.

I don't know that there are bad people. I think people can make bad decisions, stupid choices. And I think sometimes people can choose a different path.

[He fiddles with his spoon, swirling it through the partially-melted mess as he considers his words.]

John came back. It was his own choice. And he didn't even have anyone... [He trails off with a sigh and looks over at Ali.]

I think it's always worth trying. You don't know what kind of a difference it could make.

[Ali is silent, motionless except for the tipping of her bottle to pour more beer into her mouth. She considers what he says about choices, about trying, about John. She's not sure how to feel; about Lois, about John...about anything.]

You know, not to whatever, but I'm getting a little tired of Pyro being used as the be all end all example of self-guided reform. [She sighs, half defeated before she's begun. Her hand instinctively grazes her throat, the marks there her sister made.] I don't believe he ever had the same kind of darkness that Lois does. I saw it in her eyes when she tried to strangle me.

I want to believe you, about choices, but part of me wonders...even if Lois did choose a different path, would it matter? I don't have the weight to argue a second chance for her, and honestly? I can't think of anyone else who would.

She's a death dealer, it's what she lives for. Seems hopeless to try and change that, but...I still want to. More than anything.

I don't think Pyro is the be-all, end-all example. [His tone is sharp, emotionally exhausted as he is from his dealings with the person in question earlier in the day.

He sighs, rubs a hand over his face, trying to centre himself again. Ali doesn't deserve to be snapped at; it's not her fault she doesn't know his history with John.]

Look, sometimes... all we've got is hope. Especially with this kind of thing. You don't know what's going to happen with Lois. You're right, she might not ever change. But then again, she might. Wanting her to find that tiny, one percent chance and take it... that's good. And when she's your sister, giving up probably isn't an option anyway.

[Ali rolls her eyes at Bobby snapping at her. Lately, John has been the poster boy for reform and while Ali can understand why a small part of her still feels nervous around the pyrokine, unable to forget his admission that he was almost responsible for her death. She drops that subject, though, favouring the other.]

It isn't. An option, I mean. I just... [She shrugs, resignedly, and drinks more of her beer.] What can I even do? I'm a nobody Bobby, I'm not even a X-man like you are. Nobody's going to give two shits if I want to help her or not. I'm lucky enough that Jono and I didn't get the fucking boot from Frost.

[Bobby watches her, expression serious and somewhat sympathetic.] I don't know, Ali. But I do know you, and I know you're not going to let that stop you from helping your sister, somehow. [Pause.] Didn't you say Emma's going to try and help your sister out? I mean, I know she might not be able to do a lot once she's with SHIELD, but she's got a lot of clout.

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Bobby's aftermath threads

Whoo! Playtimes for our kiddies!

YES! AWESOME.

Re: YES! AWESOME.

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