xmutanthigh | [open thread] so melancholy guys

Entry tags:

[open thread] so melancholy guys

Characters: Julian, you.
Setting: Some common area; not the rec room. SHOCKING.
Content: The content of whatever happens.
Status: Open and incomplete.

[Julian is sprawled across some couch, propped up by a pillow and the armrest, a book open on his chest. Yes, Julian Keller is reading. Why? He has to, for one class or another. This one's for business and he's actually paying some attention to the words on the page, although every now and then he spaces out, looks off to the side. He's not bored or even necessarily tired anymore, just weary in a way that's starting to get under his skin.

It's quiet where he is; this is the living area most students don't frequent - it's usually occupied by the Cuckoos. Today, however, Julian's in it for the same reason he's been in it more often than the rec room all week: to avoid people. There's just something about what he's working through that makes him a bit anti-social.]

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Heh, yeah. The sacrifices we make. [Julian repeats this back, the words slightly weighed down by their meaning. Because as of right now, thinking about the sacrifices he's made is kind of a heavy topic. Not to mention the rest of it: how it is in his bones. Right down to his core, this place. He has to live with this responsibility; has to accept he might have to kill again and again, or simply deny himself. Julian sighs quietly, thinks about the sudden clarity of this thought brought upon him by Forge's words. He continues on a lighter note.] All the more reason to pack up and go to Vegas or wherever when you can. It follows you, it follows you. Definitely followed us to London.

Edited 2011-03-17 08:47 (UTC)

Dude, Vegas? If you're business is saving people, Vegas would have you working unpaid overtime! [Forge laughs, holding up the speaker, rattling it a little, a couple of sparks fly as he solders something together.] Anyway, it's all worth it; look at London! May have been a total mess, but it was an eye opener for people about mutant rights in the UK. Reminds you that even on the bad days, you wind up having made a difference at the end of it. That's more than most people can say, that they had the strength and courage to change the world just by being who they are naturally.

[Forge is just about done and he nods approvingly, hiding the guts of the speaker inside it's housing again, turning to glance at Julian before moving to hook them back up.]

You got any tuneage? We should probably check these things work before giving them the final OK.

[A genuine smile pulls up Julian's lips; he joins Forge in that laugh with a chuckle of his own. But soon enough the edges of his smile soften; is this guy like a godsend of relevant reminders? Because Forge is right, and his words solidify ever so much something that had been weak and strained inside of Julian. His purpose, why he wants to be here in the first place.

Julian raises his head then, his set, serious expression faltering and changing the moment Forge's eyes settle on him, trying to cover any latent emotions up.]

Hrm? Sorry, man. [He shrugs; all he has is his book at the moment.]

[Forge frowns, patting himself down for his phone, one of the many MP3 players younger students have asked him to refurbish, or something to hook up to the stereo. This one, he knows, he had to poach the radio antennae to rig some walkie talkies for Artie and Jones last summer and had never gotten around to replacing the tech. He sighs, scratching his head.]

Where the hell is Ali when you need her, huh? Girl'll come and wake me up wanting to watch The Lost Boys in the middle of the night after a bender, but when I could actually use her help... [He shrugs, laughs a little, shaking his head and looking at the stereo. He looks back at Julian who hasn't gone back to reading yet.] She always been like that?

[Julian's lips twist up into a smile and he leans back into the cushions now, relaxing. Maybe he feels a soft pang of jealousy and possessiveness over the fact Ali wakes Forge up, but he tries to dispel the feeling. Anyway, he's not alone. He can't count many nights and mornings Ali has crawled into bed with him and poked, jostled, and coaxed him awake, usually pulling Josh into it too.]

Since the day I got here. She wakes me and Josh up for shit like that too. [A wave of affection and amusement floods across his features; Julian reaches to scratch his scalp, ruffling his hair slightly.]

[Forge wonders who else, if anyone, Ali's been waking up recently. It sure hasn't been him. He supposes his anger and jealousy over her and Jono's antics put some distance between them, and for a moment it makes him a little sad. He misses her, as much as there's a lingering resentment, lack of trust, he misses the Dazzler and talking to her best friend just brings the feeling home. He should be talking to Ali while he's working, her following him around yammering about this and that while he makes his repair rounds of the mansion, winding up on the couch for an hour or two of soaps at the end of it. He sighs.]

I miss her. [The confession itself doesn't surprise him, but the fact that he's saying it to Julian does a little. Maybe it's just because he seems like he'd know something about what's going on with Ali, maybe give the Maker some clue as to how to make things better with her. He finds something small to fiddle with on the stereo, just for something to do.] Things haven't been right with her for a while; I don't really know what to do about it.

[It surprises Julian too; his blue eyes lift and his smile fades. Why Forge would admit this to him - but he guess it makes sense. They both love her, and Julian feels suddenly all in the same boat with the Maker. He could have said those words himself, said them for months. He thinks back to their last conversation: her soothing touches and eager words of comfort, how she struggled, and all at once feels the guilt over not handling it right, not handling her right, not saying anything he should have said. It had been there, those troubling thoughts, at the back of his mind, and now they're pushed forward, clear as glass.]

That makes two of us. [Julian pauses, lets out an exhale.] She's tough, but she's going through a lot. You just have to... be there for her. [And Julian is sure he's not helping very much.] Don't be an idiot.

[Forge drags a hand over his face, shaking his head. He gives up the pretense of fiddling with the stereo, rattled enough to know that in his frustrating the thing might wind up across the room or disemboweled thoughtlessly.]

She's so confusing. [He blinks, laments, sits back on his heels.] One minute she's telling you her life story, the next she's sealed up tighter than a drum. I just...I wish I could get through to her. Lately, it seems like the only people she wants to be around are Starsmore and Kevin. [This brings on a dour look, thought Forge is trying to dispel the uneasy feelings he has about the Brit rocker. He remembers what Kevin said of Ali just being the way she is, all touchy-feely and sometimes very thoughtless, and isn't exactly comforted.] How can I be there for her if she's just...not around?

[Julian pulls in an inhale at what Forge just laid out, his eyes in his lap. He pulls his book onto his thigh for lack of anything else to do with himself. There's a part of him that can't believe he's having this conversation with Forge. There's another part that thinks he should man up and take his own advice.] That's just how she is. You can't expect her to always come to you. She gets upset... You got to suck it up and find her.

Edited 2011-03-17 19:12 (UTC)

She has had a rough go of things, hasn't she?

[Forge remembers Ali's singular confession of all the turmoil she's experienced, knows this simple advice is probably the best he could get, but none of it makes him feel any better. Lately, he's been feeling like there are some things he just can't fix and it troubles him. Julian is right, though, Forge decides, and he should go and seek her out...after he's done another once over his lab for scrap salvage.]

Yeah, you could say that. [The words are sad, and a little hard; Julian looks up at Forge's expression, his lips in a set frown. She really has had a rough time, and the look on his face - that's for the man in front of him. Because despite understanding why the Maker might be upset, Julian's allegiance is always with Ali, and he wishes - he just wants her not to be upset about this kind of shit. About Forge being upset with her. He just wishes this guy would let it go, not make her feel like shit about it anymore than she already does.] She didn't mean to upset you or whatever. She's sorry. She wasn't thinking.

[It irks, the thought of Ali confiding in Julian the trouble between her and Forge. Imagination spins a picture in his head of the two of them together, Julian providing comfort, holding her maybe...

Forge shakes his head to break the cycle of projection, reminds himself that he himself shared some personal intimacy with Julian's girlfriend when she was less than thrilled with him. Granted, Forge's encounter with Rogue involved a bazillion ninjas and a taser, but he can't imagine Julian being thrilled about it.

The bottom line for Forge when it comes to Ali is that she quite often never thinks, and while it's mostly endearing, sometimes that blatant disregard can be deeply hurtful. If he could narrow it down for himself, Forge would say it feels almost exploitative sometimes, and he's not sure he' okay with that. He can feel himself getting his back up, defensive at Julian's words.]

I know she wasn't. I know she is. I don't want to make her feel worse, on top of everything else she's going through of course I don't, but that doesn't mean I'm just okay with what she did.

[Julian works his jaw a little at the defensive answer, at the sudden tenseness of Forge's back. He gets it now; why Ali was upset. Forge is really holding onto this, and the worst part is Julian can't blame him completely. He knows how Ali can get, how careless. She's in her head most of the time; he loves that about her too. He's learned to accept it, but maybe Forge can't. There are somethings Forge can't fix, and there are somethings Julian can't either. He can't make the Maker forgive Ali, and the Maker can't make Ali change.]

I didn't say you should be. But she doesn't deserve this either. It's not helping either of you.

You're right. [Thank you captain obvious. Forge sighs, shaking his head. It's good, he reminds himself, to have someone point out Ali's side of things. It helps him get some perspective.] I'm still not sure what to do about it, is all.

[At this, Julian just shrugs, even though Forge can't see it. He lifts a leg to balance his foot on the table, aimlessly opens his textbook. Isn't it obvious?] Just talk to her. Don't take no for an answer. S'what I do.

Edited 2011-03-17 23:54 (UTC)

[What he does. Lovely. Nothing about this conversation is helping Forge feel less jealous of Ali's relationships with other men. He sighs, glancing at the stereo. His work here is done, and so is this conversation, he thinks. After all, his mama did teach him if you don't have anything nice to say, it's best to say nothing at all; Forge is finding himself running out of amicable things to say to Julian.]

I'll try that. [He smiles, not letting his frustrations creep into his tone, and gets up and nodding at the shorter boy.] See you around, Julian. Let me know if anyone tries those speakers while you're around?

VEGAS!!!

VEGAS BABY!!!

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[open thread] so melancholy guys

no subject

no subject

OK THAT ONE WAS ON PURPOSE, DON'T EVEN ♥

/WHISTLES DIXIE CLUELESSLY

I KNEW IT I KNEW IIIIT

You know NOTHING.

I KNOW ALL

PFFT

PFFT YOU

WHICHEVER

I'M RIGHT

WRONG.

RIGHT.

Re: RIGHT.

Re: RIGHT.

Re: RIGHT.

OOC

Re: OOC