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Post by Storm on Jul 10, 2006 19:22:38 GMT -5
[Cont. from Dormitories - On to the next meeting]
Storm descended the stairs with perfect posture, chatting pleasantly with Bobby. "What a night we've had for arrivals. Rayen seems sweet, and Forge will certainly be of help." She paused a moment, remembering him.
"And I found another girl wandering the halls with Cal - she was uncomfortable, I believe, when I spoke to her, but I hope she will become more comfortable here. You should introduce yourself at some point, Bobby, I know how friendly you are." She looked pleasantly at Bobby as she got to the bottom of the stairs. "The opposite of your codename, I suppose."
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Post by Iceman on Jul 10, 2006 19:38:06 GMT -5
Bobby was surprised to hear that so many new people had arrived that day. "That's awesome," he commented as he went down the stairs with her. "I'll ask Cal about her tomorrow," he promised, making a mental note to do so.
"I know how friendly you are. The opposite of your codename, I suppose."
Bobby had the urge to honestly ask if she still found him friendly. Sure, he for the most part he seemed to be at least so-so, but he'd had enough people ask him what was wrong to know he hadn't kept the facade up all the time. Instead, he smiled at her last comment. "Guess so," he agreed.
"By the way...Sorry about that phone call earlier, before dinner. I already apologized to Kurt when I talked to him about it."
He paused. 'May as well dive right in...'
"Thats actually what I wanted to talk to you about..."
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Post by Storm on Jul 10, 2006 19:47:56 GMT -5
"Know so." said Storm decisively. "In essence, if not always in practice. And even now you like to show new people around, don't you?" She was no fool; she had seen the change in him since Alcatraz, and knew its various origins.
"Thank you for the apology, Bobby. I understand." She was pleased at how polite he was even now. A distinct contrast to his former roommate... But it would do no good to think of that.
They reached the living room and Storm sat surprisingly heavily at one end of the overstuffed couch. She put one arm daintily across the back and crossed her legs. "A telephone call?" she asked curiousty.
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Post by Iceman on Jul 10, 2006 20:00:48 GMT -5
Storm's words as they went to the living room were uplifting. She was always someone to have around when one was feeling down and out.
Bobby sat down on the couch as well, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. "Yeah..." he said, trying to piece his thoughts together in his head before they came out of his mouth. "It was..." 'Just spit it out'.
"Teen People contacted me a couple of days ago. They want to do an interview with me. A cover story. On me." He paused, letting go of his breath. As an afterthought, he added, "They said they need to know soon, but I told them I needed to speak with you and get back to them."
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Post by Storm on Jul 10, 2006 20:09:51 GMT -5
Storm straightened up a little, tilting her head at the young man. "A Teen People cover story? That is... quite an honor, Bobby."
She was very glad he had chosen to ask her advice, but she wanted to hear his own thoughts before contributing hers. "So what do you need to speak with me about?" She could understand some levels of his dilemma, but the bare facts were not totally enough, and she wanted to get him talking.
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Post by Iceman on Jul 10, 2006 20:13:50 GMT -5
Bobby was even more surprised to hear Ororo speak positively of it than he'd been to hear Kurt do the same. At the same time, he was relieved. He stared at her when she said it was an honor.
"So what do you need to speak with me about?"
"Well, uh...I wanted to make sure it was okay to do it..." he said as he shook himself out of his surprise. "And, if it is, if there are certain things I shouldn't talk about, or should talk about..."
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Post by Storm on Jul 10, 2006 20:32:34 GMT -5
Storm sat in silence for a moment, thinking.
"It is ok to do it if you feel comfortable doing it. There is nothing inherently wrong with such an interview. But if I may say, you do not seem to be completely comfortable with it.
"So I would say examine every angle. What are the benefits of this kind of publicity? What are the dangers? For you, and, in a way, for all mutants. You will not just be affecting yourself, but mutants and humans you don't know.
"Most importantly, do you have a message you want to send? Or would this just be for your ego? Either way is legitimate. But always examine what you want, the effect what you want will have on others, and then, the best way to go about getting it."
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Post by Iceman on Jul 10, 2006 20:42:33 GMT -5
Bobby thought hard as Storm spoke, searching his mind for answers to her questions. But of course they couldn't be answered in a few moments. He would probably be up much of the night.
But he was beyond grateful that she was saying what she was saying. He couldn't have thought of anything that would have been more comforting and helpful. When she made an end to speaking, Bobby nodded thoughtfully. "Thanks," he said seriously--and he clearly meant it immensely.
So it was obvious he wasn't completely comfortable with it, huh? "It'd--it'll just be weird...I mean, we're already on the news and stuff..."
But what really made him nervous was not the world's opinion of him so much as his fellow X-Men's opinions, especially the more experienced ones...As well as his fellow students, and anyone working in conjunction with the X-Men's cause. "I just don't want anyone to think that I just want to be a part of the team to sport a badge," he said quietly.
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Post by Storm on Jul 10, 2006 20:53:57 GMT -5
"We are on the news. And publicity is a dangerous thing. There are some aspects of it which you could control with an interview, but some things are out of your hands, no matter how hard you try. For instance, people's reactions to whatever it is you choose to say."
She listened to his last words and nodded. "I didn't think this was an issue of ego. But if your picture will be on the cover, then that is a big deal, and so from the beginning you have a piece of people's opinions that you can't control. What you say, however, can help that. If you choose to, you can accomplish some good this way."
"No, not everyone will understand. But those who know you - I think they will."
"But then, Bobby, I can't really give you advice until I understand what you're thinking." She leaned forward and spoke pleasantly, not hostiley. "So what do you want? Throw it out there, I'm listening."
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Post by Iceman on Jul 11, 2006 9:24:35 GMT -5
At some point during the day, he'd come to a decision not to mention the money aspect of it. It was difficult to talk about, because it meant acknowledging the fact that his parents had cut ties with him alltogether. He knew Logan would have told Storm how his family had reacted when he'd told them--Though Bobby continued to tell himself it wouldn't have been so bad if John hadn't gone crazy when the cops had shown up. Ronnie probably never would have gotten over it, but his parents were still talking to him. He could have worked with them.
But Bobby hadn't told anyone that they'd stopped calling, stopped writing, stopped sending him any money whatsoever. That the only money he ever had was what he made doing weekend odd jobs like malching or mowing yards. Which paid his cell phone bill, and just about nothing else.
But with Storm asking him like that, he suddenly had the feeling that it would help to tell her. Not only because she probably had the right thing to say about that as well, but because he needed to get it off of his chest. So he slowly exhaled, leaning back until his back was against the couch. "They're offering a lot of money...To do the article. A lot, even for an interview. And..."
He began to feel a little defensive as he continued - he didn't speak harshly, just as though he wanted to explain himself. "And, you know, being a part of the X-Men doesn't pay. It's a volunteer thing. And there's nothing I would rather do. It's just that with my parents cutting off my phone and my internet, and all funds whatsoever..." He sighed and shook his head. "I could really use the money."
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Post by Storm on Jul 11, 2006 15:31:33 GMT -5
Storm nodded. "Unfortunately - not for you, but in general - that is probably the most legitimate reason." She smiled and leaned back as if in resignation, remembering her time in Africa living by barter.
"I think if you decide to do it, you need to come to peace with it and really commit. Decide what image of yourself and of mutants you want to put out into the world. Decide your boundaries. And try to think of how you're going to deal with the response of your friends, and of strangers.
"If you need help with any of these things I'm always here. They seem to be in a rush, so you could accept the interview, and then plan for it more carefully." She looked at him closely, hoping he was not too overwhelmed.
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Post by Iceman on Jul 11, 2006 15:56:17 GMT -5
He nodded slowly, grateful that she didn't say anything about his family. He didn't want to dwell on it, he'd just had to let her know because it was the reason he needed the money.
"Okay. Thats what I'll do," he said, seeming pleased with the decision. In his mind, he was reflecting over what she'd said. What did he want to discuss in the article? "Of course I want to talk about the war, and mutant rights...But I was thinking about something." He looked at her, then past her as he thought. "The mutants that are joining The Brotherhood, they see what's going on in the news, and they see a group that is fighting for them. Fighting against the persecution that they're feeling. Thats why then join. But...if we could get the message out to mutants that The Brotherhood's aim is murder--And more than that, emphasize how many mutants they recruited and sent out to die at Worthington Labs. People won't want to join an organization that could care less about their safety."
It was clearly something he'd put a lot of thought into. The Brotherhood was, for all they could tell, a tiny fragment of what it had been. It was Bobby's opinion that if they could keep it that way, a small faction, they would be cutting the problem off at the source.
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Post by Storm on Jul 11, 2006 16:49:47 GMT -5
Storm saw the passion in Bobby's words, but at the same time there was an offensive edge to what he was saying that she didn't like. She could feel him reacting not just against an idealogy that he disagreed with, but from pain at the betrayal of his former roommate. There was too much wrapped up in the Brotherhood. She straightened up. She didn't want to argue with him but felt that he was going in a very wrong direction.
"Bobby, you're speaking the truth, I won't argue with you. But that message is heavy and an obvious political maneouver - too much for a teenage magazine, I think. If you start arguing against a group that is violent towards us, you will only be interpreted as bitter, trying to use any publicity opportunity to fight your battles. Perhaps you should stay internal; people will be reading to find out about yourself, your peers, the group you belong to. If you give them the message of any group, give them ours, strengthen ours."
She put a hand gently on his knee. "Be proud of who we are, and who you are. Show us in a good light, don't try to show others in a bad one. Channel a different part of how you feel, I think, Bobby.
"Although," she finished quietly, "I can't say I disagree with you."
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Post by Iceman on Jul 11, 2006 20:37:55 GMT -5
'Shes right,' Bobby thought to himself as he nodded resignedly. This time he wasn't so glad about the fact, but she was right.
Bobby felt a yawn coming and covered his mouth as he yawned. He'd run twice as far as usual today, and he felt physically drained. And though the magazine article seemed to be cleared up, the mention of his family and the earlier talk with Forge about Rogue had gradually built up to remind him that the magazine was the least of his troubles. At least he hadn't known if the interview would work out, and if it hadn't, it wouldn't have mattered much in the end. But with his family, and maybe with Rogue...The end had already come, and it seemed irreperable.
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Post by Storm on Jul 12, 2006 3:43:56 GMT -5
Ororo couldn't help but yawn too, and she laughed a little at its contagiousness.
"Well Bobby, that feels like enough for one day. I think you're on the right track. Enjoy yourself, don't take it too seriously, just be careful. I don't see how anyone could dislike you." She gave him an encouraging smile and stood up, slightly wearily.
"I'm very glad you came to talk to me. Please do if anything else troubles you. I am not a therapist - or a telepath - but I always want to help." She looked him in the eye affectionately, and couldn't help but add one slightly unrelated thing.
"I know our times are troubled right now, Bobby. But we can always work to protect what we have, and rebuild what we have lost. Don't give up."
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Post by Iceman on Jul 12, 2006 15:40:02 GMT -5
Bobby stood as well, and gave her a small smile. "I'm not givin' up," he said confidently. He was no longer the slightest bit defensive; he knew she wasn't worried that he was giving up.
"'Night," he said with a grin as he took a few steps toward the stairs they'd walked down. "See you tomorrow."
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Post by Storm on Jul 12, 2006 16:11:45 GMT -5
Storm watched him go with a return smile. "Have a good night." And she turned and headed towards her office to pick up a few things. He's a good kid, I have faith in him. I hope his worries do not become too overwhelming.
Distracted, she had her hand on the doorknob of the office before she realized that Kurt had her keys. With a little sigh and a smile she turned around again and went on her nightly rounds.
She checked all of the doors; the back patio, the side wings. She closed the first-level windows, too. In the kitchen she checked that all the appliances were off, and chatted briefly with a few older students. "Stay inside, I'm setting the alarm."
In the entryway she checked the front door and armed the alarm system, and then she climbed the stairs to the second floor.
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Post by Nightcrawler on Jul 12, 2006 17:32:11 GMT -5
Walking onto the landing at the top of the stairs, Kurt glanced out the windows at the from of the mansion. Teleporting is nice, but one does miss so much unless one takes the time to move on foot. Leaning back against the banister, he let his tail curl around one of the rails, sighing appreciatively at the dark night sky.
Drumming his fingers on the handrail on either side of him, his ears caught soft footfalls on the steps, and he turned his head to find Ororo walking toward him. "Ah, Göttin... making your rounds?"
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Post by Storm on Jul 12, 2006 17:47:31 GMT -5
Ororo barely saw Kurt in the dim entryway, but his curled tail caught some of the light from the dorm hall. And she was used to the various other mutants by now. She stepped up next to him and stood with her perfect posture by his side.
"Yes, we're armed." She suppressed a yawn. "How is Rayen?"
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Post by Nightcrawler on Jul 12, 2006 17:55:09 GMT -5
Kurt watched her as she stopped beside him, chuckling to himself at her straight form. "Then the students are as safe as they can be." He let his yellow eyes drift back to the window, watching the dark sky he mirrored.
He heard her stifle a yawn and willed himself not to copy it, even though it was late. "Rayen has her room and her bed, sheets and all. I think she will require more time to adjust, even so." He uncurled his tail and turned to face her. "However, you should be thinking about getting yourself to bed before you collapse. You've had to deal with much this evening."
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