ways_infirmary | (no subject)

Hank came in and smiled when he saw her.

"Hello Rachel."

She waved genally, waggling the hard gun ball at him as she glanced up from her fist. Flex.

::Hey you::

He watches her for a moment and nods.

"Looking good, my friend."

He came and sat on a seat next to her bed and grins, then sighs.

"There is something I need to tell you."

Flex Ten. She shifted the ball to her other hand to start a new set and nodded. ::Thanks::

::...what's bothering you?:: she didn't liek how much stress he juggled in his life, she didn't, but rarely did he sit down and need to talk, even to her. She could see the tension lines from here...

"Things have been very hectioc since the return from the rescue mission. While we were gone, circumstances shifted about soemthing I was eventually goin to mention to you. And...well, as a result I didnt manage to get to tell you, one of the most important people in my life, a very important thing. I hate to rush this on you, but it was brought down to me that time has run out and I still hadnt managed to tell you, so..."

He breathes out.

"I'm getting married."

Beat.

"Tomorrow."

Flex

Flex...

She paused, eyes going a little wide. It was a rather tasteless joke...right?

"Hey, Red...I'm yeah. I'm getting married. Will you come?"

It was strange, so much pain can be held in a single word, betrayal, shadows, fear...but this held something close to haunted heartbreak, not because she held Hank in her heart so, but becaus eit so closely echoed earlier circumstances ::What?::

He winced slightly.

"I am getting married."

He settles more on the chair.

"During the time you were gone, my relationship with Catherine Willows grew and I had planned to evenmtually ask her. She found the ring early, and I asked early. She said yes. We didnt even set a date at first, wanting tot aker it slow, but eventualyl set a date for in April, which happenned just ebfore I left to rescue you. During the time I was gone, Catherine found out a dear friend of ours was being told he had to Move On, by the forces that control his destiny. So, to enable him to be there, Catherine suggested we move the wedding to the 25th of this month. I agreed, when I got back, not without a lot of headdesking. I was going to tell you sooner, but things have been a bit chaotic around here. I even considered briefly putting it off. Every time I started to say something... something new would happen."

He breathes and peeks at her.

"I am sorry I didnt get to tell you sooner."

The ball slipped from her fingers, far too solid to bounce, instead it simply rolled across the cool tile floor and settled under som earcane piece of machinery or another.

And she watched it.

It seemed so very important to focus on something so simple.

Hank was getting married.

Tommorrow.

Things were slipping and sliding in her head, slotting into new positions, new things coming clear...

It's going to begin again...

History repeats itself...

First a wedding, then people slowly turned away.

::You want me to be there?:: she asked after a time.

"Yes, very much. I was hoping you would be willing to be there. I wasnt sure you would be. This is rather shiort notice and most people would be mad I hadnt told them till now. I have no excuse for that. You ae family to me, and I should ahve found a way sooner to tell you."

He sighs, looking tired for the first time.

"Some days it seems as if the only thing I can do right is screw up."

::I'll come:: and the words are echoed through the mind as if from a great distance. She's said them before, but it's still a promise.

::You're an X-man...if you have a chance for happiness you have to takr it::

"Thank you. And yes, I am an X-Man. But you are my family. And you always will be. I will be living here for a long time, and I expect you to be around too. I will need you."

Inside his head, old things echoed, cracks forming in his shields.
How much of an X-Man are you, really?
How much of a man are you, really?
What are you, really?
But he stiffened them, not letting his mind fall now. he wasnt willing to let himself fall apart.

"The ceremony will be in the evening."

::It's an excuse to wear some of my nice new clothes:: she noted, apology and warmth in her tone. She should wear a dress, but it's far too late to garner one now isn't it? And she'd get all tangled up in it anyway.

And she can see somethings so very clearly can't she?

How much, really?

More than she. To those cracks, those worries, she offers white hot strength, as burning as it is bright...not necessarily the best for a fragile mind, but Hank never has been extrememly fragile has he?

He gasped for a moment, yes wide as the white hot poured in and flooded over cracks, and met his own icy resistance. Something like hardening happenned, there in his mind.

He remembered long ago, the touch of the first Pheonix heknew and the knowledge he had gained that day.

As he draws breath, his mind seems to shiver and solidify even more, as 'steam' clears away, revealing the congealed surface, stronger now and perhaps strong enough.

He breaths out slowly.

"Thank you."

Then he cocks his head, eyeing her length.

"Do you want a dress?"

It's not the touch of the Phoenix, no, just a little reserve she can find for friends...at least that's what she truly believes. There's no flame left in her now.

But yes, hopefully it's enough.

::No, I'd just trip:: she admitted.

::You should be resting::

"I know. I just... didnt want to put this off any longer. You mean a great deal to me."

He smiles softly.

"Would you care for an escort tomorrow? Young Billy did say he was looking forward to seeing you out and about again."

he grins just a little.

::Sleep Hank. The world won't end if you do:: she promised.

Teh smile she offers is alittle twisted, alot haunted, and a touch bittersweet, but it's a smile. ::I'll try not to embarass him::

He smiles ever so slightly.

"I will, and I hope you can to."

He gently touches her arm and turns to go.

But upper in his mind, newly strengthened is a simple thought: Love

And she watches him out of the infirm, carefully keeping her face hopeful, gentle, pleasant. He needs to the strength of her support...

But soon enough the shadows are back.

How long this time?

Some time after Hank leaves, the white witch walks over, carefully, holding the ball.

"I noticed this earlier. Is it yours?"

Rachel glances up from where she'd curled herself onto the bed, eyes so full of shadow and pain that she seems far less than human. Or perhaps just very removed from such, the distinction isn't clear. One can almost sense the thoughts slipping andlsiding in her head, but she offers an empty, haunted smile and nods, holding out a hand ::Yes, thank you::

[I have to head off very soon and sleep sometime today, so is eventual slowtime alright on this thread?]

Jadis holds out the ball, waiting for Rachel to take it.

"You look like you could do with distraction. May I sit?"

(OOC: slowtime is love.)

Her fingers fumble slightly as she reaches out, lacking, still, the dexterity she's trying to rebuild, but she grips the ball grimly, holding it as if her life depended on it. She's actually dressed today, in a loose shirt and soft pants in emerald green, but bandages still show through at sleeve and neck...

But that's why they're in the infirmary isn't it?

::Of course:: the mental voice seems a bit distracted, and oddly leaves a taste of blood on the tongue, but she doens't mean it to. There's more than enough room on the bed for two to sit.

The oddness of Rachel's mental touch doesn't bother Jadis, she's known worse. Se sits delicately on the end of the bed, careful not to jostle the occupant.

"How do you speak in my head?" The witch's voice is interested, but her eyes are a little wary. "Is it magic?"

::No:: she assured gently, or as gently as she was capable of for now. ::I haven't a magical bone in my body. I just have a very well trained mind. I'm a telepath...and some bit more. One of the people whom bloodlines and odd twists have fate have gifted with stranger abilities than most:: she offered, rambling a bit honestly. Bette rto ramble and latch onto any cnversation now than keep dwelling on Hank's upcoming wedding.

::I don't mean to be rude, I just...my throat still isn't healed...:: she offered, a little more darkness and glass slipping into that apology.

The witch smiles. "I had thought I knew all there was to know about. . . ways of doing things, but the worlds continue to surprise me."

Rambling is good. Jadis isn't just chatting out of the goodness of her (black, twisted) heart. There are things she'd rather not talk about either.

"How would it be rude? I would have done the same a few days past, had I been able." Rachel might note that the witch's own voice is more than a little rough.

::It seems one of my roles in life, to suprise:: the bitter humor hopefully shines through the darkness there, but there's no promise. It's not the easiest thing to convey right now.

::It's rude because...it's an intrusion:: how one can feel a shrug instead of see it is still a mystery, and yet, that's eaxctly what it feels like she does. ::Many don't know that I won't delve into a persons mind, and they fear it. Therefore, it's rude::

[And I flee teh rising sun. Later today!]

To someone who is on intimate terms with darkness in all it's forms, she's pretty easy to read. In some ways.

"An intrusion?" It hadn't occurred to Jadis that Rachel would be able to read her thoughts, although that is a skill that Jadis herself possesses in a small way. She just hadn't thought to connect it with a mental voice. Although now the connection is there, it's certainly worthy of further study. "I hadn't thought of it that way at all. Although it is nice to know that my private thoughts are still my own."

She settles a little more comfortably onto the bed. "Seeing as we are both confined here for at least a while, me may as well entertain ourselves. What would amuse you?" Jadis makes an effort here, and there is as much light, frothy amusement in her voice (and eyes) as she can manage.

Rachel knows the depths of almost any darkness as well, and the thoughtful pause that Jadis takes isn't exactly anything to wory about. Not now, not yet.

::Well, as long as those private thoughts aren't thought too loud. Like anyone else I can't help but hear what's shouted:: she offered, and thought warning is bitter. So very bitter, but not directed at the woman, oh no.

The shift to light and frothy though, that is interesting. She just watches Jadis's eyes for a moment, head tilted slightly so there's a curtain of flame between them. Interesting indeed. ::I have no idea:: she admitted honestly. ::I enjoy listeningto people though,,,if you care to talk::

"Hm." The witch considers. "What would you care to hear about?"

::Anything, everything:: again there was that sense of a shrug. ::Apparently you're from no land Iknow if your first reaction to my sending was "magic"? Tell me about magic? YOur land?::

(OOC:an lj lives once more!)

"Magic is like any other science. It has rules, ways of working. It's not always the same from world to world, but once you understand the rules, you can use it." She corrects herself. "If you have the right innate talents, you can use it."

She rests her chin on her hand, elbow on her knee. "Both of the worlds I have lived in were magical. Although I have visited one which wasn't."

::A world traveler?:: she asked, curiousity evident despite the dark overtones. She was always interested in travelers. ::What worlds?::

After all, even her own reality had magic, where could one go to escape it?

"Only two. My own world of Charn, and later, a world by the name of Narnia. Both magical, albeit in different ways. The magic of Charn was. . . academic, rigid. The magic in Narnia is. . . more of a natural force. Inherent in everything."

(OOC: and if it's an issue, feel free to know the books. I'll puncture her eventually!)

[Rach is one of those lovely characters who has never seen much television, nor read much. She's never had time :)]

::Interesting:: she noted ::I don't know much of magic, but I know there's so many types available on my world...natural, to high court, to alchemical I think is the term. I think my reality is just a hodge podge...::

"A 'hodge podge'." The witch considers the term. "I should think that would make determining the rules by which such magic worked an interesting challenge." Her eyes sparkle at the thought. "I am looking forward to returning to my magical studies again, now that I am here."

::From what I've heard:: she agreed quietly. ::Magic is complicated and everyone I've spoken to uses different rules, different frces...:: she shrugged slightly.

::Why did you stop?::

"Which is what makes it so interesting, wouldn't you agree?"

She is silent for a moment. "I did not stop using magic, but I did lose the joy in the learning that I once had. There were. . . too many other factors."