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Post by Phoenix on Oct 17, 2005 22:17:24 GMT -5
Jean had been concentrating on the four remaining Stepfords in the kitchen but Scott’s reply brought her back to her concerns with Ash. < We all need a lighter workload, honey. I'll try and hire some more teachers, but you know how careful we have to be about who we let in. > Jean had been worried that Ash was taking on more than she could chew, and it was evident in her feelings. She knew they had to be careful about who they let in, but perhaps when the term ended the current teaching staff could sit down and shift some classes if needed. Jean made a note to mention that to Scott as well sometime later.
<"We guess you are right Ms. Grey."> The four girls replied simultaneously, which could sound really strange if you weren’t used to it.
< Just try to give it some time. > Jean looked at each girl in turn, < I think Ash may be skeptical because your age, though we all know how old you are doesn’t necessarily define how developed you are in using your abilities. > The Cuckoos didn’t sound as upset anymore, and Jean was glad. With every school there are some teachers you might particularly like, but the staff made it a point to try to get on with most of the students. Plus, Jean didn’t like to see the Cuckoos so upset.
"I've got to get to class,” Scott spoke verbally this time and leaned down as Jean leaned up to reciprocate the kiss. "I'll see you later." < In my office, > Scott’s teasing tone rang through their rapport causing Jean to hide her smile. If only anyone knew how relaxed Scott could be, they’d probably faint from shock.
"See you in a while, dear," Jean took a moment to refocus her thoughts as Scott left, reminding the girls about Calculus class later. With her teke/kinetics class starting later, Jean could afford to spend some time in the kitchen with the girls.
"You know perhaps we could show Ms. Ash all we have learned in hand to hand combat. I am sure that will change her mind." Jean wasn’t surprised Esme was the one to suggest it. Out of the Stepfords, Esme was one of the more challenging in terms of limits. She liked to test boundaries and say whatever was on her mind, no matter who it could hurt or what anyone else thought. While being frank about your feelings was admirable, Jean knew Esme could stand to learn a little—what’s the word—compassion when it came to others.
As the giggling had died down, Jean smiled patiently, "Now, girls," She shook her head as she took a sip of her coffee, knowing the girls were teasing before she suggested, "Perhaps we can have an in-class competition some time and invite teachers and students who aren’t in your class to watch," Jean knew how skilled the girls were at hand-to-hand combat. Scott was constantly impressed by how well they did in class.
Thoughts of Celeste’s abrupt departure returned to Jean’s thoughts, "Where did Celeste run off to earlier? Did she forget to finish today’s homework again?" It had happened to a few students before, and they rushed in the morning to get it done, though with Celeste it could be numerous issues from boys to primping for the day. And the girls knew they could come to Jean, Scott, Betsy, or one of the other teachers if they had something they needed to discuss.
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Cuckoos
New Member
Five Minds One Purpose
Posts: 39
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Post by Cuckoos on Oct 18, 2005 14:58:32 GMT -5
"Now girls," said Ms. Grey as she took a sip of her coffee, "Perhaps we can have an in-class competition some time and invite teachers and students who aren’t in your class to watch,"
The girls giggled again, all except Esme, who just smirked, "That would be fun, perhaps we can also use some psychic powers...I would love to have the chance to check out my new illusion on some actual peope"
Esme knew that most likely she would not be able to do that, still pushing limits its what she lived for
"Where did Celeste run off to earlier? Did she forget to finish today’s homework again?" asked Ms. Grey.
"Oh you know her," responded Mindee, "she is always trying really hard to look good, for boys still she only ends up looking just like we do."
Phoebe spoke next, "Yea she is kinda overdoing it, if you ask me. Ok I get boys are good and great or whatever, still she almost has dated half the school's population."
"Yea that makes her a total slut," It was Esme again. It was kinda funny how she always ended up saying only the bad things.
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Post by Phoenix on Oct 20, 2005 20:07:48 GMT -5
"That would be fun, perhaps we can also use some psychic powers...I would love to have the chance to check out my new illusion on some actual peope" Again, it was Esme, who Jean noted had become quite skilled in casting mental illusions. She picked it up faster than Jean thought, but the girls were usually quick learners, so wasn’t too surprised.
"While it might be good practice, let’s just wait on that, Esme," Jean arched a brow towards the young girl before setting down her mug. Glad the girls were eager at least, Jean stood and headed for the mound of foods prepared for them to eat. Probably by Betsy or Sean. If Jean had to guess, she’d say Betsy prepared everything. The Asian beauty was very disciplined when it came to starting the day. For the umpteenth time in how many years, Jean was reminded of how grateful she was to have co-workers like the ones at the mansion.
"Oh you know her. She is always trying really hard to look good, for boys still she only ends up looking just like we do." After she asked about Celeste, one of the girls spoke up. Jean didn’t have to turn around to know it was Mindee. She could tell them apart easily. But Mindee was right. Save for their hairstyles and personalities, the girls were identical. It was easy to mix up who was who if you didn’t know them apart already.
"Yea she is kinda overdoing it, if you ask me," Phoebe added as Jean readied a bagel with some cream cheese, “Ok I get boys are good and great or whatever, still she almost has dated half the school's population." Amused Jean turned, leaning against the counter. With her private sessions with Celeste, she knew of a few boys that she’d dated, and yes, the young girl was indeed boy crazy. It was one of the side effects of being a teenager, though her sisters didn’t seem be as obsessed with the opposite sex as she was.
Esme’s quick tongue got her in trouble again, "Yea that makes her a total slut," A devious look slid across her face. Jean’s eyes immediately centralized on the young girl in expected surprise. < I’m sure your sister would feel differently, Esme. > Jean kept that first telepathic message between Esme and herself. If she wanted to share it with her sisters, then she could by all means do so. If not, they could keep it between them. As a few other students began sifting in and out of the kitchen, Jean reverted back to telepathy again, keeping their conversation private.
< Liking to date isn’t a prerequisite of being promiscuous, girls. > Sending the message to all four girls, Jean’s face showed a hint of disappointment. While Jean certainly hoped Celeste wasn’t as permissive with boys as Esme seemed to believe, Jean knew calling her a slut wouldn’t help anything. She’d hoped more from Esme. They needed to work more on thinking about what she says before she says it during their one-on-one sessions.
Placing her bagel on a plate, Jean walked over to the table where she’d left her coffee mug and picked it up, "Mindee, I believe you left one of your books in my office. And Sophie, I think it was your sweater that’s lying on the couch," Jean paused by the doorway, a reassuring look on her face to let the girls know she was not angry with them. Disappointed for a few moments, but not angry. "I’ve got class in a bit, but feel free to pick them up afterwards, or during our group session later today. Have a good day, girls," With an encouraging nod, Jean greeted the other students good morning, speaking with a few before she left.
[Exit Phoenix, to be edited later]
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Cuckoos
New Member
Five Minds One Purpose
Posts: 39
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Post by Cuckoos on Oct 21, 2005 2:34:31 GMT -5
At Esme's comment, Ms. Grey became serious and caught Esme's eye. < I’m sure your sister would feel differently, Esme. > She told her privately. Finally Esme, face crumbled from the dissapointed mom stare and looked down at her coffee cup.
The Ms. Grey looked between all the four remaining girls and sent them a telepathic message, < Liking to date isn’t a prerequisite of being promiscuous, girls. >
< We are sorry, we did not mean anything by it. > they said using their combined telepathic powers.
Ms. Grey picked up her coffee cup and said, "Mindee, I believe you left one of your books in my office. And Sophie, I think it was your sweater that’s lying on the couch," she said starting to head out, she turned in the doorway and gave them a look that ment 'I am not mad but still...' then she said, "I’ve got class in a bit, but feel free to pick them up afterwards, or during our group session later today. Have a good day, girls,"
"Ok" the girls all agreed, Sophie quickly added, "Sorry I left it there mom." Out of all them Sophie was the only one that was most comfortable calling Jean that in front of other students.
Ms. Grey spoke with a few of the kids coming in, and then left.
As soon as she had stepped outside, Sophie turned toward Esme, clearly furious, < By god Esme, what is your trauma. Can you not think before saying anything. Now she is mad at us. >
< She isn't mad, just dissapointed. > Phoebe corrected her.
Esme looked at all of them, raising her eyebrow, < You can think what you want, I just say what you guys don't have the guts too. >
<Yea, mainly because it's wrong. > said Sophie.
Esme stood up, "Whatever, I don't care." She started to storm out but this other student was coming in through the door, efficiently getting in her way. Pissed as she was she just yelled, < Move! > at the same time casting an illusion on the poor boy, making him run against the wall, over and over and over.
The rest of the girls had to clear the illusion after she left. Still it was pretty funny seeing the kid hit the wall like robot that had short circuit, not that the rest would admit it.
[Exit Cuckoos]
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Ash
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I'm stronger than you think
Posts: 170
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Post by Ash on Nov 18, 2005 22:49:54 GMT -5
[enters from War Room]
Ash entered the kitchen, still pale from the day's surprises. It was still very early but she already needed another cup of coffee. luckily the kitchen was empty, she wasn't quite ready for the barrage of questions she would get if people actually saw her at that moment. She knew she probably looked like she'd seen a ghost, she felt like she had, and in a sense she had. After all Nathan WAS supposed to be dead, but that was only part of the problem. So much was happening at once, she needed some alone time. Alone time with Coffee.
She crossed the kitchen and silently thanked the high powers above that there was still coffee left in the pot, and it was warm. She poored herself a cup, and this time did not put any creamer into it. This time she needed it strong. She turned and sat herself down in the closest chair. She sat there for a whole minute, not moving, not even thinking. Her brain was locked and couldn't process any thoughts.
The coffee smell began to work its magic, and she slowly began to think. Sharon could not be a mutant, she had never heard of animals being mutants, and why would the cat just suddenly begin to morph like that? It wasn't logical. Sure she'd never heard of a purple cat before either, but what the heck... that was easy enough to get used to, but a mutant cat? Not possible. Her brain was just overloaded and working out the stress of her life in some weird dream. Nathan was just another part of it. She would wake up soon and life would be better.
It was easier to come to this conclusion without standing in the war room with the cat in front of her... much easier to be out of that tense environment. In fact she was sure that when she saw Besty again the woman would agree with Ash that it never happened.
Deep down though, Ash knew. This was no dream. This was life, and because of that knowledge that she absolutly refused to face, she sat stock still at the kitchen table. Face pale and drawn, hands clasping her coffee cup with an iron grip, but not making a move to drink it. She couldn't quite muster up the energy to lift the mug up to her lips. Just looking at the black liquid and thinking about what had happened was exaughsting enough. Not to mention the ever looming thought that this was just the beggining of the day, and there was a whole lot of hours left to fill. Not to mention the classes she had to teach.
Ash quickly pushed that out of her mind as well. SHe didn't want to think about classess or students, or about failing grades. In fact, she really didn't want to think about anything, she just wanted to wake up and find that it was all a dream. It had to be a dream. She stared in the liquid at her reflection as her brain went through the unending circular patern of her thoughts, always coming back to the one sure idea implanted in her brain since the moment Sharon had begun to change shape. This was a Dream.
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Post by archangel on Nov 20, 2005 13:03:27 GMT -5
{Enters from outside Cyclops and Phoenix's office}
Warren had gone against Cyclops's wises and waited outside of their office for several minutes. When he finally decided that it was reasonably safe he turned and headed back to the kitchen and dining room. He saw Ash and realized she was deep in thought. As far as the other teachers where concerned Warren was really not that close with her, something he would come to regret.
Warren made his way over and grabbed a nearby chair. He twirled it around and sat down so he could lean over the "back" of the chair. Warren preferred to sit like mainly because too much pressure on his shoulders caused him discomfort, especially in his wings.
"Hey, earth to Ash. You in there? You okay kid?" he asked with concern in his voice.
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Ash
Full Member
I'm stronger than you think
Posts: 170
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Post by Ash on Nov 21, 2005 19:56:21 GMT -5
( sorry it's taken me this long, my next reply might take even longer... were spending all week buidling, sorry!)
Ash didn't know someone else had entered the room. She was so lost in her desperate thoughts. For the second time that day she'd found she was wishing she was a telepath. However, she wasn't. So she had absolutly no idea that Warren was there until he spoke, interrupting her very important warring thoughts of how on earth this could be proven to be a dream and not the very real life that it seemed to be.
Hey, earth to Ash. You in there? You okay kid?"
Ash jumped, refrained from screaming and spraying fire everywhere, and spilling hot coffee all over her hands. Her surprise turned immediatly to anger, not because her hands were burned. Though that might have been a reason, except that her power enabled her to withstand heat and burns up to two hundred and something degrees. Lucky her. So the hot coffee didn't really enter her mind as something she should be screaming about while she flung the water off her hands. Instead she was absolutly angry at whoever it was that disturbed her because any madman should be able to see that she was already messed up enough as it is, and anyone who entered this school had no reason not knowing about her history of starting fires because of people walking up on her. She didn't care that they might be strangers, she didn't care that she'd had control for years. Any body who did that, even if they were magneto himself, was a dolt.
So she rounded on the unsuspecting Warren still shaking the coffee from her drenched hands, face whiter than ever as she realized just how close she had come to burning the man into a little pile of ash. "What the hell do you think you're doing?! Do you WANT to die? Christ! Just come out and say it next time,and I'd be happy to oblige you, just not in the damn kitchen! I don't think I could put out a fire that went rogue in this room!"
Her chest heaved as she fought to control her temper. Her heart was racing as it was, and her emotions were out of wack, she at LEAST needed her brain to function properly. Control. Control. Control. She had to get control of herself. Her breathing slowed as she stood there, not really waiting for his reply, but knowing it would come. When he was finished with whatever he was going to say she realized the coffee was still on her hands and turned to the sink, rinising it off.
So it was Warren that had walked up on her, she turned and scowled at him. "You," She said, "Should know better than to walk up on me. I don't care how many months or years it's been since an accident. It's day's like these that catch me off gaurd and make those accidents happen. I'm not perfect Warren, I still don't have control all the time." especially today she thought.
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Post by archangel on Nov 23, 2005 22:36:52 GMT -5
Warren certainly wasnt expecting the reaction that Ash had.
What the hell do you think you're doing?! Do you WANT to die? Christ! Just come out and say it next time,and I'd be happy to oblige you, just not in the damn kitchen! I don't think I could put out a fire that went rogue in this room!
Ash's outburst took Warren by suprise and forced him to shoot back out of his chair and immdeatly up to his feet. He felt his wings twitch inside his shoulder's blade but he held them back. Also to Warren's suprise the tirade wasnt over.
You should know better than to walk up on me. I don't care how many months or years it's been since an accident. It's day's like these that catch me off gaurd and make those accidents happen. I'm not perfect Warren, I still don't have control all the time.
Today had already been extremely stressful and Ash's outbursts weren't helping the situation at all. With the shock of that young man who showed up and claimed to be Nathan, his own personal issues and now this was the straw that broke the camel's back.
Warren stared daggers at Ash the entire time he spoke.
"You know what Ash, I'm not sure who you think your speaking to but it sure isnt me so KNOCK IT OFF! That is the last time I ever check to make sure you're alright, today is a litle tense on all of us and you being on a hair pin trigger isnt going to help. I guess my having faith that trying to speak to you wouldnt force you to lose control, believe me when I say it wont happen again. By the way, outbursts like that are a real great example to be setting in a location where students tend to gather!"
With that Warren turned and slammed the door to Kitchen as hard as he could as he made his way to the backyards.
{Exits to back yard}
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Ash
Full Member
I'm stronger than you think
Posts: 170
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Post by Ash on Nov 27, 2005 1:43:35 GMT -5
As Warren Shot back in his chair when she began to storm at him, it occured to her that she might want to keep her big fat mouth shut... but she had never been one to listen to that little voice in her head, and especially not when she lost her temper. Old habits died hard. So she raged at him, letting all her frustration out through the excuse of, 'he should have known better', and he should have known better. Why he didn't think about that before he interrupted her, obviously, deep thought's she would never know. Besty would have remembered... but he wasn't Besty. It didn't matter... he SHOULD have known.
Needless to say she was absolutly shocked, probably as shocked as he had been with her, at his reply. In fact, she was so shocked it left her absolutly speechless, which was hard to do considering her training with Gambit. It absolutly didn't help that Warren was giving her the meanest glare she had recieved in a long long time. In fact, it was more the glare than the words that did her in.
You know what Ash, I'm not sure who you think your speaking to but it sure isnt me so KNOCK IT OFF! That is the last time I ever check to make sure you're alright, today is a litle tense on all of us and you being on a hair pin trigger isnt going to help. I guess my having faith that trying to speak to you wouldnt force you to lose control, believe me when I say it wont happen again. By the way, outbursts like that are a real great example to be setting in a location where students tend to gather!"
At first she let her anger boil up preparing to shout right back at him, but found she had absolutly nothing to say, due to her shock. Then as he slammed the door shut, Ash still standing in the middle of the kitchen, his words began to sink into her thick thick head.
Tears filled her eyes as she realized what it was that he had actually said. She was such an absolute Dolt. This was WARREN she had been talking to... Warren had healing powers, he would be fine if she burned him.... But how the hell did he expect her to remember that? In fact, she hadn't even known that it was him! Even if she had known and had remembered, other people might have been in the room. Didn't he know that she had to think about them as well...
So why was she in the kitchen if she was in such an unstable condition? Warren had managed to point that out to her as well. She gripped the kitchen table as a sob escaped her. What was she going to do now?
Warren's words and look were eating at her... "it won't happen again" It had to though... they were a team. He needed to be able to trust her and have faith in her, and it was her responsibilty to make sure that happened. Which meant she had to patch this up... It had been her fault, she needed to own up to that, and she did. However, she had to make sure Warren was ok with her as well, and that was not something she wanted to do. If she didn't htough, Scott would find out... Scott always found out, or Jean did. Then there would be hell to pay. It didn't matter how bad a day it had been. Her behavior toward Warren was unacceptable.
She shoved herself off the table and wiped the wetness from her eyes walking quickly out the kitchen door. Warren already had a big headstart on her. In fact he might even have flown away, but she had to try. She had to apologize. Warren was right.
(exits to follow archangel)
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Post by Banshee on Nov 29, 2005 8:52:17 GMT -5
As Sean walked into the kitchen, he noticed the lack of people inside. Perfect, because he needed Betsy alone. He was not about to ask this particular question in front of a crowd. He turned to face his lover, and took both her hands in his. He got down on one knee, his good one, and reached into his pocket. He took out the small velvet box, and opened it to show a diamond ring. He gazed into her dark eyes.
"Betsy, in all the turmoil of the past few years, ye have made me a very happy man. I meant ta do this tonight, in a much more romantic setting, but it does nae look likely I'll get tha' chance. I love ye with all me heart. Elisabeth Braddock, will ye marry me?" There, Sean had gone and said it, no turning back now. All he could do was wait, and hope she said yes.
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Post by Psylocke on Nov 30, 2005 10:23:48 GMT -5
They walked hand in hand into the kitchen and although it was extremely tempting, she didn't pry into the Summers' offices to see how things were going with “Nathan”. Jean still hadn't contacted her back and frankly, Betsy was a bit relieved over that. She would have known that something was wrong and the last thing Jean needed right now was to hear Betsy's woes over her cat-turned-mutant-teenager. That would be revealed to everyone soon enough.
As they entered the kitchen, she noticed it was empty but then again, it was early in the afternoon so it wasn't terribly surprising. It was a gorgeous day out so either the students were in class or outside or in the library. Before she could go over to the fridge to get Sharon some food, though, Sean stopped her and took her other hand in his. Before she could comprehend what was going on, he dropped to one knee, let go of her hand and pulled out a jewelry box. Opening it revealed a diamond and he said, "Betsy, in all the turmoil of the past few years, ye have made me a very happy man. I meant ta do this tonight, in a much more romantic setting, but it does nae look likely I'll get tha' chance. I love ye with all me heart. Elisabeth Braddock, will ye marry me?"
Betsy was sure her heart stopped beating. Her mouth went dry and her mind went blank. For one of the very few times in her life, Betsy was caught off guard and was completely speechless. They had just had a rather difficult morning. First Nathan showed up on their doorstep, then Sharon starting morphing and proved to them that Sean was the only person in the world who could go to adopt a cat and wind up with a mutant teenager, she needed to find Ash and make sure that she was all right after what happened in the War Room and now Sean was proposing to her. In the middle of the kitchen. Where anyone could walk in at any given second.
She licked her lips and opened her mouth to say something but words just seemed to be stuck. In all honesty, they had been living together for years now and although she still liked to look, she had never had a desire to go after any other man since she'd been with him. He took her flirtation ways in stride and he knew she wasn't going to change her mind regarding children. She'd just made that clear this afternoon and he was still wanting to marry her. Marriage at this point was just a formality. Still not trusting her voice, Betsy just nodded.
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Post by Banshee on Nov 30, 2005 10:48:45 GMT -5
For a few moments, Betsy just stared at the ring, and the only sound Sean could hear was the blood pumping through his body. He watched anxiously as she licked her lips, but didn't say anything. Then she nodded, and he could breathe again. He grinned so big, his face almost hurt. But he wasn't feeling it at that point. She was saying yes!
Sean jumped to his feet and put the ring on Betsy's finger. Then he picked her up by the waist, spinning her around the kitchen. Luckily no one was in there, or they would have thought he'd lost his mind. When he finally set her down, he wrapped his arms around her, bringing her in for a deep kiss.
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Post by Psylocke on Nov 30, 2005 14:21:28 GMT -5
Sean slipped the ring on her finger then picked her up, spinning her around. She wasn't sure she'd ever felt him so incredibly happy before. Putting her back down, he pulled her into a deep embrace which she returned. Finally pulling back, she had found her voice again and her thoughts had begun to clear. The first thing she thought of was, What on earth have I just done?
“Let's keep this to ourselves until we know what is going on with Nathan, okay? There is a lot of stress right now and I can see Scott lecturing us both on our rotten timing,” she told him. Betsy knew this was something he'd been looking forward to doing that night as he'd made the comment to her about his special surprise for their date but with the revelation of both Nathan and Sharon, they both knew they were not going out anytime soon.
Stepping out of his arms, she walked to the refrigerator and pulled out some left over tuna fish for Sharon as well as a container of milk. Not really sure what form they'd find Sharon in when they got back to the War Room, she fished out both a cup and a bowl to pour the milk into once they got down there. She also made sure to have a fork ready to show Sharon how to use if she was eating in human form.
As they walked to the door, she was hit by some very strong and very confused emotions from Ash. Concentrating in case the other woman was still dealing with the after affects of this morning, she was stunned to find a mental image of Anna Marie...in a Red Guard uniform. That meant she was here on business. Shoving the food items into Sean's hands, she said, “The Red Guard is here. Secure the sub-basement and get Sharon out of there. I'm going to warn Scott and greet Anna Marie, of all people.”
Without a backward glance, Betsy took off down the hall to the back door. It had been years since she had seen the younger woman and she had been with the Red Guard for a long time. It would not be good if she were to discover their little secrets while she was here.
((Psylocke exits to the Back Yard))
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Post by Banshee on Nov 30, 2005 15:06:23 GMT -5
“Let's keep this to ourselves until we know what is going on with Nathan, okay? There is a lot of stress right now and I can see Scott lecturing us both on our rotten timing,” Sean agreed a little reluctantly, but what Betsy said made sense. Of course, he didn't think he could hide how he was feeling at all, so the telepaths would know something was up.
“All right, luv, but don't blame me if they guess.” He leaned on the counter, watching as Betsy prepared some food for Sharon. When they were getting ready to leave the kitchen and return to the war room, Betsy suddenly stopped in her tracks. She dropped the food in his hands, saying,
“The Red Guard is here. Secure the sub-basement and get Sharon out of there. I'm going to warn Scott and greet Anna Marie, of all people.” Sean groaned, this was just what they didn't need. Not right now. He set the food aside, and headed downstairs to get Sharon. Maybe it was a good thing that she wasn't proficient at speaking yet. She wouldn't be able to tell anyone about the room she was in. At least not verbally. Oh, this was going to get very interesting, to say the least.
((Banshee exits to War Room))
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Post by Catseye on Dec 3, 2005 2:19:47 GMT -5
She rode up to the kitchen in Sean's arms, purring the whole time. It was good to be small again. And warm. It was cold downstairs, with all the metal and stuff. Oh, and there was food! Leaping out of his arms, she trotted to the counter, jumping up and sniffing the plate. Fish! And it was real fish! She hated the stuff that they pulled out of those little cans. It tasted old and it had that weird jelly around it. But this? This was real fish.
Tipping the lid off of the partially open container, she started to eat it. Fish was good.
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