The Roof, Wednesday Afternoon [12.9]

[icecoldfrost]

Between this weekend, the Rescue Rangers events of the previous week, and the whatever-the-heck was going around at the play last night, Emma needed a smoke.

Honestly, she could kill off an entire carton repressing the events of last weekend, but she was going to sit on the roof ledge and be good and stick to one or two cigarettes. Maybe three, if she felt like indulging.

Four, if anyone gave her any crap, but Emma wasn't anticipating needing to deal with anything that couldn't be solved with a glare and judicious unethical use of her powers. Or mocking. Mocking solved everything.

[Open roof. SP disclaimer applies, as I haven't been getting notifs for anyone since Friday. Poke me over email if I don't answer.]

Comments

[furnaceface]

Jono... was starting to smell something like the ass-end of an ill-maintained diesel truck, and he couldn't spend the rest of his life moping in his room, even if physically and ideally, he was more than ready and able. And that was why he was headed to the roof, instead. So that he could air his bandages out some and mope out in the open.

Bloody weekend. It had been a tease. A tease that had involved a good deal of bad choices, and he was fully intending to find his way to the edge and wallow for a bit, but he was looking at his feet as he came up, and doing so meant that he very nearly ran into Emma on his particularly set route there.

//Afternoon, Emma.//

Oh. How thrilled he sounded to see her.

[icecoldfrost]

Emma glared at him over her cigarette. "You could try sounding remotely sincere about being happy to see me," she replied. "Who pissed in your Cheerios?"

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

Repression seemed to be going around because Alex was doing that with regard to a few things that had happened to him lately. Repression was the sign of a good teenager.

Having not been up to the roof in awhile, Alex found himself wandering up there after class, mostly because it was familiar and more often than not, he'd find someone good to talk to.

And look at that, success again.

"Well, hey there, Emma," he said, all cheer just because he knew perkiness wasn't her thing. Being contrary was fun. "Whatcha doing up here? Enjoying the sunshine?"

[sp=good as i am about to commute!]

[furnaceface]

//Nobody,// Jonothon replied, attempting something in his expression that would have been a cross between a scowl and a sulk, if not for the fact that he was somewhat lacking in the bits of face that contributed to scowling in the first place.

So, sulking.

//I've got a few technical difficulties when it comes to enjoying Cheerios, pissed-in or not. Thank you.//

It was like he was being snarky and stating the problem all at once! How... resourceful. Or something.

[icecoldfrost]

If asked, Emma might argue that repression and maladjustment were requirements for attending this damn school: anyone sane and functional would have run screaming after the first week of classes.

Emma just rolled her eyes and flipped him off. "Fuck you, Alex," she returned pleasantly. "Yes, clearly I am working on my tan. Stunning deductive powers you've got going there."

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"Oooh, someone's in a mood," he said, coming over to lean beside her easily. "And taking it all out on little ole me. I was just trying to spread some holiday cheer."

Or be a jerk. That one was probably more likely.

[icecoldfrost]

"Well congratulations! Unlike thousands of children in Africa, you'll never starve to death," she replied, all cheer. "So lose the attitude already. The 'woe is me' gets rather old after awhile, especially when it's merely general malaise and not anything specific."

[icecoldfrost]

"No, you're trying to vex me," Emma corrected, reaching out to tap his forehead with one finger. "Don't fib, it's rude."

"Besides, I love Christmas. I'm a veritable bastion of holiday cheer once I've had my nicotine fix."

[furnaceface]

//It's bloody-well specific enough,// Jono replied, turning a sour glare toward the roof beneath them. //Unlike some, I can't just turn this off and return to life as usual. Unless this bleedin' island has any say in it, and that really didn't do me any great favours, either.//

He gave his foot a scuff against the floor, and then gave his head a shake.

//The hungry children in Africa can have my share.//

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"What, you don't think I could just be a cheerful person who wants to share that with a friend?" he asked, still fibbing despite her statement. "I'm hurt, Emma. I really am. No Christmas present for you."

[icecoldfrost]

"I'm sorry, you think I can turn my powers off?" Emma asked sweetly. "And even if I could, why don't you cut off my hands, or pluck out my eyes while you're at it? Please. You'd obviously be doing me such a favor."

[icecoldfrost]

"No present?" Now Emma was just going to sulk at him. "That's not nice, darling, especially since you're the one being naughty, not me."

[furnaceface]

Jono almost started yelling, at that. Or, at least, delivering the psionic equivalent of a yell. But he checked himself, straightened his shoulders, balled his hands into fists, and re-doubled his efforts to make the floor regret that it ever had the gall to be right there where he could glare at it.

//That isn't what I meant. Yer powers are... I mean.// He didn't know what he meant. Or, maybe he did, but he didn't want to just go right on ahead and admit aloud that he was jealous. //Nobody ever has to notice that yer different, if yer don't want them to.//

[glacial_queen]

It was a humming and happy Karla who made her way to the roof that afternoon. The air was positively invigorating today! And class had been wonderful fun! And everything was just going so well!

Emma was, of course, the first person she spotted when she got up to the roof: delightful, golden Emma, undisputed beauty of the school. Just seeing her standing there made Karla gasp--half in wonderment, half in dizziness as the world shifted under her feet again. Dammit, that had been happening far too often for her taste recently.

But really, did it matter? Not when Emma, Fairy Queen of her life and heart, was waiting for her there on the roof.

"Emma!" Karla called, overjoyed to see her. "I missed you!"

[icecoldfrost]

"In case you haven't noticed, darling, near about everybody here is 'different', and yet you seem to be trying to hold a monopoly on the emo quotient," Emma replied. "For fuck's sake, I'm here because I couldn't hide the fact I wasn't normal, and I still don't see any reason why I should have to try to 'pass.'"

"Besides, your fire is gorgeous, in case you hadn't noticed. You're a decent person with a fascinating power. So quit acting like you deserve to be second-class citizen."

Oh god, she was being the damn cheerleader squad. Emma was going to need another cigarette after this one.

[icecoldfrost]

Emma raised one eyebrow at the outburst. "I missed you too, darling," she answered warily. "Have we been in your uncle's wine again this afternoon?"

[furnaceface]

Jono... actually hadn't noticed. There was something about a flame that was slowly eating away at his face and chest that he wasn't particularly fond of. Especially when the damage started in a very abrupt, not even remotely slow sort of way. It seemed less pretty when all at once, it was tearing you apart, and left you struggling to keep it from getting out of hand in the future.

He glanced at her for a moment, trying for the life of him to tap into that logic and cling to it, but something fell short, and as it fell it took his gaze right back to the floor.

//We've all got to go back sooner or later.//

[icecoldfrost]

"Then quit being afraid of it and get control," she hissed, patience evaporating quickly. "Wallowing isn't going to change anything."

[furnaceface]

Well, there was a tone that Jonothon hadn't heard since Massachusetts, and for a moment he was fighting back another surge of guilt about the things that had happened there, too, when his powers had gotten out of control. He could have hurt Paige. He could have done far worse. So he was here, running away again, and getting nowhere, and terrified of himself, and--

//I don't even know where to begin,// he admitted.

... Probably in Massachusetts.

[glacial_queen]

Karla giggled and waved that suggestion away. "Oh, Emma, you're so funny. You know I have to seriously work to get drunk and why would I want to do that on a beautiful--" she gave Emma a significant look "--day like today? Not when I can be doing sweeter, more wonderful things. Like spending time with you." That thought deserved a happy sigh and a contented smile, and Karla gave it both.

[icecoldfrost]

Ugh, more wallowing and self-pity, and Emma was about to scream. "Well, why don't we start with changing our outlook on life?" she asked sweetly, smiling in a way that would send anyone who knew any Emma in any universe running for cover.

Then she reached out, slipping between one thought and the next, and found what she wanted.

Just like flipping a switch, really. And maybe now he wouldn't be quite so headache-inducing with the emo.

[furnaceface]

//Wot?// Jono furrowed his eyebrows, then, trying to figure out how in the world he was supposed to do something like that. And he barely noticed the nudge before everything sort of seemed to... melt. He had problems, certainly. Who didn't? But he was still standing here, it wasn't as though they couldn't be overcome, right? //Yer know... That actually does sound like a good starting point, luv. It isn't exactly as though all of that self-pity bollocks has been getting me anywhere, after all.//

It was actually weirdly cute when he attempted to smile, like that.

[icecoldfrost]

Well now, that sort of sincerity and admiration sounded familiar, and Emma extended just the barest tendril of power -- more a caress than a probe -- to coax Karla to lower her mental shields.

...which still resonated with some of the same overtones that Jack's mind had last night. Curiouser and curiouser.

"Flattery's not going to get you anywhere, darling," Emma teased, multitasking with ease. "Well, not anywhere of note while in public."

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"How am I being naughty?" he asked, feigning offense. "Really, Emma, if you want naughty, I'd show you naughty. This is mild."

[icecoldfrost]

Emma couldn't laugh. Can't laugh can't laugh can't laugh!

"That's the spirit, darling," she replied instead, beaming brightly and reaching out to pat him on the shoulder. "Maybe a hobby will help too... have you considered something detail-oriented, like origami? It might help with your focus."