2010/Didn't I

Didn't I
Date of Scene:	15 August 2017
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Cypher, Boom-Boom

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Cypher has posed:
Doug is in the Library. He's working on his own laptop, with a stack of books next to him. He's got one in his hand, and he's reading it, turning the pages with his thumb as he types. A half-drunk protein shake is on the table next to him (coaster, of course) and he has a pair of headphones on. As he reads... and types, his head makes a slow, rhythmic bob.

Boom-Boom has posed:
    Tabitha wanders aimlessly in the library, as if she's trying to lose herself in the stacks and corridors of books. She looks through a few volumes at random, but nothing keeps her attention. Pretty soon she's where she can see Doug working and she sets her jaw. stomping up the the table. She's opposite him, so he can see her. "You." her mouth forms, even if he can't hear. "You're in trouble, mister." A point of interest, she's added a Mina-Harper-in-Extraordinary-Gentlemen pinky-purple scarf to her red athletic shorts and plain pink t-shirt ensemble. She puts both palms on the table and leans forward.

Cypher has posed:
Doug Ramsey looks up, and then reaches up with both hands to remove his headphones. "I suppose I am." He says, before he sets them down. "I already know why you're here, Boom-Boom. It's written all over your face." He leans back in his chair, and closes his laptop with one hand, before he... takes it out of his lap and slides it between the chair and the end table.

Boom-Boom has posed:
"Yeah? Well..." Tabitha sputters. "Maybe you're wrong!" She shrugs, he's deflated her outrage balloon. "You hurt that girl, you know." she points out. "Poor kid. Now she thinks noone will ever like her again. That she's 'too spooky'." She turns to sit on the edge of the table. "I... I guess it's good you were here. I maybe should talk to you about this junk goin' on. With Sam and..." she sighs. "Sucks."

Cypher has posed:
Doug sits back and says "I didn't want to hurt her feelings. But I didn't want to lie to her either." Doug crosses his arms, and says, "It's bothering me, more than you know. I knew she had a crush on me--how could I of all people not? But... you have to be truthful when you're dealing with people's emotions. It may sting now, but a lie hurts more later." Then he says, "You and Sam, huh? Sam is..." He thinks, to himself, "A gallant. Real chivalrous. He has an idea about how women should be treated that's respectful but... kinda quaint?"

Boom-Boom has posed:
"He's a stupid hick." Tabby snaps, looking into the distance... but then she softens. "No he's not. He's a sweet doof and I care 'bout him a lot." Back to Doug. "That's my problem, y'see. He... he wants me back. We had a thing, you prob'ly know. I broke it off, 'cause he was... he wanted more than I could give. He wanted white picket fences and babies and junk and I can't... I'm not made for that." She shrugs again. "He needs a good girl anyway. Someone who'll tidy up with a feather duster and take care of his house." She rubs at her forehead. "There's worse than me jus' prob'ly hurtin' him again. I talked to Dani 'bout it."

Cypher has posed:
"Well, I feel guilty because I encouraged him to make a stronger stand for Dani than he probably should have." Doug says. "I read it wrong. It helped him then, but..." He puts his finger over his mouth, and then raises his eyebrows and says, "It seems to me based on what I'm picking up off you that you find the idea more appealing than you consciously admit. Also, I said Sam was chivalrous, not a misogynist. I've met his mother, hell, I've met his *sisters*. He's under no illusions about women being able to do any damn thing they please." Then he sighs, and picks up his protein shake, takes a slug off it, and says, "Go on."

Boom-Boom has posed:
"I'm worried, Doug." Tabby says. "I'm worried what he'll say, or do. I know he's... he wouldn't..." and she hugs herself. "I know he's not my dad, but I'm afraid. If he hits me, I'll have to blow him up." and she shakes her head sadly. "There's something else. There's this... girl." she pauses, to take a breath. "Her name is Lexi - Alexia. She's the mauve tailless-fox-girl with the silver hair? Have you met her?" she asks. "I didn't mean for it to happen, Doug! I wanted to... I almost wanted to be with Sammie. I mean, I liked the kiss the other night. But that was before..." and she looks away, ashamed. "I couldn't help it." An exhale. "I wouldn't mind if Sammie dated me and Dani, but I don't think he's gonna take this well."

Cypher has posed:
Doug considers this, and then says, "The truth hurts now, but a lie hurts more later." Then he says, "And if you think he'd hit you under his own power, then you don't know the Sam I know. I couldn't even get him to take a swing at me, and I can *beat* Sam in a fistfight. Even if he doesn't know it." He says, "So I don't really think that's something you have to worry about." Then he shakes his head. "The truth hurts now, but a lie will hurt more later. That said," He says, "That happening again? It's gonna really mess him up. But the heart wants what it wants, sometimes two hearts don't want the same thing. The person I was *really* in love with... never, ever gonna happen. You get over it, you move on."

Boom-Boom has posed:
"I know, I know." she sighs. "I feel sick about the whole thing. Most of me knows he's a big puppy and wouldn't swing, but there's a little bit of me that remembers havin' the crap kicked out of me for being me, for havin' a sassy mouth, for talkin' out of turn." She raps her forehead with the heel of a hand. "I can't believe this crap happens to me." She shrugs again. "Dani and I are gonna sit down with him and take everything over... well, I texted him, but didn't tell him really what it was 'bout." she blows out a breath through buzzing lips. "I don't even like girls, Doug. But I guess I like this one."

Cypher has posed:
Doug shakes his head. "You want to know the truth about Sam? There's a big part of him that thinks he's ugly, gawpy, and kind of dumb. He was never any of those things, of course. Women've fallen all over him in the time I've known him and he reads like a thirsty man craves water -- but that's not how he sees himself. So no matter what you tell him, you'd better pull him out of that dovetail." Then he tilts his head, and says "At this rate he's gonna high-tail it back to Kentucky and never come out of the woods." He sucks a tooth, and then gives his head a shake.

Boom-Boom has posed:
"He's not, though. He's adorable." she says, a little wistful. Clearly she does care about Rocket Pants. "I don't want him to hate me, and I don't want to run away. But I know he'll want me to make a choice, and I can't. Or... I can and it won't be him, if he insists." a shakes of her head. "I don't know what to do."

Cypher has posed:
Doug raises his eyebrows, and says, "No, you do know what you're going to do, you just dread doing it. You have a conscience." Then he says, "I wish Bobby were here. He'd be able to pick up the pieces."

Boom-Boom has posed:
She nods in agreement. "I guess I do. But it makes me sick." She rubs at her neck, through the scarf. "Dani will be there - she'll get through to him. She'll talk sense like she always does. Prob'ly keep me from goin' off too."

Cypher has posed:
Doug says, "Or she'll make it worse, because she did the *exact same thing* to him. It's enough to make a guy wonder..." He shakes his head, and says, "Anyway. Life goes on. He's going to be hurt, and I can respect that you're aware of it."

Boom-Boom has posed:
Tabby stands again. "Sorry to dump this on you, Bookworm." she says, putting on her Boom-Boom self again, that smirk that keeps the world at arm's-length. "You're a good guy. I hope you're happy with your girl." that's genuine, though. "Thanks."

Cypher has posed:
"I don't have a girl," Doug says, "I have a girl that I'm interested in." He shakes his head, and says, "I don't think I believe in true love, Boom-Boom. Just falling in love. I fall in love all the time, that doesn't make it real. Just pleasant." Then he says, "I'll try and pick up the mess he'll be in. Just leave him in a state where he can be picked up and put back together, that's all I ask? I owe Sam a lot. When I was drunk and stupid, he was the one who kept me in line."