8895/Really, Sam

Really, Sam
Date of Scene:	21 August 2019
Location:	Doug's Room (West Halls), Xavier's School
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Cannonball, Cypher, Moonstar, Wolfsbane, Magik

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Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie has came by to talk to Doug. He knocks on the room door, wanting to talk to Doug and maybe check on his friend a little bit as well. "Hey Doug it is me Sam." He will call out to let him know he is here to chat.

Cypher has posed:
The door to the room opens and Doug is standing there, in his pajama pants and a t-shirt with a 1-up mushroom on it. He blinks at Sam, owlishly, having just wopen up, and he yawns. "...Whassup?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie says, "Hey, I was hoping we could talk a bit, didn't mean to wake ya up dude, if I had would have thrown rocks at ya window." He offers a smile"

Cypher has posed:
Doug tilts his head, and says, "Come on in." He says. He shakes his head, and grabs a Red Bull out of a mini-fridge. He chugs half of it, and his eyes open a little wider. "So what's up?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks over to the other guy and says "Well, just had to have an awkward conversation it seems Shannon has a crush on me, and told me about it tonight.

Cypher has posed:
Doug pinches the bridge of his nose, and he squeezes his eyes shut. "Jesus, Sam, I tried to warn you! What did you THINK I meant when I was digging my elbow into your ribs!?" He shakes his head and sits on the edge of the bed. "She's got it for you *bad*."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks to the man and says "I had no idea, I thought you were wanting me to try to go easy on the kids for blowing up the oven or something."

Cypher has posed:
Doug shades his eyes with his hand. And then he starts to laugh, his shoulders shaking. "Oh my GOD. After all this time, you're STILL clueless. Since the day we met, women have been throwing themselves at you. Sometimes they have literally thrown themselves at you, and you *did not notice*."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks over to the other guy and says "Dude, she is like a little sister to me, how was Ah to know." Can be heard coming from Doug's room as the two are talking. "Girls don't throw themselves at me, your seeing things. dude."

Moonstar has posed:
Dani's hand hovers just before striking the door with her right hand knuckles, listening to the conversation inside. She bites her lower lip silently, not wanting to disturb this conversation. It seems private and one she wasn't supposed to hear. Waiting a second, Dani decides to turn and leave before making a sound, attempting to tip toe away...

Cypher has posed:
"Yeah, I'm seeing them throw themselves at you!" Doug says. He sighs, and adds, "Either way, you're gonna have to nip it in the bud, especially if she confessed, she's hoping someone will come of it." He looks up. "Come *in*, Dani. I can tell it's you by your knock!"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks over and says "Oh hey Dani." He says as he looks over to Doug, and says "I told her nothing could happen of it. They would throw me under the jail or something. I could be her friend and a big brother, but anything more, could not happen." He looks over to Dani "Dani do girls throw themselves at me?"

Moonstar has posed:
Peeking inside the door after stopping herself from leaving, Dani waves as she sneaks in and says, "Leave it to Doug to hear me even when I am trying to be quiet." Dani smirks, and looks at each before biting her lip again. "Um. Do girls...?" Her eyes grow wide, as she considers. "No. Not really. Well, there was that one time...but she wanted to stab you I think?" Dani tries to remember. "Who are we talking about? Are you in trouble again?" She looks at Doug for help.

Cypher has posed:
Doug rolls his eyes. "One of the students Sam is mentoring confessed to a crush on him." he holds his hand out at Sam, and lets it drop to his side. "And I tried to warn him. I did. Dummy missed it--" He shakes his head, and says, "Okay, so maybe I was exagerrating on the 'throw themselves at' part. But 'have a definate interest'?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrielooks over, and says "Shannon, the girl with wings. She has a crush on me, told me about it last night, told her we could only be friends and thought of her like a sister. Heck last week, Ellie, Nori and she thought you and Ah were a couple Dani.

Moonstar has posed:
"Oh. I see. Shannon. I remember her. We went on a mission together...the whole Spawn thing. Wings and stuff. She seems nice." Dani leans against the nearest wall, and crosses her arms with a smirk. "Oh." Dani pauses, and then winks at Sam. "Funny how everyone thinks that. Right Doug? Always thinking because we are close, that Sam and I are together." Dani actually giggles, side-eyes Doug, and back to Sam. Something she hasn't done in a very long time.

Cypher has posed:
Doug puts his hand over his mouth, and then says, "Oh no. I'm not chiming in on that one." He says. "Not me, who finally got up the nerve to ask Illyana out -- only to find out she was dating *Betsy*. Imagine what a head-trip THAT was for me?" He heads for his mini-fridge. "I need another red bull."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks over and says "Oh that explains it." He says about Illyana and Betsy. It is not to late in the day. The three are in Doug's room chatting "Ah think Ah got it handled but is there anything Ah should do to make sure she knows I want to stay friends and that Ah aint freaked out even though Ah am a little freaked out?

Moonstar has posed:
"Right. Not you. Same old Doug." Dani smiles, a wide, warm smile. "Right Sam. Handled." A sigh. "It's good to be back. I missed you guys." Her eyes were on Sam when she says that last. "Wait..." Her eyes flashed back at Doug. "You asked Illy out?" She tries to not laugh, but her giggles flow out over her hand clasped across her mouth, trying to stop. "No..." Giggle. "I am sure she was kind at...letting you down easy....Betsy...nice."

Cypher has posed:
Doug's expression turns into a downright sour persimmon. He doesn't say anything, instead sitting on the bed. Finally though, he pipes up with, "You just have to tell her the truth, that while you care about her, you don't care about her that way. She's a nice girl, she'll understand." He exhales a breath.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie says, "Thats what I did, told her I honestly had not realized it, would still treat her like I had but a little sister would still be the same between us. She se is a good kid yea."

Wolfsbane has posed:
Somewhere, not far away, there is a presence Dani Moonstar may recognize. Since arriving back at the mansion, it's not one she's felt yet. However, it is a familiar one, a blend of thought that is both human and not entirely that, something notably wolfen. The source of it is somewhere a floor below, and when it registers on that side as well, there's a brief flash of surprise followed by muddied thoughts, something questioning.

Moonstar has posed:
"They always are Sam. Good kids." Dani smirks, and shakes her head. "And Doug isn't wrong, Sam. Be kind, but be straight with her..." Dani pauses, as though suddenly lost in thought. "...I..." She frowns, and closes her eyes. "I...think Rahne is back." That was a strange thing to say. It was a connection she felt. One she hadn't felt for some time, and directs Rahne to where the three of them were located...in this room.

Cypher has posed:
Doug sighs, and holds up his hands. "Listen." He says. "You're fine, Sam. You're fine. It's cool." He opens his minifridge. "I got Red Bull and Gatorade. And water. And a bag of Shannon's double chocolate cookies I swiped before Foley ate them all." He pauses, and straightens up. "I can't remember the last time the three of us were in the same place--"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks over and says "To bad Berto is in town, or would tell him to come over too. He looks over to Dani, and says "Tell her to get on up here and hang out with us. Don't get to see her as often since she move into town. Did rope her into showing Megan and Shannon around one day."

Wolfsbane has posed:
Wolfsbane rubs the side of her head. That sense is something that's distinctly familiar, yet new all over again. "Dani.." she murmurs to herself, glancing up a floor as if she can see exactly where they are. The distance grows as she redirects her path toward the stairs to make her way up, a little spring in her step.

Magik has posed:
Suddenly Illyana.

That's how she does, though, isn't it? There was nothing and then there she is, glancing around at the gathered masses with a bland pale-blue stare. "Meeting? Where is text?" Checking her phone in a hand that's perhaps too tight a grip and a jaw that is clinched too hard at whatever she sees there before putting it away in the pocket of her jeans. "What is this?" Motioning around with one extended finger.

Moonstar has posed:
"A long time ago Doug." Dani shivers, remembering the last time they were together. "Mow, we are here." She tries to forget and looks at Sam. "I will Sam. She already knows I think. It has been a while, so I expect her any moment..." Then, another sense of someone else...a darkness. "Illyana..." Dani whispers, as she starts to get a headache from the use of her senses and powers. "Anyone have a motrin?"

Cypher has posed:
Doug gets up, and gets a bottle of excedrine out of his desk, before he rattles it at Dani. *rattlerattle* "What this is," Doug says, "Is four, soon to be five, very good friends, being together in the same place for the first time in a very long time, and who knows when it'll happen again?" He offers Illyana one of the cookies out of that bag. They're cold, but they are double chocolate. "Hey, Illyana. Why are stairs always invited to the best parties?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie smiles and says "Just admitting to being a dummy but not quite going to hell yet." He smiles at Illyana, and says "It does look like we are getting ready to get in trouble doesn't it." He will move to try to time it to open the door right before Rahne knocks.

Wolfsbane has posed:
Good timing on Sam's part. Glancing down the hall as she begins to knock on the door, the fact Sam's already got it swinging open leads to Wolfsbane potentially striking him - lightly - in the chin a couple times before she's realized, "Wait, tha's no' th'...Sam!" Her eyes widen and a glimpse into Doug's room follows. She hadn't realized exactly where it was or who else was there. "Och..I'm sorry. Whit's going on in here?" A flash of embarrassment registers through the bond shared with Dani as she draws her hand back down quickly.

Magik has posed:
Illyana sniffs, eyes flicking over to Dani with a clipped nod, and then to Doug as the bag of cookies is passed her way. For a long second she stares at it... then snatches it in one quick moving hand, looking for some place to sit. Deciding on the floor, legs folded up beneath her. Cookies slid rapidly into her mouth, eyes fully turned down upon them resting in her lap. "Oh." Quiet. Singular. Pale-blue eyes flick up at Doug, "Is this joke? I do not want to hear joke..." One short pause, "Why?"

To Sam she shrugs a shoulder, bouncing it upwards. "You are stupid, is forgivable." The briefest, smallest, almost invisible hint of a smile around another cookie. "Stupid." Affectionate. Sad, very sad, but affectionate. "Privet, Rahne."

Cypher has posed:
"...Because they're *always down*." Doug says, before he finger-guns at Illyana. "But on the other hand, why can't stairs be trusted?"

Moonstar has posed:
Sheepishly, Dani moves forward and takes the excedrine from Doug. "Thanks..." she pops one of the pills into her mouth, then a second, and swallows. "Would have been better with whiskey, but thanks Doug." Dani offers him back the bottle and closes her eyes for a minute. Then opens them to smile at Illyana. "Hi Illy." Then, Rahne. A warm smile, a slight wave, and a "Hi." Short and succinct. Sensing it all.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie will take it on the chin literally and says "Hey now, Ah aint did nothing wrong this time fire top." He grins at her, and moves aside to let her into the room and says "The burbon and lightning is in my room, not sure if Dig Doug has stashed some around here yet.

Wolfsbane has posed:
Wolfsbane's eyes take in each person one by one. Three with hair of a similar color to each other, one with a darker color, and her with her reddish style. "Ahh, hullo Doug, an' Illyana. Sam...Dani." While a hint of a disapproving look crosses her expression at the mention of alcohol, because of course it does, she's looking more at the Cheyenne than anyone else. A hand darts up to the back of her neck to rub there along with at an ear, and she hesitates when it comes down to what to do. Dani could feel it, conflicting urges. "How..have ye been?" she asks, expression not unlike that of someone who thinks she's seeing a ghost. Surely an overreaction.

Magik has posed:
Illyana doesn't laugh at the joke, rather she narrows her eyes at Doug, "... Why?" Ghosting her eyes down to the cookies for another, then holding the bag out to someone else, "Remove this before I am eating all of them. I want ice cream."

Cypher has posed:
"...Because they're always up to something?" Doug says, raising his eyebrows.

Moonstar has posed:
To the exclusion of everything else, Dani pauses as things slow down. She can feel that tickle in the back of her mind where Rahne was, and that brought her a small amount of comfort for its familiarity. Looking at the young woman, Dani smiles, and then, with a rush of movement, hugs Rahne with a midgeon of her strength. "Rahny. It is good to see you." Squeeze. Then release. She ignores the cold shoulder she gets from Illyana who doesn't return her greeting. Same as always. She looks over at Sam first, then Doug, and shrugs. "Looks like most of us are back together again."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods, and says "Oh speaking about back together, Ah am pretty sure Ah can say this and Doug can back me up. Berto wants any of us who want to help, to come help with his new project X-corp. They got their building set up and starting to try to set up more stuff down in Mutant town.

Magik has posed:
"You will stop." Illyana points at Doug... narrowing her eyes, despite the growing half grin. It never quite makes it. Her legs pull up tight to her chest with her arms wrapped around them and her face turned down to bury her face in her knees. At least for a moment, then she turns her head to lay her cheek there instead. Eyes shifting slowly about familiar faces until the settle on Dani. "You look different."

Cypher has posed:
"Yeah, but if I stop," Doug says, looking around at the others, "You'll never know about the world's most exclusive graveyard." He blinks, innocently. Then he says, "So... um." Doug says, "Dani!" He adds, "You do look different, but I think you look great! I don't keep booze in my room." He clears his throat. "But uh. I have some pot brownies in a tupperware under my mattress." He looks around. "It's *medical*."

Moonstar has posed:
Her eyes find Illyana's and she nods. "I am different. A lot different." A smile for Doug. "Thank you Doug. A lot has happened." She waves her hand. "No brownies for me." A giggle. A small one. Looking over at Sam, Dani shrugs. "I'm there if 'berto needs me. Anytime." Backing towards the nearest wall, Dani looks around the room and smiles. "Amazing that we have come this far." She looks at Rahne and smiles.

Wolfsbane has posed:
Wolfsbane slips into the embrace, her arms sliding around Dani's torso for the few moments it lasts. There's enough of a squeeze to feel it without a doubt, and Dani will also notice a surge of warmth in the wolfen mutant's mind. "I've missed ye," she admits after stepping back again, but it doesn't look as if much information is forthcoming from her right now beyond her adding, "I moved tae Mutant Town no' verra long ago."

She'll leave it up to Sam to explain Roberto's project, but there's a grimace toward Doug - first for his bad jokes, then there's a wrinkling of her nose at the mention of his..medicinal chocolates. She bites her tongue, literally, but there's more of a disapproving look in her expression even if that sort of thing is legal these days. Instead, she asks, "Is..tha' whit happened after..ye know..?" A hand gestures toward Doug's arm. That arm.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie will move to stand next to Dani old habits kicking in perhaps. "Yea, lot of us trying to help out that way. Ah am even running a club out there." He will look to the group, and says "Doug suggested something the other day and now that most of us are here, figure should probably see what you guys think. Talked about taking the new class out for a camping trip or something, give them space a bit away from us so they can get to know one another but us close enough to come get if need be.

Magik has posed:
"Change is good." Illyana says to Dani with a forward nod with her cheek brushing her jeans covered knees. Both arms tighten around her shins, looking to Samuel, "X-Corps. I need something here on Earth that is occupying my mind. If I am going to stay-" Lifting her head, chin up, back straight, "-And I am going to stay...-" Defiant of that fact, "-I cannot think about last few months. Tell Roberto, if I do not seeing him first, that I want to help. I will provide magical security for Corp. Against Demons... against whatever. Against ants, I do not care. But I will -not- sit stewing in darkness. ... maybe I kill more drug dealers... that always feels very good." Glancing off, brow furrowed, slow nod, "Da. I kill more drug dealers too."

Moonstar has posed:
Looking back at Rahne for a moment, Dani mouths "You moved?" With a questioning look. Something to discuss later of course. "I missed you too..." She adds, and then returns her attention to the room as Sam stands next to her. It felt good and comforting, like an old habit. "Good idea Sam!" A pause. "Cahnge can be good..." She kind of agrees with Illyana. "Wow, the more things change, the more they stay the same." Dani looks around and with a motion, opens the door to the room. "Thank you everyone. It is great to be home. I need to get some rest, but perhaps we can talk more later?" With a final look at each of them, first Sam, then Doug, Illyana, and finally Rahne, Dani heads to her room, looking exhausted.

Cypher has posed:
Doug holds up that hand, his arm shiny and black and striped with gold techno-organic circuitry. "Yeah." Doug says, flexing it into a fist. "I'm still figuring it out." He says. "So far... it's an arm. A little stronger than a regular arm, a little more durable, but it doesn't seem to have any super-powers." Then he looks up at Dani, and says, "Leaving already?" He asks, but then he says, "...We'll talk soon." He looks at Sam. "It's fine, by the way. You're an adult, she's a student. That's just the way it is. Just don't ever tell her about Lila. God, looking back, that was *so inappropriate*, what was wrong with us?"

Wolfsbane has posed:
"We're no' supposed tae kill, Illyana," Wolfsbane says by way of a reminder, though she approaches the mentioning of it carefully. Never know how the Queen of Limbo will react, though she's seemed to be in a good mood so far if the smiling is a sign. Dani is given a short nod, adding, "Ye should come around muh apartment sometime. I'm only just visiting here for noo when I need tae." Yes, some things have definitely been changing in their lives as they've grown older. Doug's explanation draws a sympathetic look out of her. "I hope it doesnae cause ye any problems, Doug." Oddly, Sam's camping idea doesn't generate the interest one might expect out of her. She merely says, "If I can, maybe."

Magik has posed:
"When is this stopping me?" Illyana says quietly to Rahne, "Should give them second chance to kill?" Leaning forward, one brow elevating above her pale-blue eye, "Maybe take them to place where they are provided for? Niet. They die. They want to die. Why else would they keeping making me kill them. Is so much easier to run away from me... instead the attack." Her chin drops down on her knees, "I cannot help it if they are stupid."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks to Illyana, studying her a bit he hmms a bit and says "We can argue that at another time, tonight, I just am happy to see each of you and have you all close, even if it a few miles. It is good to know we can all get together."

Cypher has posed:
"Sometimes..." Doug says, "We have no choice. They take the option away from us. ...I would kill to protect any of you, and I wouldn't think twice about doing it." Then he frowns. "I would do so, so much worse. What happened to the NHG? That was me. I was so angry I-- I crushed them. I'm not proud of it... but I'm not ashamed of it, either."

Wolfsbane has posed:
In spite of Sam's words, it's the Scottish mutant who's the next to leave, not long after Dani's gone, and very soon after Illyana's given her opinion on killing. "I almost killed someone when we went after th' ones who shot ye, Doug. But Sam stopped me in time." Whether Wolfsbane would have managed to stop herself is not clear, and she hasn't quite been the same since then, since finding out she's on a hit list as well. "An' I'm sorry, but ye're wrong. We always have a choice. We can find another way." Frowning further as Doug reveals how little remorse he has over what he did, she shakes her head sadly and says to the three left, "Sorry, I have tae go. I canna stay an' talk about killing people like it's supposed tae be a normal thing." And so she does, her shoulders slumping as she exits the room.

Magik has posed:
Illyana watches Rahne storm out. Then begins to stand up as well, pushing herself off her seated position with a hand in the couch, "Davidanya." There is no argument or attempt to change Wolfsbanes opinion. There is no attempt to express her own.. She stands, she leaves.

Suddenly no Illyana.

Cypher has posed:
Doug watches Rahne go, and then Illyana, and then he looks at Sam. "Nature's first green is gold, her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower, but only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, so dawn goes down to day." He gets up from where he was sitting, and sighs, suddenly looking very sad. "...Nothing gold can stay."