xp_logs | log: Clarice and Angelo

set last Friday, Clarice goes to see Angelo to discuss Charlie and his non-coping. Once again, he doesn't really tell her much.

As much as Clarice was into sewing and clothing, ironing was just something she liked doing. In fact, she hated it, especially at the moment, so she was more than glad to leave it for a little while longer to hang with Angelo. They hadn't spoken in a while, not beyond the usual pleasantries and whatnot that came from living in the same house, but that needed to change.

"Hey," she said, coming into the rec room where he was watching TV. She'd seen him look better, but she'd also seen him look much worse, so she wasn't entirely certain how to judge his current state of mind. At least he wasn't being reclusive again.

He glanced up at her and waved lazily. Joyita was sprawled across his lap, pinning him to the couch now she was full-grown. "Hey, Pixie. How's it goin'?"

"It's going," Clarice sat down on the floor near him, giving Joyita her hand to lick and gnaw on lightly. She was a good puppy. "You?"

"Also goin'. Been better, been worse, but I figure you guessed that already."

"Yeah," Clarice nodded introspectively, Paige was awake even if she was still in the medlab but Charlie was...she didn't want to say it. "At least the current crisis's are somewhat self-contained, y'know?" As much as Clarice was into sewing and clothing, ironing was just something she liked doing. In fact, she hated it, especially at the moment, so she was more than glad to leave it for a little while longer
to hang with Angelo. They hadn't spoken in a while, not beyond the usual pleasantries and whatnot that came from living in the same house, but that needed to change.

"Yeah. Nothin' comin' in from outside to try an' get us. Makes a nice change."

Why did it always seem like she and Angelo were talking around each other instead of to each other? At least, it seemed that way recently. Clarice distinctly remembered a time when it wasn't like that. "You know if Amanda's going to Charlie's funeral?"

If she asked, Angelo... would probably be evasive about the answer. But it'd have something to do with how he was fairly sure he'd be leaving soon, maybe for good. But then, he'd be wrong. "I think so. She was really cut up about it, but I figure she'd want to say goodbye right. You know when it is?"

"Not yet...I...I've been kinda trying to avoid it. Not his funeral, but finding out when it is. Been trying to iron a suit for a few hours now. I think I've got the pants done." Clarice sounded doubtful, as if ignoring the problem might make it go away for a little while, even though she knew it wouldn't. "This isn't like my grandmother, Ange. She was old and sick. Charlie was our age! He wasn't sick! There was no good reason!"

Angelo looked at her for a long moment, then sighed and shoved the dog over gently so he could reach out and stroke her hair, hoping it'd have a soothing effect. "I know, Pixie. But it's not like... he wasn't sick, but he sure as hell wasn't well, or he wouldn't've done it."

Clarice didn't bother to ask if he'd ever thought about suicide, she wasn't stupid. "You know how you said I should stop berating myself and saying I'm stupid?" at his nod she continued, "Well, even when I was locked at home and pissed at everything, when I thought my life - that is school, friends, everything, was over because I was a mutant...I never thought to kill myself. Sometimes, I wonder why I never thought of it, since it probably would have sounded really good back then. Not that I'm going to now!"

He gave that some thought, then said slowly, "I'd figure that'd be because you still had hope. 'Cause you never really thought things weren't gonna get better for you, ever."

"I guess," she sounded doubtful, "What about you? I'd think you'd be a lot happier now that Paige is coherant again."

"It's good she's doin' better", he answered sincerely, if not going into his full conflicted feelings about Paige. Clarice nodded, not forcing the issue. The relationship was somewhat complicated at best and that Angelo wasn't cursing her name was enough for now. "Yeah. So..."

"So. How've you been? Really now."

Rolling her eyes, Clarice shifted to turn around and face Angelo while trying to avoid getting a faceful of Joyita tongue at the same time. "Nice try, Angelo, but no deflection. Seriously. You've been really,
really distant to everyone."

"Not everyone", he protested, but had to admit that Amanda was the only person he could honestly claim that for. "'s just been a tough few months, y'know?"

"Always is," Clarice agreed softly, "...but it's been a tough few months for you for a long time...You know I'm here, right? Anytime, day or night."

He gave her a quiet half-smile. "Can't say you're wrong... an' yeah, I know. Thanks."

Groaning, Clarice gave Joyita a big kiss on her head and stood up, "Well, I better go finish ironing. Something tells me it won't get done on it's own."