xp_logs | LOG: [Angelo, Marius] So, about all your filing

The aftermath of the little incident in the office, and for once Marius isn't waking up with inexplicable bruises. However, he's coming to find the explicable ones aren't much better. As always, Angelo asks the important questions.

Marius sat up and winced as the movement sent a throb of pain through his face. He'd only been out for a moment, but he suspected he was going to have a hell of a bruise. Despite his frustration at yet another incident that had landed him in Medlab, Marius had to admit he was impressed -- Angelo was stronger than he looked.

He swung his feet off the bed. After the initial exam Amelia had told him to wait half an hour before attempting to leave, just in case. He hated to admit it, but she'd probably been right to do so. The attacks had taken more out of him than he'd realized. He felt weak. That could be bad. I think I need something to eat. . . . Someone. He shouldn't have needed to worry about that again for almost another week. The thought made him angry, somehow.

Marius thought about putting on his gloves, then frowned and pitched them into the trashcan. The mouths had torn up the palms during the attack. The fact he'd somehow managed to bite himself on the scalp and forehead wasn't helping his mood. Damned if he cared about covering up right now anyway. He went to find Amelia.

Angelo had also been ordered to wait, just to make sure all was well after his collision with the wall. So he was sitting in a chair in the waiting area, looking disgruntled.

Marius noticed the older boy and hesitated. He wasn't feeling particularly social at the moment, but good manners dictated he should say something. He shook his head and changed course. "Oi, Ange," he said by way of attracting Angelo's attention, "how you doin'?"

Angelo glanced up. "Well, I feel fine. But they won't let me go yet 'cause of the... wall thing. You?"

"Bit banged up, but nothin' serious. She'll be right soon enough." He should probably ask Kyle to donate, he realized. A healing factor might be a good way to go right now. Marius started to scratch his head, then winced again as his fingers found one of the lacerations. He pulled his hand away and wiped it on his jeans. "Look, ta for poppin' me one back there. For true. That was a bad scene."

Angelo shrugged. "'s what needed doin'. I'm just sorry I couldn't find a way to do without givin' you... that." He nodded to the bruise.

"No worries. Haroun fractured my cheekbone first time I went off on him an' Rahne." Marius wondered if that was why he'd attacked him this time around. Nathan he could understand -- from what he'd been able to piece together with Amelia the man's inadvertant use of telepathy had set him off -- but Haroun hadn't even gotten the chance to enter the room. Marius shrugged. "Rugby's left worse. An' when I'm caught in a power-loop outside intervention's the only way we've figured can get me out of it."

"Okay, then. Put it down to what needed doin', then. An' if it's not too bad...."

"It's not. Or" Marius corrected, "not fracture-bad, at any rate. Got one hell of a haymaker, though." He smiled, but even to him it didn't feel right. "Can actually remember it. Usually I don't."

Angelo tilted his head. "Because of the feedback thing, or...?"

Marius thought of his experience with Dani and mentally shied away. "No, those I can remember all right. It's just . . . I'm not generally around for an actual attack sort of attack. Brain's normally in complete black-out mode." Normally, but not this time. I was angry. Marius ran a hand through his hair, catching himself just in time to limit the contact to his fingertips. "Don't know what got into me. I couldn't stop it. Couldn't even think to try."

"Nathan had some kind of precog projection...attack.. thing. It's happened before, so I guess this time it did somethin' weird with your powers?"

"Yeah." Marius folded his arms, eyes moving from the other boy to the floor tiles. "There was somethin' in my head," he said, unable to keep the revulsion out of his voice. "Felt -- wrong. I couldn't push it out. It . . ." He made an irritated noise, unable to understand what he was trying to describe. He looked back up at Angelo. "Did he get you, too? You seemed right enough."

"...somethin' got me", Angelo answered carefully. "I was tryin' to hold him down an' then I was flyin' across the room."

"I think that was me." Marius flexed his hands, almost unconsciously. "Not literally, but I think I set it off. He wasn't doin' anything like that until I pushed back. But I meant in your head. Did he hit you with the precog or whatever that was too?"

"Oh. Yeah, he did. But... didn't anyone start teachin' you how to shield yet?"

"Not as such, no. Didn't think to ask. If it means fewer incidents like that, though, I'll be lookin' into it." Marius made a fist and fingered the ridge of teeth on his palm gingerly. "You can shield against stuff like that? Without powers?"

"Not as well as you can if you are a telepath, but yeah, there's ways. An' since you can use that kind of power, you'd probably be better at shielding than me."

"It's not mine, though. I only use what other people lay out there first. Or what I'm borrowin' at the time." Marius dropped his hands in disgust. "Ever wish you could just be rid of this whole mutant thing? Because as she stands, I'm about done. Mad power-interactions, random attacks, the whole lot." Inwardly he couldn't help but wonder, Is this ever going to stop?

Angelo shrugged. "If I wasn't a mutant, I'd still be tryin' to survive out in LA. An' I've got it good here, even with the random attacks."

"I was fine how I was. This place is all right, I like you lot an' all, but I could do less with the actual bein' a mutant bit. Because with this" Marius extended one hand, palm out, "shiteload of complications." He looked at the hand and snorted before dropping it again. "I liked bein' uncomplicated," he muttered. "Suited me."

Angelo shot him a sympathetic grin. "You think anyone here wouldn't say the same? But that's what you're here for, to figure it out. Get it simpler again, if not simple."

He really shouldn't be whinging at Angelo. This is the bloke with, what, two meters more skin than he needs? That must've been a joy manifesting. Marius sighed and attempted to pull his mood around to something approaching normal. "Yeah, safe haven in a world that hates and fears us an' all that. Won't deny it's the best place to be, just wishin' I could get a handle on things a bit better now I am. Ah, well. If wishes were horses we'd all eat for a year, hey?" He carefully folded his hands on top of his head. "Speaking of which, I still should. Gotta have Amelia check the volunteer list for me. I'd ask Kyle, but I feel a bit dodgy askin' twice in a month. He'll start thinking I have ulterior motives."

Angelo nodded. "I'd volunteer, but... you really don't want to be dealin' with this power for however long it is without knowin' how to rein it in."

Marius grinned. It felt more natural this time. "Right, that's not so enjoyable. Ta anyway, though. And for punchin' me off your boss. That's what, the second time I've had a go at him? Third?" He shrugged. "Ah, can't keep track."

"I had a go at him once myself", Angelo confided, amused. "'Course, he knew exactly what he was doin' when he prodded me into it..."

The younger boy laughed. "How'd you do?"

"Not bad, considerin' he's about a foot taller than me. Landed a couple of punches, anyway." He grinned.

"Impressive. I've seen him go at it before. With Dom, yet. No wonder you had me out so easy." Marius laughed again. "Good talkin' to you, Ange. We should try this a time me and your boss haven't gone somehow mental."

Angelo chuckled. "We'll have to see if we can find a time when that's true."

"There's a challenge if I ever heard one." The other boy gave him a careless wave as he turned to go. "Ah, well. Still got that independant project, so there'll be time. Now I've got to see a woman about bone marrow. Moira'll have my head on a plate if I have two Incidents in one day."