xp_logs | Log - Ororo and Marie - Thursday afternoon

Marie is still moping in her room, and Ororo takes it upon herself to drag her out of her funk. And what better way to do that than a haircut?

"Marie, it is me, Ororo... may I come in?" Ororo leaned close to the
door, knocking lightly at it once more. Despite having spent the time
after San Diego back at the mansion, she found that she was just as
busy as ever. Part of her time was spent speaking with confused
parents about why they might've seen their children's philosophy
teacher on TV moments before the cameras went down, or organizing
further relief efforts and supplies to go out from the mansion. The
other part of the time, she found, was taken up by dealing with the
stubborn and sometimes nigh-intractable residents of the mansion.
Convincing those that needed rest to rest was task enough in itself,
though with Marie, she thought the exact opposite was needed. The girl
had been withdrawn ever since returning to the mansion, and Ororo was
worried. "Please, Marie, open the door."

Marie was curled up in a ball on her bed and it was only the plaintive
note in Ororo's voice that finally stirred her to move. Slowly
unfolding herself she padded over to the door and cracked it, peering
out at the concerned white haired woman. Opening the door the rest of
the way, she leaned against it, not quite willing to invite Ororo
inside. "Is everything ok?" she asked cautiously.

"I am fine," Ororo replied, a gentle smile coming over her face at the
sight of the girl. "But I am concerned about you. I have barely seen
you since you returned from San Diego."

A hand automatically went to her head and Marie took a step backwards.
"Ah don't think Ah'm good company right now," she said. "Plus, Ah
keep gettin' swarmed by the kids with questions. 'Whats Shamu feel
like? Can Shamu talk?'" As she spoke, she mimicked the younger
students' tones and facial expressions, before making a face of her
own.

Ororo chuckled in spite of herself, inclining her head. "I understand
you may wish to avoid the barrage of questions. But if I promise not
to ask about Shamu, may I come in?"

After a barely noticeable pause, Marie nodded then stepped back. She
shut the door after 'Ro entered and then perched on the edge of her
bed. The room was dark, the only light that which streamed through the
curtained window. "So…" she started unsure of what to say.

"It is rather dark in here," 'Ro remarked, as if that wasn't exactly
the effect Marie had been going for. "It is a lovely day outside,
perhaps you would like to open the windows to allow some light and air
in."

Rolling her eyes, Marie crossed her arms and stared defiantly at her
friend. "And what exactly would light and air change?" Can they
chase my nightmares away?

Crossing over to a window, 'Ro put a hand on one of the curtains. "It
is somewhat more difficult to be withdrawn and upset when there is a
beautiful, sunny day outside, I have found. Perhaps if we opened these
up, you would in turn feel more open to talking with me about what is
bothering you."

Wincing at the sudden brightness that entered the room, Marie let out
a pensive sigh. She felt guilty for acting so sullen when all 'Ro
wanted to do was help. "Everyone keeps staring at me." She stared
down, as if somehow looking at her toes would make her words sound
less childish. "Ah mean, the gloves were bad enough."

'Ro had been expecting that, more or less, but it didn't make her feel
any less for the poor girl. "One of the downfalls in living in such
close proximity with so many small children," she said, smiling a bit
as she approached Marie. "Their curiosity is not always appreciated.
But you have nothing to worry about... it will soon die down."

"But my hair!" A hand flew to cover her mouth as it opened in surprise
as she heard herself speak her thoughts out loud. Her cheeks flushed
and she looked away from 'Ro. "Ah'm such a selfish brat. Ah'm one of
the lucky ones, not in the medlab and not broken and here Ah am, being
vain."

"There is no need for such self-loathing, Marie. You have undergone as
much trauma as anyone else here - well, almost anyone," 'Ro added,
thinking of Haller and Nathan down in the medlab. "There is no reason
for you to feel selfish."

"Ah guess," Marie said, though she didn't sound convinced. She stared
out the window before crossing over to it and placing both her palms
against it. She watched a few kids play on the lawn and lapsed into
silence. How to explain that she felt like a prisoner, however self
imposed the sentence was?

"Of course, the longer you allow yourself to feel that way, the harder
it is to pull yourself from it." There was a hint of a knowing tone to
Ororo's voice. "But that does not make it impossible. You only must
resolve to do something about it... or allow someone to help you."

Resting her forehead against the cool glass, Marie was silent for a
few minutes. She was relieved that Ororo let her quietly work out her
own thoughts without interjecting. Finally, she looked over at her
friend and uttered one word very softly. "How?"

Ororo smiled more widely this time and swept an arm around the room.
"First, by helping me open the rest of these windows. Then by coming
out with me... yes, out to the town."

Opening her mouth to argue, Marie quickly changed her mind as she
recognized the look on Ororo's face. "Fine, fine!" she exclaimed
throwing up her hands in mock surrender. Opening the rest of the
windows, she trailed after 'Ro, looking wistfully over her shoulder
once before her room was out of sight.

Ororo linked her arm in Marie's leading the girl through the hallways
and down the stairs towards the garage. "The best part of having half
the staff gone, and the other half in the medlab is that we have our
pick of cars," she said with a chuckle.

Allowing herself a small smile, Marie grabbed a pair of keys and
tossed them to 'Ro. "If Ah'm gonna leave the mansion, Ah'm gonna do
it in style," she said and walked over to a sleek black sports car.

Nodding appreciatively, 'Ro slipped into the driver's seat and turned
the ignition, listening to the smooth purr of the engine. So maybe it
wasn't Scott's bike or Forge's 'new' car, but it would certainly serve
their purposes well enough.

The drive into town did not take long, though for two women who could
fly, it did seem a bit earthbound. Ororo remedied this by rolling the
windows down and driving fast enough that Scott would've given her a
Look had he known about it. She didn't talk much, preferring to let
Marie sort through her thoughts on her own, although she did wave to a
few familiar faces as they neared the town center.

Staring at the scenery passing by, it was easy for Marie to get lost
in her thoughts. So much had happened in the past week – but wasn't
that always the way it was? If it wasn't Magneto, it was somebody
else…always there was something. But this situation had struck her
harder than usual because it was so reminiscent of her entrance to the
mansion (minus the whole destroying a city part). As the car came to
a stop, she looked up in surprise at their location. "Um…a spa?"

"Yes," 'Ro said with a smile, unbuckling her seatbelt and turning to
look at her friend. "I can personally attest that they are quite adept
at post-trauma makeovers. Lorna would agree as well."

Marie began laughing and couldn't seem to stop. Only in Westchester
would there be a salon experienced in post-traumatic haircuts. "Ah
know it's not funny…but it is!" she said before getting out of the
car.

Ororo grinned, relieved that Marie hadn't refused to go in the salon
or worse. "I understand completely," she replied as she locked up and
turned to the spa. "Just as Harry's has become a haven for post-Danger
Room griping sessions..."

Following 'Ro into the spa, Marie halted as soon as she entered and
tugged on the older woman's sleeve. "What about my…condition?" she
whispered. This was the first time Marie had been to a spa since
manifesting and she was suddenly nervous.

A moment of worry crossed 'Ro's face, though she quickly smoothed it
over with a reassuring smile. "I think that can be dealt with easily
enough. I will speak with them. This is just for you to relax... there
is no need to worry."

A bit of her concern was alleviated, though she knew it would be
difficult for her to completely relax. She realized all it took was a
request for the person working on her to wear gloves, but she just
hated asking it and the stares and questions that always followed.
"Thanks," she said as she released her hold on Ororo's arm.

Nodding, Ororo led Marie to stand by the window, turning to face her.
This time it was she who put a hand on the girl's arm, squeezing it
gently. "Marie, you know that you do not have to do this if you do not
want to... any of it. I do not want you to feel as if you are expected
to face anything you are not comfortable with." The look in her eyes
was enough to tell Marie that she wasn't just talking about the spa.

Marie lifted her chin stubbornly in the air. The extra meaning to
'Ro's words were not lost on her. "Ah can do it," she declared. "Ah
choose to be here." Ororo wasn't the only who could say something with
multiple meanings. "You really think they can fix this?" she asked as
she unwound the scarf that was wrapped around her head.

"I think there is a good chance of that, yes," 'Ro said with a nod,
her expression unchanging as Marie balled the scarf in her hands. "One
moment, I will go speak with them, and request that Stacy be the one
to do your hair. She is who did mine, and she made the process very
bearable." Reaching up to run her fingers through her own short hair,
'Ro smiled.

Watching 'Ro talk to a young woman with a short, no nonsense (but
cute) hairstyle, Marie swallowed nervously. She smiled with relief as
Stacy nodded at something Ororo said and slipped on a pair of latex
gloves. When beckoned, she walked over and settled gingerly into the
stylist's chair. "Maybe Ah should just shock everybody and come back
with a bright pink mohawk," she said with a wink at her friend to hide
her remaining anxiety.

"You would be able to pull it off well," 'Ro said, chuckling.
"Although I do not think it would keep the younger children from
staring at you. Or the older ones. Or the staff, for that matter."

Marie laughed. "So green and purple are ok, but pink is too much? Ah
suppose the mohawk would be overkill. Though Ah'd love to see you
with one," she joked. Stacy began clucking over her hair and offering
suggestions, mostly stressing either a modified bob or pixie cut.
Pursing her lips, Marie turned to 'Ro. "You pick…Ah just don't know."

"Hmm..." 'Ro tilted her head to one side, then the other as she looked
at Marie consideringly. "The pixie cut is more drastic, but I think it
would look very cute on you."

"Not many options with most of it destroyed as it is," she mused.
With an overdramatic wave of her hand, Marie said "And so it shall be
done!" As Stacy busied herself, the two women talked about everything
except earthquakes, Magneto and California. By the end of the
appointment, Marie almost felt like a different person.

"Marie, you look wonderful," 'Ro said when Stacy finally stepped back
to display her handiwork. "I mean, of course you do," she added
hastily as the woman gave her a look. "That is no surprise. How do you
feel?"

"Good," she answered looking at her reflection on the wall mirror.
"Ah've never had short hair," she admitted to 'Ro. "Doesn't look half
bad." She turned her head from one side to another, admiring Stacy's
skill. Reaching out, she wrapped her Ororo in a tight hug. "Ah didn't
even know how much Ah needed that."

"That is why I am here," 'Ro said warmly, returning the hug. "Because
I am so much older and wiser, I know these things."

Taking a step back, Marie patted 'Ro's hair with one hand. "Yes
indeed, looks like Ah am out with an old lady. 'Course, what am Ah
callin' myself then?" she said pointing to her own streak of white.
"Whatdya say old woman, up for some ice cream? Or do Ah need to find
you a wheelchair?" Marie's playful tone and the twinkle in her eye
kept her words from being too serious.

"I can still eat ice cream from a wheelchair," Ororo said with a
dignified look. "And just for that, maybe I will not let you drive
back to the mansion..."

"We can't have that, can we? How about a bribe? My treat." Linking
arms with 'Ro she headed off in the pursuit of the frozen treat. She
knew she'd probably return to seek a little solitude in her room at
the mansion when they got back…but maybe now she'd leave the lights on
and the windows open.