xp_logs | Sooraya and Tommy

Sooraya's been watching the coverage on her suite's TV. After a while, she starts to get really worried and seeks out someone to talk to. Surprisingly, Tommy does a decent job of reassuring her. Or makes a valiant effort to, at least.

"Tommy?" Sooraya knocked timidly at the door in front of her, shoulders hunched and face drawn. She waited for a moment and then knocked again, louder this time. She needed to see a friendly face, and soon. Hopefully Tommy was in.

Tommy still would have reeled at being called a friendly face around here. As it was, he was in, having holed himself in his room first with a test and then a self induced project working on his mutation. Muttering softly to himself about changes as he pulled his gloves on, he made his way to his door. "Sooraya? What's wrong?" He asked softly when he opened the door and saw her.

She peered up at him with wide eyes, her hands now clasped tightly together. "I have been watching the TV... the news is very bad. Nathan is there. I am scared." She said this all in one breath, heedless of how incomprehensible it may have been to the young man.

Wonderful, she was worried about something about which Tommy had no idea what was going on. Still...He motioned her over to the common room couch, getting her to sit. "I'm afraid I haven't been near a TV lately. What's going on that has you so worked up?" He asked in his most calming voice, being careful not to touch her.

Sooraya took a deep breath; it wouldn't do to scramble her already unsteady words. "The... city. Prague. There is fighting there, with mutants. It is very bad. Nathan is there, and Angelo and Rahne and Medusa. It is dangerous for them, I think."

Okay so Tommy had a bit of an idea what was going on, as he'd been following what was going on in Prague for a while. What he hadn't realized was violence had broken out, though in all it didn't surprise him. "I'm sure they’re prepared for it...they wouldn't be there if they weren't." Tommy wasn't very good at this reassuring thing so he hoped he was saying the right thing, or something close to it.

"Yes... you are right." Sooraya nodded, trying hard to concentrate on Tommy's words and not the frightening images she had seen on the TV screen earlier. "It is sad all the people are being hurt. I wish it is not so."

"It's what happens, unfortunately...in this day and age." Oh great, that wasn't exactly reassuring. Good job Jones. "Look Sooraya, I'm sure they'll be fine. Nathan and I don't exactly see eye to eye... but I know he can take care of himself."

"Yes?" Sooraya asked hopefully, looking at Tommy gratefully. "He is very smart, it is true."

Tommy smiled or at least he tried. Did he mention he wasn't very good at this? "See? Everything will be fine."

"I hope you are right." Sooraya gave him a tentative smile, glancing down at her hands in her lap. "I will be happy when he is come home. When they are all come home. It does not seem right here. Everyone is angry."

Everyone was angry? Why was everyone pointing that out to him? "Is something else going on?"

"No... I do not think that. It is only hard to watch, and not to do. Many are..." Sooraya made a face as she tried to remember the word and failed. "They are angry for not to get to help. They are good, to want this. But it is not enough for them."

Tommy groaned softly, putting a hand up to rub his temples. Mansion full of do-gooders, though he wouldn't admit it to himself that if he had known he would probably have been one of them. "They are helpless and they hate it." He said bluntly before taking a deep breath. "They can't solve the world's problems. A lot of people here have a hard time realizing that. But don't let them get you down. The people who need help are getting it, that should be enough."

Sooraya found that she was picking at the cuticles of her nails and frowned, burying her hands in her lap. "I will not be down. But I will still worry for Nathan and all others there. I will ask a teacher if I can help and how. They will know, I hope."

"Yeah, they would be. Just...be prepared for them to say nothing." Tommy knew what that felt like, to know something was going on and being able to do nothing about it. It's part of why he had liked activism, he felt like he was doing something. And he really needed to stop thinking about it, that was all behind him.

"I will," she murmured. After sitting silently for another moment, Sooraya shifted, looking back up at him. "I will go. Thank you, Tommy. I hope I do not bother you."

"Sooraya..." He sighed. "No you weren't bothering me. You’re welcome to come find me at anytime. I wish I could be more reassuring..." He shook his head sadly. "I'm not very good at this..."

"Yes, you are. You listen, and talk to me. I am glad. It is why I come see you and not sit in the room alone." Sooraya gave him another smile, wishing she could reassure him now. "Thank you."

He gave her a small smile, because he could see her intent. He could give her that much. "You’re welcome Sooraya."

Standing, the girl shuffled for the door, careful not to make a sound as she slipped into the hallway. She turned and waved at Tommy before closing the door behind her, then turned to head back to her room. It was going to be a long night for all of them, she thought.