xp_logs | Callie helps Julian unpack (Backdated: Saturday Night)

Callie offers to help Julian unpack his things and the two bond. Backdated to Saturday (12/6) night.

Eager for some more company, not to mention an extra hand when dealing with the mountain of boxes that had been shipped with him, Julian headed away from his laptop, leaving it playing ‘Black in Black.’ He headed down the hallway toward the rec room that Karolina had shown him the night before. He could hear a movie playing down the hallway, but couldn’t make out what it was.

There within the room Callie was busy doing, well absolutely nothing. After her exam she had returned to the mansion with the plan to relax for the rest of the day. So instead of doing homework, she headed to the rec room and settled in to watch a film and chat with her father. Now, the not-so-dulcet tones of "A Muppet Christmas Carol" filled the room as the screen was alive with dancing Muppets, while her laptop rested on her lap. She had seen where Julian had said he would seek her out to take her up on the offer to help unpack, but he had yet to arrive.

Julian rounded the corner and saw who he assumed was Callie. Not actually knowing how many pink girls with pointy ears there were around here- and he had seen those blonde twins walking around earlier- Julian cleared his throat slightly, “Um, are you Callie?” He approached the couch slowly, his bare feet not making a sound against the carpeted floor.

"Hmm..." Callie turned her head to see who was asking about her. The speaker, she discovered, was a young man who appeared about her age. As she had never seen this person before she figured he was the new student. "Oh hey," she continued, quickly rising to her feet and walking toward him. "Ya. I'm Callie. You must be Julian right?" She extended her hand. "Welcome to Xavier's."

He took her hand and smiled at her, doing his best to be charming. Her profile picture hadn’t done this snow bunny justice, she was taller than he imagined and even the pink skin seemed to suit her. “Thanks, I’m” he paused for a moment, letting the handshake linger for a moment longer than his mother would have considered to be ‘proper,’ “glad to be here. Yeah, I’m Julian, it’s nice to meet you Callie.” He glanced at the TV just as Fonzie-Bear came on screen wearing a Santa hat. “Is this the Muppet’s Christmas Carroll?”

"Yup!" Callie smiled brightly and turned her attention back to the television for a few moments before picking up the remote and pausing the action. "So do you still want some help with that unpacking?"

“That’d be great,” he replied, “if you’re sure you don’t mind.” He made a motion to the doorway and tilted his head slightly. “I have a mountain of boxes, so your help would actually make a huge difference.” He waited for her to gather up her things, “So, small talk time, where are you from, what’s your power and who’s your favorite band?”

"I don't mind," she insisted as she hurried to return the DVD to it's case and close her laptop before staring out toward Julian's room. "Born and raised in Vermont, though dad moved us to Italy a year ago so that's "home" now I guess. I'm a chlorokinetic. You know, plant control and whatnot. And what was the last one? Ah yes, favorite band. Well I'm really partial to Sondre Lerche at the moment, but I have this fondness for Peggy Sue and the Pirates, Tegan and Sara, and um, oh, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, because it is Christmas time. Your turn."

Julian led the way through the hallway back to his room, “Clorokinetic, that’s cool…I’m a telekinetic myself- I make things go smash with my mind, but I’m working on getting better at it so I’m not as destructive. Hence being here I guess,” he purposely left out the part about his powers sometimes going crazy when he was sleeping. “Um, I was born and raised in Beverly Hills, California- about as far away from here as you can get probably.” He opened the door of the suite and walked to his bed room. “I’ve been all over though, where in Italy is your dad?”

He opened the bedroom door to a massive mess. Empty boxes created a mountain in one corner of the room while open ones were stacked on top of one another. A few unopened ones were gathering dust in the corner of the room. The bed was made, but that was a recent development- Julian never brought a girl over without tidying up as best as he could. Clothes were literally hanging out of over stuffed drawers and a single poster of the AC/DC logo was adorning the wall. His laptop was still sitting on the desk, open and now playing ‘Freebird.’ “As for my favorite bands, I like anything that could be called Classic Rock, though I do have an appreciation for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.”

"We're in Milan. That's where he's from, my dad." Callie stepped through the doorway and looked around. It was in a state of disarray, but was entirely understandable given the fact that he was still in the process of moving in. There were about fifty things she could see herself helping with, but didn't want to be rude and just dive in. So she stood in the entrance examining the piles. "Classic Rock is pretty cool. Clarice, she's one of the college students who lives here, gave me some David Bowie to listen to. I don't know if you would count him, but he's pretty good. Anywhere you want me to start?"

“Um…well, I’ve just been kinda…” Julian moved his hand around vaguely. “I have no idea.” Julian gave her another warm smile and moved over to a box of DVD’s. “Why don’t you go ahead and put these up on that shelf,” he pointed to the shelf over the desk. “I went to Milan on vacation when I was five or six. Nice beaches.” Julian headed over to a box of shoes and started taking them out. “And yeah, I’d say Bowie is classic, even though he still performs new stuff- which isn’t nearly as good. Heh, that reminds me, I was Tivo-ing that new show, Life on Mars, back home…guess I’m not gunna get to catch up on that.” Julian paused for a moment, “Are there any shows you follow?”

For ease of filing, the box containing the DVDs was hoisted up onto the desk. The shelf began to quickly fill with the various movies Julian owned. Callie had not inquired as to whether or not her new classmate had a specific system for organizing his collection. The goal here was to get him situated, at least initially. Later he could return and organize properly to his liking. Even so, Callie found herself pausing as she picked up each box to examine it. There were some movies she had never heard of, others she had, and still more she put on her list of things to buy. "You have a great collection here," she remarked as she continued to shelve. "I don't really watch specific television shows. I mean if someone has one on and I'm in the room I'll catch it, but they're not something I watch religously. The only thing our television was connected to was the electrical socket and the VCR or DVD player." She shrugged. "What's your favorite movie?"

Julian placed his last pair of shoes on the rack he’d put up in his closet, then tossed the box into the pile, nearly making the empties topple. He moved onto one of the unopened boxes, kicking the crumpled pile of cloth that had been his suit from the day before behind the door. “Oh, I dunno, right now I guess it’s a tie between Ravenous, Hot Fuzz and La Pacte De Loups.” Julian easily lifted the box, bringing it over to the bed and grabbing a box cutter that had blended in with the sheets. “What about you?” he asked, giving the packing tape a quick flip of his wrist. As Callie spoke he opened the box and his jaw dropped slightly. Sitting on top of a few shoe boxes of odds and ends was a tattered teddy bear. “Son of a bitch…” Julian said quietly.

Callie set the now empty box of DVDs on the ground, and in its place she set a new one. She looked around the room for something with which to open it. "My all time favorite? Breakfast at Tiffany's. I love Audrey Hepburn. No contest." Julian's sudden change in demeanor was noticeable to Callie, even from her position by the desk. Not knowing what was the matter (but making several conclusions ranging from that he had somehow cut himself to something was broken or missing) she carefully navigated around various piles toward the closet. "Hey, are you okay," she asked as she kneeled down next to him.

He pulled the small bear out of the box and held it in his hands without saying a word. Julian’s usually composed demeanor had faded away and he seemed to be having difficulty finding any words. A silent moment passed through the room before he cleared his throat and smiled again, though a little more weakly now. “Yeah, it’s just,” he held the bear out to Callie, “that belonged to my little brother, James.” A little more quietly he added, “he must have snuck it into the box.” He gave a light laugh and looked out the window.

A pink hand reached out and touched Julian's arm in an attempt to comfort him. Callie knew what it was like to be separated by thousands of miles, and more, from the ones you loved. Not being able to see them, talk to them, be with them. Pictures and phone calls could only offer so much connection, but even then they were ever enough. "He gave you something to remember him with," she said softly. "It gets easier, being away from everything, everyone. It's never gone, but... The mansion becomes like a second home with a second family. A really crazy, awesome, and at times stressful second family."

Julian looked down at her hand and sighed. It was more than that- his family had outright rejected him ever since he got his powers. The only one who hadn’t was James and the little bear had more history than Callie could know- Julian wasn’t inclined to share that with her just yet. Instead he set the bear down on the bed and turned to her, giving Callie a warm smile. “Does that make you my sister?” he asked with a slight chuckle. “Thanks, Callie, I can tell we’ll get along.” He went over to his laptop and changed the music from ‘Nothing Else Matters,’ to ‘Come Sail Away.’ Julian turned back toward the pink girl, “Heh, my brother would like you.”

"Sure I guess?" Callie laughed. "Thanks. I'm sure you'll have no trouble finding friends and stuff here, everyone is pretty nice. You'll fit in fine." She pushed herself up from the ground and found herself level with Julian once more. "He sounds pretty cool? I mean he seems to care about you. So if you say so," her voice trailed off as she headed back to her post of shelving DVDs. "We should get back to unpacking. Oh! And when we finish we can get that hot chocolate and see if it snows?"

“You know what,” Julian paused, “this can wait until tomorrow.” He shut the laptop, “Would you believe I’ve never made a cup of hot chocolate before?” Julian slowly approached Callie, “Think you can show me how?”

"Of course! My dad just sent me some chocolate for St. Nicholas Day. So we can use that. Come on. I'll show you how."

“Thanks,” he said as he headed for the door. He paused and motioned for her to lead the way, “After you.” As she passed out into the common area Julian snuck a look at her ass, the word ‘damn’ came to mind as he smiled wickedly, following her out and to the kitchen.