xp_logs | Papa Don't Preach: Arrival (Reply)

Wherein Clarice keeps good on her promise to visit Callie, certain situations are discussed, and the two make plans.

There was a knock at the door, which wouldn't be so strange really except that no one was expected. Callie's first thought as she rose off the sofa and headed toward the front entrance was that one of her relatives (probably her grandmother) had decided to stop by unexpectedly. But it was time for Nonna's afternoon siesta, and most everyone else was at work now. Nor could it be a delivery, as her father would have told her if a package was expected. Deciding it was better to be safe than sorry, Callie cracked open the front door (keeping the top chain lock locked in case it was someone dangerous) to see who was out there. Her eyes grew wide as she caught sight of the visitor, and the door slammed quickly shut.

"Clarice," she exclaimed, after she threw the now completely unlocked door open. "What are you doing here?"

"You said we could come visit?" she said, though she made it into a question, now unsure if she was welcome or not. "Anyways, I got the passport of doom and hadn't been to Italy recently so I figured, why not? ...Is now a bad time? I can come back another time?" it wasn't like she couldn't come whenever she wanted. Italy was nice this time of year.

"No ya of course! Of course!" Callie was practically dancing as she stepped aside and ushered Clarice in. It had been far too long since she had seen her friends from New York, and having one show up caused extra glee since she hadn't anticipated getting the chance to ever again. "Come in. I was just reading, so it's perfect. Let me take your coat. Can I get you something to drink? Water, wine, soda?"

"Whoa, Callie!" Clarice laughed, "Calm down! Okay. Breathe," it was hysterical watching the younger girl get so excited and happy, "I was bored and thought I'd come over. You like Italy then? Miss Xavier's? I can take you home anytime..." she teased. It sucked that her dad had withdrawn her. 'Safety' ha! It wasn't perhaps the safest place, but then, what was these days, but Clarice didn't say anything. She was learning some tact over the years. "I'd love a glass of wine. Good, wine," not that she knew good Italian wine from a hole in her head.

A sheepish grin and a blush spread across the other girl's rosy face. The door now closed and locked once more, Callie motioned for Clarice to follow as she headed toward the kitchen. "I mean I like it here just fine," she explained. It was nice being around her family, especially her father, once again. But even still it was a bit boring. The villa that was her home was empty and quiet with just she and Giancarlo about, and she found herself missing the noise and activity that the mansion had. Not to mention she missed the people as well. She hadn't really even had a chance to say a proper goodbye. Sigh.

"I mean I do miss Xavier's too, you know?" As she spoke, Callie poured two glasses of red wine and handed one to her companion. "But I don't think my dad would really appreciate me going back there you know? He thinks it's not safe. Salute."

"Skaal," Clarice replied, taking her glass and clinking it lightly against Callie's. The world was messed up. Clarice was legal to drink everywhere in the world that allowed alcohol (an important distinction there) except her own country. Totally backwards. "This is a cool place," She meant the house. With the help of google maps street view she'd teleported onto the roof and then checked to make sure the front door was clear before teleporting down. With good street view she was able to get a much more accurate picture of where she was teleporting to get closer to her destination. She'd used to telelport up high to avoid problems and then fall. Now she didn't have to do that most of the time and it was awesome. "I like it."

"Thanks. It's kinda too big for just us, but dad saw the garden and couldn't resist it's charm." She shrugged and took a sip of her own drink. "Do you need me to make up a room for you? I mean I know you can teleport back and all, but you can stay if you want. I'd have made it already but I didn't know you were coming."

Clarice hadn't brought a bag or anything with her, "I'd have to go back and pack something if I were going to stay..." she hadn't known what was going on with Callie so she hadn't assumed. "Anyways, your dad cool with the rainbow coalition storming his house?" No, they weren't gay, but with pink and purple skin colours already represented it wouldn't be hard to get the rest of the rainbow. They pretty much had a rainbow at Xavier's.

"He said I could invite you guys over. And I mean, as long as we don't turn it into a big thing he should be fine with it. I actually think he feels bad about making me leave, but he's only doing what's best you know?" Really, apart from that one little thing her father was being rather reasonable. She wasn't locked in the house, but she was required to call him and her grandfather when she went out, as well as leave a note, which given how paranoid her father could be was not unusual. She didn't have that many rules, but then again Callie wasn't the type to go off and put herself in imminent danger, or in a severely stupid situation. "But I mean if you want to spend the afternoon slash evening here you're more than welcome to do so. We could go shopping, hit the town, what have you. And when you port back it'll still only be the afternoon there."

"You've grasped the joys of teleporting quickly young padawan," Clarice grinned and sipped her wine. "What's the sitch on the mutant thing?" she wasn't too interested in going out only to get stoned or something. That would not be fun. Of course, with her, she'd go out just to taunt people too. Regardless, she liked to be prepared for the possible outcomes. Being herself was fun, but not when it was at risk to life and limb. She had enough of that in her life.

"A few people might stare, but even fewer would do less than that. And the places I would avoid would be the same ones I wouldn't go near if I wasn't pink, you know?" Callie thought for a moment. She had never really found too much difficulty with safety, and wouldn't suggest anything to Clarice that had the possibility of being unsafe. "People kinda mingle here. There are a few mutant discos that I know of, but you're just as likely to find people who aren't X positive there. It's not that big a deal. You know?"

"Disco!" Clarice caught the word and immediately started her own version of the hustle. She couldn't do the entire thing, but she'd danced for most of her life, it wasn't hard to learn it. And it was even more fun to do it. "I wanna do the hustle!" that sounded like an excellent idea to her, "Got something I can wear or do I need to get my own clubbing clothes?" it would not take her long and it was hours before any disco got going really.
It was funny, she thought, how a disco in the states was lame but everywhere else it was awesome. Well, Clarice loved lame. And awesome. Especially the awesomely lame.

"Ummmm." Callie's eyes measured up Clarice. It was possible that some items would fit, but would Clarice want to wear them? Their styles were about as different as two people could get without falling off the face of fashion. She doubted anything in her closet had enough sparkle and pizazz to satisfy her guest. But there was nothing that said they couldn't try. "I probably have some skirts or pants you could wear, they might be a bit long though. We can see. And shoes. What size do you wear again? And if all else fails we are in one of the fashion capitals of the world!"

Callie had a very good point about fashion. "Yes. Shopping. Now! We must go shopping!" glancing at the wine glass in her hand she reconsidered, "After I finish my wine. Then shopping. Priorities are important," she amended.