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[x-shinobi.livejournal.com]

Shinobi visits his roomie in the medlab, and invites him on the trip he's begun planning with Marie. Other stuff is discussed, including Doctor Samson, Paige, cigarettes, and miniature adults that sometimes speak with endearing lisps.

Today was going to be busy, upon reflection.. but at least the day gets to start with something positive. Hopefully. Ignoring his mind's distaste for the sterilized environment, Shinobi comes to a stop in front of Angelo's door in the medlab, lifting a hand to knock. He's already dressed in one of his suits, since, well, classes to teach later.

Angelo hears the knock on the door and looks up from the day's set work, which he's begun already, if only to alleviate the boredom. Always glad of an excuse not to work, he calls out, "Come in!"

Nudging the door open, Shinobi pokes his head inside, eyebrow piercing catching the light as he flashes a grin. "Hey. Not taking the chance to sleep in, huh?"

A flash of shadow crosses Angelo's face, and is gone almost too quick to notice before he grins back, apparently cheerful. "Nah. Gotta do this sometime, an' this way, I get the afternoons off."

If Shinobi notices the darkening of his roommate's expression, he doesn't show it, keeping his grin as he steps more fully inside so he can close the door. "Does make a certain amount of sense. Any idea when they're letting you out of here?"

Angelo shrugs. "Soon, I hope. Amanda says I should only need one more healin' session..."

"Well, if you're out by this weekend, how's getting out of the mansion for a couple days sound?" Crossing over, Shinobi drops down to sit in the chair sat next to Angelo's bed, with a wiggling of his eyebrows. "Marie and I are grabbing some friends and hiding out at a snowboarding resort for the weekend. Might have Emma along to keep an eye on us, if she wants to, but as she reminded me, her last trip to the country didn't go very well." He makes a face, shrugging helplessly.

Angelo looks up sharply. "For real? That sounds great! Things 'round here are gettin' a bit... stressful. For everyone, seems like."

"For real," Shinobi confirms, smiling brightly. "If the Powers That Be okay it, we'll probably leave here early Saturday, and come back Sunday afternoon sometime. I'm told nothing puts the humble back into people like failing miserably at snowboarding."

Angelo laughs. "Never been before, so that's probably gonna be me. I'm in."

"Ace." Keeping his smile, Shinobi folds his arms across his knees so that he can lean against them comfortably. He considers something for a moment, before carefully adding, "You can invite Paige, if you would like to. I think she could probably use the breather, herself.. and I have to make up the fact that I can't take her with me car shopping somehow."

Angelo's eyes darken again, momentarily. "Yeah, she probably could", is all he says to that. "I'll ask her."

This time, Shinobi definitely notices, since he'd been watching for it. "My ears and shoulders are in perfect working order, if you need them," he offers simply, arching an eyebrow expectantly at his roommate.

Angelo sighs. "She was down here the other night, and... things were said. Not an argument, 'xactly, but... kinda. Stuff's gettin' to her again..."

Shinobi nods slowly, pursing his lips in thought. "Stuff has a way of doing that," he agrees carefully. "Can I ask what was said, or is it best if I don't?"

Angelo glances up, on the verge of refusing, then sighs. "Some stuff about the fire. She found me, y'know... don't think she's over it as well as she's pretendin' yet." He sighs miserably. "An' then the nightmares won't go away, even when she stayed..."

"Trauma takes time to get over, not just nice-smelling hair to bury your face in while you sleep," Shinobi observes gently. "If it were that simple, psychiatrists wouldn't be necessary. Speaking of which.. is she seeing Doctor Samson? It might help."

Angelo looks worried now, on top of it all. "Don't know for sure, but she's not usually one for talkin'. 'f you can persuade her, good luck to you. She has a thing about havin' to be okay..."

Shinobi nods, grinning slightly. "I've noticed. I'll try talking to her, see if anything takes. If all else fails.. I perscribe snowball fights."

Angelo chuckles. "I'll ask her, for sure. Think we could all use a break..."

"I'm half-tempted to see if Lorna wants to come," Shinobi agrees, straightening up in his seat.

Angelo nods. "Bobby, too?" he suggests hopefully. "Or would that be too many people? Or... are him and Marie okay these days?"

"Actually, I'm not sure," Shinobi replies, squinting a bit in thought. "I'll ask her later, let her pass him an invite if she'd like to. Really, I don't mind how many people come, so long as the arguing stays here. It isn't as if I can't afford it or something."

Angelo laughs. "Yeah, that should definitely be the rule. No arguin' allowed when we're away."

Shinobi nods sagely. "If there's arguing, we shall hold all hot cocoa and marshmallows ransom until people kiss and make up. Or something along those lines, anyway."

"No! Not the marshmallows!" Angelo replies in mock horror, before smiling without even the faintest shadow in it, for once. "Thanks for the invite."

"Anytime," Shinobi grins, looking rather pleased with the genuine smile. "Until Amanda gets down here to spring you, there anything I should consider smuggling in for you? Or, failing that, anything I should make sure we've got in the room for when you get back?"

Angelo grins wickedly. "Oh, my usual vices, y'know. Cigs. Drink, if you can get your hands on it. Bobby's promised me a party..."

"Can't do drink in good conscience, but a few packs of fags can definitely be arranged." With a shrug, Shinobi brightens, tilting his head to one side. "Oh-ho. A party, 'ey?"

"Yeah. He's even doin' ice cream, or maybe Lorna'll cater, now she's out of here."

"Or both," Shinobi agrees. "Well, if he's giving you the in-house party, I have to insist on giving you one out of house. I'm sure Sarah and I can think of something suitable."

Angelo grins. "Well, I'm not gonna say no!"

"Of course not! Fun shall not be denied." Shinobi nods seriously, with an impish grin. "Given the choice between a dance club and a pool hall, which would you prefer?"

Angelo grins back. "If it had to be either/or? Pool hall."

"I had a hunch," Shinobi grins, making a mental note. "I'll see if I can find a decent one in the area, and we can figure out when to go do it after we get back from failing miserably at snowboarding?"

Angelo nods enthusiastically. "Sounds good to me."

Shinobi casts a quick look to his watch, making a face. "Almost time for me to run back up for classes.. classes, I'm fine with, but I invited Piotr to join me while I grade papers before dinner. I hope I'm still good at being friendly when I'm upset."

Angelo nods. "How's that goin' for you, anyway?"

"The teaching?" Shinobi asks, looking up again with a bright grin. "I'm actually enjoying it a lot, now that I've gotten used to.. what do you call them.. miniature adults, sometimes speak with endearing lisps?"

"Ah, the kidlets, yeah", Angelo teases. "'Yana got you wrapped round her finger yet, like she has everybody else?"

"Very much so," Shinobi confirms, nodding sagely. "I'm hoping she and Piotr are on speaking terms before he takes me up on my 'let me make up my snarkiness with a trip to Harry's'. I was.. in a very good mood when I made the offer."

Angelo nods, a little sadly. "Poor kid - t'be honest, I'm not remotely surprised she's havin' trouble forgivin' him..."

"Neither am I," Shinobi agrees, running a hand back through his hair. "Maybe we should invite her along for the weekend. Piotr might be offended that the invitation doesn't extend to him as well, though. Hm."

"Well, we could always run it by him first?" Angelo suggests. "'Fore we get her hopes up, an' all..."

"It's a thought," Shinobi nods, dropping his hand back into his lap. "I'll run it by him this afternoon, see what he thinks."

Angelo smiles. "Cool. It'd be good to have the munchkin along."

"This is shaping up to be a rather big outing," Shinobi chuckles, not seeming bothered by the fact at all. "Should be fun."

"Yeah, it is", Angelo says, suddenly realizing just how big. "You, me, Marie, Paige if she'll come, Illyana and Bobby maybe... Sarah, I'm assumin'?"

"Sarah's promised to come keep me warm," Shinobi confirms, grinning lopsidedly. "Possibly Emma to supervise, if she decides she'd like to. Marie might have some folks she'd like to drag along, which is fine by me."

Angelo nods. "You know, with all these people comin' along, the Professor might be up for makin' it an official trip. Save some strain on that card of yours..."

"It would take a lot to put any strain on the card," Shinobi chuckles. "I certainly wouldn't say no if he wanted to, but it's hardly necessary."

Angelo shrugs. "'S up to you. Thanks for doin' this, man."

"Ah, it's my pleasure," Shinobi grins, waving a hand as he shifts to get to his feet. "I could use the time away just as much as anybody else, and since I have the means to offer it.. why not?"

Angelo grinned. "Still an' all. 'S good of you."

Shinobi bobbed his head, with an odd smile. "I'm trying, anyway. I'll make sure there are plenty of smokes waiting for you when you get out of here."

Angelo nods. "Thanks for that too, man. Got a feelin' I might need them."

"None of that, now," Shinobi chides, shaking his head. "If you go through life expecting to be miserable, you will make it happen. It's not a trait limited to reality manipulators."

Angelo blinks. "I meant, to make up for the lack of 'em down here. But they'll sure come in handy 'til the nightmares stop, now you mention it."

Shinobi considers this for a moment before he shrugs. "Point stands," he decides, flashing a grin.

Angelo glares half-heartedly. "I'm workin' on it, y'know. Samson's suggested a few things."

"He's good at that," Shinobi nods, regaining his smile. "Already done wonders for me. Haven't been in such a good mood in eons."

"Yeah? Good to hear", Angelo tells him honestly. "Wish they'd brought him in months ago... but I guess there wasn't so much of a reason to, then."

"A trained professional to talk to is a rather nice change of pace," Shinobi agrees, tucking his hands into his pockets. "I think he's made noises about sticking around on a more long-term basis, but I may have misunderstood."

"Really?" Angelo asks, brightening. "I hadn't heard that - all he told me was I could make another appointment if I wanted and he'd come back for it. That'd be great, though."

"Don't quote me on it, I'm really not sure if I heard right," Shinobi chuckles, inclining his head. "Would be rather nice, though, yeah. Maybe we can start a petition?"

"I'm in if you are", Angelo says mischievously. "Bet some of the others'd jump at the idea, too."

"Alison'd be on it in a heartbeat," Shinobi nods, grinning impishly. "Maybe we'll have to draft something up."

"You draft, I'll sign", Angelo tells him. "Promise."

"I'll write it up over the weekend while recovering my dignity from the snow," Shinobi agrees, grinning and holding out a hand. "Promise."

Angelo shakes his hand, sealing the deal. "I'll try an' get Amanda to finish what she's been doin' before the weekend, then. Wouldn't wanna miss it."