xp_logs | Monet and Callie

Monet comes across Callie in the greenhouse and convinces her to get out.

It was nice to be surrounded by green, Callie thought as she sat on
the floor of the greenhouse. It was warm in here, and smelled like
dirt and plants and water. For the girl who grew up surrounded by
these scents it was like coming home. And now, more than ever, she
needed something that could transport her away, back to where she felt
comfortable. And as most people didn't bother to venture to this part
of the mansion (or rather tended to frequent it less than other areas)
it was the perfect place to to be alone and focus.

Monet, however, was on a mission to find Kurt and demand hot chocolate
and cuddles. The temperature in New York had already dropped well
below anything she felt was suitable for human habitation and, while
Monet's invulnerability meant that she seldom bothered to rug up,
cold, damp weather demanded hot chocolate and cuddles, even if you
were still in a skirt, singlet and sandles. Opening the greenhouse
door, she stuck her head in and called to Callie "Hey, you seen Kurt
at all, mate?"

Callie looked up at the voice and blinked once, acknowledging the
Aussie's presence before returning her gaze to the plant. "No. Sorry.
Maybe try the gym?"

"I did. He's not there. So," Monet asked, crosslegged in mid air near
Callie, "what are you doing?"

A small bud bloomed, revealing a vibrant red flower, and then promptly
closed. Callie concentrated on it, causing it to open and close a few
more times. "I'm just practicing my powers."

"That's pretty awesome. Does it hurt the plants?" Monet reached out to
touch the flower. Cool.

"No. I wouldn't do that."

"Oh, that's good to know. You'll just make it grow, instead." Monet
thought for a moment. "Hey, can you make me a mango tree?" Some
things were important.

Callie shrugged. She didn't want to go into the intricate details of
how her powers work, or about anything for the moment. "Trees are big.
Would take awhile."

"But. Mangoes. Want. Now. Make."

Shrug. "Go to the store?"

Monet shuddered theatrically. "Are you fucking kidding me? One, it's
raining and do you know what that does to my hair? Two, are you gonna
drive me? And three, Mexican mangoes aren't the good Kengsington Pride
ones. They're actually kind of shit."

"Monet," Callie looked up at the older girl, a serious expression in
her eyes. "I'm sorry. But I really can't bring myself to care right
now. Maybe Kurt can port you some or something. I don't know. Sorry I
can't help you."

Monet sighed. "What's wrong, baby-girl?" she asked, looking more
serious than she had earlier.

"Tired, stressed," she looked down and toyed with the tassel on her
slippers. "The general perils associated with being a teenager today."

Monet frowned. She didn't know much about Callie but "You're in year
12, yeah? I thought youse had already gotten all your uni stuff sorted
out for next year." She didn't know, personally, having simply told
her father that she wanted to study fashion. One of his PAs had made
all the arrangements for her. The same thing had happened when Cartier
had made her do Business. "Or is it... shit, what's your boy's name?"

"Early decision for Columbia was due on the second, but I still have
to submit the rest in case I don't get in there. NYU, ESU, you know."
Callie pulled her knees in and rested her chin on them, looking up at
Monet quizzically. "Hmmmm? Fred? We're not... we were just really
close. Friends."

"You are? Really?" Monet paused and stared. "Fuck me, I thought you
guys were together."

The botanopath slowly shook her head. "Nope. I mean not like that."

Monet shook her head and smiled. "Sure, babe. Whatever you say."
Telepaths learned to agree with people.

Callie paused for a moment, probably a bit too long to be considered
normal. She was thinking, or trying to think about something other
than Fred, but it wasn't happening. She didn't want to talk about her
own feelings, that didn't feel right. "Julian is really shook up over
this," she said finally, trying to sound casual. "They were close."

"Are close" Monet corrected. "He's not bloody dead." She looked over
at Callie and said quietly "You're allowed to be upset. You're close
to the guy, too, even if you reckon you're not actually dating." She
didn't mention that enough of Callie's upset was bleeding through to
give her a headache.

"I'll miss him," she admitted after a minute. "But there's not much I
can do. Just accept what's going on."

She reached out and touched Callie's arm. "He's not dead yet. Stop
talking about him like he's never going to wake up. Seriously, stop
it. You'll get me or Haller or someone thinking it and we might end up
projecting that kind of vibe at Fred. So stop it, okay?"

Callie looked at the arm for a minute before pulling away. "I don't
really want to talk about it."

"Okay. So do you want to grab a coffee or are you just going to sit
here in the middle of a load of upset thoughts large enough to give me
a headache?"

"Coffee's good. I have a paper I have to write still and could use some fuel."

"Sweet. Want to drive us down to the place in Salem Center that does
the good lattes?"

"Sure, Virgil can take us. Let me get my keys."