xp_logs | Yvette and Callie (Reply)

While gathering sustenance for those camped out in the medlab with Fred, Yvette runs into Callie who still refuses to venture down.

Callie rubbed her bleary eyes as the coffee grinder whirled and released the aroma of coffee into the kitchen air. She was tired, and having trouble concentrating, and making coffee, she figured, would probably help at least a little. But it would take awhile to brew, so after Callie scooped the grounds into the filter and placed her espresso maker on the stove, there was nothing to do but sit and stare at it. Her eyes glued to the metal pot, she began tracing on the counter an equation to figure out how long it would take for enough pressure to build and the water would boil, thus yielding the perfect pot of coffee.

There was a soft sound behind her and then Yvette's voice, sounding tired and worried under the usual polite cheerfulness. "Callie. Hello." There was a pause, the smaller girl marshaling her thoughts. "You look tired."

Her hand paused mid-number as Yvette's voice pierced her thoughts. Callie looked over at her red classmate and gave a weary smile. "Hey Yvette," she said, trying to fake energy she did not have. "A little. Yeah. I'm making some coffee," she motioned to the pot on the stove. "How are you?"

"Also tired. I have been sitting with Fred." Yvette's normally-glowing eyes were dulled, her face's lack of expression telling more about her degree of worry than an actual expression could, for her. "I was just to bring the snacks down to the doctors and those who are waiting in the medlab. Perhaps you would like to be helping me?"

"Oh, um...." The pot on the stove began to make a whistling noise, and Callie rose to turn off the heat and poor the beverage into her mug. "I actually am kinda busy with... I have things... to do. For school. And Elpis. I can help cut up cheese?"

"That would be helpful, yes." Yvette didn't point out she was possibly more efficient at cutting anything up, including food - it hadn't missed her notice that Callie was avoiding the medlab and Fred's condition. She set about getting various food items out of the fridge to make sandwiches with, as well as some celery and carrots and such to nibble on. "It is not the most comfortable place, the medlab. It reminds me of when I was in the hospital," she remarked as she worked.

"I spent enough time in there last year with the chicken pox." Callie worked swiftly, grabbing a block of cheese from the fridge and carefully began to slice it into cubes, making sure to keep them the same size. She really did not want to talk about the medlab and its current occupant. "I am not a fan."

"Not everyone is." Yvette continued constructing sandwiches, making plenty so the doctors could eat as well - or the blue furry doctor, any way, since Dr. Voght didn't eat. "It is hard, to be there and see the friend who is hurt and to not be able to do anything."

Which is why I don't want to go in there, thought Callie as she piled the cheese into a bowl. "It's supposed to snow soon." Yes, it was an apparent attempt to abruptly change the subject.

"Callie, when I was hurt, my friends could not make me better. But having them there, knowing that they were caring about me, it helped." Yvette looked Callie in the face, her powers making her own face a mask but her eyes blazing. "I understand that you cannot be there with Fred. My mother, she couldn't be there with me. She was so sure I would not live and she could not see that. But you cannot pretend that nothing has happened, that you are not upset. It will only eat away at you inside, like the worm in the apple."

"Yvette, I'm fine." Callie refused to meet Yvette's gaze. Instead she focused on bagging up the remainder of the cheese and storing it away. "I am dealing with this in my own way. This isn't my first time at the ball. You just do what you have to do, because we all handle things differently."

"You are not 'fine'," came the implacable response. "But yes, we all handle the things differently. Thank you, for your helping." She piled sandwiches on a plate and put it and the bowl of cheese in a basket to carry back down with her. "The friends, we will be here later, if you are needing us."

"Thank you." Pink fingers wrapped themselves around the mug as Callie sipped slowly. "But I've tarried long enough. I should be going. And you should too. They're probably hungry."