Angelo & Nico - Everything is better with Ice-Cream

[x-staffofone.livejournal.com]

Angelo and Nico talk about several subjects over a bowl of ice cream.

Nico flipped the page of the old-looking, seriously old book Amanda had given to her, reading -or trying to read- some sort of complicated magic theory; the witch had considered funny to let Nico dwell on serious spells, well aware that she wasn't capable of holding a respectable bubble yet. Still, it was interesting material, and knowing that someone could actually do that kind of stuff was encouraging. Also, knowing something might come in handy if someone ever tried to use it on her. Reaching out for the bowl with ice cream next to her, she grabbed the spoon; it was unnaturally quiet on the kitchen, but she liked it that way.

"Y'know", came an amused voice from the doorway, "Amanda's gonna kill you if she ever catches you eatin' around those books."

Nico turned, spoon swinging in the air, and swallowed. "They have this...ancient runic coating of idontknowhowtocallit that makes them, eh, ice cream resistant. For real." But she placed the spoon away carefully. "And I was being careful; not that I didn't know what would she do." But thinking about Amanda torturing her was not the right thing if she wanted to enjoy her ice cream, so Nico decided a subject change was in order. "Want some?", asked as she pointed at the bowl. "I think that's my weight on chocolate chips."

"Only if you're not an energy projector or some other power that'll make you keel over if you don't eat your own weight every day", Angelo returned, strolling over to sit next to her. "Otherwise, sure, I'll take some."

Nico shrugged. "Not event a mutant, so worry not." What was the deal with energy projectors? It seemed like they always had an issue with eating, or something like that. "Uh, you know Amanda." It was an obvious statement, since he had mentioned her. "From...hmm...you know her right? I mean, you studied here and all as well?"

"Known her for six years, an' we dated for almost three", Angelo told her. "An' you're right, we met when we were both still students here."

"Wait a minute...you dated?" Nico couldn't help but chuckle a little. "I'm sorry, it's just-- Amanda doesn't look like the kind of person that would...I don't know...date? Not even entirely sure why...sorry! I didn't meant to be rude or anything."

"Depends if it's the word you're objectin' to or the concept in general", he half-asked. "But we did. Still pretty good friends, too."

Another shrug. "No...I don't know; I mean, I don't know her that much. And it's good to know you still get along." Even when she has never mentioned you in front of me, but whatever. Nico suddenly needed more ice cream.

Angelo saw the longing look and pushed the bowl back towards her. "So you're Nico, the apprentice. An' I'm Angelo."

The ex. Nico attacked the bowl, deciding she was better off not voicing her thoughts. "Inddeef I 'm", said, her mouth full of ice-cream. "D'nt cha...eh...", she swallowed, making a face when the cold sensation went down her throat. "You teach here? I think you do right?"

"Used to. I did self-defense, but I quit a few months ago. Now I just work on school an' my day job - you've probably seen people mention Elpis on the journals?"

"I....think?" She had, but truth to be told, she really didn't pay much attention to it. "It's like...an organization that helps mutants?"

"Specifically, mutants in third world countries", he said with a nod. "I've got some projects of my own runnin' in America, but they're not official - our remit's away from here."

Nico was attacking another mouthful of ice cream, but this time had the decency to end it before answering. "So...you make programs to help mutants in poor places? What kind of projects are those anyway? I mean...do you build schools or something? Little Xavier mansions all over the world?"

"That's part of it." His enthusiasm for his work, as usual when he got to talk about it, was clear. "Schools, shelters for mutants who've been orphaned or kicked out, an' we do programs for ex-child soldiers, that's a big part of it..."

While is all sounded like a great initiative, it was the last part that caught her attention. "Child soldiers? As in mutant child soldiers? That's...horrible." She looked at the ice cream in silence for a moment. "Just...horrible. I hope it's helping them, then."

"We do our best", Angelo said more quietly. "We've got a few rehab centres set up where they're needed, an'... it's a start."

Nico nodded. "At least someone is doing something. But, let's not make this a teary meeting, shall we? Why aren't you teaching anymore? Unless that brings out another batch of negative feelings."

"Not really negative feelings." He shrugged. "I just got to the point where I didn't have time for everythin' I was doin', an' Elpis came first."

"Ah...it's hard to be a grown-up." She ate the ice cream slowly, thinking about the choices she would need to make in her life, and discovered that at least her had to worry about other things besides careers and following dreams; maybe losing the chance to grow and become a regular adult was something she hadn't consider until that moment. "Well, whatever makes you happy? There is plenty ice cream to eat too."

"Won't turn that down." Without getting up, he reached over to open a drawer and pick out a spoon. "Elpis does make me happy. Grown-up or not."

"Elpis sounds good, yeah. And that was awesome," pointed as she watched the man's power into action. "How that works anyway?"

"As far as we can tell, it's like my whole skin is a muscle", he explained readily. "Most times, I just stretch from the fingers, 'cause it's easiest that way, but I can do it from anywhere."

Nico listened with interest. "And it doesn't...hurt? Well, if it is a muscle, then your skin should be pretty strong though, right?" Everyone she met had such interesting powers, she felt a little like the charity act of Xavier's. Nico had thought she was over it already, but apparently she wasn't.

"It only hurts if I'm tryin' to move somethin' really heavy - same way it would if you were liftin' above your weight with your arms, just a kind of muscle strain. It is pretty strong, though, yeah." He grinned. "Think I got it from my dad, he had a skin power too."

"So sometimes it runs in the family? I mean, from what I collect from classes, if the son is a mutant, and the parents are mutants, the resulting mutation might be similar and or cancel itself with those of the parents'? I'm just repeating Ms. Amaquelin here, but it kinda makes sense." Well, kinda; Nico wasn't sure there was anything similar to a rule anyway.

"It can do", he agreed. "Like, my boss's daughter has pretty much the same powers as him, they're both telepaths an' telekinetics, an' my friend Terry has almost exactly the same voice powers as her dad. But sometimes the kid ends up with completely different powers. Or none, I guess."

Nico nodded, glad she was more or less right. "I see...one can't really tell huh? Here between us, I still dream about being a mutant. Don't get me wrong, magic is way cool for me to consider it a consolation prize, but, well...I still kind of feel like an outsider sometimes. Even Amanda is a mutant."

"You've got an X-gene and powers", Angelo told her in an effort at reassurance. "Nobody'd know they weren't connected if you didn't tell them. You're no more an outsider than any of us, an' you need to be here."

She shrugged, albeit smiling at the same time. "It should be enough right? But enough drama." Bringing the ice cream bowl closer, Nico pushed the ancient book away; she could keep reading later. "Let's finish this baby now."