Kurt and Cammie; Kurt and Nico
May. 3rd, 2010 05:06 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsKurt gives Cammie a lesson in cheating at cards.
"You", Kurt said dryly over the top of his cards, "are not even trying to hide your cheating now, are you?"
“Well, I don’t have a cast to shove cards in anymore,” Cammie said, picking through her hand, “So, what gave me away? It was the five aces, wasn’t it?”
"That and the fact that you looked at my hand not five minutes ago while you 'went to the bathroom'." He grinned. "Subtlety, Cammie, is the way not to get beaten up. That or teleportation."
“I’m subtle. I’m so subtle it hurts,” she said, gesturing with the hand that held the cards, some of which had been in his hand before said bathroom break, “I’m just that amazing.”
"Of course you are", he said in a tone of cheerful placation. "And I must admit, it took me quite some time to learn to cheat unnoticed."
“Oh, so it’s cheat without getting caught now, is it?” Cammie asked, “Because I was having fun being over the top, but if it’s all about sneaky and you haven’t told me that, I can do that too.”
"Over the top is fine and fun when it is just us." He grinned. "But what kind of mentor would I be if I did not make sure you could be sneaky too?"
“I suppose you have a point,” she said, “Then we get to deal over, and I get to get all these extra cards out of my bra. Because it’s not as fun as it sounds.”
"I imagine all those stiff edges would be quite uncomfortable", he agreed, straight-faced.
“Yeah, just a bit,” she said, fishing them out without taking her shirt off. Fine art, really, “Papercuts there are not fun.”
"There are better hiding places", Kurt said with a grin. "Some of which I may teach you."
“That be cool. I have under the sleeve mastered,” she said.
"Without the corners ever showing for a second?"
“I don’t know about that, but it’s always fooled everyone else,” Cammie said simply. “I’ve planted cards before.”
"Then you have probably done well enough", he allowed with a grin. "Assuming you have not only been playing against drunks."
“Drunks are fun people to play against,” Cammie protested.
"Oh, they have their place, certainly", Kurt agreed. "But they are hardly a challenge."
“Well then, O Card Master, teach me,” Cammie said, holding her arms wide.
"I intend to."
After Cammie leaves, Nico comes by. That conversation isn't nearly as much fun.
Nico stopped in front of Kurt's door, wondering if she was doing the right thing. Like the last time, months ago. That was some messed up deja vu she was having just there. Still, talking to him had helped her a lot, so she considered there was more to win than to lose; if he was busy, she could try later. Or talk to Amanda. But weirdly, she didn't want to talk with her mentor, not about this...and she should probably talk about this with her, but she didn't want to make more drama with her; it was as if her relationship with the woman was based on a bond of pain and sad memories. So there was Kurt; he would probably tell Amanda anyway, but at least that way she would know that Nico was still voicing her issues, even if she didn't directly tell her.
Sighing, Nico lifted her hand, knocking on the door. "Mr. Sefton? Are you busy?"
"Not too much for a student", he said, opening the door with a smile. "What can I do for you, Nico?"
Nico smiled back. "Oh, nothing. Or, well, not much? Actually, I don't know. I guess I only wanted to talk." She entered the office, feeling like she had just said a lot of nonsense. "I mean, if you really aren't busy. Because it can wait. I think."
"I am rarely too busy to listen if someone wants to talk", he assured her, pulling out a chair. "What is the problem?"
Nico didn't seat. "India." Well, that was a beginning. "I have a big issue with India." And then she started to walk in circles. "It's ridiculous. I mean, I went there to help and make people happy, or whatever, because there was a freaking war going on and they were left to their own devices, so that's fine. I was fine; tired, lost by the language and probably dehydrated but fine. And then..." She slowed down, but didn't stop. "Those guys." There was a strong bitterness on her words. "The ones that attacked us on the camp, especially the two that Fred and Laurie and I took down. They just...just..." Nico waved her hands on the air, exasperated at her inability to express herself. "They were killing everyone!" Maybe she was talking a little louder now. "They just came and shot and crushed like they-- I mean-- They killed a mechanic right in front of me!"
She stopped there, realizing she was yelling, face red, legs shaking. "...." Nope, she couldn't go on.
"Nico, Nico, sit down." Kurt came over and steered her to the chair, face worried. "I am so very sorry you had to see that. They were ruthless people, acting on the orders of a lunatic."
Nico fell to the chair with a thud, legs not quite eager to cooperate. "Mr. Sefton...have you ever imagined what would you do if you had the power to make any wish happen?" Now she was having another deja vu.
"Many times", he told her frankly. "But few, if any, of us have that power, and I think that is for the best."
Nico sighed again. "Well, I have that power, or rather, the Staff of One has it. I just had to wish something, and it happens. If I wish for rain, it rains, if I wish for thunderbolts, there, you got them. I can do things nobody should be able to do." Her eyes were fixed on her boots, hands on her lap balled on tense fists. "And back then I just wanted to kill those...those..." Nico exhaled, but it was pretty obvious she had said 'those fuckers'. "All I needed was a command; Rot, Explode, Turn to Stone..., Burn. And I almost do it, and now..." She looked up at the man, face showing quite a good deal of guilt. "Now I regret I didn't kill any of them."
Kurt dropped into an easy crouch in front of her, eyes fixed on her face. "In those circumstances, no one would blame you for wishing them dead. But, Nico, it is very important, and it means a lot, that you did not do it. And especially that you did not do it with the Staff. I think you know that."
She couldn't stare into his eyes for too long; she felt guilty, and she hadn't even done a thing. Lowering her eyes, she tried to gain some composure. "It was as if every cell in my body wanted to hurt everyone, starting with them. And the Staff..." And she started to feel cold when she realized she had used the word everyone. "How can I be useful if I can't trust myself to do what's right?"
"Because every cell in your body wanted to do it, and the Staff... was encouraging that, if I understand its nature, and yet you did not", Kurt repeated firmly. "I have known grown men and women who would not have that kind of self-control."
"I'm going to fail." She spat it, her mouth dry at the weight of her words. "I can hope to be lucky enough to be able to control myself every time I am in a complicated situation." Great, I'm making this another drama show. She wanted to end it now, and felt a little embarrassed of telling it all to Kurt; she was better with such weight off her chest -well, not fully-, but now the man would worry. "Doesn't Amanda...err, Ms. Sefton knows how to separate the Staff from me? To cut it out?" And to get rid of her magic as well? She was starting to think she didn't want it that much.
"If she does, she has not told me so", he had to tell her. "I suspect there is probably a way, but I also think it would not be an easy thing to do, and the cost it might require... I know something of magic, and I am afraid the undoing might be as dark as the original spell."
Well now that was simply charming. "How can this get worse? I have a magical staff linked to my soul, and said staff is a tool of death and destruction." She wasn't going to put the blame on him though, so she just shut up. "I knew you guys did things you maybe didn't want to, or take rough choices...but after living it, I don't know if I can take more than this." And there she went again, feeling bad at herself.
Kurt looked at the floor, hearing the despair in her voice and guilt-stricken in turn at what he was about to say. "I am sorry that you were forced to this pass, Nico, and that it was your parents of all people who did it. But I know Amanda has talked to you about the corruption that can come with dark magic. Two of my sisters are witches, the one who has trodden that path and so is in more danger from stepping on it again, and the one who has not. Which would you have do your ritual, if one could be found?"
She knew, Nico knew who was Amanda in that tale; she hadn't heard her history in what seemed years ago on the witch's room. Apparently anything she did would only worsen things. "I can't make anyone do that, then." Sniffing energetically, Nico nodded to herself, trying to calm herself. "I...I need to think, more, about this." She was tempted to ask Kurt not to tell Amanda, but she knew there was no point on doing so. "Mr. Sefton...thanks for giving me your time." With that she stood, ready to leave the room.
He stood in turn, aware how close to tears she was, and put a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Whenever you need it, Nico, my time is yours. And anything I can do to help you, I will."
She nodded in silence. "I know", managed to say as she headed to the door. "Thanks for listening." The door opened, and then closed, and she was out. She needed to make it to her room, and just hope Megan wasn't around.
"You", Kurt said dryly over the top of his cards, "are not even trying to hide your cheating now, are you?"
“Well, I don’t have a cast to shove cards in anymore,” Cammie said, picking through her hand, “So, what gave me away? It was the five aces, wasn’t it?”
"That and the fact that you looked at my hand not five minutes ago while you 'went to the bathroom'." He grinned. "Subtlety, Cammie, is the way not to get beaten up. That or teleportation."
“I’m subtle. I’m so subtle it hurts,” she said, gesturing with the hand that held the cards, some of which had been in his hand before said bathroom break, “I’m just that amazing.”
"Of course you are", he said in a tone of cheerful placation. "And I must admit, it took me quite some time to learn to cheat unnoticed."
“Oh, so it’s cheat without getting caught now, is it?” Cammie asked, “Because I was having fun being over the top, but if it’s all about sneaky and you haven’t told me that, I can do that too.”
"Over the top is fine and fun when it is just us." He grinned. "But what kind of mentor would I be if I did not make sure you could be sneaky too?"
“I suppose you have a point,” she said, “Then we get to deal over, and I get to get all these extra cards out of my bra. Because it’s not as fun as it sounds.”
"I imagine all those stiff edges would be quite uncomfortable", he agreed, straight-faced.
“Yeah, just a bit,” she said, fishing them out without taking her shirt off. Fine art, really, “Papercuts there are not fun.”
"There are better hiding places", Kurt said with a grin. "Some of which I may teach you."
“That be cool. I have under the sleeve mastered,” she said.
"Without the corners ever showing for a second?"
“I don’t know about that, but it’s always fooled everyone else,” Cammie said simply. “I’ve planted cards before.”
"Then you have probably done well enough", he allowed with a grin. "Assuming you have not only been playing against drunks."
“Drunks are fun people to play against,” Cammie protested.
"Oh, they have their place, certainly", Kurt agreed. "But they are hardly a challenge."
“Well then, O Card Master, teach me,” Cammie said, holding her arms wide.
"I intend to."
After Cammie leaves, Nico comes by. That conversation isn't nearly as much fun.
Nico stopped in front of Kurt's door, wondering if she was doing the right thing. Like the last time, months ago. That was some messed up deja vu she was having just there. Still, talking to him had helped her a lot, so she considered there was more to win than to lose; if he was busy, she could try later. Or talk to Amanda. But weirdly, she didn't want to talk with her mentor, not about this...and she should probably talk about this with her, but she didn't want to make more drama with her; it was as if her relationship with the woman was based on a bond of pain and sad memories. So there was Kurt; he would probably tell Amanda anyway, but at least that way she would know that Nico was still voicing her issues, even if she didn't directly tell her.
Sighing, Nico lifted her hand, knocking on the door. "Mr. Sefton? Are you busy?"
"Not too much for a student", he said, opening the door with a smile. "What can I do for you, Nico?"
Nico smiled back. "Oh, nothing. Or, well, not much? Actually, I don't know. I guess I only wanted to talk." She entered the office, feeling like she had just said a lot of nonsense. "I mean, if you really aren't busy. Because it can wait. I think."
"I am rarely too busy to listen if someone wants to talk", he assured her, pulling out a chair. "What is the problem?"
Nico didn't seat. "India." Well, that was a beginning. "I have a big issue with India." And then she started to walk in circles. "It's ridiculous. I mean, I went there to help and make people happy, or whatever, because there was a freaking war going on and they were left to their own devices, so that's fine. I was fine; tired, lost by the language and probably dehydrated but fine. And then..." She slowed down, but didn't stop. "Those guys." There was a strong bitterness on her words. "The ones that attacked us on the camp, especially the two that Fred and Laurie and I took down. They just...just..." Nico waved her hands on the air, exasperated at her inability to express herself. "They were killing everyone!" Maybe she was talking a little louder now. "They just came and shot and crushed like they-- I mean-- They killed a mechanic right in front of me!"
She stopped there, realizing she was yelling, face red, legs shaking. "...." Nope, she couldn't go on.
"Nico, Nico, sit down." Kurt came over and steered her to the chair, face worried. "I am so very sorry you had to see that. They were ruthless people, acting on the orders of a lunatic."
Nico fell to the chair with a thud, legs not quite eager to cooperate. "Mr. Sefton...have you ever imagined what would you do if you had the power to make any wish happen?" Now she was having another deja vu.
"Many times", he told her frankly. "But few, if any, of us have that power, and I think that is for the best."
Nico sighed again. "Well, I have that power, or rather, the Staff of One has it. I just had to wish something, and it happens. If I wish for rain, it rains, if I wish for thunderbolts, there, you got them. I can do things nobody should be able to do." Her eyes were fixed on her boots, hands on her lap balled on tense fists. "And back then I just wanted to kill those...those..." Nico exhaled, but it was pretty obvious she had said 'those fuckers'. "All I needed was a command; Rot, Explode, Turn to Stone..., Burn. And I almost do it, and now..." She looked up at the man, face showing quite a good deal of guilt. "Now I regret I didn't kill any of them."
Kurt dropped into an easy crouch in front of her, eyes fixed on her face. "In those circumstances, no one would blame you for wishing them dead. But, Nico, it is very important, and it means a lot, that you did not do it. And especially that you did not do it with the Staff. I think you know that."
She couldn't stare into his eyes for too long; she felt guilty, and she hadn't even done a thing. Lowering her eyes, she tried to gain some composure. "It was as if every cell in my body wanted to hurt everyone, starting with them. And the Staff..." And she started to feel cold when she realized she had used the word everyone. "How can I be useful if I can't trust myself to do what's right?"
"Because every cell in your body wanted to do it, and the Staff... was encouraging that, if I understand its nature, and yet you did not", Kurt repeated firmly. "I have known grown men and women who would not have that kind of self-control."
"I'm going to fail." She spat it, her mouth dry at the weight of her words. "I can hope to be lucky enough to be able to control myself every time I am in a complicated situation." Great, I'm making this another drama show. She wanted to end it now, and felt a little embarrassed of telling it all to Kurt; she was better with such weight off her chest -well, not fully-, but now the man would worry. "Doesn't Amanda...err, Ms. Sefton knows how to separate the Staff from me? To cut it out?" And to get rid of her magic as well? She was starting to think she didn't want it that much.
"If she does, she has not told me so", he had to tell her. "I suspect there is probably a way, but I also think it would not be an easy thing to do, and the cost it might require... I know something of magic, and I am afraid the undoing might be as dark as the original spell."
Well now that was simply charming. "How can this get worse? I have a magical staff linked to my soul, and said staff is a tool of death and destruction." She wasn't going to put the blame on him though, so she just shut up. "I knew you guys did things you maybe didn't want to, or take rough choices...but after living it, I don't know if I can take more than this." And there she went again, feeling bad at herself.
Kurt looked at the floor, hearing the despair in her voice and guilt-stricken in turn at what he was about to say. "I am sorry that you were forced to this pass, Nico, and that it was your parents of all people who did it. But I know Amanda has talked to you about the corruption that can come with dark magic. Two of my sisters are witches, the one who has trodden that path and so is in more danger from stepping on it again, and the one who has not. Which would you have do your ritual, if one could be found?"
She knew, Nico knew who was Amanda in that tale; she hadn't heard her history in what seemed years ago on the witch's room. Apparently anything she did would only worsen things. "I can't make anyone do that, then." Sniffing energetically, Nico nodded to herself, trying to calm herself. "I...I need to think, more, about this." She was tempted to ask Kurt not to tell Amanda, but she knew there was no point on doing so. "Mr. Sefton...thanks for giving me your time." With that she stood, ready to leave the room.
He stood in turn, aware how close to tears she was, and put a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Whenever you need it, Nico, my time is yours. And anything I can do to help you, I will."
She nodded in silence. "I know", managed to say as she headed to the door. "Thanks for listening." The door opened, and then closed, and she was out. She needed to make it to her room, and just hope Megan wasn't around.
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Date: 2010-05-03 08:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-07 04:19 am (UTC)If Amanda doesn't jump at Nico soon, she'll go and ask herself. And so we slowly enter the Drama Arc.