Log: Megan and Kurt

[x-welshpixie.livejournal.com]

Megan walked into the staff wing, humming something random that Nicco had been playing in their room. She actually missed some of her teachers this summer, a definite first in the life of Megan Gwynn. She peered into the staff lounge but didn't see the familiar blue face of her favorite teacher, Kurt Wagner. She paused, smiled at any of the other staff who looked at her, then continued down the hall to his room.

"Hello, it's Megan!" she said brightly as she knocked at his door.

It was lucky her voice was so clearly not his sister's, or there might have been a lot of initial confusion. Kurt offered a smile as he opened the door, nudging the excited dog back with one foot as he did so. "Hello, Megan. What can I do for you?"

"Hey, I just wanted to stop by and visit. Are you busy?" She leaned down and petted the dog on the head. "I didn't know you had a dog. What kind is he? She?"


"I do not let him out into the house much, except on the way for walks. His name is Triscuit, and he is a King Charles-Labrador mix." He stood aside to let her in. "And I am not too busy."

Megan scratched the dog's head again and came inside. "Cool. Has it been a busy summer for the X-men?" she asked, looking around at the decor. "Do you know anything about Catseye? I heard that she was going to check in with the Prof. Xavier from time to time."

"For the X-Men, not overly busy... and as for Catseye", he said quietly, "she is still looking for Nick. But I promise you she is safe and checking in regularly."

Megan's shoulders relaxed and she realized she had been holding her breath. "That's good. She... was going to help me with something a while ago. But now she's not here and... honestly I'd been putting it off. But I want to do it now--I want to try to contact my sister, Molly. I think our auntie has her address in London. I know she wouldn't have a problem giving it to me, but... I can't think of what to write in the letter I would write to Molly. What should I say? Do you think you can help me think of something?"

"I would be happy to help", he told her. "How long is it since you had contact with your sister?"

"It's been over two years. Like two and a half. That's not too long is it? I mean, at what point is it just rude to try to contact someone after you haven't talked for so long?"

"I think when it is family", Kurt said thoughtfully, "there is no limit. Certainly if you parted on good terms."

Her worried smile turned genuine. "Yeah, pretty good. I knew she was going off to college for a while but... that day... it all seemed so final. She had cleaned out her entire room and had a big pile of stuff to give me that she didn't want anymore. We always got along pretty well but we never really could talk about our emotions and stuff. I still don't know what she was thinking. Like... how was I supposed to get along by myself?"

"I would take it as a compliment that she felt you could", he suggested. "And you found your way here in the end. I can see no reason not to contact her."

"Yeah, if she had stayed... I might not have ended up at the school. Maybe I should start the letter that way. " 'Dear Molly, It's not so bad. I got your address from Auntie. Did she tell you that I'm in New York? I'm at the best school.' Start positive and all that?"

"That sounds like a very good start to me", he said easily. "And do not forget to ask how she is."

"Oh yeah. 'I'm at the best school. What university did you end up going to? I hope you are well.' Then I can start asking some questions? Or should I wait for her to write back and offer any explanations on her own?"

"Perhaps a few questions", he agreed. "But you do not want to overwhelm her, or seem accusing, or she may take offence."

"Right. Hmmm... how to put it nicely? 'Why did you think it was alright...' no... 'How did you know I'd be just tidy on my own?' Well, that seems to be brushing it off too much. It was really tough at first. I don't want to make it seem like I wasn't bothered at all. But I don't want to sound too mad either. I'm not mad, not really anymore." She reached up to her pink hair and scratched her head just above her temple in stress.

"Perhaps for now, just let her know you are all right", Kurt suggested. "And that everything turned out for the best. If she responds to that, then we can work out how to ask her why she left."

"Yeah... there's just no good way to put it. I'll just have to hope that she'll feel sufficiently guilty and want to explain. So... yeah, I'll write to my auntie today and get Molly's address."

"And there you have the start of a plan", he said encouragingly. "Perhaps you can even get her to come here, when she is free."

"Do family members come here a lot? I wonder what Molly would think of the school. Well, I better not tell her it's a school for mutants in the letter. Even though I do mostly normal stuff here. Except for flying and powers training." She grinned, feeling much relieved about the whole letter plan now. "Oh yeah it's a holiday today. Are you going to go do anything?"

"Family members are welcome to visit whenever they or the student they belong to may wish. We even have a Parents' Day", he told her, then shrugged. "I have no particular plans. I may dig a fire pit for cooking, if anyone wants to attend."

"I'm going to go watch Lorna cook. I wonder if she's going to grill? Well, I never learned how to cook, even when I was on my own, so I'm looking forward to whatever she ends up making."

"I am sure she will do something appropriate." He smiled. "Many of us here missed Lorna's cooking while she was away."

"I'm glad I met her. Ohh... I better get going in fact. Thanks so much for helping me figure out what to write to Molly. I'd better go write it down or post it in my journal before I forget."

"Any time at all, Megan. If you need more help, you can always come back."

"Cool. Bye Mr. Wagner! Have a good holiday!"