Sam and Yvette - Comms Duty

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On comms duty, Sam and Yvette catch up, talk about being a superhero and Halloween.



The distinctive glow of the television screens washed over Yvette as she opened the comms room door with her elbow, a mug in each hand. "Coffee break time, yes?" she called to the shape sitting at the comms desk.

Sam looked up from the screen he'd been watching, which he'd been looking at so long his eyes were probably about to glaze over. He smiled warmly and reached out to help with the mugs. "Oh yes, most definitely. God bless you, Yvette, you're an angel. This is just what I needed." He knew that comms was important, of course, but lord if it didn't get monotonous at times. At least he had good company with him.

She beamed at the response and passed Sam one of the mugs, keeping the other (with the extra large handle for her fingers) for herself as she sat down. "Somehow, when the students talk about the superheroes in the basement, I do not think they picture this," she said with a small chuckle. "It is not exactly glamorous, is it?"

Taking a sip of his coffee, Sam closed his eyes and let out a satisfied sigh. "Mmmm, mercy that's good coffee." He chuckled at her comment as well. "It really isn't what a lot of people think superheroes are like, is it? Though sometimes that's a good thing, I don't look very good in tights either."

Yvette giggled and wrinkled her nose, very slightly. "I do not think many of us would look very good in the tights. Can you imagine Mr... I mean, Garrison, in them? Or Piotr?"

It was a good thing that Sam hadn't been drinking coffee when Yvette said that, because otherwise he would've made a big spit take at the image of Garrison and Piotr in tights. "If I couldn't before, I can now, and that might not be a good thing but it's as funny as heck, heh." He kept laughing at the thought, shaking his head. "So, how've things been with you, Yvette?"

With a small shrug and a sip of her coffee, she replied: "Busy, with the school and the training. I am studying politics and the mutant studies, so that I can have the career with Red X."

"I bet that does keep you busy, wow. But good for you, Yvette, it's good to be dedicated." He nodded, smiling at the younger mutant. "That's a great cause too, it's good to see people like yourself helping out like that."

"It is what I want to do," she said simply. "And how about you, Sam? How are things with you?"

Sam shrugged at the question. "I'm ok, getting settled back in and all that. It's good to be teaching again and helping out with the team, I missed that." He paused for a sip of coffee before continuing. "Not that I didn't like taking care of Jay, but it's nice to help out here too, and he's doing better, so I figured it was time to come back."

"He is really doing better?" Yvette's eyes literally lit up at the mention of her friend. "I have been worried about him; he was so... angry when he left."

"Oh yeah, definitely." He smiled, though it faded a little as he thought back to Jay's past problems with anger, not to mention his own. "Anger's a horrible thing, when there's so much of it. But there are ways to work through it, it just takes time, and a good place and way to do it. And Muir Island has a lot of good resources, thankfully." Sam's smile came back a little stronger now. "I guess I'm speaking from experience there too." Jay wasn't the only one who'd benefited from his time there.

"I know a little of that also," Yvette replied with a small, wry smile. "With my skin... let us just say I do not hide in the woods so much when I am upset. It is not always easy, to channel the feelings into the useful places, yes?"

"It can be tough to deal with, yeah, but the main thing is to find what works for you and it'll work out in the end, y'just gotta have faith." Faith was one of the big things with Sam at least, though it might not work for anyone. "Sorry if I sound too preachy, heh."

"I am one of the few people who you do not need to worry about when talking about the faith," Yvette reassured him. "I am not Muslim, like my family, but I do understand it is important to believe in something." She looked over at Sam, eyes glimmering in the low light. "After all, that is why we are here, in this room. Because we believe in something."

"Very true words, Yvette." He grinned at her and couldn't agree with her more. Heck, he wished more people had that point of view. It didn't matter that they may or may not believe in exactly the same things. "And right now I believe that you make the best coffee that I've ever had in my life, bar none." Sam took another big sip of his drink, it really did hit the spot.

"Why thank you, Sam," Yvette said, pleased. She would have blushed if she could. "It is not as strong as the coffee in Albania, but I did not think it would be good to have, how you say? The jitterbugs? All night."

"It would be bad to be overcaffeinated, definitely, plus I find if it's too strong it affects the taste of the coffee." He liked it strong occasionally, but Yvette was right, it wouldn't be good to be jittery and jumpy all night long. "I'd say this is just right, the Goldilocks of coffee, heh."

"Oh, I know this story! With the three bears, yes?" Yvette giggled a little. "A pity I have already chosen my Halloween costume, or I could be the Goldilocks of Coffee instead."

He chuckled. "Dressing up for Hallowe'en, I miss that. What are you going as, Yvette? And there's always next year." Sam winked at her playfully and took another sip of his coffee.

"Do you know Lady Gaga? One of her costumes, it is the Red Lady. Not so much that I need to do, yes?" Yvette had also wanted to try something a bit more grown up this year, tired of being seen as the cute little girl. "And I am only dressing up because I am helping supervise the students for the Halloween party. I believe Wade is making the plans for this year, so it should be interesting."

"I've heard of her, yeah." Sam probably wouldn't be able to name any of her songs or sing along to them but it was hard to not at least recognize her name these days, unless you lived in a cave. While Muir Island was fairly remote, it wasn't that bad. "Ahh, ok, that sounds like a good choice, I'm sure it'll be great." He smiled and nodded. "It should be a good time, it usually is. And Wade, he seems like a nice guy." They'd talked on the journals a few times but that had been about the extent of his interactions with the man.

"He is strange, like Garrison can be strange, but Wade is good for the students, especially the ones who are having the difficult time." Yvette didn't get most of Wade's jokes, but then again, she didn't get a lot of jokes in general that required specialist pop culture knowledge. "What about you? Will you be coming to the Halloween party?"

Sam kept forgetting to take up the other man on his offer of pie but, well. How did one do that to someone who was pretty much a stranger, exactly? He shook his head at the question. "Naw, I've had my day at that, though I miss it from when I was a kid. I went as a tumbleweed one year, d'you know that?" Lord knows they didn't have a lot of money growing up but he still managed to have a lot of fun. "I'll probably help out with comms I think, allow some of the others to let loose for a change."

"I will make sure to visit then," Yvette promised. "And bring you some more coffee, yes?"

"I would be much obliged." Sam grinned at her. "No need to go trick or treatin' when you'll be bringing me a treat like that." It sounded like a win-win to him; everyone else got to party, and he got some amazing coffee. What wasn't there to love? Comms duty wasn't that bad after all.