xp_logs | Sooraya and Yvette: Roomies again! (Backdated to 1 December)

Sooraya moves into the the suite with Yvette and the old friends catch up.

It was strange how one managed to spread to occupy a space, even if that one didn't have a lot of stuff. Yvette was reflecting on this as she cleared up her books and papers from the living area coffee table. Apparently she'd gotten lax since Laura's departure. Not that she'd prefer living alone - she was thrilled her old friend was back and was happy to share a space.

Sooraya shifted her bag on her shoulder as she hesitated near the door, trying to decide if she was going to knock or just enter. Finally she settled on a combination of the two, giving just a quick knock before pushing open the door. "Hey Yvette!"

"Hi, Sooraya!" The small red girl's eyes glowed brightly blue, showing her happiness. "I was just putting away some of my mess. Studying for the finals, yes?" She cocked her head at the single bag. "You are, how they say, travelling light?"

“Most of my things are being shipped from Attilan and they should be here next week. They thought it better to get out of Attilan as quickly as possible.” She explained quickly, as smile on her face as she regarded her friend. Curiously she also took in the suite. “I like the suite. A lot of space for the two of us...”

"Especially since I am so small," joked the diminutive Albanian. "It is so good to have you back, even if it was not so much by your choice.”

“I am happy to be back here, Yvette.” Sooraya reassured her suite mate. “It is not the way I would have chosen to come back, but this is still the closest thing I have to a home.”

"Well, I am still glad you are here." Yvette smiled. "You said you are planning to finish your high school classes?"

“I have only two classes left… Anatomy and Physiology and History of Islam… I started them in Attilan and I plan to finish them as independent studies here.” Sooraya put down her bag and sat down on the couch, surveying the books. “You look pretty busy…”

"Finals are coming," Yvette took a perch on the battered kitchen chair she used to relax on, crouching with her feet on the seat in her usual manner. "And I have essays for the history and the politics and the sociology. But I am enjoying it." She smiled. "After all, it is all leading to where I want to go, with the Red X."

“Sounds good. I still have to figure out what I exactly want to study in college. At least I know it won’t be anything very science-oriented.” Sooraya tilted her head thoughtfully. “I think I would enjoy doing something helping people also. I always liked what we did at Elpis.”

Yvette nodded. "I got too busy, with the X-Men training and Red X and college, to keep working at Elpis. I still do the translating for them sometimes, when they need it." She gave a little, self-aware laugh. "I suppose I like the action a little too much to be the office type of person."

“That sounds very busy.” Sooraya concurred, looking thoughtful. “I enjoyed working with Red X, but I think I enjoyed Elpis more. I like the idea of being able to help mutants in Afghanistan. I was very lucky, but there might be many who aren’t as lucky as I was. But both are very good to help…”

"You can probably manage both, since you are not joining the team, yes?" Yvette suggested. "It has been a while since we had the Red X mission, which is a good thing, considering."

“I think that is a very good thing indeed… And I don’t have any plans to join the team. And if there is a Red X-mission, I will go. You also did the leadership training? What was that like? What did you learn?”

"It was the intensive course to train us to be able to lead Red X groups," Yvette replied, her voice growing enthusiastic for her favorite subject. "It is hard work, but very rewarding, and now I can take out groups of Red X volunteers when there is a mission. There is the more intensive first aid and communications training, of course, but there is also the leadership training, where you learn to work with people and make sure they do not over-exert themselves and such." She grinned at her friend. "It helps with the English, too."

“It sounds pretty exciting…” Sooraya had to smile at her friend’s enthusiasm. “I think I’ll just stay a normal volunteer for now. Do they still do trainings here?”

Yvette nodded. "The last Friday of every month, yes. And perhaps you can help me encourage some of the newer students to think about joining? They are, how you say, not exactly the joining types."

“Good… I might join you some time. But… Are any of them training for Red X?” Sooraya asked, her eyes widening. She easily remembered the time when many of the students she had known had been involved in Red X.

Yvette shook her head. "Meggan is, and Sarah said she was interested, but otherwise, it is mostly the old guard. Me, Laurie, Angel... Like I said, there has not been so much to do lately, so it has not been so much on the radar for people. And, like I said, some of these new students are not so interested in such things. But I think if we try to get the interest up again, perhaps we can do something locally, like the blood donation run or fundraising for the holidays."

“I haven’t really met most of the new students yet. Just ran across them in the hallways…” Sooraya mused. “If I can, I’ll mention it to them.” Suddenly she remembered something. “I just remembered… I brought something.” She headed over to her bag and dug inside, removing a bag with several red apples. “I brought you some fuel to study with.”

Yvette laughed out loud at that. "I hope you like apples too, because I did the same thing for you - there is a basket on your bed for you! The great minds think alike, yes?"

Sooraya shook her head, fighting not to burst out in laughter also. “Thanks Yvette… But I think I’m going to unpack… Good luck studying.”