Topaz & Namor | Friday Afternoon

[x-submariner.livejournal.com]

Topaz and Namor talk about the volume of feelings in a study room.

Logically, she could have just gone upstairs to make tea. But the library was downstairs and so was the kitchen, so that was where Topaz ended up, putting together a cup of tea. She'd retreated back to the library as of late, hiding there as much as she could. Logically she knew she didn't have anything to hide from — not really — but it was familiar and comfortable and right then that was what she needed.

What she didn't need, however, was the intensity of emotion emanating from the other side of the library. It had started off as a faint buzz lost within the white noise of the mansion, but quickly and violently spiked just as Topaz was finding her calm. It throbbed. It pulsed. Someone was very angry nearby, and that someone was being horribly annoying about it.

Considering she basically lived in a high school, surrounded by hormonal teenagers, spikes in emotions were hardly a surprise. What was a surprise, however, was that it was unfamiliar. She was so used to the emotions that she hardly noticed, but this one was new.

Topaz hesitated in the library door for a moment, her tea clutched between her hands, before she went to investigate the source of the anger.

She would find Namor camped out in one of the small study rooms that shared a wall with the library. He had sought this out this out for its relative seclusion, but was unaware that his mood was like a beacon. His classes that day had been forgettable, but a particular encounter had brewed a rage in him that he just couldn't shake. The Attilani's silhouette -- head held back as he took deep, centering breaths -- was vaguely defined in the glass of the doorway.

Normally the witch would have just walked away. But annoyance and anger had a way of dragging her in. And okay, she was vaguely curious about the man emitting the emotions, if she was being honest. She knew Hope found him highly infuriating, Matt didn't seem to care much for him, but he and Clint were friends and Maddie thought he was attractive.

She wanted an opinion of her own. And maybe a distraction from her own problems.

So she knocked on the door.

Namor's head snapped forward, focus returning with a vengeance. At first, it was a "Do you know who I am?" moment as he considered the impertinence of someone distributing him. It helped to picture Clint throwing someth— dammit, Namor was going to have to stop thinking like that. "Occupied," he growled wearily.

"Noticed," Topaz replied dryly. "Eyes, see." She pointed at her eyes. "Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. Just couldn't help but notice that you seem rather...perturbed." To put it lightly.

"Great. So you can see through walls?" To his point, it was a pretty solid door with small panes of frosted, colored glass. "If you aren't going to leave me in peace, please come in," Namor grumped with a sigh.

"No, I'm psychic." Funny because it was true. She was actually quite pleased with that bout of wit as she nudged the door open.

Topaz was met with an imperious stare that could equally be read as Not really in the mood or maybe Get on with what you want or perhaps You must offer tribute, peasant. The rest of Namor’s expression was flat and inscrutable, so it was good that she was a psychic. “What may I do for you, Miss?"

She honestly couldn't answer that. Why had she sought out the obviously annoyed young man? "Could feel you broadcasting across the library," she said with a shrug. "I was curious.”

The edge in his tone wasn't forgiving, “We all have our bad days. I apologize for inconveniencing you."

"No inconvenience." She shrugged, well aware that his apology wasn't exactly honest. Honestly, he was making her look positively social. "Just don't remember the last time I saw anyone this angry. Well… anyone who doesn't turn into wood.”

“It will pass.” He continued to stare expectantly.

Topaz, in turn, tilted her head, almost looking...curious. "Yeah, that's what everyone says. S'thing about anger though, isn't it? It never really passes.”

“It is my opinion that ‘everyone’ is wrong most of the time,” Namor said with a sigh. He really hoped she wouldn’t try to hug this out. “I do what works for me."

No. No she certainly would not try to hug this out. "And how's that workin' out for you?”

Namor was still staring at the girl across from him like she might grow two heads. “Miss Topaz, please forgive for me my bluntness here. I hate repeating myself, but how may I help you?"

"Uh...just Topaz is fine." Was this what it was like when she called other people Mr. or Ms.? "And you really can't, I guess. A therapist can't, so I doubt you could.”

“I…” his expression slowly morphed to reflect his confusion. “That was not what I meant to ask. I can leave if you need this room.”

It was surprisingly hard to keep a straight face at his expression. "Sorry, I couldn't resist that one. And no, I don't need the room. Like I said, could kinda feel you mentally screamin'. Anyways sorry for..." She waved a hand. "Ya know. Intrudin'." She felt the very strong 'begone peasant' vibe when she'd knocked.

He grimaced a little. "I was not aware I was that loud. However, you have never struck me as the type who likes to talk out feelings."

"People don't usually pay attention to how loud their feelings are. It's like thinking too loud. You don't realize it until a telepath points it out." She shrugged. "And I'm not askin' to hear about your bad day or anythin'. I was walkin' by anyways." She had a little nest set up back in her usual place.

"The pool was busy, and I didn't feel like scrubbing scum out of my hair today," he offered as explanation. It was common knowledge that Namor spent a lot of time underwater, but not necessarily why. "I will respect your right to keep your feelings to yourself if you can do likewise."

"Like I said, I wasn't gonna ask." She didn't even pry into the personal lives of the people with whom she was close. Never mind someone she didn't know. "Can't always help what I pick up on, though." She tilted her head again, eyes narrowing a bit. There was something there, something besides the anger. She couldn't quite pick it out though.

"Then we're agreed," Namor said with finality. "I imagine the key to being psychic around other people is discretion."

"Or shields strong enough to block people out no matter what." Which she technically did have — when she was awake anyways. But she'd become accustomed to the low hum that was the rest of the mansion in the very back of her mind. "But ya know...things happen sometimes.”

“I don’t know. I have never been psychic, or magical. A magician? Caster?” Namor paused, considering. “I forget what Miss Sefton called you all."

"Oh she calls us a few things, but I think that might be specific to the ones she teaches." She shrugged. "The official name is magic user. Nothin' too fancy.”

This was met with a grunt of understanding. “Much more practical of a title."

"Yeah, who has time for complicated titles when you're blurrin' the lines of reality." The words were careless and a bit distracted as she gave Namor one last look over. She wasn't going to figure this out standing there making conversation. "Anyways I'll let you get back to work. Sorry for interruptin’.”

“I thought it was common knowledge that I love complicated titles,” he replied in an attempt to lighten the mood. Talking was admittedly helping to alleviate his mood. “Apology accepted. I will try to not sort my emotions so loudly."

"I had heard somethin' along those lines." A small smirk pulled at the teen's lips. She could fill at least half a book with the things she'd heard about him. "No worries about bein' too loud, it happens.”

He arched an eyebrow at her smirk, but only offered a patient smile in response.

Another quick moment to examine him, and finally Topaz turned and left, hands in her pocket. She made a mental note to say something to Amanda next time she saw the woman.