xp_logs | Xavin and Rogue, Sunday

There were two options: ignore the teen or meddle. It didn't matter what brain ‎she had; Rogue always loved meddling.

Some people swore by exercise to clear their minds. Xavin had ... tried, despite a lifetime of cutting gym class suggesting that no, no, exercise was not fun and not enjoyable and not going to do anything much. Xavin had managed a lap and a half around the mansion before giving up in disgust and walking back inside through the nearest door and slamming it. Yeah, exercise totally sucked.

Rogue jumped at the sound of the door. Curious, she turned towards the sound and saw one of the newer students stomping away, clearly angry.

There were two options: ignore the teen or meddle. It didn't matter what brain ‎she had; Rogue always loved meddling.

Chewing on an apple, she casually sauntered over to where the teen was. "Now that was a class A door slam, sugah. Ah ain't gonna insult‎ ya and ask if you're okay, cause clearly ya ain't, but Ah will.offer mah services as unofficial counsellor heah.". She stuck out a gloved hand. "Rogue."

...okay, now Xavin was sweaty, gross and had an audience. There was an urge to take a bow, ask for applause. Reason won out. "Hi. I'm Xavin. I think I've seen you around."

Rogue motioned to the stripe in her hair. "Ah do stand out," she said with a grin. "Wanna chat? You look like you could use a shower. Ah can walk ya to your room."‎

"Sure... You're the counsellor here, huh?"

Motioning to Xavin to walk so that Rogue could follow, she bit her apple and shrugged. "‎Kinda but not really," Rogue answered. "Ah have mah Master's in Counselling Psychology, and have been doin' it for lots of years, so people seek me out ifbl they got problems and stuff."

"And it's traumatised mutant central here, isn't it?" Xavin asked, slightly more sarcastically than was necessary. "Like, is anyone here actually happy?"

Rogue had stop and laugh at that. Hard. "Oh mah gawd, of course we are, sugah. Ah like to think of myself as pretty happy. Sure, life sucks sometimes but it's just a matter of dealin' with it. That's where Ah come in. Like an external brain." she cocked her head. "Are you not happy?"

That wasn't the point. "I've been here for like fifteen minutes and as far as I can tell, other than that one weird woman who only has like, one arm, everyone is either some kind of insomniac, a freaking weirdo or just wandering around like their puppy got killed. If I'm not happy, I'm just joining in the general crowd, right?"

"Is that how you feel?"‎

Xavin snorted and tugged at the hem of the hoodie. "No offence here, Rogue, but... are you asking counsellor-type questions for a reason?"

She grinned widely. "Ya found me out. Ah can't help it, but how about Ah'll stay away from the typical questions. Ah really am curious why you see this place as so negative.‎ Sure, it's been kinda a madhouse, but it's loads of fun too. Have ya met anyone yet? Or spent time in the common rooms?"

Xavin paused and looked away for a long moment. "No, everything is fine. Totally fine. I've met some of the other students, you know, on the bus."

Rogue raised an eyebrow. "Still feel like you ain't givin' me the whole story but if you don't wanna talk, we don't haveta."

"I have no idea why you would think that," Xavin said, voice dry. "You really want to know?"

Finishing her apple, Rogue nodded. "We can talk now, or you can shower and find me later. Whatever works for you, sugar."

"School kind of sucks but it's no big deal." That was so not true that Xavin was surprised that there wasn't a large glowing sign saying 'liar' overhead. "I might go grab a shower, though."

"School always sucks. Ah think it's a law of physics or somethin'. ". She waved a hand at them. "But go shower. Ah'll scour some food, and come meet ya in your room, cool?"

~*~*

Rogue had to ask Angel where Xavin's room was but she was soon there with the promised food: sandwiches and salad.

Anything more complicated and food poisoning was a valid concern.

She rapped lightly on the door. "Hey sugah, it‎'s me, Rogue. Ah come baring food." ‎ "Thanks," Xavin said, taking a seat back at the desk and waving Rogue back over to the other bed and taking the offered plate. "So, did you know that the new girl here is Alison Blair? I mean, how cool is that? I had no idea that she was even a mutant."

Rogue's eyes widened. "Oh mah gawd, seriously?". She really needed to stop hibernating in her room. "THE Alison Blaire? Oh wow, that IS cool!" She quirked an eyebrow. "Does that you feel better 'bout bein' a mutant? That someone famous is dealin' with the same thing y'all are?"

"Yes, the Alison Blaire." Xavin eyed Rogue and snorted. "Seriously? One of the Kardashians went to my school, and that's what you want to ask me? I've met famous people before, you know. And, no, she's not dealing with the same things I am."

"Similar, then.". Wrong word to use. "But she's been uprooted too, powers issues, in a new place and has lost her sense of identity."‎. Rogue took a bite of her sandwich and chewed thoughtfully. "We all went through it. Some more recent than others."

Xavin sighed. "My ...issues at school" and the airquotes were audible "and her quitting as a singer are not the same. School sucks, alright, cos they all think I'm a gay boy and that goes down real well, you know?"

Rogue simply nodded. "Ah can see that. Society puts such labels on sexuality and gender, that it's hard when someone different shows up. Is there a certain way you'd like to be seen as? Somethin' that feels more real?"‎

Xavin stared at Rogue open-mouthed for a moment. "What the hell? No. I - look, Rogue, that's a real personal question to be asking someone. Next it's going to be 'did your daddy touch you when you were a kid and that's why you're like this now?' or something, isn't it? And - " Xavin held up a hand, cutting off any rejoinder. "And no, he didn't. But you - you therapist types - always seem to go there. School sucks, I'm alright, we're all good except that I have a stupid group project for history, okay?"

"Ah wasn't askin' ta offend so Ah apologize if Ah did. Jus' makin' sure Ah was respectin' your boundaries, and usin' the language that's most comfortable for you," Rogue responded by way of apology. "Your past is your own, an' Ah shouldn't have pried, but for the record, Ah wasn't assumin' nothin' bout your parents. You're your own person.". She gave a sheepish grin. "It is kinda hard to turn the therapist off though."

"Maybe try? I don't need a headshrinker. 'specially not one I have to live with. That's just... weird, you know?"

Rogue nodded eagerly. "Ah can do that. Ah'm kinda in a weird position," she confessed. Looking down, she bit her lip before meeting Xavin's eyes. "Can Ah tell ya a secret? Ah.....well, Ah have amnesia. Ah may look like an adult but in mah head Ah'm 19. The adults all know, obviously but no one else really does. It makes for some onterestin' cognitive dissonance," she said with a sigh. "Ah try my best to be all grown up and shit, but it ain't easy. So. Ah'm sorry if Ah say somethin' wrong..."

"Oh my god." Xavin stared at Rogue, taking in how uncomfortable she was. "I need a second." Xavin stood, moved around the room for a moment, thinking. "Oh my god."

"Can - can we start again? Where I'm not being a dick and you're not being a counsellor and you're just - Rogue? And I'll try really hard to not make this weird. Weirder. And you'll be cool about things, too?" Xavin offered a smile.

"Ah can do that.‎" Rogue gave a real grin in return. "Now," she continued, biting her sandwich. "Tell me about school. Ah kinda miss it."