xp_logs | Angelo and Marie-Ange

They run into each other in the library and talk about languages, work, and coping mechanisms.

The library was rapidly becoming Marie-Ange's second favourite place to go and sit quietly - it wasn't quite the sunroom, but it had the advantage of books, which were comforting -and- interesting. The sunroom just had sun. At the moment, she sat in an armchair, legs curled up into her skirt, with one pen in her hand, and one tucked into her braided hair, frowning at a stack of papers sullenly.

Angelo walked into the room in a break between classes, head bowed slightly, and headed over to one of the comfy chairs to one side, not initially noticing Marie-Ange. Unwilling to open the conversation, just in case, he sat down, curled up, and closed his eyes.

Marie-Ange raised an eyebrow silently as she watched Angelo walk past, and returned to making little marks on the paper, occasionally letting out little frustrated sighs. Every few seconds, she glanced up to see if Angelo was stirring, assuming that if he needed a quiet place to sleep, this was one of the better ones.

After a little while, Angelo decided to be social, since she'd neither got up and walked out nor started shouting at him, so it was probably safe. Opening his eyes, he said quietly, "Hey, Angie."

Still engrossed in the world of French mid-terms - and mentally cursing herself for ever volunteering to help Ms. Frost with the class, Angie took a moment before she looked up, then answered, automatically speaking in French. "Bonjour, Angelo. l'interuppt de I votre petit somme?" She caught herself, just as she finished, and shook her head. "Sorry. I did not interuppt your nap, did I?"

Angelo blinked at her until she repeated the sentence in English, then shook his head. "No, I wasn't sleepin'. S'okay. How're you doin'?"

Marie-Ange nodded. "I am .. perhaps as well as I can expect. Feeling a great deal of sympathy for our teachers at the moment." She tapped the stack of papers with her pen, and shrugged. "And you?", she asked, concernedly.

Angelo shrugged slightly. "Gettin' by", he answered quietly. "Better 'n yesterday."

"Good." Marie-Ange nodded, not quite sure what else to say. She wanted to apoligize for the reading in Brighton, she wanted to ask if Angelo needed anything, but none of the words seemed right, so she went back to her papers, hoping the silence didn't feel as uncomfortable to Angelo as it did to her.

Angelo didn't mind the silence, but could tell she wasn't comfortable, and cast about for a new topic of conversation. "What's that you're doin'?" he finally settled for, since it seemed neutral enough.

Marie-Ange set her pen down and glanced up. "Marking French mid-term essays. Never volunteer to assist Ms. Frost with a class." she said, with no -real- distaste. "At the least, never a language class. There are some truly frightening papers here."

Angelo nodded, with a faint smile. "You volunteered for more work?"

Marie-Ange nodded. "I get credit for it, and it is better than learning Spanish or German." She smiled. "Three languages is enough. I have no need to attempt to compete with Doug."

Angelo raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, that's just a little bit impossible." He paused. "Three? French, English...?"

"Latin." she answered. "It was required at my former school. I think the sisters were convinced that the Pope was going to recinde Vatican Two -any- day now, and that we would need it." Marie-Ange grinned. "It is helpful sometimes, and good for private conversations, but really, it is entirely useless."

Angelo nodded. "Yeah. I c'n manage a few prayers, but that's about it. 's only good for private conversations when the other person speaks it... which I guess really wouldn't be a problem for you, huh?"

Marie-Ange grinned. "It is a benefit. It makes up for Doug reading body language. It is entirely too hard to pretend I do not have headaches when he can see it on me." She frowned. "Speech class only goes so far to help with that. I have this sinking feeling Ms. Frost is going to make lying to Doug part of our final exam. I would, were I her."

"Well, it'd certainly be a good test. Get somethin' past him, you can get it past anyone. An' you shouldn't be pretendin' you don't have headaches, anyway."

"There are headaches, and then there are -headaches-. Doug likes to dote on me for both, and while I do not mind altogether much, it prevents me from getting work done." Marie-Ange shrugged, then looked pointedly at Angelo. "Not that I am the only one who hides things."

Angelo glanced down. "It wasn't like that..." he muttered weakly, knowing it wasn't much of a defence.

Marie-Ange sighed. "No, but if I should not, neither should you. It does not help at all." She frowned, wondering if he was thinking of something other than what she was. "Doug is not the only one who can see when people are hurting. He is just -very- good at it. At least tell me you are talking to someone? Marie? Doctor Samson? Anyone?"

Angelo nodded. "Yeah, I slept on Marie's couch last night. Well, mostly slept. An' I've been goin' to my appointments with Samson."

"Good.' Marie-Ange nodded firmly, not entirely satisified, but at least content to know Angelo was still trying to heal, rather than hiding inside his pain. "Grey skin or no, walking around like a zombie is not for you." She added, dryly.

Angelo gave her a half-smile. "Wasn't doin' too well yesterday, but it passes. Always does, sooner or later."

Marie-Ange nodded. "I know, but just letting it 'pass' is not healthy unless you are getting better too." She frowned at him. "If you ever just need to talk, you know where I am."

Angelo offered her a grateful smile. "Thanks. I think... I'm on the way to gettin' better", he said, choosing the words carefully. "Just get... setbacks sometimes."

"Oui. That is, I think normal. Everyone does." She smiled sadly, and tapped her stack of papers. "I have to go give these to Ms. Frost before class starts again. She is handing them back today." Marie-Ange stood, and packed away her papers relucantly. "I am serious. If you need to talk, I am willing to listen."

Angelo nodded. "Always good to know. The same goes for you, y'know."

Marie-Ange nodded silently, and finished gathering up her papers, putting them neatly into her bag. "I will see you in Speech, yes?" she asked, before pulling the bag over her shoulder.

Angelo nodded again, with a would-be reassuring smile. "Sure will. See you later."