Darcy & Terry | Post-Gala Gossip
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xp_logsTerry brings Darcy sustenance and they gossip a bit about their respective post-Gala activities before the conversation turns a bit more serious. (backdated)
The shower had helped Darcy feel slightly more human, even still hungover and emotionally wrung out. Her electric kettle was full and on the table, ready to heat, and she had two mugs and a selection of tea on the table. She was contemplating the wisdom of dry-swallowing some tylenol, plopping it on her table as a knock sounded.
"Hey Terry," she said with a wan smile as she opened the door, holding it wide so the redhead could enter without trouble. "Bread smells good. I've got the kettle ready for tea."
"Brilliant," Terry said, giving Darcy a smile as she headed for the table. She had everything stored in an over-large tote, so she sat that down and began unloading it. "Soup's made with beef stock, I hope that's all right?" She'd brought some proper butter with her for the bread, which she sat out next, then the bread itself. Fresh out of the oven, it did smell quite good, if she did say so herself.
"Yeah, it's fine. I don't eat a lot of pork or shellfish, but I don't keep kosher either. Darcy hummed appreciatively at the smell of fresh bread, waving Terry into a seat before grabbing bowls, plates, and silverware. "I've got things other than tea, if none of the mixes I have work for you. A pitcher of lemonade, some juice. Milk and water."
“Mm… tea’s all I need for now,” Terry said, setting the pot full of vegetable soup on the table next. She made sure she put it on the tote, since it was still warm from the stove. “Oh, you’ve got a good black tea there, brilliant. Have y’cream? Milk’ll do, o’ course, but there’s something about cream…”
"Just milk in here, unless you want to stir in some vanilla bean ice cream? I mostly drink green in the mornings and a herbal at night, and the only thing I put in either is a bit of honey." She set everything down on the table, slumping into her seat with a sigh. "Can't decide if I'm too old for hangovers like this, or kicking myself for forgetting to eat after having three drinks."
“How old are you?” Terry asked, eyebrows rising a bit. “Keepin’ in mind I’ll be 35 next Monday.” She gave Darcy another smile, then reached for the milk and honey. “Anyway, no one’s ever prepared for hangovers. They’re the worst all around.”
"Thirty-three, so old enough to know not to drink on an empty stomach," Darcy replied with a laugh that turned into a bit of a groan. "Probably some of it's the... emotional wring out? Ugh." She set her tea to steep, then leaned back with a small grin. "Have fun with Kyle after you got home?"
“Let’s just say,” Terry said, expression full of mischief, “You’re no’ the only person who was lickin’ abs for science last night… mayhap no’ so much for science, t’be honest. Just for the joy o’ it and the look on m’lad’s face as I went even lower.”
Darcy's eyes lit up. "I love that. He looked absolutely delicious last night. You too, but I don't think I've ever seen Kyle so dressed up. Having a little after-party fun is just the icing on the cake." She took a long sip of her tea and confessed "I didn't write down my findings last night, so not a lot of science happening there either."
“Well, I’m sure the experiment’s repeatable?” Terry half-asked, tipping her head to the side. “Or no’, if he was terrible at the conversation after?”
"Weeeeell, bit hard for him to talk when his mouth is busy on your bestie? But he was complimentary when we were lavishing him with our full attention." Darcy half-shrugged, shaking her head. "Depends? Maybe for special occasions."
Picking up the ladle helpfully laid on the table, Terry unveiled the soup and then reached for one of the bowls so she could dish it out. The bread was in a basket, covered with a cloth to keep it from retaining too much heat and condensation, but she'd sliced it before she came over, so at least they didn't need to worry about that. "Y'had fun, though, aye? And then some sort o' three-drink conversation with Kevin? He's the one who's always in a suit, dark hair, works with the shady types?"
Darcy laughed at Terry's description of Kevin and X-Force. "I did have fun... and yep, that sounds like boss. He's doing most of my baby shady type training." She grabbed bread and a knife, spreading butter across slices before setting them on the plates. "Wanted to know why I had long lists of training for work but nothing about training my powers, then just sorta. Cut through my bullshit until I agreed to do it." She slid one of the plates to Terry, accepting a bowl of soup with a nod of thanks. "He's scary good at waiting me out, it's wonderful and I hate it."
Sitting down across from Darcy, Terry nodded slowly. "Sounds like a good sort t'have as a boss." She took a moment to prepare her tea the way she liked it best, then asked, "Is there a reason you'd been tryin' t'avoid powers type trainin'? Y'don't have t'say, if you'd rather no', but..." She shrugged, then reached for one of the available soup spoons.
"He's the best," Darcy agreed. She bit into a slice of bread, chewing thoughtfully. It didn't feel as frightening to say now that she'd agreed she'd work on it. "I'm scared of them," she admitted. "And they're untrained enough right now that it's usually very obvious that I've done it. Headaches. Nausea. Nose bleeds. Bit of a worry if I train it up and people know I can slither in and make those little tweaks they'll be as afraid of me as they are others."
Terry nodded slowly. "Any o' us can be dangerous, if given the right push," she finally said. "D'you, it'd take effort, but no' that much for me t'literally liquify someone's insides? Sound can be a powerful weapon, an' that's just the tip o' the iceberg, as it were. If y'don't mind m'askin', what're your abilities that they've got y'worried?"
Darcy took a long sip of her tea before setting it down, eyes on the table. "Persuasive. It's.. if it's something you're inclined to do I'm kind of the demon on your shoulder encouraging you. If you're not inclined... well. It's pretty obvious when I'm trying, but I try to just... not. Ever. Because I don't want to do that to people I like. And I had no idea how to train it ethically, so I just shoved it into a box and ignored it, once we knew what it was."
"Ethically training powers o' persuasion..." Terry hummed to herself before dipping a spoonful of soup up and blowing on it for a moment. After she'd eaten it, she tipped her head side to side and asked, "Could y'no' just... let people know y'need practice an' ask for volunteers? If you've set up guidelines for what y'think you'll be tryin' t'persuade 'em of an' don't stray from that, then... there's no ethical problem, aye?"
"Probably not, if I ask over text," Darcy admitted reluctantly. She spooned soup into her mouth, following it with another bite of bread. "But what's technically ethical and what won't make me puke at night is vast. And I'd probably have to vary what I asked. Spinning in circles is a fun idea until it's suddenly the best idea ever and you can't convince yourself to stop, y'know? It's just been easier to not deal with it, and not put myself in a position where I might be doing it subconsciously."
"Have y'tried convincin' people they don't want to do somethin'? Like, I dunno, mayhap eatin' the last slice o' cake or pie? That's a bit different and very specific. It's not that they don't want t'eat cake or pie ever again, just that particular piece. Could come in handy on missions and the like, once you're out and about doin' shady things?" Terry offered. There did seem to be a fairly big difference between 'don't eat that piece of pie' and 'don't shoot us' or 'don't tell anyone you saw us' but baby steps first, after all. And people being worried about how others might interpret their powers was common, given how many people would abuse them, if given half a chance.
"I can't even tell myself I don't want the last slice of pie." Darcy laughed, eyes crinkling at the thought. "It's something to consider though, and I told Kevin I'd train it, so I will. How is Kyle? I know he's been," she vaguely gestured in the direction of outside, "a lot. And you. Are you dealing with all that okay?" It probably wasn't even in the Top 100 for smooth subject changes, but she wasn't even attempting to be on her game today. She tore off another bite of bread, dunking it into her soup before popping it into her mouth.
Reaching for her own slice of bread, Terry paused for a moment, then dunked part of it in her own soup and let it sit as she answered, "Kyle's..." She frowned, brows drawing together minutely. "He seems to be doin' fine. Outside a great deal, trees himself in the treehouse out in the woods, but he's still himself. He doesn't really want t'talk about what happened, and I respect that. It just... it's odd. I'll not force him, obviously, and given the givens..." She shrugged, picking her bread back up to take a careful bite of the sodden part, butter melting on her lips before she licked it off.
"Can't blame him for that. The mission reports gave at least enough of the idea for us to take it into account for future confrontations." She ate a few more spoonfuls of soup, thinking. "Is he handling it well enough alone, or would he maybe want to talk to a professional?"
"My understandin' is he's seein' a professional," Terry said, gesturing a bit with her spoon before sticking it back in her soup. She ate another bite of bread and chewed it for a moment before continuing, "I just wish there was more I could do? In a... I dunno, a more... evident way? I know there's no', and he's told me I'm the best, but. Sometimes... sometimes I just want t'track down the bastard that made him feel however he's feelin' and scream him into itty bitty little pieces."
Darcy smiled around her spoon. "This is why we're friends," she replied. "Because you are fierce and terrifying and delightful, and I love that in my friends."
Terry returned the smile almost despite herself. "Well, thank you. I just don't like people I care about gettin' hurt and me not bein' able t'do anythin' about it." She took another bite of her bread, humming softly. "I'm glad we're friends, too."
"You're helping," Darcy replied, pointing her spoon sternly at Terry. "Don't doubt that, even if it's not tangible. You're letting him go at the pace he needs, feeding him, giving him your love and support. In all the ways that keep us people, that's the most important thing you can do."
"Were y'no' on the other side o' the table, I'd give y'a hug," Terry said, expression serious. "Thank you, perspective helps. A lot."
"That's what I'd want, if something awful happened to me. Patience. Food. Affection on my terms. Maybe some time to lick wounds alone, but just... knowing someone is waiting and wants me to come back?" She trailed off, a little sheepish. "It'd help a lot, once I got out of my own head. Figure that's true for others, too."
"Aye," Terry agreed. "Reckon 'tis."
The shower had helped Darcy feel slightly more human, even still hungover and emotionally wrung out. Her electric kettle was full and on the table, ready to heat, and she had two mugs and a selection of tea on the table. She was contemplating the wisdom of dry-swallowing some tylenol, plopping it on her table as a knock sounded.
"Hey Terry," she said with a wan smile as she opened the door, holding it wide so the redhead could enter without trouble. "Bread smells good. I've got the kettle ready for tea."
"Brilliant," Terry said, giving Darcy a smile as she headed for the table. She had everything stored in an over-large tote, so she sat that down and began unloading it. "Soup's made with beef stock, I hope that's all right?" She'd brought some proper butter with her for the bread, which she sat out next, then the bread itself. Fresh out of the oven, it did smell quite good, if she did say so herself.
"Yeah, it's fine. I don't eat a lot of pork or shellfish, but I don't keep kosher either. Darcy hummed appreciatively at the smell of fresh bread, waving Terry into a seat before grabbing bowls, plates, and silverware. "I've got things other than tea, if none of the mixes I have work for you. A pitcher of lemonade, some juice. Milk and water."
“Mm… tea’s all I need for now,” Terry said, setting the pot full of vegetable soup on the table next. She made sure she put it on the tote, since it was still warm from the stove. “Oh, you’ve got a good black tea there, brilliant. Have y’cream? Milk’ll do, o’ course, but there’s something about cream…”
"Just milk in here, unless you want to stir in some vanilla bean ice cream? I mostly drink green in the mornings and a herbal at night, and the only thing I put in either is a bit of honey." She set everything down on the table, slumping into her seat with a sigh. "Can't decide if I'm too old for hangovers like this, or kicking myself for forgetting to eat after having three drinks."
“How old are you?” Terry asked, eyebrows rising a bit. “Keepin’ in mind I’ll be 35 next Monday.” She gave Darcy another smile, then reached for the milk and honey. “Anyway, no one’s ever prepared for hangovers. They’re the worst all around.”
"Thirty-three, so old enough to know not to drink on an empty stomach," Darcy replied with a laugh that turned into a bit of a groan. "Probably some of it's the... emotional wring out? Ugh." She set her tea to steep, then leaned back with a small grin. "Have fun with Kyle after you got home?"
“Let’s just say,” Terry said, expression full of mischief, “You’re no’ the only person who was lickin’ abs for science last night… mayhap no’ so much for science, t’be honest. Just for the joy o’ it and the look on m’lad’s face as I went even lower.”
Darcy's eyes lit up. "I love that. He looked absolutely delicious last night. You too, but I don't think I've ever seen Kyle so dressed up. Having a little after-party fun is just the icing on the cake." She took a long sip of her tea and confessed "I didn't write down my findings last night, so not a lot of science happening there either."
“Well, I’m sure the experiment’s repeatable?” Terry half-asked, tipping her head to the side. “Or no’, if he was terrible at the conversation after?”
"Weeeeell, bit hard for him to talk when his mouth is busy on your bestie? But he was complimentary when we were lavishing him with our full attention." Darcy half-shrugged, shaking her head. "Depends? Maybe for special occasions."
Picking up the ladle helpfully laid on the table, Terry unveiled the soup and then reached for one of the bowls so she could dish it out. The bread was in a basket, covered with a cloth to keep it from retaining too much heat and condensation, but she'd sliced it before she came over, so at least they didn't need to worry about that. "Y'had fun, though, aye? And then some sort o' three-drink conversation with Kevin? He's the one who's always in a suit, dark hair, works with the shady types?"
Darcy laughed at Terry's description of Kevin and X-Force. "I did have fun... and yep, that sounds like boss. He's doing most of my baby shady type training." She grabbed bread and a knife, spreading butter across slices before setting them on the plates. "Wanted to know why I had long lists of training for work but nothing about training my powers, then just sorta. Cut through my bullshit until I agreed to do it." She slid one of the plates to Terry, accepting a bowl of soup with a nod of thanks. "He's scary good at waiting me out, it's wonderful and I hate it."
Sitting down across from Darcy, Terry nodded slowly. "Sounds like a good sort t'have as a boss." She took a moment to prepare her tea the way she liked it best, then asked, "Is there a reason you'd been tryin' t'avoid powers type trainin'? Y'don't have t'say, if you'd rather no', but..." She shrugged, then reached for one of the available soup spoons.
"He's the best," Darcy agreed. She bit into a slice of bread, chewing thoughtfully. It didn't feel as frightening to say now that she'd agreed she'd work on it. "I'm scared of them," she admitted. "And they're untrained enough right now that it's usually very obvious that I've done it. Headaches. Nausea. Nose bleeds. Bit of a worry if I train it up and people know I can slither in and make those little tweaks they'll be as afraid of me as they are others."
Terry nodded slowly. "Any o' us can be dangerous, if given the right push," she finally said. "D'you, it'd take effort, but no' that much for me t'literally liquify someone's insides? Sound can be a powerful weapon, an' that's just the tip o' the iceberg, as it were. If y'don't mind m'askin', what're your abilities that they've got y'worried?"
Darcy took a long sip of her tea before setting it down, eyes on the table. "Persuasive. It's.. if it's something you're inclined to do I'm kind of the demon on your shoulder encouraging you. If you're not inclined... well. It's pretty obvious when I'm trying, but I try to just... not. Ever. Because I don't want to do that to people I like. And I had no idea how to train it ethically, so I just shoved it into a box and ignored it, once we knew what it was."
"Ethically training powers o' persuasion..." Terry hummed to herself before dipping a spoonful of soup up and blowing on it for a moment. After she'd eaten it, she tipped her head side to side and asked, "Could y'no' just... let people know y'need practice an' ask for volunteers? If you've set up guidelines for what y'think you'll be tryin' t'persuade 'em of an' don't stray from that, then... there's no ethical problem, aye?"
"Probably not, if I ask over text," Darcy admitted reluctantly. She spooned soup into her mouth, following it with another bite of bread. "But what's technically ethical and what won't make me puke at night is vast. And I'd probably have to vary what I asked. Spinning in circles is a fun idea until it's suddenly the best idea ever and you can't convince yourself to stop, y'know? It's just been easier to not deal with it, and not put myself in a position where I might be doing it subconsciously."
"Have y'tried convincin' people they don't want to do somethin'? Like, I dunno, mayhap eatin' the last slice o' cake or pie? That's a bit different and very specific. It's not that they don't want t'eat cake or pie ever again, just that particular piece. Could come in handy on missions and the like, once you're out and about doin' shady things?" Terry offered. There did seem to be a fairly big difference between 'don't eat that piece of pie' and 'don't shoot us' or 'don't tell anyone you saw us' but baby steps first, after all. And people being worried about how others might interpret their powers was common, given how many people would abuse them, if given half a chance.
"I can't even tell myself I don't want the last slice of pie." Darcy laughed, eyes crinkling at the thought. "It's something to consider though, and I told Kevin I'd train it, so I will. How is Kyle? I know he's been," she vaguely gestured in the direction of outside, "a lot. And you. Are you dealing with all that okay?" It probably wasn't even in the Top 100 for smooth subject changes, but she wasn't even attempting to be on her game today. She tore off another bite of bread, dunking it into her soup before popping it into her mouth.
Reaching for her own slice of bread, Terry paused for a moment, then dunked part of it in her own soup and let it sit as she answered, "Kyle's..." She frowned, brows drawing together minutely. "He seems to be doin' fine. Outside a great deal, trees himself in the treehouse out in the woods, but he's still himself. He doesn't really want t'talk about what happened, and I respect that. It just... it's odd. I'll not force him, obviously, and given the givens..." She shrugged, picking her bread back up to take a careful bite of the sodden part, butter melting on her lips before she licked it off.
"Can't blame him for that. The mission reports gave at least enough of the idea for us to take it into account for future confrontations." She ate a few more spoonfuls of soup, thinking. "Is he handling it well enough alone, or would he maybe want to talk to a professional?"
"My understandin' is he's seein' a professional," Terry said, gesturing a bit with her spoon before sticking it back in her soup. She ate another bite of bread and chewed it for a moment before continuing, "I just wish there was more I could do? In a... I dunno, a more... evident way? I know there's no', and he's told me I'm the best, but. Sometimes... sometimes I just want t'track down the bastard that made him feel however he's feelin' and scream him into itty bitty little pieces."
Darcy smiled around her spoon. "This is why we're friends," she replied. "Because you are fierce and terrifying and delightful, and I love that in my friends."
Terry returned the smile almost despite herself. "Well, thank you. I just don't like people I care about gettin' hurt and me not bein' able t'do anythin' about it." She took another bite of her bread, humming softly. "I'm glad we're friends, too."
"You're helping," Darcy replied, pointing her spoon sternly at Terry. "Don't doubt that, even if it's not tangible. You're letting him go at the pace he needs, feeding him, giving him your love and support. In all the ways that keep us people, that's the most important thing you can do."
"Were y'no' on the other side o' the table, I'd give y'a hug," Terry said, expression serious. "Thank you, perspective helps. A lot."
"That's what I'd want, if something awful happened to me. Patience. Food. Affection on my terms. Maybe some time to lick wounds alone, but just... knowing someone is waiting and wants me to come back?" She trailed off, a little sheepish. "It'd help a lot, once I got out of my own head. Figure that's true for others, too."
"Aye," Terry agreed. "Reckon 'tis."
