Jono, Amanda - April 25th, evening
Apr. 25th, 2004 07:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsSet the night before Amanda gets out of medlab after the Rack incident, Jono breaks her out for a shared cigarette and they chat - since there isn't much else to do. As always, it's... interesting.
The medlab was possibly one of the most unwelcoming places in the mansion at any given hour, and yet people insisted in spending time there due to their own or someone else's stupidity. Jono wondered about that as he knocked on Amanda's door. He wouldn't turn down an offer to smoke, even if being dependent on someone like that was a bit annoying.
Well, as if he wasn't dependent on someone else for everything right now.
Amanda looked up at the knock from where she had been reacquainting herself with Frank. Moira was going to take him back to Betsy for the night, but later. "C'm in," she said, wondering who it was who'd be visiting during what was technically a mealtime.
Jono swung the door open, eyes sweeping over the room before stopping on the lizard, and then jumping to Amanda. "Hey. That offer for a smoke still standing?"
"Fuck, yeah!" Carefully taking Frank off her arm, she popped him back in the cardboard box Moira had brought him down in and threw back the covers. Thankfully the good doctors hadn't insisted on her continuing to wear the hospital gown she'd woken up in, although the 'Xavier's' sweat pants she was wearing with her Ramones t-shirt were a bit on the baggy side. "Coast clear?" she asked, sliding out of bed and only swaying a little as she stood.
"Not a blue, furry thing in sight," Jono gestured at the door, but stopped to watch Amanda's shaky progress. "Need any help there?" He stepped towards her, offering a hand.
"As much as I hate t' admit it, yeah. Feel ready to go ahead an' tell me 's me own bloody fault." Amanda's tone was wry as she dug a crumpled pack of cigarettes and a lighter out of the bedside drawer before taking the offered hand.
Jono rolled his eyes, steering her out of the room. "You seem to know that well enough without me saying it, so what's the point?" He felt like he should add something about Angelo, but decided it really wasn't any of his business.
"Yeah, well, 's complicated. An' it seemed like the best thing t' do at the time. Just wish I'd been able t' keep Ange clear of it." Amanda shrugged. "Stubborn bastard insisted on comin'."
"Hell, if you figure a way to keep him from helping his friends, share the secret. He'd spend so much less time down here recovering from it in that case." Jono concentrated a little with his telepathy to check around a corner they were about to round. No one there.
"I wouldn't mind spendin' less time down here meself," said Amanda, leaning on Jono just a little more heavily. "But yeah, Ange is like that."
"Look, I haven't been here even once, so I'm sure everyone else could do that too." He didn't point out that he didn't really know what would it take to make him end up in the medlab in the first place. He wrapped his arm around Amanda's waist and hauled her forward.
"We all can't be indestructible," she snorted, glad to see the door to the boiler room only a little way ahead. 'The things I do for a fag,' she thought to herself. "How 'bout next time you deal with the psycho black magician? An' I'll hide behind you."
"We all have our weak points," Jono replied. "Yours obviously being… fags." For some reason he never felt guilty about spying on other people's thoughts, and it wasn't really spying if he happened to just overhear them, was it? "Yeah, sure, just tell me when you're going after one again." He pushed the boiler room door open, pausing at the threshold to look at what had been his and Sarah's room for a while.
Amanda's smart arse remark about being sure to send him a personal invitation should the need occur died on her lips as she saw the expression in his eyes as he looked at the dark and empty room. "You all right?" she asked quietly.
Jono blinked slowly, then turned to look at her briefly, hair shadowing his eyes. "What? Yeah, I'm all right. Just, you know." He helped her in and onto the sofa. "I miss them. Paige and Sarah."
A sigh of relief escaped despite herself as she flopped onto the sofa. "Yeah, I do too. Seems like everyone took off all at once." She pulled a cigarette out of the pack and lit up sucking down the first lungful of smoke greedily. "Shinobi ain't even got in touch since Mexico. I mean, I emailed him an' Sarah t' let them know somethin' was up, but..." She shrugged, and offered Jono her hand. "Here, you probably need this more 'n I do."
Jono followed her on the sofa, and took up the offer, linking their hands together. It took a little adjusting to filter out the weakness and discomfort Amanda was also radiating, to get to the actual feeling he was after. "Thanks," he almost sighed, shoulders heaving as if something tight inside him was starting to loosen. "I don't think he'd do that intentionally, there was just a lot going on with everyone back then."
"Yeah, I know. Same goes with Sarah an' Paige. Once they're done doin' whatever the fuck it is they're doin', they'll be back. This place tends t' bring out the stubborn ones," Amanda said with a sigh. "An' I understand Sarah goin'. Just wish she hadn't." She looked around for an ashtray and, finding none, flicked ash onto the concrete floor with an apologetic glance at Jono. "There ain't that many people here who get how things are, an' I'm selfish enough t' want 'em all here."
The ash didn't bother Jono. It wasn't as if Sarah hadn't done that in her worst moments. "Suppose that's because the less stubborn ones don't survive." He settled deeper into the sofa, stretching his legs out. "The problem with the people who get things is that they usually get them well
enough to leave."
"So when're you packin' yer bags?" Amanda asked with a snort, reminding herself she didn't need to try and inhale the cigarette in two goes.
"As soon as I figure out what to do. It's not like I've got anywhere to go or stay besides this place." Jono shrugged. Maybe it had bothered him in the past, but he was starting to get used to it. "So how's the magic stuff going?"
"I know how that goes, or at least, I did. Rom an' Homily say I need to, I can always go back there." Amanda flicked ash again, and went on: "'S good. Well, it will be, when I get it back again - Rack drained all me power, an' it's a slow an' torturous process gettin' it back. But Doc Strange, me new tutor, he's all right for an egghead. He's feelin' a bit guilty for what happened, but it weren't his fault Rack sent the heavies after him. An' for me first magical duel, he says I done all right." A slightly smug grin crossed her face.
"It's good to have a place to go to when things fall apart," Jono observed almost laconically, then bent to pick up a bone shard from the floor. It still had a sharp point so he tossed it at the far wall; his aim had gotten considerably better since the first time. "So this draining thing, you're without magic again then? Any magical hotspots around here where you could go recharge?"
Amanda's face darkened. "None I can use," she said shortly, and Jono caught a flash from her mind, an image of Marko standing over her, fists clenched. "'S just me an' Rom's trinket - it'll take time, but I'll get there. An' Strange says he'll bring me somethin' once he's sure I can handle it." Drawing deeply on the cigarette - it was almost finished - she blew out smoke in a sigh and changed the subject. "How're things goin' with the new room?"
Slightly perturbed by the clearly aggressive image of Marko, Jono shrugged, not even wanting to know how he was connected to anything. He decided to let the issue drop. "Well enough," he replied noncommittally. "We're not trying to kill each other, which is an improvement. Blood and dying people moaning kinda dampen the mood, don't they?"
"Just a bit. Less messy, too." Amanda flashed him a quick, amused grin. Curiosity was rolling off her in waves. "So, any particular reason for the tryin' t' kill each other before?" she asked.
"What do you think?" Jono rolled his eyes. "Paige," he said, then went quiet, frowning and staring at the floor.
Amanda snorted and shook her head. "Goin' at it all macho, were you? Never could understand this whole possessive thing. Ain't no reason why the three of you can't get along, long as no-one minds. Must be somethin' lackin' in me education." She finished the cigarette, ground it out on the floor. "Think I'm done, 'less you want another?"
"Yeah, you said it." Jono took his hand back to himself, running it through his hair. "'As long as no one minds.' Well, someone does." He got up when Amanda finished putting out the cigarette. "You probably want to get back to your cozy hospital bed."
"Not particularly, but if they find me gone Bartlett'll handcuff me t' it an' won't let me budge for another week." Amanda gave him a look that was half-exasperated, half-sympathetic, but let the subject of Angelo drop. "Thanks for the helpin' hand."
"Thanks for the smoke," Jono replied, extending his hand out to her, in case she needed it. "We're even then?"
"Didn't know we were keepin' score, but yeah, we're even." Amanda took the offered hand, pulling herself upright. "Yer all right, for a monster," she added with a small smile.
"It's not so much keeping a score as it is just for me to know where I stand," Jono steadied her, then gave her an amused glance. "All right for a monster, yeah? You say that now, but what about tomorrow?" He flicked the lights off as they exited the boiler room.
The medlab was possibly one of the most unwelcoming places in the mansion at any given hour, and yet people insisted in spending time there due to their own or someone else's stupidity. Jono wondered about that as he knocked on Amanda's door. He wouldn't turn down an offer to smoke, even if being dependent on someone like that was a bit annoying.
Well, as if he wasn't dependent on someone else for everything right now.
Amanda looked up at the knock from where she had been reacquainting herself with Frank. Moira was going to take him back to Betsy for the night, but later. "C'm in," she said, wondering who it was who'd be visiting during what was technically a mealtime.
Jono swung the door open, eyes sweeping over the room before stopping on the lizard, and then jumping to Amanda. "Hey. That offer for a smoke still standing?"
"Fuck, yeah!" Carefully taking Frank off her arm, she popped him back in the cardboard box Moira had brought him down in and threw back the covers. Thankfully the good doctors hadn't insisted on her continuing to wear the hospital gown she'd woken up in, although the 'Xavier's' sweat pants she was wearing with her Ramones t-shirt were a bit on the baggy side. "Coast clear?" she asked, sliding out of bed and only swaying a little as she stood.
"Not a blue, furry thing in sight," Jono gestured at the door, but stopped to watch Amanda's shaky progress. "Need any help there?" He stepped towards her, offering a hand.
"As much as I hate t' admit it, yeah. Feel ready to go ahead an' tell me 's me own bloody fault." Amanda's tone was wry as she dug a crumpled pack of cigarettes and a lighter out of the bedside drawer before taking the offered hand.
Jono rolled his eyes, steering her out of the room. "You seem to know that well enough without me saying it, so what's the point?" He felt like he should add something about Angelo, but decided it really wasn't any of his business.
"Yeah, well, 's complicated. An' it seemed like the best thing t' do at the time. Just wish I'd been able t' keep Ange clear of it." Amanda shrugged. "Stubborn bastard insisted on comin'."
"Hell, if you figure a way to keep him from helping his friends, share the secret. He'd spend so much less time down here recovering from it in that case." Jono concentrated a little with his telepathy to check around a corner they were about to round. No one there.
"I wouldn't mind spendin' less time down here meself," said Amanda, leaning on Jono just a little more heavily. "But yeah, Ange is like that."
"Look, I haven't been here even once, so I'm sure everyone else could do that too." He didn't point out that he didn't really know what would it take to make him end up in the medlab in the first place. He wrapped his arm around Amanda's waist and hauled her forward.
"We all can't be indestructible," she snorted, glad to see the door to the boiler room only a little way ahead. 'The things I do for a fag,' she thought to herself. "How 'bout next time you deal with the psycho black magician? An' I'll hide behind you."
"We all have our weak points," Jono replied. "Yours obviously being… fags." For some reason he never felt guilty about spying on other people's thoughts, and it wasn't really spying if he happened to just overhear them, was it? "Yeah, sure, just tell me when you're going after one again." He pushed the boiler room door open, pausing at the threshold to look at what had been his and Sarah's room for a while.
Amanda's smart arse remark about being sure to send him a personal invitation should the need occur died on her lips as she saw the expression in his eyes as he looked at the dark and empty room. "You all right?" she asked quietly.
Jono blinked slowly, then turned to look at her briefly, hair shadowing his eyes. "What? Yeah, I'm all right. Just, you know." He helped her in and onto the sofa. "I miss them. Paige and Sarah."
A sigh of relief escaped despite herself as she flopped onto the sofa. "Yeah, I do too. Seems like everyone took off all at once." She pulled a cigarette out of the pack and lit up sucking down the first lungful of smoke greedily. "Shinobi ain't even got in touch since Mexico. I mean, I emailed him an' Sarah t' let them know somethin' was up, but..." She shrugged, and offered Jono her hand. "Here, you probably need this more 'n I do."
Jono followed her on the sofa, and took up the offer, linking their hands together. It took a little adjusting to filter out the weakness and discomfort Amanda was also radiating, to get to the actual feeling he was after. "Thanks," he almost sighed, shoulders heaving as if something tight inside him was starting to loosen. "I don't think he'd do that intentionally, there was just a lot going on with everyone back then."
"Yeah, I know. Same goes with Sarah an' Paige. Once they're done doin' whatever the fuck it is they're doin', they'll be back. This place tends t' bring out the stubborn ones," Amanda said with a sigh. "An' I understand Sarah goin'. Just wish she hadn't." She looked around for an ashtray and, finding none, flicked ash onto the concrete floor with an apologetic glance at Jono. "There ain't that many people here who get how things are, an' I'm selfish enough t' want 'em all here."
The ash didn't bother Jono. It wasn't as if Sarah hadn't done that in her worst moments. "Suppose that's because the less stubborn ones don't survive." He settled deeper into the sofa, stretching his legs out. "The problem with the people who get things is that they usually get them well
enough to leave."
"So when're you packin' yer bags?" Amanda asked with a snort, reminding herself she didn't need to try and inhale the cigarette in two goes.
"As soon as I figure out what to do. It's not like I've got anywhere to go or stay besides this place." Jono shrugged. Maybe it had bothered him in the past, but he was starting to get used to it. "So how's the magic stuff going?"
"I know how that goes, or at least, I did. Rom an' Homily say I need to, I can always go back there." Amanda flicked ash again, and went on: "'S good. Well, it will be, when I get it back again - Rack drained all me power, an' it's a slow an' torturous process gettin' it back. But Doc Strange, me new tutor, he's all right for an egghead. He's feelin' a bit guilty for what happened, but it weren't his fault Rack sent the heavies after him. An' for me first magical duel, he says I done all right." A slightly smug grin crossed her face.
"It's good to have a place to go to when things fall apart," Jono observed almost laconically, then bent to pick up a bone shard from the floor. It still had a sharp point so he tossed it at the far wall; his aim had gotten considerably better since the first time. "So this draining thing, you're without magic again then? Any magical hotspots around here where you could go recharge?"
Amanda's face darkened. "None I can use," she said shortly, and Jono caught a flash from her mind, an image of Marko standing over her, fists clenched. "'S just me an' Rom's trinket - it'll take time, but I'll get there. An' Strange says he'll bring me somethin' once he's sure I can handle it." Drawing deeply on the cigarette - it was almost finished - she blew out smoke in a sigh and changed the subject. "How're things goin' with the new room?"
Slightly perturbed by the clearly aggressive image of Marko, Jono shrugged, not even wanting to know how he was connected to anything. He decided to let the issue drop. "Well enough," he replied noncommittally. "We're not trying to kill each other, which is an improvement. Blood and dying people moaning kinda dampen the mood, don't they?"
"Just a bit. Less messy, too." Amanda flashed him a quick, amused grin. Curiosity was rolling off her in waves. "So, any particular reason for the tryin' t' kill each other before?" she asked.
"What do you think?" Jono rolled his eyes. "Paige," he said, then went quiet, frowning and staring at the floor.
Amanda snorted and shook her head. "Goin' at it all macho, were you? Never could understand this whole possessive thing. Ain't no reason why the three of you can't get along, long as no-one minds. Must be somethin' lackin' in me education." She finished the cigarette, ground it out on the floor. "Think I'm done, 'less you want another?"
"Yeah, you said it." Jono took his hand back to himself, running it through his hair. "'As long as no one minds.' Well, someone does." He got up when Amanda finished putting out the cigarette. "You probably want to get back to your cozy hospital bed."
"Not particularly, but if they find me gone Bartlett'll handcuff me t' it an' won't let me budge for another week." Amanda gave him a look that was half-exasperated, half-sympathetic, but let the subject of Angelo drop. "Thanks for the helpin' hand."
"Thanks for the smoke," Jono replied, extending his hand out to her, in case she needed it. "We're even then?"
"Didn't know we were keepin' score, but yeah, we're even." Amanda took the offered hand, pulling herself upright. "Yer all right, for a monster," she added with a small smile.
"It's not so much keeping a score as it is just for me to know where I stand," Jono steadied her, then gave her an amused glance. "All right for a monster, yeah? You say that now, but what about tomorrow?" He flicked the lights off as they exited the boiler room.
