Marie and Sooraya: Ice cream day

[xp_dust]

Marie and Sooraya enjoy some ice cream and catch up with each other.  

"This was such a good idea," Rogue said, her eyes wide as she stared down her brownie sundae. "I'm so glad I hadn't even thought about dinner before you messaged me. I've been meaning to check out this place and never had." This place being the Sugar Hill Creamery in Harlem, a neighborhood that Rogue wished she spent more time in. "Although, if we're being honest -- there's always room for ice cream. I saw a meme once about how a kid convinced their dad that honestly, ice cream just melts around all the food in your stomach meaning you have more space and I was like yeah ...that sounds about right. Always room for ice cream."

Sooraya restrained her giggles during Marie's ode to ice cream, taking the opportunity to taste her own Yellow Diamond Ring. The rich flavor of roasted pineapple and caramel exploded on her tongue. "I'd say this counts as a small meal! At least for me... but yeah, I thought a little outing would be good for both of us. We've been pretty busy."

"Right? I definitely appreciate this catching up time, no one around but heavenly ice cream." It was always so nice to spend time with Sooraya. The peace that the younger woman exuded always made her happy. "What you been up to anyways? I know we caught up a bit when you were with ... oh what's her name ... Alani right? Your roomate. But we didn't get to some stuff. So. Give me the details. What's new in your world?"

"Honestly, a lot is still the same, Marie. Still busy in DX with the kids and my projects a lot, still keeping up with my training." A small grin played around Sooraya's lips. "Do you remember my very first attempt at learning basic flying? And that I nearly crashed the simulation a few times? I actually got fully certified a couple of months back, together with Kyle. Still need to count how many grey hairs we managed to give Scott in the process though."

Rogue put her spoon in her mouth and clapped. "I'm so proud of you," she said with her mouthful. Popping the spoon out, she grinned. "Scott was born with grey hair, it's in his nature. I'm glad more people know how to fly the Blackbird though. I kept up with it in Quebec, made sure my pilot's license didn't lapse, so maybe you and I should take the ol' girl out for a spin sometime. Can't always rely on the portal users. You saw how tired out they all were last time.... gotta be flexible with all our skills." Rogue looked at Sooraya fondly. "You sure have grown up, kiddo. You're gonna get old and boring like me soon!"

"I bet if you ask some of the younger guard I'm already part of the old and boring crew. In DX I'm getting 'Ms. Sooraya', Ms. Qadir or 'Ms. Dust' more often than you think, especially from the kids. I mean, I'm happy with just plain Sooraya or Dust!" Sooraya exclaimed, ferociously gesturing with her spoon.

Rogue snorted. "I haven't heard my last name in fricking yeaaaaaars. I don't even know if I remember how to spell it, considering I also haven't used it in just as long. Even in Quebec, I use Logan's last name because it's just easier and it makes me laugh so hard when people call Logan and ask to speak with Mrs. Howlett." She gave Sooraya a sly grin. "It gets him every single time. Rogue! Use your own damn last name! I tell him his is easier."

"I can totally picture his face." Sooraya giggled, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "I kinda have to admit... Mrs. Howlett somehow makes me wanna count your grey hairs." Her grin broadened. "Maybe I should bribe little Hope to do so while you're sleeping... excluding your white streaks of course."

Rogue instinctively reached up and covered her hair with her hands. "Don't you even dare, or I'm going to refer to you as an elder!" She giggled. "It's nice to just relax, and not even worry about things at the end of the day. Eat ice cream... teach the kids .... " She sighed. "I ain't leaving again, am I? I'm staying here....for however long..."

"I think you'd already have done so if you were serious about leaving." Sooraya pointed out honestly. "And let's be honest, the place can use you, especially with the new kids... okay, now I do sound like an elder." An almost-wince stole over her face before she continued: "You're good for them."

"Hmm." She made a non-comittal noise in the back of her throat and focused on her ice cream for a bit. "Yeah.... and they're good for me too," she finally said. "I gotta say, having Hope in my room is nice. I don't wanna be her mama, but I'm having a good time being her Auntie Rogue, the one that lets her eat cookies in bed, and we can watch bad movies together, and if she wants to swear around me, I'm fine with it. Kinda like you and Alani.... except you're closer in age there."

"Hopey might call Cable her dad... but I kinda have the feeling she was "raised by a village" where she comes from. Lots of aunties, uncles and big sibling figures. And Hopey has kinda slipped back into that dynamic here..." Sooraya shared after a moment of thought. "I just hope it gives her a strong enough base."

"I don't see why it wouldn't. That's a great way to be raised. Multiple perspectives, but at the same time, same core values. It just reinforces what we are telling her -- that she's safe, she has lots of people to reach out to, she can be secure here knowing we all care about her." She raised a brow. "Honestly, I think she'd rebel hard if any one person tried to be her parent. She <i> has </i> a parent, and no matter if he's here or not, that's her papa and she loves him. She ain't looking to replace him so having a circle that can respect that, and still be there for her?" Rogue blew a chef's kiss into the air. "Perfect. It'll help open her uo more and more. Now if I can just get her to learn or even want to learn how to read, I'll be thrilled."

Sooraya rolled her eyes affectionately. "Yeah, I've tried to tempt her with a few listening books in the hope that might help her a little, but not much luck. It doesn't help that lots of stuff you can simply find in video or audio nowadays." Turning a little more serious, Sooraya narrowed her eyes a little: "I don't know what you think, but I was thinking about talking to Kyle about possibly having an evaluation done to see if nothing like dyslexia or other issues might be going on. We're heading pretty quickly to her having been with us for a half a year now... at first it didn't seem that important, but if she's staying longer..."

Rogue gave a thoughtful nod. "That definitely makes sense. I kinda feel bad that I never thought of it sooner. I just keep trying to expose her to literacy with bedtime stories and things like that, but she hasn't asked to read anything either. Do you want me to do that, since I'd probably be tasked to be one of her teachers anyways? She needs some serious trauma informed practice to get her properly ready for these things. I can't just throw her into it and expect her to succeed."

"I think it'd be a good idea to talk to Kyle together." Sooraya replied after a moment of thought. "We've both been trying to stimulate her with reading and we probably both have noticed different things... and since she turns to each one of us and others differently for support, it might be good to talk about that too in regards to this?"

"Yes! Love this, boo. A united front of those that love her. I'm down!! Let's chat with Kyle sometime this week, how's that?" 

Comments

[xp_dominion]

This was fantastic.

[xp_submariner]

Ice cream does makes everything better.

I really enjoyed how this was both a slice of life log with friends catching up matched with the undercurrent of care with Hope — aunties plotting together is a delightful dynamic for the two of them here.

[xp_catseye]

"I ain't leaving again, am I?"

Ah, the denial is finally broken.

Cute to see Rogue and Sooraya comparing pseudo-parenting notes, particularly with Sooraya's attention to Hope's reading delays. I love seeing the adults tackle the challenges of collaborative care.