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xp_logs2004-07-22 11:54 pm
x-cyclops.livejournal.com) wrote in xp_logs2004-07-22 11:54 pm
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Scott and Haroun, Thursday afternoon
Working on the Blackbird, Scott is surprised when Haroun stops in the hangar to check out his new responsibility. The two of them talk about Haroun's plans, and agree to meet for beers soon, in order to get better acquainted.
Scott closed the panel in front of him and walked out from underneath the jet, grabbing a rag to wipe his hands. The hangar was blessedly quiet - it had been a good idea to come down here, Scott told himself. A little work on the jet to settle down, give himself time to think...
The door whooshed open, and Haroun walked into the hangar bay, properly quiet and reverential as he took his first really good look at the X-Men's Blackbard. Despite himself, he said out loud "That's no Blackbird. It's too big." after a minute of contemplation.
Scott blinked at the newcomer, then mustered a slightly hesitant smile. "Modified," he said. "We need to be able to carry more people, generally, than a regular Blackbird would." He turned, taking a long look up at the plane, unable to help a brief moment of something almost like fondness. Then he turned back to Haroun. "How are you settling in?"
Haroun shrugged. "Better than I was yesterday. Your Doctor Bartlet changed my bandages and applied some sort of foul substance. I should have full use of my hands in a few days." he said, drawing attention to his bandage-wrapped hands and forearms. "I had to get out of Morocco somewhat quickly, and I overextended myself."
Scott nodded, going back under the plane to start returning items to his toolkit. Leaving stuff lying around wasn't a good idea, given that the jet was usually going out on short notice. "I'm sorry to hear that things turned out so poorly for you back home," he said quietly, glancing up at Haroun as the other man approached slowly, clearly still studying the plane.
Haroun smiled at Scott. "I as well, but I think I can do more overall good here than I could there. Work for the betterment of all mankind, not just Moroccans. This thing's a real beauty. Who built it? I'd like to see any schematics you might have on-file..."
"Schematics I can give you," Scott said briskly, closing his toolkit and standing up. "We've got them on file - I've tweaked her quite a bit, but the builder was one of Charles' contacts. I don't even know the details."
Haroun quirked both his eyebrows. "You tweaked her? Guess I know who to come to when it comes time to fix her up right..." he said with a smirk. "Charles asked me to be the chief engineer for the Blackbird. I've accepted. I'll also teach Arabic, but that's more of a sideline. Looks like you've been freed up to work on the big picture."
"You won't mind if I come down and give you a hand occasionally, I trust," Scott said with a wry smile, raising a hand to pat the underside of the plane's wing. "Rather fond of her." He lifted his toolkit, carrying it over to the table at the side of the hangar. "And Arabic? You and Nathan going to share the job? From the sounds of it, he's been something of a hit this summer..."
Haroun looked at the plane again, and his fingers twitched. "Absolutely fine with me. I'd be a fool to say no, since you know her best. So long as you realize that her maintenance and design is _my_ responsibility. I'll listen if you have ideas - and I'm sure you'll have a few! - but the final decision is mine. And I'm taking over Mr Dayspring's Arabic class - as soon as his schedule frees up somewhat, we're going to sit down and look at the work they've already done, and how I can build on that."
Scott carefully composed his expression, trying not to smile. "Oh, I think I understand the concept of chain of command, Haroun. And to be honest, you're right - the big picture's in need of some substantial attention these days." He set the toolkit down on the table. "As for the teaching, it should be an interesting experience for you. I plan to be focusing on it a little more myself this fall."
"I just wanted to speak plainly." he said with a disarming shrug. "No slight intended. She really is a beauty. Stock model tops out at Mach 5 - I'm guessing, by the reinforced flaps and those monster air intakes, this this thing does a little better than that?" he grinned. "And what are you teaching? Maybe I'll take a class or two, keep my hand in."
"Fairly basic stuff," Scott said with a shrug. "Automotive maintenance, a mechanical engineering course. Probably a class for the energy-projectors again."
"Mechanical engineering ... hrm. I have a degree in aeronautical engineering. If you want some help, I might be able to give it. And I may help with the Flight class - that is my mutation, and when I was here last I was helping Sam get some control. Plus I'm being fitted for my rather customized leathers some time next week." he said with a grin. "Putting some flame-retardant gel in between layers of the costume, so I can go a little faster before igniting."
"Sam will be glad to know you're back," Scott said, remembering that journal post. "He's been getting very serious about his training lately - he could do with another similarly-powered flier to work with." He offered Haroun another, hopefully friendly-looking smile, telling himself that feeling inadequate wasn't really called for, here. "We've got quite a few new people being fitted for their leathers lately. I'm really pleased."
Haroun nodded. "You should be. Getting the team up to strength and then used to working together is gonna be a huge job. Glad it's yours and not mine!" he laughed, then went back to studying the Blackbird, running his bandaged fingertips along its hull. "I know I'm not used to working with other people." he added as he examined the jet engine more closely without actually removing access panels or climbing a ladder to stick his head into the intake.
"Well, this'll be kind of like jumping into the deep end for you, I suspect," Scott said, watching him examine the plane. He was getting the impression that Haroun was maybe a bit of a kindred spirit, at least in this particular area, and the thought made him relax a little as he went on. "And it may be a huge job, but it'll be a worthwhile one. Hopefully that'll make all the bumps along the way a little less jarring."
Haroun nodded, even though his head was half-obscured by the body of the aircraft. "I'll survive. I'm good at that." he said. A low rumbling noise and a stink of sulphur came from his side of the jet, and the visible parts of him disappeared as the plane shifted somewhat on its landing gear.
"Shall I leave you two to get acquainted?" Scott asked, only half-jokingly as he realized that Haroun had flown up to the opposite wing. Probably getting a better look at the fuselage. "I've got some training rotations to set up - actually, mind if I go ahead and pair you with Sam?"
"Sounds like a plan, O Great and Fearless Leader." he said from his position on the opposite wing. "And I really shouldn't be flying right now - not until the burns fade away. Too much risk of reigniting." he said with a sigh, as he clumsily climbed down off the ladder to the floor. Ducking back under the fuselage, he rejoined Scott on his side. "She's a real piece of work. I can tell we're going to get along _just_ fine."
"We don't want you to rush yourself," Scott agreed. "Let me know when you feel up to it? You and Sam could get reacquainted in the interim, in any case."
Haroun nodded. "I'll be grounded for a few days - until the worst of the burns have a chance to heal over. Shouldn't be very much scarring - for some reason, my skin doesn't scar from when my power burns it. A small blessing, that." he said with a grimace. "But I think we should get better acquainted - especially if you're going to be the field commander. Perhaps I can forget my vows before Allah and treat you to a beer?"
"I'd like that," Scott said, quite sincerely. "This weekend sometime, maybe?"
Haroun nodded. "Sure. Give me a few days to get the bandages off. If you don't mind me saying so, you look like you could use an intoxicant."
Scott managed a shrug, his smile a bit hesitant this time. "Long week, lots of things on my mind," he said, turning to go. "Let me know when you feel up to a trip to Harry's?"
Haroun, no fool, could see that he'd tripped a sore point. "Great. The moment these bandages come off, we'll go. Have a drink or two, maybe shoot some pool?"
"Sounds great," Scott said, starting towards the door. "Let me know if you need anything in between now and then, Haroun - I'll be around."
"So will I, boss man. So will I." he said, then waved to Scott as he headed for the door. "I'm gonna be getting acquainted with this beautiful piece of hardware here for a little while longer. So if it goes too much past dinnertime and I haven't resurfaced, send in a rescue party?" he said with a flashing smile.
"Will do," Scott said, waving back and departing.
Scott closed the panel in front of him and walked out from underneath the jet, grabbing a rag to wipe his hands. The hangar was blessedly quiet - it had been a good idea to come down here, Scott told himself. A little work on the jet to settle down, give himself time to think...
The door whooshed open, and Haroun walked into the hangar bay, properly quiet and reverential as he took his first really good look at the X-Men's Blackbard. Despite himself, he said out loud "That's no Blackbird. It's too big." after a minute of contemplation.
Scott blinked at the newcomer, then mustered a slightly hesitant smile. "Modified," he said. "We need to be able to carry more people, generally, than a regular Blackbird would." He turned, taking a long look up at the plane, unable to help a brief moment of something almost like fondness. Then he turned back to Haroun. "How are you settling in?"
Haroun shrugged. "Better than I was yesterday. Your Doctor Bartlet changed my bandages and applied some sort of foul substance. I should have full use of my hands in a few days." he said, drawing attention to his bandage-wrapped hands and forearms. "I had to get out of Morocco somewhat quickly, and I overextended myself."
Scott nodded, going back under the plane to start returning items to his toolkit. Leaving stuff lying around wasn't a good idea, given that the jet was usually going out on short notice. "I'm sorry to hear that things turned out so poorly for you back home," he said quietly, glancing up at Haroun as the other man approached slowly, clearly still studying the plane.
Haroun smiled at Scott. "I as well, but I think I can do more overall good here than I could there. Work for the betterment of all mankind, not just Moroccans. This thing's a real beauty. Who built it? I'd like to see any schematics you might have on-file..."
"Schematics I can give you," Scott said briskly, closing his toolkit and standing up. "We've got them on file - I've tweaked her quite a bit, but the builder was one of Charles' contacts. I don't even know the details."
Haroun quirked both his eyebrows. "You tweaked her? Guess I know who to come to when it comes time to fix her up right..." he said with a smirk. "Charles asked me to be the chief engineer for the Blackbird. I've accepted. I'll also teach Arabic, but that's more of a sideline. Looks like you've been freed up to work on the big picture."
"You won't mind if I come down and give you a hand occasionally, I trust," Scott said with a wry smile, raising a hand to pat the underside of the plane's wing. "Rather fond of her." He lifted his toolkit, carrying it over to the table at the side of the hangar. "And Arabic? You and Nathan going to share the job? From the sounds of it, he's been something of a hit this summer..."
Haroun looked at the plane again, and his fingers twitched. "Absolutely fine with me. I'd be a fool to say no, since you know her best. So long as you realize that her maintenance and design is _my_ responsibility. I'll listen if you have ideas - and I'm sure you'll have a few! - but the final decision is mine. And I'm taking over Mr Dayspring's Arabic class - as soon as his schedule frees up somewhat, we're going to sit down and look at the work they've already done, and how I can build on that."
Scott carefully composed his expression, trying not to smile. "Oh, I think I understand the concept of chain of command, Haroun. And to be honest, you're right - the big picture's in need of some substantial attention these days." He set the toolkit down on the table. "As for the teaching, it should be an interesting experience for you. I plan to be focusing on it a little more myself this fall."
"I just wanted to speak plainly." he said with a disarming shrug. "No slight intended. She really is a beauty. Stock model tops out at Mach 5 - I'm guessing, by the reinforced flaps and those monster air intakes, this this thing does a little better than that?" he grinned. "And what are you teaching? Maybe I'll take a class or two, keep my hand in."
"Fairly basic stuff," Scott said with a shrug. "Automotive maintenance, a mechanical engineering course. Probably a class for the energy-projectors again."
"Mechanical engineering ... hrm. I have a degree in aeronautical engineering. If you want some help, I might be able to give it. And I may help with the Flight class - that is my mutation, and when I was here last I was helping Sam get some control. Plus I'm being fitted for my rather customized leathers some time next week." he said with a grin. "Putting some flame-retardant gel in between layers of the costume, so I can go a little faster before igniting."
"Sam will be glad to know you're back," Scott said, remembering that journal post. "He's been getting very serious about his training lately - he could do with another similarly-powered flier to work with." He offered Haroun another, hopefully friendly-looking smile, telling himself that feeling inadequate wasn't really called for, here. "We've got quite a few new people being fitted for their leathers lately. I'm really pleased."
Haroun nodded. "You should be. Getting the team up to strength and then used to working together is gonna be a huge job. Glad it's yours and not mine!" he laughed, then went back to studying the Blackbird, running his bandaged fingertips along its hull. "I know I'm not used to working with other people." he added as he examined the jet engine more closely without actually removing access panels or climbing a ladder to stick his head into the intake.
"Well, this'll be kind of like jumping into the deep end for you, I suspect," Scott said, watching him examine the plane. He was getting the impression that Haroun was maybe a bit of a kindred spirit, at least in this particular area, and the thought made him relax a little as he went on. "And it may be a huge job, but it'll be a worthwhile one. Hopefully that'll make all the bumps along the way a little less jarring."
Haroun nodded, even though his head was half-obscured by the body of the aircraft. "I'll survive. I'm good at that." he said. A low rumbling noise and a stink of sulphur came from his side of the jet, and the visible parts of him disappeared as the plane shifted somewhat on its landing gear.
"Shall I leave you two to get acquainted?" Scott asked, only half-jokingly as he realized that Haroun had flown up to the opposite wing. Probably getting a better look at the fuselage. "I've got some training rotations to set up - actually, mind if I go ahead and pair you with Sam?"
"Sounds like a plan, O Great and Fearless Leader." he said from his position on the opposite wing. "And I really shouldn't be flying right now - not until the burns fade away. Too much risk of reigniting." he said with a sigh, as he clumsily climbed down off the ladder to the floor. Ducking back under the fuselage, he rejoined Scott on his side. "She's a real piece of work. I can tell we're going to get along _just_ fine."
"We don't want you to rush yourself," Scott agreed. "Let me know when you feel up to it? You and Sam could get reacquainted in the interim, in any case."
Haroun nodded. "I'll be grounded for a few days - until the worst of the burns have a chance to heal over. Shouldn't be very much scarring - for some reason, my skin doesn't scar from when my power burns it. A small blessing, that." he said with a grimace. "But I think we should get better acquainted - especially if you're going to be the field commander. Perhaps I can forget my vows before Allah and treat you to a beer?"
"I'd like that," Scott said, quite sincerely. "This weekend sometime, maybe?"
Haroun nodded. "Sure. Give me a few days to get the bandages off. If you don't mind me saying so, you look like you could use an intoxicant."
Scott managed a shrug, his smile a bit hesitant this time. "Long week, lots of things on my mind," he said, turning to go. "Let me know when you feel up to a trip to Harry's?"
Haroun, no fool, could see that he'd tripped a sore point. "Great. The moment these bandages come off, we'll go. Have a drink or two, maybe shoot some pool?"
"Sounds great," Scott said, starting towards the door. "Let me know if you need anything in between now and then, Haroun - I'll be around."
"So will I, boss man. So will I." he said, then waved to Scott as he headed for the door. "I'm gonna be getting acquainted with this beautiful piece of hardware here for a little while longer. So if it goes too much past dinnertime and I haven't resurfaced, send in a rescue party?" he said with a flashing smile.
"Will do," Scott said, waving back and departing.