Amanda Sefton (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
xp_daytripper) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
xp_logs2004-09-25 08:54 pm
xp_daytripper) wrote in xp_logs2004-09-25 08:54 pm
Entry tags:
Amanda, Jubilee - Saturday night
Back at the mansion during the HeliX party, Amanda and Jubilee find themselves alone in the same room together, without interruption. Will this be Round 2? Actually no - it's a night for compromises. And truces.
Since it was largely the anti-social people who weren't going to the HeliX event, the mansion was quiet. Very quiet. Amanda prowled around aimlessly, bored and a little twitchy, wishing for some kind of distraction: she'd studied as much as she wanted to (both the mundane and the magical types), and her music collection was boring again. She wandered down towards the rec room, thinking perhaps to find some more of this Firefly show on the Science Fiction channel, or, failing that, something in the way of a movie. Anything, really.
Jubilee flicked through the channels, stopping on an episode of 'Firefly', smiling as Wash filled the screen. She liked Wash, he was probably someone she would have gotten along with had he been real. She supposed it was a measure of how sad and pathetic she'd gotten that she was contemplating what kind of friendships she'd have with tv characters rather then talking to the other people in the mansion. She really needed to get over herself and go talk to people. It was better then doing the 'Nobody loves me, everybody hates me' mental dance. Besides, worms were probably really yucky tasting.
At least her arm was pretty much healed, beyond her having to wear the sling for a few more days so the doctors could be sure. She wondered if the others were having fun at the HeliX party and then mentally slapped herself upside the head. It was her own damn fault that she was grounded, no point in being all resentful and angsty about it. She pondered putting on black makeup and clothing as a way to pass the time, amusing herself with what people's reactions would be. She was just about to get up and go do it when she noticed Amanda.
'Oh fuck.' The two of them had been doing such a good job of avoiding each other, barring the healing and repairing sessions. Amanda hesitated, then decided. Time to at least attempt to settle this. She owed Manuel that at least, especially after the time and effort he'd spent on looking after her, and the fact he was going to at least try and talk to Beth at this party tonight. Compromise, on her part.
"Hey," she said, without the usual edge her voice had when she spoke to (or of) Jubilee. "Mind if I come in? 'S quiet as tombs 'round here tonight."
Jubilee sat back down, nodding toward the empty seat. She'd been avoiding the other girl since their shared dream, entirely uncomfortable with having shared that much of her true self with someone she wasn't friends with. She'd been wanting to apologise for awhile now but she still couldn't figure out the words to use. "Sure, s'kinda weird bein' in here all alone for so long."
Friendly, calm and no mention whatsoever of Manny or what had happened. Maybe that was the way to go. Besides, she was tired of fighting with Amanda. She hadn't really meant to start fighting with her in the first place. Just a stupid possessiveness of the mansion and a few words that she really wished she could have taken back. They weren't really all that different, not totally.
Amanda took a seat in an easy chair, curling herself up in it, her knees pulled up against her chest. Wonderfully defensive posture. They watched the television in silence for a while, neither of them willing to be the first to speak. At length, Amanda chuckled at something Wash had said, the sound echoed by Jubilee, and she glanced across at the other girl. "I remember me first night here, you showed me this. 'S a good show. Clever."
Jubilee smiled, remembering. "Yeah, it's a pity they went and cancelled it. They're makin' a movie though, so hopefully something will come outta that." Shifting on the couch so that she was turned toward Amanda but could still see the TV, she hesitated but then went on. "The stuff I said that night, I was totally out of line. I kept wantin' to say sorry about it, only I never did. Know it's a bit late now but I'm sorry."
"Seems like there's a lot we should both be sorry for," Amanda said quietly, eyes still on the television. "Too much, I think. But..." She took a deep breath, and looked Jubilee in the face. "I wanted t' say, 'm sorry for hurtin' you. An' for givin' you grief 'bout bein' friends with Manny. I won't, any more."
"Thanks. I'm sorry too about what I said. I lied, you know. What I said about Manny sayin', it wasn't true. And I'm sorry for the burns, never meant to use my powers, I just kinda panicked." Jubilee said, wanting to get it all out now while she still could. "I don't hate you, even if I did do a good job of seemin' like I did. You're right, though. There's too much to be sorry for, too much really harsh shit 'tween us for it to ever be comfortable as friends. Maybe though... well, maybe we could try for something that's a little less damaging on the furniture and people 'round here?"
"A truce?" Amanda nodded. "I can live with that. I won't go after you, you won't go after me, an' if you an' Manny're still..." She had to take another deep breath. "...whatever, then that's yer business. Ain't my place t' say who he can be friends with." She looked away to the TV screen again, needing distance. "I just ain't had anyone or anything I could call mine before - family, friends, home... the lot of it. Makes me scared shitless 'm gunna lose it, now I've got it," she admitted. "The Enchantress... played on that. Told me there wasn't any point me goin' back, since everyone preferred you t' me in the first place. Stupid, I know, but mind-control spells are. They play on yer weak points."
Jubilee watched the show for a few minutes, the silence stretching for a moment before she answered. "It's not something you have to worry about." She looked over at Amanda, looking her in the eye. She wanted to make sure the other girl understood what she was about to say. "I don't do power games, ya know? I don't make friends choose who they're gonna be friends with. Look, I know it was probably hard ta tell me that, but it ain't somethin' you should have worried about,. Friendship ain't somethin' that's won and lost, ya know?"
Jubilee tapped her fingers against her leg, agitated for a moment as she struggled to explain what she was thinking. It was hard, she'd never really thought about how she saw friendship and she didn't want to get what she was saying wrong. She only knew that she needed Amanda to understand it.
"Sometimes, there's more or less of that feelin' depending on how much time the people hang with each other but it's never lost, not if you don't want it to be. I'm probably not sayin' this well. Shit, Samson'd do a better job. Look, any of them ever did such a stupid thing as tell me they preferred me to you I'd give 'em a good kick in the arse and say they didn't know me too well. I'm not a side that someone can be on, I'm just me."
Amanda digested that, working her way through what Jubilee was trying to get her to see. "I get yer point," she said, thoughtfully. "But you got all possessive at me that first night, 'bout this place, didn't you?"
Jubilee nodded. "Yeah, I guess I did. I learnt a bit since then, 'specially 'bout myself. Back then, all I could see was you comin' in here and wreaking the joint. 'Cause when I first came here, all I wanted was to get back to LA. Yeah it was just a mall, but it was home and the only place I'd actually made mine. And then you were here and bein' friends with people. I know what it's like to feel like someone's gonna replace you, I felt the same way 'bout you when you started bein' friends with Marie-Ange. But the thing is, someone that's gonna ditch you, for whatever reason, ain't worth havin' as a friend anyhow. So, I know where ya comin' from, but I just wanted ya to know that you didn't have ta worry, cause I ain't about to take your home away."
"Sounds like we understand each other, then." Amanda grinned wryly. "We _are_ too bloody alike. I think that's the whole fuckin' problem. But I'll stop bein' such a bitch, if you will."
Jubilee chuckled, and turned back to the TV, slouching more loosely on the couch as she relaxed. "I think I can do that. I was runnin' out of new and creative insults anyhow.
"That's 'cause yer lackin in imagination," Amanda replied, but her tone was teasing, not nasty. "But yer've got one hell of a left hook, tho'."
"Taught by the best. Although, dude, if Wolverine had been here he so would have been sitting around taking notes on our technique for later and then would have yelled at us about how sloppy we were. He wasn't exactly the most conventional of teachers."
"I remember - he taught Art while the Pillock was off doin' that body guard trainin'," Amanda replied, grinning in rememberence. "Tho' all those fancy kicks and whatnot? Ain't much use in the real world. I like Pete's style better, nasty an' sneaky."
"I've got him for Advanced self defence, now that's gonna be an interesting experience. I've been waiting around for him to come kick my ass to be honest."
"Pete knows when t' leave me t' sort out me own shite," the witch said, a little defensively. "I wouldn't thank him for stickin' his nose in. Besides, it was as much me as you, an' I clean up me own messes." She shrugged. "I don't let people fight for me when I can do it meself."
"You know him better then I do, dude. You like Lord of the Rings? Was thinkin' it'd be a long night here, so I thought I'd watch the extended edition." Jubilee replied, changing the subject. She'd noted the defensiveness, early lessons in Speech seemed to be paying off in that respect at least. She supposed neither she nor Amanda were really ready for anything more then this fledgling truce, still it was a start. Maybe never to friendship but hopefully more then enemies. Besides, right now she was just tired and didn't want to start another fight.
Amanda recognised the gesture for what it was, but there was only so far she could extend. "Think I"ll leave you to it," she said, unfolding herself. "I need a fag, an' I think Sarah's 'round the place somewhere." She gave Jubilee a wry alf-grin. "Us addicts need our substitutes."
Jubilee grinned back. "S'cool, Dude. I'll see ya 'round."
Since it was largely the anti-social people who weren't going to the HeliX event, the mansion was quiet. Very quiet. Amanda prowled around aimlessly, bored and a little twitchy, wishing for some kind of distraction: she'd studied as much as she wanted to (both the mundane and the magical types), and her music collection was boring again. She wandered down towards the rec room, thinking perhaps to find some more of this Firefly show on the Science Fiction channel, or, failing that, something in the way of a movie. Anything, really.
Jubilee flicked through the channels, stopping on an episode of 'Firefly', smiling as Wash filled the screen. She liked Wash, he was probably someone she would have gotten along with had he been real. She supposed it was a measure of how sad and pathetic she'd gotten that she was contemplating what kind of friendships she'd have with tv characters rather then talking to the other people in the mansion. She really needed to get over herself and go talk to people. It was better then doing the 'Nobody loves me, everybody hates me' mental dance. Besides, worms were probably really yucky tasting.
At least her arm was pretty much healed, beyond her having to wear the sling for a few more days so the doctors could be sure. She wondered if the others were having fun at the HeliX party and then mentally slapped herself upside the head. It was her own damn fault that she was grounded, no point in being all resentful and angsty about it. She pondered putting on black makeup and clothing as a way to pass the time, amusing herself with what people's reactions would be. She was just about to get up and go do it when she noticed Amanda.
'Oh fuck.' The two of them had been doing such a good job of avoiding each other, barring the healing and repairing sessions. Amanda hesitated, then decided. Time to at least attempt to settle this. She owed Manuel that at least, especially after the time and effort he'd spent on looking after her, and the fact he was going to at least try and talk to Beth at this party tonight. Compromise, on her part.
"Hey," she said, without the usual edge her voice had when she spoke to (or of) Jubilee. "Mind if I come in? 'S quiet as tombs 'round here tonight."
Jubilee sat back down, nodding toward the empty seat. She'd been avoiding the other girl since their shared dream, entirely uncomfortable with having shared that much of her true self with someone she wasn't friends with. She'd been wanting to apologise for awhile now but she still couldn't figure out the words to use. "Sure, s'kinda weird bein' in here all alone for so long."
Friendly, calm and no mention whatsoever of Manny or what had happened. Maybe that was the way to go. Besides, she was tired of fighting with Amanda. She hadn't really meant to start fighting with her in the first place. Just a stupid possessiveness of the mansion and a few words that she really wished she could have taken back. They weren't really all that different, not totally.
Amanda took a seat in an easy chair, curling herself up in it, her knees pulled up against her chest. Wonderfully defensive posture. They watched the television in silence for a while, neither of them willing to be the first to speak. At length, Amanda chuckled at something Wash had said, the sound echoed by Jubilee, and she glanced across at the other girl. "I remember me first night here, you showed me this. 'S a good show. Clever."
Jubilee smiled, remembering. "Yeah, it's a pity they went and cancelled it. They're makin' a movie though, so hopefully something will come outta that." Shifting on the couch so that she was turned toward Amanda but could still see the TV, she hesitated but then went on. "The stuff I said that night, I was totally out of line. I kept wantin' to say sorry about it, only I never did. Know it's a bit late now but I'm sorry."
"Seems like there's a lot we should both be sorry for," Amanda said quietly, eyes still on the television. "Too much, I think. But..." She took a deep breath, and looked Jubilee in the face. "I wanted t' say, 'm sorry for hurtin' you. An' for givin' you grief 'bout bein' friends with Manny. I won't, any more."
"Thanks. I'm sorry too about what I said. I lied, you know. What I said about Manny sayin', it wasn't true. And I'm sorry for the burns, never meant to use my powers, I just kinda panicked." Jubilee said, wanting to get it all out now while she still could. "I don't hate you, even if I did do a good job of seemin' like I did. You're right, though. There's too much to be sorry for, too much really harsh shit 'tween us for it to ever be comfortable as friends. Maybe though... well, maybe we could try for something that's a little less damaging on the furniture and people 'round here?"
"A truce?" Amanda nodded. "I can live with that. I won't go after you, you won't go after me, an' if you an' Manny're still..." She had to take another deep breath. "...whatever, then that's yer business. Ain't my place t' say who he can be friends with." She looked away to the TV screen again, needing distance. "I just ain't had anyone or anything I could call mine before - family, friends, home... the lot of it. Makes me scared shitless 'm gunna lose it, now I've got it," she admitted. "The Enchantress... played on that. Told me there wasn't any point me goin' back, since everyone preferred you t' me in the first place. Stupid, I know, but mind-control spells are. They play on yer weak points."
Jubilee watched the show for a few minutes, the silence stretching for a moment before she answered. "It's not something you have to worry about." She looked over at Amanda, looking her in the eye. She wanted to make sure the other girl understood what she was about to say. "I don't do power games, ya know? I don't make friends choose who they're gonna be friends with. Look, I know it was probably hard ta tell me that, but it ain't somethin' you should have worried about,. Friendship ain't somethin' that's won and lost, ya know?"
Jubilee tapped her fingers against her leg, agitated for a moment as she struggled to explain what she was thinking. It was hard, she'd never really thought about how she saw friendship and she didn't want to get what she was saying wrong. She only knew that she needed Amanda to understand it.
"Sometimes, there's more or less of that feelin' depending on how much time the people hang with each other but it's never lost, not if you don't want it to be. I'm probably not sayin' this well. Shit, Samson'd do a better job. Look, any of them ever did such a stupid thing as tell me they preferred me to you I'd give 'em a good kick in the arse and say they didn't know me too well. I'm not a side that someone can be on, I'm just me."
Amanda digested that, working her way through what Jubilee was trying to get her to see. "I get yer point," she said, thoughtfully. "But you got all possessive at me that first night, 'bout this place, didn't you?"
Jubilee nodded. "Yeah, I guess I did. I learnt a bit since then, 'specially 'bout myself. Back then, all I could see was you comin' in here and wreaking the joint. 'Cause when I first came here, all I wanted was to get back to LA. Yeah it was just a mall, but it was home and the only place I'd actually made mine. And then you were here and bein' friends with people. I know what it's like to feel like someone's gonna replace you, I felt the same way 'bout you when you started bein' friends with Marie-Ange. But the thing is, someone that's gonna ditch you, for whatever reason, ain't worth havin' as a friend anyhow. So, I know where ya comin' from, but I just wanted ya to know that you didn't have ta worry, cause I ain't about to take your home away."
"Sounds like we understand each other, then." Amanda grinned wryly. "We _are_ too bloody alike. I think that's the whole fuckin' problem. But I'll stop bein' such a bitch, if you will."
Jubilee chuckled, and turned back to the TV, slouching more loosely on the couch as she relaxed. "I think I can do that. I was runnin' out of new and creative insults anyhow.
"That's 'cause yer lackin in imagination," Amanda replied, but her tone was teasing, not nasty. "But yer've got one hell of a left hook, tho'."
"Taught by the best. Although, dude, if Wolverine had been here he so would have been sitting around taking notes on our technique for later and then would have yelled at us about how sloppy we were. He wasn't exactly the most conventional of teachers."
"I remember - he taught Art while the Pillock was off doin' that body guard trainin'," Amanda replied, grinning in rememberence. "Tho' all those fancy kicks and whatnot? Ain't much use in the real world. I like Pete's style better, nasty an' sneaky."
"I've got him for Advanced self defence, now that's gonna be an interesting experience. I've been waiting around for him to come kick my ass to be honest."
"Pete knows when t' leave me t' sort out me own shite," the witch said, a little defensively. "I wouldn't thank him for stickin' his nose in. Besides, it was as much me as you, an' I clean up me own messes." She shrugged. "I don't let people fight for me when I can do it meself."
"You know him better then I do, dude. You like Lord of the Rings? Was thinkin' it'd be a long night here, so I thought I'd watch the extended edition." Jubilee replied, changing the subject. She'd noted the defensiveness, early lessons in Speech seemed to be paying off in that respect at least. She supposed neither she nor Amanda were really ready for anything more then this fledgling truce, still it was a start. Maybe never to friendship but hopefully more then enemies. Besides, right now she was just tired and didn't want to start another fight.
Amanda recognised the gesture for what it was, but there was only so far she could extend. "Think I"ll leave you to it," she said, unfolding herself. "I need a fag, an' I think Sarah's 'round the place somewhere." She gave Jubilee a wry alf-grin. "Us addicts need our substitutes."
Jubilee grinned back. "S'cool, Dude. I'll see ya 'round."