xp_logs | Kurt and Betsy

He stops by in an effort to be social. Betsy is not entirely receptive, and gives him cause for concern.

Finding himself at a loose end and realizing he hadn't spoken to Betsy in quite some time, Kurt made his way to her rooms to remedy that. Arriving at the door, he knocked and waited.

Betsy looked up from her seat in the living room. She was shocked to find it was already pitch black outside and that her room was shrouded in darkness. "Coming!" Betsy called out to her visitor. Not knowing how long she had been sitting there, Betsy rose from her plush seat and made her way to the door. She flipped on the lightswitch and fought the urge to shield her eyes. She opened the door with a hesitant smile, it was obvious she didn't want for visitors today. "Yes, Kurt? What can I do for you?"

Kurt smiled back. "I thought I would come to visit, if you would like company. It is some time since we last spoke, and I wanted to remedy that."

The man had ulterior motives. "Right, well, that's awfully sweet of you, Kurt. But, I'm a bit busy at the moment. Perhaps another time."

He tilted his head for a moment, trying to work out what was best here - persistence had worked on Scott, but that had been a slightly different situation, and he didn't know Betsy nearly as well. Finally, in plain disappointment, he answered, "If you are sure... another time, then."

She didn't wait for his reply, Betsy had already slammed the door. She reclaimed her seat, but she felt exposed. Betsy went quickly to the lightpanel and turned the overheads off. In darkness, she could hide without judgment.

Kurt was turning away to leave when the light coming from under the door abruptly disappeared. With a slight frown of concern - she'd said she was busy, not that she wanted to sleep - he turned back and knocked again, hesitantly. "Betsy?"

No one's at home. She thought bitterly to herself. Still, Betsy remained in her seat. He would get the hint after long. At least, she hoped he would.

Her failure to answer just worried him more, and he called, "Please answer the door, Betsy."

It were moments like these, she wished for telekinesis. And not so she could open the door. Betsy got up, grudingly and opendd the door for the pesky teleport. She was going to tell him where he could take his concern and shove it. Though when she opened the door, the face that greeted her cracked her resolve slightly. "Yes?"

He glanced past her as best he could into the darkened room, then focused on her again. "How have you been of late?"

"F-fine, fine." Betsy stammered. "Make one damnable post and everyone feels the need to check in on you. Though with as many meltdowns as this school is witness in a week, I was sure my little outburst would've been forgotten ages ago. Really, it's alright" She said reassuringly.

Kurt shrugged slightly. "It was not so much your post - you are right, such things happen a lot here - as that I realized how little I have seen of you recently. True, I have not been the most social myself in the last months, but..."

"But, what?" Betsy shot back. "What is the real reason for your visit?"

Kurt looked back at her honestly. "It was partly concern, I will not deny it. But not all - not even most. Is it so hard to believe that someone might wish to see you to be social?"

"I..." Betsy started, trying to find the words. She felt the anger that was building inside of her dissipate. "I didn't mean to snap at you, Kurt. I'm sorry. I can't explain it, but I've been in a mood, lately."

He nodded, and ventured, "It has been a hard summer. A hard year, really. With one thing and another, I think being stressed is more than forgivable."

Behind the door, Betsy felt her left hand clench. Alison was right, she no longer thought about why she drank, only that she needed to block out everything. "Yes, I can only hope it is. Though, I now choose to avoid discussing subjects like forgiveness. Especially with my last outburst unexpectantly ruffling a few feathers."

"In a community such as this, such things happen", Kurt observed quietly. "Unless everyone were to restrict themselves to the blandest of topics, they always will. Perhaps it is not the best idea to discuss them on the public journals, but that does not mean you can never talk about them at all."

Betsy placed most of her weight on the door and sighed. She took solace from the cool surface of the door against her cheek. "Kurt, if you haven't noticed." Betsy said, her eyes lowered. "I haven't been one for much conversation lately."

"As I said, I had noticed", Kurt returned neutrally. "I am simply offering an ear, if you wish to change that. Do not let the incident on the journals entirely put you off talking about anything you want to."

"I'll keep that in mind," Betsy replied with a little edge in her voice. "Well, it's been a fun chat, Kurt, but I'll have to excuse myself. It's been a trying day and since it is the start of the weekend, I'm going to enjoy this little respite while I can."

Kurt nodded, knowing he was no longer welcome. "As you should. I will leave you to do so, then."

Betsy cleared herself from the doorway and as she closed the door with care this time. The view into her room was clear. And even in the dark, his acute eyesight allowed for a him too see the state of things and it was what he saw that concerned him so deeply.