xp_logs | Betsy and Sarah, on the front porch

After this, Betsy goes to find Sarah. She finds her chain-smoking on the porch, and they have a little chat. Somehow she ends up offering to teach Sarah to drive. In Eleanor. No really.

Her head was starting to ache again, the slight dull pain settled in between her eyes and promised to stay for a while. But there was no point in focusing on that, there were more pertinent things she had to deal with. Betsy continued to walk toward the front door with a purpose, she had to slap some sense into Sarah, if that was possible. She found the younger woman, chain-smoking on the front porch. Recently extinguished butts were scattered about the floor, as Sarah discarded another half-finished cigarette. Betsy took a seat next to Sarah, as she watched her fish in her jacket for a match. "Welcome back."

"Yeah, some fucking 'welcome back'," came the response, as Sarah lit up another cigarette. "Believe it or not, three hours ago I was in the best mood I'd been in a very long time. Ask Shinobi about it if you want gruesome details."

"I believe you," Betsy admitted. "I'd been hoping to ask you about your trip before blasting off on your journal."

"It was fantastic. We were holed up in this fancy hotel, and I was just drunk enough that it didn't matter that I was twenty floors up. And I got to save the day and play Bond girl, and got paid some insane amount for bringing back the ugliest cup I have ever seen in my entire life. And then we went out to celebrate." She counted off the description of the weekend on her hands as she made it, cigarette hanging precariously between her lips.

"I'm glad you girls were able to get away, to have some fun outside this place." Betsy said, pulling the cigarette out from Sarah's lips and took a long drag. She closed her eyes for a moment, before slowly exhaling the smoke. "Much better," Betsy sighed.

"You're welcome." Sarah said dryly, as she fished around in her pocket for yet another cigarette. Damnit, she was running low again. "So I come back, and my puppy's all excited, and I spend the morning with my pretty half, and now look at me. I can't last more than three seconds in a good mood before something fucks it up."

Betsy's eyes lit up. "Thanks." She gave Sarah a nudge with her knee, her expression sympathetic. "So, what fucked it up, then? Remy?"

"He came back." She lit up another cigarette, taking a few shaking puffs of it before she continued. "The son of a bitch -knows- what he's done and he still came back. Just because I said I wouldn't come after him, doesn't mean I invited him to come back."

"Perhaps, he had no where else to go." Her voice going quiet, the point hitting closer to home than she'd like to admit. "A growing trend here hence why this school is also a refuge for wayward mutants."

"Not with us here. He doesn't deserve to be here." She wrapped her free hand around her arm, rubbing it to get warmer in the cool fall air. "Said they had to pull Gambit from those tunnels when it was over. He wasn't done with his fun yet apparently."

"Supposedly, Remy isn't Gambit. And the Professor is quite sure that we won't see Gambit, again." She took another hit off the cigarette. "But, if he proves us wrong, I'm sure you'll be more than willing to put him on his arse."

"I'm staring at the face that murdered my family. And I'm supposed to be okay with that." She muttered, starting to pick idly at the bone on her hand. "Yeah. This situation is just fucking terrific."

"Yet you're staring at the face of the person who almost killed you." Betsy stated, matter-of-factly. "And yet, you've forgiven me....somewhat. I'm not asking you to push aside your feelings, but to keep them less known. It's not the wisest of tactics to mention your intent to maim or kill out in the open. Makes the adult types, a bit tetchy."

"That's why I didn't kill him the first time. Because I wouldn't kill you." She paused, and took another drag from her cigarette. "But there's a difference between almost killing me, and having to be dragged out of the tunnels even after everybody was dead."

"But that wasn't him, was it? I'll keep an eye on LeBeau and you try and keep your deaththreats off the journals." Betsy extinguished the cigarette on the sole of her shoe. She stood up and placed a reassuring hand on Sarah's shoulder. "I'm going into Salem Center early in the week for a day trip, it might do you some good to get some breathing room while you cool your heels a bit?"

But it's the same face. "I'll probably need it," came the response, though she didn't turn around to face her. "Especially after Shinobi leaves."

"I figured as much," Betsy said softly. "You know, if you need me for anything, I'm here. Always have been."

She shrugged, taking a final drag from her cigarette, smoke and breath coming out in a slow exhale as she flicked the cigarette out into the ash bucket. "I know, but I probably won't take you up on that. I usually don't."

"And this is why we get on so well. You resist and I can't take no for an answer. Perfect match from the start." Betsy stated, trying to keep the mood light. "I'll come collect you after Shinboi leaves, we'll head out and take your mind off of it for a bit. And if you're still a bit put out, we'll head into the city."

Betsy was far to cheerful about this whole thing, Sarah thought grimly as she leaned her head back against one of the rails. "Whatever you say Betsy."

"I'll even let you drive, Eleanor." Betsy's smile grew. "At least, I'll let you learn how to on Eleanor."

Sarah looked up, her surprised expression slowly turning into a grin. "You really need to stop reading my mind like that. You're not supposed to know about my fake license."

"Come on, Sarah. What girl would say no to driving a 69 Mustang?" Betsy said over her shoulder. "And hey, I've always known about the license. I was young once too."