InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Don't warn the tadpoles!"

Rahne Sinclair (rahney) wrote in academy_x,
@ 2010-04-15 20:37:00

Entry tags:

nightcrawler, wolfsbane

who: Rahne and Kurt
when: Thursday afternoon
where: Library
what: Rahne is helping Kurt with an English paper to help get her mind off ~~Josh~~ things. They quickly diverge into an honesty session.

Rahne Sinclair was sitting next to Kurt Wagner in the library, assisting the junior with an English assignment that was going to be due on Monday. It had been assigned that day even before the attack and the syllabus had yet to be updated by Dr. McCoy as far as Rahne was aware. She didn't blame him. The students had plenty of time to work on homework now that school wasn't in session.

Perhaps rudely reaching across Kurt's seat to point to the monitor he was sitting at in the computer lab section of the library, Rahne nodded her finger instead of tapping the screen. "Aye, there it is! That's how you cite a news article for MLA style," Rahne answered. She was happy to help Kurt on his paper, even if it was about miniscule details such as annotations in the bibliography or proper usage of to, too, and two. English wasn't his first language and she took extra sympathy on Kurt for it. It also helped that Rahne took a lot of sympathy on Kurt anyway, finding him a kindred religious soul and a great guy. It was such a shame he had to look and be treated like a demon a lot of times.

"Mmm," Rahne considered, flicking at her short hair absently with the pointer finger after retracting it. "This may sound plai' crazy, but thank ye, Kurt. I've been needin' a distraction today," Rahne had to confess. She was practically fishing for Kurt to ask for further clarification, which she knew he would. Kurt was sometimes predictable, but Rahne was fine with that in this case. She had so much going on in her head and just needed an ear and support. With Josh in a coma, a lot of that support was gone and a lot of that stress up because of it. She couldn't help it. Kurt just lookeed so ... trustworthy.

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_elf_
2010-04-16 01:11 am UTC (link)

Kurt never wanted to do homework. And that was especially true this week. Monday night had been a traumatic experience for everyone to say the least and now that class was cancelled for the week he was hoping his assignments that were due next week would be put off. Especially his English report. But Rahne had offered to help him out with his paper in class a few days ago and maybe working with her a bit would help him take his mind off things as well. She wasn't the only one in need of distracting after all. Kurt was still trying to shake the image of Kevin withering a soldier's face. And so was poor Kevin.

Rahne had been a big help to Kurt with this assignment, even if her accent had a tendency to throw him off at times. He'd gotten very good at reading and speaking English the past few years, but writing always seemed to be his weak point. So many rules to remember, so many words that sounded the same but had different spellings and meanings. Even deciding what words needed to be capitalized and what ones didn't took some getting used to. Not to mention he had never heard of this "MLA format" in his life until Rahne had just enlightened him. All things considered though, for someone who didn't start officially going to school until the age of 14 when he arrived at the mansion, Kurt was doing pretty damn well.

He turned his attention from the computer screen to Rahne when she thanked him, a little perplexed at first seeing as she was the one who was helping him. "Oh, you are welcome," he said, offering a small smile. "Thank you for doing the same for me. I think we are all in need of distraction this week. Are you doing alright?" he asked. Yep. He may have been unpredictable in a fight, but not so much in conversation.

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rahney
2010-04-16 01:20 am UTC (link)

When asked about how she was doing, Rahne offered a sheepish smile. Was she alright? "Yes, ... no. Well, I dinnae ken," Rahne admitted. "I feel ashamed thinkin' I have it so bad or have problems when people are downstairs dying or had frightening situations on Monday. I dinnae really have a problem wit' things, even wit' my powers. So I can't help but feel guilty not sayin' yes. ...but...

"But... I'm worried. I'm worried about someone who got hurt, one of the people an' I just ... I'm scared, I suppose. I think we were fallin' in love and now I dinnae wut to kin. When nothin' ya say or do changes wut's happenin' ta 'em, ya just feel so ...helpless, I guess." Rahne sighed, glancing about the room. Everything was far more interesting than Kurt's face right now because Rahne felt bad dumping all of this on him.

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_elf_
2010-04-16 01:29 am UTC (link)

Kurt didn't really feel as though Rahne was dumping anything on him. Honestly he was used to it by now. He had a reputation has a good listener and one of the nicest people in the school; once people got over the initial aversion to his appearance he found that they often opened up to him or came to him for advice. And he liked helping people out. Or at least trying to.

Kurt didn't know Rahne very well, but he managed to put two and two together fairly quickly. He knew there was something going on between her and Josh. Or at least there had been before she went back to Scotland. He wasn't up to date on the details though. He could only assume that was who she was talking about since when he dropped by the infirmary to visit Bobby, Josh and Regan had been the only other two patients.

"Have you gone down to see him?" he asked, unsure if that would make her feel better or worse.

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rahney
2010-04-16 01:39 am UTC (link)

"...no," Rahne admitted sadly. "Should I? I mean, I should. I care about him. I - but it tis nae proper! I mean, there others down there awake and hurting. He isn't. He wouldn't even know if I had spent every waking second down there or not." Rahne sighed once more. "An' that's the thing. I feel guilty for not doing so anyway! I feel guilty for trying ta talk myself out o' it. That's nae love, is it? This hurt I'm feeling, is it love or is it shame? Or am I protecting myself?"

She looked to Kurt, expectantly. It was unfair of her, but he usually seemed to have all the answers. Rahne was doing her best to keep her composure, but her voice betrayed her fears. She wasn't one for acting anyway. "I've wasted so much time, tryin' ta figure it all out. An' even still I dinnae ken wut I'm supposed to do." Rahne noticed Kurt's expression. It was so ...peaceful. "How can ye always be so calm? I am so jealous o' you, in that regard."

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_elf_
2010-04-16 02:04 am UTC (link)

Oh boy. Romance was not Kurt's area of expertise given that he was woefully inexperienced when it came to relationships (though he was certainly looking to change that!) He could try his best though, and if anything he was a shoulder to cry on.

Her expectant expression made him a bit nervous, however. He hoped he could help her out! "I understand, I only saw him for a moment and so I was not sure what happened to him," he said. "I don't blame you for being afraid. It is difficult to see someone you care about hurt. But I do not think you should feel ashamed," he tried to reassure her, even if he wasn't exactly sure how.

"I don't think you are supposed to know what to do all of the time. Love can be confusing and scary at first, ja? Perhaps you are thinking too much?" he suggested. He laughed softly when she turned the conversation towards himself. "Really? I am not always so calm! It is just my personality, I suppose?" It was true that Kurt's calm, level-headed demeanor was just part of his nature. But it also stemmed from a lifetime of frightening people. He realized early on that the calmer and gentler he was around others, the easier it was to convince people that no, he was not a demon or a monster.

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rahney
2010-04-16 02:10 am UTC (link)

"...you saw him?!" Rahne suddenly sat up in her chair. "Oh my gosh, how did he look? Is he...? Is he injured? Did he look healthy?" Rahne suddenly stopped herself, hand to her face. "...I'm sorry. Such a train wreck I am right now." How embarrasing!

"I guess I do not know you that well, then? I swear I have never seen anything less than a smile on your face. It's so easy to see it, against the dark blue. ...is that okay of me to day? I dinnae want ta be offensive." Rahne was fiddling with her hands, so she suddenly stuck them in her lap to prevent it further. "It is only fair that I ask how you're doing? The attack must have been hard on everyone. Did you get hurt? Did you get out okay?"

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_elf_
2010-04-16 02:22 am UTC (link)

Kurt was surprised by Rahne's sudden reaction, he hadn't thought before he mentioned seeing Josh. That probably had been a mistake. "No need to apologize," he said. "He did not look injured..." Kurt wasn't sure what all he should say, not wanting to upset her. At the same time though, she would probably find out for herself soon. And she seemed very keen on getting information. "He is in a coma, that is what Bobby told me." He left the black skin part out. "They believe he will be alright when he wakes up though," he added quickly.

"It is not offensive. It is just a fact," he assured her. "I am doing alright. I wasn't hurt or anything. Getting out is what I do, after all." he said. Of course he wished he had been able to get a lot of people out and sooner. If he had been with some of the other boys like Bobby and Josh then maybe their injuries could have been avoided.

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rahney
2010-04-16 10:10 pm UTC (link)

"I-I'm glad he's okay, then," Rahne tried to steady herself. A coma wasn't great but it meant he was alive too. And with no physical trauma. But what did that mean for him mentally? Oh, she wished she understood more about the human body and medicine. "I hope that's soon. I guess - I guess I miss him," Rahne admitted, kicking her feet lightly.

Rahne smiled with relief at Kurt surviving unharmed. "Och, how silly o' me. O' course, ya were probably out o' there in no time at all." Rahne considered Kurt's reaction. He was still so calm and didn't go too much further with what he said. She didn't know if that meant he was guarded or was simply humble and introverted. Surely the latter. Kurt was far too wonderful for all of that. She thought it sad that God had chosen to test him in such a particular way. "Do ye - if I remember correct, you're religious, yes? Now that you have the image inducer, would ya ... would ya like ta start attending church with me? Tis random, I know, but I got Dani to go with me on Easter and I had so much fun having friends around. Usually I go alone and sit in the back."

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_elf_
2010-04-17 04:34 pm UTC (link)

"I hope so too," Kurt said politely. He brightened up a bit when she mentioned his being religious. It was always nice to connect with people who could relate and shared his sense of faith. He hadn't gotten the chance to test the image inducer out in church yet (what with being grounded, the field trip, and then the attack), though it had been one of the things he was looking forward to being able to do more easily now. "Yes, I am. And I would very much like that," he grinned at her invitation. "It is definitely more fun with friends," he agreed. "I wonder if they would let us go this Sunday or if we will still be stuck inside," he said.

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rahney
2010-04-17 04:59 pm UTC (link)

"Sunday would be nearly a week. If we travelled in numbers or got a chaperone to go with us, perhaps they would let us go?" Rahne asked, unsure but willing to do what it took. She'd love to go to church, let alone with a friend, and felt like it would be great for Kurt to get out too. The poor boy always seemed to be holed up inside the school. Despite the fact she was in college and a legal adult, Rahne fell in line more quickly than some of the younger students when it came to respecting Xavier and his sometimes overstepping legal authority to protect his students. "It'll be wonderful!" Rahne smiled, reaching over without thinking and patting the top of Kurt's hand. It was the first time she had really ever touched it and she felt self-conscious of the gesture instantly. Rahne retracted her hand. "...I'm sorry!"

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_elf_
2010-04-19 12:34 am UTC (link)

"If we need a chaperone I know that Mr. Cassidy will take us, he has taken me before," Kurt added enthusiastically. He was really hoping they would be able to go. It was true that he didn't get to go out often and now that he had an image inducer he jumped at nearly every chance to do so. He was also looking forward to getting to know Rahne better. Even though the two had known each other for about two years, Rahne had been gone all of last year and the two had never really hung out much before that. Although that was in large part due to the fact that she seemed to have quite an aversion to Kurt initially. Much more so than most.

Which made the fact that she had offered to help him out with his homework surprising. And then the friendly touch on his hand even more so. While the pat caught him off guard, Kurt found that it was a pleasant surprise. It wasn't often that he was touched, his three-fingered hands even managed to deter most handshakes at first. He glanced over at Rahne when she pulled back and immediately apologized. "Why do you say 'I'm sorry' so often?" he couldn't help but ask. "You have yet to offend me," he reassured her with a hint of a smile.

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rahney
2010-04-19 12:43 am UTC (link)

"Och, I adore Mr. Cassidy," Rahne admitted. He was so charming and the perfect beau for Moira. The perfect beau for anyone, really. Rahne was enjoying this conversation with Kurt. It was true that she had avoided him a lot during her first tenure at the school. Initially, she was terrified of him. Possibly more than any other student. While she tried to politely keep that to herself, her body language often betrayed her when Kurt had been close. Though she grew more used to Kurt and even enjoyed him as a person, she still had some difficult spending time with him, especially one on one. It was like the paranoia of her youth, afraid that there were demons under her bed just because Reverend Craig said they were there.

"I'm sorry," Rahne blurted out again when it came to her saying I'm sorry too much. "I mean. ...I dinnae ken. It is just in my nature, I suppose. I dinnae like ta trouble folks." She blushed, but Kurt's smile was quickly disarming her. Especially when she could see his teeth. They stood out so brilliantly against his dark skin that Rahne couldn't help but smile herself from how encouraging his grin was.

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_elf_
2010-04-20 09:45 pm UTC (link)

"He is one of my favorite teachers," Kurt agreed, though he was unaware of Rahne's more personal/familial ties with Mr. Cassidy. He was definitely a favorite among most of the students and known to be especially friendly and accommodating.

Kurt was also enjoying this conversation and was pleased to find that Rahne was finally opening up to him after being so nervous around him at first. She was actually smiling at him! It was definitely a good feeling. "Well you are certainly not troubling me," he said. "Thank you for all of your help," he added, as he saved the file they had been working on. He felt English paper-ed out for the time being, but he didn't mind lingering to continue talking to Rahne.

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