|
Post by Tabby on Jun 21, 2006 23:29:31 GMT -5
((OOC: Sorry, meant to have this up like, 20 minutes ago, but my dad called and well, yeah. Open? Um, I don't care. Tis up to Ray.))
It was pretty late, probably close to midnight. Tabitha had needed some air, so she decided to go for a walk. She assumed Pietro and Wanda had already gone to bed, and Toad was watching TV; or at least she figured it was him, the television was on when she left, anyhow.
The park seemed like a good enough place to stop; at least that's what she decided when she came upon it. She walked over to the pond and sat down in the grass, laying back so that she could stare up at the sky; there was a full moon tonight.
Sighing, Tabitha closed her eyes. A lot was on her mind at the moment. She'd been with the Brotherhood for a good week, and the only person who'd come after her was Jamie...and she wasn't really sure how that made her feel.
Tabby reached into her pocket and pulled out a cigarette, then reached into her other pocket for her lighter, but it wasn't there.
"Da** it." She cursed, taking the cigarette out of her mouth and tossing it away as hard as she could; she was slightly stressed, and the lack of nicotine really wasn't helping the situation any.
|
|
|
Post by Ray on Jun 21, 2006 23:37:23 GMT -5
Ray had wanted to get out : badly. Being in Kentucky had kept him tied down to keeping his cool and not doing anything. He'd only managed to smoke three times in the entire two weeks he was down there. And bad a habit as it was, he didn't complain.
Now he'd escaped to the park, humming to himself delightedly at his freedom, a fresh pack of cigarettes in his hands, which he tossed up in the air and caught deftly with his hands. But as he rounded a bend, he saw a familiar blonde and perked up instantly.
"Well Hot D*mn, Tabitha Smith!" Ray hooted as he ran to meet her; "What's got you out so early? Heard you left the mansion, mind telling me what happened?"
|
|
|
Post by Tabby on Jun 21, 2006 23:46:17 GMT -5
Tabitha was just lying there, listening to all the sounds around her. She heard footsteps at one point and prayed that whoever it was would just leave her the hell alone. That was, until she heard their voice.
Perking up, Tabitha sat up and turned to face Ray, a slight smile on her face. "Ray! Wow, it's been a while, huh?" She laughed quietly, eyes not quite meeting his. He'd only been gone two weeks, but a lot had happened during that time.
"Just needed some air." She replied, shrugging as she thought about his second question. What happened? That was a good question. "I had a little falling out with the Prof." Tabby finally decided; well, more or less. "Too many rules, you know. So, how was Kentucky?" She asked in a hopeful attempt to change the subject.
|
|
|
Post by Ray on Jun 21, 2006 23:50:47 GMT -5
"Fall out, huh?" he asked as he plopped down beside her; "Well, lemme start off by giving yo ua souvenir," he pulled out a sigarette, lit it with a spark, and held it out to her; "Fresh from some generous farmer in Kentucky." he smirked.
"Kentucky was....interesting," he finally decided on telling her as he got out his own cigarette and lit it; "I ran a freakin' guantlet of Guthrie siblings... man it was crazy. But... they were all okay. I'm glad to be back though, nice being able to hear people talking without a drawl."
|
|
|
Post by Tabby on Jun 22, 2006 0:01:57 GMT -5
Tabitha shrugged nonchalantly, then glanced at the cigarette before greatfully taking it from him. "Thanks." She muttered before taking a drag and closing her eyes again; she needed that.
"Interesting, huh?" Tabby asked, staring out at the reflection of the moon on the water. "Sounds like it." She grinned, taking another drag from her cigarette. It was nice having him back as well; he was one of the only people she really trusted enough to talk to.
|
|
|
Post by Ray on Jun 22, 2006 0:11:21 GMT -5
Ray was quiet as he took his first drag, shivering as the nicotine hit his system; "God, missed you," he said to the cigarette, then he looked at Tabby.
"So... where're you staying now?" he asked her, taking another drag.
|
|
|
Post by Tabby on Jun 22, 2006 0:24:17 GMT -5
Tabby laughed, shaking her head in amusement as Ray spoke to his cigarette; then she sighed, figuring that question would come sooner or later.
"Where d'you think?" She asked, taking another drag as she once again rested her gaze on the pond. It wasn't like she had that many options. It was either the Brotherhood or the Institute, cause there was no way in hell she was going to go back home.
|
|
|
Post by Ray on Jun 22, 2006 0:38:26 GMT -5
Ray just smirked; "Had to hear it from you," he said; "People talk. I try not to listen." Though what he had heard had just been worried banter, it still had him wondering the truth. But he dind't need to wonder. Smoking for a time, he then asked...
"They treating you good? Especially Speedy? Cuz ya know, if anything happened while I was gone..." professionally he tapped some ash from the cigarette with his pinky, leaving the rest unsaid because it was obvious he'd kick butt if he found out she'd been hurt.
|
|
|
Post by Tabby on Jun 22, 2006 0:53:55 GMT -5
Tabitha rolled her eyes; figures. Although she wondered what people were "saying", she didn't bother to ask; honestly, she just didn't care. If they wanted to talk, then by all means, she'd let them talk.
She was silent for a while as he was, mind once again slipping into that dangerous zone; the one where she wonders if she'd made the right decision or not. It had all happened so fast...
"Yeah. No. Everything's fine." Tabby said, pulled out of her thoughts for the time being. She sounded very unsure and she knew Ray would notice, but she doubted he'd say anything. The whole ordeal was really starting to get to her. Never before had she had so much on her mind; she'd just gone with it every other time, no regrets.
So why was it bothering her so much now?
"I need a drink." Tabby muttered under her breath, snubbing the cigarette out in the grass beside her.
|
|
|
Post by Ray on Jun 22, 2006 17:45:06 GMT -5
Ray wasn't about to say anything. Yeah, he'd noticed, but he wasn't going to poke around until she hinted she wanted to talk; "So... maybe spreading your wings was the best option right now," he told her; "I mean, the mansion's starting to crack up, it seems. Everyone's coming, going... X thought about leaving, even. Hell, I've thought about leaving..." his voice trailed off; "But where else am I gonna go, ya know?" he laughed lightly as he finished his cigarette, then snuffed it out in the grass.
"So... that drink," he said, rising; "I say we hit up a 'mutant's only' bar and celebrate."
|
|
|
Post by Tabby on Jun 22, 2006 21:04:47 GMT -5
"I guess." Tabby muttered to the 'spreading your wings' comment. She wasn't really sure, but he was right about one thing; the mansion was falling apart from the inside out. And to be honest, she wasn't sure she wanted to be there when it finally cracked completely; so maybe it was better she got out when she did.
"You could always join up with the Brotherhood. I mean, why not? It seems to be the thing to do these days." Tabby told him with a light laugh. "So tell me, what is it that we're celebrating, exactly?" She asked as she waited for him to stand as well.
|
|
|
Post by Ray on Jun 22, 2006 21:10:24 GMT -5
Ray laughed as she suggested him joining the Brotherhood; "I don't think Wanda would be cool with that," he said; "Sides... I'd go to the sewers first. People would accept me better down there. Nothing against the Brotherhood; I'm just already intergrated down there..." he paused.
"Well, why not?" he asked at the 'celebrating'; "We need to. Make up something... Hey! it's my birthday!" he said excitedly; "Let's celebrate that! Come on!" he said, getting up and then holding out offering hands to help Tabby up.
|
|
|
Post by Tabby on Jun 22, 2006 21:18:05 GMT -5
Tabby nodded, figuring he'd say something like that. Ray wasn't exactly on friendly terms with any of the Brotherhood. But she also doubted he'd leave the X-Men, especially now that he was with Paige.
"Is it really?" Tabby asked as she took his offered hands and stood up; he'd never really mentioned when his birthday was before, so for all she knew, it could have been.
|
|
|
Post by Ray on Jun 22, 2006 21:23:00 GMT -5
Ray laughed; "No," he said, grinning; "Dunno when my birthday is... but let's celebrate anyway!"
He started venturing out of the park again, knowing she'd follow.
|
|
|
Post by Tabby on Jun 22, 2006 21:41:59 GMT -5
Tabby shook her head, but followed him anyway."How do you not know when your birthday is?" She asked once she caught up and fell into step beside him.
|
|