Amanda, Domino - Thursday night IM log
Jan. 21st, 2005 01:19 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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xp_communicationAmanda gets a ping from her big sister, who does the pep talk in typical Dom fashion.
LadyLuck13: Ahoy there! Calling the good ship HMS Trouble!
wytchbrat: Dom! *hugs* Hey. I thought you were off in the wilds of Asia or something?
LadyLuck13: Well, I'm in a slightly less wild part of Asia right now... uh, by some standards. Heehee. Having fun, though. What are you up to?
wytchbrat: Good to hear - wish I could join you. You got whisked off from Berlin so fast we didn't get the chance to have that last night out.
wytchbrat: And Nate didn't tell you yet? Thought he would have been on the phone straight away telling you what an idiot I'm being.
LadyLuck13: Uhhh... well. This doesn't sound good.
LadyLuck13: But no, I haven't heard from Nate in... actually, an alarming number of days, come to think of it. And there were no backlogged emails when I got back to civilization, either.
LadyLuck13: So what's going on, sis?
wytchbrat: Columbia. Monday's the six month anniversary, and there doing a memorial thing. Which I'm going to and speaking at.
wytchbrat: Nate's... a bit freaked.
LadyLuck13: ... uh-huh.
LadyLuck13: Look, we both know I'm a jaded bitch, so I'm kind of leery of this, if only for the reason that I don't want you to get your hopes up about what it might accomplish... I doubt Xavier would be letting you do it if he wasn't fairly sure he could keep you safe, so that's one concern (mostly) down...
wytchbrat: *sighs* I'm not a stupid kid, Dom. I don't expect this to bring peace and love and understanding and all that bollocks. But... I need to do this. To show people that not all the mutants there that day were killing. To show those fuckers at Mistra that I'm not some scared little victim still.
wytchbrat: Someone needs to stand up and say _something_. And I was there. I just wish I could blow the whistle on the fuckers and tell everyone exactly what happened. But that's too dangerous for Nate and the school.
LadyLuck13: Not to mention all the kids Mistra has in training right now.
LadyLuck13: There are very few people, even in the American government, who know about Mistra - I suspect for that very reason. Nate was always very certain that if their cover was ever blown to the general public that the first thing they'd do before going deeper underground and shutting down operations would be to kill all their operative candidates.
wytchbrat: I know that, Dom. Don't worry, I'm not about to do anything stupid. Stupid-er. Besides, who'd believe me? I'd come across as a bigger nutter than Pete's old man.
LadyLuck13: Hey, don't knock Pete's old man. I like him. Even if he did pinch my... uh, nevermind.
LadyLuck13: Anyway. Don't mind me being anal about telling you what you already know? I'm very repetitive at times.
LadyLuck13: You know, it's not really idealism, what you're doing. If anyone's telling you that, you're wrong. It's just what you feel you need to do, from the sounds of it. And believe me... I know about not wanting to feel like a victim.
wytchbrat: I like him too. And I think he likes me. Didn't try to throw anything at me, at least, and Pete says that's a good sign.
wytchbrat: It needed saying. I need to remember that, in case I lose my head up there and decide to make a point. It's more than just my safety I have to think about, and I'm not about to be responsible for getting kids like Kyle killed. Even if it's horrible they're still being taken.
wytchbrat: And yeah, I do need to do this. I'm sick of people putting the boot in, not just to me, but to people who can't stop them. Kids like Kyle - wouldn't be so easy for Mistra to do what they do if people actually give a fuck for mutant kids.
LadyLuck13: You may have something of a point. I will deny it vehemently if you ever tell Pete or Nate that, though...
LadyLuck13: And regarding the old man... want me to call and yell at him?
wytchbrat: *grins* Your secret's safe with me. And no, don't yell at him. I already did that - he tried to talk me out of it and I didn't exactly hold back. Said some stuff I probably shouldn't've.
LadyLuck13: Oh-ho. Now I know you're *really* part of the family...
LadyLuck13: I've done that more times than I can remember. Please tell me you didn't get the kicked-puppy look in response to whatever you said... that is so damnably unfair when he does that.
wytchbrat: A bit. I told him Mistra had beaten him, so I probably deserved it. Wouldn't be surprised if he hides from me for the rest of the week until this is over.
LadyLuck13: ... oh. Amanda, ouch.
LadyLuck13: Not that it probably didn't need to be said, at some point, but... damn.
LadyLuck13: Heh. I wish it weren't true.
wytchbrat: Yeah, I know. I wish I hadn't said it, but like you said, it needed saying. He wanted to know why I hadn't talked to him about this, and that was why. If I'd said anything earlier, before I'd decided, he would've talked me out of it.
wytchbrat: Talk about feeling like I was kicking a puppy, tho.
LadyLuck13: It's not entirely true, you know. At least, it's not as true as it used to be.
LadyLuck13: But you know... six months since Columbia means it's been almost six months since they got him back, too.
wytchbrat: I know. I'm a brat.
wytchbrat: It's just... Like you said, they're still taking kids. And there's the leather brigade, and you and the Pack, and Nate's got his powers all working again and there's still kids being taken and conditioned. Like Kyle. I know you can't do everything, but I can't help feeling there should be _something_ done. And Nate's so scared of them, Dom - you can see it in his face every time the name comes up.
wytchbrat: Then again, I'm just a kid with no clue of half of what's going on, so ignore me.
LadyLuck13: Oh, don't do that, you monkey. I was perfecting the 'Well, I'm just a kid, you bastards, feel free not to tell me ANYTHING' routine when I was younger than you are.
LadyLuck13: Still... do you really think he's not been getting better about that? That's a serious question, by the way...
wytchbrat: You did everything first, big sister. ;)
wytchbrat: I really don't know, Dom. He seemed to be, then this new training started and it's driving him nuts, making him think he's useless. And then all these important dates coming up... Like you said, another couple of weeks and it's six months since they took him back.
LadyLuck13: And now you're calling me old! Next time I'm there, smothering you in your sleep, you watch...
LadyLuck13: I don't like the idea that he's backsliding. Not about this. I wonder what Moira thinks about this new training...
wytchbrat: No you won't. I'm too cute, remember?
wytchbrat: And Moira's not here to say anything - she's back at Muir, sorting out the mess from New Year's. So I don't know if she even knows how
bad it is.
LadyLuck13: I know - David and Gar and Theo are going over there to give her a hand with security. I would hope he'd be talking to her about it, though... grrr.
LadyLuck13: Now I'm all flustered and worried and crap.
wytchbrat: Well, he probably is even without meaning to - the link, yeah? And she knows the date as well as the rest of us.
wytchbrat: Nice to know I've still got the knack of making people worry. Alison says he's working stuff through, so she at least knows something's going on.
LadyLuck13: Hrrm.
LadyLuck13: Well. Try not to worry too much about him, okay? When it comes to this memorial thing, at least. He generally gets a clue at some point, and he's too fond of you to keep being a bastard about it.
wytchbrat: I'll try not to. I'm going to keep clear for the next few days, give him space to think. *sighs* Hate that I keep doing this to people, even if it is in a good cause this time. You'd think I have enough trouble without inviting more.
LadyLuck13: *reaches through the computer and smacks you upside the head*
LadyLuck13: You are not doing this to Nate. He is doing it to himself. Repeat that aloud. Twice.
LadyLuck13: Look, even if you were responsible for his reactions, which you're not, think of it this way. This might be the kick in the ass he needs.
LadyLuck13: Yes, it's been six months. Or twenty-three years, however you want to put it.
LadyLuck13: If he's going to move past this, at some point he has to get his shit together and do it. And he would be the first person to tell you that sometimes you have to be harsh with the people you love, if it's for their own good.
wytchbrat: There's kicking and then there's rubbing salt into things. He's already having issues with everything, and then I go on a mutant rights kick, apparently out of the blue. But I've said my piece and I'm not sorry I did. Just wish it wasn't so hard for him, or that it had to be me doing the kicking. Especially considering I was there and knew what happened, what the whole thing cost him. I think he might have thought I'd be more on his side or something.
wytchbrat: Not that this is about sides, but you know what I mean.
LadyLuck13: Look... I'll call him, okay? Let him rant and rave at me about it, if that's what he needs to do to get it out of his system.
LadyLuck13: Or, you know, goad him until he rants and raves in general. I can do that too.
LadyLuck13: But it will be okay. A lot of this is probably just fear for you. When you do it, and everything goes okay, I'm willing to bet the problem takes care of itself.
LadyLuck13: He actually does like it when we show him we have backbone, you know. *grins*
wytchbrat: I told him all the stuff we're doing to keep me safe. Fuck, I'll even wear a bloody bulletproof vest if that helps to make him feel better. Even if it'll fuck with the magic bigtime - too much metal in close contact makes my control go to shit.
wytchbrat: And I hope so. I'm tired of being sorry all the time and feeling like I'm a worry to people, you know?
LadyLuck13: Logic will kick in.
LadyLuck13: And you know, kiddo... as much as I am on your side here, I've got to point that he's as entitled to his reaction as you are to yours. You can't expect him to get over how what you're doing makes him feel if you're resenting him for how his reaction's making you feel. Nasty circle there.
wytchbrat: I never said he wasn't entitled. Hell, I never expected him to be there, or even to want to watch this thing on the telly. I know it's too much for him. Give me a little bit of credit, Dom.
wytchbrat: And I'm not resenting _him_. It's more... fuck, I don't know. Looks like I have to remember that adults have their own shite to deal with. Had to clean up too many messes lately on my own, and then got shite for doing it.
LadyLuck13: Oh, so it is resentment, it's just not really at him? And don't bristle at me. I don't need to be in the same room as you to see you donning the attitude.
LadyLuck13: But you are upset with him for not being more supportive, aren't you? You've been used to having him right there doing the stalwart thing, and he's let you down.
wytchbrat: Resentment at a whole lot of things. The fact I got fucking well possessed by the same psionic vampire who sucked my boyfriend's memories out, because no-one thought to warn me. That I had to clean up the mess they left behind, and then get a bollocking for the methods I used. That I'm trying to make something good come of one of the truly fucking awful parts of last year, and instead I'm feeling like shite because I had to yell at Nate and pretty much tell him he's a coward.
wytchbrat: So maybe yeah I'm a little upset. Can't say anything tho', since he's got far more reason than me to be upset about things. After all, it wasn't me they were after. I just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, as usual.
LadyLuck13: Now. Didn't that feel good to say?
LadyLuck13: It's all down there in black and white on the computer screen. You saw it. I saw it. So instead of festering away, it's out there.
wytchbrat: ...
wytchbrat: Smartarse. You're as bad as Alison.
LadyLuck13: Ouch. You cut me to the quick. :)
LadyLuck13: Seriously, kiddo. You've had a shit of a few months. The fact that you can pull yourself together to do something like this... I am proud of you, you know.
LadyLuck13: And it's okay to be pissed that the people who're supposed to be helping you handle things aren't doing such a great job of it. Just so long as you remember that they do love you, flawed though they might be.
wytchbrat: I've always had a shit of a few months, Dom. I'm getting used to it. No, better than that, I'm not taking it any more.
wytchbrat: And I know they do, Dom. It's why I'm still here, isn't it?
LadyLuck13: Then you're doing pretty well, aren't you?
LadyLuck13: These are the conversations where I wish I wasn't... uh, I don't actually remember the name of the town I'm in, actually. In the not-quite-wilds of Asia?
LadyLuck13: Because I would love to either give you a hug or tickle you silly at the moment. I'm not sure which.
LadyLuck13: Want a present?
wytchbrat: I think so. Just gets hard sometimes.
wytchbrat: And I wish you weren't wherever you are now too. *perks* Present?
LadyLuck13: Present. See, there was this local chieftain who was trying very hard to convince me to become his third wife.
LadyLuck13: I told him that if I was going to be anyone's wife, which I wasn't, I was going to be the only wife, thank you very much.
LadyLuck13: So he pledged his undying love and loaded me down with a metric ton of the local jewellery.
LadyLuck13: Remember that pendant I sent you from Uzbekistan? That sort of thing. It's really pretty. :)
wytchbrat: Ooh, cool. And only third wife? You must be slipping.
LadyLuck13: Hah! Well, he might have offered to throw over the other two for me, if I'd persisted. But they were old hags and they might not have found new providers, so. It was me being charitable.
wytchbrat: So public spirited of you. *grins*
LadyLuck13: Plus they patched up David.
wytchbrat: Patched up? What happened?
LadyLuck13: He's okay, don't worry. Super-speed also means super-metabolism. It's not quite a healing factor, but close enough.
LadyLuck13: Tried to outrun an explosion. Got hit with some shrapnel.
wytchbrat: Ouch. Everything okay otherwise?
LadyLuck13: Yep. Job's done, we're heading out of here in about twelve hours.
LadyLuck13: Sadly, will take us a day or two to get back to Berlin. Did I mention we were in Kyrgyzstan?
wytchbrat: You've remembered now, have you? *grins* Um, how's Mick doing? He was worried abotu Columbia, when I talked to him. Thought I'd blame him for it or something.
LadyLuck13: *laughs suddenly* OH! Oh, I've got to tell you this... how did I forget? It's so cool, Amanda...
LadyLuck13: Ani's with us, right? We were sitting around the breakfast table discussing the mission. Mick's pouring himself coffee, glaring at us.
LadyLuck13: And I mean glare. Like we'd pissed in his cheerios or something. The man who's been spending all that time hiding in his room is looking like he wants to start biting our heads off.
wytchbrat: *blinks* He did? But he's practically afraid of his own shadow. What got up his nose?
LadyLuck13: *snickers madly* Let me finish, you'll figure it out...
LadyLuck13: Ani finally turned around to him and said something along the lines of 'Dear, you smell like rotten onions. What's going on?'
LadyLuck13: He muttered something about lousy coffee. Ani got up, laughing at him, and went over to whisper something in his ear - I didn't catch it, sadly.
LadyLuck13: Next thing I know, he's grinning from ear to ear - and my God, Amanda, the man's got a grin that can light up the whole damned room - and as the rest of us are sitting there, he grabs Ani and kisses her.
LadyLuck13: Like, old-fashioned movie-style kiss. And as soon as he let her up for breath she started to laugh like a madwoman. It was the cutest damned thing I've ever seen.
wytchbrat: Yay for Mick! *grins* So he and Ani are on together... Wish I'd been able to see it.
LadyLuck13: She told me afterwards she agreed deliberately to come on this job, figuring he needed that little push to admit that he was going to miss her.
LadyLuck13: Ani really is one of the sneakier people I've ever met. And that's saying a lot, coming from me.
LadyLuck13: The two of them proceeded to go hide in his room for the rest of the day. I say 'hiding' and mean something else entirely, of course.
wytchbrat: And that's why he was so pissed off, 'cause you took Ani away... *giggles* Oh man, that's just perfect. Kyle's going to be devastated.
LadyLuck13: Kyle is a cutie, but he can suck it up and deal.
LadyLuck13: I am not a weepy woman, but I wanted to bawl out of sheer fucking joy when the two of them finally emerged.
LadyLuck13: Sex is obviously not a cure-all, much as it might be funny to hear me of all people say that, but there's a little life in that man's eyes that wasn't there last week.
wytchbrat: Was only joking. It's bloody fantastic news, Dom. Sounds like he's got something worth pulling through for, like Nate has Moira. Which sounds really sappy of me I know, but yeah.
wytchbrat: *sheepish grin* Been a bit like that myself lately. Manuel's doing hugely better since Berlin.
LadyLuck13: ... really? I'm so glad, sweetie.
wytchbrat: *grins* Surprised him when I got back. Snuck into his bed at three in the morning - didn't notice a thing until the next day. It was very cute. And he's coming with me on Monday. Moral support. Even tho' he's worried something will happen.
LadyLuck13: Does he know?
LadyLuck13: That he saved the day, I mean?
wytchbrat: He doesn't remember and I haven't told him exactly. I have said it was him that saved us, just not how. I think it would be too much for him to take in, that he took over my body like that.
LadyLuck13: Probably for the best. But I'm glad he knows.
LadyLuck13: I've got something to confess, Amanda...
wytchbrat: You two got up to wild monkey sex while I was meeting my people? *grins*
LadyLuck13: ... uh, no. *grins* Sorry to disappoint?
LadyLuck13: Actually, I've been talking to Nate in another window for the last twenty minutes or so.
wytchbrat: ... Shite. You didn't tell him any of what I said, did you?
wytchbrat: Or that I was unhappy at all? The last thing he needs is more grief on my behalf.
LadyLuck13: Sorry, kiddo, but that's exactly what he needs.
LadyLuck13: I didn't share anything I shouldn't have. Just that I knew what had happened. We've been talking about Mistra for most of the conversation, actually.
LadyLuck13: Long past time someone gave him a good slap on the subject. Consider me building on what you started.
wytchbrat: Gah. He's going to be shirty at me for this. Needed or not.
LadyLuck13: Ohhhh, trust me. I very deliberately made sure that if there's any shirtiness it'll be directed solely at me.
LadyLuck13: That was my other reason for this. So he takes it out on me instead of you.
wytchbrat: Well, you are better at dealing with it than I am... Just... gah.
LadyLuck13: Yeah, I'm sure Jack would just be loving me for this.
LadyLuck13: He needs to get it out, though, Amanda. He'll combust if he keeps up with the control-freak crap.
wytchbrat: I know, Dom. *wry grin* At least he can't do the puppy eyes at you on the computer.
LadyLuck13: He almost can. Not quite. Maybe I just have a particularly vivid imagination... what do you think?
wytchbrat: Or you know him too well.
LadyLuck13: Wish I was there... for both of you.
wytchbrat: Well, giving him a bollocking long distance is the next best thing. Remind me to skip his classes tomorrow, tho'.
LadyLuck13: Heh. Me? Advocate skipping classes? You must have me confused with someone with no respect for authority and all that...
wytchbrat: wytchbrat: Not all my classes, just his. Not that I'm taking many of his - he's cut back on the languages and gone for the scary reading ones. *pouts* No fair.
LadyLuck13: So what are you taking with him?
wytchbrat: Hindi and junior history.
LadyLuck13: He's good with history. Heck, that's what two of his degrees are in.
LadyLuck13: And, he's actually taking the damned sleeping medication and going to bed. Damn. I'm good.
wytchbrat: He is? *bows before your superior Nate-handling skills*
wytchbrat: And history's been good so far. Just don't want to sit there with him glowering at me. Or giving me the sad look, which is worse.
LadyLuck13: Fair enough. Maybe he'll do the smart thing and cancel class tomorrow anyway.
LadyLuck13: If not, hey, you've got a perfect excuse. Working on your speech.
wytchbrat: *wry grins* Oh, that'll go down well with him. But yeah, wouldn't be far wrong. Remembering it won't be hard with the magic training. It's just writing the bloody thing and not sounding stupid. Think I'm done, tho'. Strange is going over it with me on Saturday.
LadyLuck13: Excellent. Someone's going to tape this thing, right?
LadyLuck13: I'd love to see it after the fact, that's all...
wytchbrat: ...tape? *hides* Oh fuck, this thing's never going away, even if I fuck it up, is it?
LadyLuck13: No, but you're not going to fuck it up.
LadyLuck13: I have faith in you.
wytchbrat: Heh. People keep saying that and I almost wish they wouldn't. Hell of a lot to live up to.
wytchbrat: Still, if I do fuck it up, at least I'm disappearing for ten days and people will have a chance to forget.
LadyLuck13: Disappearing? Field trip?
wytchbrat: Sort of. Le Beau's taking Angie to New Orleans to meet this houdan person he says can help with her pre-cog. Apparently she offered to help me too, with the magic.
wytchbrat: I'm not sure what she'll have to teach me, but I thought I'd give it a try. Especially after what happened with Selene. Need all the help I can get on that score.
LadyLuck13: LeBeau? Who's LeBeau?
wytchbrat: Remy Le Beau. Nate hasn't told you about him? Another brainwashing case. Used to be some scary fucker called Gambit.
wytchbrat: Dom?
wytchbrat: Dom, you still there? Hello?
LadyLuck13: Gambit. Remy LeBeau. Is at the school.
wytchbrat: Well, Remy is at the school. He broke whatever conditioning/brainwashing/whatever the hell you want to call it he had.
wytchbrat: Nate trusts him to be safe, if that helps. So does Pete.
LadyLuck13: Oh, I bet there's a heck of a story behind this...
LadyLuck13: Heck of a story.
LadyLuck13: Darn it. They're shutting down the little internet cafe here... I've got to go.
wytchbrat: Ask Pete to tell it to you next time you call him.
wytchbrat: *hugs* Thanks, big sis. You know what for.
LadyLuck13: Anytime, little sis. I'll call you once we're back in Berlin. Pep talk. Or just talk.
LadyLuck13: I am proud of you. My tough little witch.
wytchbrat: Talk would be good. Stay safe, Dom.
LadyLuck13: Ahoy there! Calling the good ship HMS Trouble!
wytchbrat: Dom! *hugs* Hey. I thought you were off in the wilds of Asia or something?
LadyLuck13: Well, I'm in a slightly less wild part of Asia right now... uh, by some standards. Heehee. Having fun, though. What are you up to?
wytchbrat: Good to hear - wish I could join you. You got whisked off from Berlin so fast we didn't get the chance to have that last night out.
wytchbrat: And Nate didn't tell you yet? Thought he would have been on the phone straight away telling you what an idiot I'm being.
LadyLuck13: Uhhh... well. This doesn't sound good.
LadyLuck13: But no, I haven't heard from Nate in... actually, an alarming number of days, come to think of it. And there were no backlogged emails when I got back to civilization, either.
LadyLuck13: So what's going on, sis?
wytchbrat: Columbia. Monday's the six month anniversary, and there doing a memorial thing. Which I'm going to and speaking at.
wytchbrat: Nate's... a bit freaked.
LadyLuck13: ... uh-huh.
LadyLuck13: Look, we both know I'm a jaded bitch, so I'm kind of leery of this, if only for the reason that I don't want you to get your hopes up about what it might accomplish... I doubt Xavier would be letting you do it if he wasn't fairly sure he could keep you safe, so that's one concern (mostly) down...
wytchbrat: *sighs* I'm not a stupid kid, Dom. I don't expect this to bring peace and love and understanding and all that bollocks. But... I need to do this. To show people that not all the mutants there that day were killing. To show those fuckers at Mistra that I'm not some scared little victim still.
wytchbrat: Someone needs to stand up and say _something_. And I was there. I just wish I could blow the whistle on the fuckers and tell everyone exactly what happened. But that's too dangerous for Nate and the school.
LadyLuck13: Not to mention all the kids Mistra has in training right now.
LadyLuck13: There are very few people, even in the American government, who know about Mistra - I suspect for that very reason. Nate was always very certain that if their cover was ever blown to the general public that the first thing they'd do before going deeper underground and shutting down operations would be to kill all their operative candidates.
wytchbrat: I know that, Dom. Don't worry, I'm not about to do anything stupid. Stupid-er. Besides, who'd believe me? I'd come across as a bigger nutter than Pete's old man.
LadyLuck13: Hey, don't knock Pete's old man. I like him. Even if he did pinch my... uh, nevermind.
LadyLuck13: Anyway. Don't mind me being anal about telling you what you already know? I'm very repetitive at times.
LadyLuck13: You know, it's not really idealism, what you're doing. If anyone's telling you that, you're wrong. It's just what you feel you need to do, from the sounds of it. And believe me... I know about not wanting to feel like a victim.
wytchbrat: I like him too. And I think he likes me. Didn't try to throw anything at me, at least, and Pete says that's a good sign.
wytchbrat: It needed saying. I need to remember that, in case I lose my head up there and decide to make a point. It's more than just my safety I have to think about, and I'm not about to be responsible for getting kids like Kyle killed. Even if it's horrible they're still being taken.
wytchbrat: And yeah, I do need to do this. I'm sick of people putting the boot in, not just to me, but to people who can't stop them. Kids like Kyle - wouldn't be so easy for Mistra to do what they do if people actually give a fuck for mutant kids.
LadyLuck13: You may have something of a point. I will deny it vehemently if you ever tell Pete or Nate that, though...
LadyLuck13: And regarding the old man... want me to call and yell at him?
wytchbrat: *grins* Your secret's safe with me. And no, don't yell at him. I already did that - he tried to talk me out of it and I didn't exactly hold back. Said some stuff I probably shouldn't've.
LadyLuck13: Oh-ho. Now I know you're *really* part of the family...
LadyLuck13: I've done that more times than I can remember. Please tell me you didn't get the kicked-puppy look in response to whatever you said... that is so damnably unfair when he does that.
wytchbrat: A bit. I told him Mistra had beaten him, so I probably deserved it. Wouldn't be surprised if he hides from me for the rest of the week until this is over.
LadyLuck13: ... oh. Amanda, ouch.
LadyLuck13: Not that it probably didn't need to be said, at some point, but... damn.
LadyLuck13: Heh. I wish it weren't true.
wytchbrat: Yeah, I know. I wish I hadn't said it, but like you said, it needed saying. He wanted to know why I hadn't talked to him about this, and that was why. If I'd said anything earlier, before I'd decided, he would've talked me out of it.
wytchbrat: Talk about feeling like I was kicking a puppy, tho.
LadyLuck13: It's not entirely true, you know. At least, it's not as true as it used to be.
LadyLuck13: But you know... six months since Columbia means it's been almost six months since they got him back, too.
wytchbrat: I know. I'm a brat.
wytchbrat: It's just... Like you said, they're still taking kids. And there's the leather brigade, and you and the Pack, and Nate's got his powers all working again and there's still kids being taken and conditioned. Like Kyle. I know you can't do everything, but I can't help feeling there should be _something_ done. And Nate's so scared of them, Dom - you can see it in his face every time the name comes up.
wytchbrat: Then again, I'm just a kid with no clue of half of what's going on, so ignore me.
LadyLuck13: Oh, don't do that, you monkey. I was perfecting the 'Well, I'm just a kid, you bastards, feel free not to tell me ANYTHING' routine when I was younger than you are.
LadyLuck13: Still... do you really think he's not been getting better about that? That's a serious question, by the way...
wytchbrat: You did everything first, big sister. ;)
wytchbrat: I really don't know, Dom. He seemed to be, then this new training started and it's driving him nuts, making him think he's useless. And then all these important dates coming up... Like you said, another couple of weeks and it's six months since they took him back.
LadyLuck13: And now you're calling me old! Next time I'm there, smothering you in your sleep, you watch...
LadyLuck13: I don't like the idea that he's backsliding. Not about this. I wonder what Moira thinks about this new training...
wytchbrat: No you won't. I'm too cute, remember?
wytchbrat: And Moira's not here to say anything - she's back at Muir, sorting out the mess from New Year's. So I don't know if she even knows how
bad it is.
LadyLuck13: I know - David and Gar and Theo are going over there to give her a hand with security. I would hope he'd be talking to her about it, though... grrr.
LadyLuck13: Now I'm all flustered and worried and crap.
wytchbrat: Well, he probably is even without meaning to - the link, yeah? And she knows the date as well as the rest of us.
wytchbrat: Nice to know I've still got the knack of making people worry. Alison says he's working stuff through, so she at least knows something's going on.
LadyLuck13: Hrrm.
LadyLuck13: Well. Try not to worry too much about him, okay? When it comes to this memorial thing, at least. He generally gets a clue at some point, and he's too fond of you to keep being a bastard about it.
wytchbrat: I'll try not to. I'm going to keep clear for the next few days, give him space to think. *sighs* Hate that I keep doing this to people, even if it is in a good cause this time. You'd think I have enough trouble without inviting more.
LadyLuck13: *reaches through the computer and smacks you upside the head*
LadyLuck13: You are not doing this to Nate. He is doing it to himself. Repeat that aloud. Twice.
LadyLuck13: Look, even if you were responsible for his reactions, which you're not, think of it this way. This might be the kick in the ass he needs.
LadyLuck13: Yes, it's been six months. Or twenty-three years, however you want to put it.
LadyLuck13: If he's going to move past this, at some point he has to get his shit together and do it. And he would be the first person to tell you that sometimes you have to be harsh with the people you love, if it's for their own good.
wytchbrat: There's kicking and then there's rubbing salt into things. He's already having issues with everything, and then I go on a mutant rights kick, apparently out of the blue. But I've said my piece and I'm not sorry I did. Just wish it wasn't so hard for him, or that it had to be me doing the kicking. Especially considering I was there and knew what happened, what the whole thing cost him. I think he might have thought I'd be more on his side or something.
wytchbrat: Not that this is about sides, but you know what I mean.
LadyLuck13: Look... I'll call him, okay? Let him rant and rave at me about it, if that's what he needs to do to get it out of his system.
LadyLuck13: Or, you know, goad him until he rants and raves in general. I can do that too.
LadyLuck13: But it will be okay. A lot of this is probably just fear for you. When you do it, and everything goes okay, I'm willing to bet the problem takes care of itself.
LadyLuck13: He actually does like it when we show him we have backbone, you know. *grins*
wytchbrat: I told him all the stuff we're doing to keep me safe. Fuck, I'll even wear a bloody bulletproof vest if that helps to make him feel better. Even if it'll fuck with the magic bigtime - too much metal in close contact makes my control go to shit.
wytchbrat: And I hope so. I'm tired of being sorry all the time and feeling like I'm a worry to people, you know?
LadyLuck13: Logic will kick in.
LadyLuck13: And you know, kiddo... as much as I am on your side here, I've got to point that he's as entitled to his reaction as you are to yours. You can't expect him to get over how what you're doing makes him feel if you're resenting him for how his reaction's making you feel. Nasty circle there.
wytchbrat: I never said he wasn't entitled. Hell, I never expected him to be there, or even to want to watch this thing on the telly. I know it's too much for him. Give me a little bit of credit, Dom.
wytchbrat: And I'm not resenting _him_. It's more... fuck, I don't know. Looks like I have to remember that adults have their own shite to deal with. Had to clean up too many messes lately on my own, and then got shite for doing it.
LadyLuck13: Oh, so it is resentment, it's just not really at him? And don't bristle at me. I don't need to be in the same room as you to see you donning the attitude.
LadyLuck13: But you are upset with him for not being more supportive, aren't you? You've been used to having him right there doing the stalwart thing, and he's let you down.
wytchbrat: Resentment at a whole lot of things. The fact I got fucking well possessed by the same psionic vampire who sucked my boyfriend's memories out, because no-one thought to warn me. That I had to clean up the mess they left behind, and then get a bollocking for the methods I used. That I'm trying to make something good come of one of the truly fucking awful parts of last year, and instead I'm feeling like shite because I had to yell at Nate and pretty much tell him he's a coward.
wytchbrat: So maybe yeah I'm a little upset. Can't say anything tho', since he's got far more reason than me to be upset about things. After all, it wasn't me they were after. I just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, as usual.
LadyLuck13: Now. Didn't that feel good to say?
LadyLuck13: It's all down there in black and white on the computer screen. You saw it. I saw it. So instead of festering away, it's out there.
wytchbrat: ...
wytchbrat: Smartarse. You're as bad as Alison.
LadyLuck13: Ouch. You cut me to the quick. :)
LadyLuck13: Seriously, kiddo. You've had a shit of a few months. The fact that you can pull yourself together to do something like this... I am proud of you, you know.
LadyLuck13: And it's okay to be pissed that the people who're supposed to be helping you handle things aren't doing such a great job of it. Just so long as you remember that they do love you, flawed though they might be.
wytchbrat: I've always had a shit of a few months, Dom. I'm getting used to it. No, better than that, I'm not taking it any more.
wytchbrat: And I know they do, Dom. It's why I'm still here, isn't it?
LadyLuck13: Then you're doing pretty well, aren't you?
LadyLuck13: These are the conversations where I wish I wasn't... uh, I don't actually remember the name of the town I'm in, actually. In the not-quite-wilds of Asia?
LadyLuck13: Because I would love to either give you a hug or tickle you silly at the moment. I'm not sure which.
LadyLuck13: Want a present?
wytchbrat: I think so. Just gets hard sometimes.
wytchbrat: And I wish you weren't wherever you are now too. *perks* Present?
LadyLuck13: Present. See, there was this local chieftain who was trying very hard to convince me to become his third wife.
LadyLuck13: I told him that if I was going to be anyone's wife, which I wasn't, I was going to be the only wife, thank you very much.
LadyLuck13: So he pledged his undying love and loaded me down with a metric ton of the local jewellery.
LadyLuck13: Remember that pendant I sent you from Uzbekistan? That sort of thing. It's really pretty. :)
wytchbrat: Ooh, cool. And only third wife? You must be slipping.
LadyLuck13: Hah! Well, he might have offered to throw over the other two for me, if I'd persisted. But they were old hags and they might not have found new providers, so. It was me being charitable.
wytchbrat: So public spirited of you. *grins*
LadyLuck13: Plus they patched up David.
wytchbrat: Patched up? What happened?
LadyLuck13: He's okay, don't worry. Super-speed also means super-metabolism. It's not quite a healing factor, but close enough.
LadyLuck13: Tried to outrun an explosion. Got hit with some shrapnel.
wytchbrat: Ouch. Everything okay otherwise?
LadyLuck13: Yep. Job's done, we're heading out of here in about twelve hours.
LadyLuck13: Sadly, will take us a day or two to get back to Berlin. Did I mention we were in Kyrgyzstan?
wytchbrat: You've remembered now, have you? *grins* Um, how's Mick doing? He was worried abotu Columbia, when I talked to him. Thought I'd blame him for it or something.
LadyLuck13: *laughs suddenly* OH! Oh, I've got to tell you this... how did I forget? It's so cool, Amanda...
LadyLuck13: Ani's with us, right? We were sitting around the breakfast table discussing the mission. Mick's pouring himself coffee, glaring at us.
LadyLuck13: And I mean glare. Like we'd pissed in his cheerios or something. The man who's been spending all that time hiding in his room is looking like he wants to start biting our heads off.
wytchbrat: *blinks* He did? But he's practically afraid of his own shadow. What got up his nose?
LadyLuck13: *snickers madly* Let me finish, you'll figure it out...
LadyLuck13: Ani finally turned around to him and said something along the lines of 'Dear, you smell like rotten onions. What's going on?'
LadyLuck13: He muttered something about lousy coffee. Ani got up, laughing at him, and went over to whisper something in his ear - I didn't catch it, sadly.
LadyLuck13: Next thing I know, he's grinning from ear to ear - and my God, Amanda, the man's got a grin that can light up the whole damned room - and as the rest of us are sitting there, he grabs Ani and kisses her.
LadyLuck13: Like, old-fashioned movie-style kiss. And as soon as he let her up for breath she started to laugh like a madwoman. It was the cutest damned thing I've ever seen.
wytchbrat: Yay for Mick! *grins* So he and Ani are on together... Wish I'd been able to see it.
LadyLuck13: She told me afterwards she agreed deliberately to come on this job, figuring he needed that little push to admit that he was going to miss her.
LadyLuck13: Ani really is one of the sneakier people I've ever met. And that's saying a lot, coming from me.
LadyLuck13: The two of them proceeded to go hide in his room for the rest of the day. I say 'hiding' and mean something else entirely, of course.
wytchbrat: And that's why he was so pissed off, 'cause you took Ani away... *giggles* Oh man, that's just perfect. Kyle's going to be devastated.
LadyLuck13: Kyle is a cutie, but he can suck it up and deal.
LadyLuck13: I am not a weepy woman, but I wanted to bawl out of sheer fucking joy when the two of them finally emerged.
LadyLuck13: Sex is obviously not a cure-all, much as it might be funny to hear me of all people say that, but there's a little life in that man's eyes that wasn't there last week.
wytchbrat: Was only joking. It's bloody fantastic news, Dom. Sounds like he's got something worth pulling through for, like Nate has Moira. Which sounds really sappy of me I know, but yeah.
wytchbrat: *sheepish grin* Been a bit like that myself lately. Manuel's doing hugely better since Berlin.
LadyLuck13: ... really? I'm so glad, sweetie.
wytchbrat: *grins* Surprised him when I got back. Snuck into his bed at three in the morning - didn't notice a thing until the next day. It was very cute. And he's coming with me on Monday. Moral support. Even tho' he's worried something will happen.
LadyLuck13: Does he know?
LadyLuck13: That he saved the day, I mean?
wytchbrat: He doesn't remember and I haven't told him exactly. I have said it was him that saved us, just not how. I think it would be too much for him to take in, that he took over my body like that.
LadyLuck13: Probably for the best. But I'm glad he knows.
LadyLuck13: I've got something to confess, Amanda...
wytchbrat: You two got up to wild monkey sex while I was meeting my people? *grins*
LadyLuck13: ... uh, no. *grins* Sorry to disappoint?
LadyLuck13: Actually, I've been talking to Nate in another window for the last twenty minutes or so.
wytchbrat: ... Shite. You didn't tell him any of what I said, did you?
wytchbrat: Or that I was unhappy at all? The last thing he needs is more grief on my behalf.
LadyLuck13: Sorry, kiddo, but that's exactly what he needs.
LadyLuck13: I didn't share anything I shouldn't have. Just that I knew what had happened. We've been talking about Mistra for most of the conversation, actually.
LadyLuck13: Long past time someone gave him a good slap on the subject. Consider me building on what you started.
wytchbrat: Gah. He's going to be shirty at me for this. Needed or not.
LadyLuck13: Ohhhh, trust me. I very deliberately made sure that if there's any shirtiness it'll be directed solely at me.
LadyLuck13: That was my other reason for this. So he takes it out on me instead of you.
wytchbrat: Well, you are better at dealing with it than I am... Just... gah.
LadyLuck13: Yeah, I'm sure Jack would just be loving me for this.
LadyLuck13: He needs to get it out, though, Amanda. He'll combust if he keeps up with the control-freak crap.
wytchbrat: I know, Dom. *wry grin* At least he can't do the puppy eyes at you on the computer.
LadyLuck13: He almost can. Not quite. Maybe I just have a particularly vivid imagination... what do you think?
wytchbrat: Or you know him too well.
LadyLuck13: Wish I was there... for both of you.
wytchbrat: Well, giving him a bollocking long distance is the next best thing. Remind me to skip his classes tomorrow, tho'.
LadyLuck13: Heh. Me? Advocate skipping classes? You must have me confused with someone with no respect for authority and all that...
wytchbrat: wytchbrat: Not all my classes, just his. Not that I'm taking many of his - he's cut back on the languages and gone for the scary reading ones. *pouts* No fair.
LadyLuck13: So what are you taking with him?
wytchbrat: Hindi and junior history.
LadyLuck13: He's good with history. Heck, that's what two of his degrees are in.
LadyLuck13: And, he's actually taking the damned sleeping medication and going to bed. Damn. I'm good.
wytchbrat: He is? *bows before your superior Nate-handling skills*
wytchbrat: And history's been good so far. Just don't want to sit there with him glowering at me. Or giving me the sad look, which is worse.
LadyLuck13: Fair enough. Maybe he'll do the smart thing and cancel class tomorrow anyway.
LadyLuck13: If not, hey, you've got a perfect excuse. Working on your speech.
wytchbrat: *wry grins* Oh, that'll go down well with him. But yeah, wouldn't be far wrong. Remembering it won't be hard with the magic training. It's just writing the bloody thing and not sounding stupid. Think I'm done, tho'. Strange is going over it with me on Saturday.
LadyLuck13: Excellent. Someone's going to tape this thing, right?
LadyLuck13: I'd love to see it after the fact, that's all...
wytchbrat: ...tape? *hides* Oh fuck, this thing's never going away, even if I fuck it up, is it?
LadyLuck13: No, but you're not going to fuck it up.
LadyLuck13: I have faith in you.
wytchbrat: Heh. People keep saying that and I almost wish they wouldn't. Hell of a lot to live up to.
wytchbrat: Still, if I do fuck it up, at least I'm disappearing for ten days and people will have a chance to forget.
LadyLuck13: Disappearing? Field trip?
wytchbrat: Sort of. Le Beau's taking Angie to New Orleans to meet this houdan person he says can help with her pre-cog. Apparently she offered to help me too, with the magic.
wytchbrat: I'm not sure what she'll have to teach me, but I thought I'd give it a try. Especially after what happened with Selene. Need all the help I can get on that score.
LadyLuck13: LeBeau? Who's LeBeau?
wytchbrat: Remy Le Beau. Nate hasn't told you about him? Another brainwashing case. Used to be some scary fucker called Gambit.
wytchbrat: Dom?
wytchbrat: Dom, you still there? Hello?
LadyLuck13: Gambit. Remy LeBeau. Is at the school.
wytchbrat: Well, Remy is at the school. He broke whatever conditioning/brainwashing/whatever the hell you want to call it he had.
wytchbrat: Nate trusts him to be safe, if that helps. So does Pete.
LadyLuck13: Oh, I bet there's a heck of a story behind this...
LadyLuck13: Heck of a story.
LadyLuck13: Darn it. They're shutting down the little internet cafe here... I've got to go.
wytchbrat: Ask Pete to tell it to you next time you call him.
wytchbrat: *hugs* Thanks, big sis. You know what for.
LadyLuck13: Anytime, little sis. I'll call you once we're back in Berlin. Pep talk. Or just talk.
LadyLuck13: I am proud of you. My tough little witch.
wytchbrat: Talk would be good. Stay safe, Dom.
