(no subject)

[x-shinobi.livejournal.com]

Okay, something is going on with Manuel and Angelo, but I'll be damned if I know what. I'm planning on trying to talk to at least Angelo in a minute or five, but someone should probably check in on Manuel. Knowing the two of them, he could probably use some reassuring about now, but I don't trust myself to be quite that patient today.

I normally wouldn't bring something like this up here, but when we've got Manuel writing "I'll just stay here until I die. Will make things easier for everyone." so soon after Amanda's close call, after they'd been emotionally linked for God knows how long.. erring on the side of caution seems appropriate.

Comments

[x-rogue.livejournal.com]

Just checking in. I've talked to Angelo, he deleted his inflammatory post but I didn't catch the comment. We're doing my laundry right now. I could check on Manny later. Want to trade?

[x-shinobi.livejournal.com]

If you're up for it, luv. So long as they both get checked in on, I'm a happy camper.

[x-rogue.livejournal.com]

I could use a chance to get out of my jammies and into some real clothing. Angelo's mighty off-kilter. I don't know what's going on entirely, but I never do...

[x-shinobi.livejournal.com]

When does anybody, around here?

I'll bring Angelo some smokes, see if I can get him to open up a bit. If all else fails, I'll try and sic Paige on him. If anybody should be able to get him to talk, in theory, she's it.

[x-rogue.livejournal.com]

Is she still ultra-stressy or did the trip help?

[x-shinobi.livejournal.com]

She's probably still stressy. She's too set on trying to hide it for one trip away to help much. I did get her a picture that seemed to perk up her mood some, but..

Re: A suggestion.

[x-juggernaut.livejournal.com]

We can't just give them a boxing ring and let them go all Guernica on each other? Jesus, in my day you went out and whupped someone behind the woodshed and you took your licks in return. None of this pussy "Woe is me" shit these kids do now.

Although I'm surprised Espinosa hasn't -what's the word- busted a cap in De La Rocha's cocky ass by now. Oh well. I picked Friday in the "Espinosa comes back into the medlab" pool. See if you can keep him healthy until then at least.

Re: A suggestion.

[x-rogue.livejournal.com]

Someone tell me why we had to hire Dr. Samson when we already have an expert in adolescent psychiatry on staff?

This is a school, not Lord of the Flies... at least in theory, god help us all.

Re: A suggestion.

[x-storm.livejournal.com]

Though, I would wager that in some cases, a conch shell to note who has the right to speak might do some of those children a world of good.

If nothing else, it would do my ears a world of good on some days.

Re: A suggestion.

[x-rogue.livejournal.com]

It'd probably be a trigger for someone's deep-seated trauma and they'd blow the side of the building off at the sight of it.

...or it'd be some possessed oracle artifact that would give them all the test answers. We could hope.

Re: A suggestion.

[x-storm.livejournal.com]

Perhaps both. A possesed oracle artifact that would be someone's trigger for deep-seated trauma, causing them to blow the side of the building off with the sheer force of having all the test answers.

Remind me to remove the conch shell from the bookshelf in my World Literature class.

Re: A suggestion.

[x-rogue.livejournal.com]

I shall post a memo. Posthaste.

[x-juggernaut.livejournal.com]

Can't win for losing here, can you? Can't believe I'm standing up for a fucking empath, but here's how it is - kid CAN'T control his shit, if I understand everything right. The human ice cube turns the kitchen into a winter wonderland when he spazzes out - but everyone runs to hug him and tell him it's okay. You can't touch anyone without killing them - but you're "working on it". Slim's little brother blows up half an acre and nearly cripples his girlfriend, and folks bend over backwards to make sure his feelings aren't hurt.

Yeah, hate de la Rocha for being a spoiled little brat. But when the brat's powers go haywire, he gets locked in a fucking box, no one comes to talk to him, no one lets him out until they say it's okay. And when they do, Ghetto Thug Boy decides he's going to start some shit. But by all means, make sure Espinosa's okay, we wouldn't want to aggravate his poor widdle trauma.

The fucking double standard makes me sick. So he doesn't adjust to regular social situations. Yet you'll coddle Sarah like she's a china doll and let her hide in the basement. But not Manuel - you shove him in a box until someone can "fix" him.

You ask me - the lot of you fear him because you can't control him. And that scares the shit out of you.

[x-rogue.livejournal.com]

You're yelling at the wrong person here, Cain. I'm the one who was feeding Manuel when I found him hungry, drying his tears, making sure he got fed while I was gone, and making sure that the doctors knew just what they were doing to him because of that collar and all. I'm the one who tries to take him for a drive out of here for some peace when things get too tough. He scares me and he knows it. We have a deal that he can change how I feel if he needs to as long as he's honest about it. You have no idea how much that terrifies me, but he needs people to be brave and trust him and be his friend. I do my damnedest to have faith in him, whoever it is who's left in there after what was done to him before.

Is there something /wrong/ with working to control what my mutation does to people? Do you have a problem with that? Is there anything you'd like to take up with me, because I'd like to hear it.

I went to check on Angelo because (a) Manuel didn't want to talk and (b) I have more leverage with him than Manuel. Angelo posted something I didn't want Manuel or anyone to see because it was out of line. It was faster and easier and more effective to go that route and it let me respect the fact that Manuel did not want people in his business today. He's been invaded and analyzed and disrespected enough. He doesn't want to talk, he doesn't have to talk.

[x-juggernaut.livejournal.com]

Nothing wrong with wanting to fix what's broken. And Manuel is definitely, definitely broken. But he's not burning the house down or breaking shit. I say if the kid doesn't want his powers shut off, who the fuck gave anyone the right to play God and do it "for his own good"? If that's the route you're taking, why not hit the off switch on every new student who walks through the doors until they pass their little X-Men exam and "earn" their powers?

It's the fact that no one batted an eye when he got shoved in that metal room for a week and everyone else bailed off to Europe. Lee fucking tried to burn my house down, and she got a slap on the wrist and an all-expenses-paid vacation out of the deal.

No one's obligated to be his friend - that's asking too much of even Saint Xavier - but you don't fix him by supporting the bastards who'll ostracize him because they're afraid of him. You know what happens to the kids who wind up pushed aside because folks are too afraid to deal with them? Because people are scared of what they represent?

You get Magneto.

You, Rogue? You're a regular Florence Nightengale when it comes to befriending the sociopaths around here. If you can house-train de la Rocha like you did your boyfriend, then my hat's off to you. But after the shit Espinosa pulled, he deserved a friggin' beating, not a hug and "everything's okay".

[x-rogue.livejournal.com]

"You know what happens to the kids who wind up pushed aside because folks are too afraid to deal with them? Because people are scared of what they represent?

You get Magneto."

You think for a /second/ that /I/ don't know that?


Everybody's hurt. Smacking Angelo around won't change a thing. What did he pull? Lost his temper and made a stupid post?

I don't like what's been done to Manuel but I don't get a say in things like that and it's not my area of expertise so I'm just going to hang in and do what I'm allowed to do for him.

As for me befriending sociopaths, I guess I know my kind, don't I?

[x-juggernaut.livejournal.com]

It's common sense. Manuel's DANGEROUS. Obviously, he wouldn't have been locked in the medlab and shut down if he wasn't. But Espinosa's obviously shown he likes to play with dangerous things. Maybe once the kid gets burned for it, he'll learn a lesson. You don't fuck with what can destroy you unless you're willing to take what they've got to dish out.

Right now, you've got de la Rocha crippled - right where everyone seems to want him. Nice and docile and controllable. I guarantee you if that kid's powers weren't locked down like a nun's drawers, Espinosa wouldn't have the stones to say boo to him.

I tried my damnedest. I said "Give the kid a bit of dignity. Let him clean himself up, get a real shower, stretch his legs outside that box" - but you know what? Xavier decided it was in everyone's best interest to keep de la Rocha boxed up like a mad dog, instead of sending him off on the Juvenile Delinquents World Tour to go fuck off in Europe with the rest of the misanthropes.

Like I said, nice fucking double standard.

[x-rogue.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sticking up for Manuel, then. That was decent of you.