Logs:Under Control

Under Control
Dramatis Personae Lael, Naomi
In Absentia	2020-09-21 "You don't have to worry bout me."
Location <XAV> Lake - Xs Grounds
Bright, bright, bright; the lake glitters wide and expansive here, stretching off into the distance. Sunlight, moonlight, starlight, it catches them all. Lapping at the rocky shore, its deep waters are frigid in winter and cool even in summer. A stone pier stretches out a ways into the water, wide and smooth, though often icy in winter. The water teems with life nevertheless, home to myriad species of fish that provide for ample fishing or just lazy watching on a slow summer day, for those who want to take a boat from the boathouse out to the center of the lake, or perhaps lounge on the pier and try their luck. It’s still warm enough outside, but the setting sun combined with the cool air off the lake are enough for Naomi to curl further into her red hoodie. An algebra workbook lays on the pier beside her, a dull pencil marking her place. She reaches for a loose rock on the pier and chucks it into the water, watching the ripples with no small satisfaction. Her phone is out to take a picture, trying to catch the ripples before they disappear. Lael walks down toward the lakeshore from the mansion, dressed in a heather gray Xavier's School hoodie, comfortable old jeans, and brown work boots, his bookbag slung over his shoulder. He scoops up a rock as he goes and, as he comes to Naomi's side, hurls the rock as far as he can, out into the middle of the lake. "Hey, squirt." His expression is pensive and difficult to read. She hears the footsteps behind her and twists to see. Spotting Lael, her face brightens and she gives a little wave. Naomi laughs when the other rock collides with the water, snapping another photo. “Hey yourself,” she says, patting the ground next to her. “How’s class?” <<Better than me and algebra, I hope.>> Lael sinks down to the ground, his smile small and reserved. "Class's aight." His hair squirms faster. "Teachers don't always like me best, but the material ain't a problem." He glances over at her workbook. "You gonna need help with that algebra?" Naomi smile gets tighter, watching Lael’s hair for a moment while it undulates. <<Been a minute since I seen them like that,>> she thinks, a little bit of unease settling over her. “I don’t get why they don’t like you, you’re always a fine student, right?” She glances at the workbook, shrugs. “I’m getting there, but the class is just moving a bit fast. I didn’t really... pick up on that last unit of pre algebra, cuz of Zoom school, an’ apparently it was real important.” She tries to keep her tone light, but an edge of frustrated feeling creeps into her mind. "I'm black, a redneck, I read minds, they don't like my hair..." Lael counts his points off on his fingers. "Mix and match, I reckon. Probably all of the above, for some. Figure I'm just some dumb hick who has to be cheating to do good." But his hair is relaxing back into their usual level of activity. "But...look. I been hearing some stuff from other kids. About you and your uh..." He gestures at his eyes, then hers. "Thing. Wanted to hear it from you, too." Naomi makes a face. “Ain’t northern white folks supposed to be woke, or whatever?” <<fucking assholes>>. The settling of Lael’s locs puts her back at ease for a moment, but then her eyes go wide. <<Harm? Shit.>> Naomi buries her hands into the big pocket of her hoodie. “I dunno. Whadya hear, exactly?” "They think they woke," Lael agrees. "God help anyone try to speak on when they ain't. No matter how polite you phrase it they act like you just up and killed their dog." He turns more fully to Naomi, arching an eyebrow. "Harm? Wasn't him, but now I'm even more worried, if there's that many folks could be coming to me." His lips press together for a moment. "Just heard you've been using it on folks all willy-nilly, is all. Kids 'round here real on edge about that sorta thing right now." Naomi laughs, short and harsh, but falls silent just as quick. Her scales make a little noise as they are pushed together by her furrowed brows. “Them,” Naomi corrects, not addressing the rest of the question for a moment. <<It’s not the same, though,>> she thinks, knowing her brother can hear that but choosing not to say it out loud anyway. “S’habit, I guess,” she mutters. “Why you think our folks were so much more chill with me being all-“ she swallows, points to her forehead. "Them," Lael echoes, his cheeks darkening. "Thanks." He licks his lips. "I know it ain't the same, but--it still ain't right. And even if you don't think so, it still scares folks. Has scared folks." He looks back at her, slitted pupils widening to disquiet effect as his locs stand on end. "You--what?!" For all that he doesn't recoil. "Look, I don't know the hell you been through, but--" His eyes widen further. "Were they fixin' to hurt you? Or send you away somewhere?" His fists clench. "I should've never left you there." “Getting that,” Naomi says, frustration bleeding into her tone. “I’ll try harder,” she manages to say genuinely. <<don’t wanna scare people. Wanna make friends and shit.>> She catches the hair shooting up first, scrambles to her knees, <<get off your ass, Naomi>>, reaching a hand out to her brother. “It ain’t that bad, I promise. I just-“ she hesitates. Memories floating up- the first scales coming in, hiding them until she couldn’t, begging Mom not to be mad. Naomi bites her lip. “I never let it get that bad. Soon as I figured they had to listen to me, got them to leave me be mostly.” <<saw how they treated you.>> “Made it easier to stand.” Lael nods, the motion jerky and quick. His hair squirms ceaselessly, but he takes the hand she stretches out, grips it tight. "You got to try, Naomi." He bites his lower lip. "This stuff. It is hard, doing the right thing when you got this..." He taps his temple with his free hand. "This. An' if you gotta use it to defend yourself--I can't judge you for that, but there's plenty'a folks as will. Folks who's terrified us of already." His head bows. "For so many reasons. Whole world out there ready to hang our asses just for being who we are. Best not to give 'em more reason, right?" She squeezes back, her grip tight around Lael's. "Okay," she says, knowing already that 'ok' isn't enough. <<What else can I say, though?>> "I just," she falters, her grip loosening but she doesn't pull away. "I dunno. World's scary. Less scary to be in control, you know?" Naomi pauses. "For me. I guess I can get control over other stuff now." She glances up, smiles softly. <<I'm gonna try.>> "You don't have to worry bout me." "Okay's good enough by me," Lael says firmly, pulling Naomi into a fierce hug. "World is scary, but you got lots to be control of--like your algebra grades." This with a crooked smirk. "'Fraid you stuck with me worryin' 'bout you, baby sis." Naomi melts into the embrace, clutching at her brothers shoulders for a moment. She's still anxious, but it's fading into some sort of reassurance, a vague confidence. "Hah, just wait til I catch up." She gives Lael a light whack on the shoulder - "Then I guess, big brother, I gotta cause you a li'l bit of trouble anyway."