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Post by Tessa Brands on Jun 1, 2011 11:08:30 GMT -8
Words couldn't describe just how nervous she was about this and the anxiety was only increasing as the seconds ticked away. Scott seemed to know what he was talking about, but did he really know what he was getting into? He had said that this would be good for both of them, only in a lot more words and less room for shady jokes. But was that due to confidence or was he being a little reckless? Or maybe he trusted her to fix whatever she did to him if it got to a certain point? She didn't know. All she knew was that she didn't like this. But it had to be done, she supposed...
"Alright..." She sighed out once they had gone into the garage and he closed the door after them.
"Did we want to sit down for this, or keep standing?... And have you decided on which mood I should bring out first?"
She wondered if he'd take it easy at first. Let both of them get used to the concept of this. Well, that was assuming he wasn't already fully ready for her to use her abilities on him. Or, thought that he was. While she waited for his answer, she bit on the corner of her lip some. It was something she did when she was nervous or when she was thinking. |
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Post by Cyclops on Jun 1, 2011 18:47:50 GMT -8
This was nuts. Crazy. The man had just been through a traumatic breakup, and now he was here getting his emotions manipulated by a redhead. Oh well, consistency was a bitch sometimes. He knew Tessa wasn't Jean; he knew that she could very well be the kind of woman he needed right now, even if it was for this, and something else a bit more physical that might take the edge off.
Yes, he thought about those things right now, because he honestly knew that things were about to get really, really bad.
"Alright..."
His eyes went to her as he knew what was coming.
"Did we want to sit down for this, or keep standing?... And have you decided on which mood I should bring out first?"
He saw her bite her lip. She was nervous; anxious maybe. It was natural; what he was asking her to do, to subject him to, was crazy. Nobody of sound mind and body would actually seek this kind of thing out unless they were some sort of masochist. Scott wasn't that type of person; he just liked to be prepared.
At least, that was what he told himself.
"Sitting's probably better. As for what mood... Something bad. A bad mood... Maybe depression or anxiety? Might as well start off with the things I know best." He joked, a smile on his face that tried to make it seem like he wasn't lonely as hell.
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Post by Tessa Brands on Jun 6, 2011 9:43:37 GMT -8
"Sitting's probably better. As for what mood... Something bad. A bad mood... Maybe depression or anxiety? Might as well start off with the things I know best."
Tess didn't like his answer. He wanted to start off with something bad? She shifted a little uncomfortably then took a slow breath. Well, she'd agreed to this and she wasn't exactly the type to back out of something she said she would do. The redhead just hoped he knew what he was getting into.
As he took a seat, Tessa thought about a short list of songs she thought were pretty sad. He wanted depression, he wanted anxiety, so she would be supplying it... whether she felt comfortable with this or not. Tears In Heaven came to mind. A song written by Eric Clapton about the pain he felt when his four year old son died from a fall out of an apartment of his mother's friend.
Getting herself prepared for that song, she removed her guitar from the case and looked to Shades to make sure he was all set. Then, she began.
"Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same
If I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong
And carry on
'Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven
Would you hold my hand
If I saw you in heaven?
Would you help me stand
If I saw you in heaven?
I'll find my way
Through night and day
'Cause I know I just can't stay
Here in heaven
Time can bring you down
Time can bend your knees
Time can break your heart
Have you begging please
Begging please...."
She brought herself to a pause there as that should have more than generated enough pain and depression. |
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Post by Cyclops on Jun 7, 2011 11:12:07 GMT -8
Scott took a moment to sit down and prepare himself, his eyes glazing over as he concentrated on getting himself mentally ready. He wondered what song she might pick, and if she knew any of the songs that could get to him (which would only have made things harder to deal with). When she finally steadied herself and began to sing, Scott's eyes widened, realising what she was doing.
Tears in Heaven? Balls. Balls balls balls balls balls. He knew the song; he knew it well. Hell, he even knew the words. There was a reason he didn't like listening to it though, and now that she was singing it, with all the power of her ability behind it, he was having trouble handling it. His hands gripped the edges of the chair he sat on, his eyes letting tears out, but as usual, the tears didn't make it very far before being pulverised by his power.
When she finished, he finally took a breath, the tension in his every muscle starting to abate as he began to try and absorb the emotions that were running through his body. He took several breaths, trying to work it all out, and when he finally looked up at her, he was sweating.
"The Professor was right about you..." He said, his voice quivering slightly.
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Post by Tessa Brands on Jun 11, 2011 8:42:59 GMT -8
As she saw how he was responding to the song, she was glad that she hadn't finished the whole thing. And, that she hadn't picked a sadder song. Did he understand now just how dangerous this was? Just what this could do to someone? Tessa wasn't thinking that out of a desire to teach him a lesson, she just didn't want to do this in the first place for a reason and stood by that thought.
"The Professor was right about you..."
Right about her? Just what had Professor Clean said about her? The question passed through her mind for a moment before her concern for Shades took it over for the time being when she saw how much he was sweating and how pale he'd gotten.
"Do you want me to fix it?" |
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Post by Cyclops on Jun 11, 2011 22:12:22 GMT -8
"Do you want me to fix it?"
He shook his head, his lips tightly shut for a moment while he tried to steady himself. Every bit of pain he'd felt in the past two decades was rushing to the surface, and he wasn't sure he was going to be able to handle it all. He'd been through enough at the orphanage, and adding on to that what had happened with his brother, and since coming to the X-Men, and you had a tide of pain and anguish that he had never come face to face with before.
Then there was Jean.
"No, don't fix it. Finish the song. Otherwise it's a waste." He told her, his voice cracking under the strain somewhat.
He didn't like what it did to him, but that was to be expected. The Professor had given Scott access to this database when he'd made him the field leader of the X-Men, just in case any of the mutants Xavier hadn't recruited went up against Scott and the X-Men in combat. He'd not exactly had busy days, so the young, shaded one had plenty of time to read up and come up with ways to deal with the aforementioned mutants.
For Tessa? Honestly, Scott had believed that he'd be able to just hold out long enough to blast her. He still felt that way, but he had a new, more refined, more respectful admiration for the power this woman held in her mouth. And no, not in the nice way.
By now, Scott's arms rested on his legs, his fingers digging in to his palms. It hurt, but he was still managing... |
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Post by Tessa Brands on Jun 14, 2011 8:54:08 GMT -8
He shook his head, but with how he was reacting to the song, she wondered if he was trying to shake off the bad feelings and get himself together, or if he was answering her. It was a little hard to tell. She kind of hoped it was the former as she wanted to help. Tessa wanted to help rather than making the situation worse. But, it wasn't meant to go that way it seemed...
"No, don't fix it. Finish the song. Otherwise it's a waste."
She didn't think it would be a waste. Maybe he was trying to get her to stop holding back? But then again, how could he tell she was doing that in the first place? He couldn't, could he?
Tess gave a somewhat stressed sigh then made a decision. She'd do it... and, she'd hold back less. She wouldn't stop holding back completely, she'd just stop holding back as much. He seemed to be handling it better than most people would....
A slower sigh came from her before she began to play the notes on her guitar to get ready to continue with the song. While she did this, she thought about how Eric Clapton must have felt. The helplessness as he hadn't been able to do anything to prevent his own flesh and blood from dying. The pain of losing that little person him and his love had made together, that he had been a part of creating. Of the child that he might have had so many plans for... When her throat began to sting slightly and her eyes warmed a little, she knew it was time.
"Beyond the door
There's peace, I'm sure
And I know there'll be no more
Tears in heaven
Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same
If I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong
And carry on
'Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven
'Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven...." |
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Post by Cyclops on Jun 15, 2011 18:37:19 GMT -8
It took her a moment to continue, but when she did Scott found himself having as hard a time as ever to deal with the crushing emotional pain that was growing and growing within him. He thought he'd have been able to better handle it; he thought he was better than this. Maybe this wasn't about him, though? Maybe she was just that powerful? Of course it was possible, but as that small, remaining part of his rational mind thought about it, the more something dawned on him:
He wasn't exactly looking good.
Yes, even now, he didn't want to look bad. Not just because of her, even if she did influence his feelings a little. And not just in the way that was making him almost cry. He didn't want to fail; he hadn't failed in years, He was supposed to be the strong one, the reliable one. Yeah, it wasn't the most exciting thing in the world, but it was what he was. Right now though, he was incredibly close to becoming a broken, blubbering idiot.
Slipping off the chair, Scott's palms turned white due to how hard his fingers were digging in. He hung his head, teeth scraping together as he tried to deal with what was happening. There were tears in his eyes, though they couldn't make it any further due to his powers, as always, pulverising them.
His ability to deal with it all left him, and he spoke.
"Fix it... Please..." He barely got out. |
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Post by Tessa Brands on Jun 18, 2011 10:41:45 GMT -8
She wracked her mind to try to think of which song to use. Tessa knew it had to come quickly and be effective enough to keep him from a breakdown he might have been close to going into despite his emotional strength and his resistance to collapse.
"Once I rose above the noise and confusion
Just to get a glimpse beyond this illusion
I was soaring ever higher
But I flew too high
Though my eyes could see I still was a blind man
Though my mind could think I still was a mad man
I hear the voices when I'm dreaming
I can hear them say....
Carry on my wayward son
There'll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest
Don't you cry no more."
It was Kansas, Carry On My Wayward Son. And hopefully, it would be enough to push away at least most of the damage if not all. The fact that she really was trying to make him feel better, offer encouragement and comfort, may have made it strong enough to be up to par. |
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Post by Cyclops on Jun 19, 2011 23:51:16 GMT -8
Of all the songs she could have picked. He knew it; he knew it well, but he had never thought of it as being the most uplifting of tracks. Though it was just, in his own way, his method of distracting himself from the pain he was feeling. That might not have seemed strange to some, but it was only one of a few things that was at all "normal" about Scott. Still, the track was having the desired effect, and the relief that came as his body (and his psyche) recovered was more than a comfort.
When he finally started to get back to some semblance of normalcy, the first thing that came to him was how powerful she really was. She had shown impressive power, and if she could do this to a crowd, they'd have the ultimate crowd control weapon. Then another thought came to him: How bad he might have looked.
They had flirted, teased and taunted each other, but after what had just happened, Scott wondered if she was seeing him in a different light. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he looked up at her, eyes hidden between ruby lenses.
"I hope this hasn't put you off." He said, trying to show some bravado. |
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Post by Tessa Brands on Jun 21, 2011 8:40:00 GMT -8
The song seemed to be doing the job and she found herself more relieved than she might have thought she would be. Yeah, it was a somewhat odd song to pick but it had been one of the first ones to come to mind and she'd been in a bit of a rush to get him better any way she could.
"I hope this hasn't put you off."
"I was just about to say the same thing." She replied with a small smile.
Well, actually she hadn't. But, it was her way of telling him that she hadn't been put off. Tessa had seen people in a good many different states of different emotions. That, and knowing that she had been the cause of his composure being lost into the state of sheer anguish made her feel too guilty to blame him for not having been able to withstand it. Not that she would have blamed him in the first place.
"Did it do the job, or do you need me to fix it some more?" She asked him. |
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Post by Cyclops on Jun 27, 2011 18:17:13 GMT -8
"I was just about to say the same thing."
That was nice of her to say, but he guessed that it was more of an ice-breaking tactic than anything else. He was the one that had made an absolute fool of himself in testing her powers, and even if it was to be expected, Scott still chastised himself as much as he usually did. He should have been stronger; more resilient. He should have been able to handle it better. He needed to be able to handle things like this if he was going to be leading this team.
"Did it do the job, or do you need me to fix it some more?"
He shook his head.
"I'll be fine. Just needed a little help to get me back on track, that's all. So enough about me, tell me about you?" He said, trying to steer the conversation somewhere else.
He was still recovering, see. Some things hit home more than he would have liked them to. Jean... Yeah, even if he'd had her moments when he thought she had been a bitch, but, as always, a part of him believed that it was his fault. You didn't spend the majority of your life being abused and told that you were worthless, without something sticking. Not that he would expect their new arrival to understand, though it was not her fault; Scott just wasn't very talkative.
He had learned to suffer in silence anyway. Yes, it was very emo, very "woe is me" and all that, but how else was he supposed to spend his time? The Danger Room would run out of robots faster than Gaga could come up with a new, messed up outfit if he used it to let every issue he'd had with either himself or other people.
He'd bottle, and he'd bury his head in his work; in his training (though obviously with a good portion of it outside of the Danger Room). He could do that; hell, it was what he was good at, and it wasn't like he had any other choice. |
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Post by Tessa Brands on Jul 5, 2011 9:17:37 GMT -8
"I'll be fine. Just needed a little help to get me back on track, that's all. So enough about me, tell me about you?"
He was trying to be tough, trying to hold it together. But she could tell that he was still a little messed up over what had just happened. Had she used too much of her power, she wondered. Tessa had felt herself holding back. Well, she'd done it consciously so of course she felt it happening. But to see that Scott was still effected as much as he was... It unsettled her on the inside. Possibly even frightened her a little, even if she wouldn't admit that she was scared. Not even to herself.
"About me?" She repeated with a raised brow as she began to tune the guitar a little.
"I wouldn't really know where to start. Didn't you read some files on me of something? I'm sure that the Professor has at least some information on me written or typed up somewhere that you could get to." She commented before ceasing in her fidgeting and looking over to the man she had just tortured a moment ago.
The man who had actually asked her to do the said torture on him. She felt like he was either stupid, reckless, stubborn, or bold. If she had to pick a couple out of the bunch, she would have picked reckless and stubborn.
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Post by Cyclops on Jul 8, 2011 16:44:50 GMT -8
"About me?"
That was what he'd asked. His strength was starting to return, his mind fortifying itself as it had learned to do so much and so easily over the years. It was almost an automatic response nowadays, and he hoped that it wouldn't be long before he was back to full strength.
"I wouldn't really know where to start. Didn't you read some files on me of something? I'm sure that the Professor has at least some information on me written or typed up somewhere that you could get to."
He almost snerked, an expression on his face that showed that he wasn't entirely pleased with her answer. He had wanted her just to talk to keep his mind off of things, and also, maybe to tell him things that a mutant evaluation file wouldn't. Of course, she didn't know that, so he was going to have to say something to get her attention.
"Anything." He almost snapped, before taking a breath.
"Sorry, I just... I need a distraction." He told her, making it obvious that he was still dealing with all that had happened to him both now and in the past.
He didn't say it out loud, but the fear, the sheer terror that he had felt as a child in that orphanage had come flooding back. All he had been able to do was tell himself, logically, that he was safe, and that nobody was going to hurt him anymore. Not Essex, not Nate. He was a grown man now; he had no reason to be afraid of them. He was what he'd always wanted to be: Strong, confident (at least in certain ways), and ultimately, not willing to take any shit, from anyone. |
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