Just Lounging About

[eidolon34]

Since he had arrived at Xavier’s, Richard had found everyone to be very friendly and the classes to be significantly easier than what he had dealt with at home, but he still had to work extra hard to make sure that he knew the things that he was studying. Alas, this had taken away from his leisure time to do some relaxing things that he used to do every now and again, but today was a special day as he found himself with a few minutes to spare to cozy up on the couch in the lounge with a good book.

Sitting there, he became completely entranced by the story to the point that he could see himself as the main character going through the tale, which left him unaware of anyone that may or may not have come into the room since he had started reading. Every so often, he would say a few lines out loud, but would quickly quiet down shortly after.

“I want to be a healer, and love all things that grow and are not barren,” he muttered as the words reminded him of his goal.

Comments

[dolemeck]

Dolemeck had finally been released from the infirmary. He had a bandage on his head, hiding a nasty gash that was starting to heal up, and his wheelchair. He made his way to the lounge, hoping to watch some tellie or perhaps play a game of some sort, when he encountered Richard. He was reading out loud, not uncommon, but Dolemeck was worried about disturbing him by turning on the tellie.

"Umm... excuse me?" His voice was a bit quiet. He really did not wish to disturb Richard, or make an ass out of himself.

[iced_cherub]

And here would be a Bobbi, walking in not noticing the pair at first, she's humming along to some music she's listening to, her new sketchbook in arm and a tin full of chalks. From the smudges on her cheek and discolored fingers she's been busy most the day.

"Huh, oops, didn't think it was guy's hour in here." She bit her lip. "Is there anyway I can watch the soccer game or should I just look up the score in an hour online?"

[marvel_boy]

"Considering how many girls we have, this is an interesting twist for once," Topher said, his head popping up from behind one of the other couches. He'd been sitting there himself, ear phones tucked in, listening to 80s girl rock, and zoning out. He'd been aware that Richard was there, but given that the other boy had been deep into his book, and given that Topher hadn't felt particularly chatty in awhile, he'd been content to just lay back and day dream.

Looked like those plans were about to change.

He looked between Richard, Dolemeck, and Bobbi and shrugged before flopping back down again.

[eidolon34]

The sound of the first voice was enough to pull him out of the book, but for some reason, Richard didn’t look up until he had finished the page. He really didn’t want to lose his place, and remembering to just flip the page was easier than recalling what line he was on.

Of course, he hadn’t expected there to be more than one person trying to talk to him, and surveying the room told him that he hadn’t been as alone as he had thought. “Um, how long have all of you all been there?” He really hoped that it wasn’t a long time because that would just make him feel like a jerk if he had been ignoring people for a book.

“So…What’s up,” he asked as he hadn’t really been paying attention to what had been said.

[dolemeck]

The minute Bobbi spoke of wanting to watch a football game (soccer game), Dolemeck's smiled faded. He now knew he would not get to watch that VH1 special on British Rock bands, now. There was NO way he could say no to Bobbi, as she was the youngest student here, and would act too cute if he said "no", that he would be forced to say yes. Perhaps it was best to not ask to use the TV and hope the show repeats.

If that was not bad enough, the one student he had a crush on was in the room as well! This sent his heart racing and memories of how he made an ass out of himself when they first met to surface. Was there anyone else hiding in this lounge?!

With Dolemeck's face now very flushed, he looked over at Richard and smiled nervously.

"I just got here, as did Bobbi." He continued to try and remain calm, cool, and in control. "Umm... I am Dolemeck. You are Richard, aye? It is nice to meet you."

He wheeled himself over, careful not to knock anything over as he extended a hand to the other student.

[iced_cherub]

She caught the look on Dolemeck's face. "What was it you wanted to watch? Because I'll be willing to catch plays of the game during commercials." She smiled. "And not that long Richard."

She waved to Topher. "Sorry if I woke you."

[marvel_boy]

The mansion tended to be like that. Topher had grown up there, he was well aware of how people could appear out of seemingly nowhere.

Sometimes literally.

He poked his head back up from behind the couch and removed one of his earphones. There was some negative energy pinging about in the room, and Topher was ingesting it the way a field of wildflowers did sunshine. He cracked his knuckles.

"I wasn't sleeping," he smiled at Bobbi. "Just zoning out for a bit." Though in a little while he'd have to work out his energies so that he didn't overload on everything that he was taking in.

"Sorry, dude," he said to Richard. "I was trying not to interrupt your peace, myself."

[eidolon34]

“That’s good. For a second, I thought…Nevermind,” said Richard with a smile. He almost commented about them overhearing him muttering random things, but it was probably best to forget about that.
Shaking Dolemeck’s hand with his free hand, Richard wondered if he should perhaps offer to help the guy on to the couch, but he couldn’t recall if that was considered rude in this situation. Something about people in wheelchairs not liking help was itching at his mind, so he left that subject alone as well. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Dolemeck.”

Slipping his bookmark into the book, Richard repositioned himself on his couch and set the book in his lap. “No worries. It is sort of like trading the type of peace one has when going from a book to a conversation,” said Richard. After a second, he thought over what he said and became bewildered for a second. “If that makes any sense at all.”

Not wanting to dwell on that, Richard decided to refocus on the more important topic. “So was someone wanting to watch a game or something?”

[dolemeck]

He shook Richard's hand, before turning back to Bobbi and speaking to her.

"It's okay, Bobbi. Go watch your game. My program should repeat on the tellie later. I will just wait to catch it then." He smiled for her, and then turned his attention back to Richard.

"Might I ask what book you are reading?"

[iced_cherub]

"If you guys are okay with a soccer game? They're more fun to watch with others." She hoped that would get the others to hang out with her.

"The game today's supposed to be US against England." She giggled a little, "Does it make me a traitor hoping England wins? Our coach is a jerk."

[marvel_boy]

"Why not?" Topher asked. He wasn't much of a sports person himself, at least not when it came to watching them. He'd rather play. Regardless, though, he wasn't generally one who was going to say no to someone else's enjoyment. Especially not Bobbi's. She was a sweet kid. "At least, I don't object." He shrugged then. "I live in New York, but I'm an SF Giants fan, so." Granted, Topher was a fan of anything San Francisco.

[eidolon34]

“I’m more than okay with watching the game,” responded Richard. “Or anything at all, really.” Either way it went, he knew that he would get to start hanigng out with people he normally didn’t get to. Of course, he wasn’t sure about Bobbi’s question on whether it made her a traitor or not to root for another country’s team, but he supposed it didn’t. Everyone had their favorites for different reasons.

“I’m reading the Lord of the Rings. It is one of my favorites,” said Richard. “Actually, any novel is a good read if it can make you think that you are in a different world when reading it.”

“What about you all? Any particular books that you like to read?”

[dolemeck]

"It is a good read." Dolemeck smiled, moving his chair so he could try and take a seat on the couch with as little effort as possible. Unable to figure it out, he gave up. "Professor Richards has me reading a lot of American history and literature books. I am hoping these will help me pass my citizens test, so I could become a permanent resident in this country. Currently, I am reading "Of Mice and Men". It is rather short, but I am surprised by the emotional impact such a story has!"

He looked about, before leaning in to ask Richard.

"Mind helping a bloke out? I cannot figure out how to get on this couch without knocking over me chair or falling over."

[iced_cherub]

Bobbi stretched careful not to hit the others with her wings as she went for the remotes.

"I've been reading Azimov right now really... Not sure if I understand all of his writing, but it's interesting."

[marvel_boy]

"I haven't really read much Asimov," Topher said. "Well, his guide to Shakespeare...at least, I think that's the same guy," he added. "I haven't really read his other stuff."

[eidolon34]

To be honest, Richard had heard of 'Of Mice and Men', but Azimov was a mystery to him. "What kind of stories does he write exactly?"

Not sure one what to do to help Dolmenick out, he supposed that he should just ask the obvious question. "Sure, would you rather I do it the old fashion way or my way?"

[dolemeck]

"Whatever you feel you feel is best." Dolemeck smiled. "I would use me powers to give it a go, but if I end up getting hurt again... Bobbi would pout. You do NOT want to see her pout."

[iced_cherub]

"He writes about alien worlds, and robots. They're pretty good. Not as fun as Piers Anthony, who uses a lot of puns... a lot of really lame ones too." She pouted slightly. "I don't pout."

[marvel_boy]

"You're pouting right now, Bobs," Topher said. He looked at Richard. "It's not as lethal as Dolemeck might have you believe, unless you're unduly susceptible to pouts," he added. "Even if they're from cute boys." He grinned at Bobbi, then. "But nice try." He was only lightly teasing her.

He was sitting up again. All of this flopping back on his couch and sitting up was resulting in surprise sit-ups and he wasn't quite yet in the mood for a workout. Once the game started, he'd flop back down again. The joys of sprawling across the one couch that was facing a window.

[eidolon34]

Technically, Dolemeck’s answer gave him permission to attempt any method that he wanted, so Richard was going to go with the easiest one. “Now just relax.” Focusing for a moment, he transformed the other guy into a cloud of vapor and transported him to the couch in the exact same position he had been sitting in the chair in. “There, easy as pie,” he said with a smirk.

“So aliens and robots, huh? I definitely going to look up some of his books later,” said Richard.

[dolemeck]

That was... well, that was trippy. He sat a bit wide eyed, even a bit flushed at the sight of Richard's smirk (which was somewhat cute). Dolemeck shook his head for a moment, then used his telekinetic powers to fold up his wheelchair, and place it beside the couch. This way, it did not take up too much room.

"Well, that was fun!" He gave a gentle smile, resting his hands on the top of his knees. "Well... umm... of "Mice and Men" is about the journey of two migrant workers during the Great Depression. One is mentally handicapped, but is physically strong and rather tall, the other helps to take care of him and his his best friend. It is a touching tale, yet a very sad one."

[iced_cherub]

"Meanie," She giggled at Topher though knowing he was just teasing.

"Whoah, okay that was weird to watch." She had caught the action and grinned a little. "I'll pass on a try though." She nodded about the books. "Yeah they're not that bad, just really different. I like the stuff that's more out there though."

"I couldn't get into that one. Maybe because we were supposed to read it for school."

[marvel_boy]

Topher blinked at Richard. He hadn't known what the other mutant's power set had been, but that was interesting.

"I gotta say, I love reading? But the second it becomes an assignment, it becomes work. All the joy disappears."

[eidolon34]

" I have to agree," said Richard. "Any time that a book is made into homework, I find that it takes me forever to get it done unless I have already read it."

"Perhaps they should just ask us to watch the movie version of books instead," he pondered. It couldn't hurt to ask the next time he was in class.

[dolemeck]

"Has anyone else realized many of the classic books we do read for our classes are somewhat censored from the original?" He raised an eyebrow. "Or was I the only one? No, matter.. even if I got a book for a class assignment, I never let the fact it was "work" kill the joy for me. I always saw it as an opportunity to explore a new book I would not have known otherwise."

He shrugged his shoulders at Richard, when he spoke of watching the movies about the books they were to read, instead.

"I guess we could. It never hurts to ask."

[iced_cherub]

"But you can't read them at your own pace." She frowned a moment, the game was delayed by some boring news broadcast. She turned it down. "You guys want snacks?"