om_main | Noriko and Scott, Backdated to August 11th

Noriko and Scott talk control training, motorcycles, and food.

Well, they had beaten the scenario and Noriko hadn't fried him, so Scott supposed he could consider today a moderate success. Of course, their battle with the faux-military had been closer than he would've liked.

Scott added some more strategy reading to his to-do list. But first, he had to eat something. He hadn't had lunch before they'd gone in and now he was starving. "Food?"

"Always," Noriko confirmed with a nod, following him towards the kitchen. "Where do you think we went wrong?" They'd succeeded, sure, but it had been a close call.

Scott was thoughtful as they made their way through the halls, completely silent as he re-ran their session in his head. Noriko wouldn't care, she wasn't one of the ones who needed constant stimulation to keep from committing ritual suicide. Besides, she had asked the question.

Once they got into the kitchen, he went into the fridge to find some of the vegetables he figured he could chop up and throw in pasta (he probably should actually thank Jean-Paul at some point).

"I think we were too afraid," he finally said. "If we'd both cut loose more, been more willing to cause more damage, we wouldn't have ended up in the situation we were in. And that goes for both of us."

Noriko was silent for a few seconds as she thought it over. "Yeah, probably. I never want to..." She trailed off, frowning. Some bad shit had happened a few times on the streets, and she was still scared of what she could do, yeah. "I need to work on that."

"So do I." Wasn't like Scott was perfect either, after all. He grabbed a bag of twisty pasta from the cabinets and a pot for water. "What'd you think of the exercise?"

"Challenging enough for us, clearly," Noriko replied, pulling off one of her gauntlets to run her hand through her hair. "Do you need help with the cooking?" She could take directions like a pro, as Jean-Paul could easily attest.

"Sure." He slid her the bag. "Make some pasta."

Scott grabbed a cutting board and began cutting the vegetables - well, Jean Paul would probably call it mangling, but whatever - so he could attempt to cook them. "And it was challenging enough for us, yeah. But it shouldn't have been."

Easier said than done, though, and he knew it. He didn't want to accidentally blast through Xavier's house, or through Noriko, or through most things, really. And he suspected that she felt the same way. Most of the other 'dangerous' people here did.

Noriko put the water on to boil, after taking off her second gauntlet. Her hands could use a little fresh air; she'd put them back on in five. "I don't know. Yes and no. It's not just a bad thing that we won't let go." Was it? She looked over at him after putting the water on to boil, clearly wanting his opinion.

He paused. "No, it's not. When you can do what we can do...you have to be careful."

"It's a problem," she agreed, feeling better that they agreed, "in a scenario like this one. But we can't afford to rush into things either."

Scott mangled some more vegetables and then started hunting for one of those shallow, flat-ish pans that Jean-Paul had used. "We can't. But we need to practice more. We need to find that line between not accidentally destroying things and not getting our asses kicked."

It was the sight of the pan Jean-Paul used so often that made Noriko remember his horror when he had seen her cook pasta without adding any olive oil to the water, and she moved to grab it as Scott talked. "That means working on controlling our powers at a greater level," she stated as she dribbled a little oil into the water. "Do you know how safe that is? Because I don't.

"I think that's gonna depend on a lot of things. Which of us you're talking about, for one, and what you mean by 'at a greater level' for another," Scot said. Which much of an answer, but was true. He put some butter in the pan as it started to heat up.

"Just talking about you and me," Noriko answered, putting the oil back where it belonged before looking back at Scott, leaning sideways against the counter. "Pushing our limits. That's what we're talking about, isn't it. The limits we feel safe in."

"I think, for you, it depends. How well do those gauntlets work? Does dressing other people in rubber or something insulate them, protect them from harm?" There were a lot of things to consider, in terms of how safe it was to push. "For me...it can never be safe. Not really."

"The gauntlets work just fine, they're not the issue," Noriko replied, shaking her head. "I guess if you got someone entirely wrapped in rubber, I couldn't get at them?"

"Possibly not. We'd have to ask the science types, though." Scott was a movement and math kind of guy, not an electricity and frying people kind of guy. "Other options...we find people willing to let us try it out on them. Which...well, it's kind of mad scientist, Mengele-y."

Which didn't mean it didn't work. But it didn't sit quite right, either. "Or we could try and find realistic medical dummies or cadavers and something. Experiment with how badly we can fuck shit up and how to avoid it."

"Dummies and bodies," Noriko agreed immediately. "Not people." She already knew some of how badly she could fuck people up, and she didn't want to ever do it again - or worse.

He nodded, relieved. "I'll ask the headmasters if they can get us some."

"There's a bunch of us that could benefit from that kinda training," she pointed out, aware of exactly how macabre the corpse option was. The water was close to boiling, and she turned to add in salt.

Scott picked up a wooden spoon and pushed the vegetables around in a pan. "You, me, Alex, Benjamin...."

"Benjamin's having a hell of a time channeling his energy," she frowned as it came to her mind. "Has he talked to you about that?

He shook his head. "No. What'd he tell you?"

"He's been trying using conduits, but last I knew, it wasn't helping," Noriko filled him in, and grabbed the bag of pasta to pour them in. "Something Simon suggested, apparently. I suggested he talk to the Doc and the Prof about them designing something specific for him, since they pulled it off for you, me, and Alex, but I don't know if he's done it."

Scott hadn't had any idea. Maybe had have to ask Ben. "Trouble channeling like it goes everywhere?"

"Trouble channeling it like he can't channel enough of it to do much of anything," Noriko explained, grabbing a wooden spoon to stir the pasta. "And like if he pushes, all he has comes out and he feels wiped out."

"That sucks." It wasn't an expression of pity, just an observation. Scott pushed the veggies around some more. "If they can figure out our stuff, though, hopefully they can help him."

"Fingers crossed," Noriko agreed. "But at least he doesn't seem in any danger to hurt anybody with it."

Scott nodded. "Definitely better than the opposite problem."

"But anyway, yeah, training on dummies, or bodies..." She wrinkled her nose briefly. "I'm thinking the latter's gonna be tougher to sell. Where would we get the bodies anyway?"

"No idea. Medical school? Nathan, maybe, if he keeps reaching for my shades." He suggested.

Noriko winced. "Seriously?"

"I don't think he bothered to wonder what was behind them," Scott said, sounding unimpressed. "Tried to grab them. Luckily, I was faster."

"But he knows, now?" Noriko checked. "He hasn't tried again?" She wouldn't put anything past Nathan.

"He tried to convince me to use them to heat food." Which wouldn't work anyway. First, because the beams weren't heat. They only left scorch marks or melted stuff where the friction between the object and his blasts caused heat. Second, because whatever the blasts hit would be obliterated long before he could heat it up. He was walking cannon.

Noriko couldn't help the twitch of her lips, but she sounded her usual wry self as she replied, "Yeah, that sounds like him alright." Wryly amused, anyway. As long as Nathan knew better, now.

"Not sure if he truly grasps the concepts of either danger or self preservation, but he does at least know that I punch holes through things." He'd seen her hang out with Nathan before, so he guessed he sort of understood why she'd sounded worried. Well, other than the general goal of avoiding student-on-student annihilation. "If he does it again, we might just have to call it Darwinism in action."

"He'll get right back up," Noriko stated evenly, and went to grab a fork. Easier to pick a pasta out of the boiling water with that. "Darwin'd have had nightmares about him."

Scott snorted and, with a last sprinkle of salt, pulled his veggies off the stove. "I don't need to worry then."

"Matter of perspective," Noriko remarked, fishing a pasta out. "I'd worry more, if I were you." She blew on it a little before having a taste. "Little longer."

He went and grabbed some grated cheese for them to use, too. "So...we should really do this. I'll set up some regular times for us, if you want. Book space in the Danger Gym and ask the headmasters for some medical dummies to use."

"Yeah," Noriko nodded, in full agreement. They should've started doing this before now; the sooner the better. "Wanna open it up to anyone who's interested, or keep it to the three of us." Meaning Alex, of course. Unless Benjamin had made huge progress since she'd seen him, he wasn't there yet.

Scott thought that over for a minute.

"Open to any energy projectors," he finally suggested. "We don't want people in there who don't understand the severity of the danger, but we don't want to unnecessarily limit it, either."

"Works for me," she agreed, and went fishing for another pasta. "You wanna send out the e-mail? Pretty sure you know more people than I do." This pasta met with her approval, and she grabbed the colander to empty the pan over the sink.

"That only means I've pissed off more people than you." Scott pointed out.

Noriko snorted. "I'll do it, then." She brought the pasta over.

He tipped the vegetables on to the pasta, and then reached to toss some cheese on to the pile. "Probably safer. You're more likable." Scott grabbed some tongs to begin serving everything up for them.

Noriko made a skeptical face as she grabbed plates and cutlery. "Philip says I'm optimistic, you say I'm likable, this place is screwing with me."

It was screwing with a lot of them. The Scott of a year ago would've never believed that the shit that had happened could happen. He wouldn't have believed he'd see Alex again, that he'd have gotten a girlfriend, that a girl like Lydia would've had any interest in him, that anyone would consider him remotely capable...

Yeah, this place was a trip. He smirked, "Let's be clear, I said you were more likable. It's all a question of comparison."

"Screw you, Summers," Noriko replied with a small quirk of her lips, shooting him a look as she pushed her gauntlets out of the way to set their plates.

His voice was all innocence. "I'm just trying to make you feel more at home."

"I'm touched," she wryly assured him, and headed for the fridge. "What are you drinking?"

"Water." Scott said. He went over to the table and sat down. Even sitting he was never completely relaxed, but this was pretty close. "Thanks."

Noriko grabbed a small water and an energy drink out of the fridge and brought them over. "So, when are you teaching me how to ride?" she asked as she took a seat. Maintenance was well and good, but now she had to admit she wanted to actually ride.

Scott smirked, "When will you have a valid driver's license?"

Noriko made a face; clearly not a topic she liked. "When will I have a green card." Well, sure, she'd have to apply first, but she'd been here illegally for going on three years now.

Ah. Right. He felt slightly bad, but the point still stood. "Yeah, I don't really want her confiscated by the cops." He shoved some food in his mouth and was quiet for a moment, thinking and chewing. "We need to find someone with a lot of land we can use."

"Like someone who'd open a school for mutants on his land?" Noriko asked wryly, because, yeah. The grounds were freaking huge.

Right. "I always think of school as being public," he explained, shrugging. If he was embarrassed or chagrined, it didn't show. "But yeah. I guess here would work. As long as the headmasters don't mind. You know how to ride a regular bike?"

"Yeah," she confirmed with a nod, privately wondering if anyone at the school could get her a fake driver's license.

"Okay. So we aren't starting from complete scratch."

"Don't sound too overjoyed," Noriko pointed out, after swallowing her latest forkful. "Seriously, though. if you don't wanna..." Scott was a big boy. He could just tell her. Ad she was a big girl; she could take it.

He rolled his eyes. "If I didn't think you were able to operate a bike, I wouldn't have bothered to teach you to maintain one," Scott pointed out. "But if I start breaking his friends, Alex will be pissed. And if I break my friends or my bike, I'll be pissed."

"Why did you start teaching me?" Noriko asked curiously. It had just happened, and she'd never questioned it, but come to think of it...

Scott swallowed and then shrugged awkwardly. Fine, she wanted the truth, he'd attempt to give it to her. "You were almost jumping out of your skin. Figured giving you something to do with your hands - something where you couldn't think about whatever it was - would fix it for awhile."

Noriko nodded; it wasn't that surprising, although she hated that it was so obvious, but... "It worked." Which was a blunt way of saying 'thanks', really, whether he read it into the two words or not.

"Good." He shoveled more food into his mouth and then washed it down with some water. "Maybe, if you're nice to me, I'll consider letting you reap the benefits out on the grounds next weekend. I've got an extra helmet you can borrow."

Noriko looked doubtful. "What does being nice to you imply?"

"Mostly? Following instructions when I start teaching you. It's a dangerous machine, and a breakable one." Scott shrugged, "I know you're not much for blind following, but that's the offer. Take it or leave it."

"That's not being nice to you, that's having a functioning brain," Noriko shot back honestly. Of course she wouldn't do anything to endanger herself, Scott, or the bike, if she could help it.

Scott gestured vaguely around the room. "You've met the brain surgeons in this place, right?"

"If by that you mean the telepaths," Noriko answered wryly. She had no idea what he meant, and was pretty sure she was about to feel stupid for not seeing the connection.

"I mean there are a large number of people here who don't seem to have fully functioning brains." He clarified.

Huh. Brain surgeons used ironically as a stand-in for stupid people. Noriko didn't think she'd ever heard that before, but it made sense. "If you're saying you didn't expect me to have a functioning brain on account of the rest of the population, we're gonna have to have words." Her tone might be extra wry, but she was actually teasing.

Scott smirked. "Gotta play the odds."

"Screw you," Noriko told him with something very much approaching a smile.

"No thanks." He took another big bite of food. This really wasn't bad at all. Man, he really owed Jean-Paul. Which made him wonder what the other teen would try and make him do.

"Please," Noriko answered with a face. It was just like the banter that she'd known all the time, before coming here, and it felt good.

"Begging? That doesn't seem your style." His smirk grew, and he went over to the stove to help himself to another serving of pasta. "Fish elsewhere, Jail Bait."

"That's low, man," she told him with another face. But of course she'd be jail bait to people his age. Two years' difference was a lot at their age, and she shouldn't let herself forget it.

Scott laughed. "I wouldn't worry about it. I'm a dick. You're better off."

"I am totally better off, probably generally speaking, without anyone at all," Noriko stated, amused. Given the fact that the only guy she liked was miles out of her league? She totally was better off single.

"Mmm. Maybe." He wondered sometimes if that wasn't the better plan. Fuck knew that he was terrible at relationships, if Lil and whatever-this-thing-with-Lydia-was were any kind of indication. "If you changed your mind, though, he'd be lucky as hell."

Noriko frowned at the statement, but still with some amusement. "Watch out, that almost sounded like a compliment.'" She paused, and, "Depending on who that he is supposed to be."

"Almost." He wasn't going to admit it was a compliment. That would involve talking about feelings and friendship and shit, and that really wasn't his game. Scott doubted it was hers, either.

"Yeah, let's stick with that story," Noriko confirmed, and got up to get a second helping herself. All the food for the win. "This is pretty good. I had no idea you could cook."

"I couldn't. Jean-Paul is trying to civilize me," Scott explained. He sat down, and ripped into the pasta again.

Noriko's lips quirked slightly as she helped herself. "I didn't think there was a wrong way to cook pasta before he taught me."

"I'm still not convinced there is one."

"And this kind of statement is why I should start working on a Jean-Paul impersonation," Noriko commented as she got back to the table.

Scott snickered. "That will be priceless."

"Sadly, I don't think I could ever pull off the accent," Noriko stated. She was happy enough managing to pass as American. Doing anything else was beyond her.

"Watch some old clips of Pepe Le Pew," he suggested innocently.

Noriko couldn't stop the chuckle. "You really, really want me to try, don't you." Mixing up French and Quebecois was just asking for it.

Scott smirked and then ate some more of his pasta. "If he asks, I'll deny everything."