om_main | Rahne and Ilyana, 11/15

Ilyana mis-aims and steps right into an awkward conversation.

Rahne flipped her notebook closed with a great sense of satisfaction. She had been a long time away from school, to be sure, but she was beginning to remember what she had liked about it. The pleasure of a job well done, as with the homework she had just finished, was among the top entries on that list. And now, with the room all to herself like it was so often, she could treat herself to a peaceful and leisurely afternoon, with no more work hanging over her head.

Speakers. She'd need her speakers. And a shower. And to text Kitty and tell her everything was okay, and to order the pizza and to text Cal - she definitely needed to text Cal, and...with her mind racing, Illyana'd didn't immediately realize that she'd missed her room entirely when she'd teleported, until she turned and caught sight of the redhead sitting at the desk. Greeaat. This was going to go well, wasn't it?

Oh, whatever. She was in too good of a mood to be annoyed by psycho religious nuts. "Sorry?" she offered, smiling crookedly as she shrugged. "I mis-aimed. You mind if I just go out by the door?"

Rahne shrieked and jumped right out of her chair, landing splat on her bottom on the floor, still holding her now-broken pencil. "Land o' Goshen," she cursed looking up at Ilyana with a deep - furrowed frown as she worked on catching her breath. "An' just what in the blue blazes are you doing, appearin' in people's rooms an' scarin' them half to death?"

Right then. So much for a speedy getaway. Illyana sighed. "I just told you," she pointed out, more or less patiently. "I ended up in the wrong room. It happens sometimes." She took a deep breath. "Look, I said I was sorry, and I'm really not in the mood to fight about it, okay?"

For an uncomfortably long beat, Rahne just stared up at her. "I don't want to fight about it, either," she finally said, climbing to her feet. The words came out slow; she was hesitant to say them. But, she asked herself, what would Jesus do?

"Cool." Illyana relaxed a little, her mouth quirking to one side, then shrugged. "Look, Kitty pointed out that we were kind of shits when you got here, and that was mostly me. So...I don't know if you saw it online, but there's a party tonight at the boathouse. Free pizza and stuff. You're welcome. Y'know, if you want to come." Because...well, whatever. She was really in too good of a mood to fight with little miss religious cult member, anyway.

"Language please, " begged Rahne in a half whisper, mortified. "That's very kind of ya. But I fear the atmosphere wouldnae agree with me. "

Illyana paused, trying to figure out what she could have possibly said that would have made - damn it, what was her name again, Rain or something? - cringe, then shrugged. It wasn't like she really cared if Rahne came or not - she just figured Kitty'd probably want her to ask. "Your call. But y'know, you live here now, not middle of nowhere Scotland. You might want to try and fit in some. It makes it a whole lot easier."

"I have the conviction of my beliefs to stand for." Why did no one here seem to understand that. "Jesus said we are to be the salt of the earth, an' the light on the hill, that all may see an' come to be saved." Though Rahne had almost never felt like such a traitor to God than she did standing here, twisting her fingers together in a horrible fit of shame. "I jus' want to help you all go t' heaven."

She...honestly meant that. That sort of blew Illyana's mind, and she just stared at the other girl for a long moment before shrugging. "Thanks, I guess? But y'know, if you piss everyone off preaching at them, I seriously doubt anyone's going to care about why you were doing it."

The redhead ground her teeth back and forth. "I dunnae understand," she admitted quietly. To this pagan, of all people. "Why doesn't anyone care? Why...does everyone hate me?"

Oh, that was almost too good a setup to pass up. Illyana bit at her lip, fighting an urge to feed Rahne a list of bullshit that the younger girl would almost definitely believe. Except...damn it, she probably shouldn't, right? Kitty was definitely rubbing off on her, she decided with regret. Or Vance was. Maybe both.

Taking a deep breath, Illyana shrugged and admitted, "Honestly? I don't think anyone hates you. Pietro's maybe kind of pissed that you insulted Wanda, but he'll forget by the time they get back from Rome anyway." Because yeah, she'd heard that. Definite advantage to being just a couple of doors down. "But...look. Try to be more open-minded, huh? Not everyone around here is doing terrible, horrible things." She grinned (because honestly, she'd been good so far, right? She deserved a little something out of it. "I mean, I am, sure. But most people aren't me. You might want to keep that in mind instead of just accusing everyone you meet."

"Who's accusing? I'm only tryin' t' remind my brothers and sisters where the straight and narra' lies, as any good Christian oughtae." She shook her head in a gesture of sheer frustration.

"Yeah, well, no one asked you to," Illyana pointed out. "Also? Not everyone here is a Christian, so you might want to start there." She let out a frustrated sigh. "Look, I don't know what they do in Scotland. Maybe everyone walks around sticking their noses in everyone else's business. But they don't here, and if you don't want people to hate you? You might want to knock it off, because it just comes across as you being a bossy, self-righteous bitch."

Rahne' face drained of color and froze in a rictus of shock. No one had ever spoken to her in quite that way before. "Oh," was all she could manage as a shoddy substitute for the million arguments, doubts, and confessions roaring in mind.

"Well, you asked." Illyana shrugged, feeling...well, maybe a little awkward. This wasn't anywhere near as much fun as messing with Rahne on purpose had been. "You should probably sit down - you look like you're going to pass out. "

" Aye, might be that's for the best." Still somewhat dazed, she sat down in her desk chair and clicked the electric kettle on. "Ilyana...where did you say that party was?"

Surprised, Illyana blinked. "At the boathouse. Five o'clock." She took a breath. "I've gotta go order the pizza and take a shower, but I'm heading down after that with the chips and stuff. I can show you where."

"I think I'll be able to find it on my own," she said. Whether she committed this folly or chickened out, she would rather do it without Ilyana's close personal scrutiny.

"Okay." Hey, she'd done her part, right? It wasn't like she was dying to play tour guide, anyway, especially today. She turned to head towards the door, then paused. "Anyway, sorry again about the random pop in. I'm all distracted today."

"It's, ah, ok." She could think of some more accurate descriptions, but it was her duty ever to be polite.

Illyana snorted and grinned. "It's not, but it doesn't happen that often anymore. You should be safe." She shrugged as she headed towards the door, then grinned. "Also? The pentagram was just a Halloween prop for the Haunted House. Just don't tell my roommate; she's still assuming the worst, too."

"That's good to know. Both o' those things." Rahne gave a half-hearted wave goodbye. "Fine day to ya."

Well, that was a dismissal, but whatever. She had other stuff to do than give pep talks to weird religious nuts anyway. "You too," Illyana replied, and left, closing the door behind her.