ax_main | Tamara and JM, backdated liek whoa

A week or so after the Museum Incident, JM gets to tell Tamara what she thinks. Tamara suggests sunbathing and mutual appreciation. Backrubs ensue!

Tamara was sick of being inside. She was sick of watching the news, sick of being on the computer fighting back against all the anti-mutant bullshit, sick of replaying the whole thing over and over in her head.

So she decided a little bit of self-care was in order. No computer, no phone (well, she'd bring it, but ignore it unless except for texts) - a towel, some sunglasses, a haltertop and some short shorts, that was all she needed. So, sunglasses perched on her head and towel in her arms, she headed out the door and down the hall.

Jeanne-Marie was more fully dressed when she nearly pumped into Tamara--and smiled. "Oh! Tamara, hello." In truth, she was fairly relieved to see her. After Jean-Paul had settled her down comfortably, she'd started feeling the urge to talk to the other kids who'd been at the protest. Especially Tamara and Tommy, who'd been sort of the leaders... or at least the most mentally prepared to react. "Are you going swimming?"

"Oh, hey!" Tamara hadn't expected to nearly run into someone, but a smile crossed her face easily enough. "No, just gonna go lay out and get some sun. Been feeling cooped up lately." Which was dumb considering how recently they'd been in NYC, but whatever. She smiled up at the taller girl. "Wanna come?"

"Yes!" Jeanne-Marie clapped her hands together once. "That sounds relaxing. I'll just go and get changed. Should I bring some tea?"

"Uh, sure?" Tamara was a little surprised by the enthusiasm, but not at all opposed. "I mean, I'm more of a soda girl myself, but whatever you want." Ooo, and while they were at it, she wouldn't mind some kind of chocolate too... "Meet me in the kitchen and we can grab some drinks and snacks?"

Jeanne-Marie nodded, and then was gone in a flash of light. In her room, she found her suit--which wasn't anything as cute as Tamara was wearing, but a simple, modest black one-piece. She frowned at it, but donned it all the same, and then a pair of shorts over it. She also brought down her tea, so she could make some and ice it for herself--and maybe Tamara would like it too, who knew. She returned to the ground floor and found Tamara in the kitchen as promised. "I'm ready! I need a new suit, though..."

Tamara had a plastic bag and was just in the fridge grabbing some soda. She tried to glance over her shoulder at the other girl, but of course ended up staring at her own wing - someday she'd get used to that - so closed the fridge door and turned around, giving the outfit a critical eye. "Yeah, definitely isn't you." Tongue in cheek, she added, "Oh darn, we'll have to go shopping."

"We should." Jeanne-Marie laughed, heading to the electric kettle. Once t was brewed strong she'd just throw in some ice and viola. "I've hardly spent any of the allowance they gave us when we arrived, and I need so many things."

"Really?!" Tamara gaped for a second. "I spent like all of it!" Then she realized the difference - she'd come here with nothing, while most students, y'know, had things. Idiot. Still, she played it off with a smirk. "But I mean, it was that or wear the hospital gown around forever I guess."

Jeanne-Marie made a sympathetic face as she got to work. "I didn't know you came straight from a hospital. It makes sense, though. How are your wings?"

Tamara flapped them demonstratively, looking pretty proud despite the meager puff of air. "They're getting better! Still no flying for a while, but honestly, walking is a pretty welcome change of pace."

Having successfully obtained soda, she began hunting around the kitchen for snacks - specifically, looking for something chocolate. "Okay, I wanna ask you something kind of awkward, but better to do it now than later I figure." She glanced over at the other girl, looking apologetic. "Tell me again how to say your name? How to say it right, I mean, I don't want to butcher it."

Jeanne-Marie looked admiringly at Tamara's wings, nodding and smiling at the explanation. Sometimes she wished she had them, especially Shen's, with the lovely feathers... but then, if it hurt so much growing in... maybe not. "Oh, its a little like John--but with more of a "zh" sound. Jeanne and then MAH-rie. But it's all right, as long as it's something along those lines I'll answer." She grinned.

"John-- Jeanne--" Tamara frowned. Give her a Latinx name and she'd say it perfectly every time (partly just to piss off the bigots in her home town), and of course American white people names were everywhere in her little town. What Arroyo Grande, California did not have, however, was a French-speaking population, and her brain was just really struggling.

Tamara finally managed to wrap her brain and mouth around it, though. "Jeanne-Marie. Okay, I think I've got it now."

"Perfect," Jeanne-Marie agreed. "I don't mind though. I can't pronounce English perfectly and I've studied for a long time.

"It's so sweet that you make the effort though."

Tamara huffed a little laugh. Sweet wasn't a word most people would use for her. "Not really. It's your name, y'know? That matters."

"That's true," Jeanne-Marie practically chirped. She liked the sound of that. "That's good to remember.

"Right, just let me dump some ice in this and I'll be ready to go."

*******

Tamara led the way outside, feeling better about as soon as she felt the sun. She sighed happily, stretching her wings out briefly. It still hurt, but there was also this great stretch that made it worth it. She let her oversize sunglasses plop down onto her nose and turned toward Jeanne-Marie.

"By the lake sound good?"

"Mmm, perfect." Jeanne-Marie followed, making a note to get sunglasses like those. They looked so cool. "And--I've been wanting to tell you... is it okay, to talk about the protest?"

Tamara was leading the way to the lake, but looked up at Jeanne-Marie again. "Yeah, of course. Hell, you were there too, you definitely get to talk about it."

"I was--I thought what you did was amazing," Jeanne-Marie admitted, gaze on her feet.

Tamara blinked, surprised by that, but a lopsided grin was tugging at her lips the next moment. "Yeah?"

Jeanne-Marie nodded. "Part of me wishes I'd helped you and Tommy. I mean, I'm glad Gar and I arranged the exit, but... to stand up to all those people was good."

Tamara had honestly been afraid Jeanne-Marie was going to be upset with her, so was feeling kind of relieved. "I wouldn't worry about it. Smart money says you'll get another chance..."

Jeanne-Marie frowned but nodded. "I'm sure I will. I won't say I'm looking forward to it, but I'm going to be more prepared. Jean-Paul is going to start running some simulations with me to help with my mental reflexes in those situations."

"Really? You think you need that?" Tamara was a little surprised she was taking it so hard. "You did great!"

Jeanne-Marie didn't look convinced, chewing on her lip. "Thank you for saying so, but I was scared. I don't like being scared."

They'd reached a spot that seemed as good as any, so Tamara stopped and started laying down her towel. "Well, okay, whatever makes you feel better is good," she said, meaning it. She wasn't gonna tell anyone else how to handle it. "But I was just more angry than scared, y'know?"

"There's power in anger, though. The power to act." Jeanne-Marie settled her towel too as she spoke. "I see my brother use it; I just need to find it in me, too."

"I grew up in a town full of assholes," Tamara said, giving Jeanne-Marie a wry smile. She flopped down onto her towel, then gently fluffed her wings and let them settle, wide on either side of her. "Ooof, that always hurts, but then feels good..."

"Would a little heat help?" Jeanne-Marie asked curiously. "My light--it's not hot, but it makes a sort of fuzzy, nice feeling. I could try it for you sometime."

"Really? Sure, that sounds amazing," Tamara told her. "That's really cool!" She loved learning about people's mutations - not just the big stuff, but all these tiny little details, the way people used their abilities for every day things, or special things.

"I'm only just figuring it out," Jeanne-Marie admitted, "but it won't hurt, so it's worth a try, yes? It'd be nice if my powers could help people."

"Go for it! I'm happy to play guinea pig," Tamara said, grinning up at Jeanne-Marie.

Jeanne-Marie looked a little surprised and very happy. "Now? Can I?"

"I mean, if you want?" Which, judging by that smile, she did. Tamara fluffed her wings again, in a way that was meant to be inviting. "I mean, I'm pretty fire-resistant anyway, so I figure even if something goes terribly wrong I should be fine."

Jeanne-Marie stood and moved to Tamara' towel, stretching her arms and fingers. "Right. Tell me where it's sore--and if there's anywhere I shouldn't touch." Tamara's wings looked wonderful, but since she still couldn't fly, Jeanne-Marie assumed there were tender spots.

Tamara smiled, really glad Jeanne-Marie wasn't grossed out by her wings or anything. "They're kinda sore all over, but unless you're planning to step on them, I doubt you'll hurt me."

Tongue between her teeth, Jeanne-Marie scooted up as close as she could and let her light flow from her center... right into her hands. Light pooled around them like some luminescent liquid, giving off the softest of white glows. Tentatively, she touched at the top of Tamara's right wing, then ran her fingers down toward her shoulder blade.

It was so interesting, almost like leather, but at once softer and tougher. "So pretty," she said with a hum.

"You think so?" Tamara was practically beaming under the attention and compliment. She actually shivered under Jeanne-Marie's touch, but in a good way. She wasn't used to being touched, aside from the various pokes and prods of the medical types. "I mean, I love them, but sometimes I think people think they're creepy or gross..." Her words trailed off as she picked up the strange sensation that must be the other girl's light, a faint tingling that felt, well, nice. "Oh that's cool."

"Yes?" Jeanne-Marie smiled, pleased, and kept moving down Tamara's shoulder blade/wing connection with the lightest of touches and some very bright light. "I don't know why anyone would think they're creepy. They're so beautiful. I admit that I've been startled by physical mutations before--Kurt shocked me, I don't mind telling you--but none of them are gross or creepy." In truth, all the physical mutations at the mansion were gorgeous. Maybe it was just luck? From Nick's wolfiness to Clarice's beautiful skin to the wings, Jeanne-Marie was impressed with all of them... even if she was aware how hard it must make things for them outside of Xavier's.

Tamara hummed happily under Jeanne-Marie's hands, and gasped a little as she hit the sensitive skin where her wings and back met. "I mean, compared to Warren and Shen's, with all those feathers?" If she sounded a little breathless, well, who could blame her? That skin never even had clothing on it anymore, and she couldn't exactly reach it herself. The sensation was almost a tickle, but warm and still nice. Too much more would probably flip the switch to 'uncomfortable' (or maybe worse, 'very ticklish'), but for the moment it was good.

"They have beautiful wings too," Jeanne-Marie agreed. She loved Shen's with its soft feathers and pretty coloring, and Warren's were straight off of stained glass. "But not prettier than yours. It's... like a fancy leather coat, almost," she said with a little laugh. "Soft and strong." She worked her way back up, smoothing instead of kneading, just running her hands and light over the muscles and feeling how they worked.

"That's so weird... almost tickles," Tamara told her, but she was clearly enjoying it.

"That's what I've heard." Jeanne-Marie giggled quietly and kept working. There was something soothing to her about it, too, even though she wasn't sure it was doing any good. The warming touch was good for muscles, though, right? "Maybe I should take some massage courses..."

"That'd be cool. The mutant masseuse," Tamara laughed.

"Though I'd want to pick my clients," Jeanne-Marie said, wrinkling her nose. "Can you imagine? What if someone creepy wanted a massage? How do they do it?"

Tamara laughed again, just picturing that. "Well, I'd probably electrocute anyone who got creepy, so I'm probably not the one to ask. Your powers have anything like that to kick in for defense?"

"Punches at super speed and flashes of blinding light?"

"Well shit, that should do it," Tamara replied, sounding impressed. "Remind me not to get on your bad side." Though she wasn't convinced Jeanne-Marie really had a bad side...

"I don't think you could," Jeanne-Marie said with a laugh. "I like you too much already.

"Would it help if I also rubbed your shoulders? They seem tight?"

"That would be fantastic," Tamara replied, sighing happily. The tension in her back and wings was slowly melting away under the sunshine and Jeanne-Marie's work. "I can get you back after, if you want? I mean, you don't want me using my powers, but normal back rubs are still good, yeah?"

"Would you?" Jeanne-Marie ran her palms up the inside of Tamara's shoulder blades. "That would be nice. I'm sure we can both use the relaxing after... everything."

It was weird - usually Tamara was not this girl, not the lay-in-the-sun with other girls and rub each other's shoulders type. This was the kind of thing the 'popular' girls did, playing with each other's hair or whatever inane little thing they got up to. Girls like that were typically kind of afraid of her, in fact, and all that scary (supposed) immorality and makeup and her "bad" attitude.

She was about to say something to that effect when Jeanne-Marie's hands smoothed over particularly sensitive skin, making her gasp, wings involuntarily shifting with an awkward kind of flop. "Too much there," she squeaked, before forcing her voice back into the normal range. "Sorry, the light and your hands-- the skin's still new--"

"Oh! Sorry!" Jeanne-Marie quickly applied her attention up higher immediately, just below the shoulders and up. In her surprise, she'd let her light go dim--she brightened it again. "Better?"

"I... think so?" She shivered despite the sun and Jeanne-Marie's light. "It's so weird, guess I haven't really been touched since they came in... You didn't hurt me or anything, it was just - sensitive, y'know?"

Jeanne-Marie nodded. "You've been healing, so it makes sense." Not that Jeanne-Marie had ever had a wound on that scale, but she'd had enough bruises and scrapes to imagine. She moved upward again, settling her hands on Tamara's shoulders and running her thumbs over the muscles just below her neck and shoulders. "I'll move to your shoulders and let the wings be for now."

"Works for me," Tamara said, making a conscious effort to relax again, though her little sulk got in the way. Stupid wings. "I just keep telling myself that someday they won't hurt, they won't be crazy sensitive, and maybe they'll even get me airborne like wings are supposed to. But I swear, some days it's hard to believe it."

"I'm sure it doesn't feel good, seeing the rest of us fly while you're waiting. But I'm sure you can't have these beautiful wings for nothing." Jeanne-Marie squeezed and smoothed the muscles in an outward motion. "And we can fly together when you're ready!"

"I'm gonna have a whole bunch of you around when I'm learning," Tamara told her, grinning. "It'll save me a lot of crashes if there are people there to catch me, don't you think?"

"I do! And I'll certainly catch you, if you like," Jeanne-Marie offered cheerfully, using her light, hands, and thumbs to smooth away some shoulder tension. It must be hard work, carrying around wings.

Tamara hummed, relaxing again. "You guys can just toss me between you until I get the hang of it..."

Jeanne-Marie laughed at the mental image. "That sounds uncomfortable!"

It made Tamara picture something else entirely. Good lord, how long before they try and start a quidditch team here? There were so many nerds here, it was only a matter of time...

She shook her head, already mentally judging them. "Not sure there really is a 'comfortable' way to learn to fly..."

Darkness tugged at the inside of Jeanne-Marie's head. A small, faint voice made itself known, reminding her that she was wicked for what she'd done. For everything she'd done.

Jeanne-Marie crushed it handily and kept massaging. The sun was bright, her friend was here, and she was her own woman, now. The past had no power. She kept telling herself. "No," she said after a moment's pause to collect herself. "I don't think there is. But it's always worth it."

Completely oblivious to what was going on with Jeanne-Marie, Tamara was just feeling curious. "How did you learn? I mean, no wings or anything, so what was that like?"

Quietly, totally without inflection of any kind, Jeanne-Marie replied, "I thought I would fall. I flew. I didn't even know it was possible; I only knew about the light."

"Must've been scary," Tamara said thoughtfully, wondering what she'd fallen from.

"Mmm," Jeanne-Marie hummed noncommittaly. She upped her light, so it blazed brighter but no hotter. It made her feel better. So did the feeling of Tamara' muscles under her palms, melting under her thumbs as she pushed at tight spots.

It wasn't dark. She wasn't alone. "Will you try from the ground, or from the roof, or a tree...?"

"Ground, I figured? Seems safer than jumping off a building and hoping for the best..."

Jeanne-Marie smiled a little, at that. "I promise you, it is. It might be hard with the wings, but I'm sure Shen or Warren can help."

"That's the hope, anyway," Tamara replied, sighing at the thought (and in enjoyment).

Jeanne-Marie worked in silence for long moments, stilling her mind by focusing entirely on the comfort of someone else. It was a lovely feeling, and by the time her hands were tired, she was smiling brightly again. "There. How's that?" She let the light die. "Any more comfortable?"

"That felt really good," Tamara replied, all but putty where she'd melted into the ground while JM worked. Mmmm, she could fall asleep like this...

But time to return the favor. Shame, but she wasn't a jerk, so no choice. She popped her head up on one hand so she could look back at the other girl. "You ready for a turn?"

Jeanne-Marie nodded and plopped herself lotus-style in front of Tamara. "Thank you! To tell the truth, I've never had anyone rub my shoulders."

"Oh good," Tamara replied, mischievous smile in place as she sat up, carefully getting into the position where she could sit upright (it involved draping her wings in a very specific way, so the bottom parts could rest on the ground behind her). "You won't be able to tell if I suck at it then."