1963-07-06 - Brothers in Arms
Summary: Logan helps Armando out with his car. The two talk candidly over bad muffins.
Related: If there are no related logs, put 'None' — please, don't leave blank!
Theme Song: None
logan jean darwin 


Armando's got a new toy, it seems- a 1936 Cord 812. A real classic, beautiful car. The body looks to be in great condition- but the hood is up, and that likely means there's something wrong with the engine. He keeps checking from a book- to the engine- back to the book, then back to the engine. "Well, dang." he says, "Still doesn't explain why its running rich.." he mumbles to himself, as he leans against the side of the car, focusing more on the book for a long moment. "I think I'm going to need a hand with this.."

The Vehicle is absolutely beautiful in a deep, oxblood reddish brown. A pair of orange driving lights- he's even installed a pair of mirrors attached to the door handles. A rather lovely way to add mirrors to a car that didn't have any. With a supercharged V-8 it could, move too.. Or at least, it would be able to when he got it running right.

*

Logan heads down the garage to get his bike, planning to make an excursion into the city later and figuring he'll need to gas it up a bit before he gets anywhere near civilization. He sees Armando working on his car, Logan clad in a pair of overalls with one strap undone and a white undershirt, along with his boots.

"Sup there, big man? Ya look a little down in the dumps," he says, looking over his shoulder when he smells Jean coming along as well, his expression brightening at her presence.

*

Jean felt it, at least the desire for Jean to get out there and socialize instead of sitting in the library, so this is what she does. There were muffins on a tray that she carries, some made by herself, ones that she didn't dare eat out of fear of it being gross.

And it was. They were bland as all get out. Tastes like throw up and three parts cardboard. But it wasn't her fault, it was her first time even trying a hand at anything.

As she approaches the two men, she holds the tray up, a little spot of joy upon her face as she offers up a little smile. "Blueberry muffins. Fresh out the oven.." She announces. Oh god.. she hopes they were good.

*

"Well, I got this pretty thing running, but its not running well." Armando explains. "It might be the Electro-Transmission- I've been keeping it in neutral when I park it, though, so… I'm not sure." Armando says, "The previous owner drove it pretty hard." he says, "So, it might be something with the engine that I'm sort of out of my element with. I've read the Cord Handbook cover to cover at least a dozen time…" he shakes his head, "She's just too pretty to give up on. Hey- you know anything about engines?" he wonders of Logan, "Because I'm not to proud to ask for a bit of help."

Armando looks to Jean and the muffins as they appear. He looks to her face- then down to the muffin. He takes one, luckily not possessing Logan's enhanced sense of smell. He takes a bite- pauses- and then quietly continues chewing. "….Not bad." he lies through his teeth- it looked important to Jean, and he wasn't about to be the guy who rained on the red-head's parade. He swallows, with some tiny effort. Thank goodness it was difficult to read the grey-skinned young man's face.

*

Logan raises, "A handbook, huh? Well, I ain't got much book-learnin' on the subject, but I been messin' around with greasers since they were invented. Lemme take a poke at it," he says, moving over there to shove his head up under the hood.

"Set mine aside for the moment, darlin', odds are I'm 'bout to get my hands dirty."

*

Jean had -no- clue about cars. She's never even driven in one. She just knows that you turn the key and it's supposed to turn on. After that, that's where her knowledge ends. Her face drops for a moment as she watches them fuss just a touch, her smile picking back up as Armando takes a bite and begins to chew.

At least the blueberries had a tiny bit of a flavor.. right? Nah. It tasted like half a hell sandwich and vomit.

"You like it?" She asks, hopeful, watching as he finishes it all, unable to read the expression and didn't need to! It was good! "Logan.. just eat it. Or at least a bite. Please?"

*

"Its not the worst thing I've ever had in my mouth." Armando offers, with a bit of a smile- that, at least, was 100% true. He does, in fact, finish the muffin as he stands near, watching Logan work- eyes sliding between Logan and Jean. "Not bad, at all." he offers again, with a quiet smile- before he turns again to see what Logan was up to- "I've got a full toolbox, too." he offers, "If you need anything. Just, you know, share the wisdom." he says with a grin. Luckily, even with those muffins being simply awful, Armando's gut evolved to deal with the nasty bit of food. He wasn't feeling sick, at least- indeed, after the initial taste it wasn't a horrible thing.

*

Logan raises an eyebrow, "I ain't touchin' that with a ten foot pole, bub," he says. At her cajoling, he comes over and lowers his mouth without hand, biting into a muffin and throwing his head back to wolf it down.

"When'd ya last change yer plugs? Ain't that hard for 'em to get clogged up, especially with what passes for gasoline 'round here. S'like gettin' a fill up at the La Brea tar pits down at that Exxon."

*

"Looking like I do, bullies used to make me eat insects and the like." Armando explains over to Logan. "At least, until I was fed up and fought back. Didn't bother me after that- but, memories." he says with a quiet shrug. He doesn't seem ashamed of it.

"I haven't changed the plugs, no." Armando admits, "I'll have to get some and make sure to space them right." he just sighs, "I thought getting this car for $100 was a steal, but I've spent another $100 just fixing it." he shakes his head, "Well, it'll all be worth it once I get this right." he says, with a little grin.

*

Logan shakes his head, "Ain't that always the way. Anytime somethin' seems too good to be true, odds are, yer gut was right," he says. "Still, probably ain't a bad deal for it, all in all, if you get good use out of it. Some folks've started buyin' cars just to lock 'em up an' not even drive 'em. What a buncha crap," he says.

Regarding the bullying, his brows furrow. "Some folks always gotta be bullies," he says. He got bullied himself sometimes, as a kid, although the memories are foggy and twisted. He'd been a sickly boy, frail, clinging to his mother's skirts. Very different than the man he became. But he never entirely forgot that little boy - and how frightened he'd been.

*

"I really shouldn't be complaining, I mean, that's a steal for the thing- and it barely ran when I got it. I've managed to do a bunch with just the handbook and a few popular mechanics magazines." Armando admits, "Yeah, I've noticed that. Some people seem to get their kicks from picking on people who are different, or weaker than they are." he shakes his head, "Those are sorry excuses for a man." he says.

"I'm really just hoping I don't have some head-gasket problem, or some busted piston rings." Armando then says, changing the subject back to the car. "Those would be a real bastard to fix. I don't know anyone with the tools I'd need to fix that. I guess I could go to someone in Mutant Town. They'd probably treat me right."

*

Logan considers, "Might check wit' Erik if you crack anything serious. He does have a way with metal, after all," he says. "Maybe see if Chuck'll invest in a full toolset and rack fer this place. Yer not the only one with a vehicle might need servicin' - and the young'uns could use it to learn a trade, too."

"Mutant Town - I do confess, I ain't too fond o' the idea o' everybody gatherin' up in one place. Makes an easy target. I understand the impulse, but if yer worried about folks tryin' ta round you up, doin' their work for 'em seems to me a poor choice."

*

"I could probably fix it if you tell me what to do.." Jean smiles, though.. the discussion didn't really cause for that. Still, she didn't really like this sort of talk. So she just settles the tray down upon the ground and follows suit, plucking one muffin from it's surface to stare at it, and take a bite.

"URP."

HORRIBLE!

*

"Its not by choice, Logan." Armando says, "Its just where they can find a place to live." he says, with a quiet shrug. "Its just like there's a Chinatown, and Little Italy." he remarks. Armando looks over his shoulder, smiling to Jean. "It might not be the best idea, but it does give people like me community that we might not otherwise have. I mean… almost everyone here… they look human." Armando says, "I was born this way- I've always been different, treated different. For people like me- who can't hide what we are… Mutant Town isn't so bad."

*

Logan takes a moment to light a stogie and lean back against the wall, "Fair 'nough, I guess. I ain't really been much fer community, as ya say, but I guess if it makes folks happy, more power to 'em. Me, I'm okay bein' a loner. Or, least, I did until this one came along," he says, nodding to Jean.

"I seen plenty o' human lookin' and otherwise. Some of 'em not mutants neither. More things in heaven an' earth, as ol' Billy the Bard says."

*

To keep from throwing up, Jean turns a little to the side to carefully spit out the muffin into her hand, dropping it upon the tray and pushing it aside.

She listens to them however, smiling once Logan points her out, her hand lifting to wave briefly then drops within her lap as she finally purses her lips. "Perhaps you can use your gifts to make yourself look more normal?" Jean asks. "But.. then again, why would you? I think you're beautiful as you are." Compliments. She's learned them. And her words hold true to what she believes.

"Everyone needs someone though, Logan.." Jean says, recanting the professors words.

*

"I'm happier here than I have ever been before. For the first time in my life, I have friends." Armando says, somewhat quietly. "For the first time, I feel like I belong." he says, with a quiet smile.

"I hope you'll find some joy in the community here, Logan. There's a certain joy in solitude, to be certain- to be your own man. To stand on your own and be self-sufficient." Armando says, with a quiet nod. He looks then over to Jean with a smile. "Thanks, Jean. My abilities don't work that way, though- I don't have and conscious control. I'm *always* evolving and changing- my powers just never stop. Its just always happening in response to my environment."

*

Logan nods, "Friends are good. Folks here seem like good people. Truth be told, I'm the one that ain't much fit for civilized folk. Jeannie's 'bout to protest that and tell me I'm good people. But truth is - I ain't. I'm pushin' my luck stayin' here an' I know it. Selfish. But it is what it is," he says.

"Fresh start seems like a good idea, but I got too much dirt on my shoes. An' I wonder, every day, if someone follows my tracks here, what happens to all o' you? That'd be on my head."

*

Jean frowns a little, it wasn't a sad frown, it was.. one of concentration, maybe thought. She slowly stands, approaching Armando to give him a light pat upon the arm which soon dissolves into a halfway, sideways hug if he lets her. She didn't need to offer up comforting words, it was all in the hug, which was quickly disengaged there after.

But there was a look towards Logan that seemed sad. She wanted to protest, but she doesn't. She only shakes her head and moves towards the car, leaning inside the hood to study it's inner workings while remaining silent.

*

"I think the idea is that despite our pasts, we don't need to be alone anymore, Logan." Armando says, "Apart from Moira, I've been abandoned by everyone I knew in my old life. My father left when I was born. My mother spit in my face after I saved her life in a house fire- when we were in the hospital. I had no friends in school- no one would talk to me. I just had bullies, and abandonment." Armando pauses, "Here, though, Logan… someone like you can give hope. You've got experience- a lot of experience. You know what this world is like….we both saw it on that subway… and while you, and I can take a beating like no other." Armando looks towards Jean. "Most of them can't. You were quick to stand up to defend another- most men aren't like that, Logan. I'll help shoulder your burdens, brother… if anything, you can at least be certain I'll survive."

And then the hug comes- Armando smiling quietly as his over-long arm slides around to give Jean a nice, tight hug. "Oh, that's nice." he says, releasing Jean when the hug's time has finished.

*

Logan raises an eyebrow. "Good thing ya didn't try that on me, bub. I ain't much of a cuddler," he smirks.

"I git what yer sayin'. But don't think cause I got good qualities it means I don't have bad 'uns. Despite our pasts sounds good an' well if you can manage but, in my experience, that stuff has a habit o' bitin' ya in the backside when ya least expect it. An' there are parts o' me…" he says, looking down for a moment and then leaning in under the hood, fiddling with something.

"Parts o' me that're more broken than this hose. Y'notice the crack in this? I thought I smelled a dab o' coolant…"

*

"He actually is a cuddler." Jean comments, a little joke put on. She only makes him cuddle when she wants it, when she has a bad dream or when the voices get too loud for her to handle. So far, in this small space, she hears nothing. Nothing was beating through her head and all emotions were.. just calm. These two were beginning to look like her safe space other than the Professor and the Library.

"You get what he's saying but you're not actually hearing him, Logan. You could be a great deal of help to everyone here. You just have to be willing. And.. stay at least. Or finish building that cabin out back and just be near when we all need you."

Jean reaches up to lightly touch his shoulder, then moves away from the car as he pulls out the hose. She stands closer to Armando, watching quietly. She even gives Armando a playful nudge. Hoping that Armando could convince him to teach him.

*

"That explain why she's been eating all that fluid." Armando says, first focused on the car. "Probably gets worse once the stuff has heated up." he nods, "That I can pick up pretty easy. I know a guy in Harlem who runs a parts shop. Real nice guy." Armando smiles, letting the cuddler statement go by with a chuckle and a grin. "Never crossed my mind." Armando nods, "The offer stands, Logan. If you need a voice, I'll give you an ear. And if things turn sour, I'll be by your side. I'm not great in a fight, but you can trust I'll live through it. I know you could probably handle most of it on your own- probably all of it- but just remember that you don't *have* to, if you don't want to. I'm sure Jean would be there, and I will be, too- because you've already been there for me." Armando, it seems, has a certain sense of honor.

"I can help you build that cabin." Armando offers, "I've never built a cabin before, so, it be a valuable learning experience for me. Might come in handy one day." He smiles over to Jean as he's given that nudge. "Anyways, you'll have to stay around until I get this engine running cherry. These Cords can really move when they're working properly."

*

Logan looks up, "Yer a good joe, Armando. Don't let anybody tell ya different," he says. "Sometimes I try to be decent. I got all the fight anybody's ever need," he says. He can tell Jean's worried about him, but that's only fair. He worries about her plenty.

"Gimme some electrical tape, I can get it at least covered up in the short term 'till ya can getcha a new hose."

*

Jean grins as she listens to Armando and Logan, a slight shrug drawn upon her shoulders.

"That means.. yes to everything you said. He won't say it. But he accepts the offer." Jean moves over towards the table, picking up a bit of electrical tape which was soon tossed to Logan. She knew what that was, at least. A small memory of her father plays as he fixes his own car, but.. she wasn't sure if it was real or not.

*

"Eh, its nothing." Armando says, giving a wave of his hand- leaning back as Jean tosses the electrical tape Logan's way. "Thanks." he says, then- accepting the compliment. "I'll pick up a new hose tomorrow." he says, with a quiet nod of his head. "And you let me know when we're going out to that cabin." he says with a quiet smile- a smile that becomes more of a grin when he looks over to Jean- "Thanks for the translating."

*

Logan knows it how it can be with not being sure your memories or real. Logan was pretty sure more than a few of his were fake - sorting the bluffs from the wildcards was part of what he was working on. "Gotta pick a spot fer the cabin yet. Prob'ly up a bit near the lake, so I can do some fishin'. If Chuck's okay wit' it," he says.

He takes the tape and works to wrap it around the house, cutting off the drip of sealant for the moment.

*

There was a little sigh that crossed her lips as the two men pow wow. Nothing was left here for Jean to do but to pick up the tray of disgusting muffins, to hold up and slightly away from herself as she begins to walk. Back to the drawing board it is.

*

Armando, however, doesn't put much stock in his memories. His future is bright, happy. His present is the best time of his life, so far. His past simply informs him of the way of the world can be- not how it has to be. "Sounds good to me. I don't think Charles will deny you that request." he says. "Thanks for the help, Logan." he says, "Seeing as I'll be heading to get new tubes is there anything you two need from the city?" he wonders of the pair, as he takes a pair of rags out from his toolbox- putting one down near Logan. He uses the other to rub the oil and fluid from his hands.

*

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