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*
It was weird; keeping a guy in her room. Granted Jean is usually everywhere but there, but it just didn't seem right to keep him squirreled away like he was some secret that needed kept. So, Jean had an idea. Sneak into Alex's room to steal an outfit. Then a coaxing out of her room to take him out towards the back (after he was dressed), to the cabin that was set up into the woods which belonged to Logan. She was hungry. So she assumed that Gabriel was hungry. She didn't really talk to the young man much, but she did finally after she stepped up to the door to knock.
With a slight turn, she smiles towards Gabriel. "I'm going to ask if you could live here. I mean, I know it'll be a bit weird, but in all honesty? I sort of live here too. I take the couch sometimes. You can have it, if he says yes." She was already jumping to conclusions, her fingers idly rubbing against her chin. "Maybe we can install some sort of hammock in the corner. One of us could sleep there. Or we'd do some weird rotation type deal where I take the bed, Logan the couch, you the hammock.. so on.." When she talks, she doesn't stop. "Or, me the hammock, you the bed, Logan the couch." She shrugs her shoulders faintly.
"Oh! About Logan. He's nice and quiet. Swears a lot. So I'm sure you're going to learn a lot of colorful language from him. And various types of beer. I kind of want to say he's like a beer expert, but he's particular with his beer. -Really- particular. And he smokes a bit. If you don't like it, I assume he's gonna say to either crack a window or get the hell out of his cabin."
*
Gabriel had no idea how weird the situation was, for everything was weird to him. It had begun with waking up and escaping the mansion, running through the fields to be found by two others and returned. Taken back to the room where this woman, who called herself Jean, had hidden him and told him to be quiet. Then clothes, confusion and he was being guided back outside. The whole thing had left the man utterly lost, utterly confused, and now standing there dressed in clothes that were not his own and attempting to look as non-preturbed as possible.
"You speak much."
*
Logan returns to the cabin, parking his motorcycle outside and throwing up the kickstand. He flares his nostrils and cocks his head for a moment, opening the door to his home to find Jean there with a strange young man.
"Jeannie. Who's yer fella?" he says, shrugging off his jacket and throwing it on a hook, leaving him in his flannel, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He already has a cheroot going, the cigar at the corner of his mouth as he heads over to grab a seat in his rocker.
*
"Well, I have to explain a lot of things. I feel.. that you feel that this is weird." If that made sense. Jean frowns a little, then reaches for the handle just as Logan pulls the door open, a smile radiating her face as she steps in. "Uh.." She looks back towards Gabriel, then gives a slight shrug. "I don't know."
The life of an X-Man. Picking up naked men from the street and feeding them. Goodness. "Me and Scarlett found him in the middle of Hell's Kitchen. You know, where those bugs are." She leaves Gabriel to walk himself in, as she herself goes straight for the fridge. "He's nice though." As if that mattered! "What do you want to eat tonight?"
*
"My name is Gabriel." The man responds to Logan's question, standing there trying to look casual, failing, folding his arms and attempting to mimic a sort of body type that indicates 'tough' although it fades after a moment. It is really difficult to pull off any sort of demeanor when confused.
His eyes look to Jean, then to Logan, then back to Jean. "I do not understand the question." Attention shifts towards Logan, "You must forgive me, I do not remember myself." Maybe his accent would help, were it not for the fact that his accent sounds like a blending of many different ones put together, very unique.
*
Logan stares for a long moment at Gabriel, assessing. Stance shows some training. Muddled head probably shows more - he's had enough of having his brain fucked with to have some sympathy, although his sympathy is always measured by caution. He can feel sorry for someone and still shove a claw through their brainstem if it comes down to it.
"Ain't no problem, bub, I ain't a stickler fer manners. Jean was just wonderin' what ya wanna eat. Given that I got ham, bacon, a coupla steaks an' a larder full o' potatoes, it ain't exactly a wide selection," he says.
"I didn't hear about the bugs, I don't watch the news, but sounds about right fer the city. You think he's related? You tried pokin' in his noggin or havin' Chuck give it a go?"
*
Jean doesn't bother answering. While she allows the two men to talk, she reaches inside to grab three ham steaks and a tub of butter. In fact, there were a few many things she pulls from the fridge and cabinents, assembling a motley of ingredients before she moves to the sink to wash her hands. "I went shopping earlier." She says plainly, then turns off the water and begins the food preparation. "I don't know." She finally answers Logan, her fingers rolling around within the air as cabinents fly open, dishes brought out that she needs, it was like a magical cookery show but done with TK.
"He was in a box. Like, a package. And in the middle of the fight, he just burst out of it and was almost cooked to death by a bug. He didn't have any clothes. He couldn't even speak well like he does now." She looks towards Gabriel, with a smile. "I didn't bring him to Charles yet. But I did want to ask if he could live here with you? And you keep him safe until we figure out what to do with him?"
She apologizes quietly towards Gabriel, and yet there was a little whisper that floats within his mind.
« Told you. His language is colorful. But you'll be safe here. I promise. »
*
Gabriel's attention settles on Logan first as he tilts his head. "I eat what is provided." His brow furrows a bit at something but he shakes it away with a firm attempt before looking around the cabin, beginning to walk around it in a studious manner as he takes in details. "I do not think I am related to bugs. I do not look like them." It may be a bad attempt at humor, or more realistically an attempt at conversation.
He stops then suddenly and turns to look abruptly in Jean's direction, brow furrowing as he shakes his head as if something is wrong. "I do not understand. Why do you speak to me?"
*
Logan puffs on his cigar, "I guess that's bug dude for 'I ain't picky'," he says. "As fer stayin' here…why? If you ain't noticed, there's a big ol' house over there with plenty o' rooms in it. I'm pretty sure takin' in strays is kinda the raison d'etre over there," he says.
"And don't go shoppin' fer me, girl, I barely eat what I buy as it is, I don't need a buncha extra shit," he grumbles, "Get me a beer, at least, will ya? And you, bub, take a seat on the flamin' sofa already, yer makin' me all twitchy justs standin' there with yer back all straight."
*
Whelp! Jean continues to assemble the meal, mixing stuff in bowls without using her hands, shearing out the ham steaks from the packages, cracking eggs and stirring them together with the addition of salt. If it was a horrible attempt at a joke, Jean didn't notice, for she was quietly chuckling until he abruptly looked at her. "Huh?!" She says loudly. "Oh! I spoke to you inside of your mind. I can do that. Me and the Professor, the man who owns the mansion can communicate to each other without speaking. We can also hear you, and read your thoughts, and enter into your mind to help people. Well he can. I think I'd just hurt someone." She frowns a little, then shrugs.
"I think that's the problem, Logan. When he popped out of the box, he spoke strange words. And there is just too many people there, he's confused as is. For the past two days I just kept him in my bedroom, at least here.. he can come and go as he pleases to hang out in the woods without someone scaring the blood out of him." There was a little sad look given to Gabriel, which has her turning away towards the stove to light the fire. She even turns on the oven, pre-heating it, then turns towards the counter again to get out the dough to knead it. She was making biscuits! (It's going to taste HORRIBLE.) "Plus, this is like the biggest mystery ever. I want to be selfish and keep him to myself. But.. I think I need to go back into bug land and get his box."
*
At Logan's instruction to sit, Gabriel does such, making his way over to the sofa where he sits down in complete proper fashion. Hands folded over on his lap, posture upright and tight looking incapable of relaxing. "I am present. There is no need to speak around me." He manages to attempt a smile; it's creepy and weird looking from the forced attempt.
"It is uncomfortable to have a voice in my head. It is already quite confusing to me all that has transpired. Why do you have the means to do this? Are you the same?" He asks looking at Logan then.
*
Logan raises an eyebrow, "We're talkin' around you cause you a stray, boy. The stray dog don't get no say in where he gets to sleep, he just takes whatever pile o' clothes smells the best," he says. "And nah, I can't read no minds, I got…different kinda talents," he says.
"You got my attention now, though, bub, so let's see - you came in a box, you don't remember jack shit and Jeannie here wants to keep ya all to herself. Long odds she'd have done the same if you had a mug like Ernest Borgnine," he says, knowing Jean is making her terrible biscuits but not minding. He wasn't as picky about food as most folks, he'd eat what she made. "She said you got cooked by a bug, but you don't look all cooked."
*
"I know, Gabriel. But I'm telling him a story about you, which is why I'm speaking around you." Jean explains. Once everything was good and ready, biscuits cut, ham on a low fry, potatoes slowly heating.. she moves to settle upon the table in front of Gabriel, sitting just as he does in a near practical mimic of his stature. "I was born this way. Doing the things that I do. Just like Logan is to a point." She glances over towards Logan, then smiles. "His is a lot more dangerous physically. Mine is mentally, though physical too. I can move things with my mind.. and this." Both of her hands lift, a slow spark forming -near- her fingertips. Soon after, tiny wisps of flame form around the air, which rolls down her arms. She was unsure if Logan had seen that yet.
"He didn't get cooked. His box did. And I remember that his box had writing on it. It glowed. I don't think the box was damaged though, which is why we should go and find it. I think he's an alien."
*
An eyebrow from Gabriel quirks up at Jean's words. He had been rather listening after being shushed like a good puppy but the last part about being an alien draws his attention to her. His head tilts and then he looks at Logan. "An Alien is something different?" The question is asked in a bare little whisper before his nose turns upwards and he catches scent of the cooking food, eyes starting to drift that way and crossing to Jean as they do. "If I am this thing you speak of, what is to be done with me? I do not think I wish to be a prisoner."
*
Logan snorts, "Prisoner? You see any bars on these windows, bub? They don't make ya biscuits in prison, that's fer damn sure," he says. Well, they probably do, but not -just- for you.
"I guess she's sayin' yer an alien cause she thinks yer from outer space or some shit. Which maybe you are, maybe you ain't. You look and smell normal enough to me - maybe a few weird trace scents on there, no doubt, but basically like a regular person," he says.
"I dunno. And I dunno anything about how to find out if you don't remember nothin'. Basically, I ain't much good to ya."
*
With a snap of her hands, the fire is immediately put out. While Logan answers the question, Jean stands and begins to check on the food, turning the hams over, stirring the potatoes and peppering them. "If you're an alien, then you're just an alien. We'll keep your secret. There's no need for the government to get their hands on you, and as long as I'm alive, we'll protect you." Her words were reassuring, even though she doesn't look back towards him.
"I mean, I can try to see if I could drag some memories from him, but I honestly think that the Professor should work with him on that. I.. really am not good at that sort of thing." Though she does look up to give Logan a slight frown. "You are good to him. What if someone comes looking for him? You can protect him." Though, her eyes light up with the prospects. "Or you can teach us how to fight!" She was all grins then, moving to search the cupboards for a few plates. "I'm okay somewhat, but it wouldn't hurt to learn more. And we can teach Gabriel how to defend himself. Maybe teach him how to hide and how to get along in our world." Yup, he's totally alien. "That's.. you know, when you're not with your girlfriend."
*
"You have spoken of this Professor. Is this someone to fear?" Gabriel asks first towards Logan then he turns to look at Jean's back as she is preparing food for her confirmation. "I do not know who I am to be afraid of, or who to trust. I am hesitant to trust any since I do not have any way of knowing which is the right course." He pauses then adds, "I do not mean to offend by saying such."
Turning back from watching Jean cook, his eyes go to Logan and his head tilts. "Why would I need to fight?"
*
Logan snorts, "Nah, Chuck's harmless. Powerful but he's got what they call a mild-mannered disposition," he says. "Just this is kinda his land, his territory, y'know? I'd give ya one o' them metaphors but you wouldn't know what the fuck I'm talking about," he says.
"I have been meanin' to teach you to fight, Jean, you know that. I ain't convinced he needs no trainin', but we'll see, I guess. I still think you oughtta tell Chuck, though, this ain't some junior high kid sleepin' over behind Daddy's back, this is a serious thing."
*
"No, actually! He's a really nice man. He loves to teach." Jean says almost happily. "Though, he's one person you shouldn't be afraid of, everyone else.." She shrugs her shoulders slightly. "I think fear is natural. If you feel it in regards to someone, it's okay to not want to be around them." Jean piles the food upon the plates, then walks the first one towards Logan, stopping to get him a beer to go along with his meal. For Gabriel, she just pours him a glass of cold water, saving the liquor for another date. His plate was offered up as well.
"Just in case, Gabriel. People are stupid, and do stupid things to other people. This world isn't kind." At least, that was the mildest way she could put it.
Though she nods to Logan, and takes her perch up in front of Gabriel again, her bottom lip poking out slightly. "Look, I know this is serious but.." There were no buts. She had no argument for this. "..I'll tell Charles in the morning. Promise."
*
Gabriel accepts the plate from Jean, looking at it steadily before poking at some of the food items with a finger. He seems most interested in the ham steak, as if uncertain what it is before he picks it up and takes a bite. The best image is that of a dog with peanut butter as he tries to chomp at the meat and grind it before it finally ends back up on his plate in a chewed up mess, face trying to hide the 'what the hell is this?' look but failing.
"I am not certain of this food." He sniffs a few other things, settling in on the biscuit to try and seems to settle in on that to eat. "If the world isn't kind and people are stupid, then why put up with it?"
*
Logan shrugs, "Where else we gonna go? I know on Mars or whatever, folks might just be able to run off to Planet Zero whenever they get pissed off, but the rest of us just gotta tough it out on this rock with the rest of the asssholes," he says.
"And you'll eat what yer given. Don't be ungrateful," he says firmly, taking a hard bite of the biscuit and chewing on the grainy, bone-dry thing vigorously.
*
If Jean was eating her own food, she would have made a nice little potato and ham sandwich. But she watches Gabriel carefully, a slow grin drawing upon her face as she breaks out into a fit of giggles, both hands lifting to cover her mouth. And then Logans speaking, and chewing afterwards, which increases the laughter to a point she's rocking back and forth with a shake of her head.
"Oh god.. you two.." They were a mess together. It was kind of endearing!
"Pretty much what Logan said. There's no where in the world left for us to go. I mean, we know that aliens exist, and I suppose they can survive on our planet, but how in the heck can we get there if we don't like it here?" Question for the ages! "Though.. I do sometimes wonder what it's like to fly among the stars.. She knows. The Phoenix." She says this pointedly towards Logan now. "I get the feeling that she's been everywhere and sometimes nowhere all at once."
*
"It feels odd." Gabriel explains to Logan in reference to the ham steak, he pokes at it with his finger and tilts his head. "Like… odd." There's no other way for the man to describe it. The biscuit on the other hand does seem to suit him and he gnaws on it for awhile, using the water to break it down further. He sets the plate aside instead focusing on holding the precious biscuit. His eyes are on Jean now however as she laughs at him. "What? Should I not be eating this?" He holds up the crumbling biscuit towards her with a skeptical expression.
*
Logan shakes his head at Gabriel, "Don't look at me, bub, I dunno what she's talkin' about half the time," he says. "I've felt everywhere and nowhere all at once, but usually only after a couple o' bottles o' Wild Turkey," he says.
"What it boils down to is, we'll get it figured out eventually. Until then, shut up, eat yer damn biscuit an' I guess you can throw a bedroll down here somewheres. But if you get outta line, I'll kick your damn ass and toss you out to sleep with the trees, ya ken?"
*
"Huh? Well, sometimes I feel that way about noodles. The really skinny kind. Sometimes remind me of worms." The laughing all but stopped, but there was a true, genuine smile upon her lips as she places her hands upon her lap. "No no! Eat! I'm sorry! It's just you two looked funny." She pauses, trying her best to clairify. "Uh, it's a good thing! Like, I don't know how to explain it. I know you don't know me but it feels homely." She shrugs.
She laughs at Logan's words again, finally standing to give a little stretch. "Told you he was going to say something like that." And with a pat-pat to Gabriel's shoulder, she gives a shake of her head towards Logan. "Let me handle it. You sit there and eat. Let me know if you want another beer. I'll go ahead and take the couch tonight, is that okay?"
*
Gabriel nods his head towards Logan in affirmation. "Yes, that seems reasonable. I do not think I would cause any problems… and whatever a bedroll is, I will utilize." His eyes shift over to Jean, shoulders shrug. "What is a bed roll?"
He finishes his biscuit and pokes at some of the other food, but clearly isn't interested. "I think I would benefit from being outside. Is that allowed?"
*
Logan snorts, "Bedroll's in my dresser, got a spare in there fer ya if ya need. Just somethin' soft to sleep on. You can go outside, but be careful after dark. Bears and coyotes out in the woods," he says. "An' if you hurt a hair on either of 'em, I'll take it out yer hide."
*