Meanwhile, at a convenient viewport...

by **Valdis Hallsdottir** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 11:17 pm

Valdis was walking down a long corridor, not seeming to be heading anywhere in particular.

by **Calvin Strong** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 11:18 pm

And midway down it, she'd find Cal, staring out one of the viewports, apparently lost in thought.

by **Valdis Hallsdottir** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 11:25 pm

She stopped, standing next to him. "Cal, right?"

by **Calvin Strong** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 11:30 pm

Cal looked away from the viewport, glancing over at her. "Yeah, that's me. Valis, right?"

by **Valdis Hallsdottir** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 11:35 pm

"You can just call me Val. I'm told it sounds a lot less unusual to the ears of native English-speakers. What are you doing here?"

by **Calvin Strong** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 11:42 pm

He shrugged. "Can't sleep. At least the view's good here," he said, nodding toward the viewport. In truth, he'd barely slept since they'd gotten onto the Nova ship, but that was a minor detail. As far as he was concerned it was, at least.

by **Valdis Hallsdottir** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 12:04 am

"It is. I never thought I'd see anything this far from...well, home." She turned her head toward him. "I've been meaning to thank you, for what you did while we were adrift."

by **Calvin Strong** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 12:08 am

He cocked an eyebrow, then seemed to understand her. "It's no big deal," he said. "Only did what anyone would've done if they could. I was just the one who could."

by **Valdis Hallsdottir** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:49 pm

"You sound like the others. They didn't sound very appreciative."

by **Calvin Strong** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:16 pm

"Yeah, well, I'm used to that," he said. "So what, should I be saying more about how awesome I am?" he asked, smirking a little.

by **Valdis Hallsdottir** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 1:07 am

"Boasting isn't a bad thing if it's well-deserved," she said, smiling.

by **Calvin Strong** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 1:08 am

He shrugged. "Honestly I'd just as soon forget about it," he admitted. "It... wasn't exactly fun."

by **Valdis Hallsdottir** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 1:38 am

"Hard deeds overcome should be remembered in song instead of forgotten. But, maybe that's just me. Either way, I thought you could use hearing some appreciation. I can leave it at that."

by **Calvin Strong** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 1:41 am

"Thanks," Cal said, sounding sincere. "It's... just hard to explain, I guess."

by **Valdis Hallsdottir** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 6:48 pm

She nodded, sensing that it was time to change the subject.

"So how long do you think it will be until everyone back on earth hears that we're alive?"

by **Calvin Strong** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 7:14 pm

His answer was immediate and seemingly reflexive. "Eleven days, six hours, assuming no unusual travel con- DAMMIT!" he scowled, cutting himself off in midsentence, punching the viewport and immediately regretting it. "Ow..." he grumbled, rubbing his knuckles.

by **Valdis Hallsdottir** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 12:26 am

"Sounds like you're still locked in with that computer," she commented neutrally.

by **Calvin Strong** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 12:28 am

"It's... hard to break out of the habits," he said. "Ask Rachel... or hell, any psychic, they'll tell you that the longer you're in someone's head, the harder it is to tell them from you. Getting hooked up into a computer like I was is the same thing. I close my eyes and I start thinking I'm back in there again..." He trailed off, shaking his head, staring resolutely out the viewport.

by **Valdis Hallsdottir** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 1:06 am

"Gods, I would hate that. Next time I want an estimate on something from you, I'll ask for a rough one instead of something precise."

by **Calvin Strong** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 1:16 am

"Won't matter. It's just reflex. It'll get better, it's just... taking its time, I guess."

by **Valdis Hallsdottir** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 1:21 am

"I'll take your word for it. Ugh, my Dad's probably worried sick right now. Or mourning."

by **Calvin Strong** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 11:49 pm

Cal sighed. "Well, hopefully doing some universe-saving will take their minds out of all the 'thought you were dead' that they went through," he mused. "Don't know how my folks are taking it. Or if they even got notified, really."

by **Valdis Hallsdottir** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 12:14 am

"That's a good point, I guess. I just assumed the school would send a condolence letter or something."

by **Calvin Strong** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 12:16 am

"Eh. I might have taken them off the list. I really can't remember, to be honest."

by **Valdis Hallsdottir** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 12:38 am

"Hm. Bad blood?"

by **Calvin Strong** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 12:54 am

"Dunno. Constant conflict and points of view that can't stand up to each other, more like. It's not like I've got anything against them, I just can't get along with my old man."

by **Valdis Hallsdottir** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 1:01 am

"That's a shame. I hope that one day you can reconcile. Once our more immediate problems are solved." She smirked.

by **Calvin Strong** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 1:43 am

"Heh. Maybe. I've kind of made myself stop worrying about it, really. Just... easier that way, y'know? Not good to spend too much time stressing over stuff you can't change."

by **Valdis Hallsdottir** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 2:08 am

"You're right. Did you join this team because you thought it would be your best chance to do something that would effect real change?"

by **Calvin Strong** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 2:12 am

"I joined this team because there are some things that I can't just sit around and let happen," he said. "Honestly... 'change'? I'll believe in that when I see it happening. I joined this team because that was the way that I could make sure that at the end of the day, my friends come home alive."

by **Valdis Hallsdottir** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 11:52 pm

"That's still a way to change the outcome of what might happen otherwise."

by **Calvin Strong** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 11:56 pm

"Yeah, but everyone else... you ask a lot of people, they'll say that they're doing this to prove that mutants are good, or to help mankind see us differently, stuff like that... lot of crap, if you ask me. Bigots will be bigots, and there will always be bigots. I really could care less what a bunch of assholes think, because you know what? I can shoot lightning out my ass and break a million in Vegas in one night. So the hell with them, let 'em hate me."

by **Valdis Hallsdottir** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 12:04 am

"...I guess as long as you do the right thing, it doesn't necessarily matter what line of reasoning gets you there. Personally, I think those of us who can do what we can do were called, but not many seem to agree with me on that point. I've accepted it."

by **Calvin Strong** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 12:19 am

"Kind of a bad history with that mindset. Saying that you're called tends to put people one step away from saying that they're infallible," Cal pointed out.

by **Valdis Hallsdottir** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 11:01 pm

"Not me, though." She sounded very sure of this. "Do you think I'll be allowed into the X-Men when we get back?," she asked, suddenly.

by **Calvin Strong** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 11:13 pm

"Um, you went into space to fight aliens. I think you've pretty much passed the prerequisites," Cal chuckled.

by **Valdis Hallsdottir** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 11:47 pm

"Excellent. The X-Teams are what drew me to Xavier's in the first place."

by **Calvin Strong** » Tue Mar 27, 2012 12:36 am

"I think that's what most people are saying these days. Our PR must be killer," he mused. "Well, welcome to what being an X-Man gets you. Stuck in space after watching a bunch of your friends get blown up."

by **Valdis Hallsdottir** » Tue Mar 27, 2012 9:24 pm

"There is no more honorable death than to die while fighting against a threat...especially if saving a friend is involved. At least by my reckoning. I know that doesn't help much."

by **Calvin Strong** » Tue Mar 27, 2012 11:16 pm

"Honor's great," he said, "But I don't think that 'getting blown up by a bomb in space' is what most people would want. And 'honor' doesn't do a damn thing for the people that are left behind. You can tell yourself that someone died with honor, and that it was a great cause, and blah blah, it doesn't change the fact that they're dead. That there's a big hole in you where they're supposed to be, and that you know that anyone you care about could be next."

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