(She's a very casual person, of course, she would find that hilarious, and even more so that she heard not a negative peep about it. It's a blessing, and she can't even imagine Nate's face when he first saw it.
( Jules. Right. Definitely not a nickname he's going to call Julian.
He does, however, run the tips of his fingers over her palm then, soft and ghost-like as they trail up her wrist, drawing random shapes and patterns along the way. )
( To which he lets the softest of grins touch his lips as he wraps his fingers around her wrist and pulls her in just a little close there towards him. )
(Here is the thing. Distracting someone from something with physical attention is a classic Cuckoo strategy. It doesn't do its proper job of distracting or rewiring her thoughts, as it is a trademarked, tested, and approved action from her.
The other thing is that she isn't... Feeling it right now, honestly. His reaction worked as a cold shower for her, so he's gonna have to rebuild it.)
Nah, kinda not in the mood. Come on, let me teach you how to be a gamer.
( He doesn't even need to be a telepath to feel that and he pulls back some as he looks to her with those blue eyes of his. It's not even about her not wanting to kiss or touch. He can tell his surprise and confusion earlier has made her feel some sort of way. )
Listen, you can't just assume someone not telling you something that's got nothing to do with you is something bad, like some sorta wicked, bizarre little betrayal plan. There's plenty you don't tell me, and you literally just blew me off when I asked you what's going on.
(Her arms cross, and man, she's stubborn. With her eyebrows frowned, she watches him, hoping her words make through his brain.)
It's not fair to me, to him, and to you, thinking everything is a trust thing about to break, can't be good for you.
That's not what I meant. I was confused and you got upset. If I didn't trust him or thought he was going to do something to hurt me, do you really think I would have agreed to have him form a connection with me?
( Psi-link, psi-comm, whatever you want to call them. )
Do you think I'd reach out to you telepathically like I do if I didn't trust you?
That's why I was confused. Because he wouldn't be able to and I don't even know why he would.
( Feeling everything is just easier than talking. At least for a telepath. )
I didn't think it was some scheme to betray or hurt me.
( Pinching the bridge of his nose, eyes closed, he sighs. )
Look. I think there was just a misunderstanding and confusion on my part. ( Because so much confuses him, so why wouldn't this? ) I'm sorry it came off the way that it did.
And here is where you lose me, because first of all, he didn't, letting you know was a joint decision. I'm just the one telling you because I'm the one in bed with you, so I thought it was more appropriate.
(As far as she knows, anyway. Maybe he wanted Quentin to tell him, who knows, but that makes even less sense in her head.)
I'm not someone who won't say what I think, so here it is, it came out horribly. That said, I get you're a telepath, and we suck at choosing words and I'm not tuning into your brain station to figure you out myself. So, you know. Apology accepted, but you gotta promise you're gonna think on what I've said.
( He knows he didn’t. He knows. But he’s not going to keep saying it because it just circles them back around to both being confused with each other and making this into something bigger than it is. It was a misunderstanding on his part. Doesn’t seem to matter how many times he says it, so he’s not going to anymore. He phrased his confusion horribly instead of just letting his mind feel it out and do the talking. No point in beating a dead horse now.
(It wasn't just what he said, it was a culmination of things. What he didn't say by not talking to her when she asked, and the attempt to flirt during her attempts to work it out, which only fueled her annoyance. Let him learn, though. He's young, and he's clueless, so hopefully, that gives him some clarity on how to navigate things with someone from a whole different world.
At least, as promised, she put on her big girl pants and talked to him when things came up. Her arms slowly uncross, and she sighs right back, too.)
( He leaves is what now, but. He shouldn’t. Doing things this way — not just taking off to be on his own or using his telepathy to get a better idea of everything… it’s difficult. Being around so many of them is difficult. But he remembers what Julian said — about how he wanted Nate to come to him or them if anything was ever too much for him. Granted, he can’t exactly go to Julian about this with saying he wouldn’t mention it to the telekinetic out of respect for Sophie and Quentin, so. Words are hard.
Rubbing at his brow, he hunches over some and drapes his arms across his knees. )
Look… I’m sorry. Everything is just… a lot right now. Scott knowing who I am to him and it being told to him in a way I wouldn’t have wanted him to find out…
( He’s not mad at Julian. He didn’t know it was a thing Nate wanted to keep to himself for a little longer and he was out at the time. Things just happen. He just… hates not being able to prevent them or fix them. clearly why he one day grows a beard and decides to fix it all but )
There’s a lot on my mind and I know it’s not an excuse. I like you and I like Quentin. I don’t know why it came out like it did. I’m still trying to figure all this out. It’s a me thing, but you probably already know that. I just need to figure stuff out. It all feels like a lot right now. But you’re not. Neither is Quentin. So. I’m sorry.
(So now he wants to talk. Okay, then let's talk. Sophie has never been a beacon of patience, grace, and tact. Remember when she literally chose going back to being dead over being resurrected by Quentin? Yeah. She's trying to be better, but it's a work in progress, and her core remains majorly rotten for the time being.
Now it's her turn to pinch the bridge of her nose, careful not to smudge any makeup, because that would suck tremendously.)
Look, you gotta get your shit together, Nate. Not sure how, literally not my problem, but you do. Weird and horrible shit happening is factually the one certainty you're ever going to have in your life as a mutant. Get used to it, or else you're always going to have way too much on your mind, and that helps no one.
(So, he can't let stuff cloud his best judgment. It's that simple, especially when he has such poor control of his powers.)
Okay. Look, let me clear some confusion. I'm your friend who sleeps with you on occasion. I'm not mad just because of what you said; I'm mad because I gave you plenty of cues to talk to me about it, and you chose to distract me with affection instead. See the issue?
( Maybe he just needs to go away for a bit. Figure his shit out and all, but. Where would he even go? He could block them all from finding him, sure. But that gets tiring after awhile and, even if he did need time to himself, he’s not even sure how to figure it out. In this moment here, he finds himself missing Forge. The man he considered the closest thing to a father before he found out who his parentage was. He misses him so much he still finds himself dreaming about him. Forge would know what to say - how to guide him into figuring this out. But he’s gone and he misses him and he wishes he was here with him right now.
Ordinarily, this would likely be the time when a son would search for a father’s advice, but. Again. Not happening. Scott is younger than him - only just recently found out their relationship to one another, and even then, they don’t really know one another that well. Complicated as his relationship with Maddie was, he doesn’t even want to think what her advice would be. Something gently destructive that would likely make things more difficult for him in the long term. You know, were she even around to see it. But he really, truly, misses Forge right now and he stares down as he recalls the man fondly for a moment.
Blue eyes falling shut, he lets his thoughts gently wander back to previous things said. As much as hates Sinister, he was right in how he needs to learn how to control not just his powers, but his emotions, too. Sinister somewhat tried to play them off as a weakness for someone like him, but. He doesn’t necessarily think that true. They can hinder him some, sure. But they’re not a weakness. They just… make him a little impulsive at times. Reacting first rather than taking a step back. Oh. That’s probably what this was, huh? Well. Sinister will never have to know he might have been right about that, so. But that also means he’s right that he’s dying, too. Gotta love that guy.
He blocks out all the noise around him within the space, then lets his eyes gently open. Ok. )
Yeah. I’m sorry. ( He really is and he offers her an apologetic smile despite its faintness. ) Guess I just have to figure it out then.
( At that, he gets himself up and takes a look around the place before looking back to her. )
(There couldn't ever be a Sophie that isn't confrontational and antagonistic, nor one that would pat someone's back softly. It's just not who she is — she's hot-blooded, ready to fight someone on a moment's notice, and in most cases, unrepentant herself. She's a Cuckoo. Gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss is her bread and butter, and trying to be better isn't a complete 180; it's finding her footing away from the hivemind modus operandi, listening to the voice that set her apart as the 'ethical, hero, brave' one. That says, uh, a lot, really.
She could have accepted it — let him distract her, drop it, only to have it brought up again in a whole different moment when she inevitably gets bored and wants some chaos and drama to shoo it away. She didn't. That in itself is a small victory to be celebrated, although she doesn't particularly feel like high-fiving herself for the bare minimum right now, as she would in any other circumstance.
At least, she warned him over and over again just how trash she is. That has gotta count for something, too. Her arms cross as he goes through the motions again, giving him some time and space to figure out how he is going to respond to her until he stands.
( The wheels in his head are already turning — turning more clearly now that he’s blocked off the background noise of everyone else around him. He still doesn’t entirely have an idea of how he’s going to go about this, but. Getting away from All The Noise will surely help him figure that out. Just depends how long that will take. Challenge accepted either way. )
Thanks. Take care of yourself.
( Which she will, because she’s her, he knows, but. Sentiment conveyed and all that. Bit of a wave given, with that, he takes his leave. Off to wherever. )
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2025-06-02 08:03 pm (UTC)(She's a very casual person, of course, she would find that hilarious, and even more so that she heard not a negative peep about it. It's a blessing, and she can't even imagine Nate's face when he first saw it.
He needs some lightness in his heart.)
Yeah, definitely. I'll figure something out.
no subject
Date: 2025-06-02 08:08 pm (UTC)He does, however, run the tips of his fingers over her palm then, soft and ghost-like as they trail up her wrist, drawing random shapes and patterns along the way. )
So... what now? Back to your games?
no subject
Date: 2025-06-02 11:32 pm (UTC)This does feel nice, her smile returning a little as she focuses on how the touch feels on her skin.)
I mean, I guess, if you're not gonna share why your brain broke.
no subject
Date: 2025-06-02 11:39 pm (UTC)( To which he lets the softest of grins touch his lips as he wraps his fingers around her wrist and pulls her in just a little close there towards him. )
no subject
Date: 2025-06-05 08:06 pm (UTC)The other thing is that she isn't... Feeling it right now, honestly. His reaction worked as a cold shower for her, so he's gonna have to rebuild it.)
Nah, kinda not in the mood. Come on, let me teach you how to be a gamer.
no subject
Date: 2025-06-05 08:14 pm (UTC)What's wrong?
no subject
Date: 2025-06-05 08:29 pm (UTC)(Her arms cross, and man, she's stubborn. With her eyebrows frowned, she watches him, hoping her words make through his brain.)
It's not fair to me, to him, and to you, thinking everything is a trust thing about to break, can't be good for you.
no subject
Date: 2025-06-05 08:36 pm (UTC)( Psi-link, psi-comm, whatever you want to call them. )
Do you think I'd reach out to you telepathically like I do if I didn't trust you?
no subject
Date: 2025-06-05 08:43 pm (UTC)(Hopefully she's making sense. God, talking, she sucks at it.)
no subject
Date: 2025-06-05 08:46 pm (UTC)( Feeling everything is just easier than talking. At least for a telepath. )
I didn't think it was some scheme to betray or hurt me.
( Pinching the bridge of his nose, eyes closed, he sighs. )
Look. I think there was just a misunderstanding and confusion on my part. ( Because so much confuses him, so why wouldn't this? ) I'm sorry it came off the way that it did.
no subject
Date: 2025-06-05 11:20 pm (UTC)(As far as she knows, anyway. Maybe he wanted Quentin to tell him, who knows, but that makes even less sense in her head.)
I'm not someone who won't say what I think, so here it is, it came out horribly. That said, I get you're a telepath, and we suck at choosing words and I'm not tuning into your brain station to figure you out myself. So, you know. Apology accepted, but you gotta promise you're gonna think on what I've said.
no subject
Date: 2025-06-05 11:34 pm (UTC)Hand dropped away from his face, he sighs. )
Yeah. I will.
no subject
Date: 2025-06-06 12:11 am (UTC)At least, as promised, she put on her big girl pants and talked to him when things came up. Her arms slowly uncross, and she sighs right back, too.)
Good. What now?
no subject
Date: 2025-06-06 11:24 am (UTC)Rubbing at his brow, he hunches over some and drapes his arms across his knees. )
Look… I’m sorry. Everything is just… a lot right now. Scott knowing who I am to him and it being told to him in a way I wouldn’t have wanted him to find out…
( He’s not mad at Julian. He didn’t know it was a thing Nate wanted to keep to himself for a little longer and he was out at the time. Things just happen. He just… hates not being able to prevent them or fix them.
clearly why he one day grows a beard and decides to fix it all but)There’s a lot on my mind and I know it’s not an excuse. I like you and I like Quentin. I don’t know why it came out like it did. I’m still trying to figure all this out. It’s a me thing, but you probably already know that. I just need to figure stuff out. It all feels like a lot right now. But you’re not. Neither is Quentin. So. I’m sorry.
no subject
Date: 2025-06-06 12:09 pm (UTC)Now it's her turn to pinch the bridge of her nose, careful not to smudge any makeup, because that would suck tremendously.)
Look, you gotta get your shit together, Nate. Not sure how, literally not my problem, but you do. Weird and horrible shit happening is factually the one certainty you're ever going to have in your life as a mutant. Get used to it, or else you're always going to have way too much on your mind, and that helps no one.
(So, he can't let stuff cloud his best judgment. It's that simple, especially when he has such poor control of his powers.)
Okay. Look, let me clear some confusion. I'm your friend who sleeps with you on occasion. I'm not mad just because of what you said; I'm mad because I gave you plenty of cues to talk to me about it, and you chose to distract me with affection instead. See the issue?
no subject
Date: 2025-06-06 02:03 pm (UTC)Ordinarily, this would likely be the time when a son would search for a father’s advice, but. Again. Not happening. Scott is younger than him - only just recently found out their relationship to one another, and even then, they don’t really know one another that well. Complicated as his relationship with Maddie was, he doesn’t even want to think what her advice would be. Something gently destructive that would likely make things more difficult for him in the long term. You know, were she even around to see it. But he really, truly, misses Forge right now and he stares down as he recalls the man fondly for a moment.
Blue eyes falling shut, he lets his thoughts gently wander back to previous things said. As much as hates Sinister, he was right in how he needs to learn how to control not just his powers, but his emotions, too. Sinister somewhat tried to play them off as a weakness for someone like him, but. He doesn’t necessarily think that true. They can hinder him some, sure. But they’re not a weakness. They just… make him a little impulsive at times. Reacting first rather than taking a step back. Oh. That’s probably what this was, huh? Well. Sinister will never have to know he might have been right about that, so. But that also means he’s right that he’s dying, too. Gotta love that guy.
He blocks out all the noise around him within the space, then lets his eyes gently open. Ok. )
Yeah. I’m sorry. ( He really is and he offers her an apologetic smile despite its faintness. ) Guess I just have to figure it out then.
( At that, he gets himself up and takes a look around the place before looking back to her. )
I’m gonna see if I can do that.
( How, well. Lol. To be determined. )
no subject
Date: 2025-06-06 07:31 pm (UTC)She could have accepted it — let him distract her, drop it, only to have it brought up again in a whole different moment when she inevitably gets bored and wants some chaos and drama to shoo it away. She didn't. That in itself is a small victory to be celebrated, although she doesn't particularly feel like high-fiving herself for the bare minimum right now, as she would in any other circumstance.
At least, she warned him over and over again just how trash she is. That has gotta count for something, too. Her arms cross as he goes through the motions again, giving him some time and space to figure out how he is going to respond to her until he stands.
Okay. That works, actually.)
Good. Good luck.
no subject
Date: 2025-06-07 01:58 pm (UTC)Thanks. Take care of yourself.
( Which she will, because she’s her, he knows, but. Sentiment conveyed and all that. Bit of a wave given, with that, he takes his leave. Off to wherever. )