5716/A Last Night Stroll by the Lake

A Last Night Stroll by the Lake
Date of Scene:	25 March 2021
Location:	Breakstone Lake
Synopsis:	Hank and Ororo spend some time talking by the lake and decide to help each other out.
Cast of Characters:	Ororo Munroe, Henry McCoy

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Ororo Munroe has posed:
The sun set not too long ago, the cool evening air blowing gently across the land. It was still too cold for swimming, the lake still made for a beautiful location for a night walk.

Most people would walk around the lake on the land, taking the paths that have been formed over the years from use, but not Ororo. At the present time she is hovering just above the water a few feet from the shore, her bare toes touching the water. Wearing what appears to be a long summer dress with a random floral pattern that reaches nearly to her ankles, and over it a pale blue cardigan because in the cooler weather, she's supposed to look like it effects her.

Henry McCoy has posed:
Cold was generally of no concern to Henry, honestly. The thick blue fur kept him nice and toasty, no real reason for outerwear unless he was heading to the arctic. Lately, his daily activities have been swinging in each direction - a day buried in the lab, the next running in the woods near the estate. His mind was trying to please both sides of the equation that was his being - science and primal. Tonight, he was dealing with the latter.

He'd spent most the day bounding through the trees, leaping and swinging as the Beast desired. As darkness fell upon the land, his focused turned towards home. Bare feet padded along the shore of the lake, his eyes peering out over the placid waters as he made his way back to the mansion. Imagine his surprise, spotting the woman floating over the waves. Not that he's surprised that she's doing it, just an unexpected spotting of a wild Ororo.

"Evening, Ororo." He offers, giving a wave to her and a smile. "Thinking of a swim?"

Ororo Munroe has posed:
Turning around in a flowing motion of will, Ororo offers Henry a smile. She hadn't expected company in her last night floating, but it was welcome all the same.

"I considered for a short time a swim, but decided it better to just watch the ripples drift across the surface when I tap the water." As a demonstration, she taps the water with her toe again, just enough to send little waves out from the spot toward the lake and the shore. "It is peaceful here," she continues, then moves over to land on the shore of the lake. "How are you tonight?"

Henry McCoy has posed:
His yellow eyes look to the water, following the ripples. "Peaceful, indeed. Quiet, stars are out..." Henry looks up to the sky, then back to her as she nears the shore. "I imagine being so close to nature, it looks so much more ... vibrant to you." A chuckle, the man shrugging just a touch. A scuff of his foot in the shoreline, toes dipping to the water briefly. "I'm... better. I ran out the animal tonight... I needed to get out and get my head clear. I've found that burning off the energy helps me be more clear-headeded and not at war with myself."

Ororo Munroe has posed:
Ororo's feet gently touch the ground and she is already walking over to him. "You have been struggling lately," she admits her knowledge of this to him. "You seem to be teetering between the two much more than you have in the past."

She stops by him, not afraid of either side that might be present, and gently lays her hand on his arm. "You know you do not have to fight this battle alone, right? I may not be able to assist in the war, but I can help with the battles so you are not alone."

Henry McCoy has posed:
His eyes follow her as he moves closer. The nervousness is easy to pick up on, for those who know him. "It... I've always had a more feral side, Ororo. But after being captured and tortured at the hands of Essex." Henry motions to his face and then his hands. "It change me. Forced a further evolution of my mutation... or regression. I cannot tell, so much. I've become more stronger, faster, healthier."

Again, he motions to his hands - now more cat paw than not. "But... I lost some manual dexterity. And... my mind. I feel often as if I am losing my understanding of science and logic. That the instincts are taking over." A shake of his head. "When Kitty was captured a while ago, I... was hard pressed to not kill her captors."

Ororo Munroe has posed:
Noting his nervousness, Ororo removes her hand but does not move away. She stays right beside him as she speaks.

"Who are you at your core Hank? Are you the things that seek to control you, or the things you control? Perhaps it was an evolution of your mutation, or it could have been a regression, either is combatable with your on will."

She looks out at the water. "No one understands more clearly that inner struggle between what you can do, want to do, and what you should do., more than I. But I also know that no thing worth having is easy to obtain. There can be peace inside of you," she looks back to him. "When you can stop fearing yourself and what you may become. I am not saying to stop the fight, merely to accept what the endings could be."

Henry McCoy has posed:
There's a few moments where Henry just breathes, listening to her words and letting them sink in. "I can only be me, Ororo. What... who I am is Henry McCoy. But... I am a man who has always relied on thinking over action. But now, as it is... I feel like I am outside of what I understand." The man tries to explain. "Good or bad, Ororo, it is terrifying."

He looks to her, canting his head. "How can one simply accept what the end is, when it is so contrary to all you've worked towards?" A look around. "What good am I to my friends if I cannot maintain control, or if I don't have my mind to offer help to them?"

Ororo Munroe has posed:
She turns back to look at him, and again she lays her hand on his arm. "This," she taps his arm. "This is a show of friendship, of affection for who you are, for the troubles and tribulations you are going through. This should not make you nervous, this should not scare you and yet it does."

A smile touches her lips, her eyes lifting to meet his. "You cannot live in fear or you are no good to yourself, and /you/ are most important. Your friends and family here love you Henry, we accept that you are two sides of a coin in conflict. We understand that this struggled is not an easy one, that it terrifies you, and yet you seek to withdraw yourself from us to protect us from? You?"

Her hand gently pets his arm, not like petting an animals, but a gentle touch of reassurance. "You accept what could be, that in the end you could be the beast, accept it. And once you have, you do what you can, with /our/ help to ensure it never happens."

Henry McCoy has posed:
A nod. "Yes. I can't bear to think that I might lose control and hurt my friends, my family." He says, honestly. He doesn't flinch from the touch, though his posture is tense. "Part of me is afraid that I will fail those I love, and they will leave." Henry admits, with a frown. "Logical or not, it's an emotional response. And right now, it's terribly difficult to sort out where emotion rules and logic does."

A slight smile from the man. "So let go, let the river carry me, and work with friends to steer with the current?" He wonders. "It sounds like an elegant solution, Ororo. Just... it's not easy for me to cede control to my destiny."

Ororo Munroe has posed:
Ororo nods with a soft smile, "It is nearly impossible, but I know you have the strength to do it, in time." Again she pets his arm. "Let me explain something that very few know."

For a moment she glances around. She's aware no one is there, but she looks all the same just to make certain.

"Every moment, of every day, I am in a struggle to control my emotions," she explains softly, looking back up to his face. "I became what I am not willing, not by choice, and in the beginning my emotions controlled the elements around me. If I was happy, the skies were clear, if I was sad, the skies wept, and if I was angry..." she leaves that one hanging there because she's pretty sure he gets the point.

"I often feel alone, and withdraw from others in the belief that it is easier to control if I am alone, but that is a lie. I lie to myself every time I do it and I would hate for us both to be lying to ourselves, Hank."

Henry McCoy has posed:
His mouth opens, then closes, at a loss for words in the moment. He nods, patting her hand in return on his arm. "I... fighting emotion is bad, at hiding them." He admits, looking around as well. "We have a lot in common, it would seem. And ... if I am a good friend to you, then I want you to know your emotions are safe around me." Henry assures.

"I can suffer rain and wind." He winks to her, with a slight chuckle. "I'd rather not test out how quickly I mend, in regards to lightning, though. So I will do my best to not aggravate you." The man teases. "Thank you, Ororo."

Ororo Munroe has posed:
With a slight bob of her head Ororo smiles again, "There are many who believe themselves alone, believe that no one can possibly understand, or accept, what or who they are. In our own darkness we forget that others know that darkness just as well. Thank you for understanding, and accepting. I hope it helps you to understand that you are not alone."

She looks back to the lake now, the way the wind plays over the top of the water. "It takes a lot to make me angry now, and I have learned my limits before I need to depart a situation that makes me too angry. A fine line between controlling it and using it. But let us hope there is nothing to make me angry between you and I, I would rather not test how you hold up to lightning or having all the air sucked out of your lungs by a tornado."

Henry McCoy has posed:
"I'd rather avoid the latter two events as well, Ororo." A wry grin. "So we help one another, then? Avoid being lost and alone?" The man suggests, looking out over the water - shallow waves from the night air. A scratch of his claws to his chin.

"So... what's the plan, then?" He wonders, a slight chuckle escaping him. "I'm terrible at the ... emotinonal side of counseling or planning. Science is my wheelhouse." Henry admits.

Ororo Munroe has posed:
For a moment Ororo considers as she watches the water, the wind picking up a little but not her doing. Looking back up to him she smiles, "I think for the next several days instead of being in my room, I will be in your lab with you. I do not think I can help you with your science, but I can keep you company while you do it. In this way, neither of us are alone.

Her hand pats his arm again, "Then, when you do feel the need to run, to escape, I can go with you so you are still not alone."

Henry McCoy has posed:
A nod and an oh. "Well, then. I think it'd be fair that I come to spend time with you then? I'd hate to see you couped up in a lab that often, Ororo. You're not meant for that." The man admits, with a grin. "I'd feel like a poor friend indeed if I were to put upon you like that. Alternate days, perhaps? A day in the lab, a day out in your element?" He suggests.

The tension is mostly gone from his frame, replaced with a bit of awkwardness.

Ororo Munroe has posed:
Canting her head, Ororo takes a moment to roll his idea around in her head. "There is very little to do in my room, unless you like tea and watching the skies, that said however, I could get a television or something more entertaining. Perhaps a card game or two?"

It is obvious she is trying to consider his level of boredom at having nothing to do in the attic. "I tend to read, watch the skies, read some more, and all while drinking tea. Very boring. I should get out more," she laughs at this, even though it's not really all that funny but since it is what they are presently talking about, it amuses her. "We can alternate days if that would make you more comfortable, we will merely have to come up with ways to entertaining ourselves in each other's element."

Henry McCoy has posed:
Henry thinks on that. "I am not opposed to reading, or sky watching." He admits. "It's not boring - it's introspective." The man corrects, with a chuckle. "Cards are always a fun past time, though they can be competitive." A laugh from the Beast. "And if you ever want to get out, do let me know? I try to get out to see musicals and see the town every so often. I'd love to escort you about for an evening." A nod.

Ororo Munroe has posed:
This revolation raises both of Ororo's eyebrows in surprise, for some reason she did not think of him as someone who would like going out and about. That lack of thinking causes her to chastise herself a little, it was rude and wrong to think that and the knowledge that he does is very delightful.

"Really? I would love that Hank," she admits cheerfully, the smile on her face brightening. "I have not been out 'on the town', as they say, in a very long time. I can honestly say that I have never been to a musical. I have seen one or two of the movies that are musicals though, does that count?"

Henry McCoy has posed:
A deep, friendly laugh at that. "I am not a snob - if you enjoyed the musical, then it is was time well spent. I have a lot of them on Bluray disc, after all." He gives her a grin, full of mirth. "And most definitely. We'll sort out a good show to see, then we'll hit the town. It's... impressive to see the choreography and the singing in real life. It's stunning, the hard work and beauty that goes into each performance."

A nod. "I will start looking at reviews and see if we can pin down a good show. Even so, the recurring performances of classics are always wonderful to see, Ororo."

Ororo Munroe has posed:
There is a hint of darkening to Ororo's cheeks, "I did not mean to imply you were a snob, only that... well, it seems that most people who love the theater do not like the movies." She clears her throat a little, and rids herself of the blush that darkened her face by smiling.

"I have seen a movie called Lil Abner, where they sang a lot. Oklahoma, where they sang a lot, and the last I have seen was called West Side Story." Yeah, those are oldies alright. "Are the ones in the theater similar? Acting then breaking into song and dance? I did enjoy them, and would enjoy seeing one live."

Henry McCoy has posed:
His grin only widens, Hank nodding to her. A pat to her arm, friendly gesture. "I know - there are some those who cannot allow someone to enjoy art in a different medium. I think both have their merit, after all - stage and screen." A nod. "I love West Side Story... I am a total sap for romance stories, after all." He offers, a bit of a blushing posture in his stance.

"Yes, they are exactly like that. Acting, props, dancing and singing." He beams. "I think you will most certainly enjoy it. I am almost always singing on my way home from such a show."

Ororo Munroe has posed:
That news actually makes the usual demure and classy Ororo bounce once on her feet. "That sounds wonderful! I think I know what you and I should do on the days we are in the attic." She smiles very broadly, even showing teeth with how big it is.

"We should do some reading, drink some tea, and watch a musical. A new one each time, until I have seen your collection." She seems to actually be excited by that idea. "Then when you can find one to go to, we can dress up and go to the theater to see one live. Perhaps have dinner before, a real outing."

Henry McCoy has posed:
Yeah, he's definitely blushing. "I'd really like that, Ororo. It sounds like a good plan." The man admits, nodding to her with a grin. "I've got a lot of them, though. You're likely not aware of my musical habit." He teases. "Some would call it an obsession." A genuine laugh.

"But those people don't have the songs stuck in their head so easily." A wink. "And yes, dinner. It would be lovely to be out with you."

Ororo Munroe has posed:
Ororo pats his arm again, and for one brief moment he may note that the wind stopped and it was a touch warmer. Yet with a deep breath drawn in, the control is recovered and she smiles. "Too excited," she admits casually, as if it was something that happened often, but clearly did not.

"You may have many, but that merely means many days we can watch a movie together. And just so you know," she leans a little closer, as if this is some sort of big secret and even whispers, "Some obsessions are okay."

Henry McCoy has posed:
Henry clears his throat, his weight shifting from foot to foot. "Glad to hear, then. I mean, about the excited. Er. And the obsessions." He trips over his words, grinning sheepishly. "It sounds like... we have a calendar to arrange then?" The man suggests, smiling.

"I... thank you. I appreciate you, Ororo - and thank you for being willing to spend time with me." He offers again.

Ororo Munroe has posed:
Once more Ororo pets his arm gently, "You are my friend Hank, I am always willing to spend time with you." She beams a smile to him as she speaks, moving past his tongue tripping over itself with ease. "The first plan to decide is tomorrow, your lab or my attic. From there, we can decide day by day how things are going and which place we will go."

Henry McCoy has posed:
Henry taps his chin with a claw. "I'll come to your attic, tomorrow. That will give me time to clean up my lab." He says, chuckling. "I've been a bit lax in my tidying up, as of late. Frustration and all that." He explains. "I'll bring a book and we can sort it out from there?"