I swear I'm right, I swear I knew it all along,

[ahhmahjaysus]

WHO: Jay Guthrie (ahhmahjaysus), OPEN!
WHERE: Xavier's Institute. Default is the hallways, but if you want a specific location like the kitchen or something, just put it in the header?
WHEN: Backdated to afternoon-ish today? Like above, anything goes, just specify!
WARNINGS: I AM SELFISH I AM WRONG I mean probably massive angst somewhere in there
SUMMARY: Jay

Comments

[ahhmahgawd]

Sam hadn't talked much to Jay since that day with Paige, so when he caught sight of him in the hallway, he didn't know what to do. They'd conversed a little over the network since then, but that was it. He felt a lot of guilt for Jay, and he assumed his brother just didn't want to see him. So he kept his distance, he tried to give him his space.

Jay was just one of those things Sam really failed at, as much as he hated it.

"Uh, hey..."

[ahhmahjaysus]

Seeing Sam always brought on a plethora of mixed emotions. Jay trusted him. Strained as their relationship might have been, Jay thought he could at least trust his brother enough to tell him the truth. But even after everything he told Sam about Julia-- some things nobody else knew, and yet Sam still didn't say a damn thing about Jay's future until he cornered his brother.

Jay didn't hide a frown, ignoring the part of him that still wondered if he'd be better off not knowing.

"Hi."

[ahhmahgawd]

"Class...alright today?" he asked cautiously. The only reason Sam didn't tell Jay about the future, was because he wanted him to be happy. He knew Jay had feelings for Sooraya, as it was kind of obvious, and he wanted his brother to live and just...be a teenager. Be happy and healthy. Of course that didn't work out that well, but he still tried. He only wanted to do what Momma would want, and Momma would want to protect him.

Besides, telling Jay was probably one of the hardest, most heartbreaking things he'd ever done.

[ahhmahjaysus]

Jay just shook his head, brushing away the hair that fell into his eyes. What was he going to do? Bare his soul to Sam and wait the couple months to see what else he missed about the future? Yeah, right.

"I really don't want to talk about it." he finally answered in a flat tone.

[iownkickassguns]

Before officially adding her own class to the student schedule next week, Dani had decided to visit the school that day and sit in on a few classes and observe student life. Her experience growing up at Xavier's School had brought her many happy memories but back at home, there were hundreds of students. Had been, she corrected herself, before M-Day. And it was different on Utopia now. School hadn't been a big priority considering their current situation.

She took a breath and focused once again on the students in the here and now. After the end of an astronomy class, she walked into what she thought was an empty classroom to scout out her new work space. In that room though, was Jay. Her breath caught. The last time she had seen him, she'd left in her own pain after losing her powers and her place at the school. She had regretted not being there for Jay. And she had felt her heart ache upon hearing about his death. But Jay was right here. She couldn't hold back a small smile of relief

[ahhmahjaysus]

Jay looked away from the window, just seeming to notice the empty classroom when he looked over to the doorway. Upon seeing Dani, he scrambles to stand.

"Dani!"

Upon recollection, he wondered if maybe he had seen Mirage on the team line-ups. He'd been so distracted by Sam and just dealing with his own emotions he hadn't even realized Dani-- Dani was there.

[iownkickassguns]

Dani smiled. "Jay. It is so good to see you."

Jay had been one of the more sensitive students in her squad but at the same time, deeply perceptive. She wondered belatedly what was happening in his time before arriving in the City.

She cocked her head, "I've got to drop off a few things at my office. Walk with me."

[ahhmahjaysus]

"Uh, yeah, definitely, just..." Jay trailed off as he gathered his textbook and binder, packed full with missed work, then went over to join her.

"...When were you 'ported in?" he ventured to ask after a moment, the guilt obvious in his voice as he got the sinking feeling that school wasn't the only thing he'd missed in the few weeks he'd mostly spent in solitude. Dani was here when Jay was first ported in, sure, but they never got the chance to actually talk before she was gone again and now he was dead and... it was really, really good to see her.

[ahhmahlawd]

Paige had promising to make an effort to come to the institute more to spend time with Jay and her mother and she intended to keep it. To be honest, she always was a family person, coming home every chance she could get, every holiday, because even if she wanted to live her own life independently, she couldn't imagine doing it without them with her. And hearing the news about Jay... well, now that she was over the shock of it, it was time to do what good older siblings did-- pretend everything was okay for the sake of the younger siblings and make sure they were happy.

"Hey, Jay!" Paige said cheerfully, giving her brother a big hug. "Guess who just made bank and is going to treat her favorite brother to anything he wants without Sam or Mom knowing?"

She had her first paycheck in her wallet. If he wanted to go for food, she would treat him. If he wanted to go hang out somewhere, she would take him. Because if anyone needed a cheer up right now it was him.

[ahhmahjaysus]

"Paige, hey." Compared to Paige's bright greeting, Jay's own fell flat. He was tired from a bad day, yeah, but at least he still tried for his sister. Paige wasn't the only one who was an older sibling here. That, and Jay just knew her, and knew that getting out of her painfully obvious attempt to cheer him up really wasn't an option.

"Y'know Ah'm a simple man. Ah don't need much." he teased, laying his accent on too thick to not be teasing her.

HORRIBLE QUICKLOGGING OH GOD OH MAN OH GOD

[fromyourbones]

[And look who's also gotten out of her final class and is walking by him in the hall! That's right, y'all. It's Awkward Lass.

She has a notebook of some sort in her hands and notices Jay almost immediately, and oh wow he looks like crap warmed over. This is not what Sooraya thinks, of course, because Sooraya ever uttering the words "crap warmed over", even mentally, is a physical impossibility, but she notes something to that effect. Time to attempt to... cheer him up? That's sort of impossible, but she has to try.

Awkwardly.]

Jay...?

[ahhmahjaysus]

[Jay perks up at the sight of Sooraya, managing a small, but genuine smile for her. There... really isn't a time when he's not glad to see her, despite, you know, that whole thing about her being kind of a huge reminder of the future he'll never have.]

Hey, Sooraya...

[fromyourbones]

Hello.

[Sooraya smiles back, equally genuine and equally... dinky but that's beyond the point. She thinks that Jay will understand and appreciate it more if she does not put on the impression of fake cheerfulness, and she owes honesty to him after the past few months. She sounds kind of hopeful as she speaks again.]

You are going to classes again?

[It's not as though she hasn't seen him around in them, I'm assuming, but still.]

[ahhmahjaysus]

[And Jay does appreciate it! And his smile grows]

Yeah. [Shrugging] I guess it had to happen sooner or later. I can't keep hiding until I'm ported out.

[He rubs his neck, kind of embarrassed, and a little sad.]

I'm sorry... For disappearing like that.

[And for, uh, dying.]