» Quiet Time, OPEN THREAD

[Darren Lahner]

He reached over to the eraser stuck in the top of the pad and pulled it out, then awkwardly grasped it with his paws and started writing. The letters he wrote were scratchy, awkward, and barely legible, but if he looked hard enough, Max would be able to read it.

Sunset - Sunrise

It was only two words, but the meaning was obvious. He looked up at him and waited for his response. He wondered was what Max would do now. He knew Max wanted to stick around for Darren when he thought it would be a short change, but he wasn't sure how it would be now.

[Goliath]

It was slightly amusing to see the once man now animal trying to heft the pencil to scribble at the paper. The words were slightly smudged but the intent was clear. Sunset to sunrise. That was a long transformation time. Leaning back against the tree a hand went down and took the pencil. Words were scribbled there as well for Darren to see.

No problem. Always wanted to see a sunrise in the park. Us Mutants have to stick together after all.

[Darren Lahner]

He looked up at Max as he read the words scribbled on the paper. He cocked his head to the side as he read the words meant for him and he looked up at Max, surprised that someone he'd only just met was willing to spend the night in the park to wait for him to become human again.

He picked the pencil up again and started scribbling. Somewhere in the back of his mind, the thought came that he was glad they were in a small grove of trees otherwise people would be staring at the ferret trying to write.

Don't have to stay Done this before

He looked up at Max, interested to see his reaction. One thought that went through Darren's head was, what would they do all night? There weren't really that many things that a guy could do at night with a ferret. The best Darren could do would be to help Max pick up chicks.

[Goliath]

Eying the words he nodded softly and took up the pencil himself. The scritch scratch of lead on paper sounded. Finishing up he pulled it back and gestured at the words on the page. Good thing no one could see him apparently writing to a ferret in the middle of the park. The men in white would no doubt be called in at that point.

You sure? I don't mind staying.

[Darren Lahner]

He looked down at the words and sighed. Max wasn't backing down. But if truth be told, Darren did get a little lonely at night sometimes. He thought a little, then looked up at him, hoping he could answer his question. He picked the pencil up again and started writing.

What u do if go

He kept it short and simple, knowing it looked like something a child might write, but it was the best he could do in this form. Really, he found it quite impressive. He'd never tried writing in this form.

[Goliath]

Waiting for the ferret Daren to finish, eyes scanned across the park. The hanging lights were slowly beginning to turn on as the darkness came closer to settling in. A few errant joggers moved by up on the path, oblivious to the young man and furry animal by the bushes. Families bundled up and packed up to head home, days of fun over with. The last few couples around the benches finished their making out and disappeared into the night. The park was quite lovely and eerily peaceful at night it seemed.

Eyes moved back down to see Darren had finished. Taking the pencil himself he thought about what he would do. Most likely head back to the school and bum around for the night. Things were usually very dead there most nights. The curfew and such.

Probably go back to my school. Sit around. The usual.

Setting the pencil back down he rubbed at the back of his neck as bark scraped at it. A tree was not the best sitting spot it seemed. In truth staying at the park would be a lot more fun than the trip home. Especially with it already being late after dark. Sneaking in after curfew was far from fun.

[Darren Lahner]

Darren was glad tat Max was being so patient with him. Writing like this wasn't as easy as some would think. He looked up and waited for his response. When he saw the word 'school' he cocked his head to the side and took the pencil. Rather than write it out again, he underlined 'school' and put a question mark beneath it, looking up and waiting for his answer.

He lives in a school? Must be a boarding school of some kind. I wonder... could it be that mutant place? Would they be able to help someone like me?

He had heard of Xavier's before, but had never gotten up the courage to find out about it. He'd left college because of his power. He'd never really thought of going to another place to learn about... well anything.

[Goliath]

Catching the mark with the line and question mark, he nodded. Beginning to write, he spelled out Xaviers and many other things. Underlining the name Xavier's and that it was a school for mutants he leaned back and smiled. Most people had heard of Xavier's now. Especially after the tape of the attack came out. Setting the pencil back down he wondered how old Darren was and if the school would benefit him.

Picking the pencil up again he began to write again: It's a good place, it's really helped me and others. Maybe it could help you.

[Darren Lahner]

He watched as Max explained what Xavier's was and what they did. He read it all, then read his last comments. His ears lay back a bit and he looked down, thinking a little. Could he really go back to school? He didn't know if they would let him in or even help him. He looked up at Max, obviously torn, even in his ferret face, it was easy to see. He looked down at the page and took the pencil, writing his response.

Dont know if I can be helped.

He looked back up at Max, then looked down and sighed, laying down and curling up a little. He was afraid of going to others for help. He wasn't sure if he could be helped. He'd tried meditation, he'd tried concentration, he'd tried all the basic things he'd heard of for working with powers. Nothing had worked.

[Goliath]

Watching the look upon the ferret face, it was still clear that Darren was torn. Many mutants felt that they couldn't be helped and would have to walk alone. That no others would ever feel their pain. That was the beauty of Xavier's really. There were hundreds there that knew just how one felt. They themselves felt alone about their powers at one time or another. They were all on the same playing field. Sure some powers were harder to control than others, but it was learning to try that was the only way one could ever know if they could.

Watching Darren lie down after writing, he frowned slightly. The pencil was taken and words scratched upon the pad again: You'll never know if you can be helped, if you don't take a chance. It's a step that I never regret.

[Darren Lahner]

He looked at the words written on the pad, then looked back up at Max. He nodded and stood, climbing up the back of his shirt and draping over his shoulder. He hoped Max would understand. He wanted to go. He wanted to take a chance. He wanted to at least find out if he could become something other than a rodent.

At the very least... I know where I can go if I get in trouble.

He looked up at Max, then lay his head down on his shoulder, waiting.

[Goliath]

The response was given by the ferret scrambling up his arm to perch upon his shoulder. Nodding slightly to show he understood, a hand grasped the rough bark of the tree to help pull himself up from the ground. With a small grunt he was up and grabbed the sketchpad. Tucking it under the other arm he began the trek out of the park. It was always nice to help others, and in this case it was even better as it helped a fellow mutant out.

Reaching the exit of the park, he glanced around and began trekking down the street. It would be hard to get a cab with a ferret on his shoulder, but it was worth a try. Standing at the curb he called out for a taxi and waited.

[Darren Lahner]

Darren gripped his shirt to keep from falling, remembering only after they were nearly out of the park that Max had forgotten his clothes.

Damnit, now I have to go buy more. Pretty much guaranteed that they won't be there in the morning.

He watched as Max called out for a taxi and he looked around, everything past Max's arm was just a blur and he hated it. It was one of the many things that made life as a ferret terrible. Eventually a cab stopped and Darren held on to Max's shoulder so he wouldn't fall off when he was moving.

[Goliath]

The taxi pulled up and it dawned on the young man that Darren's clothes were left sitting in the park. Cursing lightly, he patted the ferret on the head and got into the taxi. The Institute could more than easily replace anything that was lost. They were rich after all. As the vehicle began to pull away, he hoped since he was helping a fellow mutant that they would look lightly upon his breaking of curfew. One could hope.


Continued Here