Empire Records and Bidet: [8/31]

[multi-madrox.livejournal.com]

Jamie opens up Empire Records once again.

Yes, the country music is still playing.

Yes, he's still wearing the suit.

Shut up.

Comments

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia came in, ostensibly looking for music she could play for her band audition.

The fact that she knew Jamie would be working today?

Totally not even relevant. . . .

"Hey. How are you holding up?"

[multi-madrox.livejournal.com]

"Okay I suppose," Jamie replied even though his face registered something different. "Just hanging in there. How are you doing?"

[nadiathesaint]

"I'm okay. Good, even. You're still staying in that abandoned house?"

[multi-madrox.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," Jamie said nodding his head. "Kind of boring but I feel safe there."

[nadiathesaint]

"That's good." Could this get more uncomfortable? "Have you gotten anywhere with your powers?"

[multi-madrox.livejournal.com]

Jamie gave off a long sigh. "Yeah mostly I've been meditating and trying to work on this empathic link thing that I have with my duplicates. Most of the time I just feel when they are in trouble but I'm working on it so I'll know when a duplicate might have a troublesome personality."

"So far? I've got nothing."

[nadiathesaint]

"But you can absorb them from a distance now, which is pretty cool,"

[multi-madrox.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, it's still a little weird though," Jamie replied. "I should probably talk to my duplicate at Xavier's and see if he's learned any tricks."

[nadiathesaint]

"Wait, you mean you still have a duplicate out there? How do you know he isn't evil?"

[multi-madrox.livejournal.com]

"Duplicates," Jamie replied emphasizing the plural. "The one at Xavier's has been there since the beginning of the summer and hasn't caused any... well he he's played some pranks but he's not evil. Besides if he was one of the telepaths there would probably turn him into a mental turnip."

"As for the rest? Well I sent them out before the evil version of me cropped up. If any of them have an aspect of my personality I'm hoping it's the fluffy bunny kind."

[nadiathesaint]

"Hoping" was not quite the answer Nadia had wanted. "Can the . . . telepaths do something to help control the . . . dark side of your personality?"

[multi-madrox.livejournal.com]

"Probably not without giving me a mental lobotomy," Jamie replied. "I'm no psych major but it's not something that you can cut out like a side of beef. It's a part of who I am. Unfortunately."

[nadiathesaint]

"Right. Have you ever tried beating the crap out of a punching bag when you get mad? Because I've found that to be very theraputic."

[multi-madrox.livejournal.com]

"That helps when I'm feeling angry," Jamie admitted, "But I don't think that would help with what happened. Let me put it this way: Have you ever laughed when someone slipped and fell on his or her butt? Played a prank on someone for your own amusement? Maybe draw all over someone's face when they were incapacitated?"

[nadiathesaint]

"That's just human nature, Jamie. It doesn't make you evil."

[multi-madrox.livejournal.com]

"Exactly," Jamie said. "Now imagine that part of you given free reign. A part of you that isn't hampered by morals or compassion."

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia just kind of looked at Jamie for a long time.

The feel of the gun in her hand, the looseness of her wrist, elbow, shoulder, as they absorbed the kick back of each shot, Roberto falling backwards, wounds opening in his chest--

"Yeah, okay, I see your point."

[multi-madrox.livejournal.com]

"You okay?" Jamie asked looking at Nadia cautiously. "You're not going to have me committed are you?"

[nadiathesaint]

"I'm probably the wrong person to talk to anyone about being committed." Nadia shook her head. "And I'm fine. Just worried about you."

[multi-madrox.livejournal.com]

"I'll be all right," Jamie assured her. "As soon as I know I won't hurt anyone else I'll be back in our room."

[nadiathesaint]

". . . take your time. Make sure you get all the kinks out. . . ." Nadia realized what she was saying and blushed. "You know you're welcome back any time. Just let me know."

[multi-madrox.livejournal.com]

"I'll give you plenty of warning," Jamie replied with a sly grin. "Just in case you have your own kinks that you need to work out."

[nadiathesaint]

"Our kinks are perfectly fine as they are."

Oh, more blushing.

"Anyway, I'm looking for something to sing for the band auditions this weekend. Any suggestions?"

[multi-madrox.livejournal.com]

"What kind of band is it?" Jamie asked. "Punk? Classic rock? Heavy Metal? You know you can't go wrong with Spinal Tap."

[nadiathesaint]

"That band that played at the music festival? Erm. No thanks. It's Zero's band. So probably punk?"