fandomtownies | Empire Records and Bidet: [8/31]

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

"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."

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

"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."

"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."

"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?"

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

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

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."

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

"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."

"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."

". . . 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."

"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."

"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?"

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

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

"Huh. Well there's the Sex Pistols and The Clash, of course," Jamie said walking back to the appropriate section of the store. "You could probably use some of the earlier Police and Elvis Costello stuff if you didn't want to go totally punk. Oh wait!"

Jamie picked out what appeared to be a copy of Dirk Hopeless and The Undertow's recent album. "This might give you an idea of what songs she might be into. Then again if she has issues with her dad it might rub her the wrong way."

Nadia peered at the album and nodded slowly. "Either way, it would be good to know what kind of background she has. Thanks."

"You want to just listen to them? Or would you like me to buy a couple for you?" Jamie suggested. "It's the least I could after all the trouble I've put you through."

"Jamie you don't have to--" Nadia thought of the other things she might want to buy that day, or soon. "Yeah, okay, you can buy me one."

"Take your pick," Jamie said heading back to the register.

Nadia sifted through a bunch of the CDs, and brought three, the Dirk Hopeless one, one of a live recording of the Cure, and one by a band called "Pretty Girls Make Graves" to the register. She gave Jamie a look. "You're buying me the cheapest one."

"Okay, but I'm giving you my employee discount for all three," Jamie replied as he paid for the cheapest one and then rung up the other CD's. "Unless of course you still work here then it's your employee discount too."

"I'm not sure I ever officially quit, but I'm pretty sure not working for two months probably means I'm not still employed."

Empire Records and Bidet: [8/31]

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