As the name indicates...this RPG will revolve around Crossroads and New Beginnings.CrossroadsWe would like to see characters come to a 'crossroads' in their lives where important and life changing decisions have to be made. These events can be very personal...i.e. a relationship beginning, ending or changing, or they can be moral or spiritual. Whatever is decided, they should show 'growth' for your character.New BeginningsThis can be any number of items as well and most likely will relate back to the 'crossroads' in your character(s)' life or lives and/or career. They may be starting a new career as teacher or student at Xavier's School for the Gifted or may have been selected to train for the upcoming X-Men team(s). Their 'new beginning' once again may be as simple as establishing a new relationship or changes in an old one.
The X-Men and all likenesses are the property of Marvel Comics, 20th Century FOX, and ALL the creative minds therein. X-Men Crossroads is a non-profit RPG board. We here participate for the pure enjoyment and satisfaction writing in the X-Men Universe brings.Most of the Bio information is courtersy of Marvel Directory
Discoveries (Logan and Jonathan JP) - Closed to Participants
Continued From Taken Under His Wing
Where: Stables, then around the estate
When: 10ish, Sunday Morning
With: Maybe Logan, maybe just his crittersJonathan left the mansion via the back kitchen door and walked briskly along the cobblestone trail that led to the stables. Just short of the barn’s courtyard and paddocks, the trail split and he followed the fork around back of the building to the stairs leading up to his apartment. Deciding not to bother with formal riding kit, he chose only to change his comfortably worn loafers for a pair of equally worn riding boots.
From his apartment, he took the inside stairway leading to the Mews, saying good morning to each of the feathered residents. It didn’t take long for him to grab a loaded shotgun from his gun cabinet in his office, a scabbard to holster it in, and the White-Tailed Sea Eagle, Cymbrogi.
Inside the vast stable, Jonathan set Cymbrogi on a rail near his horses’ stalls, giving the raptor a soft ‘stay’ command. It took several minutes for him to situate both of his horses, their kits, and the bird in the nearest of the three warm-up paddocks. Jonathan figured that if Logan chose not to accept his invitation, he could fall back on plan 2 and 3. Either exercise each horse individually or ride one and take the other along on a tether. Neither plan allowed for optimum exercise but would be better than not going out at all.
The two horses complimented one another in size and style. Both were Fresian/Andalusian crosses, bred for size, endurance, and temperament. Dragon, stood perhaps a half-hand higher than Ghost and was a deep, rich blood bay in color with raven black points (mane, tail, and stockings). He was also marginally deeper of chest and heavier of body than the gray mare. Ghost made up in a long-legged floating stride what she lacked in height and body mass. Her dappled silver gray coat gleamed in the morning sunlight, accentuated by a flowing silver mane and tail. Both horses were also cross trained in various riding styles, though Jonathan often chose with lightweight Australian stock saddles and equally light racing snaffles.
Leaning down to pick up a soft brush and rubber curry comb from the tack bucket, Jonathan began the task of grooming each horse, picking any debris from their hooves and checking for loose shoes. It didn’t take long, so with the hope still fresh that Logan would accept the invitation, he attached a long line to Ghost’s halter and moved with her to the center of the paddock. Shaking the line, he called to the mare, setting her into an easy floating trot, guided gently by the pull of the long line.
Jonathan finished warming Ghost up and looped her lead rein casually over a post. The mare nuzzled his pocket for her treat which he obligingly fished out and handed to her with a gentle pat and soft word. Turning his attention to Dragon, he led the big bay out to the center of the paddock, shook out the long line and commanded the horse into a slow, springing trot.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Cymbrogi ruffle his feathers and turn bright eyes toward the forest trail.
“I know, Cym,” Jonathan called softly. “I see him.”Tag: Logan
OOC: I had to add to the beginning of our previous posts and alter the order for this to work as we’ve discussed. Hopefully, I arranged it so that you can edit in your post with ease. If not...it will be easy to edit this one.
As usual Logan had taken his usual pre-dawn prowl around the estate and, as usual, as soon as breakfast was finished he was out walking the paths through the woods again.
Reminiscent of a few hours before, he found himself close to the stables and hearing the same soft toned voice he'd heard earlier and the distinct sound of hooves stamping the dirt. Logan turned and made his way casually toward the sounds
As he neared the end of the path the denseness of the trees fell away to reveal the paddock area, where Dr. Chase was preparing for a ride, with the large bird he'd mentioned now perched nearby.
Unsure of the man's plans, and not wanting to intrude at the moment, he leaned his back against a large oak and fished a cigar from his shirt pocket. He was curious about the man since seeing him out on the patio the night before; he'd found his eyes kept finding their way back to him, feeling almost drawn to him and he didn't know why. However, Logan was not known for being openly social, preferring to observe from a distance unless, or even, when invited.
He drew slowly on the sweet stogey while watching the activity in the paddock area. Anyone else who might've been observing him would think him to be totally disinterested, but he was quite focused and attentive to the man and his possible motives... in any regard.
The young girl who seemed to accompany the man... Chase... was a curiosity as well. Both of them had a certain familiarity about them and Logan didn't know why. He didn't know either of them, past their names. He'd learned that Chase was a doctor of sorts and had come to the Institute during the years he was away, so the man... Chase... belonged here.
Logan continued to draw on his cigar casually, just off the path, in the sun dappled shade of the trees. It was an unconscious habit of his to watch people. He often learned more about a person simply by watching them; their attitude, mannerisms, character... motives.
The horses were beautiful animals, Logan noticed; strong, top of line and well taken care of. Well, that was something, wasn't it? And the bird... Well, it appeared that the man had a way with animals. Perhaps that's what he sensed from him; a rapport with the animals. Logan sighed quietly, lowering his eyes toward the ground as he rolled his thoughts around in his head, looking over at the paddocks now and again as he tried to decide what to do about the man's invitation.
___________________________________________________
Re: Discoveries (Logan and Jonathan JP) - Closed to Particip
With almost a wild thing’s instincts, Jonathan was always in touch with his environment and with the other lives that occupied it. Sensing Logan’s observation, the Brit continued his routine of preparing the horses for a good, long morning’s ride. He hoped that the other man had taken his invitation to heart and was there to join him. Jonathan couldn't quite sort out why he felt drawn to the man or what about him seemed so familiar.
Jonathan sensed a kindred spirit in the other man, just as he did with his raptors. He also perceived a reserve, perhaps a mistrust, aimed in his direction. Only time and patience would prove that Jonathan was pretty much exactly what he said he was...with only one secret that he was still reluctant, even after four years, to share with anyone else at the mansion.
Precisely fifteen minutes later, he reined Dragon to a gentle stop. Leading the big stallion to the rail, he switched the long line for a shorter lead rein and looped it over the fence post. The same routine followed with Dragon nuzzling Jonathan’s pockets looking for his piece of apple or carrot. The man smiled and handed over the politely requested treats. Taking a soft brush he quickly groomed the bay’s coat to a brilliant sheen.
Jonathan had strategically managed to tie both horses where he would be constantly in Logan’s line of sight. Without breaking his rhythm of running the brush and then the curry comb across the horse’s coat, he spoke, his voice pitched low but very clear. He didn’t know why, but he was confident that Logan could hear him, “I had hoped you would join me this morning. The stable is closed to the students on Sundays and Wednesdays so that I have some time to myself.”
Straightening, Jonathan looked across the paddock railing to the tree where Logan still stood. “I am truly sorry for the disruption this morning with Juliana and Karika. I should have moved quicker to try and calm her down. I'm afraid I'm used to dealing with the very young students and not the older residents. I shall have to adjust.”
“Ghost is ready, just needs tacked up. She’ll be quite a handful since she hasn’t been exercised under saddle in several days.”
Jonathan kept his voice and the invitation casual but not disinterested. He wanted to convey that Logan’s company was welcome but there was no pressure for the other man to join him. Turning back to the fence, he picked up Dragon’s saddle pad and saddle.TAG: Wolverine
Re: Discoveries (Logan and Jonathan JP) - Closed to ParticipHe didn’t know why, but he was confident that Logan could hear him, “I had hoped you would join me this morning. The stable is closed to the students on Sundays and Wednesdays so that I have some time to myself.”
At the sound of Dr. Chase's voice seemingly speaking to him, Logan looked up toward the paddock area a bit surprised. Pushing away from the tree, he stood up straighter and took the cigar from his mouth, hooking his thumbs into his belt.
Straightening, Jonathan looked across the paddock railing to the tree where Logan still stood. “I am truly sorry for the disruption this morning with Juliana and Karika. I should have moved quicker to try and calm her down. I'm afraid I'm used to dealing with the very young students and not the older residents. I shall have to adjust.”
“Ghost is ready, just needs tacked up. She’ll be quite a handful since she hasn’t been exercised under saddle in several days.” Turning back to the fence, he picked up Dragon’s saddle pad and saddle.
Logan wasn't sure why the doctor felt the need to apologize, what happened this morning was hardly his fault. He considered the man's indirect invitation to tack up the gray mare, then stepped down from under the tree to follow the path's end to the paddock.
Entering through the gate, he latched it again quietly and walked toward the waiting mare. On his approach he watched Chase begin to tack up the bay, then, hesitating for only a moment, he hefted the other saddle and pad together and swung it up onto Ghost's shoulders; sliding it back until it sat correctly then began fastening the girth. As he went through the task of suiting up the animal, Logan began to relax as he worked.
Once he'd gotten the bridle strapped on and adjusted the length of the stirrups for his shorter legs, he patted the horse's neck in a friendly manner and turned to look over at Dr. Chase, waiting for his cue.
Re: Discoveries (Logan and Jonathan JP) - Closed to Particip
Jonathan watched Logan's preparations with Ghost while seeming to be more involved with tacking Dragon up. He mentally nodded approval of the man's expertise with horses. Jonathan could tell a lot about a person's equestrian abilities simply by how they went about handling a horse from the ground. Logan demonstrated confidence and gentleness at odds with his rather fierce appearance.
The Brit also took cues from how his companions reacted to people. Ghost was calm and responsive, a glint of mischief in her night dark eyes. Dragon had been equally accepting of the other man's presence. Most of all, Cymbrogi, the fierce Sea Eagle, had remained relaxed on his nearby fence post. The great raptor exhibited no indications of fear...his feathers lay flat but not sleeked down tight in preparation for flight. In fact he had been preening one wing...a sure sign of comfort in a bird of any kind.
Satisfied that all was well for the moment, Jonathan left Dragon unbridled. Turning his midnight blue eyes toward Logan, he nodded toward the Sea Eagle. "Mind keeping an eye on Cymbrogi and Dragon while I go for my handling gloves and saddle perch?"
Once the other man had nodded his assent, Jonathan put one hand on the top rail of the paddock, lightly hopping over and striding toward the stable and the path that would lead him around to the mews and his domain. He quickly returned with a saddle bag and the saddle perch. Once away from the immediate area, Cymbrogi would take to the air but the bird liked to have a 'place' to come back to when he was ready.
Jonathan nodded again to Logan, enjoying the silent communication and rapport that had sprung up between them. He quickly affixed the perch, gun scabbard, and pack to the lightweight Australian stock saddle. Pulling the bridle off its peg, he slipped the light snaffle bit between Dragon's teeth and pulled the headstall over the stallion's head.
Next, Jonathan put one of the two handling gloves in the saddle bag, sliding the other onto his arm. His birds were banded to indicate their 'legal' status as captive wild birds, but they did not were jesses. Jonathan did not believe in fettering them anymore than necessary. They stayed from choice, not bribery or force.
Swinging lightly into the saddle, Jonathan held up his hand so that Cymbrogi had a clean line of sight, "Come."
At the man's command, the Sea Eagle spread his 12 foot wings and sprang aloft, circling once before diving to land perfectly on the outstretched arm. Jonathan immediately pulled his arm close to his body, caressing the bird with words. Settling the massive eagle on the perch now affixed to the prow of the saddle, he turned toward Logan.
"I thought we could ride toward Breakstone Lake. There's a meadow on the other side of the forest. It provides superb hunting for the raptors." Jonathan smiled and led off, maneuvering Dragon into position so he could open the gate and let them out of the paddock. He grinned as Ghost tossed her head, testing the hands on her reins. Hand and leg aids would settle her quickly. She only needed to have confidence in her rider's prowess. Once assured of Logan's abilities, the mare would be a spirited handful but incredibly responsive to command.
Jonathan held Dragon back waiting for Logan and Ghost to precede them out the gate. He then swung the big blood bay around in a perfect sidestep, closed the gate, and trotted the horse up alongside Ghost.
He smiled, sun glinting off his dark gold hair where the breeze ruffled it gently. Jonathan loved the outdoors and the feeling of freedom being in the natural world gave him. Grinning at Logan, he nodded toward the forest trail that would take them to the previously mentioned meadow near Breakstone Lake. "Take the lead and set the pace if you will." Tag: Logan
Re: Discoveries (Logan and Jonathan JP) - Closed to Particip
As he waited for Chase to return Logan stood beside Ghost, his back half turned toward the bay. He held the mare's reins in his right hand beneath her chin as he stroked her long muzzle with his left. He'd raise his eyes now and again to look into the large brown one looking back at him and placed his palm against her lips, letting her scent him and flap her soft fuzzy lips against his palm, her broad tongue sliding over his hand to pick up the natural salt from his skin.
He got acquainted with the mare, looking over his shoulder now and again at the bay and the bird he'd been left in charge of. Both seemed to be looking back at him with the same sense of friendly curiosity as he felt for the lot of them.
His ears twitched back, picking up the sound of the doctor's approach and he glanced in that direction. Dragon's ears flipped about in different directions like small radar dishes as he also picked up the familiar sound of Chase's footsteps and Ghost flipped her head up as if showing impatience. Logan pulled her head back down and gave her another pat.
He watched the doctor get situated as Ghost nudged him with her large nose and nuzzled at his jacket. Then Jonathan mounted the stallion and called to the raptor who came swiftly and lit upon the man's arm.
Realizing his companions were now ready to head out, Logan moved to his mount's side, and in one fluid motion he reached up with both hands to grab the horn and swung himself up onto the mare's back. Landing high on the cantle, he slid his weight down to settle into the seat; adjusting his legs and position as he toed into the stirrups. Picking up the reins, he looked up to see Chase heading over to open the gate. Logan patted Ghost's neck and nudged her with his legs, pulling the reins to the left as he encouraged her to move with a click of his tongue.
Ghost followed his commands; shaking her mane and throwing her head high, she tested him by trying to throw him off balance. She circled in on herself, then trotted forward a few paces quickly and Logan smiled at her spirit as he reined her in, giving her a solid pat on her thickly muscled neck.
Looking toward Chase, he noted the gate standing open and he moved the mare in that direction at a casual trot. Then slowing to a walk, he carefully guided her past the bay and out the gate; stopping, to wait for the doctor to secure the gate and join him.
Grinning at Logan, [Jonathan] nodded toward the forest trail that would take them to the previously mentioned meadow near Breakstone Lake. "Take the lead and set the pace if you will."
Logan's mouth quirked slightly, as if to smile; the very thought of this excursion brought a spark of light to his eyes. He kicked the mare gently to get her going, and again until she picked up a little speed and settled into an easy, running walk.
As he bounced lightly with the motion of the horse, Logan relaxed in the saddle; reins held lightly in one hand as he adjusted his hat with the other, a slight tilt and a push to be sure it'd stay put, as he led the way to the meadow.
-------------------------
Jonathan
Edited by: Wolvie6 at: 6/22/06 10:13 am
Re: Discoveries (Logan and Jonathan JP) - Closed to Particip
For the first few minutes, as they crossed the drive and entered the trail through the forest, Jonathan kept a close eye on Logan and how he handled Ghost. In a very short time, however, he relaxed and enjoyed the ride. It was evident that Logan was adept at handling horses and a proficient horseman.
They took the winding forest trail in easy stages, moving into a slow canter, trot, or easy walk as the trail permitted. Cymbrogi relaxed as well, ruffling his feathers out and resting on the saddle perch, safe in Jonathan's shadow.
The dappled light of the forest trail gradually brightened as the trees thinned. The trail ended in a long, narrow meadow, bisected by a wide rumbling creek. Both meadow and its creek rolled gently down to the shores of Breakstone Lake. Amazingly they were still on Xavier property. The estate included just over seven miles of lake frontage.
Jonathan nudged Dragon slightly past Logan and the prancing gray mare. Both horses knew what the meadow meant and were jibbing at the bits, demanding to stretch their legs. Jonathan tilted his head and looked back at Logan with a delighted laugh. With a smooth, graceful sweep of his arm, he called a command to the Sea Eagle, "Hunt, Cymbrogi."
The bird, with a flap of great wings soared up and over their heads, circling once with a triumphant scream. Streaking toward the lake, Cymbrogi challenged the men and their mounts, tied to the ground, to try and catch him.
Jonathan loosened rein and shouted at Logan, "You heard Cymbrogi...race you!" He whirled Dragon in a perfect half-rearing pivot, set heel to the massive stallion and leaned into the wind as the horse leaped forward.
Jonathan leaned forward, rising in the stirrups to put his weight over Dragon's withers. Loosening rein, his hands and heels gave the great bay stallion the signal to fly.
Leaping forward, the giant bay swept down the meadow, his great strides easily eating up the distance. The knee length black mane whipped back, almost hiding the rider. Jonathan laughed, a sound of pure joy, as he urged his mount to go even faster.
For the next several moments, Jonathan simply lost himself in the poetry of the ride. Moving expertly with the stallion, he didn't bother to guide the big horse, letting him choose his path and footing. In the distance, he could hear Cymbrogi calling. The great Sea Eagle circled back to hover over the riders and their mounts, enjoying the race.
Gradually, the sound of other hoofbeats intruded on Jonathan's reverie. He glanced over his shoulder to see Ghost coming up rapidly on his left flank. The mare, only marginally smaller than Dragon but longer of limb, seemed to float over the tall meadow grass. Her extended stride barely left a ripple in her wake. Tag: Logan
Edited by: DrJonathanChase at: 6/22/06 7:12 pm
Re: Discoveries (Logan and Jonathan JP) - Closed to Particip
As the gray mare shot forward on his command, Logan loosened the reins and let the horse have her head. He grinned wolfishly as the open stride of his mount made him feel as though he was being carried on the wind.
He knew instantly how she got the name Ghost as she seemed to float effortlessly across the grassy meadow. He leaned forward over the mare's neck, his face whipped by the thick mane. As he lifted his heavy weight from her back she was able to stretch out even further without him hindering her stride.
He couldn't help a genuine smile as Chase looked behind him to see him and Ghost coming up fast. Nearly neck and neck he urged the mare on with an exuberant shout. He hadn't felt this free in years.
Re: Discoveries (Logan and Jonathan JP)
Smiling at the other man's shout of encouragement to Ghost, Jonathan leaned closer in to Dragon's neck. "Come on, mate, fly!" He called to the massive bay. Obediently Dragon lengthened his stride, inching slightly ahead of the gray mare.
Distantly, Jonathan registered the sound of Cymbrogi's delighted scream as his ground-tied companions held their own race with the wind. The Sea Eagle soared low to urge them on with his own screams of joy at being free to fly.
Jonathan's laugh was pure joy at being outside, with a potential friend, that seemed to enjoy nature as he did. Calling over his shoulder to Logan, "Come on, slow poke, the day isn't getting any younger you know." The humor and teasing note in his voice was readily apparent.
"Neither am I!" Logan shouted back with a grin, then aggressively put his heels to the mare's ribs and shouting "Hyah!" the thundering hooves closed the distance between them as he and Chase stretched their mounts to the limits of what nature had given them.
As he came up alongside again, neck and neck, the power of the animals together was exhilarating as they neared the edge of Breakstone Lake at a tremendous velocity. He'd forgotten the exhilarating sensation of having such power thundering beneath him. The smile on his face and the spark in his eyes were not only a rare sight to see, but were genuine.
As the long-legged gray mare once again drew even with Dragon, Jonathan felt the massive stallion gear up for another surge of speed. The powerful muscles beneath him bunched and launched the bay forward. Ghost shook her head, demanding more rein and again drew even with the stallion. As they neared the cutoff point where they would have to turn and start back down the meadow or draw rein...Dragon managed to push his nose marginally in front of the mare, winning the impromptu race by the narrowest of margins.
Both men pulled up their reins at the same time before the horses plummeted into the lake. Logan barked out a laugh as the mare reared up beneath him and Chase's mount danced about as his forward momentum was suddenly brought to a halt. Jonathan swung Dragon in a small circle, settling and soothing the big bay with voice and hands. Logan dismounted, nearly jumping from the mare’s back as she too snorted and circled, grabbing the reins as he turned toward the doctor. Taking a moment, Logan also ran his hands over the mare’s legs and chest, seeming satisfied that she was still in good condition.
As Jonathan dismounted to loosen the girth and allow the stallion to breathe, he noted his companion following suit. Jonathan noted with pleasure that neither horse, in spite of the furious race, had worked up much of a lather. Jonathan still took the time to run his hands lightly and expertly down the stallion’s legs, feeling for abnormal heat or swelling. With both horses seeming in tip-top condition, he nodded his approval, noting with pleasure that Logan had also put the horse’s well being and comfort first.
Reaching into the pack on the saddle, Jonathan tossed a halter toward Logan, who caught it, tucking it under his arm as he proceeded to remove the mare’s bridle. Both men seemed to move in concert as they removed the tack from their mounts; placing the heated saddles in the grass, slipped the halters over their heads and turned them loose to rest after their hard ride.
Confident that neither horse would stray far, he slapped the big bay on the rump watching as the animal trotted to the lake's edge and dropped his head to whuff at the water then take a drink. Keeping a wary eye on the stallion to make certain he didn't drink too much after his hard run, Jonathan carried a pack of sandwiches and canteens over to the rock ledge near the water's edge.
Dragon only drank enough to satisfy initial thirst then waded into the lake, splashing and pawing at the water in preparation to lowering his massive body for a soak. Jonathan chuckled at the stallion, then nodded to Logan.
Taking Jonathan's lead, Logan had given the horse a gentle tap and a soft command and the gray mare trotted off to see what the stallion was into. He watched them for a moment with a grin then turned as Dr. Chase spoke up as he found a spot on a rock ledge to sit.
"Excellent race. They needed to unwind." The Brit paused for a moment, "As did I."
Logan looked at him, considering the man, then nodded as he looked toward the ground and stepped toward him. "Yeh, me too." Casually, he strolled up to stand a few feet from where Chase was getting comfortable and removing what smelled like lunch from the saddle pack.
Jonathan settled on the rocks, holding up the packs and canteens, "Hungry?"
Logan looked interested and was about to reply but the words had barely left Jonathan's mouth when a large, flopping trout fell from the sky and landed near the man's feet. Jonathan's blue eyes glanced skyward, as did Logan's, to see Cymbrogi flying back out over the lake. "Thanks, but I have mine..." Chase muttered, which made Logan chuckle silently.
Logan bent down and scooped up the fish from the ground then sat down beside Chase with a few feet of space separating them. Jonathan handed him a sandwich wrapped in wax paper and Logan nodded his thanks, but set it down on the rock next to him.
He watched the large raptor circling the water nearby and grinned with a thought. "Would hate to offend him by refusing his offer," he mentioned to his companion.
Then he grabbed the fish by the head and tail, bent it's body nearly in half and took a huge bite of its flesh. His large sharp teeth tore into it's back, removing a large portion of the meat. Logan let out a sigh as he chewed and stretched his arm toward Chase, offering him a bite of Cymbrogi's catch.
He relaxed and ate in companionable silence with his new friend... potentially, a new friend, as his eyes slowly roamed the landscape. The natural world was his home; the wilderness, a familiar playground. He felt relaxed out here, at peace.
Jonathan watched the other man with a mixture of amusement and interest in his expression, although he politely shook his head declining the offer of trout from Logan. Instead, he unwrapped one of the thick roast beef and cheddar sandwiches along with a package of homemade potato chips. Leaning over, he lay the 2nd canteen close to Logan.
"Cymbrogi will be glad that his hard work is appreciated." Jonathan stated quietly. "It is rare that one of the flock allows him to feed them."
Jonathan turned his gaze to the lake, watching as the massive Sea Eagle soared in lazy circles, eyes on the water. In an instant, Cymbrogi was again stooping toward the surface, only to pull up as the tips of his wings grazed the water, another large trout frantically trying to free itself from the raptor's talons. Beating his broad wings in strong strokes, the bird turned in the direction of his human companions, coming to light on a boulder not far from the two men. His gaze seemed to indicate approval regarding the dispensation of his previous catch. Screaming fiercely, he shook his feathers out then settled in to rip into his own fish, tearing the flesh and swallowing in smooth moves.
"Seems that you and Cym are bonding." Jonathan stated with another smile, looking first at Logan, then the bird before glancing to where the two horses grazed quietly a few feet away. "You also handled Ghost well. She can be a bit much sometimes." His deep voice and cultured British accent carried clearly though he spoke quietly. Years on the teaching and lecture circuit had taught Jonathan how to pitch his voice so that he could be heard clearly without being overly loud.
Logan gave a small grin to the bonding comment and looked up to see the large bird tearing into his fish in much the same way he had done to his. At the mention of how he handled the mare, he offered between chewing, "She's a beautiful animal... spirited. I like spirit."
Cymbrogi uttered a soft whistle as if welcoming Logan into their tiny 'family' as well. Jonathan laughed softly, "See...Cym agrees. 'Cymbrogi' is Celtic for Companion of the Heart. It is alleged to be one of the terms for the inner circle of King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table."
Logan seemed intrigued with the information and glanced at the doctor as he spoke about the legend of The Round Table. "Companion of the Heart," he repeated softly, "that's a nice thought." They both went quiet for a moment and when Dr. Chase began to speak again, Logan was reclining on one elbow, settling down to enjoy the scenery, and looked up at him.
Jonathan glanced around the meadow and out over the expanse of Breakstone Lake. "I've been here slightly over four years now. I have heard from others that you were here before?"
Logan nodded nonchalantly as his mind went back to years before. He was pulled from his thoughts as the man spoke again.
"You're other name...uh...code-name...is Wolverine?" There was nothing other than the gentle curiosity of wanting to learn about another person in Jonathan's quiet voice, but he was quick to add, "IF it is something you prefer not to speak of, I understand."
Logan nodded again and grunted softly, "Yeh, that's right."
Then Logan looked up at the man and said in a conversational tone, "Why wouldn't I wanna talk about it? That's my name... my codename." He rose from his elbow to sit up and plucked a piece of grass, slowly tearing it into bits length-wise, just to give his hands something to do. "Logan... Wolverine... that's me. What is it ya' wanna speak about?" he asked, opening the subject to the obviously curious man.
Tag: JC
OOC: Edited into one post with Wolvie's permission.
OOC: All set, I added in my final words, can start a new segment now from your next if ya' like. Edited by: Wolvie6 at: 6/26/06 9:19 pm
Re: Discoveries (Logan and Jonathan JP)
Jonathan smiled, dark blue eyes glowing, before quoting softly. "The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."
Logan listened to the man quote the fancy parable, his focus faraway and thoughtful. When Chase finished the sing-song verse, he turned to the doctor to say something but seemed to change his mind.
Jonathan paused and slanted a glance to where the other man reclined nearby, "I've kept mostly to myself... socially... over the last four years... for personal reasons. The others here have gone out of their way to welcome me in."
"Yeh?" Logan grunted, "That's good. For you, I mean." He meant it. He was glad to hear the man had been accepted, he honestly was. It always made things easier when you're the new guy, well, so he's heard anyway.
Jonathan paused again, "I don't want to intrude on your privacy, but I have reasons for being curious about you."
"Oh?" Logan replied without turning around. His walls came up and he dropped his head, scowling under the dark mane but not allowing the man to see. People were always "curious" about him... in that freak-of-nature sort of way.
"The first being how well you deal with the animals... my raptors have all immediately trusted you... that is not usual for them. I respect their opinions." The blond man smiled again. "Secondly, there are things... aspects of you that remind me somewhat of my charge... Karika Yashida."
Logan's heard turned slightly at the mention of the young girl with the familiar name, but he remained silent.
Jonathan paused again, "I thought, that in addition to the possiblility of making a new friend... that I might gain some insights into helping her as well." Jonathan quit speaking, hoping that he had couched his words well enough that Logan would understand that his foremost interest was simply in getting to know the other man. Other considerations were secondary and would come in time if they were meant to.
"You want me to make friends with her?" Logan asked, turning to look over his shoulder; his tone held tension and a hint of defiance. Even Logan didn't know the reason for it. "Or you see the chance for you to make friends with her?" he asked, looking for verification of what the man expected.
Jonathan chuckled, "I certainly botched that as far as making myself understood, didn't I? First... no... You decide who you wish to make a friend or not. I wouldn't presume to request that of anyone." He took a deep breath and continued, "As far as seeing this as a 'chance for me to make friends with her', that would be callous and very shallow and I certainly would never use another to further that cause. I don't have to be her friend... although if that happens, it might make teaching her easier... right now, for the most part, she trusts me. Karika and I can go from there."
"As far as the 'insights'... your relationship to nature, like Karika's, is far more heightened than the average person's... at least seems to be from the tiny bit I've observed. I have spent my career relating to wild animals..." Logan stiffened at the comment, bristling a moment as he equated the words with comparing him to a wild animal. As the doctor continued, though, he realized it was a totally unrelated statement. The man was just explaining his own experiences, not comparing.
"... mainly exotics... I have some small experience with people... mostly with abused teenagers from my post college days in psychology." Logan nodded as he continued to listen.
Jonathan paused, not sure if he was explaining things properly but doing his best. "With Karika I am faced with trying to teach the 'girl' to deal with society when she has had no opportunity to do so during her formative years. And I don't want to do this at the expense of her true nature... her feral nature for lack of a better descriptive. I want to help her, teach her, and show her that she can be 'her' and still deal with society... for what dealing with society is worth. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses... the best of us learn to balance them against one another. I need to reach this girl... and teach her... without messing her up. I thought that maybe you could teach me to help her."
"Not sure how I can do that, Doc," Logan said quietly. "There is very little 'balance' in havin' a feral nature. If she is a true feral... an' not just some 'wild child'..." he paused with a sigh, not knowing how to say what he was trying to convey. "We can't 'be us' and fit in. It doesn't work. Most people shrug ya' off as some sort of animal or criminal... make nasty comments when they think ya' can't hear 'em, but ya' can, cuz ya' got ears that can hear a rabbit chewin' grass fifty meters away....." Again he paused. All of his life all he wanted was someone to understand his way, his turmoil. "Bein' a feral tryin' to fit into civilized society ain't easy, Doc. Always bein' pulled toward the wild," he said with nod toward the dense woods beyond the lake. "Few ferals get along with each other, that's been my experience. When yer wild side wants to be left alone, in peace... an' yer human side wants to fit in with the rest o' humanity."
Jonathan watched Logan intently as he spoke, focusing on the other man's words completely, blue eyes steady and serious.
"There ain't no balance, Doc." Wolverine confided, with a slight shake of his head, in this man he just met and even while the words rolled from his mouth with ease, he couldn't understand why he felt he could trust the man with the information; with his feelings on the matter. It just happened.
There was another long pause as Jonathan considered his next words carefully, "I hope I have in no way offended you. It was not my intention. In fact... beyond enjoying the day's horseback ride and outing, I had nothing planned beyond that... and most likely should have left it that way." Jonathan sighed, "Please... perhaps it best that we disregard this conversation. My apologies."
Logan laid back again, resting on his elbow, and stuck a blade of grass between his teeth. "No need to apologize, Doc... I don't remember alot o' things about my life before I came here," he said without thinking, "but somethin' tells me ain't nobody ever cared enough to be that curious enough to come out an ask. I think they're afraid o' the answers they'd get..." He paused thoughtfully, then sighed. A moment later he offered, "Karika's a lucky girl to have ya' care so much about her.... about what happens to her." Nodding, he added, "Yer a good man, Doc." That was high praise coming from the Wolverine.
Jonathan tilted his head. He could relate to some extent and smiled slightly, leaning down to pick up a flat stone and skip it across the smooth surface of Breakstone Lake. "When I said earlier that the staff went out of their way to be kind... make me feel welcome... when I first arrived, that was true as far as it went at the time. I don't want to give the impression that my 'social isolation' is due to their indifference. But the longer I've been here, the more I've felt treated as the 'poor Human' who cannot take care of himself amongst the dangerous Mutants."
Logan turned to him with an expression of humorous disbelief then chuckled a bit as if he knew something the others didn't.
Chase paused and chuckled, "Perhaps the others are more considerate of your privacy and don't wish to intrude. I wasn't here during your first tenure so have nothing to base an opinion on as of yet." He paused again, blue eyes regarding the surface of the lake again before turning his gaze back to Logan. "I do care... and not just about Karika... but about all of the people here. I may have purposely kept my personal distance but only for my own peace of mind and spirit."
"Well, I can totally understand that, Doc. I think it's the same with me. Too much noise, too much... everythin'. It's alot o' energy to absorb an' sometimes I just need to get away to decompress, ya' know? They don't understand... that need to be alone."
His gaze was honest and direct as Jonathan regarded Logan, no guile, no games, "And I am curious. You call yourself a feral and that is how Karika has been termed as well. Now... that is probably the accepted term amongst Mutants for your nature and gifts... although I don't think, considering the technical definition of feral... that it is completely accurate."
"Oh really? Well no offense, Doc, but you don't know me all that well... now do ya'?" Logan reminded the man with a glance over his shoulder.
Jonathan quoted from a dictionary source, "Feral: existing in a wild or untamed state... that certainly does not describe either you or Karika... although dealing with her in the mornings prior to being allowed breakfast... it might be accurate. Feral as in having returned to an untamed state from domestication... I'm afraid I relate that to barnyard animals and household pets who have strayed back to their ancestor's undomesticated roots."
"Barnyard animals?" Logan reiterated, sitting up to turn toward Jonathan, his demeanor turning a bit on the defensive side. "As far as 'existing in an untamed state', as I said, you don't know me all that well... or anythin' about me. As for 'returnin' to an untamed state'... just pray nobody pisses me off. Now I can't say one way or the other about yer li'l girl there, but if she's usin' the term... then somebody taught it to her... probably for a reason."
The man paused again, humorous lights glinting in his dark blue eyes, "Feral...Of/or suggestive of a wild animal; savage. Example: a feral grin. I must say you do the 'feral grin' part quite well though I would still not equate either of you with a wild animal... aspects of animals found in the wild maybe, but AS a wild animal... no." He smiled allowing his own, unusually sharp for a Human, canines to show briefly.
Logan stared at Chase, listening to the man's own judgement of his feral nature... and found himself becoming a bit agitated. For once in his life someone was saying straight out that he wasn't an animal... and yet the animal within him wanted to be acknowledged. He kept his dark gaze on this so called human deciding without personal knowledge what he was ... and wasn't.
"Your mannerisms, your heightened senses, demeanor, all indicate a closer relationship to nature and the wilderness than most other Humans or Mutants share. I don't know your past... you've indicated that even you know little of it... and that is for you to share should you wish or not as you wish. I have things in my past and present that I am hesitant to share with any living soul for now." He glanced at Logan, eyes hooded by the sweep of thick golden lashes, "I hope that changes soon, it is a unpleasant burden to carry alone."
"Yeh it is," Logan replied, a touch of a growl tinging his voice.
Jonathan laughed again, the sound rich and pleasant, "However, I digress from the original subject... something I am prone to do. My apologies again." He picked up his sandwich, "I will find ways to integrate Karika into the social world that meet her terms and theirs... eventually. We both have time."
Logan still sat very still, his animal rising to the forefront slowly, feeling challenged by this man, who didn't know him at all and apparently jumped to conclusions based on things he didn't know.
The Brit leaned back against the bolder, offering Cymbrogi a bite of the meat from the thick roast beef and cheddar sandwiches he had brought along for them... which the massive Sea Eagle accepted with surprising gentleness. "You said that I was a good man... I hope that you are correct, I try to be within my frame of reference for what is right and wrong. My belief system is complex... but part of it is a belief that we are all here to make a difference... for good or bad... it is within our free will to determine."
"Yeh, it is. It ain't always as easy to do as it is to say, but yeh, it should be our free will to determine what we do an' what happens to us. Nobody has a right to take our right to choose." His statement was direct and had more meaning than Chase would probably pick up on.
Jonathan smiled at Logan, "I sense that you have made a decided difference to those around you. I think that you also are a very good man at heart, Logan. Remember that being a 'good man' or a 'bad man' has more to do with 'why' we do what we do than the actual actions...though others may not perceive it the same way."
"Yeh... an' usually don't."
Feeling that he'd rambled on quite enough, Jonathan paused and took another bite of his sandwich, leaning down to open the packet of chips as well. "We are far too serious for such a glorious day, my friend." He added after swallowing the bite of food, flashing another bright smile Logan's way.
"Well how about we get just a bit more serious for a li'l while longer..." Logan offered as he turned onto his knees; his now dilated eyes turning his blue eyes black, but for a sliver of the colored iris eclipsed by the unusually large pupils... especially in such bright sunlight. He turned his blackened eyes on Chase, his animal unable to ignore the implications that he didn't exist.
"What exactly would it take to be categorized a feral... in your eyes, Doc?" Logan asked, his tone sounded angry as he spoke quietly, crawling slowly toward Chase, closing the small distance between them. "Would this do it?" he asked, and bristled the hair on his arms and head, making the hairs stand up. The tufts on his head rose up like hackles and fanned out nearly like a lion's mane.
In a near whisper, he practically growled... "The eyes are the windows to the soul... right?" he asked, and as his animal reared up those black orbs flashed with a golden hue that for a brief moment showed the doctor the reflective "wolf like" quality as his eyes appeared hollow; like a wild animal who's staring into headlights.
"What about these?" he asked and snarled, pulling his lips far away to show off his huge teeth and fangs. "What if I had claws, Doc? Would that do it for ya'? Would that put me in the feral class?" Then he raised one fist to show Chase, "maybe somethin' like these..?" With barely a twitch of his muscles three large silver claws sprang out of his fist with a sound of metal sliding against metal, he gleaned them in front of the man for a few seconds then in one swift move they disappeared with a loud grating sound again.
Jonathan sat quietly throughout Logan’s entire speech and display. He did not wince or back away, merely watched with interest in his own dark blue eyes. At some point he realized that obviously his objection to the use of the word feral had somehow set the other man off… offended him.
Then Logan sniffed at his new friend, if that's what he still was... sniffed him in an obvious overt manner, then growled out, and his next words caused every muscle in Jonathan’s body to stiffen in alarm.
"For someone who's own feral scent lingers even after the switch back, yer one to talk." Believing he'd made his point, he lowered his head to let the animal back off, then sat back on his knees to give the man some room. A few seconds later, he raised his eyes to the man, which were now clear sky blue once again and relaxed his hackles, which didn't go all the way back down but enough for the man to see them lower again.
He was only marginally aware of the man sniffing the air around him and sitting back, putting a bit of distance between them. Switch back! How the hell could Logan know the secret? Jonathan’s mind raced as he tried to remember all that had been said and done since he joined the mansion staff four years previously. At no time had he exercised his gifts on estate grounds. Then again, would he know if one of the telepaths had ‘read’ him and discovered what he kept so closely guarded? Would Xavier, if it had been him, tell the returning Wolverine?
With all of those thoughts still spinning through his mind, Jonathan blinked at Logan and said mildly, “I am sorry that I offended you again. I oppose the word feral simply because it so often comes with negative connotations. If you are comfortable with being termed a Feral, then it is no problem for me either.”
"Well, what term would you use? Animal? It's been my experience that bein' termed a Feral is simply statin' a fact. It's when they sneer an' call me an animal that I take offense. So if not Feral or Animal... what term would you use, Doc? Hmm?" Logan asked, completely unable to come up with a different term himself.
Jonathan tilted his head, eyebrows furrowed as he thought, “No… I suppose you are correct. I should try to think from your perspective... not just my own. However, to answer your question regarding Feral or Animal, I would have chosen man."
That reply was totally unexpected and it brought Logan up short. His breath caught and he blinked, shocked that even he hadn't thought of that one. It was too easy to forget, because everyone else seemed to. His expression softened, realizing, again, his reaction vaulted over the top before he could rein it in. He listened as the man went on.
"Or if you want to be technical and scientifically correct regarding species designation Homo Superior, although I do not think the addition of a gene, extraordinary gifts or abilites necessarily makes one being superior to another. I dislike labels in principal and, for the record, I do not make judgements of others based on physical or Mutant attributes…only opinions based on what I come to know of the specific person.”
As he spoke, the British professor’s thoughts swirled until….
as one thought coalesced on top of another, Jonathan’s dark blue eyes widened slightly, “YOU are Weapon X?” His voice was soft, tinged with wonder and the dawning of realization. Suddenly his mind’s eye saw the claws protruding from Karika’s tiny hands and equated them with the much larger, far more lethal-looking ones Logan had just displayed.
Logan blinked, totally taken aback by the question. How did Chase know that name? Where did that question suddenly spring from?? He only stared at the man as Chase got to his feet, his gaze intense.
Jonathan sprang to his feet and paced a few yards away, back turned, tense and shaken. He stared out over the lake for several moments before turning and walking back toward Logan. Jonathan looked at Logan, “This is not how I imagined…” he shook his head and paced nervously away again.
"This is not how you imagined... what?" Logan asked. "How do you know that name? Where'd you hear that?" he asked getting to his feet. "I haven't been..." he started to say then paused, he couldn't say "I" and that name in the same sentence. Not anymore. "Weapon X no longer exists," he told Chase, his tone was more sorrowful than angry. He had to say it, and he would say it, over and over again, until he himself believed it too.
Turning back around yet again, he spoke directly, his voice once again calm and gentle. “I have inadvertently come into possession of some information that I believe you should be made aware of…”
Logan blinked at the man, totally confused. Information? About Weapon X? About him? About his past? Logan's heart raced in his chest; his eyes, confused and searching, and he didn't know if he really wanted to know whatever it was Chase knew, or thought he knew. He had stopped actively searching for pieces of his past a long time ago... all he ever found was more pain.
Logan spun around, turning his back on the doctor. Turning his back on whatever information the man thought he should be aware of. His mind raced for a few moments, then he made a fast decision. Shaking his head, he turned around again. "I don't wanna know," he told Chase, sounding unsure.
A few seconds later, he was very sure and pierced the doctor with a serious gaze, "I don't wanna know. Weapon X is dead. He no longer exists. And whatever it is has nothin' to do with me... nothin'. I don't remember the things I did... I don't know what I did... or what they did to me. Get it? If you know anythin' at all about that Project, then you know I didn't volunteer..." As he spoke, he started backing away from the doctor. "I wouldn't have volunteered..." he said, trying more to convince himself than the other man.
A few strides back he stopped and looked at Jonathan, realizing suddenly the truth of the matter. "That's the reason there's no balance! Everytime I try to get on with my life and leave that crap behind me, it just keeps popping up, in my face, over and over again!" He raised his voice as he spoke but it was in a frantic need to make the man understand, not so much in anger. "Whatever it is... I don't wanna know. I don't wanna know anythin' about it. If it has to do with Weapon X, it's got nothin' to do with me. Not anymore."
He stopped, realizing he was nearly ranting. He was taken off-guard, taken totally by surprise and he stopped to give the man a chance to say something. He had enjoyed the day so far, enjoyed making a potential new friend. He liked Chase, but now wondered if the man was what he appeared to be... or was he here for Weapon X?
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Tags for JC
OOC: I went ahead an' did up the next part usin' our original posts, insertin' the text where we originally placed them. Look it over, if ya' wanted to change somethin' I left a copy of this in the JP forum. Just let me know if it stands or not. Edited by: Wolvie6 at: 6/26/06 10:06 pm
Re: Discoveries (Logan and Jonathan JP)
Jonathan’s dark blue eyes mirrored the other man’s pain and intensity. He turned away and walked to the edge of the lake, “I will, of course, abide by your wishes. This does directly concern another though, and I cannot promise that they will have the same patience or consideration…their need to know of their connections is as great as your desire to not know.” He paused, “I will endeavor to dissuade this other from attempting contact…I can make no promises as what little control I have in this place only goes so far. Should you change your mind, Logan, my door will always be open.”
Extending his arm, Jonathan uttered a soft command in Gaelic which Cymbrogi responded to immediately by taking flight and landing on the extended arm, gripping as gently as possible since Jonathan had not donned a glove. The wicked talons pierced his forearm in spite of the bird’s attempt to grasp gently. Throughout the earlier exchange between the two men, Cymbrogi had remained alert and watchful, prepared to defend Jonathan if necessary. To the raptor, though, his ‘peer’ had remained safe and not in serious jeopardy.
Logan cocked his head slightly. Who was this 'other'? Was he in contact with this person now? Logan watched as Chase called the large raptor to him. As the bird landed on Jonathan's arm, Logan scrunched his nose as if he could feel the pain from the large talons, but Chase didn't even flinch. It appeared to Logan that the man was so focused on their conversation he'd been too preoccupied to realize.
Jonathan barely felt the Sea Eagle’s grip as he pulled the bird closer to gently scritch under the feathers and along the powerful flight muscles beneath the wings. Lowering his head, he rested it against the bird’s for a moment, looking almost eye-to-eye with the raptor. Brushing one long-fingered hand gently down the eagle’s broad back, Jonathan dropped his arm slightly then raised it giving the bird a small launch back into the sky. “Home,” he commanded and watched as Cymbrogi circled higher in the sky angling back toward the mansion but not quite leaving the man’s sight.
Jonathan glanced over his shoulder at Logan, “I suppose we should return.” He returned to the boulders and gathered the debris from the aborted lunch before whistling for Dragon and starting toward where he had left the saddle and bridle.
Logan nodded and, as Chase went to pick things up, he turned to gather up the tack he'd left cooling in the grass, then he went to get the mare. He spoke softly to her as he led her back and began to dress her up. Once he'd done that and made sure all of it was secured proper for the horse's comfort, he mounted her back and settled into the saddle.
Stowing the garbage in his saddle bag, he leaned down to grasp the saddle and place it and the pad gently on the stallion’s back. Again, he automatically checked the horse for unusual heat in his legs after the hard gallop through the meadow before continuing to tack up. Somewhere, at the back of his mind, Jonathan wondered how he had let a pleasant morning’s excursion turn so disastrous. He had, no matter how unintentional, managed to offend, alarm, and hurt someone he only wanted to get to know better. For the first time in many years, Jonathan thought he had met someone that might someday understand his own battle with both the Human and Animal aspects of his nature…perhaps even teach him how to not fear the one.
Logan watched from his perch as the doctor readied the stallion. Sniffing the air now and again as the breeze drifted toward him from Chase's direction, his eyes narrowed in concern as he scented the man's confusion and pain. Not physical pain, well except for the blood on his arm, but his hurt at the way things were going perhaps? He felt that the man was retreating inside himself and Logan didn't want that, not now. He'd finally found someone who seemed to know a few things about him and still wanted his company... he didn't run or back away either when he found out that he was alone with the former Weapon X assassin. He accepted Logan, even seemed to be like him in ways.
Logan waited for the doc to mount the stallion then turned to lead the way back to the path. Once they were in the cooler shade of the woods path, they rode silently side by side until Logan spoke.
"I didn't mean to come off so strongly back there," he offered quietly, keeping his tone low so as not to disturb the peacefulness of the woods around them. "Ya' really caught me off guard back there." He paused to get his next words straight in his head, "This 'other' that this information involves... are you in contact with them now? I mean, you know where they are?" he asked. He was a bit surprised that part of him really wanted to know about the other, but part of him was terrified to know anything. He paused again, waiting for an answer.
A few moments of silence passed between them and then Logan offered, "You asked about balancin' the human an' animal sides...... are you askin' for that girl's sake?" he asked in reference to Karika, "..... or for yerself, Doc?"
He knew the man was also a feral, whether the girl was remained to be seen. "I think I can help ya' come to terms with the animal..." Wolverine told him, then looked over to catch his gaze, "I'm assumin' this feral side o' yers is kept a secret for a reason...? You wanna tell me about it? Seein' as you know so much about me already..." When Chase looked up at him a bit unsure, Logan gave him a crooked smile, letting the doctor know that, even though they did have alot to discuss, everything between them was still okay.
Jonathan glanced over his shoulder at Logan, “I suppose we should return.” He returned to the boulders and gathered the debris from the aborted lunch before whistling for Dragon and starting toward where he had left the saddle and bridle.
Logan nodded and, as Chase went to pick things up, he turned to gather up the tack he'd left cooling in the grass, then he went to get the mare. He spoke softly to her as he led her back and began to dress her up. Once he'd done that and made sure all of it was secured proper for the horse's comfort, he mounted her back and settled into the saddle.
Jonathan intentionally positioned Dragon so that he could observe Logan as they tacked up their mounts. The man who had been so terse and near angry with him earlier was extraordinarily gentle and kind in dealing with the gray mare…and Ghost seemed to like and trust him. The Brit smiled as the mare twitched and turned her head to watch Logan as he put the rig on her, occasionally she’d reach around to lip at his shirt as he worked, a gentle request for treats. Inwardly, Jonathan smiled. If…someday he were unable to care for the two horses, perhaps Logan would agree to become their guardian.
As he tightened the cinch, Jonathan’s thoughts again strayed to the morning’s ride and incident by the lake. He could have handled things better, he thought. Brushing irritably at a strand of his thick blond hair as it strayed onto his forehead, he finally noticed the blood trickling from the talon wounds on his forearm. Frowning, he realized he’d called the bird to him before donning the glove. Shaking his head, he leaned down and picked up the bridle, wondering at his absent mindedness. Had that been one of his students, he would have had a number of acidic comments regarding the care to be taken when dealing with what remained essentially a wild animal.
Jonathan slipped the bridle over Dragon’s head, patting his powerful neck and murmuring a soft ‘thank-you’ as the horse lowered his head to make it easier. Just before swinging onto the stallion’s back, he reached into the pack and pulled an anesthetic wipe from his field first aid kit. Tearing the packet open, he pulled out the pre-moistened cloth and dabbed at the trickles of blood. In spite of Cymbrogi’s care, a couple of the gouges were rather deep, but Jonathan decided, not alarmingly so.
Logan waited for the doc to mount the stallion then turned to lead the way back to the path.
As he settled into the saddle, Jonathan expertly wheeled Dragon around, settling the stallion into a comfortable pace next to the gray mare. Riding silently next to Logan, he allowed his thoughts to drift. Without knowing why, Jonathan felt he could trust the other man enough to allow himself to pay little attention to their route.
Crossing the meadow, Jonathan kept a watch to the sky as well. So far, he’d only seen one or two crows and they had kept a respectful distance from the massive Sea Eagle. Just before entering the forest trail, where he would lose sight of Cymbrogi, Jonathan whistled sharply and was rewarded by the eagle’s answering cry. Moments later, the bird stooped for a graceful landing on the T-style perch mounted to the front of Jonathan’s saddle.
Once they were in the cooler shade of the woods path, they rode silently side by side until Logan spoke.
"I didn't mean to come off so strongly back there," he offered quietly, keeping his tone low so as not to disturb the peacefulness of the woods around them. "Ya' really caught me off guard back there." He paused to get his next words straight in his head, "This 'other' that this information involves... are you in contact with them now? I mean, you know where they are?" he asked. He was a bit surprised that part of him really wanted to know about the other, but part of him was terrified to know anything. He paused again, waiting for an answer.
Jonathan sighed, bowing his head for a moment before responding, “Please…I am the one who ‘set things off’. I tend to get carried away and don’t always stop to think how things might sound to someone else…or the effect they might have on them.”
He shot a quick look in Logan’s direction before continuing, trying to gauge how his words might affect him. “Yes, I am in contact with the other person.”
Logan looked over at Chase, but he didn't say anything. His expression was heavy with confusion, not only about how this all came to be, but he was really torn between wanting to know everything and wanting nothing at all to do with it... whatever 'it' was.
Again, Jonathan paused, trying to work out the conflict he felt. He was trying his best to balance Karika’s confidence and trust against what he felt in his heart to be the ‘right thing’. By all rights, he should consult the girl before continuing. But, on the other hand, from what he had gleaned from her file, Weapon X (the original incarnation, aka Logan) had not volunteered to become one of her genetic templates. To Jonathan’s mind, this was in essence, a child begotten of rape. Yet, Karika had not asked to be ‘born’ in that manner either.
In the end, Jonathan could only choose to do what he thought was in the best interests of both parties. Karika still had much to learn about communicating and dealing with others as individuals and not as intended targets. Logan had had a tremendous amount of pain and hardship in his past as well…but was older and had been out in the world longer. Also…if only in the strictest technical sense…he was the one that had been ‘wronged’.
“If you’d care to come to my apartment after I’ve cared for my horses and made sure that the students on stable duty have cared for the school mounts, I can show you the file and answer your questions."
Logan pulled up the reins, stopping the mare as his head turned sharply to stare at Chase. "File? What file?" he asked. Weapon X files were said to be non-existent. Not even Fury was ever able to locate any after the government-sanctioned torture chamber was shut down supposedly for good.
"I readily admit to some conflict now that I’m over the shock of discovering ‘who’ the one called Weapon X in the file is…but only because I am put in the position of balancing confidences and trusts.” Jonathan’s voice trailed back into silence. Far better, he thought, to say too little than to make the errors he had at the lake.
"What file? How did you get a file pertaining to Weapon X??" Logan asked, his blue eyes were intense and he wanted to know... and he wanted to know now, what was in that file and how Chase got hold of it.
Jonathan checked the stallion’s stride and looked at Logan, eyes narrowed slightly, “The only mentions Weapon X, Logan. It pertains to the person who brought it to me.” He nudged the horse’s side with his heels, setting him back into an easy, though faster paced walk.
Jonathan fell silent as they continued through the forest. Something was niggling at the corners of his mind, observations or something read that was just out of reach. Things had progressed far more rapidly than he felt comfortable with and he felt a need to read the girl’s file again…something was just not quite right.
A few moments of silence passed between them and then Logan offered, "You asked about balancin' the human an' animal sides...... are you askin' for that girl's sake?" he asked in reference to Karika, "..... or for yerself, Doc?"
He knew the man was also a feral, whether the girl was remained to be seen. "I think I can help ya' come to terms with the animal..." Wolverine told him, then looked over to catch his gaze, "I'm assumin' this feral side o' yers is kept a secret for a reason...? You wanna tell me about it? Seein' as you know so much about me already..." When Chase looked up at him a bit unsure, Logan gave him a crooked smile, letting the doctor know that, even though they did have alot to discuss, everything between them was still okay.
The silence lengthened again as Jonathan mulled over Logan’s words and his offer. Was this the other man’s way of offering back a bit of trust in return for Jonathan’s? He felt there was so much he could learn personally from Logan, but also that his own concerns would have to wait in lieu of helping Karika. He tilted his head and smiled quietly, taking one hand off the reins to run it down Cymbrogi’s wing feathers as the raptor dozed comfortably on the saddle perch.
“Logan, there is really very little that I know about you and your past as a fact. Putting you, the Wolverine, in context with the Weapon X mentioned in the file would not have happened if it were not for your…display…earlier at the lake. From that I deduced that you might be the man mentioned in the copy of the file that I have in my possession. This will be a delicate and difficult subject for both you and the person whose confidence I am breaching by sharing these things with you. I only do this because they have indicated a desperate desire to know others like themselves…or as close as possible given the circumstances.”
"Given the circumstances? What circumstances? Others like themselves?" Logan asked. "Are you sayin' this other person is a former Weapon X subject?" His face was screwed up into an intense frown of deep thought, trying to piece together the hints Chase was giving him.
Jonathan sighed and reined Dragon in again, “I do not know, Logan. Much of the file made little to no sense to me. I know that license was taken with your, and others’, DNA and genetic material. I know there were references to Weapon X…both as a person and a project or facility. Please, when we are in private, I will show you the copy of the file and tell you as much as I can. But, I think it best not to discuss it in the open.”
He adamantly spun the stallion back onto the track and set heel to his flank, encouraging the big horse into a gentle, rocking canter. Moving in time to the horse’s gait, Jonathan mentally sighed. It was apparent that Logan’s concern with the file and Weapon X was going to put other issues out of his head… issues like Jonathan’s secret abilities. This was an immense relief to the Brit. Part of him yearned to have someone know… someone that might understand. Years of keeping the secret, though, made him uneasy about revealing the fact that not only Mutants could develop super powers and abilities. Jonathan had been tested… he was as Human as it was possible to be. ‘This is best, he thought with a quiet mental sigh, what I am is unimportant in the greater scheme of things. The most important thing right now is teaching Karika, and perhaps… if Logan is agreeable… introducing her to the closest thing to family she…or he for that matter… is likely to know in the near future.’
Logan had sat, frozen in the saddle, staring at Chase as the man seemed to rant impatiently at him. His breath caught in his chest as the information, that someone had "taken license" with his DNA was just rattled off like an item on a grocery list.
He'd known that they'd done all sorts of horrendous things to him and with him, but now his mind tried to grasp onto a reason for them wanting to test with his DNA... his genetic make-up. They'd tried to give other mutants his regenerative capabilities, but as far as he knew it never took. It did however cause death or disfigurement in some subjects, he didn't know why... or why he'd been blamed for the failure of experiments or for tests not working.
He was only half listening to the rest, but Chase's tone of impatience made him blink now and again, nearly cringing as the doctor seemingly spat the words out at him. He was really confused... nor was he the one who brought the subject up to begin with. He sat frozen in the saddle, only his eyes would shoot to the man beside him now and again.
“For the record, I have told no one of my secret because I am not certain how it will be viewed…as I am not a Mutant. For the moment, please accept that it is not something that endangers anyone else and that, in time, I will tell you everything…but let’s take one huge issue at a time. For balance, trust must be given as well as taken…I do trust you, I just don’t trust myself… yet.”
Jonathan paused, “As for balancing the Human and the Animal… I ask for both our sakes… perhaps in the long run… for all three of us… only time will tell on that score, my friend.”
Logan listened to the last part silently, half-hearing what the man had to say. His thoughts were totally on this other and how they came into possession of a file referring to Weapon X. What was in that file and who was this other? What did they want from him? Why did they bring the file to Chase of all people? He rode the mare, silent in thought, aware of the scent and sounds from the riding pair beside him. But his mind was focused totally on this information, and being torn between wanting to know everything... and wanting to nothing at all.
As Chase finished and turned the stallion around, heading off quickly, Logan sat there atop the mare watching the man's back get farther away. Finally breaking his gaze away he looked into the forest beside him, not really focusing on anything but his stomach suddenly lurching and flipping over. He tried several times to swallow the huge lump in his throat and, finally managing to do so, he nudged the mare lightly to walk her, unhurried, back to the stables. Logan figured he'd best give Dr. Chase a few minutes... and a bit of space. He needed some himself right now.
Re: Discoveries (Logan and Jonathan JP)
By the time Jonathan had cantered Dragon several yards, he was mentally berating himself for being such an ass. He was tired, stressed, and torn over his decision to tell Logan about Karika. That was, however, no excuse for giving rein to his flash of temper. None of this was Logan’s fault. Jonathan cringed as he remembered the look in the other man’s eyes and on his face.
Leaning down, he ran a gentle hand down Dragon’s powerful neck, “First order of business after taking care of you and Ghost will be an apology.” He spoke quietly to the stallion and was rewarded with the wagging of ears back and forth to indicate he’d been heard. Cymbrogi continued to ride passively on the saddle perch but to Jonathan it seemed the look in the Sea Eagle’s eyes was reproachful.
They broke out of the forest and he urged Dragon to a slow trot, riding the horse around the side of the massive stable to the Mews. Leaving Dragon tied loosely to a hitching ring near the doorway, Jonathan secured Cymbrogi in his habitat, returned for the shotgun and locked it in a secure cabinet in his office. Deciding the birds could be tended later, he left, locking the door behind him. Leading Dragon behind him, he headed back around and into the cool interior of the barn.
With the tack removed and stored and Dragon’s hooves picked clean of debris, Jonathan pulled the water hose off its hook, turned it on, adjusted the temperature and gently rinsed the stallion’s coat, leaving it sleek and gleaming. Using a flexible metal sweat scrape, he removed the excess water and led the stallion down to the area at the end that housed the hot walker. Fastening the horse to the leads, he switched the machine on and watched to make sure there were no problems. Dragon placidly followed the walker around its circle, calm and used to the routine.
Returning to the stallion’s stall, Jonathan made short work of cleaning it out and changing the bedding. His very last chore was to make sure the automatic watering unit was clean and free of debris before adding fresh hay and going to the feed room to get a feed mix suitable for the bay stallion.
By this time, Logan had caught up and brought Ghost into the barn. For the moment, uncomfortable with his own earlier outbursts, Jonathan stepped over to help care for the mare in silence. Glancing over the mare’s back at the other man, Jonathan said softly, his voice full of regret, “I owe you an apology for my outburst on the trail. It was inexcusable. I hope you can forgive me eventually, though I fully understand if you choose to walk away. The entire subject was far too personal and potentially emotionally upsetting to have been brought up in such a way and such a time. Your impatience for the answers is entirely understandable. My handling of the incident was poor…at best.”
He paused and smiled slightly, as he brushed a bit of dust from the mare’s gleaming silver-gray coat. “My door is still open if you choose to come in.”
Jonathan returned to his job of getting the second of his mounts squared away, following the same routine he had with Dragon. As he worked his mind turned over the information he could remember from Karika’s file. A number of things just did not add up. He hoped Logan was in a forgiving mood. Jonathan would honestly value the other man’s opinion before followed his instincts and questioned some of the information they had been given.
He flicked the soft brush against the gleaming silver of the mare’s coat, then felt another stirring of anger. One thing he did not tolerate well was purposeful deceit…No Tags:
OOC: Section closed. Jonathan will move on to his place then back to the mansion. Edited by: DrJonathanChase at: 8/2/06 8:07 pm
Background: Many, many years ago, Charles Francis Xavier established Xavier's School for the Gifted. Also, seeing other Mutants misusing and abusing their powers, he created the first generation of the X-Men.This original team was trained and lead by an old friend of his...Logan, aka Wolverine. Logan's co-leader was a young woman and student named Ororo Munroe, aka Storm. Once the team was trained and fielded on active missions, they took on the additional responsibility of teaching and helping new Mutants deal with their powers.On one horrible night, the X-Men were fielded to stop a particularly powerful Mutant and his 'gang'. The 'intelligence' received on this Mutant and his cohorts was sketchy and actually turned out to be a set-up to entrap the X-Men and take them captive. In the ensuing melee', 'things' happened and a number of the team were killed outright or severely injured.After making sure his remaining team-mates were going to be okay, Logan left. Xavier has not, to current time, explained his absence or even whether or not he survived.Current Time/Game Time: Almost seven years later, as Human/Mutant incidents are on the rise, Xavier once again sees a need for a Mutant 'police force'. He sees this new X-Men team as a force for good and a way to help peacefully integrate the rapidly emerging Mutant society with the established Human society. To this end, he has contacted Logan and asked him to 'come home' and train his 'new' team.
Logan has reluctantly agreed.Can shadows from their past be put aside for the good of the new X-Men? How will the surviving members of the original team react and what will they do as 'truths' are learned about that disastrous night?Note: We want the new X-Men to include younger versions of the old familiar characters such as Scott, Jean, Beast etc...as well as many of the OCC’s and other Canon characters that are available.Please ask the Staff BEFORE stating or establishing that your character was one of the old, now disbanded, original X-Men.
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