diademlogs | [ CLOSED ] june.

[ Scott lets out a small chuckle when Logan calls Kimiko a resident Michelangelo. Sometimes, the guy's jokes land. More often than not, they don't. Behind his glasses, Scott watches Logan for a bit as silence descends on both of them once more. He's about to return to his work when the other man speaks up again and tells him stuff he has already learned from Kimiko. This time, though, there's more.

For a moment, Scott just stands there and takes in the information given. From what he has seen from Kimiko, he knows she won't mean to hurt someone else. If she got experimented on by the terrorist group like she mentioned, then that should explain it.

The lights were on but nobody was home. Scott's brows knit together. That's not good. ]

She did tell me she stabbed you. [ Of course, he assumed it was Logan's fault. But he won't tell him that. ] Didn't know that's how it happened.

[ A beat. ] I'll try and find her again. She needs community and maybe we can provide that for her if she wants. I'll talk to the Professor, too. I don't think she has a phone, though. Do you think you can track her down?

[ Already in recruiting mode? Maybe. But also, her story resembles some of the mutants they have taken to the Institute, that somehow it activates the leader in Scott. The teacher. The mutant who wants to rescue his own kind to give them a better life. ]

[ Well. Sort of how it happened. It's a long story (it's not that long). Not one worth getting into. Let's just say the girl's detecting skills are about as good as her drawing arm.

He finally picks up the crate. A scoff. ]

Alright, take it easy. [ Summers really hasn't got an off switch, has he? ] You're gonna scare her off. I gave her my number, she'll come around when she comes around.

[ Scott isn't wrong. She does deserve a home, a family. Whatever. He doesn't want her to be alone, either. He just knows chasing him down with all that community bullshit by the X-Men's poster boy over there didn't work on him back in the day; pretty sure it's not gonna work on her. She needs time.

Though he's gotta admit: Scott did get her to tell him about herself. That's not nothing. ]

She say anything else?

[ Scott slightly rolls his eyes when Logan tells him to take it easy. He doesn't have an off switch, that's true, but also because he values time. Not that they don't have a lot of that here, to be fair. So, he relents a bit, begrudgingly accepting that Logan's right - they might scare her off. Even if his initial conversation with her didn't give off any vibes she's afraid of them. Scott will just have to trust Logan's word that she'll come around in her own time.

The question makes Scott pause for a bit, remembering Kimiko's words. Remembering how much of a coincidence it is when he first learned about it. But Scott's a man who doesn't believe in happenstance. Things occur for a reason. He does things with intent.

So, after a brief pause, he crosses his arms before his naked chest. ]

That she also heals fast. Again, just like you. [ He lets that sink in. ] She has a lot of similarities with you, Logan. If I didn't know any better, I'd say she's... [ He trails off, arching a brow, implying what Logan will think Scott's implying. He gives Logan a pointed look, lets those words settle for a bit, before he speaks again. ]

I don't think she knows the word mutant, but that doesn't rule out the possibility that she might be. [ A beat. ] That she is.

[ And speaking of mutants - ] Who are the other two, by the way?

Yeah. [ Logan pauses, fingers hooked under the crate's handholds. The only thing Kimiko was missing is a set of claws. ] I noticed that, too.

[ He didn't fight her long enough to determine exactly how much damage she can withstand, but a lot seems like a safe bet. It goes past her abilities, though. It's how she used them. Feral. Like an animal, he thinks, but she isn't one. (Neither is he.) So. Mutant seems to be what it is 'til they learn more.

Besides, who cares about the distinction? She obviously doesn't fit in with the rest of the humans. She didn't ask to be the way she is. For him, that's all that matters.

As for the others, that's a damn sight simpler. ]

Couple of assholes. [ Said mildly. It's only a description. An apt one. Bit like him. ] One goes by Wade Wilson, the other's Cable. Like I said, I doubt they're looking to join any teams. For your sake, you better hope they aren't.

[ If Scott thinks he's difficult to deal with? Yeah. Don't get him wrong, they don't bother Logan too much. Wade's an annoying fucker and Cable has a quota of three words per sentence, but Logan's got no problem with them existing wherever they're existing. He did ask Cable to come around—mostly for what the man might know about time travel. Even let Wade buy him some noodles the other night. But there's no world in which the two of them in one room with Logan and Scott isn't gonna be a recipe for disaster. He doesn't gotta meet them more than once each to recognize that.

On second thought, maybe he does want them to join the team. Just so he can watch Scott Summers slowly die inside. ]

[ Couple of assholes doesn't really narrow things down because a lot of people are assholes to Logan. When he first met all of them, Scott's sure they're all assholes to him at that point. So, really, he doesn't think Logan's the most trustworthy judge of character. Anyone who dares breathe wrong in his presence is automatically an asshole. Not a lot of wiggle room there.

So, Scott rolls his eyes. Probably the nth time he had to do it in the presence of Logan and he still has five hours in this shift. ]

I'll take note of those names. They might change their minds. Still mutants, and if we're allowing both Magneto and Mystique during meetings, I think it's not that bad to have more allies in this place.

[ Logan warned him, but Scott's a stubborn man. Also someone who likes to see things for himself. Unbeknownst to him, though, is the fact that he had already met the two aforementioned guys. And his interactions with them were strange in varying degrees, Wade's most of all. Not that he knows it was Wade who was the drunk he was trying to help at the resort.

Returning to his task, Scott begins to carry one of the boxes. Passing by Logan, he just drops his next words as if he's stating an important fact during a mission briefing. ]

Speaking of allies, saw you eyeing some woman at the pool.

Edited 2025-06-20 21:58 (UTC)

[ They are, are they? That's at least one thing Logan can agree on with Scott: he's got no desire to see Magneto and Mystique as one of the X-Men. They're allies of convenience, nothing more. But it does mean they can't exactly leave them out in the cold on everything. Besides, it's not Logan's decision. It's Charles. However unhappy Scott might be, the man's not gonna say no to the Professor. Logan's worked with Erik in the past, so...

He can deal. Twenty years has taught him how to pick his battles. Mostly. Sometimes.

His turn to roll his eyes. He walks the opposite way, reaching for the next box. Sorry, what? Excuse him? He swings his head around, eyes narrowed. ]

Jealous? [ He scoffs. Who he talks to is none of Scott's business. After a long stretch, he finally adds: ] She's a civilian. Just making sure she's okay.

[ That's not wholly untrue. Karen's not a soldier, she's got no powers that he can tell. Must've worked some white collar job back in New York in a world designed for people like her. But Scott's instincts aren't wrong, either: he doesn't keep an eye on just anybody. There's a reason it's been Karen, and there's a reason she's been staying three doors down from his room.

It's still nobody's business. ]

[ Scott almost scoffs at the insinuation that he's even remotely jealous. He's not going to dignify that with an answer, thank you very much. Nothing to be jealous of. So, instead, he addresses those next words - ]

Right.

[ He doesn't sound very convinced, though, especially since he has seen that look before. All over Jean. Does this mean Logan's over his girl now or is he just a fucking cassanova? Probably the former. Inasmuch as Scott likes to paint the other mutant as an insufferable ladies' man, he thinks any woman with an ounce of self-respect won't even try and go to bed with Logan. If ever they do, well, that's on them. He won't judge. He'll just. Look away.

Which is honestly what he did at the pool. The moment he saw Logan making eyes, he's out of there in a heartbeat. Not going to stain his vision with whatever's about to go down.

Setting down the box he carried, Scott's still not looking at Logan when he speaks again, as he wipes away more sweat on his brow with the back of his hand. ]

What a hero. Did a lot of checking to make sure she's fine. [ Glancing back at Logan, hands on hips, Scott smirks faintly. ] New girl?

[ Unfortunately for Logan, Scott makes everything his business. ]

[ Please. Please, look away. In fact, he'd love it if Scott looked away right now, but apparently Scott's the type where the more you piss him off, the more he pays attention to you. Which makes him an even bigger pain in the ass 'cause Logan's personal defence consists solely of his unique ability to piss people off real fast. And stabbing.

Anyway, they were being civil for, what, what was the time, a grand total of two whole minutes? Wow. New record. Write that down in your diary, Summers. ]

First of all, go fuck yourself. Second, she was getting run down when I found her. [ A beat. When he finishes his thought, it's quieter. Whatever Scott might think, it's not like that. ] She's got nobody else here.

[ Unlike them. As much as he'd rather chew glass than say it, he counts Scott as somebody he's got. Scott's a lot of things, most of them negative, but he's solid. Can't help coming to the rescue. If he needs him, Scott will be there. More than once, he thought about it. Back home, when things grew worse—how they could've used him on their side. Then then, without Jean...who knows where Scott's head might've been? Even if he survived.

Suppose there's no point in what-ifs. They've got what they got. And what he's got is this Scott, still back in his put-together Boy Scout days. ]

Edited 2025-06-22 14:42 (UTC)

[ It would be safe to assume that that reaction is what Scott has expected to receive from Logan the moment he dropped those words. For someone so unpredictable, Logan will always be very predictable to him. His amused smirk almost widens, but he reins it back in when Logan tells him the woman has nobody else here. Truth or not, that's still awful to hear.

Walking to pick up another box, Scott doesn't even give the other mutant a passing glance when he talks again. ]

Yeah, well. If she needs community, we can provide. [ It's a genuine offer, and Scott hopes it transcends in his tone, the kind he usually uses whenever they're talking about new recruits.

Lifting a box once more, he continues. ] Though I think your company should be enough. [ He teases, dry as a summer heat. As soon as he carefully puts down the box, Scott attempts to wipe his sweat off again to no avail. Should've brought a small towel with him. He honestly can't believe he came unprepared for this heat. The hem of his jeans is beginning to get wet. ]

Met some people who might also be alone. I think it'd benefit all of us if we can build some community here. Exchange numbers. Help each other.

[ Logan leans against the half-cleared pallet. His gaze is fixed on Scott. For once, he doesn't take the bait, preoccupied with his thoughts. ]

She's not a mutant. [ He unscrews the cap on his water bottle. The flimsy plastic crinkles. ] Far as I know.

[ It isn't always easy to tell, but from what she's said, from how she reached for her sidearm and not her powers when she was attacked, his instincts lean toward human. Point is, for all the shit he gives Scott about community, the word does mean something to him. Being a mutant means something to him. The divide is pretty clear. Never been more clear than it was during his time. And he knows the good ones are out there, he does. Be nice if Karen's one of them. But the reality is, nobody can say for sure 'til that box opens.

He hasn't opened it yet. To Karen, he's merely a guy who fixes bikes and works odd jobs. Spent a good chunk of time in Westchester. That's all she's learned about him. He hasn't decided yet if he wants to bring her deeper into...all this—the people who are his family, his community, whatever you wanna call it.

He likes her. There's things he wants to tell her. He's also got his priorities, and his own kind? They come first.

Speaking of. He slides his fiftieth fucking crate off the wooden slats. What's this about Scott making friends? ] Who've you got your Cyclops eye on?

Edited 2025-06-23 03:35 (UTC)

[ Going back for another box, Scott answers Logan without so much as a passing glance. ]

A couple of people. A young woman named Wanda I took to the bowling center. Another woman named Lucina who I offered help on her vehicle. Both seemed like civilians, too.

[ Of course, he doesn't know Wanda's Whole Thing, but he's only getting to know the young woman, who thinks needs help getting by. (Her vehicle needs some maintenance and he promised to do the work from time to time.) Lucina's another case of Woman Needs Help.

Bending down to carry another box, Scott effortlessly lifts it and begins to walk to point B. ]

Bunch of other guys who can't help pointing out my glasses. The usual.

[ He puts down the box on top of another. ] I just think we're too divided. If we have community, we'd be able to deal with burglars, like that clown in a black and red costume I found one time breaking inside my apartment.

[ Lucina? The girl who's never seen a tire in her life? Yeah, he met her. Funny. How they've been running into the same people. Maybe there's something to that.

Logan makes a noise through his nose. Burglars, huh? That's what Scott's fussed about? Figures. ] He's not a burglar, he's just an idiot.

[ Well. Might be both, but he's pretty sure Wade's not a the burglar type. Probably hasn't got the attention span to even remember what he's robbing.

He'll let Scott handle division. Far as Logan's concerned, a month's not nearly enough to decide who to trust. This city's teeming with people, and most of them are out for themselves. Honestly? So's he. He's got his people. That's all. This isn't the same world he's from. It isn't the world they're from. It's...

Truth is, Logan doesn't know what it is. Maybe it rubs him the wrong way, how sure Scott's acting. Always got all the answers, isn't that right? But for once, he keeps his mouth shut about it. Not for Scott's sake, mind you. More that he's got no interest in digging deep about what he's feeling. ]

[ Scott turns around to face Logan with a frown. He runs a hand through his slightly damp hair as he speaks. ]

Seems like you know this guy.

[ They can converse like this while work is continuing, so Scott does exactly that as he goes to pick up another box. The heat is still relentless, but he knows this shift will be over in a couple of hours, anyway. This is a good workout, if nothing else. Lets him stay in shape even if they're in the middle of nowhere.

The familiar way Logan addresses this clown, though, gets to him, so he's now naturally curious. ]

Guess clowns like to stick with each other, even here. [ Some teasing. Old habits. He swears this one isn't totally a jab. Doesn't even glance at Logan when he delivers it very dryly. ]

He kept on talking about stuff I don't understand. Disney, Sonic, whatever the hell those are. You know anything about it? [ Not necessarily about the words per se, but if Logan knows the dude, maybe he knows why the burglar likes spitting out nonsense.

Setting the next box down, Scott turns to Logan again, hands on hips. ] Also didn't seem to get hurt when I blasted him out of my motel unit.

[ Know is relative. He met him. Talked to him. Somehow ended up in a hologram Denny's out in the middle of nowhere with him before Logan left his dumbass on an abandoned highway.

He rolls his eyes. What, it's the rambling that Scott gets hung on? ] Maybe 'cause you're such a regular Prince Charming.

[ Pretty boy over here, hauling boxes. Logan falls into step beside him. Anyway, point is, no, he doesn't pay attention to half of what Wade says and he's pretty sure Wade himself doesn't know what he's saying half the time. Just comes pouring out of his mouth.

The shelf creaks. Logan catches it as it sways under the weight of the extra boxes. Jesus. Doesn't anything work around here?

Right. What were they talking about, Wade? Logan thinks about it, then shrugs. He is a mutant. Probably gets up faster than most. Plenty of them do. Logan didn't put Mystique down like he thought, either. Besides, he doubts Scott was seriously trying to hurt the guy in the first place. ]

That's the asshole I was telling you about. [ One of them. ] Wade. He knows something about time travelling, but I didn't get much out of him.

[ That piece of information certainly makes Scott pause. ]

Wait. That guy's a mutant?

[ Never mind the Prince Charming comment because this is more important. Maybe he'd rather not recruit this one, or the other if he's also an asshole. Scott's taking back everything he said about trying to reach out to these two if they ever change their minds. Not that he'd admit this to Logan. Definitely not a fan of admitting he's wrong in front of the other man. ]

So, he has the same abilities as you? [ The regenerative powers, he means, since the guy walked away from getting blasted through the second floor and onto the pavement quite fine. ]

How are we sure he's not just bluffing about the time travelling when all of the other things he says doesn't make any sense?

[ Scott Summers, asking the important questions, while shirtless and sweating his ass off. ]

[ Uh-huh. Logan's staring straight at Scott with an expression that says he knows Scott knows he was right, and he's not gonna be coy about it. Sorry to break the news like this, but a lot of mutants are kind of dicks. Like most people in general.

Anyway. Logan shakes his head. ] Doubt it. [ Healing comes in all shapes and sizes. There's walking off an optic blast, and then there's walking off a nuclear explosion. ] Freaked out when he thought he was dyin'.

[ Does he know Wade was lying about that? No. Is he gonna be extra pissed when he finds out? Yeah, but those are consequences for Wade to suffer down the line when the truth finally comes out. For now, Logan busies himself stuffing more boxes onto a shelf that may or may not be ready to collapse under its own weight. Whatever, as long as it doesn't break on his shift, they're not paying him enough to care. ]

Cable said the same. Separately. [ Their stories match. ] He's right about one thing: time's all fucked up. And I don't know where the hell we're gonna start untangling it.

[ Okay, the Clown Who Doesn't Make Any Sense is apparently right about the time travel, but if he's friends with this Cable person-

Scott pauses, as if something suddenly clicks in his brain. ]

Cable? A broody man who doesn't seem to talk that much? [ He'd elaborate on his appearance further. Like how his other eye seems to have been replaced by a machine, but Scott thinks if Logan had already met the guy, the description should be enough.

Scott makes a face when he goes to lift another box. ] Those two are a team? [ Still not going to admit Logan's right. ]

So, what I'm getting is that they're both from the future? How are we also sure they're not making stuff up? Both of them.

[ A pause on his end as he carries the box to point B. ] I agree, though, he's right. Time's screwed up. We've all been pulled from varying points in time.

[ And he doesn't like it one bit. Told Rogue the same thing when they first met. It places him in a situation where he's a fish out of water, and if there's one thing Scott dislikes, it's when he can't control a situation. Probably one of the many reasons why he doesn't like Logan. The guy's a loose cannon. ]

[ Yeah. That's him. Logan's silence speaks for itself. Friends, a team. They're a pair, that much is for sure. Considering Cable looked ready to swallow a bullet when Logan asked if Wade was a friend, he'd bet his last penny those two are closer than the man let on. ]

Hey, you wanna interrogate them yourself, be my guest.

[ Logan can only say what he feels, and something about his conversation with Wade was different. But he's also aware he's got a reason to want to believe Wade. Because Wade sat there and looked him in the eye and told him the Institute was still standing in 2024. Told him about the kids at the Essex House.

So whatever you did, I guess you saved them, too. 'Cause they still had somewhere to go.

He doesn't know if it's true. He'll never know if it's true. Or if it can still hold true now that this bullshit's taken them off course. Like Amos said: somebody's always gonna be from his future. He's always gonna from somebody else's. That's how time works when you smash it into a goddamn ball. The uncertainty's what gets him. He can handle shit going wrong. He's been doing that his entire existence. This? Where the fuck is he supposed to begin when he's suddenly the one who's seen the most, who knows the most?

Wood scrapes against metal as Scott shoves the crate into place. Logan watches him, little dark curls of damp hair hanging over tinted glasses. That's his answer. Right there, that's where he begins. With Scott. Deep down, he knows it. It's just not the answer he wants.

He digs a cigar from his pocket. ] I need some fuckin' air.

[ Just about the reaction he expected from Logan, so to say Scott's surprised would be false. When the man tells him he'd go for some fucking air, Scott only nods, as if Logan even needs his permission. He watches him pull out a cigar and walk out of the warehouse; his retreating form the silhouette of a man Scott has been begrudgingly familiar with. The young man who's doing the shift with them only watches Logan take a break before turning his attention to Scott, who in return, just nods and goes back to work.

When he picks up another box, though, and lifts it all the way to where he's stacking them, he looks over to where Logan's smoking. Wiping sweat that gathered on his brow, Scott gives credit where credit's due. This Logan is certainly different from the one he knows back home. Has displayed it time and again during their time here.

And yet, for some reason, and maybe it's because he continues to be a dick to him who's to say, he's still very withdrawn from him. Somehow, personal feelings aside, Scott wants to change that a bit. If they ever hope to survive the harshness of this planet they found themselves in, they have to form better rapport. The idea of becoming friends with Logan still makes him a bit queasy, but better allies, he won't mind being.

Scott shakes his head. Maybe the heat is really getting to him. ]

[ CLOSED ] june.

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