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Post by Colette on Jan 5, 2010 15:59:48 GMT -5
"Well... Maybe you should take a break? After all this is over, you could go on a sabbatical. Take a year or two off and just focus on your family, yourself. You've got Eloise as your assistant, right? She could take over things. And you know all your teachers would help out, as would I and Vera and Axel."
She knew Ainslie would say something along those lines. It still put a smile on her face, though. No matter what would happen, or what she decided, she'd always be there. Everyone would always be there, even if they left. It was hard leaving the mansion though, thinking of moving out for a year or two..?
It was terrifying, but she knew she had to make a choice. She sighed softly, nodding as she took a small sip from the bottle. "Alot has changed." She suddenly stated, a smile on her face. "Feels like nothing has changed. But it has.. and it's big. Not just this.." She gestured towards the outside with her finger. "But the mutants.. we're all changing."
Maybe it was the emotions, or the booze, but she felt like crying in a good way. "I watched so many of my first students grow up and move out. Move on.. get married." She laughed softly. "Though some are stubborn, like Tyler and Kyla, they refuse to leave I think." She joked softly with a smile, kicking her foot a bit.
"This job has a lot of good things about it, Ains." She paused, starring ahead. "But after the last week.. I just.." She sighed, shaking her head and looking to her friend. "I don't know."
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Post by Ainslie Darling on Jan 5, 2010 16:14:21 GMT -5
"Alot has changed." She suddenly stated, a smile on her face. "Feels like nothing has changed. But it has.. and it's big. Not just this.." She gestured towards the outside with her finger. "But the mutants.. we're all changing."
Ainslie nodded her agreement. "Growing up, getting more unified..." She shook her head a little, thinking. "I remember when Ace and the other Antis were our biggest threat. Now we've got fucking hell to deal with..." She chuckled softly under her breath. It was unbelieveable.
"I watched so many of my first students grow up and move out. Move on.. get married." She laughed softly. "Though some are stubborn, like Tyler and Kyla, they refuse to leave I think."
Ainslie returned the fond smile, dropping her hand to Colette's. She hadn't been around long enough to see her student's grow up, but she couldn't wait until she could. At the mention of Tyler and Kyla, she laughed lightly. Those two were so cute; totally meant to be. "Haven't they gotten married yet?" she mused softly, smile still on her face.
"This job has a lot of good things about it, Ains." She paused, starring ahead. "But after the last week.. I just.." She sighed, shaking her head and looking to her friend. "I don't know."
"Yeah," Ainslie said, chewing her lower lip. She could definitely understand. Sometimes....it was just so much. And Colette had been doing it for so long already. "You should take the time off. Nothing permanent; just to see how you like it." It would be good for Colette. And her family. Ainslie would love to take a break...maybe actually start to work on making a family....
But that could wait. She had more important work at hand for the time being.
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Post by Colette on Jan 5, 2010 16:21:41 GMT -5
"Growing up, getting more unified..." She shook her head a little, thinking. "I remember when Ace and the other Antis were our biggest threat. Now we've got fucking hell to deal with..."
Mmm, Ace. She smirked and shook her head. "I hear Ace isn't a problem anymore. Not getting into detail cause it's just.. confusing. But.." She gave a nod. "Yeah.. now it's.. Sylar." But there was nothing to worry about yet. She could only deal with one thing at a time. Sylar would wait.
"Haven't they gotten married yet?"
She laughed, shaking her head as she grabbed the bottle with her hand and took a long drink. "Nope." She chuckled. "Though, when I left they were cuddling on the couch. Dark times pull people together in strange ways." She giggled. "But I guess that's good, Charles quit his job." She nodded, pointing a finger.
"You should take the time off. Nothing permanent; just to see how you like it."
"I'll think about it. No sense putting too much on it with what's going on now and all." She looked out the window at the burned city. "It'll never be the same, will it?" She asked softly.
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Post by Ainslie Darling on Jan 5, 2010 16:34:09 GMT -5
"I hear Ace isn't a problem anymore. Not getting into detail cause it's just.. confusing. But.." She gave a nod. "Yeah.. now it's.. Sylar."
Ainslie raised her eyebrows, intrigued. At the end, though, she nodded. No point in thinking about it now. They had bigger fish to fry; bigger things to deal with.
"Though, when I left they were cuddling on the couch. Dark times pull people together in strange ways." Ainslie nodded vehemently to that. Wandering through Belleza proved the same thing. Couples were trying to solidify their relationships all over. It was bittersweet. Bitter because it was such a dark time, sweet because they were all so in love... Bitter because Ainslie didn't have anyone herself, sweet because she did have her students after all.
"But I guess that's good, Charles quit his job." Ainslie's mouth dropped open in shock. Regaining herself, she raised her bottle in another salute. "Well, if anything deserves a toast, that does." She took a quick swallow, marvelling over that. "Charles quit his job... Guess it really is the end of the world," she joked with a smirk.
"It'll never be the same, will it?"
Ainslie followed Colette's gaze, eyes reflecting the flames on the sky. "No. It won't." She blinked deliberately, looking to her friend. "But we'll be stronger because of it; all of us. We'll be better for it."
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Post by Colette on Jan 5, 2010 16:40:50 GMT -5
"Well, if anything deserves a toast, that does." She took a quick swallow, marvelling over that. "Charles quit his job... Guess it really is the end of the world,"
Colette erupted in laughter, shaking her head but toasting herself to that as well. "It was sweet and funny cause he thought it.. and my wall was down and out cause of all the chaos and he just.. surprised the hell out of me." She laughed.
"No. It won't." She blinked deliberately, looking to her friend. "But we'll be stronger because of it; all of us. We'll be better for it."
She stared out the window, watching the sky, the street.. the darkness that surrounded the world now. "We'll be better for it." She repeated softly. She hoped and prayed that to be true. "Do you think we'll learn from it?" She asked just as softly.
Her mind went to Omni, and her warning five months prior to this. They could have stopped this.. could have prevented it. "Ains." She turned to her friend, grasping her hand. "Do you believe in God? Male.. or female god?" Her nose crinkled at the question.
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Post by Ainslie Darling on Jan 5, 2010 16:46:41 GMT -5
"We'll be better for it." She repeated softly. She hoped and prayed that to be true. "Do you think we'll learn from it?"
Ainslie smiled prettily at her friend's happiness. Good. Things were already getting better... But then as Colette's quiet question, her face tightened in thought. "I think we'll have to," she answered finally, honestly. "I don't think there would be anyway for us to get through this and not learn from it." Colette was right; things would never be the same after this. But it didn't have to be a bad change. They could learn from this.
"Ains. Do you believe in God? Male.. or female god?" Ainslie met her friend's eyes with a steady gaze and nodded slowly. "I do. Maybe not God exactly, but in some sort of divinity. Man, woman, animal, mineral, spiritual... Whatever it is, there has to be something out there... Why do you ask?"
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Post by Colette on Jan 5, 2010 17:06:39 GMT -5
"I think we'll have to," she answered finally, honestly. "I don't think there would be anyway for us to get through this and not learn from it."
Colette sat quietly, listening and watching out the window. "I hope you're right." She spoke softly. Her mind kept drifting to that late night. She had woken up due to a craving in the middle of the night, if only she knew..
"I do. Maybe not God exactly, but in some sort of divinity. Man, woman, animal, mineral, spiritual... Whatever it is, there has to be something out there... Why do you ask?"
"I met.. her." She spoke. "I mean, I think I did.. I don't know.. I don't think it was a dream." She looked back at Ainslie. "Too vivid." She sighed. "But that doesn't make sense does it? You probably think I've finally lost it." She laughed lightly.
She rubbed at her neck a moment, pulling her feet under her. "But then why would God.." She shook her head. "I'm babbling.. like I'll ever be able to understand God." She smiled.
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Post by Ainslie Darling on Jan 5, 2010 17:35:29 GMT -5
"I met.. her." Ainslie's eyes grew at that, but she let Colette go on. "I mean, I think I did.. I don't know.. I don't think it was a dream. Too vivid." Ainslie nodded, trying to process everything. This didn't sound like just drunken ramblings..
"But that doesn't make sense does it? You probably think I've finally lost it." Ainslie cocked an eyebrow incredulously and passed her friend an "Oh really?" look. "CoCo. There is fire in the sky. Demons are roaming the earth. The city is burning. Hell is upon and Lucifer is around the corner. But I'm gonna call you crazy because God spoke to you?" She chuckled softly. "C'mon."
"I'm babbling.. like I'll ever be able to understand God." Ainslie shook her head, smiling gently. "Out of all of us, I think it would be you she'd come to." God was a woman, huh? Well, she was going to have to give her brothers a call. She had some money to collect from a bet made back when she was sixteen. God was a woman. And she was talking to Colette.
Taking another drink from the bottle, she asked, "So what did she say? Did she explain what the hell she was thinking when she thought up menstruation?"
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Post by Colette on Jan 5, 2010 19:52:53 GMT -5
"Oh really?" look. "CoCo. There is fire in the sky. Demons are roaming the earth. The city is burning. Hell is upon and Lucifer is around the corner. But I'm gonna call you crazy because God spoke to you?" She chuckled softly. "C'mon."
Colette erupted in laughter. "You're right." She nodded, smiling wildly. "But still.. it's weird." She laughed softly. She leaned forward, resting her chin on her knee. Getting lost in the past and wondering about the present.
"Out of all of us, I think it would be you she'd come to."
"Psh." Colette waved her off. "God knows I'm not perfect. Why me?" She questioned due to pure nature of doing so. "So what did she say? Did she explain what the hell she was thinking when she thought up menstruation?" She shook her head a silly smile on her face. "Great threat ahead, little did we know.." She sighed.
"I feel like, if I realized that sooner than.. I could have.." She shook her head. "Isn't in the bible that god only gives you, what you can handle?" She asked randomly. "Well.. God gave me too much." She smiled, not sure if she was serious or not about that..
Maybe she was still contemplating it. She hadn't decided...
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Post by Ainslie Darling on Jan 6, 2010 15:44:06 GMT -5
"God knows I'm not perfect. Why me?"
Ainslie chuckled, shaking her head. "I've said it before and I'll say it again: you're basically president of the mutants. She wanted you to know so you would be ready to handle it when it came." Though, really, how could anyone be ready to handle this? Even with a warning from God himself...er, herself.
"I feel like, if I realized that sooner than.. I could have.." Ainslie shook her head again, this time more vehemently. "No, Colette. There was nothing you could have done to stop this. There's nothing anyone could have done. You can't feel guilty or responsible at all for this, okay?" She wouldn't let her. This was not Colette's fault. There was nothing she could have done to stop hell from rising.
"Isn't in the bible that god only gives you, what you can handle?" She asked randomly. "Well.. God gave me too much." Ainslie smiled softly at that, mirroring her friend's pose, dropping her chin to her knees. "Yeah, maybe. But he gave you good friends and a strong family to help you through it, CoCo."
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Post by Colette on Jan 6, 2010 15:54:52 GMT -5
"I've said it before and I'll say it again: you're basically president of the mutants. She wanted you to know so you would be ready to handle it when it came."
"You and everyone else." She joked. "Gonna give me a big head." She smiled, stretching slightly with a soft yawn. "So.. did I scare the shit out of Josslyn or what?" She chuckled. "I just couldn't sit in that house one more minute.. had to get out."
"No, Colette. There was nothing you could have done to stop this. There's nothing anyone could have done. You can't feel guilty or responsible at all for this, okay?"
"I know.. but I guess that's human nature--second guessing yourself all the time?" She gave it a shrug. "So.. anything interesting happening here? Before or after hell's arrival?" She smiled. Wanting to take some of the harsh spotlight and turn it on someone other than herself for once.
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Post by Ainslie Darling on Jan 6, 2010 16:05:32 GMT -5
"You and everyone else." She joked. "Gonna give me a big head."
"A well-deserved big head!" Ainslie countered. She meant it. Colette did so much for everyone within the mutant community. It would only be fair for her to get at least some recognition and appreciation. She knew that she was sure as hell grateful to have her around; as a friend, a mentor, a guide...
"So.. did I scare the shit out of Josslyn or what?" Ainslie laughed along with Colette before shrugging. "Nah, I'm sure she'll be fine. She's tough and all. She was just a little freaked 'cause she didn't know where her boyfriend was." Josslyn was one of the students Ainslie was closest to; she wasn't too worried about the girl. "I just couldn't sit in that house one more minute.. had to get out." She nodded her understanding. "Well, you're always welcome here, CoCo. You know that."
"I know.. but I guess that's human nature--second guessing yourself all the time?" She gave it a shrug. "So.. anything interesting happening here? Before or after hell's arrival?"
Ainslie nodded a little, agreeing. At the second question though, she pulled a face and shrugged. "Not really. I mean... Just the usual craziness. Corona's back from the dead which has Evangeline...a little messed up; understandably. I mean, just drama within the students, like always." She attempted a smile as her eyes drifted to the window again. It was nice to talk about normal things --well, normal for them at least-- at a time like this. But at the back of her mind was the gnawing, persisting thought that Hell was rolling in and nothing was definite anymore.
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Post by Colette on Jan 6, 2010 16:23:06 GMT -5
"A well-deserved big head!"Colette choked on drink, laughing into the silent kitchen. " Oh nice, kill me why don't you Ains." She joked lightly, poking her with her elbow. She shook her head, smiling. It was nice, talking like this. Even when things were darker than dark; they could count on each other. "Nah, I'm sure she'll be fine. She's tough and all. She was just a little freaked 'cause she didn't know where her boyfriend was."Colette gave a nod. " Ah, young love." She grinned. " Miss it.. but then I guess old love is better than no.. Shut up Colette." She smiled, closing her eyes. " I am going to go out, once this is all done and over with, and I am going to find you the perfect guy, Ains." She giggled softly. "Not really. I mean... Just the usual craziness. Corona's back from the dead which has Evangeline...a little messed up; understandably. I mean, just drama within the students, like always."" Wait.. Corona is back?" Colette blinked. Why would that sound so strange to her when Dean was the exact same not even six months ago? " Oh god.. Completely understandable." She nodded. " I hear that." She giggled, taking a sip. Soft music erupted from upstairs. Colette perked a brow, turning and looking at Ainslie. " That coming for Evan's room?" She laughed softly, recognizing the song herself. " Ahh." She bobbed her head to it slowly. " No change, I can change, I can change, I can change, but I'm here in my mould , I am here in my mould." She laughed freely, joining in the chorus. Cause it's a bittersweet symphony this life. "
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Post by Ainslie Darling on Jan 6, 2010 16:38:59 GMT -5
"Ah, young love." Ainslie chuckled along. She loved watching the romances of her students develop. It was awesome when they worked out. And when they didn't... Well, Ainslie was always there as a shoulder to cry on.
"I am going to go out, once this is all done and over with, and I am going to find you the perfect guy, Ains." Ainslie giggled with Colette. Settling back, she hummed thoughtfully. "Yes, please. 6'2". Sculpted abs. Intelligent, funny. And a Brad Pitt or Jensen Ackles look-alike, if it's not too much to ask." She burst into a trail of laughter at that. If only, huh?
Her smile softening, Ainslie eased into a slightly more serious tone. "No, but I'd love what you and Chuck have," she said, teasing with the nickname for Charles. "Especially the kid. In fact, I was thinking about getting one and just by-passing the whole man thing." She laughed but it was something she had been considering.
"Wait.. Corona is back?"
Ainslie's eyebrows lifted. "You didn't know?" Well. She had definitely thought Colette would've heard about that from someone... "Yeah. She's back from Hell actually, just like Dean. Don't know exactly what happened with that yet. I've talked to Evan about it briefly and Shames even less." That was something she would have to check in on as well. Because people coming back to life was just unusual --no matter how many times she had witnessed it...
"That coming for Evan's room?" Ainslie perked an ear and nodded, smiling softly. "Bittersweet Symphony," she named the song softly. "The Verve." It was one of her favorites. Laughing as Colette sang, she eventually joined in. She even grooved in her seat a little, dancing to the mellow beat.
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Post by Evangeline on Jan 6, 2010 16:46:42 GMT -5
Party Time!Evan smiled, carrying the Ipod stereo in one arm as she held onto her shot glass and Crown Royal in the other. She bobbed her head, leaving the staircase and entering the kitchen. " I heard crying, and laughing and smelled booze." She announced as she set the stereo on the kitchen island. " Thought might as well turn a downer into a party. So.. thus music." She laughed, pushing play as Matchbox's twenty's how far we've come, came blaring on. " So hi." She grinned, grabbing a seat and sitting down between the two of them, closer to the island. " Can we not discuss Corona or Shames until I'm caught up to you two?" She joked, pouring herself a shot, catching the end of Ainslie singing and dancing. She laughed softly, before downing the shot. " Cheers to that."
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Post by Colette on Jan 6, 2010 16:54:04 GMT -5
Colette went into a fit of laughter as Ainslie checked off her list of qualities in a guy. She shook her head, trying to catch her breath. "Check. Got ya." She chuckled, taking another small drink from the bottle. Was it her or was the music getting louder? Just as it seemed to get that way, it stopped completely.
"No, but I'd love what you and Chuck have," she said, teasing with the nickname for Charles. "Especially the kid. In fact, I was thinking about getting one and just by-passing the whole man thing."
"Oh come on. I hardly got to see the guy!" She laughed softly. "I'm just glad to have him home." She stopped suddenly, catching the last part of what Ainslie said. "Really?" She perked a brow. "Well, I say go for it. Now a days you don't need a man to start a family and be happy, you know?"
"You didn't know?" Well. She had definitely thought Colette would've heard about that from someone... "Yeah. She's back from Hell actually, just like Dean. Don't know exactly what happened with that yet. I've talked to Evan about it briefly and Shames even less."
Colette's mouth went to open when she suddenly heard Evan's raspy voice jumping in. "I heard crying, and laughing and smelled booze." Colette laughed softly. "I see." "Thought might as well turn a downer into a party. So.. thus music." Colette nodded, laughing softly, sharing a look with Ainslie.
"So hi." She grinned, grabbing a seat and sitting down between the two of them, closer to the island. "Can we not discuss Corona or Shames until I'm caught up to you two?"
Despite the laughter coming from her lips, she looked to Ainslie. "Sure. Better get started now." She teased. "Cheers to that." Colette shook her head smiling as music filled the kitchen. "Cheers."
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Post by Ainslie Darling on Jan 6, 2010 17:11:47 GMT -5
"Well, I say go for it. Now a days you don't need a man to start a family and be happy, you know?"
Ainslie met her friend's eyes, thoughtful. "Yeah? I don't know yet. Just... I feel like it needs to be done." She was edging on twenty-eight after all. It was time to get settled, settled for real. Who said it had to be done in the traditional order? She could have a kid on her own. Or adopt one. She could definitely do that. In fact, once all this was over, she would.
"Thought might as well turn a downer into a party. So.. thus music."
Ainslie laughed happily, waving Evangeline in. "You're welcome to try," she offered, gesturing for her to take a seat. "Colette and I were just gossiping about you guys. And the end of the world. Oh, and I was placing my man-order." She waggled her eyesbrows a little, to show she was joking. Mostly.
"Can we not discuss Corona or Shames until I'm caught up to you two?" Ainslie laughed full-on at that. She nodded once, rolling her eyes. "Fair enough. But we are not that far gone."
She rose to get a glass so as not to seem so drunk, drinking straight from the bottle. As soon as she stood though, she realized that she was in fact that far gone and landed back in her seat with a plop. Chuckling softly, she blushed a little. "Whoa. Guess we're a little further along than I thought. Better start drinking, Evan," she suggested with a grin.
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Post by Evangeline on Jan 6, 2010 17:23:01 GMT -5
"Sure. Better get started now."
"Colette and I were just gossiping about you guys. And the end of the world. Oh, and I was placing my man-order."
Evan perked a brow, smirking wildly. "Nice, starting to order without me? I want a latino..." She laughed softly, taking the crown royal and pouring herself another shot. "So.. gossip huh? Fun. Who slept with who and when and why?" She teased with a grin.
"Fair enough. But we are not that far gone."
Evan gave her a look. "Careful now." She let out a soft laugh as Ainslie plopped back down into place. "Yeah.. not that far gone, huh?" She teased. "Whoa. Guess we're a little further along than I thought. Better start drinking, Evan," She raised her glass and quickly downed the shot, shaking her head right after. "Two." She announced, pouring another.
---
Colette laughed, and couldn't seem to stop. She placed a hand over her chest, tears welling in her eyes. "Oh god it hurts.. make it stop.." She bellowed through her laughter, bending over to see if that would help.. so far no go.
She took a few good deep breaths, tapping her chest with her hand as she willed herself to stop. "Oh god Ains.. You are something else."
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Post by Ainslie Darling on Jan 8, 2010 16:02:12 GMT -5
"Nice, starting to order without me? I want a latino..." Ainsle pursed her lips, interested. "Aye carumba," she purred, rolling the "r." She dissolved into giggles after that, stopping only to nod in response to her second question. "Basically. Nothing too interesting has really been happening here though, huh?"
"Yeah.. not that far gone, huh? ... Two." Ainslie chuckled, nodding. Pressing a hand to her chest, she shook her head calming down. Colette, apparently, was not having any luck putting a stop to her laughing fit. "Get a grip, CoCo!" she called through a smile. She straightened her friend's shoulders, chuckling softly with her.
"Oh God, Ains. You are someting else."
"I try, I try," Ainslie said, mock-bowing. Looking to Evan and Colette, she couldn't help but smile. "I like this," she commented absently.
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Post by Evangeline on Jan 9, 2010 14:06:28 GMT -5
"Aye carumba,"
Evan chuckled, pouring another. "More like ay dios mio!" She laughed, downing her third. She looked to Colette, watching her deal with a giggle fit. "Is she okay?" She asked Ainslie, pointing a finger at Colette.
---
"Get a grip, CoCo!"
She brushed the tears from her eyes and nodded, still laughing. "I'm fine.. I just.. can't stop." She breathed out, trying to take in calming breaths. "I try, I try," Ainslie said, mock-bowing. Looking to Evan and Colette, she couldn't help but smile. "I like this," Colette smiled, gaining a bit of control over her giggles.
"Me too.. me too." She grinned, reaching out for the bottle and taking another drink. "Oh Jack.. you're so smooth."
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