Too much to do. Too little time.

[valis2]

Yes, I have spent the entire evening finishing off my flist catch-up. (Not that there was a lot of time involved...by the time I finished dinner, it was 8:45.) Thank goodness. It was up to almost exactly 1000 entries in 10 days.

I have a great idea for the Snupin dark!fic challenge. I want to write it. I really want to write it. But I am afraid to sign up--I am leaving on the 20th and I don't think I'll have enough time to write it.

I really want to write. I have so much brewing in my head that it's a wonder anything else fits in it at all.

*tries to resist urge to sign up for the challenge*

Comments

[pandora-nervosa.livejournal.com]

This fic is my crack. I swear to God.

Two installments? Squee!!!!!!!

This is so much fun! It shouldn't be legal...lol.

♥ you so much!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

And...in honor of your birthday...an update!

Desmond looked deeply into Pandora's eyes, and knew he wanted to kiss her again. And more.

There was a knock at the door, and it opened, revealing Valis, who had changed into a red shirt and red jeans. "You two are kissing already?!" she said incredulously. "I mean, we always knew you worked fast, Pandora, but wow..."

Pandora arched an elegant eyebrow. "Is there some reason you're here?" she said. "Some vital bit of information you might have been sent to relay?" Her tone was a bit frosty.

"Now that you mention it..." She tucked a stray bit of hair behind her ear. "The big guy wants to see you. Both of you, actually."

Pandora took his hand and stood up. "I had thought he might," she said. She squeezed his hand. "There's nothing to worry about. Professor Xavier is the most honorable mutant I've ever met."

"Y'know what would be hilarious?" said Valis. "It would be so funny if it turned out that Desmond was a mutant too. Like, his ability was really latent, and only just manifests itself now, and it's something really far-out, like conjuring grilled-cheese sandwiches out of thin air..."

"Sawyer can do that too," said Pandora in a mock-sweet way. "Perhaps you should check the kitchen."

"Yes, but Sawyer has to have, you know, cheese and bread to do that."

"Which, conveniently enough, are both in the kitchen." Pandora gave her a meaningful look.

"Ugh, you're no fun," complained Valis. "Besides, I'm supposed to accompany you." She walked back out the door.

"Let's go," said Pandora, turning and giving him a chaste kiss on the cheek. "We can pick up where we left off later." They followed Valis down the winding halls.

To say that Professor Xavier was not what Desmond was expecting was an understatement. He had imagined a huge man with energy crackling around him, and was surprised to see that Xavier was bald, slight, and in a wheelchair.

"Won't you have a seat?" asked the Professor. After they were all seated, and Xavier was back behind his desk, Xavier placed his hands on the desktop and looked at Desmond. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Desmond. I've heard all about your adventure last night, and I apologize for all that you've been through."

"A pleasure to meet you too, Professor," said Desmond, unable to completely dismiss his unease. "I'm thankful that Pandora--er, I mean both the ladies were there. Oh, and Mr. Logan. Otherwise I don't think I would have left alive." He shuddered, thinking of Yuriko and her blades.

"Forgive me for bringing unpleasant memories to the surface," said the Professor kindly. "But this is the precise reason that I need to speak with you. Your safety is now our concern, and I wanted to inform you of the various choices that are before you..."

Desmond listened as Xavier listed his options. Stay on at the mansion as a "friend," and help out; go back out into the world and stay with the Dharma Relief Fund, where there were several mutants with ties to the X-Men who would keep close tabs on him; or back to the real world and sever all contact with the X-Men for his own safety.

"I know that this is quite a lot to digest," said Xavier. "You needn't make your decision this instant. Spend some time here, observe our lives, and then you can make a more informed decision. Valis, please stop thinking of grilled cheese sandwiches, you're making me hungry."

"Aww," said Valis.

"Thank you very much, sir," said Desmond.

"I'll just show him around," said Pandora, smiling.

"I know what that means," said Valis, giggling. "I'm off to the kitchens. Have fun, you two."

"Let's go back to your room, first," said Pandora, leading the way. "It's better to use that as a central point on our tour." She smiled slyly.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

"How long have you lived here?" asked Desmond as they walked down a long, wood-paneled corridor.

"Since my power materialized," said Pandora, her arm looped through his. "I was twelve."

"Twelve?" he said, surprised.

"Some mutant powers manifest themselves at the onset of adolescence," she said. "Mine did so in a rather spectacular manner. I set off a lightning bolt that hit a tree in our backyard and incinerated it."

"Your parents must have been upset."

"They called me a freak and that was the end of it," said Pandora. She smiled at him. "They're no longer my family. My new family began here. Professor X, Storm, Jean Grey, Valis...they're my family, now."

"I see." They walked down another corridor, and took another turn. "Do you...like it here?"

"Of course," she said. "We don't leave very often--the outside world doesn't really understand or tolerate mutants well. But it isn't a prison. There's always something that needs doing, or children to teach...and the grounds are enormous. We have plenty of room...for all sorts of activities." She gave him a wicked grin. "Ah, and here we are, at your door. Perhaps you'll be wanting a shower before we embark on the tour?"

A shower sounded wonderful. He nodded, opening the door, and she followed him in, closing the door behind her. Putting her cool hand on the back of his neck, she brought his face close to hers and kissed him again, her lips soft and sweet against his own.

"I'll be back," she said, and turned to leave.

He entered the bathroom and stripped off his clothing, noticing that his pants were ruined. The water they'd slogged through last night had not necessarily been clean.

The hot water of the shower was more than relaxing--it was cleansing. He let it pour over his body, closing his eyes and trying to forget about Yuriko and her frightening hands.

He turned the water off, and pulled a large fluffy towel from the rack. Sponging the water off his body, he absently opened the door, hoping to cool down the bathroom, which was full of steam.

"What a view," said Pandora, and he looked up in surprise. Her eyes were taking in every inch of his nakedness, and he blushed with what felt like his entire body. "My goodness. Or should I say, my badness...perhaps we might consider delaying our tour just a bit more..."