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| Steer Clear of Soggy Horses | |
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| Participants | Kurt, Rahne |
| Synopsis | Kurt arrives on Muir Island and reunites with an old friend.And after a little chat about hydrophobia and the sort he learns a little about the local (mythological?) wildlife. |
| Location | Lobby, Genetic Research Centre, Muir Island |
| Time | January, 26, 2016 |
| Posted By | Kurt |
By the time that Kurt lands on Muir Island the sun is beginning to set, the end of a short, cold Scottish day, and despite his warm coat of fur it's still chilly enough to cause him to draw his thick black scarf a little tighter around his neck. It's just a quick trip from the landing pad to the front door though — ah, the wonderful convenience of teleportation — and once there he wastes little time in slipping inside, not only to get out of the cold but to have a look at what's to be his new abode. And, judging by the enthusiasm gleaming in his yellow eyes, he's been all to eager to do the latter. After all he's heard about Muir and it's facilities, about Excalibur and WHO he's had the chance to do quite a bit of speculating about this place and his expression betrays his excitement as he steps into the lobby and has a good look about. But, really, a lobby is just a lobby. He'll just have to pace himself for the really interesting stuff.
Offering regularly to help out in the centre, Rahne has the unglamorous duty right now of weeding through those magazines, pulling out some of the more woefully out-of-date ones and replenishing the stock with the new glossies that have just come in from the mainland this morning. It's not the most exciting task, but she does it diligently, humming under her breath as she carefully fans out the new selection. When the door opens, she glances up out of idle curiosity, not expecting it to be such a sight for sore eyes. There's actually a double-take as she has to look back up, and then breaks into a beaming grin. "Ach, 'lo there," she greets in a subdued manner, the doesn't quite match the grin.
And by the same token Kurt certainly isn't expecting to see that familiar face beaming up at him. He can't help but reciprocate. "Ach! Rahne!" He sets his case at his feet and hurries over to greet the girl properly (which translates to a warm hug if he can manage, what with the over-stuffed pack that's still strapped to his back). "It's so good to see you," he goes on. "The school wasn't the same without you, you know." Though, really, nothing's quite the way it used to be back in New York — isn't that part of why neither of them are there at present? But 'there' is there and 'here and now' is, well, here and now. And Kurt seems all too happy with the way the latter's turning out.
Rahne steps around the table to facilitate the greeting, having a little trouble reciprocating the hug, thanks to his large pack. But she does as she can before stepping back and offering him another grin, hands tucked in her pockets, shoulders hunched up just slightly. "Aye, I miss it, so much. Bu'…" With a shrug, she glances around at the lobby, intimating that this is her home for now. She's a little sheepish about it, but then, it seems Kurt is likely to understand the draw, seeing as he's here with more luggage than would suggest a weekend stopover. "Yeh look good. An'… burdened." Blue-green eyes playfully dance over that huge bag of his. There seems to be a question in there, regarding his plans to stay, though she isn't quite sure if it's her place to ask.
Her comment seems to remind Kurt that he's still wearing the backpack, apparently neglected in his haste to catch up with the young woman. "Oh, yes! I should probably set this down. It's murder on my shoulders anyway." He slips the straps off and lays the bag to rest on the ground before setting to work kneading a bit of the tension from his shoulders. After a moment he seems to pick up on the unspoken question and, quite suddenly, he can't suppress a rather boyish smile. "Ah, that's right. I don't know if you've heard: I've come to stay with you lot!" That dramatic announcement out of the way, he goes on to explain. "Herr Xavier suggested I join the ranks of Excalibur, you see. and I must say I rather like the name!"
"Aye, don't want to be doin' harm to yerself," Rahne notes sagely, though there's still a bit of a grin to it as she watches him unburden himself. How anyone manages to forget a bag that large… Well, she should probably be flattered, but that would just lead to awkwardness and blushing, so. As he makes his grand reveal, the small smile blossoms to a full grin. "Ach, tha's brilliant," she enthuses in her usual understated way. "Jus' brilliant." She glances at the bag and then nods. "And it does explain the luggage."
"Ja, I wouldn't pack so heavy for a quick getaway, that's for sure." Kurt glances illustratively at the pack and then back to the case that he's left behind. "I wasn't sure what I'd need — aside from clothes — so I brought a bit of everything." He cants his head thoughtfully. "So. We're working with this 'Weird Happenings Organization'." He waggles his fingers to give the name an added effect. "Is there really much in the way of 'weird happenings' around here? Or did the Professor only tell me that because he knows I have a soft spot for sci-fi?" The expectant way he's watching her now suggests that he rather hopes it's not just a bit of fairy tale.
"Nah, just maybe half that, for a quick one," Rahne teases lightly, tilting her head as she grins at the large bag. Even half of that would probably be more than enough for a quick sojourn, that's for sure. Tucking her hands back into her pockets, her eyebrows lift as he waggles his fingers at her. "Ach, well, I havenae been here so long myself. Bu' I think yeh'll be surprised. This is the land of the kelpies, brownies, and the Loch Ness Monster, after all." Hey, he's clearly not the only one hoping against hope that these fairy stories might actually be real. "Jus' try not to run afoul of the Each Uisge."
"Each What-age?" Now it's Kurt's turn to raise his eyebrows. And that expectant look clings to his features as he's all too curious to hear this mystery explained. "That's one I've never heard of. Hmm. Perhaps I'll have to brush up on my Gaelic pronunciation if we're to be dealing with names like that." But such a small price to pay for the adventure this outfit already promises! He gives a musing hum. "Ach. Nessie? So I suppose we'll find out whether she's really just a floating log in the loch, eh? Hopefully not. Logs aren't nearly as interesting as sea monsters, after all."
"Each uisge," Rahne repeats again, sounding it out a little more phoenetically. Which is, of course, nothing like it's spelled. "It's a water spirit, takes the shape of a horse. Drags yeh down to the deepest part of the loch and holds yeh there and then eats yeh up once yer dead." She nods sagely, not the least bit put out by the bloodiness of this creature. Hey, folklore is pretty brutal. She gives a little grin then, nodding her head. "We shoul' do a field trip one of these days. Even if it is jus' a tourist trap like they say." Tourist traps can be fun, anyway. "Though, aye, I hope tha' there maybe is something to it. People have been talking abou' it an awful long time otherwise."
This time around Kurt seems to follow a little better, though he notably refrains from trying to pronounce the full name of the beastie. No sense in embarrassing himself by twisting his thick accent around a phrase that requires another also-thick one. His eyes widen a touch. "Then I will be sure not to go swimming in the lochs any time soon. But why a horse? They're not much for water, are they? Unless it's a sea horse." Though his smirk earmarks the last bit as jest. "A field trip," he muses on her latter comment. "That sounds like an excellent idea, actually. Tourist trap or not, at least we can get our pictures taken… A fair distance from the water's edge." He gives a quiet chuckle. "Just in case they have one of those water horses keeping Nessie company."
"Oh, well, I suppose yeh can go swimming. Jus' watch out for horsie creatures an' don't ride 'em, and yeh should be all righ'," Rahne advises with a crooked grin as she notices a magazine slightly askew and bends to straighten it out. "An' I dunno why a horse. I guess because yeh ride them? Yeh need to have something that'll drag yeh to the bottom. Ach, well, yeh don't need to have it," she grants, since no one really needs to be drowned around here. Shaking off those labyrinthine thoughts, she moves right along. There's a little laugh as he suggests going to Loch Ness but staying away from the water's edge. "If anyone asks, I'm not the one who gave yeh hydrophobia." Straightening up, she tucks her hair back behind her ears. "Though maybe better safe than sorry."
"No riding strange, watery horses. Check." Kurt makes an little swipe with one finger in mid-air to tally that up. "I think that I should be able to handle that." And, as if to inspire further confidence on the matter, he gives a decisive nod to that. Of course, he's not so confident as she moves on; he knits his brow as he follows her down tangled train of thought on (un)necessary drownings and, in the end, is more than willing to continue right along without spending too much time attempting to suss it all out. He can't help but echo her laugh as the talk turns to his (potentially) dawning hydrophobia. "Well, I'm not terribly fond of water anyway. No one really likes the smell of wet fur, after all."
"Aye, I think tha' is probably a wise general rule for life, stayin' off of those strange, watery horses," Rahne agrees, nodding thoughtfully as she considers it. "I can't think of an instance where it woul' be necessary." She lightly crosses her arms over her chest, looking back at him with a considering expression as he mentions wet fur. It does earn a nose-wrinkle from her, but more one of sympathy than cast stones. "Ach, yeh do have a point there. Though at least yeh probably don't get so many doggy-paddle jokes. Still, so long as yeh dunnae enjoy it. Wouldn't do to miss out jus' because people don't like the smell."
Rahne earns herself a sage nod as she points out that this watery horse wisdom is something for the ages. Though after a moment's consideration Kurt's brow furrows again and he can't help but comment. "Well, unless one needed to get to Atlantis, I suppose. Though I don't think this is quite the right area for Atlantis." Not quite a piece of UK folklore, that. "I suppose in that instance one'd just have to learn which ones to trust. Don't look a gift water horse in the mouth. Or something like that, anyway." He pauses as if realizing he's getting a bit off track here and gives his head a little shake to put himself on the right course again. "Ach. No, you've got a point about the doggy-paddling," he has to admit, reaching out to give her a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.
"Aye, true. Though if yeh're aiming for Atlantis, yeh'd better hope to be free of him before the drowning and devouring part starts. There must be a better fellow to take yeh underwater who won't be tryin' to kill yeh." Rahne looks thoughtful as she tries to think back on her folklore knowledge of someone like that. But then realizes she's also getting a little distracted. "I don't think I woul' want to be lookin' him anywhere, bu' definitely not the mouth." There's a rueful grin as he pats her shoulder, and she just shrugs the free one. "Ach, oh well. Not too much swimming to be doing around here anyway. Not unless yeh don't mind the cold." Lots of water, but it sure ain't the Mediterranean.
"Let me know if you think of someone," Kurt replies with a laugh as Rahne insists that there must be a better alternative escort to Atlantis than a murderous aqua-horse. "Not that I have any pressing vacation plans to the bottom of the sea. But one never knows." Especially in this place, apparently. But, of course, he's still waiting to see just how folklorish a bend his work with Excalibur shall take. In any case, he can't deny that she has a point about the poor swimming weather here. "Ach. Nein, I think you're right on that. Cold I can take. Cold and wet, however, I cannot." A shudder runs clear through his tail as he casts a backward glance toward the door and the chilly evening just beyond.
"I'll keep yeh posted," Rahne promises with a grin. "In case it shoul' come up. Yeh're right. Yeh never do know." Never hurts to be prepared. She'll have to look into it, just in case. At any rate, it hardly seems like a chore, between her love of reading and the fact this is a rather interesting topic. To the matter of the cold, she nods, shivering slightly at the idea of it and crossing her arms a little more tightly. "Cold and wet must be the most miserable combination tha' God created. But at least we don't have to go ou' in it, so I'm grateful for that. And for boats, to keep us ou' of the water."
"Amen to that," Kurt readily agrees, bobbing his head once in a solemn little nod as she goes on about the cold and soggy and the blessed things that help protect them from it. "Ja, fur or not, I think I'll opt to spend the next few days around the research center. Indoors." Where it's warm and dry. He's such a pansy. "I suppose it will take me a while to find my way around here anyway. And to get to know the others. Er… how many others are there, anyway? Herr Xavier didn't mention."
"Indoors is good, aye. Though once yer settled, yeh should go an' see the country. I may be biased, but it's very pretty." Rahne grins, proud of her homeland, albeit in a quiet, modest way. Though maybe real exploring is best left for the warmer months, if he feels that strongly about cold and wet. A lot of that. "It isn't so hard to get around here. Jus' head down the hallway until yeh hit the living area, and the dorms are off that," she explains, pointing down the length of hall. "As for who, ach, there's the staff for the research centre, bu' as far as Excalibur is concerned, I know of Marie-Ange an' Meggan. They're both very nice. Yeh'll like them, I think."
"Oh, I will," Kurt assures her on the matter sight-seeing, nodding his head again. "Just as soon as I've my bearings I'll fire up the image inducer and head out to get a proper look at Scotland. No use in scaring the locals, after all." Though that's accompanied by a smile he's not entirely joking. In fact, on that point, at least, he's pretty serious. He's not looking to start any mass panics his first week here, after all. But he's not really worrying about that now. Rather, his mind is on Rahne's explanation of his new team and living space; he tosses a glance down the hallway, in the direction of the dorms. "I suppose I should drop my things off in my room before long. But hopefully I'll have the chance to meet our other teammates soon. No doubt our paths will cross sooner or later."
"Aye, yeh probably don't want to go aroun' giving them too much of a fright," Rahne agrees a little more seriously, albeit not too down in the mouth. Still, it does bring up her own memories of run ins with the locals here, when she was one herself, but she doesn't let herself dwell on that point. "An' I'm sure yeh're right. Not too horribly large, down our end of things, so chances are good yeh'll run into them sooner than later. Not that they're not well appointed," she's quick to add. "But yeh ken what I mean."
"I know what you mean," Kurt echoes kindly to assure her. As he goes on he bends to heft his backpack from its place at his feet and swings it over one shoulder. It's still a little heavy though and he fidgets a little as he shifts its weight around. "I've no doubt that everyone on the team has been chosen for a reason." Surely the others, whatever their unique abilities happen to be, are as capable as he and Rahne. "And on that note, I think I will see my way to my room now. I really shouldn't leave my bags lying around by the door." He looks over his shoulder at his case before starting over to retrieve it as well. "What a horrible first impression that would make if I should trip one of the others up on their way in with my carelessness."
"Yeah, tha' might not to be the way to get started off on the right foot," Rahne agrees, eyeing that heavy pack. "Do yeh need any help?" Though seeing as it's only the one bag, it might be more trouble to have two people trying to share the load. Still, manners dictate that she offer. "An' yer right about everyone being here for a reason, I think." Tucking her hands back into her pockets, she pivots on her heel to follow him with her gaze as he heads towards the bag. "It really is good to see yeh again," she notes with a friendly smile.
"Danke, but I think I can handle it." As if to prove it Kurt lifts the bag a little and flashes her a little smile. The manners are certainly appreciated, it seems. "And it's wonderful to see you too. Perhaps we'll have the chance to catch up properly a little later." Now, however, that seems his cue to make for the hall. "I'll see you later, Rahne," he sure to cast back at her, adding a little farewell wave of his spaded tail.
