I Brought Brownies

[Darcy I. Pearce]

I Brought Brownies

TAG Fiona Thorne
NOTES let me know if anything needs changing ^^

Sighing, she ran her fingers through her hair and rubbed the back of her neck. Darcy lifted her mug to her lips only to find it was empty. "Great," she muttered, setting it down and resting her cheek in her palm. She looked at the time. Almost midnight.

What am I doing?

No one paid her to work overtime. And even if they were allowed to, no student in their right mind would come into her office at this hour. She was just here to read up on a file--yet again. This has become sort of a routine for her recently. Besides, she didn't really have anything to go home to.

She wondered who else was still awake and if so, what were they doing? Besides, of course, the usual nightlife activities.

Hm... There was that new girl who worked on the school maintence. From the bits of infornation she picked up around the office, she knew Fiona Thorne's powers were based on shadows, making her almost allergic to light. Now that was nocturnal though not by choice.

The doctor decided to pay her a visit. It seemed that the woman lived in the school's basement so why not? She packed up her stuff and brought a plate of chocolate brownies with her as she walked out of her office, locking the door behind her.

As she made her way through the school, she noticed how silent it was. She saw the janitor rocking out in a hallway, a security guard browsing through the internet on his phone, but that seemed to be about it. So empty of noise, empty of... hormones. It felt almost peaceful if she wasn't so sleepy.

Upon reaching the staircase to the basement, she made her way down while balancing the plate on her hands. "Fiona? I hope you're decent 'cause I wanted to welcome you personally to the school."

[Fiona Thorne]

Down deep in the further, darker regions of Bellefonte's basement, Fiona was hard at work in the pitch dark. She liked it like this, where all the lights were switched off. She was far more comfortable in the darkness, feeling her way with the shadows instead of her sight. It was almost as good as her regular sight anyhow. Especially when she had to sense where those little ones were. Thankfully there weren't many of her shadowlings down there, but Fiona still needed to hunt them down so they couldn't mature. It was much more dangerous to absorb those ones.

Fiona was relatively good, fixing one of the pipes when she thought she heard something. There was a familiar hurried skittering that made Fiona's head whip around. It was one of her little shadowlings! And judging from the way it was rushing, someone must've been near? Fiona checked the pipe before rushing towards the door that separated the freely accessible areas of the basement and the 'maintenance only' section. Eventually she found the shadowling on the way and grabbed it, feeling the little thing squirm in her hand as it tried to get free. It was slightly cold and felt almost slippery, but Fiona held fast as she absorbed it. With it came the backlash: That sudden blaze of feral rage. The way she suddenly just wanted to lash out at somebody. But as soon as it was there, is was gone and Fiona shivered.

Instead she hurried out the door and shut it tight behind her, blinking a little from the presence of lights. Luckily the hall itself was dim. She avoided the laundry room since that was far brighter. Anyways, her attention now focused on just what her shadowing had sensed. it was a woman, who already knew her name? Fiona blushed a little. it made sense considering how fatal the side-effects of her powers were. precautions had been taken getting her here in one piece. "Oh.... um, hello. Thank you. Ah.... Can I ask your name? Sorry, I wasn't able to learn everyone's once I got here." She apologized shyly.

[Darcy I. Pearce]

I Brought Brownies

TAG fiona
NOTES none

As Darcy walked down those steps, she noted how dim the lights were in the room. She wondered if this was by choice or not. From what she heard about their new maintenance worker, this would be more of a necessity. Speaking of which, where was the woman anyway?

Looking around, there seemed to be three doorways from the hall. The laundry room, the storage room, and the last had a little sign that told her only maintenance was allowed through. Definitely through there. She could even hear some clanging coming from the other side.

The doctor had to watch her step as she made her way down. She had never been in the school's basement before so she took her time getting her bearings. The lack of proper lighting did her no favours. The fact that she was careful was the reason why randomly losing her footing was a surprise. Slipping, she quickly grabbed the staircase railing to steady herself.

What just happened?

The answer was that she had suddenly felt a burst of nonephrine, a chemical released when an individual felt anger or fear. But that same hormonal rage disappeared so fast, she questioned whether it was ever there at all. She firmed herself and continued down till she reached the bottom. Then a woman rushed out the door to the maintenance room and closed it behind her. She seemed very skittish with her opening introduction.

Something to hide or just shy?

"Darcy Pearce," she said, smiling pleasantly. "I'm the therapist here." She took in the Fiona's details. The woman didn't look like the aggressive type. Her black hair was a stark contrast against her pale skin, and blue eyes shone brightly. An accent could also be detected in her voice.

Never judge a book by its cover. Anyone could hide anything.

Darcy didn't say that, of course. Instead, she went with, "Just wanted to welcome you personally. I brought brownies." As if to prove this, she lifted the plate in her hands. "If you don't mind me asking, do you... stay here?"

[Fiona Thorne]

Fiona took in the woman as she approached, curious about who would actually be coming down into the basement willingly just to see her. She looked very friendly, especially as she introduced herself. Darcy Pearce. Fiona really needed to start memorizing her fellow staff members if she ever ran into them or needed to talk with one of them. But her attention was drawn back as the girl said she just wanted to to welcome the british girl. Blinking, Fiona was even more struck by the girl's kindness as she lifted up a plate of brownies. Blushing, Fiona fiddled with her hands and averted her eyes. "Oh....Thank you! That's awfully sweet." She said, offering the other woman a shy yet appreciative smile.

"Oh! Why... yes. I do." Fiona explained awkwardly. Well, it was always a little weird when you had to explain that you lived in the basement of the school. Not exactly the greatest conversation topic. But she didn't want the girl to worry too much. "I-it's alright though! It might look bad, considering I'm living in the erm....the basement..." Wonderful. She just made it weird. Carry on Fi, carry on! "But I assure you it's fine! It's actually quite... well quite nice really. That and I don't have to worry about getting hurt from the un or anything." She insisted quickly, the blush still on her face.

[Darcy I. Pearce]

I Brought Brownies

TAG fiona
NOTES none

She seemed very shy for an adult. The doctor wondered how her brain worked. She herself wasn't very used to social interactions but she managed. Knowing how others felt helped with this. But Fiona was... awkward. Almost like a teenager. From this, Darcy could work out a number of things. Perhaps she grew up unable to grow with her peers. Fitting--affinity with darkness and all. Her sensitivity to light would limit her outdoor activities. And indoor too probably. Maturity--

Stop evaluating her.

She mentally slapped herself. She came to welcome the woman, not deduce her psyche. Her work and social lives were separate. She hated it when they clashed. Emotions easily made one biased about a situation. That was the problem with people and she learned this a long time ago.

Darcy was actually used to people being nervous around her. But this was more due to the fact that she was a therapist. Opinions on her kind of job varied. Some even went so far as to call them "shrinks" which was a word she'd rather not hear.

But Fiona's blush was cute. She seemed like a humble person. Still, Darcy had expected to be invited into her home room place. Wasn't that the social protocol? She shifted her weight onto one leg.

"Yes, I heard you were sensitive... Did you get here okay?"

[Fiona Thorne]

Darcy seemed to be... Almost analyzing Fiona. The scrutinizing gaze made the petite brunette a little uncomfortable, so she averted her eyes. Maybe she had seen how quickly Fiona had rushed out of her maintenance room. Although that was just for Darcy's own safety. She didn't want anyone getting hurt from her shadowlings. Even now she could sense at least one of the slightly maturer ones on the very edge of her 'shadow sense.' She never wanted anyone getting hurt again.

But then Darcy seemed the snap out of something and instead asked about Fiona's sensitivity. "Ah! Yes well... I did. They just made sure I was covered for the whole trip. It was a little scary, I admit. I'd never traveled so far before." She confessed with a small shrug and smile. "Oh and... Sorry for the dim lighting it's just... My eyes are very, um... Well sensitive so bright lights hurt me." Fiona explained.. Although she kept out the part about burning up in the sun. Not a very pleasant thought.

[Darcy I. Pearce]

I Brought Brownies

TAG fiona
NOTES none

Darcy faintly recalled a movie about a girl who said she was "allergic to the sun". This was just an excuse so she wouldn't have to take off her shirt. Pretending to be a boy, that would be a dead giveaway. That was a funny movie. But she doubted this was the case with Fiona.

Read between the lines.

But the way she answered though... She sounded the same way one would say, "Oh well, c'est la vie." How strange it was to live a life, always avoiding something. So much that it became the norm.

The doctor waved a hand. "Don't worry about the lights. Your roof, your rules."

She felt her gaze soften. The brownies she brought contained chocolate which released happy hormones. "Please, have some," she said, holding out the plate. "British, right? That's a long way away. Why the change?" She hoped she wasn't probing too much but Fiona intrigued her.

[Fiona Thorne]

Darcy waved off the light issue, which Fiona was extremely thankful for. She could've turned the lights up a little more, but it would've started irritating her eyes and she might have had to squint. "Thank you. I know it must be a pain but... thanks." She said with a grateful and shy smile. Fiona noticed how the other woman's gaze seemed to soften a little before she offered Fiona some brownies. They did look rather tasty....She ended up reaching out and hesitantly taking one. "Thank you again." She said. She couldn't remember the last time she'd ever had brownies.

Taking a bite, her face instantly lit up as she tasted the chocolate. She absolutely adored the stuff and ended up eating the brownie far faster than she realized. She only realized it when she was licking her fingers and Darcy started speaking. Blushing a little, Fiona nodded her head. But the second question had Fiona freezing up a little. "Oh.... well....I wanted a change of scenery. St. Bethany's was wonderful but.... I'd been there for so many years it just... lost some of it's charm." Fiona said. She really didn't want to say the real reason she left. She going to make sure nothing like that ever happened again, so it shouldn't have to come up. "What about you? Are you from around Kalispell?" She asked instead.

[Darcy I. Pearce]

I Brought Brownies

TAG fiona
NOTES sorry for the wait ^^ but take your time--I read you LoA <3

Sure enough, the serotonin in the air increased. Darcy always had a fresh plate of brownies in her office as she found they helped when dealing with her more--for lack of a better word--troubled patients. The first thing she did when she settled into her new office was install a little oven for exactly this purpose. No harm done.

This is the only way I'll ever manipulate another's emotions.

When Fiona answered, she got a feeling that she wasn't getting the whole truth. And she had gotten pretty good at reading people--it was part of her job. She tried to recall what more she knew of Fiona Thorne, the mysterious maintenance worker who lived in the school's basement.

Everyone has their secrets. There are no exceptions

This includes Darcy, of course. But as a therapist, she started to know everyone else's secrets. She had access to the students' files but her fellow staff members were a different matter.

"I grew up here but left town after graduation," she answered briskly. "So what put you on your career path? Maintenance isn't very glamourous for you youngsters, as far as I know." She laughed lightheartedly, knowing this applied to her own career as well.

[Fiona Thorne]

Fiona had a feeling her story wasn't exactly bought, but the woman didn't push her, so she was grateful. She did take another brownie and smiled again at it's taste, gradually relaxing as she ate and listened. Although.... Darcy was rather short in her answer. Fiona had a feeling there was more too it, but she hadn't asked or pressed more on Fiona's own life. Fiona would extend her the same curtesy. At the question about her own career choice, Fiona had to blush a little and shift on her feet.

"Oh well....My powers sort of....got in the way of anything else. Light is very....well dangerous for me so I needed a job without that sort of danger. Maintenance was one of the jobs that came up. And since I'm a mutant I decided I might as well work for a mutant school. Means there would be a lot less questions about my um.... late hours." She explained, a little embarrassed. Along with her allergy to sunlight, she didn't want to risk anyone finding out about her powers. So she had been content spending her days working alone in the dark instead. "And you?" Fiona had to ask in turn, curious. "What made you want to be a therapist?"

[Darcy I. Pearce]

I Brought Brownies

TAG fiona
NOTES the gifs distracted meeeeee x3

Hm. So it wasn't simply because she wanted to be a maintenance worker. Sometimes people didn't choose their occupation, but rather worked around their abilities and problems to suit themselves. This was especially true for mutants because their powers were part of their daily life.

But Darcy was glad she didn't have to elaborate about her past. The two seemed to have a mutual understanding that part was off limits. So she started out another short answer.

"My powers involve hormones so it was fitting."

Fiona intrigued her though. But she was not a patient so Darcy couldn't treat her as one. She was under no obligation to talk about herself to Darcy. So if she wanted Fiona to open up, she'd have to do the same.

"Back in high school," which was only seven years ago but she didn't need to know that, "the school therapist then helped me through... my issues. It was a big part of my life so I wanted to do the same." She lifted her shoulders in a shrug.

Call them by their name, encourage interaction.

"Wouldn't you rather be out mingling or something, Fiona? You're a pretty girl--why stay cooped up at night?"

[Fiona Thorne]

The two seemed alright not mentioning the past, which Fiona was both relieved and grateful for. From the other woman's short answer, it seemed she had a rough past herself. Or at least one with secrets she'd rather not share. So Fiona only nodded in response. "That certainly makes sense." She replied. She had a feeling that sort of power could help a great amount in that sort of job. Although Fiona was only assuming, since all powers had their own drawbacks. She knew that very well.

So Darcy had decided back in high school? Also apparently it was after someone had helped her through her own issues. Fiona most definitely was not going to pry into that. "That's nice. I'm not exactly what inspired me to be a....well maintenance." Well technically it did, although it wasn't inspiration that had done it. More....necessity and fear. Which Fiona apparently would have to bring up with the woman's next question. Hadn't she mentioned her sun allergy? Perhaps not. She blushed at the compliment though and gave Darcy a small shy smile.

"T-Thank you. As for being cooped up.... Well, I do have to move about the whole school depending on what needs fixed. So I'm not just confined to the basement. Occasionally I'll even run into people up late. But I mostly stay in the school due to my um... Allergies." She said. "If it became day I could end up being stuck somewhere until night fell."