I2DT/Room 120: A good way to have the last word

[Basil Benson]

There was a knock on Amy's door, though she may not be expecting anyone.

[Amy Myers]

"One second!" she calls out and a couple moments later the door creaks open to reveal Amy in a t-shirt and sweatpants. "Yeah?"

[Basil Benson]

"Ah hello again. I came to apologize." Basil was 'visible' today, in one of his dress shirts and matching vest and slacks. He had his vanity glasses on so that where he was looking was obvious.

[Amy Myers]

"Apologize? For wh-- Oh! That was you?" she says, not looking particularly happy.

[Basil Benson]

"Yes." Basil replied, not looking to cower out now.

"I'm sorry. My actions were deliberate, but I did not intend to cause an accident. Had I known someone might get hurt I wouldn't have done what I did, but unfortunately it's only hindsight that is twenty twenty." His apology sounded sincere enough, and devoid of the sort of language that lumped the accident onto Amy directly. Denying it happened because she had powers seemed pointless to Basil, but blaming her because she had powers seemed mean,rude, and rather thoughtless of him. Best then to avoid mentioning she even had a hand in it. She could beat herself up, if she felt the need.

[Amy Myers]

"You knew I have trouble controlling my powers. I told you."

[Basil Benson]

"I know. I don't think I understood... Because that's not how my condition works. I understand now." There didn't seem to be even a hint of playfulness in the comment.

"I don't expect you to accept my apology, but that doesn't negate the necessity for one."

[Amy Myers]

Amy frowns for a moment and it's obvious she's at least considering just slamming the door. "Well I'm glad nobody got hurt. I'll try to keep the apology in mind during the extra crap that has appeared on my power control worksheet."

[Basil Benson]

Basil's glasses bobbed, he must have nodded. He didn't feel like arguing about the fact that he did get hurt since as far as he was concerned it was his own bloody fault in the first place, and making her feel bad wasn't Basil's reason for being there. For a moment he thought about making a joke that if it hadn't been him, someone else would have found a way to make her more work, but decided not too as she didn't seem in good humour at the moment.

He shifted awkwardly.

"I didn't mean to make you more studies either. Sorry."

[Amy Myers]

"Well I guess I need it, yeah?" she says. Is she joking? It's kind of hard to tell. If she is it's kinda fizzling. "Or it's punishment for wrecking the cafe."

[Basil Benson]

Glasses shook left to right, a no.

"Forgive me for being contrary, but I don't believe that is how the University operates. I don't believe they would punish someone for an accident. If you ended up with more homework, it's probably because they've been further assured they can help you.

Those with the least physical capability to control themselves don't get homework. They get equipment."

Basil sounded like a young man speaking from experience.

[Amy Myers]

"That doesn't sound ominous at all."

[Basil Benson]

"Oh no. No no, it's not. Not for you anyways.

What I mean to say is if the establishment thought you were incapable of controlling yourself, homework is not what you'd be given. Pool beds, invisible suits, psionic or power inhibitors.... Those are the sorts of things my kind are given, not yours."

[Amy Myers]

"Your kind? The only reason why they're not pushing you to do stuff is because when you can't control it you don't blow up the entire room. It doesn't really matter if you do or not." she says and by the horrified look on her face it takes her precisely one sentence too long to realize how that must have sounded.

[Basil Benson]

Silence. Either Basil really didn't know what to say, or what he had to say back wasn't very kind at all so he was collecting his thoughts to make an semi-intelligible answer.

"Apologies again. It was silly of me to think I could try to make you feel better through assurance that your condition wasn't permanent."

Basil's tone was not the same as it was before, the sympathetic tone having left for a more deadpan, even keel one. He didn't particularly care if Amy understood that what he just did was the British equivalent of 'Sorry, not sorry'.

"Perhaps I should be going." He offered.

[Amy Myers]

"Look I'm sorry, that was shitty of me. Apology accepted, okay?" she says. She may not get the more British intricacies of the not-apology but she understood the thinly veiled sarcasm just fine.

[Basil Benson]

Basil paused for a moment, becoming a bit bolder than he generally dared to, atleast since he stepped into adulthood.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out an envelope with the name ' Colette Astrid Madeleine Rosenhof' penned across it, the letters not entirely sloppy, but not the best handwriting either. He waved it back and forth with the envelope facing towards Amy.

"If you want to make it up to me, you could deliver this to Colette."

[Amy Myers]

"I guess you don't just want it slid under her door?" she says, taking the envelope and looking at it, deciding that this is clearly more important than just a random letter.

[Basil Benson]

Basil paused again. He was trying to figure out how to respond to Amy without giving away the fact he had been treated for a concussion.

" I have a very good memory. It's not a part of my condition or anything like that, it's just higher than average. And there are two things I remember about the incident clearly. Your panic, and Colette's voice using the word foolish. I highly doubt it was you she was speaking of.

I have come across Colette three times now. Twice I've made an ass of myself. However, the second time I could have been seriously injured and she never came to check on me. It's clear to me she doesn't wish to see me, and I am not a gentleman who can't take a hint.

That doesn't absolve me from an apology however, and it doesn't really seem like an act of contrition to just leave a note and walk away. At least this way she won't be upset by having to look at me again, so to speak, but if she asks you if I seemed apologetic, you can vouch that I did."

[Amy Myers]

"I'll... let her know you were being sincere. And a little long-winded."

[Basil Benson]

"I'm British. I use ten words where two would do, honestly." Basil replied, sounding amused.

"Perhaps once you Americans invent enough new words like 'yolo', you'll be more communicative?"

[Amy Myers]

"Ha ha, very funny. I take it everyone over here only does sophisticated things like reading Shakespeare and sipping tea?" She's not even that fond of 'yolo' herself, but this guy was just being way too stuck up and 'British' about this.

[Basil Benson]

" Well since Shakespeare is pretty much secondary school required, if by being sophisticated you mean passing what you refer to as high school, then yes. We have a very high level of sophistication.

Tea is coffee. Tea was coffee in America until the 20s. Despite what your history books like to tell you, early American teahouses switching into coffeehouses in rebellion was the 1700s equivalent to 'Freedom fries'. Many citizens went back to tea after the revolution because of a preference for it.

It was the Great War that got you all hooked. Coffee and cigarettes were the 'luxuries from home' packed in the standard US ration kit, and basically saw to it that you all turned into a bunch of cancer ridden caffeine addicts."

Basil seemed like he'd had this conversation before.

[Amy Myers]

"Well that's still better than being stuck-up little wise guys with your pompous 'better than though' attitude." she harumphs and begins emitting a faint glow. That's probably not good, but she doesn't seem to notice.

[Basil Benson]

"You're turning into a night-light. Stop that." Basil responded to her luminescence, trying to be funny.

[Amy Myers]

"I don't know what that means, but I'm sure it's something hilarious from Doctor Who or Monty Python or something. Either way it's not funny."

[Basil Benson]

"I don't particularly enjoy you calling me stuck up for trying to make conversation with you, but one learns to 'deal with it'.

Guess friendly small talk is over, are you taking this letter for me still or am I 'too good' for you to help out?"

[Amy Myers]

"Don't worry, I'll take your stupid letter to Colette. Good day." she grumbles and slams closes the door.

[Basil Benson]

Thankfully, Amy couldn't see him roll his eyes as he left, between invisibleness and closed doors.