The X-Project

With a little bit of help, Angel and Sooraya enjoy an easy conversation and bond a little more as roommates.



Angel had carefully hidden the how to speak language book under pillow. Mr. Haller was nearby and she didn't want Sooraya to know about that little surprise just yet. Besides, if she wound up not being able to speak it well, she didn't want to accidently tell her roommate that "she was a great camel herder" or something. So, instead, she busied herself on reading the dummies guide to the country as she waited for her roommate.

And they'd be able to understand each other perfectly, yay!

Sooraya entered the room with her arms relatively free of books - a rare occurance nowadays. She had spent the afternoon studying in the boathouse, and her brain was so full to bursting of sums and history and proper English that she thought it might leak out her ears.

"Hello," she greeted her roommate, giving her a smile as she crossed the room to her bed. "How are you?"

"Hiya!" Angel returned, sprawled on her bed, neon blue socks showing up brightly against the white comforter. "I'm good though thankful classes are over for today. How was your English lesson?"

The Afghan girl opened her mouth to answer but paused as she realized something was different. Every word of Angel's had come through clearly, without the hint of confusion that normally accompanied them. ~What? Oh... of course. Mr. Haller. She hadn't even felt the telepath's touch on her mind. Her smile grew as she turned to sit on the bed, tucking her hands between her knees. "It was very good... I wish they were over, though," she confided. "Just because then I would finally know everything I need. But I don't think that will happen for a long time," she added dryly.

Angel beamed, glad she had asked Mr. Haller to give them a hand this afternoon. It wasn't something they could do every day but it had to be a relief now and then. "You're doing really, really well," she told Sooraya. "Far better than I would be if I was in your position."

"I'm sure you would do the same," Sooraya said bashfully. "I just wish to be able to talk to everyone more easily. And to understand my classes, of course." She gave Angel a rueful smile.

"I don't think anyone ever understands their classes," she teased. "You'll get there, I know it feels like it'll take forever but it won't. Oh! I have a question for you. I wanted to help you with swimming but I'm not sure what I have to do to make sure it's okay for you." Gesturing to Sooraya's outfit and then she sheepishly held up a book on her culture. "It's a co-ed swimming pool and I'm trying to learn about your culture but I haven't gotten to that part just yet."

"Oh..." Sooraya bit her lip thoughtfully; even though they could understand each other's words, it was another thing entirely to understand each other's cultures. "I do not think I would feel comfortable swimming if there were men around," she said slowly. "It is not that they are not very polite, but it is not something I am accustomed to... and the bathing suits I have seen, I do not think I would feel comfortable in them, either. They are very..." Sooraya trailed off, not wanting to indirectly insult Angel's pasttime of choice.

"Tiny?" Angel offered, laughing a little. "Yeah, they are. Well, the men part can be taken care of easily, actually. I can ask that they don't come around while you're there, would that help? Annnnd...hang on a second..." Rolling off the bed, she dashed to her computer. "Here it is, I saw this the other day and thought of you." Turning her monitor around so that Sooraya could see, Angel pointed at the full bodied swimsuits. "Don't know if this would help...?"

Standing, Sooraya shuffled across the room to peer at the computer screen, smiling a little at what she saw. "I could wear those, yes," she said, nodding. "They are not so tiny." She laughed then and bumped Angel lightly on the shoulder with her own. It felt good to be able to talk to her roommate like this. She made a mental note to thank Mr. Haller again when she saw him next.

Giggling, Angel leaned as well and pointed to more pictures. "And they come in different colors which is so awesome. I'm not totally sure about the whys and ins and outs of your culture--still learning!--but if I can help make things easier I will. And, hey, I get to ban the boys from the pool, now that'll be fun. I should make a sign."

"Be sure to tell them it's because they smell," Sooraya said with a grin.