Time is of the essence ~John~

[Kitty Pryde]

Winter, just after Christmas. What a time to be stuck around the school.

The snow had been falling for the past few days and Kitty was beginning to develop some serious cabin fever. Though she was here with a few of the other students, she had been avoiding them quite a bit. Bobby had seemed to be attached to Rogue now that she had returned and though she had seen John a few times around the halls she was sure he would just gripe if she tried to talk to him.

Sitting on the windowsill in her room looking out over the lawn toward the trees she longed for not only companionship, but action as well. Spending time in the danger room had finally worn her out and she didn't want to sit downstairs where the love birds curled up on the couch either watching TV or the fire. It seemed like there was almost nothing she could do.

Pushing away from the window she turned to the rest of her room. Her bag was still sitting on the bed where she had laid it the minute she had gotten back. Visiting her family had not been as much fun as she had thought. She was going to stay the rest of the break, but on Christmas decided to return favoring the silence to the fighting and stares from her family.

Letting a sigh escape her lips, Kitty decided to head to the danger room anyway. Maybe she could bring up some new routine to run through. She was going to walk down the stairs, but didn't want to run into anyone else. Instead she just phased through the floor making her way as low as she could before actually having to use the door.

Stopping in the kitchen she turned leaning against the counter pondering weather to grab a bite to eat or just head to the danger room for some routines.

[Pyro]

Bloody stupid season, John scowls, trying to strike a balance between drawing his arms around himself in an attempt to keep warm and staying clicking his Zippo as he skulks around the Mansion. It’s boring at the best of times, and by his third circuit he’s starting to think that the world hates him more than usual. Certainly seems that way since Rogue got back… the last few days have left him minus a best mate (well, a simple best mate at least… because things are weird, especially since Bobby seems to have no memory of anything and therefore keeps acting like nothing’s changed) and a bottle of whiskey and plus the mother of all hangovers which seems to be going on forever (can you get week-long hangovers?) as it is, and now she seems to have decided that girls prefer the good guys that sort of puts the nix on whatever it was they had going.

Anyone else might have been content to ride around as the third wheel on the Bobby-Marie bandwagon, but that’s just not going to work, which leaves him precious few options. The danger room seems to be booked out pretty much 24/7 recently (another thing making him feel less than in the loop, because it’s like the ‘adults’ are preparing for something) and leaving the mansion has sort of lost its appeal since it’s too bloody cold out. He half considers booting the channel-changing brat out of the living room and working out his frustrations on the X-Box, but that’s no fun alone and in any case, someone else has already displaced the kid and settled down to some hardcore ‘not really watching’ as if it were the back row of a cinema (Ick. Is everyone coupled up now?) so he veers off into the kitchen, counting on the ‘joy of the season’ making Logan too, erm, merry to hide what remains of his ‘secret’ alcohol stash.

Even there he’s not alone (scowl; how is it so difficult to avoid people now, when most of the Institute are away ‘celebrating’?)… but thankfully there’s no one grafted on to Kitty’s hip or sucking her face off, so John can at least tolerate her. ”Hey” he half-grunts, not exactly in greeting, but lacking in his usual venom.

[Kitty Pryde]

Kitty turned to the sound of a voice at someone entered the kitchen. Her eyes feel on John. (Wasn't he the one she had just said she was going to avoid). Her long brown hair fell over her shoulders as her eyes met his. "Hey." She said still sounding a bit down and not really caring at the moment. So far the Christmas break had sucked and if he was in his usual mood it wasn't going to get much better.

Pushing away from the counter she turned to the fridge phasing her hand inside to pull out two cokes. "Want one?" He offered handing over one of the drinks as still watching him. He was an enigma to her most of the time. He always seemed to have a grudge, but that was also one of the qualities that made her want to get to know him. That and the fact that he was attractive.

She leaned against the counter again as she opened the coke and took a drink. "Looks like I'm not the only one tired of the season." She stated as she watched her. (Why was it she couldn't stop looking at him?) She was trying to be friendly at least. And he had to be better company than the lovebirds. They were the only ones around close to the same age so it was limited when it came to the hanging out department. Maybe John would be in an okay mood for now and actually be interesting to hang out with.

[Pyro]

John takes the Coke with a look which says I’m never going to get used to that - hypocritical though it may be for someone who can set himself on fire and emerge unscathed to point out, hands do not go through solid objects – because a look he can still get away with even if words like ‘freaky’ are banned at Mutant High, follows it up with a whatever shrug, and cracks open the soda, swinging himself up to sit on the counter.

Talking to Kitty doesn’t seem such a bad idea right now. Sure, she’s perky as all hell most of the time, which usually makes him want to burn stuff, but she’s single (as far as he knows), shorter than him and, to top it all off, doesn’t seem to buy into the myth that Christmas is in any way something fun and worth celebrating. ”Fucking stupid holiday” he agrees, taking a swig from the bottle.

[Kitty Pryde]

Kitty looked up at him since he was close to where she was leaning. "I agree with you there. Its actually not to bad being back here at the mansion. Better than the stares from those at my parents." She said taking a drink of the Coke.

She watched him a bit surprised that his tone didn't have the usual bite it did toward her. He always seemed more annoyed by her, though she had no idea why. Its not like she had done anything to him, at least not yet.

Thoughts swam through her head as she looked at him. She hadn't been very close to him, instead hanging out with Rogue and Bobby. Though at the moment she would rather spend time with him. She was bored and maybe she could talk him into doing something to occupy their time. "So I take it your as bored as I am. What should we do?" She asked finishing off her Coke. Yeah she was kinda assuming he wanted to hang out with her, but confidence was suppose to be attractive, right?

[Pyro]

< It’s actually not to bad being back here at the mansion. Better than the stares from those at my parents
Well, that’s… interesting.

”Not all sunshine and roses back at the Pride, right, cub?” he says, not caring how insensitive that all sounds because, really, when does he ever care about that? Besides, he’s too busy congratulating himself on the Pride/cub thing… heh… wow, he really is bored if that’s passing for entertaining. ”Though you’ve got to be kidding about the Mansion being anything other than hell, what with everyone suddenly being so loved up. Something in the water making them all go at it like rabbits. It’s sick.”

The idea of something in the water makes sense, really. Because his liquid diet has been slightly more intoxicating, and he seems to be the only one not catching the vibe. Maybe Chuck’s come up with a new way of spreading his ‘love between everyone’ message?

< take it you’re as bored as I am
”Damn straight”

< What should we do?
”Whatever” John shrugs. Really, he doesn’t care. Anything to alleviate the boredom. ”Provided you’re not planning on eating my face or anything, I’m yours for the taking, Kitten”

[Kitty Pryde]

With the cub comment she nudged him a bit giving him an actual smile. "It was bad there. And I would rather be here stuck in my room than back there. Though I will agree with you at the love comment. They all seemed to be suction cupped together by the lips."

Since he was bored as well she felt that it was likely they would end up hanging out, seeing as they were the only single ones around. Though his sarcastic comments sometimes grated her, she was sure he could be some fun once he loosened up.

She cocked an eyebrow watching him for a moment. "I won't try to eat your face. But I was thinking about a bit of drinking away from the rest. Maybe down in the danger room now that its free." She said reaching through the door of one of the cabinets and coming out with a bottle of whiskey. "I saw Logan stash it before he left earlier. I'm sure by the time he gets back he won't miss it."

Yeah this was a bit out of Kitty's character, but she was getting tired of the giddy to cute image she had around here. Things had to me more interesting when she let herself relax a bit. And for that matter it was the holidays and almost no one was in the mansion anyway.

[Pyro]

< It was bad there
He’s almost forgotten the ‘joys’ of family occasions. Trust Kitty to be the one to remind him, which makes skulking around the mansion seem like the far better option of the two.

< I saw Logan stash it before he left earlier
John, of course, already knows about Logan’s stash, and never in a million years would he have planned on telling Kitty about it. Up until she opens her mouth he’s fairly sure he and Rogue are the only ones in on it. No way he’d have expected Kitty to *drink*, let alone know how to score the illicit alcohol at Mutant High. Definitely not to chance annoying a drunken Logan. None of this fits with the ‘cute, innocent and wholesome’ thing she has going on.

”Where’s the real Kitty?” he grins, taking the bottle from her hand ”And what have you done with her, you weird body-stealing Christmas-hating freak?”

[Kitty Pryde]

"Its nice to see we're on the same page here. And I am the real Kitty. I'm just tired of the whole 'I'm the good girl look at me' stereotype. I' m more interested in seeing if I can make at least part of this disaster of a holiday fun. I guess you'll join me?" Kitty said flashing a wide grin and letting him take the bottle. "Lets go somewhere where no one else will come around. I already made a suggestion, but if you have a better one then I'm all for it."

Kitty just wanted to do something. She really didn't specify at the time because she was known at the good one and as such didn't know what they should really do. Outside was way to cold considering all the snow that was still falling and TV was out of the question. It looked like it would be the danger room or one of the bedrooms. Thats all she would be able to come up with, but maybe he had a better idea.

She remained leaning against the counter next to his leg. This meant that she would have to look directly up at him, but she didn't mind. He was cute, she had thought that before and never said anything. This made it easier to have that careless look to her. Being this close it never gave off the impression that she liked him in any way. It just seemed that she was looking at him, paying attention to what he said.

[Pyro]

More drinking. Excellent. Fuck, he’s becoming a cliché; jaded and drowning his sorrows in whiskey… Abso-bloody-lutely fan-bloody-tastic.

”Danger room sounds good to me… provided we don’t run into any desperate singletons trying to chat up the holograms.”

Well, what do cliché’s stuck at high school do? Socialise with other cliché’s… And at least this looks like it could turn out to be either mindless (which would be good, since thought was something of a nightmare) or, given how many hidden dimensions Kitty seems to be opening up, sort of intriguing. And free alcohol is always good. Always. Regardless of the company or situation.

[Kitty Pryde]

"Sounds like a good plan to me. And we should
t be bothers. I checked around before coming in here. Everyone is either gone or stuck together in the TV room. Lets go." Kitty said grabbing his free arm and pulling him off the cabinet. She wanted to get somewhere to relax and drink.

She phased them through the floor once again stopping once they reached the outer door to the danger room. Phasing was coming in handy at the time. She liked to be able to cut back on time and just go where she wanted. When they stopped she let go of his arm looking at him. She had never phased him with her before and sometimes others had an interesting reaction to it the first time. A smile was on her face as her eyes met his once again.

[Pyro]

Her enthusiasm is catching, and he so nearly catches himself grinning in spite of the stupid fucking season and everything else…

… right up until they hit the door.

Fuck. Phasing was never the equation.

He should know better than to be freaked out by now, seeing as how this is a school for mutants. He should realise the impossible is never exactly that, seeing as how he can handle the untouchable without burning. But there are a hell of a lot of should’s he’s never paid any attention to before now, should’s which made a lot more sense than this. And dammit, if nothing else makes sense, he’s going to hold onto being freaked out. Especially by that.

Not that he’ll let any of that show, of course. ”I could just break in, y’know” he says, cool as a cucumber.

[Kitty Pryde]

Kitty smiled at him as he made the comment. "I only stopped so that I didn't phase up to much. I hadn't taken you with me before and didn't know how you would react." She said reaching out and quickly putting in the code and watching as the door slid open.

She grabbed his hand again pulling him into the room before the door slid shut behind them. Sh looked around wondering if she could get some kind of routine going so they could just relax. She had run her usual routines, but she wanted just someplace to relax.

"Should I see what I can pull up for us to sit on?" She asked figuring she could figure something out. She was quite good with computers and thats all the danger room was to begin with, just a big computer.

[Pyro]

< I hadn't taken you with me before and didn't know how you would react
”You know what curiosity did to the Kitty” he half-grins through the nausea, ignoring the voice screaming about not wanting be an experiment in freaky-transubstantiative-whatever-the-hell-Kitty-does. He wonders whether he could take a *restorative* dose or two of the whiskey, but really doesn’t want to face phasing drunk because it’s unpleasantly reminiscent of that fucked-beyond-reason feeling even while sober, so ontop of that feeling it’ll be a nightmare. ”Really, you should warn people before you make with the phasing. It’s” freaky as all hell ”an interesting experience”

One inside the danger room it was… just a big room, really. Without the laser and stuff it was really boring, just cold metal and… yeah, boring.

< Should I see what I can pull up for us to sit on?[/color]
”Yeah.. something big and.. erm, sqooshy.” Anything to liven this place up… and to hide behind if it all goes horribly wrong and she summons up laser-demon-snowmen or something else suitably nightmarish and festive. Unlike Kitty John is not exactly great with computers... a fact the number of torched laptops Xavier is too courteous to bring up when he has to ask for a new one after the latest *system meltdown* bears witness to.

[Kitty Pryde]

Kitty quickly went to work trying to come up with something suitable for them. This was a bit of a task considering that there was nothing already programed into the computer for it. Most were just everyone else's usual routines. Her hands flew across the keyboard bringing up the parameters for what they would want.

Taking into consideration what John had said, a few moments later she had finished with the intervals and activated the new program. Turned she watched as the program came to life before their eyes. John had asked for something big and she had come up with a large bed int he center of the room. Its dark covers accented only by two red pillows that sat against the headboard. A large couch and what looked to be like a very large beanbag chair had also cropped up.

Everything was designed for two people. She was not anticipating anything between them, but it made passing a bottle a lot easier if they were sitting next to each other. The rest of the room had become dark with only the faint glow of what would appear to be black lights giving off enough light to see by.

"Well I hope this suits you John. Though I did do it a bit quick. Maybe I'll tweak it when I get bored one day." Kitty said thinking out loud a bit as she began to walk close to him once more. "Pick a seat. I gave you a good selection."