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Post by Josh Dalton Worthington on Sept 29, 2006 5:01:55 GMT
Josh can tell Warren isn’t shocked by the gathering when the lights go up. His cranked-up senses. I never seem to be able to sneak up on him... He’s tried, too. Both times ended up with him pressed against a wall… so it’s not like they were bad experiences.
But if he’s not surprised, he does seem pretty choked up. And with a whirl of wings the two of them are in midair, and Warren’s giving him the most amazing kiss. Josh manages to kiss him back, for once letting Warren do all the lifting. Kind of like a day I remember over the lake…
> <You are the best boyfriend ever. Just in case you'd forgotten.>
His heart skips a beat at that. <Mmm. I missed you. A phone call on your birthday isn’t the same as seeing you.> He caresses the back of Warren’s neck briefly, and then they’re back down on the ground. Josh lets go and backs away a step, letting everyone else get at the birthday boy. Yeah, but I got the best greeting… he tries not to look too satisfied, but his eyes are dancing with happiness.
Ororo gives Warren a hug. “The Mansion isn’t quite the same when you’re away, Warren. You have become part of our family.” She smiles at him, whispering “… and make someone very happy, I think,” into his ear as she lets go of him and begins to spread dessert plates out on the table.
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Post by Rogue on Sept 29, 2006 13:55:00 GMT
Rogue tensed as the lights went out, automatically freezing, trying to strain her eyes for any glint of light. She didn't like the dark - it made her feel jumpy. Surrounded.
But she understood the point of the sudden plunge into darkness, so she calmed - at least somewhat - fairly quickly. It wouldn't last long, so there wasn't anything to worry about. Just to add an element of surprise.
And then the lights were on, and Warren was inside. She joined in calling 'happy birthday' with the rest of them. She watched his, er, greeting of Josh with mild surprise.
She was really not 'with it' on the relationships of the mansion, apparently.
She moved over towards the table everyone was gathered near. "Happy Birthday." she said, tossing a smile in the direction of their resident Angel.
(Sorry for the fairly "bleh'" post...It's not flowing this mornin'.)
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Post by Bobby Drake on Sept 29, 2006 17:35:57 GMT
Bobby rolls his eyesat the romantic reunion. "Jeez, guys... I'd say 'get a room' but you already have one. Just hold off on the birthday spankings 'till you're alone, OK?"
His body language belies his snarky tone, though, as he clasps Warren's hand in greeting. "Dude! So, not a teenager anymore, huh? How's it feel being old? Um," he adds, looking over his shoulder at Ororo standing nearby, "I mean, like, relatively. I mean... oh, look, cake!" He takes a dessert plate and waits while Warren cuts him a slice, then looks at it. "Not angel food cake? I'm surprised. Looks good, though." He doesn't quite scamper off into a corner, but he puts some distance quickly between himself and Ororo, who mostly looks amused.
He tries not to look too disappointed by the exchange between Warren and Henry, even though he's pretty sure he knows what that's about. OK... that'd be strike two, then. No problem. I may not have much in the way of skills or brains, but I'm... well, no, I'm not really tenacious, either. But I'm not letting this go. Someone's gotta have the inside scoop on which camp guards are up to what. It occurs to him for the first time that Danny and Josh working together might make enough of a teep to get the info he needs, and he makes a mental note to bring it up once the party's over.
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Post by Warren Worthington III on Sept 29, 2006 18:20:23 GMT
> <Mmm. I missed you. A phone call on your birthday isn’t the same as seeing you.>
Warren nods to Josh, completely losing track of what's been said out loud and what hasn't. "No, it isn't... believe me, I'd much rather have been here. I'll try to make it up to you later, though." He grins, then suddenly looks more serious as he waves a wing to indicate the whole room as he cuts cake onto plates. "This is... amazing! You rock in ways they haven't invented words for yet."
He wonders if Josh thinks he's exaggerating. After all, looked at objectively it's not so much... a few friends, some food, some banners strung around a hangar... any of the guests at his eighteenth birthday party would probably laugh at it. There'd been like a hundred people there, and a band and all kinds of bells and whistles... except, of course, they were all Dad's friends and employees, and the handful of kids he'd "cleared for access" (which meant, of course, that he owned them), and Warren would've traded the whole mess of them and all their toys for ten minutes over a bowl of cold cereal with anyone in this room. To have them all here just for him is... well, if he ever needed validation that breaking out of that medlab at Alcatraz was the right choice, this was it right here.
Which, if he's not careful, will get him thinking about the calls he didn't take on his birthday, still blinking at him on his cellphone. He'll return them. Tomorrow, maybe. For now, there are way better things to occupy his mind.
> "You have become part of our family… and make someone very happy, I think,”
"Thanks, Ororo, that means a lot... and, yeah, I hope so. Believe me, it cuts both ways, doubled and redoubled." It was true... in the weeks since he and Josh started dating he's been happier than he'd thought possible. Just knowing there was somebody out there who'd touched his mind for real and didn't walk away... well. OK... that's sappy enough for one party. Moving on!
He returns Marie's smile and offers a hand in greeting, then winces and puts it back down. "Sorry... I forgot. But anyway, thanks, Marie - or do you prefer 'Rogue'? - I know we haven't really gotten to know each other much, but I really appreciate you being here. It's good to make new friends."
He shakes his head, amused, at Bobby's antics. "Well, Bobby, it sure beats the alternative. But with a little luck I'm hoping I can get through the party before the arteriosclerosis kicks in." He frowns and adds "And, hey, I'm sorry I didn't make any progress on this trip. I'm not giving up, though... I'll find something."
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Post by Josh Dalton Worthington on Sept 30, 2006 16:05:03 GMT
Josh picks up a plate and a fork, and sits down at the table nearby. He absently stabs at the cake while looking over at Warren, grinning at his earlier comment. "It really isn't that much. I'm glad you like it, though."
He’s noticed that Bobby’s become more and more committed to ending the problems with the camps. Sure - it was horrible situation, no doubts about that at all. But at least judging from Warren’s repeated rebuffs, things were not going to be solved by anything quickly, short of an X-Men strike. He coughs, and chews to cover it. Would Storm do that? It wouldn’t exactly endear the military to our cause. But interning mutants for the sheer crime of being mutant was inexcusable. Josh has thought recently that Bobby was becoming unusually close to the ‘campaign’ for their freedom… he’s expected it from Warren - Warren was passionate about a great deal of things. Josh blushes slightly. The last few weeks really had been the best of his life, and he hoped it was the same for Warren.
“Hey, Warren? I have your birthday present upstairs whenever things wind down here. Just so you know.” He internally recoils at the sound of that sentence. We don’t need to advertise our sexcapades! We don’t even have any…yet.
He looks over at Bobby out of the corner of his eyes. <Yeah. And it’s an actual present. Wrapped and everything. I know what you're thinking.> “Good cake, Bobby? You seem to be chowing down.” Josh raises an eyebrow and puts another forkful into his mouth.
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Post by Bobby Drake on Sept 30, 2006 19:40:00 GMT
> <Yeah. And it’s an actual present. Wrapped and everything. I know what you're thinking.>
Bobby smirks back in Josh's direction. What I'm thinking?, he thinks loudly in response. Try what everyone's thinking. And yeah, it's safer that way.
Out loud, he adds around a mouthful of cake "Yup... very good cake. And it's not every day we get cake around here, so it's best to enjoy every bite, right?"
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Post by Warren Worthington III on Oct 1, 2006 1:16:32 GMT
> "Hey, Warren? I have your birthday present upstairs whenever things wind down here. Just so you know."
Warren blinks for a second, trying to decide whether that meant what it sounded like, before deciding he just had sex on the brain. That happened a lot around Josh, he'd noticed. So he restricts his response to a pleased grin, trying not to think too hard about the possibilities he'd been imagining back when he first read the note back in his room.
"You really didn't have to get me anything," he starts out almost reflexively, then adds with a wide grin "But I'm glad you did... it gives me something else to look forward to. Thank you." Warren knows he's a difficult person to get gifts for, since pretty much anything he wants he tends to buy for himself. On the other hand, Josh is pretty much the most thoughtful and perceptive person he's ever met, even without the telepathy as an added bonus, so he's sure he'll be delighted by whatever it is Josh has for him. It's a nice feeling.
He ignores the subsequent byplay between Josh and Bobby, who seem to be having their own little private conversation. They do that a lot, and Warren is always somewhat curious about what they talk about, but doesn't want to intrude. And the truth is, he suspects a lot of it is about him and that he'll be happier not knowing the details.
So he decides to take the opportunity to get to know the attendee he knows the least, and brings Marie a slice of cake. He's noticed that she's stayed away from the small crowd, which he assumes is related to her powers. The memo about her had emphasized that skin-to-skin contact was to be avoided, and the way she was dressed seemed to bear that out.
"Thanks again for coming," he says quietly. "Are you feeling well? No unpleasant side effects from your... experience?" He feels a little awkward talking around the subject of her Cure and the subsequent resurgence of her abilities, but he does wonder about it. He'd visited the boy nicknamed "Leech" once or twice, from whose powers the Cure was derived, and the experience of his wings shrivelling away only to regrow a moment after he left had been disconcerting. He imagines that doing the same thing over the course of weeks would be even more so.
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Post by Rogue on Oct 1, 2006 2:59:35 GMT
Rogue noted Warren's outstretched hand, and the withdrawing of it soon after, with something that was almost amusement. It wasn't an uncommon reaction, really.
"Sorry... I forgot. But anyway, thanks, Marie - or do you prefer 'Rogue'? - I know we haven't really gotten to know each other much, but I really appreciate you being here. It's good to make new friends."
"S'fine," she said with a small grin, "Mos' people call me Rogue, but that's really up t'you. An' I thnk th' not gettin' t'know eachother thing w's mostly my fault. I'm th'residen' recluse an' all, apparently."
The title hadn't been so much of given to her, as implied by a lot of the other students. It wasn't because she was unfriendly, though, that she stayed away from people.
During the brief time she'd been powerless, that fact had been a little more obvious. Now, though, she was back to her typical lurking away from most people, and all that.
Noting him moving towards her, carrying a plate of cake, she smiled.
"Thanks again for coming. Are you feeling well? No unpleasant side effects from your... experience?"
It took a moment for her to register what he meant by "experience". The Cure. Of course.
"Yeah, 'M fine. Jus'... takin' awhile t'get used t'everythin' again. Th' fact that m'powers came back w's the only thing that was really unpleasan' about it, f'me."
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Post by Josh Dalton Worthington on Oct 1, 2006 20:27:40 GMT
>"But I'm glad you did... it gives me something else to look forward to. Thank you."
Josh somehow can't shake the grin from his face. He hoped that Warren would like his present... he probably was very much used to the extravagant - what had his parents gotten him for his birthday? At this point he realizes he's not even sure whether Warren still talks to his relatives, and maybe that's one less hurdle for Josh to have to tackle later on, right? Meeting your significant other's parents was generally supposed to be some kind of horror story. The fact that his parents are loaded probably isn't going to help.
Then there's me... The image of him and Warren walking up the sidewalk, holding hands, to his house in Miami was an interesting thought. I think that Mom would like Warren, actually. He was sure that the other boy's thoughtfulness and sweetness would shine through, even if he would probably be nervous as hell. Josh snaps out of his reverie, and takes another bite of cake.
Ororo, Hank, and Bobby are sitting at the near end of the table with him. He can see Warren taking a piece to Rogue at the other end. Josh smiles a little. He is sweet. Rogue had always been a bit of a loner.
Hank is digging into a large piece of cake with gusto, oblivious to conversation. Ororo is picking the flowers off the top of hers with a fork, and looks at the two boys seated next to her.
"Josh, I'm happy for you. Warren is quite the guy." At this Josh blushes fiercely and becomes very interested in his plate of food, but it's easy to tell that he agrees with Ororo's assessment. "Any romantic prospects for you, Bobby?" She takes a bite of birthday cake.
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Post by Bobby Drake on Oct 1, 2006 23:35:32 GMT
> "Any romantic prospects for you, Bobby?" Well, thinks Bobby. Guess that removes any doubt about whether everybody knows 'bout me and Rogue being split up now. Makes things simpler." You know how it is... these days it's hard to find a 'prospect' who isn't likely to kill me. Makes things awkward." The answer comes out without thinking, but Bobby is pleased by it... it's entirely accurate, but most everyone will take it as a dig on Marie. He catches Josh's eye and thinks out loud: <And just for the record: you tell anybody about John, you'll wake up out of cryostasis some time in 2017.> " What about you, Ororo? Are you seeing anybody special?" It's rather a cheeky question, but it'll redirect attention from Bobby's love-life, which right at the moment has to be the worst possible topic of conversation. |
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Post by Josh Dalton Worthington on Oct 2, 2006 3:37:52 GMT
> <And just for the record: you tell anybody about John, you'll wake up out of cryostasis some time in 2017.>
Josh chokes on a bite of birthday cake, but covers it with a cough.
<No worries there. I've got lots of plans for the next 10 years... mum's the word. Besides, I would miss Warren too much. Nice touch, though. I must be the only other person in the room to get it.> Josh stares a fingernail as he 'speaks' - no need to have everyone know they're carrying on a private conversation.
<You're awfully punchy today. Everything ok?> He shoots a look across the table at Bobby to let him know he's serious.
Ororo gives Bobby an amused look and says, "I have been busy lately. If you know anyone who is as 'old' as I am and still alive, make sure to let me know." She gets up from the table, finished with the birthday cake, and goes over to spread of food.
<You are in rare form today, Bobbs.> Josh grins as he keeps eating.
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Post by Rogue on Oct 2, 2006 16:49:43 GMT
"...these days it's hard to find a 'prospect' who isn't likely to kill me..."[/color]
Overhearing just that snippit of the conversation, Rogue's head turned slightly, to reguard Bobby for an instant, before turning her head away again.
She wasn't sure if she should be feeling angry, or guilty about what he'd said. If she should feel bad about the fact that she'd let him be with her in the first place, knowing that they'd have these issues eventually, or if he'd stepped over a line with that one.
She decided to ignore it. It stung, sure, but a lot of things did. It wasn't important, though, not enough to get into it with him over. Especally not at someone's Birthday party.
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Post by Bobby Drake on Oct 3, 2006 5:08:16 GMT
> <You're awfully punchy today. Everything ok?>
Bobby snorts and looks away from Josh's eyes, taking a drink from an already-emptied glass of soda and hoping nobody notices.
Everything's fine, right? Except for how instead of being happy your roommate actually found a relationship that isn't mindnumbingly fucked up, you're stewing here envious of him as if it's his fault you've gone from dating a girl who won't touch you to screwing around with a guy who tried to kill you. Jeez. Some friend you are, Drake.
Then it occurs to him that Josh may well have picked up on that, and he practically chokes on his cake. This just gets worse and worse. He can't even bring himself to meet Josh's eye again, let alone ask how much of that went through.
Ororo's parting shot is actually a welcome distraction, in a way... he chuckles at it and follows her to the buffet table. "Well," he replies thoughtfully, "there is Logan. Not that he'll admit to how old he is, but the way he heals it could be any age at all, right?" Piling food on his plate he adds "This is some spread, Storm! Thanks!"
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Post by Josh Dalton Worthington on Oct 4, 2006 3:39:18 GMT
Josh suddenly feels funny, like someone punched him in the stomach. And the source of his unease is definitely Bobby, who's definitely not looking at him.
At a guess, it probably was the envy he'd detected before. This has to be hard. I mean, Warren and I get to parade our relationship in front of everyone. And I'm sure Warren comes up more in our conversations than Bobby would like - it has to remind him of what he doesn't have with John. I must have been intolerable all day. Jeez. Way to go, Josh. What would it be like to be attracted to a nutcase, anyway? All the reasoning in the world doesn't make him feel better, though, and the kicked look on his face mirrors it. Josh plays with the remaining cake on his plate. He wants to scoot over to Warren, but...
>"This is some spread, Storm! Thanks!"
Josh notices that Ororo deftly (and purposefully?) steers around Bobby's Logan comment.
"I'm glad you're enjoying it. I know how much you and Josh both eat... and I could likely add Warren to that list, too." She smiles as she looks back at the other two boys, but then notices the look on Josh's face. Joshua? Hmm. "Eat as much as you like, because everyone else is gone for the rest of the day."
Hank speaks up. "Everything tastes delicious, Ororo. I must commend you!"
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Post by Warren Worthington III on Oct 5, 2006 3:47:36 GMT
> Mos' people call me Rogue, but that's really up t'you. An' I thnk th' not gettin' t'know each other thing w's mostly my fault. I'm th'residen' recluse an' all, apparently."
"Well, 'Rogue' certainly has character, so I'll go along with the herd on this one. Is there a story behind the nickname?" He adds hastily " Though, please, it's Warren, not 'Angel'. Bad enough the media keep trying to brand me with that, I don't want my friends doing it." He shrugs a bit apologetically. "As for being a recluse... well, the truth is I haven't met very many of the residents. I do a lot of travelling, and I'm not in any of the same classes, and, well, it makes it difficult to make friends here. So I'm glad you gave up the recluse tradition to come here."
> "takin' awhile t'get used t'everythin' again. Th' fact that m'powers came back w's the only thing that was really unpleasan' about it, f'me."
Warren nods sympathetically. " I can appreciate that... I felt the same way for years." He wishes he had something more insightful to say, but he doesn't. He really does sympathize, but at the same time wishes she could come to believe, like he had, that her mutation is a gift to make the best use of, not a curse to be wished away. And anyway it's hardly his place to say so.
Before the silence stretches on too awkwardly, though, Bobby makes some comment Warren doesn't quite catch that seems to anger Rogue, and a moment later Warren is aware of Josh switching from amused to upset.
The more time they spend together, the more often Warren feels things that seem to originate from the Josh's mind, even if neither of them is trying to communicate. Which might just be his imagination, of course, but then again might be some kind of psychic rapport thing. He's refrained from mentioning it so far, preferring to indulge the belief that it might be the latter for a while. It's a nice idea.
So he isn't really sure, after the fact, if it's the kicked-puppy expression on Josh's face or some other signal that catches his attention. Regardless, he responds instinctively, closing the distance between them and crouching down behind to Josh's chair, his chin on the boy's shoulder. "J? What's wrong, hon?"
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