Snakes on a Plane

[Bobby Drake]

(( OOC: This is a 4:30 showing of Snakes on a Plane, Warren/Josh/Bobby are going, anyone who wants to hook up with them there just go ahead and post. No particular plan for the thread, it's just meandering socialness. If Pyro shows we can torch the theater, too! ))

"You go grab the tickets, Josh? We'll grab a spot on line," he calls out over his shoulder as he suits deed to word. It's only 4:10 and the line is already huge, he hopes they can get decent seats together.

Or, maybe not... getting some distance from those two might be cleverer, especially if they're grabbing the back row. Don't wanna be a third wheel. He almost asks Warren if he and Josh would rather be alone before remembering Josh hasn't actually said anything to Warren yet.

Instead, he indicates Warren's wings and asks "So how do you cram those things into a movie seat, anyway? Seems like it'd be uncomfortable." Warren's getting a lot of stares from other moviegoers, several of whom look like they were wondering the same thing, but seems to be ignoring them. Of course, he's probably used to it.

[Josh Dalton Worthington]

"Okay, sounds good." He pushes his way through the crowd to the ticket box, which is swamped. I wish I could make everyone forget that they were here to see the movie...

I wonder if Professor Xavier ever did anything like that. When he was young, and crazy, or something. Probably not. Every time Josh has tried to imagine the Professor as a wild college boy, he conjures images of textbooks and afternoon tea. He makes a face at the line.

<Who wants to play a mental game with me? This could take a couple minutes.> He aims this over at the boys in the other line.

I hope that Bobby is okay with Warren coming along. He thinks back earlier in the day. We're really not together or anything. He better not say anything to Warren. A snort escapes him. More to the point, I wonder if he's going to mention the bathroom encounter.... will Warren? He seemed more worried about what Bobby would think of me than of him.

[Bobby Drake]

(( OOC: Both Bobby and Warren in this post, cuz I can. ))

> "So how do you cram those things into a movie seat, anyway?
> Seems like it'd be uncomfortable."

"It is," Warren replies, "but for a couple of hours it's not too bad. Of course, I usually don't go to movies like this anyway... I mean, when they're still this crowded. So usually I can spread out a little more. But they're more compressible than they look. It's like, um..." he discards the first analogy that comes to mind and replaces it with "...like wearing a too-tight shirt, or something. Not exactly pleasant, but tolerable."

Bobby nods vaguely. Warren's different from most of the kids at the 'tute that way... his mutation is there whether he's using it or not. Marie's kinda like that, too, but it's different. And maybe John is, too, now that I think about it... not literally, maybe, but that damned lighter seems like as much a part of him as Warren's wings do, sometimes.

Except he's not going to think about John any more today.

<Who wants to play a mental game with me? This could take a couple minutes.>

Bobby and Warren both blink simultaneously, shrug at each other, and look back at Josh: <What kind of <Mental game? You mean mental game did like you have Twenty in Questions mind?> or something?>

[Josh Dalton Worthington]

This line is ridiculously long. Josh is pretty sure it hasn't moved since he got into it.

><What kind of <Mental game? You mean mental game did like you have Twenty in Questions mind?> or something?>

Josh is surprised by the pair of voices, but is able to sort both Bobby's and Warren's separate enough to make sense of it all.

<Maybe.... I spy with my little eye something that is the color black.> He locks eyes with the two of them on the far side of the room and grins. <First one to guess gets an ice cream cone after the movie!>

Josh takes advantage of a opening and dodges between two groups of milling people. <Ooh. I got closer.>

[Warren Worthington III]

><I spy with my little eye something that is the color black.>

Bobby rolls his eyes and looks at Warren at the same time that Warren laughs and looks at Bobby, and they both shake their heads amused at each other, then shrug.

<The trenchcoat that too-trendy guy near the front of the line is wearing?>, Bobby offers tentatively. No joy.
<Licorice Twizzlers!> thinks Warren, enthusiastically... but no.

<The janitor's shoes?>
<The guy's shirt on that ad for the Covenant!>
<The T-shirt on the girl with the <James Bond's tuxedo!>strawberry-blond hair and the falsies?>

A little confused, Josh sends back <Warmer!>, accidentally to both players.

<Um... the T-shirt on the guy with the pierced (ew) eyebrow?>
<Um... James Bond's bowtie?>
<Even warmer!>. To Warren, alone, this time.

Bobby looks around the theatre for another black T-shirt, failing to find any immediately.
<Um... the counter guy's bowtie?>

[Josh Dalton Worthington]

Josh begins to laugh out loud as the two of them send thought after thought his way, eventually eliciting a dirty look from a girl standing in line in front of him. He contents himself with telekinetically unlacing her shoes and retying them together.

><Um... the counter guy's bowtie?>

<Bingo! The ticket guy's bowtie.> Josh sends over to the two of them. <That means that Warren gets the prize after the movie.> He takes a step forward as the line progresses.

Suddenly, the counter is in plain view as the girl in front of him falls flat on her face, cursing, and taking out at least 5 other people. <Score!> Josh realizes that this is most likely his fault, but he carefully steps around the mass of people to the ticket window.

"Hi - just picking up three for Snakes. I bought them online already." He gives a nod and the paper to the harried counterperson, who's eyeing up the endless line.

"Sure." The boy grabs three tickets and thrusts them at Josh, clearly wanting to take another customer.

"Thanks!" Josh navigates across the room to Bobby and Warren. "I don't know what her problem was, but I got them!" He brandishes the tickets with an innocent smile.

[Warren Worthington III]

<That means that Warren gets the prize after the movie.>

"Yay! Ice cream! But don't forget I'm buying you guys dinner first." By way of explanation, Warren adds to Bobby "It was our deal: if Josh managed his solo flight, dinner for the gang was on me. Though I'd been anticipating more of a 'gang', to be honest... hope you don't mind my tagging along?"

Bobby replies "Oh! Well, thanks... there's a new Italian place not far from here I've been meaning to try out, if you want. And nope, don't mind at all, though I was thinking the same thing." He smirks in Josh's direction, then adds "I mean, are you sure I'm not (ahem) interrupting your (cough) celebration?"

Whatever Warren was going to reply is lost in the crash by the ticket counter and Josh's triumphant return.

> I got them!

"Yeah..." murmurs Bobby, sounding a little suspicious, "...you sure did! Lucky you weren't caught in that little domino effect, huh?" He shrugs it off as their line starts moving.

Warren is getting a lot of attention from the crowd, a combination of dirty looks and admiring ones and recognition and almost-audible murmurs. He ignores all of it, although a small blond girl's cry of "Birdie!" does quirk his lips for a second before the child's mother fearfully pulls her away.

Pretty soon their tickets are taken and they move into the theatre itself. Warren indicates the mostly empty back row and adds, a little sheepishly, "Do you guys mind sitting in back? It lets me stretch my wings a bit without bothering anybody else..."

Bobby shrugs. "It's OK with me." His smirk returns as he adds to Josh "Is it OK with you, Josh? I mean, it's traditional to reserve the back seat for couples on a date... but I suppose we can make an exception in this case, right?"

[Josh Dalton Worthington]

>I mean, it's traditional to reserve the back seat for couples on a date... but I suppose we can make an exception in this case, right?"

Josh smiles. "That sounds good to me, Warren." He narrows his eyes slightly as he turns to Bobby. "I'm sure everyone won't mind. After all, you go to opening night to see the movie, not make out. Though if you were planning on making out with John anyone, Bobby, don't mind us - go right ahead."

He settles into the seat between the two of them. Was this how the entire night was going to turn out? Bobby making veiled comments about a date that he and Warren weren't on? We're totally not on one! I mean, that would be awesome, but - shut up, Josh! Jesus, Bobby. You're the one who had sex with John. He realizes suddenly that if he "talks" any more loudly that he'll start projecting, and god knows that wouldn't be a good thing.

"Hey! Trivia. Awesome." He points. "What actor played Superman in 2006's Superman Returns?" Josh frowns. "Damn. I saw that, too... it's whatshisname, right, Bobby?"

[Warren Worthington III]

> Though if you were planning on making out with... anyone,
> Bobby, don't mind us - go right ahead.

Warren looks back and forth between Josh and Bobby for a second, confused by the byplay. Clearly there's subtext he's missing here.

Is he interrupting a date? That seems the likeliest interpretation of their semi-friendly sniping. Though he hadn't thought the two swung that way... not that he had any reason to think otherwise, he reminds himself.

(Though he had thought Bobby and Rogue were an item... though, on second thought, he hadn't seen them together in a long time. And in any case, he of all people should know it isn't that simple, given his own experiences over the last few months.)

Oh, hell, he thinks as he suddenly remembers Bobby's brief foray into the showers earlier in the day. Does Bobby think we were... oh, man. I guess it was pretty suggestive, come to think of it.

It wasn't a bad idea, either, except the last thing he wants is to get in the middle of some kind of Mutant High soap opera thing. He makes a point of keeping his, er, intimate relationships (except they aren't, really, are they?) away from the Institute for just that reason.

Though the more he thinks about it, the dumber that seems. He lives and fights and trains with these people, why not party with them? Sure, they might be a little shocked by his lifestyle at first, but they'd understand. Wouldn't they?

Well, only one way to find out. He makes a mental note to score some extra invites to the next party he hears about as he slides hastily into a seat, letting Josh and Bobby sit next to each other and trying not to seem awkward.

[Bobby Drake]

Bobby manages to avoid giggling at the dirty look Josh gives him... this whole Josh/Warren thing is proving too good an opportunity to bust Josh's chops to let go of. He wonders if he can get away with grabbing the seat between Josh and Warren ("What's the problem, Josh? It's not like you were on a date or anything, right?")

Of course, Josh would probably retaliate by singing "Henry the Eighth" nonstop in the back of his mind for the entire movie.

> Though if you were planning on making out with John anyone,
> Bobby, don't mind us - go right ahead.

Bobby isn't sure if the "John" was sent telepathically or if Bobby just filled it in, but either way it was pretty hard to miss. And, OK, yeah, he totally deserved that. Glass houses, and everything.

Besides, he wasn't going to think about John tonight. Because whatever that had been at Mimi's it sure as hell hadn't been a date, and whatever that email burning a hole in his laptop was, it wasn't a love letter, and whatever was going on with him and John it wasn't ever going to involve making out in the back rows of movie theatres (not normal movie theatres, anyway) like a normal couple. And hell, what was he even thinking?!? That wasn't --

>"...it's whatshisname, right, Bobby?"

He realizes he hasn't been listening to whatever Josh was saying until his name caught his attention, but looking at the screen Josh is pointing to makes the context pretty clear.

"Brandon, um, Brandon Routh. Though Kevin Spacey totally stole that movie. Have you ever seen the prequels? I caught one once on TV when I was a kid, with the Phantom Zone villains in the most ridiculous outfits... well, it was the 70s, I guess, what can you expect?"

Bobby notices Warren's barely-visible smile and shrugs a bit defensively. "So, yeah, OK, I'm a total fanboy, I admit it. And nobody ever wanted to 'cure' Superman, y'know? The superhero business has its advantages."

[Josh Dalton Worthington]

Josh can see Warren’s definitely not tracking the subtext of the conversation. Thank god. We don’t need that conversation here, for sure. Not with Bobby here. He groans internally, and then sees Warren looking a little awkward.

I hope he hasn’t figured things out! Josh panics for a second, latching onto the end of Bobby’s fanboy declaration, attempting to switch the topic to something safe.

[..] The superhero business has its advantages."

“At least we wear something a little more fashionable than spandex. I mean, I think if we faced some kind of threat that wore tights, I wouldn't be able to take it seriously. Good thing Mags just has that doofy helmet.” He considers things for a second. “Well, assuming he hasn’t switched things up now that he’s back on the job. What do you guys think about all of that?” Josh stretches out and puts his feet up on the chair in front of him. “I wonder if he’s gonna try to move against the Institute, now that Professor Xavier’s gone. I think Xavier was the only person Magneto had any respect for.”

Could Bobby fight John to the death? What if John would be sent to burn the Mansion to the ground? Could he, for that matter? John’s betrayal was frustrating, to be sure. But most of the time it felt as if he was on some kind of long vacation, and was coming back. Josh shakes his head. If that’s how I feel, how does Bobby feel? Damn.

[Bobby Drake]

> "At least we wear something a little more fashionable than spandex"

Bobby grins and gives Josh a sly look. "Oh, I don't know. Tights have certain advantages, don't you think? As long as we don't start wearing our underwear on the outside, we're probably OK. "

Then he blinks in confusion as it occurs to him that that's pretty much what he does when he armors up.

"Um, anyway," he adds hastily, hoping to change the subject before the thought occurs to Josh, "Have you decided on a codename yet? Trust me, you want to nail one down early, otherwise you end up getting one by default that you can't get rid of. Believe me, 'Iceman' wasn't my first choice.""

---

Warren has been trying not to eavesdrop on their conversation, but with his hearing that's rather difficult, and eventually he just gives up. Responding to Bobby's comment about codenames, he says "Yeah, it's true. I've got 'Angel' pinned on me by the media now, there's just no getting rid of it. It's embarassing! I mean, I'm a lot of things, but I'm no angel. I'd use that name for Riley, actually... what with the wings and the healing powers and everything. Plus she's a girl. "

He sighs and adds. "'Icarus', I think I'd have gone for. Even though it's depressing. Or maybe 'Hawk' or 'Raven' or something bird-of-prey like. I could wear feathers, it'd be cool. " He's smiling now, obviously making fun of himself.

""So what codenames are you thinking about, Josh? Oo... how about 'Impulse'? I mean, since your power is to push things around?""

[Josh Dalton Worthington]

>Believe me, 'Iceman' wasn't my first choice."

Josh looks at Bobby with a little surprise. "Really? How did you get stuck with Iceman? I think it's a decent codename." He looks over at Warren, trying to include him in on the conversation. "Well, I like 'Angel'. It just works, with the wings and all." Josh doesn't add the other things he's thinking, the least of which is that the wings are totally hot. "Icarus would be too depressing." He grins and pokes Warren lightly. "You could always be one of the archangels, like Gabriel. Nobody messes with an archangel."

"Weeell.... the story of my codename deserves a little backstory. I think you know that I used to work with Dr. Grey, right? I hadn't picked one for some time, and one day I decided that I would be 'Marvel Boy' as a joke. It kind of stuck around until," the flesh around Josh's eyes tightens slightly, but he relaxes. "Until she died. I didn't want to seem like a replacement or anything, so I'm codename-less currently. I've been kicking things around a bit." Josh puts his feet back down, and straightens up in the chair.

" 'Impulse' is actually on the list - I guess it's the physics nerd in me. I've actually taken a lot of physics classes at the Institute - understanding how natural laws work helps me TK more efficiently. Bobby suggested 'Impact' earlier today, which is also a good one. I think someone said 'Psiwave' once, but that just sounds like a bad supervillain. What do you guys think?" He looks at each of them interestedly. Maybe I should finally decide. It might help show Storm that I'm ready for the next challenge.

[Bobby Drake]

> "Really? How did you get stuck with Iceman?
> I think it's a decent codename."

Bobby grins. "Well, thanks, I guess. No real story, really... I mean, when I first got here I didn't really bother with the codename thing, I was just a student and everything. So a lot of nicknames got started, mostly by John, mostly not things I'd repeat. And 'Iceman' just sorta, I dunno, stuck... and when I joined the X-Men it became official. Nobody ever really asked, and I never made an issue of it."

He shrugs. "It's better than 'Mr. Freeze', I guess. Or 'Icicle'. I kinda preferred 'Frost', personally. On account of I like the poet. But it's not worth changing. I'm just saying, you're better off picking one you like and pushing for people to use it."

---

> "You could always be one of the archangels, like Gabriel.
> Nobody messes with an archangel."

Warren grins affectionately. "Yeah... a, um, business associate of mine has taken to calling me by archangel names. Gabriel, Michael, Raphael, Uriel, WhoKnowsEl."

Bobby chimes in helpfully: "Jor-El, Kal-El... not Christian allegory, my ass!" then subsides. "Yeah. Fanboy. We covered this."

Warren laughs. "Yeah, I guess. Of course, I could always go with 'Lucifer' instead. Freak everybody out... dress in red leather with a spiked tail and horns. Model it after Mr. Wagner, or something like that. Or not."

---

> "What do you guys think?"

Bobby looks at Josh, then at Warren, then back at Josh, waggles his eyebrows. "I kinda like 'Impulse', too. Seems to, um, fit better. Don't you think?"

Warren shrugs "Well, I suggested it, so I guess I shouldn't vote, right? The question is, Josh, what do you think?"

[Tempero]

"Oh, hi Josh!" a voice suddenly comes, semi silent, though, as most people seem to be concentrating on the trivia questions, from the group's right side, where there is suddenly a white-haired, 6'2" tall 17 year old boy with warm green eyes which emit a general air of friendliness to the three.

"I hope you guys don't mind me joining you? Oh, and I don't believe I've met the two of you. I'm Daniel, but please just call me Danny." he says, and then slumps into a seat right next to Bobby. He doesn't really say anything more, in anticipation of the reply of the three guys he had just joined.

He is wearing jeans, a black T-shirt, and, naturally, black tennis shoes. The dragon-shaped amulet is around his neck, as per usual. Of course, he has a ticket for the movie, but unfortunately, he remembered that he is supposed to go to the movies a bit too late, as he was still at the institute. A stroke of luck, though, is that he has met a guy who is a teleporter, so he brought Danny here and then went back, having more important things to attend to. As Danny has realized a few seconds afterwards, these things were actually a student, but that is none of his concern.

So here he is now, smiling, friendly as always, even though it is quite obvious that he is somewhat nervous. No, somewhat is an understatement. Better make it very nervous. Still, the fact that he is around people seems to soothe him a bit. Ah the joys of therapy and treatment. he thinks sarcastically for a second.

((I hope it's not too late to join? Oh, and also, I just sort of place Bobby on Josh's right side, because you guys didn't give an exact sitting arrangement (not that one is needed), so sorry if it's a bit g-modey))