xmutanthigh | [open thread] mmm john allerdyce

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[open thread] mmm john allerdyce

Characters: Any and all faculty, maybe a student or two can pop in if you feel like it.
Setting: Xavier's old office.
Content: BACKDATED TO LAST WEEK. John tries to prove he's not here to burn anyone's faces off.
Status: Open and Incomplete.

[John is just chilling on one of the couches, fiddling with but not opening his Zippo lighter. He knows better than that. He looks around the room at all the people gathered to interrogate him both amusedly and appraisingly. He pulls in one humorless breath.]

What is this, the circus? Because if you're waiting for me to do a trick, it ain't gonna happen.

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Hn.

[Logan's periphery is focused on the kid, the lighter in his hand, but he was staring out the window, looking past the gardens to a place he knew too well. To the headstones of the fallen. His thoughts strained...Jean.]

Last time anyone saw you, Bub, you and the circus nearly pulled down the big top.

[John's completely indifferent, lifeless gaze lifts to Logan, and he sits back in his chair.]

Not without good reason. They drew first blood. We retaliated instead of sitting around twiddling our thumbs. You see the cure anywhere, big guy? No? That's because we got rid of it.

Did you? [He suppresses a growl, his remorse overpowering his bloodlust today. Still, the kid's plain being stupid.] How do you know it's not still out there? Being perfected? Being tested in secret?

You gave them a reason to weaponize it, use it against us. The military doesn't have the same open door policy to R&D that commercial pharmaceutical companies do.

We gave them a reason? We didn't need to give them a reason besides existing. [John's getting a little heated now, glaring daggers and spiting the words.] Anyone who thinks this cure was made for the good of mutant kind is kidding themselves. [Yeah he's... talking to everybody here.]

Nobody's sayin' that, Bub. [John's ignorance and self-righteousness bring out a snarl, Logan finally turning to look at him head on.] But a devil you know is better than one you don't even know exists. [He shakes off the comment, changing tack.]

Why are you even here, Pyro? What happened to your Magnetic Messiah?

[John goes quiet and looks down for an unnaturally long moment, for once not bothering to continue arguing. Then he looks up.] He's gone. Got the cure. Could be dead for all I know. [Yeah, he's totes lying by the by.]

[Logan can smell that lie on him, but knows that Emma Frost is better equipped to extract the truth from the boy without maiming him beyond recognition. Which the Wolverine wouldn't mind doing...]

And you?

[Pyro just looks up at him like "god you are a dumb fuck" and flicks his Zippo open and closed pointedly.] I'm sitting here, aren't I? [And if Bobby's in the room, he also gets a look after that.]

Why, kid? Why are you here? Why shouldn't I call up Nick Fury and have him toss your ass in the Triskelion?

[John just glares at Logan for another moment.] Because as far as anyone knows, I'm dead. [Then he turns to look at... a friendlier face. Scott's.] You want the information I got, I want a place to stay.

Bad time, folks?

[John is just tickled at having such an audience. Really. His eyes narrow curiously at the new faces--although Hank's isn't necessarily new, and his eyes stay on the blue beast's face long enough to produce a sneer. But they land and stay on Emma, and he immediately feels tenser, his back straightening. Does not like the all-knowing looks she's giving him.]

A bit late to the party. That's okay; things were just getting interesting.

Kid says he's got intel. Wants to trade it for asylum. I think he's a plant and we should throw him to SHIELD.

[Logan sneers and grunts disdainfully, he's glad Emma's here to prove him right.]

SHIELD, darling? Honestly? And here I was thinking that we had such perfectly adequate... facilities in our own lower levels.

[And this obviously piques John's attention. He sits up even straighter.]

Hey, no fucking way. No deal. I didn't come here to be your mutant terrorist PSA poster kid, got it?

"Young man, the founder of this school always believed in teaching, and improving, not punishment. 'The amelioration of the world cannot be achieved by sacrifices in moments of crisis; it depends on the efforts made and constantly repeated during the humdrum, uninspiring periods, which separate one crisis from another, and of which normal lives mainly consist'," Hank spouted.

All eyes turned to him. He shrugged, and clarified, "Aldous Huxley. A brilliant writer and thinker."

The staff turns away in a sort of collective eye roll, as if to say, Yep. The Beast is back in the house.

[And John gave Beast the most awesomenest weirded out look ever. Like he had two heads. Or was covered in blue fur. Bad analogy.]

Whatever. What the blue guy said. I'm not here to be a damn plant or your fucking prisoner. I just want a room and no calls to the feds, that's all.

Well, as long as we are in agreement, it seems to me that there ought to be a sort of system in place. A sort of probationary student status, if you will.

We all pitch in, John. Everyone does their share here. No man, nor mutant, is an island unto himself. You will have to work at fitting in, becoming a part of the student body, and improving yourself.

[John would scoff and roll his eyes at you, Beast. Any other day. Today he just stares quite blankly up at you, keeping his hostility to himself. You're helping him, and he's not going to screw it up.]

Improving myself. Sure thing, blue man. [snap, click of his Zippo] I can do that.

[After a short pause, Hank adds something.]

And do watch your language.

[Okay, Beast. Now you earned yourself a sour look. And another snap click of John's lighter. But he doesn't argue. It's miraculous.]

Perhaps you could start this lovely little improvement project of yours by telling the truth, St. John.

Oh and that would be the actual truth, dear, not those silly lies you were telling Logan before.

[John's sour look snaps right back to Emma, and he looks fiercely angry and panicked for a moment. Then, in natural John fashion, he sighs out those feelings and gives Emma a strained, sarcastic smile.]

Telepath? Shoulda known I couldn't trust you people.

Because Magneto never associated with telepaths.

[Logan rolls his eyes, still secretly vying to dump Pyro in SHIELD's lap.]

Did he forget to give you your own stylish helmet before he sent you in here to spy?

[John's gaze snaps right back to Logan, and he's right back to angry, too.]

Did I say I had somethin' against telepaths, Wolverine? [He turns his gaze back to Emma.] I don't.

[But that's not saying it still doesn't creep him out, having someone in his head. Like Xavier could do. His head tilts to Logan again, but he doesn't turn to him this time.] But I can tell how much trust there is in this room since no one told me about getting my mind raped.

But fine, this is better. [He turns his gaze to Emma again.] Little miss telepath over here can prove I'm not lying when I tell you what I have to tell you. That I'm not a spy.

So what's it gonna be? Do we have a deal or not?

Did you honestly expect us to just take you at your word, St. John? I'm afraid you haven't earned that right quite yet. Besides, Charles was far nicer than I am.

How about you start with telling us what Eric Lensherr is planning and we'll go from there, dear.

[John works his jaw a little at her condescending tone, and than just simply stares at her in muted surprise at the mention of Magneto, and the fact she knows he's still alive, probably from him. There's doubt in his eyes now. Doubt about betraying Magneto, being a traitor to his own cause. All he has to do is sit in this stupid room and this stupid mansion and it would be only a matter of time before she knows everything.

Nervously, he rubs his Zippo between his hands, hardly blinking as he stares Emma down. Finally, he speaks.]

Yeah, Magneto's alive. The cure wore off. [He sighs and looks down, his expression troubled before smoothing out into indifference again. He throws Logan a "yeah, I lied, what about it" look before turning back to Emma.] He found me a little more than two month ago, recruited me again. And you know, I was more than happy to sign up. Said he had big plans. Better plans. Said this shit hole wasn't safe anymore, could never be safe. That if mutants wanted the equality we deserved, we'd have to make our own nation, superior to all others.

So yeah, I stood by his side, helped him sign mutants up. Sounded like a fucking slice of Utopia. No fighting, no crap to take. And I told him so, a few weeks ago. And he looked at me and said he thought I knew better. That there was no peace and there'd never be peace. That everybody would always want to take us down. Said if you build it, they'll come.

So... I ditched. I came here. That's it. That's all I know.

I call bullshit.

[Logan's had enough. Even with Emma's go-ahead, he's not impressed by Pyro or his attempt to bargain. Still, he knows Emma and the rest of the staff won't go back on their word to house the maniac...]

If we're not throwing him to SHIELD or stashing him in the basement, I say we need some assurances he's not gonna burn down the house while we sleep. Dose him with the cure, or get the Maker to rig up a neural inhibitor, a power neutralizer to cuff him with until he proves himself.

[He glances at the rest of the faculty with expectant eyes.]

You can't expect anyone--and I mean students, not just me--to be okay with him just roaming the halls willy-nilly, as if nothing's happened. We have kids here who were at Alcatraz, who put their lives on the line like the rest of us. They're our priority, and we shouldn't forget it.

Awwww. I love Logan and his not-so-secret love of the students! THEY LOVE YOU TOO, LOGAN. EXCEPT WHEN YOU GIVE THEM DETENTION.

[Well, finally. This is the face of Pyro panicking and nearly losing his shit with Logan. It's the mention of the cure that does him in. Although in a grand display of commitment here, when John jumps up from the couch to eat up some of space between them, he doesn't open his lighter.]

If I wanted this place burned, it's be fucking ashes by now, you fucking animal. You wanna give me the cure, huh? Some kind of mutant you are. This was my fucking home before you placed a filthy paw print in it, so don't you tell me I'm the goddamn danger here.

[If Pyro's shown restraint, you can call Logan the fuckin' bishop. In an instant, he's knocked the zippo out of John's hand and hauled him up off the groud, the boy's legs dangling in the air as the Wolverine swiftly slams him up against a wall.]

You're home? You abandoned this home for a false prophet and jerry rig flamethrower. You allied yourself with a man who got the Professor killed.

[Arm across Pyro's throat, Logan's claws come fast, millimetres away from his throat.] SNIKT!

As far as I'm concerned you're not just a danger here, but to mutants everywhere.

[Yeah, Pyro might look like he's shitting his pants a little, but the fear is still mixed with pride, self-righteousness, and anger. His eyes dart down to Logan's claws and back to his eyes. This is all bravado, people. His voice is choked obviously, and he's gasping for air.]

Gonna... kill me? Bet--your precious--professor... love that.

Keep pushin', Pyro. See where it gets you.

[Logan's lip curls up, a primal growl rumbling in his chest. His claws creep closer, first grazing and then just breaking the tender skin of Pyro's throat.]

This is my house now, and you'll play by my rules. We give you hoops, you jump through them. Yes sir, no sir, whatever you say, sir.

[A trickle of blood stains Pyro's collar, blossoming through the fabric in a dark stain.]

And if anything, anything shady goes down, well... [The smile Wolverine gives is predatory, frightening to even the most baddest of asses.] just remember, you can burn this place to ash and I'll still be there. I'll hunt you down, Bub.

[With one fluid movement, Logan drops Pyro, the boy sliding down to the floor, shaking a little from shock.]

And I'll enjoy it.

[Pyro's expression hardly changes from the myriad of fear and anger throughout Logan's entire speech. He stays on the floor for a moment, gasping for air and fingers shaking a little as he reaches up to touch the shallow cut and comes away with a little blood. Then, he laughs. A wheezy, slightly manic and taunting chuckle before he looks up at Logan, light in his eyes.]

God, it's good to be back in this shit hole.

[Still, he lifts a finger and points at Logan.]

Anything but the cure.

No one is going to use the Cure around here.

And can we try not to cut anyone next time, Logan? Blood is ever so wretched to get out of the carpeting.

[Logan grunts noncommittally.]

Rug's fine.

[He turns to stalk out of the room, claws still extended--he's still righteously pissed off.]

M'going to find some beer.

My, it's lovely to see you again.

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[open thread] mmm john allerdyce

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OOC!

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