xmutanthigh | [open thread] pyromaniacs eat too

Entry tags:

[open thread] pyromaniacs eat too

Characters: John, you.
Setting: The cafeteria.
Content: THE USUAL BASICALLY. Look below and take in the originality. ↓
Status: Open and incomplete.

[John is sitting at an otherwise empty table in the cafeteria, eating his lunch. Ever since Kevin's abandonment, this is kind of how John's meals go: he eats alone. And yeah, he's totally bummed by this fact. His life is just so lonely okay.

PSYCH.

He actually spends the time shooting surly glares or threatening looks at people curious enough to stare his way, thinking about how he's totally going to die trying to save some idiot kid from himself, and trying to ignore Kitty Pryde's existence. (She's everywhere lately. Like a persistent little kitten. He's bothered even catching a glimpse of her. Why is that? Well, that's none of your fucking business, is it?)

Anyway, he's eating. Bother him if you dare.]

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[Ali spots John as she walks into the cafe, grabbing a mug of coffee quickly before coming to slouch into the chair across from him.]

Hey, John.

[It's been weeks since Ali's fire started to die out. That playful and mischievous spark that kept her always taunting, pushing buttons, calling names, issuing challenges has dimmed so that she barely bothers anymore. She looks haggard, smells of stale cigarettes and soured beer and old whiskey. She won't say it to anyone, but she's starting to lose hope that they'll ever find Kevin. She misses him.

It shows.

Her voice is tense, trying hard not to sound desperate.]

Whaddya hear?

[John barely looks up from his heaping plate of fries and a cheeseburger. The look he shoots Ali is blank besides the curling of his lip. John's not exactly king of hygiene, but Ali's definitely let herself go. John knows why, of course. And he also knows a lot more than he lets on.

Does he feel guilty? Not really. Maybe he's sorry, but he doesn't regret pulling the wool over Ali's eyes. If Ali knew, she'd probably fuck it up. There's no room for error here. And maybe, just maybe, John feels responsible for Kevin. This is the Brotherhood -- his Brotherhood. And Mortis being Ali's sister doesn't pull much weight with him.]

Article in the paper yesterday. Your sis killed in Montreal, took some shit from a research lab. Logan thinks it was just a snatch and grab. So do I.

[In other words: dead end. They're not there.]

Bummer.

[Ali sits there, pensive, reminded of what her sister is, what Kevin's bound to become. She sips her coffee, nodding to herself, trying to remember how she'd tracked the brotherhood before, searching for something that might be useful beyond what Logan might have found.

She can't. Her mind is thick with worry and despair and cloudy from countless nights of failed reconnaissance that end at the bottom of a bottle. So, she just sits, drinks her coffee, and watches John eat.]

[John's fine with this. He can deal with Ali's depression and hopelessness; her presence might be draining and disheartening to any other companion. Maybe it should make him feel guilty, or sympathetic, or at the very least maybe he should feel sorry for how pathetic she looks. He could tell her more. Spill his secret. But John doesn't like handing out false hope -- or any hope at all for that matter. When shit falls apart, it hurts less. There's dark satisfaction in being able to say, "Well, I saw that coming."

He stuffs a few fries in his mouth.

This is his thing, saving Kevin. Not Ali's.]

Could be worse. Could've been Kevin doing the dirty work.

[Ali shrugs. John's right. She knows it, but they both know it's only a matter of time. She lets out a soft scoff at herself.]

You know, every time I see something in the paper about a missing person, I wonder if it's him. [She flicks her eyes up to meet his for a moment, before looking back down at her coffee.] It's not like he'd leave any evidence you couldn't sweep under the rug. [Not like Lois, she thinks, at least she leaves bodies to count...]

[John picks up his burger and takes a hearty bite, then stuffs more fries in his mouth as Ali speaks, her voice wistful and entirely too sad. John hates showing weakness -- hates it when people show it to him. It makes him uncomfortable. It makes him want to retort with something hurtful to make them close right back up. Maybe because there's more compassion in him than he likes. Maybe seeing vulnerability reminds him of his own.

Eventually he swallows, looks back up to Ali with irritated, bored eyes.]

[Jono also sidles up to John's table. Jono still gives John his space, but he wonders if they've reached a sort of silent understanding that they all sort of want the same thing right now. Conversation has mostly been dull on Jono's end these days, but he can't help attaching himself to the people who probably understand him the most now.]

Hey, mate. You looked annoyed. Me too.

[Oh, yeah, totally. They've reached a sort of silent understanding. Detect the sarcasm there, go on. Or maybe John looks up with an annoyed, searing glare because they are more or less comrades in this and John hates that with a passion. Either way, he hates being bothered by depressed motherfuckers while he's trying to eat. He reaches to take a gulp of his coke.]

Yeah well apparently it's too much to ask for to eat in peace. Never thought I was so popular.

[A casual shrug from Jono.]

You're still not. I'm not one of the cool kids. You're sitting with the dorks.

[Yeah and now John nearly rolls his eyes, but settles on leveling Jono an unamused look at that. John couldn't give a shit about social hierarchies and where Jono places himself.]

There a reason you're bothering me, Starsmore?

Oh. Yeah, sure, Allerdyce. I'm bored. Guess that's reason enough.

[John blinks. Slowly. The look he's giving you is equal parts bored and condescending. He is judging you. He is clearly silently still wondering why the fuck you are here.

Then he reaches for a fry.]

Your lunch hour.

[Jono doesn't even flinch under John's scrutinizing glare. It's that famous poker face of his that makes him so triumphant on Boys' Texas Feed 'Em tournament nights.]

Yeah, well -- just hanging out.

[Jono doesn't bother trying to say it in words - that would be talking about his feelings, and big ol' men don't do that. But he appreciates it. The concern. The fact that someone else outside of the band wants Kevin back. The fact that he had a roommate who cared about him. That's really all too much to say out loud, though, so he just munches on his food for awhile.]

What are you up to these days, anyway? [Then Jono realizes he's not even sure of what anyone else is up to these days -- he's been so lost in searching for Kevin, not getting sleep, and struggling to keep up with classes that he's been really out of it.]

[Yeah well, while Jono's been out of it, Johns been a busy bee planning shit with Logan, unbeknownst to his lunch buddy over here. For several blessed minutes there John was reveling in the fact Jono had opted to keep his mouth shut and enjoy their unlikely companionship in something resembling peace... but that's just too much to ask for as well.

John lets out a heavy sigh, tongues food from between his teeth, and gives Jono another irritated look. But maybe, as much as John resents companionship, having someone to sit with who knows (sometimes) when to shut the fuck up is all right.

And yeah, he cares about Kevin too. Same as John. So he answers, which is more than the jackass comment everyone else would receive.]

Not much.

Edited 2011-02-18 22:55 (UTC)

[Kitty's been going about her days as normally as possible - Kevin isn't someone she knew very well, but his absence leaves gaps everywhere. She's been hanging out with Laura and burying herself in schoolwork and training, although the worries always have a way of creeping in. Kitty's on a study break when she spots John, who seems to be glaring away as usual. He's eating alone - that's probably for a reason, but she's lonely and Laura and Bobby aren't anywhere to be found. Kitty doesn't know where she and John stand, but her decision is made before she puts proper thought into it.

She approaches from behind and takes a seat beside him, quickly stealing a fry before he can protest.] You know, your face is going to get stuck like that someday.

[The last person John expected to join him is Kitty - not that he expects many people to join him, with a few irritating exceptions that have already come by. Not that Kitty's an irritating- He just gets irritated- Look, he's just not expecting her. He's never expecting Kitty, so he flinches a little in surprise at the sight of her slim hand and then her fragile, friendly expression.

He straightens, just a little, blinking at her sudden appearance in his life, noticing as she chews on his stolen food. His surprise slowly filters away, he processes her words. Why the hell does he need a few moments to adjust to her being here in front of him anyway?]

Good. [His reply is dry and brisk. He reaches to eat another fry.] Maybe then everyone will leave me alone.

[His response isn't unexpected, but there were plenty worse things he could have said. It's hard to say why she keeps pushing on his walls or whatever it is that he's built around himself, but the simplest answer is because she cares. It's surprising, or maybe not - Kitty cares about a lot of people - but she sees something in him, something worth delving into. He wouldn't agree, she's sure about that, but Kitty's always been too stubborn for her own good.] Well, if that's what you want. [She's quiet for another moment, pausing to steal another fry (hey, she's hungry) before glancing back over at him.] Any particular reason for your glaring contest, or is it just... [She trails off; there's a number of ways to end that sentence - maybe about Kevin or the lack of salt on the fries. She doesn't know, and so leaves it at that with a shrug.]

[Maybe anyone else - no, not maybe - if anyone else had been stealing off his plate John might have sent them a withering glare and told them something insulting. Yet he doesn't mind so much when Kitty does it. But still, it makes John freeze at the intimacy it suggests - like they're friends. Like she can weasel her way into his life and take his fucking food when she feels like it.

Now more than ever, it kind of hurts. Kitty makes him hurt, almost to the point of aching, especially now. Knowing he's leaving, that he might not be coming back.

Maybe that's why he merely shoots her a look - barely a glare. His eyebrows shoot up and he lets out a breath, turning his eyes away and knocking a fry over on his plate.

Or is it just. He can hardly count the many ways to end that sentence.]

Didn't know I needed an extra reason to find all you goody two-shoes annoying.

[He looks her way again, his lips pulling up into a weak, fleeting smile.]

Edited 2011-02-19 04:39 (UTC)

[The smile surprises her. And maybe that should be something sad, the unfamiliarity of this moment and his expression, but it's not. It's...nice. And a bit strange, to be completely honest.] You don't. I mean, I'm sure you have plenty already. [Her own lips twitch a bit to return the smile, although there's something decidedly off about the look on his face. Something she should be noticing, but can't quite put a finger on.]

I got a list like you wouldn't believe, kitten. [He drawls this, his lips quirking up into a truer sort of smile, one that's barely there but still reaches his eyes. It fades though, as he slumps back into his chair, legs stretching out before him, arm slinging casually over the chair beside him, the one not with Kitty in it. He sweeps his sight across the room, avoids her gaze. He feels her eyes and can't meet them, can't meet whatever fragile smile he caught a glimpse of. Because she's right, there is something off. He might die, that's what's off. Or worse. And the least he can do is enjoy this company while it lasts, try not to raise suspicions.]

Edited 2011-02-20 15:38 (UTC)

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[open thread] pyromaniacs eat too

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TEGAN TAG TEGAN TAG I GOT A TEGAN TAG /DROPS EVERYTHING

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NO WORRIES <3 YOU SHOULD COME ON AIM!

<3333 :D

:D :D