[open log] Open mic night!

[dazzlerock.livejournal.com]

Characters: EVERYONE!
Setting: ALI'S BAR! (AND OTHER PLACES!)
Content: I WANT YOUR FACES!
Status: OPEN!
Threadjacking: DO IT!

[You've probably seen the flyers plastered all over the school, neon purple and emblazoned with bold lettering reading:

KARAOKE ROCKS
~AMNESIA~
THURSDAYS 8PM 'TIL YOU BLOW OUR SPEAKERS

They're for the new karaoke night Ali's insisted her bosses set up, and encouraged everyone within earshot of her ever to attend. You better be planning on attending, or else you'll never hear the end of it.

You're probably bumping into her, skating around the school, catching her heading off to work to set up, or perched on a bar stool impatiently waiting for the fun to begin. In typical Ali form, she's humming and singing to herself, it sure does sound like Blinded by the Light.]

Know what song you're gonna sing?

Comments

[kickasstelekine.livejournal.com]

I have no freakin' clue, gorgeous. A lot. [Well, the charming smiles keep happening. Also his pointed finger falls a little and rests over her sternum, a few inches below her bra.]

[canstillkickass.livejournal.com]

Remind me to steal your keys later [One drink is always the safer bet over an unknown amount. Especially when the car in question is probably worth more than a normal person would spend. The words are said dryly as she takes a long sip from her drink. She sets the glass back down on the bar as she swats his finger away, wincing in pain as she manages to hit a bruise on her abdomen.]

[kickasstelekine.livejournal.com]

What did you-? [Immediately his grin fades and he steps closer to block anyone else's view, reaches for the hem of her shirt to gently roll it up enough to catch sight of the bruise. He hisses in a breath. Look it may be intrusive and a bad idea out in public, but he's acting on instinct.] Rogue, you okay?

[canstillkickass.livejournal.com]

Julian. [Rogue pushes his bare hand away, hurriedly rolling her shirt back down. Even though there's little to no chance that someone will touch the bare skin there, her brain's still on autopilot for this sort of thing. Call it paranoia but she doesn't like to take chances. Pulling her shirt back down means that he can't get a better look at the bruise.] It's fine; it's just a bruise from training. [She reaches for her drink again, more so because it's something to besides look up at the concern in his eyes than because she wants to drink more of it.]

[kickasstelekine.livejournal.com]

[Really? Just a bruise? He's not that drunk; in fact he feels a little bit sobered now. He's silent for a moment, simply studying her expression and all her avoidance. Then he shifts, leans his hand against the edge of the bar in such a way it makes it hard to avoid his eyes completely.] That's not a bruise, sweetheart. That's a country. If you got it from training, why don't you just heal it?

[canstillkickass.livejournal.com]

[She takes another long drink, wishing that it would kick in already. Her teeth start tugging at her bottom lip as she sets her glass down and finally looks up at him.] Recalling powers is tiring. I'm not going to bother just because of a stupid bruise.

[kickasstelekine.livejournal.com]

I thought that was getting easier. [He reaches to carefully tuck some hair behind her ear.] I know we get beat up bad in training sometimes, but come on, this is... [He trails off, not sure where to go with that, or how. She's been working hard lately, harder than even him at his most, and he hasn't really brought it up before now.]

[canstillkickass.livejournal.com]

[She shakes her head a little in response to his talk of the psyches. The psyches may be somewhat easier to control but they still tire her out.] Sugah, it's not as bad as it looks. [Even as the words come out of her mouth, her gloved hands are finding each other, moving nervously.]

[kickasstelekine.livejournal.com]

It's not about that and you know it. [He bows his head closer, his voice softer. If anyone could strain and hear them before in the noise and music, now they can't at all.] There's no reason to push yourself like this. It's not gonna help you or the team.

[canstillkickass.livejournal.com]

[It's hard to keep looking at him and Rogue finds that she can't help but drop her gaze to her drink again.] I'm not going to train less just because they trust me enough now to let me on the team again.

[kickasstelekine.livejournal.com]

That's the thing sweetheart, you're not training less. You're training more. And hell, I get it more than anyone. But you run a marathon without working up to it and you're just gonna hurt yourself. [He knows she's going to skirt her eyes from him all she can, so he nudges his nose into her hair instead, skims a hand from her hip up her back.] So don't get hurt.

[canstillkickass.livejournal.com]

Sugah, I'm fine. [Those are about the only words that she can manage to find and even to her ears, they aren't terribly reassuring. A small part of her recognises that what he says makes sense but the rest of her just hears the words and thinks that he doesn't really get it. Her hands stop wringing and one finds its way to rest low on his chest.]

[kickasstelekine.livejournal.com]

It's not worth it. [The words slip from it easily and quick, blame it in the alcohol loosening his tongue, on her tone all but agreeing with him, even if her words disagree. So stubborn. His hand absentmindedly rubs her back in slow, comforting circles.]

[canstillkickass.livejournal.com]

[Rogue doesn't say anything for a minute, trying to get herself back together. It's not that this conversation upset her but rather that it's made her feel a bit uneasy. She doesn't want to face what he's saying; doesn't want to admit that he might be right about this.

Finally, she pulls away from him and turns back towards the bar, reclaiming her drink. And still no idea what to say.]

[kickasstelekine.livejournal.com]

[He sucks in a breath when she shifts away, having been lost in the moment. Not to mention the shots he took only served to deepen how unaware he was of anything else.

He doesn't say anything either, knows there's nothing else he can add or do. She'll work it out herself, because that's how she is, and he's too drunk to push it. Instead he leans against the bar, body angled towards her. Orders a beer because the bartender happens to be passing at that point. Then he looks back at Rogue in all her uneasiness, feels a pang at her expression.] Hey. Chin up, sugar. The next slow one, I'm pulling you out to dance.

[canstillkickass.livejournal.com]

[Rogue's drink is almost gone at this point, much to her surprise. She hadn't intended to drink very much tonight. Well, hadn't until they fell into this conversation. The small amused smile on her face starts out forced before slowly becoming more genuine.] Only if the next slow one has someone singin' off key to it.

[kickasstelekine.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I don't see that being a problem. [He hisses in a doubtful breath, looking out over the crowd and the stage. Nope, it's been drunk and off-key pople all night, with a few notable exceptions. And he's glad for that smile.]