Jean-Paul had spread his enterprise out over the coffee table, bright yellow fabric being carefully made into somewhat trashy yet oddly period shorts and his feet put on top of more fabric, red and green...and body paint sitting beside.
Flopping down next to him on the couch, Reed sighed ", I can't believe you dared me to wear this thing." he brandished the sketchbook in his hands.
"Dared nothing, I'm teaching you how to live...living for you apparently starts with poofy underskirts and a feather duster."
"In any case, I wasn’t going to let you be Harry freaking Potter."
He pouted a bit ", he wasn't even on my list. I'm a science boy, not a magic one, remember....I was going to be Stretch Armstrong."
Sitting on the floor between two chairs, Penny wore a curious yet focused expression as she handled the various sheets of cloth and leather spread out in several heaps around her. Getting some colourful pieces stuck in her spiky hair had proven unavoidable.
"...If you ever do porn that should be your name."
"Well I'm sure you don't have to worry about me ever being in porn," Reed snorted and looked over ", hey Penny, whatchya makin'?"
"So, Penny, what are you going to be? A patriotic hedgehog?"
There was the sound of high-pitched giggling before a neon-coloured blur almost seemed to explode into the recroom, bouncing up a wall and landing in a big, poofy chair, where it solidified into a very, very brightly-dressed Adam with a satchel of paper apparently photocopied from comics. His trousers, jumper and even sock-hat were all varying stripes of the neon rainbow.
* Shatterstar strode through one of the entrances to the rec room, then hovered by the wall, suspicion evident in his stance. "Just get going and meet some other students," he was told. Nothing better than being thrown in the deep end, he supposed.
Reed stared at Adam with his mouth hanging open ", are you Rainbow Raider?"
"...Oh my fucking God, it's Rainbow Bright...either that or the least likely person I've ever seen to suddenly sprout pride that openly. You've made leaps and bounds my friend."
Looking up when her name was mentioned, Penny reached for the small plastic box lying next to her, carefully picking it up to prevent even further scratches. She showed the others her Edward Scissorhands DVD that Tigra had given her.
"Well, that's going to be a fitting one for you." Jean-Paul nodded at Penny's selection. "So, who wants to help me test out the body paint?"
"...Shut up, no pride just oh my fucking god what the hell are you making, walking irritant?" Adam tilted his head to the side, then shook his head. "Just ran out of my ADHD meds and can't be assed with the ones that stop me being...er..." He tilted his head again. "...Odd. Also, no, not Rainbow Raider, just colourful."
As he asked, Jean-Paul started to pull his shirt over his head, which was when he saw the unfamiliar face beside the door. "Oh, hello there."
"Oh, nobody will ever guess what I'm making...I'll dare say nobody's ever done it."
Penny peeked over the edge of a chair to cautiously observe a very brightly coloured Adam, before turning back to look at Jean-Paul. She fished a piece of chalk out of one of the stacks of clothes and scribbled a word on her little black board. "Yay?"
Grinning, Reed looked at the DVD. "That's.....strangely endearing and appropriate, Penny." He looked over to Adam ", pity, if you were Raider I could have made you the visor. I have Captain Cold's gun upstairs." Elbowing JP in the side, Reed nodded to the other teen standing by the door ", hi."
"...Jean-Paul, you get naked and I'm spiking your drink next time."
"You're going to roofie me?! Why am I not surprised?"
Again peeking over the edge of the nearby chair, Penny cautiously waved at the newcomer.
"No! I have other drugs. Drugs that don't mix with alcohol. Drugs that make you see things."
* Shatterstar noded to Jean-Paul across the room. "Hello." Well, these people were like no one he'd ever met before. They were a lot more energetic, for one.
"I'll warn you, I get handsy when I'm stoned." Jean-Paul decided that the little tie he had been working on would make a dandy whip and tested it out on Adam. "So, I don't suppose you're my volunteer for body paint testing? It'd probably help if you had a name I knew though. Jean-Paul."
"I think he's trying to get you high, JP," Reed smirked and looked to the newcomer ", I'm Reed."
He stared at the new boy, and then yelped at the whip, giving Jean-Paul a red-leather gloved middle finger. "That stung you fucktard!" He grumbled and pulled out his comic photocopies, spreading them out. "And I am not. Do not want. Besides, this isn't happy pills - well, they are for me, not for you."
Oh, dear. "I'm Ben. Ah, Shatterstar." He liked his code name much better, come to think of it.
"Aaaadam. But if we're doing the silly name thing, I prefer Toxic. I like Toxic. Short for Toxic Sharps. Bet you can't guess why."
"No one could guess," Reed looked to Adam and gave him an innocent smile. Then he frowned ", you know....I don't think I've ever decided on a codename."
"It's a tie. How can it hurt? I could hit a kitten with this and it'd just bite it." Jean-Paul blinked at the exchange of 'silly names'. "We get silly names? I want a silly name." He paused and smirked at Adam. "Well, it's for certain not because you're sharp."
Tigra jumped up over the railing in the garden and onto the patio before stumbling in through the door to the recroom. She blinked and looked around, "Is this a class?" Ooooh new scent. She sniffed in the general direction of its owner.
"I'm apparently teaching soft S-&-M but nobody's paying me so no, it's not a class. Making Halloween costumes."
* Shatterstar blinked. "Actually, I think I can guess." It was a good nickname, not silly at all. He looked like a Toxic.
"Uuugh. My actual codename sucks ass." Adam huffed. "Jean-Paul, Superpoof. How's that? And I have the weird skin thing! Hence gloves." He showed them off. "Anyway, my actual codename is like...X-Treme. How stupid is that? I mean really - what's so friggin' extreme about me?" He tilted his head.
"Psychosis."
"I'm Penny," the red-skinned girl wrote on her chalkboard and held it up over the edge of the chair.
"...Huh?"
"...As I said, you're not sharp."
"Oh..." Tigra cocked her head on one side, watching the new person, "He's new right?" she pointed.
"Oh shut up. You're not precisely the brightest crayon in the box either."
* Shatterstar nodded. X-Treme wasn't as good as Toxic, but wasn't bad. And was Superpoof really Jean-Paul's code name?
Reed snickered and pulled the bag he'd brought over and sighed at the contents. "Tigra, this is Ben, or Shatterstar."
Penance nodded in response to Tigra's question, taking her gaze off the new person only briefly.
"Are you kidding? I'm so bright white I could burn your eyes out. I fucking dazzle you and it's all done without trying to make my ass look like a neon stripper sign."
"That's a strange name," she wrote. Like she was the one to talk. Or write, in her case.
"Okay good... I was worried I was still drunk and seeing things... Hi!" She grinned and held out her hand, "I'm Tigra. Do you prefer Ben or Shatterstar?"
"Oh, you're definitely seeing things. We're all just the dream of some autistic kid looking at a snowglobe."
Adam stared at Jean-Paul. "You want that crispy or medium-rare, Frenchy?" The Irishman growled. "I just like wearing colour, and I like cyber. Remember?"
Tigra turned her head very slowly to look at JP. She stared at him for a moment, blinked a couple of times then shook it off.
"Remind me never to borrow your computer."
"I guess Professor Xavier found it appropriate... the tattoo." He motioned to his eye. "Actually, I prefer Shatterstar." It was just more distinguished a name than Ben, he supposed. More interesting.
"In any case, welcome to the school Shatterstar and be careful not to hit on Adam because he'll threaten to stab you...even if you don't hit on him. It's part of his charm."
"Then I'll call you that. I like my non-real name better too." She smiled at him, "And now I want coffee...." she turned and headed for the kitchen.
Adam blinked slowly at Jean-Paul, starting to wish he had taken his pills. "...Oh god, you pervert! Not that kind of cyber! Cyber goth, you know, raver?"
"I can't help it if you set me up so easily!"
Reed pulled out the components of a feather duster ", no threatening to crisp anyone, Adam."
"Or Reed will dust you."
"...and your little bunny, too."
He shoved a feather into JP's mouth. "Hush."
Jean-Paul took a moment to look slightly annoyed at the feather, then decided to bite it.
"And I can't help it if you're a complete moron with his head in the sewer." Adam poked his tongue out at Jean-Paul before going back to deciding a costume. "I could totally keep you from getting near me." At the mention of bunny, there was a rustling in the long sock-hat.
Tigra giggled and vanished through the door to the kitchen.
* Shatterstar nodded to Jean-Paul, though he'd have liked to see Adam try to stab him. Perhaps he'd be up for a sparring session later, though he didn't exactly look like a formidable opponent.
Jean-Paul relinquished Reed's feather and decided he would test out Adam's defenses, quickly zipping by him, poking him, and zipping back. Jean-Paul was apparently not having a very mature day for a change as the holiday spirit had gotten to him.
Deciding that the other students made even less sense than she was used to, Penance ducked
behind her makeshift chair-fort and watched them question the new person.
"I'm not sucking the poison out of whatever part of you gets hit when he retaliates, just so you know."
Adam reacted instantly, though probably not how Jean-Paul had planned - his eyes flashed red and
the Canadian started to rise. "Wanna try that again, JP?"
"Do you really think flying's going to bother me? Seriously?"
Jean-Paul turned to look at Reed, absolutely hurt. "But...that sounds like a new kinky cliche I'd
love to develop."
"...No, but exploding might. And you might be a bit sore if you try to get away." He crooked a
finger, and JP started drifting over to him. "Hmm?"
* Shatterstar noted the reference to poison. He had to remember things weren't as much what they seemed as
they were on the streets. He might get more impressive opponents than he thought.
"Jean-Paul.....not in the recroom.....for fighting or anything else," he wrapped a stretchy arm around
JP's middle and gave Adam a look ", you too."
Adam huffed. "...S'pose." He sulked, unceremoniously dumping JP in Reed's lap.
For his part, Jean-Paul just smiled. "So, we've finally figured out what would happen if a
shirtless man poked you?" He smirked down at the arm going around him. "Oh, fine, I'll be patient."
And then, he found himself in Reed's lap. "...Thank you!"
Adam muttered to himself, flicking through pages. "Meh, no, no, too much lycra...no, no dresses
this year. Last year's heels caned. Oooh...possibility..."
"Ooof," Reed blinked a bit and rolled JP off his lap, shifting a bit ", ow......"
"I suppose I have to move from your lap?" Jean-Paul looked hopeful at Reed though, pouting
as he was moved. "So, Shatterstar, where are you from?"
"Here. New York, that is."
"Sweet. I'm from Ireland. Oooh, underpants."
An odd look was directed at Adam at the last statement and then Reed turned his attentions back to
trying to assemble his costume.
Tigra strolled back in from the kitchen with cheesecake and coffee. Possibly the oddest breakfast
she'd ever eaten but cheesecake was magical. She put her coffee down on the table then climbed up to perch
on the back of the sofa while she ate her cheesecake, sniffing more curiously at the new guy before she got
lost in the flavour. Mmmmmm....
"Oh, you've brought snacks?" Jean-Paul peered up to see what Tigra had brought in. "Well,
you'll have to show us around sometime. I've not really gotten a proper look around just yet."
"No snacks. Breakfast." Tigra got out between bites and purrs.
* Shatterstar nodded. "I don't really know my way around tourist traps, but I'm happy to show you the holes
in the walls I've discovered."
"Why did I let you talk me into this," he muttered again as he pulled the skirt out of the bag.
"Well, there'd best be more?" Jean-Paul asked hopefully, reaching for the remote and turning
the television on. "Oh, the holes in the walls are the only things worth seeing I'd imagine. I don't really
want to be surrounded by tourists from Iowa making me take their pictures."
"Because Rubbermaid is a great name for you and it's an excuse to make you wear a French
maid's uniform."
Adam screwed up a piece of rejected comic and threw it at Jean-Paul's head. "Are you ever not a
pervert?"
"I'm making a sexy keebler elf costume. Does that answer your question?"
Tigra finished her cheesecake and climbed down onto the seat of the sofa to put her plate on the
table and retrieve her coffee before returning to her perch. "Why would he want to stop being a pervert? It
makes life interesting when you can dirty up everything you think of."
"...No, it just raises more that I'm not sure I want the answer to."
"Oh it raises things, does it?"
"It was this or Stretch Armstrong. Either way you're seeing a lot of my skin," he started arranging
things to put together ", if you don't like it you could just ignore it."
* Shatterstar figured he should probably come... into the room at some point, instead of hovering by the
wall. He wandered to the couch and sank into it, rather overwhelmed.
Tigra snorted and sipped her coffee. JP was entertaining.
Looking at Shatterstar, Reed smiled ", we're making costumes for the Halloween party."
Ohhhh new person was closer. She shifted to sniff at him some more under the guise of breathing
in her coffee, committing the new scent to her memory.
Adam twitched, another ball of paper smacking off JP's head. "Not like that! Quit it."
"Ooooh, he likes it. He just doesn't want to admit it." Jean-Paul sat up and preened, grinning
ear to ear. "So, what is it you do?" He looked to Shatterstar, deciding to let his apparently perverted mind
take in the new merchandise.
"What can I say, Adam. You're easy."
"I am not. I thought that was the whole reason." Wait, was that a flirt? Could that be taken as a
flirt? Ugh, this was JP, he'd take it as a flirt. People!
"Again, this is just as easily handled by ignoring him....he had already shifted his attention to
someone else and your brought it right back," he snorted.
"He simply blooms under my attention. Everyone does."
She turned her head to look at Reed, "There's no point. He won't learn."
* Shatterstar looked up at Jean-Paul. "I have, superhuman strength and agility," he said with a hint of pride.
"In addition to accelerated cognition and healing."
"Huh... we match three out of four... how much can you lift? Do you know?" She peered at
Shatterstar.
Adam muttered something in Irish under his breath, eye twitching dangerously. Something under
his hat moved, a tiny, furry face peering malevolently out from under it. "Bit, hide, you're not meant to be
out."
"He can lift me anytime, now, if you'll excuse me, I have cheesecake needs." With that, Jean-
Paul pelted to the kitchen.
"Hey! That's mine!" Tigra yelled after him.
*** Jules has joined #costume
* Shatterstar shrugged. "About a ton, but I keep training; Professor Xavier says I'm not at my potential yet."
He peered after Jean-Paul. For all his intelligence, he didn't know if that was a come-on or not.
Tigra grinned fangily at Shatterstar, "I can lift a car."
Reed just shook his head and sighed, continuing on with his sewing. He saw Shatterstar's look ", if
you were wondering. Yes, that was a flirt."
Jean-Paul had taken the remote with him so they were trapped on the channel as a public
service announcement interrupted the show and a newswoman in a too-bright-for-her red suit came on the
screen.
Jules zipped in with a bright glow of rainbowy-goodness behind her. She hopped up and slid on it
some ways before stopping and hopping off beside Reed. "Hey, nerd! What's up?"
* Shatterstar grinned back, feeling less than totally serious for the first time in a while. "Well. Hope
whatever gym this place has is equipped with cars; I'm sure I'll get there soon."
Adam muttered under his breath. He didn't know how much he could lift, he hadn't tested it, but he
knew it was a lot. Still, costume. "Danger Room. Just beware the Cylon."
"She's not a Cylon. She's a fantastic piece of AI and technology."
Tigra giggled, "I don't need the gym for that - I work as a mechanic in town." She turned when she
saw the rainbow and caught Julie's scent, "Hey Julie! You missed it! - I got drunk!"
"Yeah. Cylon."
Julie looked at people making costumes and wondered, briefly, if Xavier had finally instituted that
sweatshop she had joked with Nova about.
"The what," Shatterstar stated. He wasn't really feeling on top of his game with all these new
things to learn.
The woman in the news room put on a smile that was not going to match the news she was
delivering. "We apologize for the program interruption but here at WABC we are keeping you up to date
on the latest in New York health news."
"Cyyylon. Battlestar Galactica. Need to educate the new kid, obviously."
One of Tigra's ears turned towards the tv as she half listened to the news and sipped her coffee,
"Don't take Adam seriously. He's crazy."
"Oh, hey! News!" Julie squatted down between some people's legs and made "hush!" sounds. "If
they're interrupting stuff it's GOTTA be relevant!"
"Danger. She's an AI android that was created to run the Danger Room, our training facility. They
don't like her because they think she's crazy."
"I am not crazy. I just see things differently, that's all. No, no goddamned spandex, that's the
creation of the devil..."
"Danger isn't crazy. She's a robot. They don't do crazy... but movies have proved the do
manage homicidal... I'm gonna call her Hal from now on."
Reed rolled his eyes and continued sewing, looking at the tv ", she's not going to kill us. We have
to learn to react to whatever she throws at us."
She shuffled her papers in front of her despite them being no more than a prop as she was
reading straight for the prompter. "Reports are coming out of the Mount Sinai Medical Center about the
latest flu outbreak facing the city. There have been reported cases of a new strain of what is currently
believed to be the influenza virus affecting some of our citizens."
"I don't want to have things thrown at me - I can find my own trouble just fine." She wrinkled her
nose. Ew flu. She was glad she didn't get sick anymore.
* Shatterstar barely glanced at the TV. He'd always believed a strong body meant a strong immune system.
Work hard and you don't have to worry about things like that.
"The Center of Disease Control have been called in and agents of the organization have arrived
this afternoon. Citizens are advised to take normal precautions and to keep in mind that hospitals will be
considerably busy during this time so if it is necessary be prepared for a crowd. We will have more during
the five o'clock news for what to watch for with this new strain."
"Flu? Ack. I've had flu." The only thing from the feral set he was apparently missing...the ability
to not be sick. Ah well. "But they're always panicking about flu. Yeesh. Bird flu, swine flu...wonder what it
is this time. Snake flu? That'll be cool..."
"Not if you're a guy..." Tigra giggled.
"We will be returning you to your scheduled programming all ready in progress." She was off
of the screen as the program didn't immediately come on, instead showing shots of a hospital and patience,
zombiesque people lined up as if they were waiting to be extras in the next Romero film.
There was an odd, irritable chittering sound from under Adam's hat. "...Well. Interesting. Zombie
flu, then."
Tigra frowned at the tv, "Hmm... well maybe I'll get more hours at work..."
Reed frowned a bit at the tv. He had seen some perfectly healthy people taken down by the flu for a
while, so he - ", oh jesus. That's.....not good at all."
Jean-Paul came back, cheesecake and a box of someone's Mexican leftovers in hand. "What's
with the slow motion line dance?" He pointed at the television.
"Flu, apparently."
"Some kind of icky flu outbreak... and I told you that's mine!" She glared at him for the
cheesecake stealage.
"Don't eat such things in front of runners." He whined but handed the cheesecake over, pouting
as he ate the Mexican instead.
"And they interrupted television just for the flu? Doesn't that happen pretty much every year?"
Tigra took the cheesecake from him and decided it was nicer than coffee. She put her cup back on
the table. "Maybe it's one of those pandemic things? Or they just want to piss people off..."
Adam eyed up the cheesecake. Damnit, he wanted a tiny, tiny slice (seeing as that was all the
flavour he could handle) but this was JP. "...Chocolate..." He whined slightly. "I need chocolate. So bad."
When was the last time he'd - oh yeah. Kevin. When he'd scarfed an entire bar for the sheer reason of he
could. "...Is there any English chocolate out there...?"
"This sounds gross...." Jules commented, feeling repulsed. "And... they don't look like flu-patients.
They look like pneumonia patients. They shouldn't be in a line, they should be in a bed."
"Well tell the healthcare system that..." she sniffed in the general direction of the kitchen, "Yes,
Adam."
There was a sudden rainbow blur, the kitchen door opening, and before it had time to shut he was
back through it and in his seat before the paper had a chance to settle, a bar of English chocolate in one
hand and a chocolate muffin in the other. "Om nom nom!"
"Did you realize when you run it sort of looks like what Jules running trail does?" Jean-Paul
was full of smirking now.
Tigra blinked, wondering if she was going to regret the decision to inform Adam there was that
much sugar around.
Julie looked up, her attention piqued at the use of her name. "Who does what like me now?"
"Your rainbow running tail."
"That's because I'm wearing bright stuff. The only reason I'm leaving trails is because I move too
fast to follow." He stared at the muffin. How was he going to do this without calling attention to himself...?
Reed snickered ", you're leaving a rainbow trail, Adam. You're giving JP all kinds of ins."
"Bleh. Yeah well, he's always got ins, hasn't he?" Adam muttered.
"You guys would be all kinds of popular at a pride parade...." Tigra finished her second slice of
cheesecake then hopped off the back of the sofa to investigate the table of costumey bits.
"And outs, and ins and outs and ins and outs."
"Gah! I am not gay! For the last time!" Adam flailed a little, before picking the tiniest piece of
chocolate off the muffin and gingerly chewing it, melting a little into his seat. "Mmmm..."
"Nobody said you were."
"I'm popular enough without the rainbow. Besides, can his rainbow explode all around him and
act like a shield?![/i]" She was about to do it but then realized she was very close to some sewing machines.
Tigra cocked her head on one side, "uh huh... we know honey."
"Is it just me or does puss-puss not sound convinced?"
Tigra looked over at JP and grinned, "I'm never convinced."
Reed sprawled out, sewing still ", so much lace."
"I don't..." Chocolate taste exploding in his mouth was really distracting. "...I don't do
physical at all...mmm." He eyed up the muffin. Could totally handle this. "Not gay or...or anything..."
"I don't know, it sounds like you're about to start humping your food which, if you put any of it
back, is going to be a problem."
"You're something... you're just too scared," Tigra climbed up into the pile of fabrics and curled
up. Squishy...
"...What?" Adam blinked owlishly at JP. "Um. No...it's just...flavoury." He managed another
piece. "And I'm not attracted to anything. Nothing about fear. Just being me."
"If you say so..." Tigra peered at Julie then leaned and licked her cheek.
* Shatterstar looked up, having completely zoned out. He could empathize with not being attracted to
anyone.
"Well, if you aren't then lucky for you but seriously, do you and your food want a room?"
Head on JP's leg, Reed frowned and shook his hand ", ow.....can't go through the skin but still
stings."
Tigra looked over at Reed, "You know we have sewing machines so you don't stab yourself, right?"
"...All I'm do-oing is eating it. You try having extra-sensory bullshit and eating chocolate..." Adam
sunk a little further into his chair, purring a little to himself.
"I manage just fine - you need to desensitize yourself." Tigra told Adam.
"I don't have to have extra-sensory hearing to know you're really into that chocolate." Jean-
Paul smirked, patting Reed's hair.
She decided to ignore JP, he could think what he liked. She wouldn't say no if Reed asked but she
sure as hell wasn't going to cry over it if he didn't. Wasn't like she didn't have options.
"Well, aren't you two just shiny glittery optimism. Have you ever thought it was your attitude
that got that reaction?"
Reed raised an eyebrow further, then sighed when JP continued.
"I'm of the mind I got the attitude due to some reactions. Did you know Sherwood Forest is real?"
Julie lifted up her iPhone which had a wikipedia page on the screen.
Tigra frowned at JP, "You're assuming I actually care..."
"I should be Robin of Loxley for Halloween... Maid Marian's a bitch."
She giggled at Julie, "Can I go as Maid Marian then?"
"You don't wanna be Friar Tuck?" Jules asked with a snort.
"I find that if people don't care they don't spout opinions on the matter, myself." Jean-Paul
shrugged. "If you need some green for your Robin Hood costume I've got extra."
Tigra giggled again at Julie, "Hmmm a fat alcoholic Monk... I don't think that fits me at all,"
she tickled Julie a little. "Well obviously you never met me before - I'm very opinionated."
Reed poked Adam with his foot ", you should be Captain Cold."
"If he's going to be a villain he should be Crazy Quilt...it wouldn't be a stretch with some of the
things he can put together."
"Huh?" Adam snapped out of his chocolate-induced happy place. "...Why? What? What's going
on? And who the hell is that?"
"I could use some green..." Julie said happily. "Thanks! And also, may I suggest you give a
multiple-person relationship, or rather a single life style, a try? Maybe that's what we're all supposed to be
anyways."
"..and the fact that I now know who Crazy Quit is proves that I might be spending too much time listening to you talk about comics." Jean-Paul looked down at Reed, laughing at himself.
"Captain Cold is a Flash rogue. He's their unofficial leader," he nodded and looked up at JP, grinning ", a little nerdier, every day."
"I like to Flash my rogue..." She commented.
"Nothing wrong with having a little nerd in me." That was too easy.
Tigra laughed and patted Julie before finishing her walk to the kitchen.
Snorting, Reed sat up and gathered everything. "I have some upgrades to make to all of this
upstairs."
"I'll be up in a minute, I'm going to finish these damned shorts so I can quit looking at the
yellow."
Jean-Paul glared at his shorts, trying to decide if they were even. "These bastards are going to
ride up like nobody's business."
"That's what she said." Julie chimed in.
"Eww."
The kitchen door swung open again and Tigra emerged with a third slice of cheesecake. She
needed to buy more later. "Gonna go to my hidey hole and slip into a cheesecake induced coma of happy..."
"Buggery cheesecake not-sharer. I was half tempted to lick that, you know."
"I used to kill things and eat them. Other tongues on my food do not deter me."
"Are you sure? You don't know where my tongue's beeeen."
"You don't know where mine's been," she countered.
"True, God knows what you have, probably that new superflu that was on the news." Jean-Paul
laughed, holding his fingers up in a cross.
She scowled and hissed at him, "I don't get sick."
"That doesn't mean you're not a carrier, fuzzy."
Jules shivered at the thought of a super flu. "Nasty. I'd like not to get super sick again, that'd be
splendid."
"Ugh, if you're going to continue insulting me I'm just going to leave..." she headed for the door. In future she would hide her cheesecake in the secret area and then no one could have it but her.
"Oh dear, someone takes herself too seriously." Jean-Paul eyed Adam. "It must be a trend here."
Adam stared right back. "...My muffin. And I do not take myself seriously. How can I?" He held up one arm, over-long sleeve hanging over his hand. "Rawr."
Jean-Paul couldn't help it and actually snorted at that. "You know, you've got a point...and
doesn't Rawr mean 'I love you' in dinosaur?"
Tigra shook her head, "Someone needs to learn when to shut up before he angers the girl with
claws." She stepped out into the hall with her cheesecake and paused to decide on the best route to take.
Jean-Paul was still laughing.
"No. It means 'I want to stab you'. I'm speaking velociraptor." Adam muttered. "So...Rawr. Looks
like it's mostly just you'n me now. Gonna try curing me with the gay again?"
"I don't know, Julie, do you have any advice on how to open Stabby up to a whole new world?"
"A magic carpet ride?" She suggested.
"It's a ride that saves me the horror of growing a moustache."
Jean-Paul eyed Adam though, smirk slowly growing as he opened his mouth and started to sing.
"I can show you the world! Shining, shimmering splendor!"
"...You. Are. Scary." Adam muttered. "...Though you have just given me an idea for what to use as
Halloween. Thanks!"
"...please tell me you're not going to paint yourself blue and talk like Robin Williams."
"Fuck no. The Genie can go die in a fire...and I say that with feeling, all things considered." Adam
snorted. "But I'm going to need a fuckton of blue gauze...and hair dye...hmm..."
Jean-Paul smiled slowly. "Oh, I am game for helping with this. I think you might need belly-
dancing lessons as well."
Adam eyeballed JP. "...Only, and I repeat this, only if you promise to keep your hands
mostly to yourself." Did he just say what he think he did? Stupid chocolate-fuelled endorphins. "Mostly? I
meant completely. All of it."
"I don't grope where I'm not wanted. Plus I'll have a French maid to possibly occupy me so
you're off the hook."
"...Fine. I'll accept your help. I won't stab you, you don't grab me. Sounds like a deal?" Adam held out a gloved hand.
"Deal." Jean-Paul smiled and shook the offered hand.
...Why did it feel like he'd just made a deal with the Devil...?
