| Catching Up With Iceman - Part 1 and 2 | |||||
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| What: Alex and Bobby catch up after several years. | |||||
One good thing about classes starting again was that during the day, the students weren't around as much. Homework and other classes. So the lounge was nice and free when Bobby strolled in after his last class of the day. Fridays were good, all morning classes and a free afternoon until the evening when he did power training with some of the older kids. So dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, the icy mutant has sprawled out on a spot on the couch and is currently channel surfing.
Alex was walking by still exploring his old haunts and noticed the occupant in the lounge. Noting that it is Bobby, he alters his course to enter. As he breaks into the room he starts in, "What's up Snowball?". His tone is casual and when he closes, he will take a seat on something comfortable and adjacent to where Bobby sits.
Presently Alex is wearing jeans, boots, blue t-shirt. Very casual this morning.
Glancing up as Alex enters, Bobby resists the urge to toss an actual snowball at Alex. "Nothing right now, ring-head," he replies with a smile. "Just looking for something good on TV," he says. "Settling in okay?"
"It's great." comes the answer to the settling in query. I hit the rack and was asleep before I could start counting sheep. I hate flying commercial - it's so slow." then without a good segue as he puts his feet upon a coffee table. His tone changes to something a little more serious or darker, "Hey so; Where's Scott?"
"Not everyone has a private, supersonic jet," Bobby teases. When things get more serious, Bobby frowns slightly. The question gets a shrug. "Honestly don't know, Alex," he replies. "He said he needed some time away and would be in touch then took off on his bike. I'm guessing the Professor could reach him. But I haven't seen him since he went on his trip. I think things with him and Jean went wonky again and Jean going Phoenix again likely only made it worse..."
Understanding the issues that Scott has - especially with Jean, Alex accepts the answer, but will continue to query further with others and especially the Professor. Instead of continuing down the Scott trail, Alex questions, "What happened with Jean?" because he has no clue about what transpired in this most recent of avenues.
"Now that's a whole other bag of trouble," Bobby whistled. "Not sure on the specifics...but something went down between them and Jean left the school for awhile. She went and actually joined the Avengers...did you know Iron Man is a massive, mutant-hating asshole by the way?...." he shakes his head. "They went into space for some mission...and instead of Jean coming back...we get a message saying she went all big, flaming space bird again and was mind controlled by some big purple bastard with cosmic power. When she got free, the Phoneix brought her back to Earth but had to go regenerate or something...so it left Jean. But took her damn memories so she had no idea who any of us were or what her powers were...any of it," Bobby sighs. "And now Jean went away to 'find herself again' too."
Confused, annoyed, and well, confused with the whole storyline and conundrum of events, Alex asks, "Seriously?". Then after a passage of half a blink he continues, "That's completely fucked up. No wonder Scott was broke like a joke."
"Hang on, Iron Man hates mutants? What's up his ass?" Alex follows with after a second or two of reflection. <and the player hit enter too soon>
"Seriously," Bobby replies, voice devoid of any teasing or joking tone. He's clearly unhappy about it all as well. "Not sure if all mutants or just us...but I was staying with Jean for a couple days. Sat in on an Avenger meeting...Iron Man came up with a few plans to screw some stuff up and blame it all on mutants and the X-men so we'd take the fall for it," he says, rolling his eyes. "Guessing he's got a big iron stick up there and not in any fun way."
"What an asshat." Alex comments before shifting back into the school setting. "Who's in charge now? I'm guessing the Professor is still taking a back seat and guiding or teaching. Would that leave Ororo or Logan? Better yet, who is currently on the X-Men?"
"Logan's field leader," Bobby replies. "'Course him and Storm got married," he says, remembering that trip. "As for the team...those two, you, me...Kurt's around. Some of the students but I'm not sure about them...Magik is somewhere. Hank is technically part of the team but he's busy being an Avenger and with politics," he shakes his head, mood darkening. Rogue, Rachel, and Betsy are on the team too. And we've got someone called Burlesque but she's more trouble than she's worth," he answers, the room growing a little more chilly.
Troubled with the roster and the details Bobby gives, Alex sits considering a few of the listed. "Seriously?" is asked again. It seems like his 'go-to' word for questioning the reality of a situation. "I would have never guessed about Logan and Ororo hooking up, least more than just sex. I thought he had the big hard for Jean." Instead of dwelling on it, he pushes on, "I ran into Illyana this morning - dude.. she grew up to be hawt. And I'm not just talkin cream with my sugar, dayum. But what's up with this Burlesque? What do you mean more trouble than she's worth?"
"Despite my mastery of comedy, I'm not joking. The team isn't doing too well," Bobby replies wryly. "I wouldn't have guessed either but they did...hell, their kid from some alternate timeline was here for awhile too," he says. "I think him and Jean finally just...got together and decided it wasn't going to work and both moved on," he says. He smirks slightly when Alex mentions Illyana though. "Ready for another shocker then?" he asks. Of course when Burlesque comes up, he frowns. "Rookie, arrogant, impulsive, thinks she knows everything and knows better than all of us, not an ounce of respect for us senior X-men."
"Okay, shocker first. Cause I've a feeling that my hopes and dreams are about to be shot down. What's it about 'Yana that I should know.?" Alex answers parsing down the deluge of topics that Bobby shared. Oh, he'll get to the rest of them, but the Illyana part is probably most important right now since delving into Jean/Scott is gonna annoy him ... crap, it'll all annoy him.
"Never said it's about Illyana," Bobby replies, chuckling. He's quiet a moment, debating how to say it. "Well...unlike the past, no competition from me if you're actually interested in asking Illyana out."
Oh, Alex totally read the segue wrong and thought it was about Illyana due to his own series of topics. He processes a moment and says, "Dude. No competition? What are you saying, you're otherwise hooked up with someone else or have you made a life change?"
There's a quick bitter laugh at the idea that Bobby's hooked up with someone. His luck in love has been beyond terrible. "My not wanting to get killed by Piotr when he comes back from Russia aside...and good luck by the way," he teases. "depends...would you call stopping lying to myself and coming out of the closet a life change?"
Dropping his feet from the coffee table, Alex sits up and leans forward. With a smile he says, "Dude, that's totally sweet. I'm happy for ya. Most people can't accept what they are, much less embrace it."
Bobby quirks a brow at that reaction, tense. When Alex's feet dropped, he expected a worse reaction. "Yeah...things have been turning out better than I thought they would on that front at least."
Over the intercom, the gruff voice of Logan is heard calling, "Summers, could you report to my office?" - which really isn't a question, more than a directive.
Alex looks up and seems to have an excited look on his face, "Guess it's time to make it official. Dude, I'll be back. You've totally got to catch me up on.. everything else plus this new direction for you." he stands and will start to head out. "Dude, that's totally sweet." is his last comment before exiting.
Cruising back into the room after nearly 30 minutes of being away, Alex Summers takes a flopping seat into the chair he once kept warm. He chimes in with a pleased tone, "Guess who is back in the band? And no, not Ringo - F Ringo and his sad drum kit. It's me. All me. Bro, I'm back and this is totally happening. It's gonna be spectacular, better than She-Hulk."
Bobby has since fired up the Wii U, playing smash brothers against some CPU players. He glances over as Alex flops down and smirks. "Yeah, figured you'd be back when I saw you in the driveway yesterday," he replies. "What took so long?" he asks, curious. "Careful with stealing her tagline, she'll sue."
"I had to get all smart and stuff. You know, education. That crap gets in the way sometimes. But was well worth it. You shoulda see the coeds... there were guys too." Alex correct-states realizing the former news that was shared just moments earlier.
Bobby blinks a few times. "Not what I meant..." he trails off, smirking. "I did the college thing too, y'know," he chuckles. "I meant what too so long with Logan," he laughs.
Alex ooohs and then says, "He was busy and all I needed to do was check in and get assigned. So it was all cards on the table and now I'm back. I'm gonna have to log a few dozen hours in the Danger Room and get back in the groove of things. It's been a while since I've used my powers beyond expelling the buildup."
Nodding, Bobby finishes off his match with a victory. "Might have to wait an hour or two on the Danger Room. Still getting maintenance," he remarks. "We have some good new programs. Including some made by yours truly," he grins. "And college coeds are always nice eye candy. Sort of how I started figuring things out...being in college and away from the school for awhile."
"Never gave it much thought. Guess it would be something like that. Which is more attractive and which one is not like the other." Notes Alex taking the logical approach. "So I'm guessing that we're not gonna go out and you'll be my wingman. Since we're focused on the different sexes."
Bobby smirks. "Oh, don't be so sure. Just cause I'm looking for guys doesn't mean I can't play wingman," he replies. "Hell, it's a cliche but having a gay friend can score ya points with ladies out there."
"Rock on. Then we're totally going out next weekend. You freeze em, I'll warm them up." states Alex with a grin. "So what else do you know? How are the students? Typical new mutants without focus and all wanting to be X-Men because it's the coolest job ever?"
Bobby snorts. "Might have to see if you can return the favor sometime," he says, stretching out. "Some of the students are like that. There's a blind girl who controls bugs that's a freaking dumbass though...sees a forest fire and giant death robots and runs INTO it," he shakes his head. "Nothing too interesting yet out of the students but I'm sure the trouble makers will make themselves known soon enough."
Confused, yet again, Alex questions, "Hang on.. a /blind/ chick that controls bugs rushes into a fire and giant death robots. Ok, I sort of understand the millennials being extra stupid and feeling entitled. But seriously? Guess however, she didn't learn her lesson because she wasn't squashed like the bug she was?"
"Bingo. She could read the bugs' mind to see through their eyes though," Bobby rolls his eyes. "And no, she didn't learn her lesson. I saved her...and when I yelled at her, she went and cried to Scott about it. Dunno what story she told him since she seemed to think he told her she did well but..." he shrugs. "I think she hasn't come back from Summer break yet so there's a blessing."
With a slight chuckle, Alex shakes his head reflecting upon the statements given, "Maybe it's for the better that she doesn't come back. She'll probably be happier somewhere else." He tries to put a spin on it and fails. He really wants to say something snarky, but shouldn't. "Anyway, I got my new super suit earlier this morning. I'm gonna check on the Danger Room progress and then start something if it's available. I need to check my output, get some baselines, and work on targeting."
"New suit, huh?" Bobby asks, grinning in that 'incoming joke' way of his. "Finally come along to my way of thinking and just got for the speedo look?" he asks. "Good luck down there. If the Danger Room's not working, I can set up a firing range for ya out back," he offers.
Standing, Alex chuckles to the speedo look, "I'm not that brave. There's no number of stuffed socks that could save my image. 'Yana would surely not go out with me then."
Bobby just snorts. "Dude...not wearing the right kind if you're that worried. I'll teach you the proper ways of the speedo next time you need to go swimsuit shopping," he says sagely, barely holding back the snicker.
A chuckle is heard as Alex walks out the door, "We'll do that..." is added with a 'pshaw' afterwards and he's out to find adventure in the Danger Room. He's gonna feel it tomorrow.