november: catch-all | ❝ and the message coming from my eyes ❞

[quickfingers]

WHO: Peter Maximoff & YOU (Ft. Magnus Chase, Alex Fierro.)
WHERE: Various locations.
WHEN: Throughout November.
WHAT: Shopping, sleepovers & x-haus hangouts.
ETC: Hit me up on plurk (valleyheart) if you want a starter for something in particular and I'll be happy to write one for you!

01. Burnt Bills

[Peter's not really the shopping type. He's the swipe and go kind of guy, taking what he needs to to fill his closet with a stockpiling of junkfood and appease his appetite on the go. But you give him a shopping list to go through and he's on foreign ground, standing in the middle of a grocer's shop trying to find organic bananas, mango juice and wherever the hell they're keeping the back bacon.

Despite this, his frustration at not finding what he's looking for isn't as bad as it could be. He's still somewhat on cloud nine, eying a stand of flowers with but a passing thought before turning away to the nearest person to drag them into his mess. And if they ignore him, he'll go for the one right behind them.]

Yo, point me in the right direction here, will ya? Laundry soap? [Help him. He's lost.]

Oh, shit. Look - it's me. [He says with a jerk of his head toward a stand of magazines that advertise for the upcoming Big Brother 3000 reality show. His face is among the other contestants and while it looks like a total rag of a magazine? He's... just gonna pick it up and take it home with him. Looking even extra pleased now. He doesn't actually mind spending his money on this bad boy.]

02. Sleeping With Friends

[Peter ain't someone to put friends in need out in the cold, even if they fire him due to his Toucan Erotica series. But in all seriousness, he's aware that there are some things going down for Magnus and Alex that aren't ideal and he did extend an offer to help out in whatever ways he can. Which tonight means an impromptu sleepover at the X-Haus after their tent suffered some tragic accident.

It's no secret Peter's a bit of a dork who grew up a strong loner-type in his mom's basement and was by no means a popular kid. Friends may have been few and far apart in his adolescent years, but sleepovers were always a thing of glory. And while there's no couch fort building or finger foods provided by a stressed looking Mama Maximoff, or is Peter really prepped at all for this, he will be damned if it isn't some semblance of fun.

The only thing he's gotten done is cleaning up some of the disaster in his room - it's still full of stolen goods, excessive amounts of junk food and a crooked stop sign hanging on the wall but it's not a terrible option for the company to stay in. God, it's not even the first time he's given up his room here for a night. If he ends up sleeping he can always crash on the couch or, well. Bug Jean.

If that's not weird now. Great!]

03. House Cleaning (X-FAM/ X-HAUS)

[So the kitchen has seen better days, a fork still embedded in the wall and several of the light bulbs blown out or shattered. Peter cleaned up the glass from the floor but never really got around to changing all of the bulbs, leaving the room dimly lit in some areas and otherwise lit by varying strengths of bulb. In honesty, it's a miracle he put a new bulb in to begin with - nevermind trying to match frosted bulbs or caring that a few of them are clear or yellow casting.

The house is still recovering from October, much like many of its inhabitants. Peter's still finding solo cups under furniture (he's yet to really look under the sofas,) and mysteriously broken pieces of things he can't identify but bit by bit he's repairing damages that linger from the party. The dents in the wall can stay though, a potted plant slide over to disguise them.

A hot pizza dropped on the counter, Peter's coming in from the end of a shift and shrugging off his jacket before slinging it over the back of a chair. He always tends to bring food home with him, this time accompanied with a double order of garlic bread since his employers wanted to congratulate him on making Big Brother 3000. His minor celebrity's been good for business, who'd have thought?

He raids the fridge while overhead one of the few bulbs that are working begins to flicker, causing him to look up suspiciously. Don't do it, bulb. Don't do it.]

Comments

closed to jean grey | ❝ and the feeling coming from my bones ❞

[quickfingers]

[So it hasn't really been that long at all since he and Jean shared an impromptu kiss, flaring up a surge of muddled emotions in them both. It wasn't too long ago that they laid awake on night talking about how cruel this place could be and how untrustworthy it was in regards to handling your loved ones. How someone could get whisked away at any moment. Or worse yet, return shortly after with absolutely no recollection of their time here.

It's terrifying. It's part of the reason Peter still feels uneasy, and although he's not usually the type of guy to dwell on risks before jumping all in - this affects a lot. But at the same time it doesn't feel like it's something you can so easily back away from now. It'd be a lie to say he hasn't thought back to the moment he leaned in to kiss her and wondered if it would've been better had he not. But self-aware of his feelings now, he can't imagine doing so voluntarily. Even if it would save them hurt in the end.

He's standing outside her bedroom door, well aware that his presence isn't something he can hide - she could very well know he's there as he lingers but he doesn't care. He just needs a moment to stare down at the handle with Magnus' words still fresh in his mind. He sucks in a breath and then as if flipping a switch, he surges a little energy back into himself and knocks on her door.]

Yo, Jeanie?

[jeaniegrey]

[ She knows he's there, of course she does. How could she not? Though, to be fair, somehow, she feels that even if she weren't a telepath, she would somehow still know that he's outside her door there.

Things have been... strange? Maybe? It's one way to look at it, sure, though nothing along the lines of bad. She's had a chance to speak to Wanda about this, sort of get the woman's "insight", if you will, regarding this and just... knowing that she's not crazy for this. That it's fine, it's normal, it's... yeah, normal. Sort of funny considering she's been the opposite of that for almost all her life.

Normally, she might playfully open her door with a little help from that telekinesis of hers. But, this time, she doesn't. This time, she opens the door herself and looks to Peter as she stands there on the other side of it. She doesn't open the door entirely and, instead, leans against the doorframe though smiles a little even as she does so. ]

Hey, Peter.

[quickfingers]

[He feels so consciously aware that she didn't just invite him in with a swing of her door and that instead she stands in the doorway in front of him, making him wonder if that's a hint? God, when has he ever been good at picking up on subtleties. But he's here and he might as well keep on trucking. He smiles back at her, toying with the sleeve of his shirt.

Peter sighs, he's not good with the nervous thing.] You up to anything? I just, well. Wanted to chill - and maybe talk?

[He licks his lip, forcing himself to look her in the face:] About, y'know. What happened?

[jeaniegrey]

[ Chill and talk. Two things that they've taken to doing without a second thought attached to either one. Of course, now? Now things are a little... different. Right? Just a pinch?

Still, when he clarifies about the whole hanging out and talking thing, she raises a brow to him, as if completely unimpressed. ]

You mean about how you got cookie crumbs all in my bed?

[ She's teasing, something they both probably need right now and, after a moment, slips away from the door while smiling some, leaving it open for him to come on in. ]

[quickfingers]

[He was anticipating something there, an awkward twinge to follow his question - a let down, a spiraling into flames just out of his own sad history of failed attempts at this kind of thing. But it doesn't come, and surprisingly enough, he finds himself smiling and slipping into her room feeling more at ease than before he knocked. Like this is normal - almost completely normal.

As he moves to sit on her bed, he gives her a look.] Yeah, okay. Blaming me still? I'll take the heat, cookie monster. It's not like you were the one munching under the covers first or anything.

[...] There any more of those still around?

[jeaniegrey]

[ The door shuts with a gentle nudge of telekinetic energy and Jean shoots Peter a look of her own when he inquires about the possibility of there being anymore cookies around in her room. ]

Well I guess I would have to have some if I'm a cookie monster.

[ But, rather than spring a box of cookies on him, she tosses a pillow his way followed with a bit of a grin as she moves to lean against her desk there, fingers curling under it as she chews on her bottom lip. ]

So... what's up?

03

[magneticxman]

[Lorna has definitely had less severe hangovers. But that's the price paid for having a good time, and the party had been fun.

She wanted to help Peter clean up, so she showed up just as he was getting home from work. It was easy to let herself in, but she gave a warning knock, just in case.]

Hey! Want a hand? There's still a billion plastic cups in the backyard.

[quickfingers]

[Peter had just gotten the step ladder out, setting it up underneath the spotty bulb but not yet climbing it. Instead his attention's slipped back to the pizza on the counter and his sister walking in the door. He opens the box and jerks his head toward it to offer her some while helping himself to a still-hot slice.]

Heya. We're gonna pretend that's an art installation in the backyard, okay? And I won't say no to having help - do you know anything about fixing drywall?

[magneticxman]

[Lorna doesn't need to be told twice to take some pizza. She grabs a slice and takes a bite, looking around at the light bulbs.]

I do. I've helped rebuild Xavier's mansion a couple times, and I did actually have a house of my own for a little bit. You got these lights?

[She begins looking around for where building supplies would be. Fixing the holes in the wall will be difficult, but she's up for the challenge!]

[quickfingers]

Jeez, how many times does that place get blown up? I swear, last time I saw it it had only just been put back together. [He pulls out soda from the fridge, offering her one as well.]

I can do the lights - I mean, the broken ones are gonna be interesting... [He looks up with a groan.] Might just leave them as they are.

[magneticxman]

[She accepts the soda and takes a drink, contemplating the lightbulbs.]

Metal bases.

[Which is all the warning Peter gets before the bulbs unscrew themselves and float into the trash can.]

[quickfingers]

Like father like daughter. [He says with a tilt of his head, marveling upward at her effortless bulb removal.

He should find replacements; that'd require not eating pizza for a minute though.] I don't know many mutants to begin with but aside from you, everyone seems to have their own - how'd you luck out and grab dad's?

love crime

[infomodder]

[He's passing the dog park with Peter's Princess in tow when he spots the guy, looking a little worse for the wear. Will assumes a bad night's sleep before anything else. Amazing what sleep deprivation can do to a person. He's ready to be wrong, always must be in order to survive, and isn't inclined to bring it up or even hint at it without good reason. Right now, he's got none.

He's also got one excitable little lady chomping at the bit to smooch her man. Princess LFS rushes, tugs at her leash, barks happily in Peter's direction while balancing on her hind legs. Let her go, Dad! She has to make her own choices! She luv dis man!

Will chuckles and drops her leash end, fully expecting Peter to grab it if there is any need. Not that there will be, probably, because she's all about getting in those arms and staying next to his chest. Aw yis. She lick, she twirl, she luv.]

Your number one fan.

[It's a casual, approving comment.]

[quickfingers]

[All it took was the Majority Report to make Peter feel a bit sick, and that was just the start. Finding out what March was involved in, the murders and God knows what else? It was pretty disturbing considering how close he'd brushed shoulders with the guy in the midst of when it was happening? Was it happening in other rooms of that hotel, the same night he was there? He felt a bit guilty at the time, that he hadn't somehow... known? But more so that he felt the guy was oddly charming, if not undoubtedly kooky. Sharing similar visages didn't help the fascination from taking root.

He thought that that would be it, that okay - it was gross to have been blind to it but there was nothing he could do. Other than to try and forget it, to move on and avoid March if he ever shows up once again. It's just a whole lot of how was I so stupid, followed by wondering what was said or done during the lapses in his memory from that evening of Absinthe and chatter.

All it takes to upset everything further is a set of envelopes, a penned letter by the bastard himself to make Peter feel even more nauseated. He's supposed to blast off to space in a week for a reality show, but here he is feeling like lead and unsure what to do.

'You may not have the spirit of true evil but you wear its face so well! ' Gee, thanks.

It's been a rough time, made worse by Peter's habits of insomnia - this time even less by choice than usual. He rubs at his face when he sees Will, not anticipating running into him but attempting to crack a smile and seem more like himself. He squats down to welcome his fuzzy little princess, not as overly enthused as usual but still giving her loving scritches.]

Hey lil' girl, who's looking great? Who is? You're looking great. Yeah you are.

[He snorts, looking up at Will.] You too, man.

[infomodder]

[A lack of enthusiasm is fine, she can make up for it. She can leap into his arms and nestle against him all on her own. She lick the face because she is the girlfriend. It is known.

Will smiles, ever an odd fit on his face, and takes the last few steps to close the gap between them.]

Been using new moisturizer. [This is a Joke; half his face is covered in hair nowadays.] How've you been? You're decidedly not an ex-husband.

[Congrats on not running around in a Halloween costume, pal.]

[quickfingers]

[He scoops up the little ball of fur, holding her to his chest as he straightens back up on his feet - looping her lead around his hand to keep it from dragging on the ground. While he dodges an affectionate dog tongue, he gives a shrug.]

I upgraded to boyfriend. [Don't listen to that, four pawed girlfriend, he scratches her ears to keep her preoccupied and moves over toward a bench to sit down.] A highlight, I guess.

What about you? How's things.

[infomodder]

[As if she understands there is some turmoil afoot, his girlfriend chills out after a few good licks and huffs, content to rest against her main ho.]

Oh? Congratulations. [Said with all the dry humor of a man who actually means it but acknowledges the joke as well.] Things are things. Up's still up, down is down, everywhere else is all around. [So, you know, a normal day which is good because if anybody needs normalcy it's people in a totes different world.] Gettin' ready to see Christmas shit all over the place.

[quickfingers]

Heh, right... The second Halloween's over is when they haul out all the decorations and holiday displays, right? [Peter smiles, leaning back against the bench seat and absently keeping up on ear scritches for Princess Uglycakes. The smile fades after a second and he stares forward, brain still going in stupid circles. Conversation pulls him out and he's grateful for it but like a magnet, he keeps getting sucked back into an anxious void.]

Some messed up stuff happened recently though, eh? The murders, and all that?

[Some families will be smaller this holiday season, still mourning lost loved ones in the wake of all the uncovered tragedy.]

03

[incogneto]

[ Hey guess who's back from not literally outer space? That's right, it's dad. ]

Peter?

Wanda...? Jean?

[ He's very confused at this lighting, and the for-- what in the world happened while he was gone ]

[ He smells pizza in the kitchen, which means. ]

Congratulations.

[ He places a magazine on the table by the pizza, clearly one that Peter will recognize. ]

[quickfingers]

[Peter's got his head in the fridge, pulling back out at the sound of the magazine slapped down followed by his father's voice. He glances at it, his face on the cover, and smiles mildly while twisting open a bottle of Coke and taking a sip.]

Pretty sweet, yeah? [He shifts back over toward the pizza, lifting the lid and taking another slice; he's not bothering with plates out of sheer laziness. The same laziness that has him ignore the bulbs flickering overhead to instead drape himself down in a chair to eat.]

Didn't think they'd actually pick me but it's cool.

[incogneto]

When are you filming?

[ A beat. ]

After you tell me what you did to the house while we were gone?

[ Sorry Peter. Dad's gotta dad. ]

[quickfingers]

[Peter pauses in chewing for a beat, propping his foot up on another chair in front of him.] Filming starts around the 19th, at least that's when we're supposed to get shot up to space.

And what d'you mean? House's always looked like this. [You're the only one of his housemates who isn't a mind reader, and that's great. He's passive about it, looking around the kitchen at the few things that show obvious signs of endured abuse. Man, was the backsplash always chipped by the outlet? What were people doing in here.]

Houses age. It's just what they do.

[incogneto]

Yes, and I built this one and I know what materials it's made of.

[ He crosses his hands over his chest. ]

Peter.

[quickfingers]

[Peter takes his time, eating the crust of his slice of pizza; he nabs the box off the counter and sets it next to him on the table in the blink of an eye, already half into a second slice of pizza within a few seconds. Plenty enough time for him to think of a few sensible answers and then promptly discard them.]

We had a party? It was pretty cool. A few things got turned around, no biggie. [He talks with his mouth full:] Feels more lived in like this anyway.

you know, I'm so late with this, feel free to ignore this or whatever. i'm sorry!

[aberranthubris]

Space. There's a conundrum if Charles ever knows one. He has lived through the hype of it before and his feelings are still just as conflicted over it. On one hand, such an experience, explorations, adventures, expeditions - it's amazing that one could experience that. But on the other hand, he's very worried, there's always a chance for it to go so badly.

He puts up a brave front for Peter, though, because he can imagine what this means to the young man.

"Are you nervous?" he asks when they have a moment alone at home. They're putting away dishes from their dinner, Charles setting them up in the washer while Peter carries them to him.