3rd Floor Common Room, Monday Evening

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

Tanned and rested from a vacation--where no evil mutants or natural disasters struck--Jean was going to settle in for whatever she could find on TV tonight.

It ended up being something about kids living and loving in New Jersey.

Something was terribly, terribly wrong here.

[[Open as common rooms are!]]

Comments

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

"Jono," Jean replied, not one to be put off by his inherent Jono-ness. "How was your break?"

[furnaceface]

//It was...//

He'd nearly been eaten by his ex-girlfriend, the temporary cannibal.

//... Eventful. Spent some quality time with th'other students back at th'Academy. And yers?//

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

Cannibals made the world more fun. Really.

"Kinda boring, really. I went on the cruise." She held up her arm as if to elaborate. "Tanned. That was pretty much it."

[furnaceface]

//Well, then I wasn't missin' out on anything, was I?//

That actually helped him feel a little better about opting out of the school trip, actually.

//I don't tan all that well anyhow.//

He was more prone to burning.

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

"That's because you're insanely pale," Jean replied. Because gingers know all about that. "If you get the right sunblock, it's fine."

[furnaceface]

//I'm from London,// Jono pointed out. //And I'm a goth. I suspect that if I was ever intended to tan, I'd have been born in Hawaii, and would've taken' up surfing or sommat, instead of guitar.//

He'd probably look better in swim trunks, if it was meant to be, too.

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

"Surfers play guitar," Jean pointed out. "Scott's brother is a surfer, actually."

Oh, Evolution. Surfer Havok.

[furnaceface]

//Scott's broth--// Pardon Jono for a moment while he worked on figuring out what to make of that.

...

Okay. He was good. He was going to have to tell Jubilee this one, though, so that he could watch her squirm and try not to laugh.

//Surfers play surf music, luv. I play slightly more heavy fare.//

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

"Like?" Jean prompted, because the people on the TV were doing something weird with their fists.

[furnaceface]

... The people on the TV worried Jono, and he was going to just refrain from watching what they were doing, now.

//Hard rock, alternative, grunge. Whatever catches my ear at th'time, really.//

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

"I'm still waiting to hear some, you know." Jean, you listen to Jonas Brothers. You don't deserve to have music played for you.

[furnaceface]

//I've almost always got my guitar with me at th'Groovy Tunes on Tuesdays,// Jono offered. //Or, I suppose, if Tuesdays are bad, I could pull it out to a common room sometime. I can actually make th'motions of not bein' a horrid shut-in from time to time.//

Lies, Jono. All lies.

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

"I'll stop by tomorrow and then you can try performing for everyone," Jean offered kindly.

[furnaceface]

Mmm, like old times.

//Tell yer what,// Jono reasoned, //yer swing by, listen to what I can play, and then let me know if yer think I can carry a performance, solo, with just a guitar and no voice at my disposal. And then we'll discuss th'possibility of me puttin' on a show for an audience larger than one.//

Old times, of course, had involved him being able to sing, too.

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

Jean held out her hand. "Deal."

[furnaceface]

He took a moment to consider that hand, trying to figure out what the hell he'd just gotten himself into.

And then, because he really had nothing to lose with the exception of possibly his pride, he gave his shoulders a shrug and shook on it.

//Good. Pleasure doin' business with yer, gel.//

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

Jean tried very hard to look serious for about... five seconds before she laughed. "How have you been aside from spring break?"

[furnaceface]

//I've had my ups an' downs,// Jono admitted. //Oddly enough, mostly ups, I think. Took Didi to th'dance, and then to Disneyland as a birthday present.//

Totally got laid.

//Never did get Goofy's signature, though.//

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

Jono! You're supposed to wait for marriage! Or prom!

"You went to Disneyland?

[furnaceface]

//Before yer get too surprised, I feel as though I have to point out that Didi likes Disney.//

Jono was still undecided about the whole place. He couldn't help but feel as though they were trying to suck him in while he was there, somehow.

The mouse ears probably hadn't helped that much.

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

"Oh, so Did wanted to go," Jean replied. "That was very sweet of you, you know."

[furnaceface]

//Please, don't call me that too loudly,// Jono replied, rolling his eyes. //People might find out.//

He was cranky and dangerous and smelled like burning brimstone. He was supposed to me utterly unapproachable, damn it. Not sweet.

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

"But it is!" Jean insisted. "Wearing mouse ears."

...she was being cruel now.

[furnaceface]

//Only for that one afternoon!//

And it had been bloody adorable.

//Anyhow, it was supposed to partly make up for th'fact that I was lettin' her go to th'Bahamas for a week without me, too.//

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

"Did you wear the ears? Oh, did she take a picture?"

And thus, we all see where the Dark Phoenix comes from.