12690/And the thunder rolls....

And the thunder rolls....
Date of Scene:	28 January 2021
Location:	Garage - Xavier's School
Synopsis:	Ted and Shannon talk things out, and find they have more in common than they thought.
Cast of Characters:	Ted Gammage, Nightingale

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Ted Gammage has posed:
Ted needed some quiet time, figurativly speaking. He slipped to the garage and pulled the car into the bay to work on it some more. It looks almost like a real car now. Its engine runs and the missing pieces are back on except for the trunk, something he's currently trying to fix. He's hunched over the back of the car, carefully holding the probably heavy door, trying to get it all lined up. He's wearing his usual grease monkey outfit, tight t-shirt with a few holes and grease spots on it, beat up jeans, heavy work boots.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon's no grease monkey, granted, but when she sees someone need a helping hand, she's more than willing to pitch in. She's dressed in some of her older jeans, some worn white sneakers, and a simple white t-shirt that still has two slits in the back. Trying to be fairly quiet, she makes her way over from where her Vespa is parked, to the bay where he is working on his car. "Hey," she finally calls out. "Want a hand with that?"

Ted Gammage has posed:
He squints a bit at the joins and chuckles, "Mmm, not sure y'can lift th' thing and ah'm not sure ah'll get it lined up. Really jus' seein' if it was easy before ah called it. Got th' front fender back on a bit ago. There'll be a lil' wiring to do but after, slap ah coat of paint on it and ah got a pretty decent beater car," Ted says with a light smile before putting the part down by the car, propping it up. He looks over at her a moment, smiling, "Ah, how y'doin'?" he wonders.

Nightingale has posed:
     "Maybe between the two of us we can get that door lined up. Can't hurt to try?" Shannon smiles, a little bit rosy in the cheeks as she moves in to lend a hand. "Can't believe how well this is coming along. I remember it being just a collection of parts, but you're doing a great job getting it all together. What color are you going to paint it, do you think?"

     Her smile widens a bit, and she lifts her shoulders briefly in a shrug. "Doing okay, I guess. I mean, it's still not easy, but like you've told me, I'm not facing this alone. I'm... really glad for that."

Ted Gammage has posed:
"Blue," he says, "With white stripes, I think, down the middle. Always liked the combo," he notes "Its a lot of work but its...rewarding ah guess. Usin' your hands t' fix things." He rolls his broad shoulders a moment, "Eh, ah think I'm done with it fer now, though," he says, "Even if we get it lined up, gotta get in there and get it bolted down. Prolly take more time than ah wanted to spend on it tonight. It'll maybe be t'morrow, or the next, dependin' on homework."

He watches as she responds, and he nods, "Yeh, ah.. you're not 'lone." He leans over and just takes her hand and gives it a veeeery gentle squeeze.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon just smiles, squeezing his hand right back. There's a bit of a twinkle in her eyes as she looks at him, considering for a moment. "Maybe sometime in between the homework and stuff, we could figure out something maybe both of us could go out and do? Don't know about you, but I'm starting to get a case of cabin fever these days."

Ted Gammage has posed:
"Oh," he says after a moment, "Ah suppose we could, yeah," He grins big a few moments. "Ah what sorta things y'like doin'? Amusement parks? Dinner an' ah movie type? Shoppin'?" He ponders, "Ah really haven' seen much ah New York since movin' here, so y'd probably have to show me where th' fun spots are."

Nightingale has posed:
     "I'm pretty open on a lot of that," Shannon replies, perching on the hood of the car and leaning back on her hands. "Don't know if too many amusement parks would be open this time of year, unless we found one of those indoor places. I mean, there's Coney Island but that's more in the summer. Dinner and a movie's always good... oh heck, what kind of movies do you like? Or don't like, if that's the short list?" Her own smile widens bit by bit for a few moments as well.

Ted Gammage has posed:
"Um, ah usually give most things ah chance," Ted says with a shrug. "Though...not real fond of horror movies. Dunno why, never tickled m'fancy," he says. "Not squeamish or anything, just, I dunno. How 'bout you?" he wonders. "Anythin' y'really don't like t'watch?" He doesn't sit on the car or anything, but he does lean against it so he can be right beside her. "Big, loud action movies?"

Nightingale has posed:
     "Not -usually- crazy about horror movies, but there are actually one or two that are more very nicely-done suspense than horror. Maybe one day if you ever want, we could look at those, but it's not a big thing if you don't want to. I figure, heck, I'm going to see enough of the hurt and gore as a medic, I don't need to see it in movies, too."

     Shannon just chuckles at the mention of big, loud action movies, nodding her head. "Sometimes it feels as if I've lived one or two of those. I haven't even let on half the stuff that tends to happen to me when I head into the city. But yeah, some action flicks are decent. T3's pretty lousy, I stay away from that one. Science fiction's good, too. So's comedy." She grins a little bit sheepishly, leaning in a bit closer to Ted. "I'm a sucker for a good Christmas movie. Doesn't matter what time of year."

Ted Gammage has posed:
"Hah, where would y' even find ah Christmas movie playin' this time-ah year?" he replies. "Can't imagine there's much flockin' to the theater for those, ah mean. Seasonal and all." Ted ponders a moment, "Though prolly some DVD's in th' rec room somewhere." He thinks about the horror movies a moment, then says, "Alien count as a horror? That un was ok," he notes. "Ah just think that most of them, once they show y' the monster, the tension's gone. That or its weird gore stuff that ah'm not inta." He puffs out a light breath then smiles to her again. "What would make y' happy?" he asks, "Like...get yer mind off all the bumps of th' past few weeks?"

Nightingale has posed:
     "Well, we can always see if there's anything in the theaters that looks good. And if nothing's playing, we can always pick a DVD and maybe have fun dressing like one of our favorite characters from the movie? I know, that last part sounds goofy..."

     Shannon rubs the back of her neck lightly and chuckles, glancing over at Ted. On impulse, she rests her head on his shoulder and lets out a light sigh. A wry little smile spreads across her face.

     "Here and now is making me happy," she finally admits. "Looking forward to maybe going and having fun with you is making me happy. But what about you? What will make -you- happy?"

     A distinct shudder runs right through her at the mention of Alien, and she burrows in against Ted's shoulder. "Ummm, I'll take a pass on that one."

Ted Gammage has posed:
"Oh, ah wasn't suggestin' we watch it," Ted says, "Jus meanin' it was I suppose a good example of it bein' done right." Ted says, "Though given what we see, ehhh... maybe not a great idea." He chuckles softly. He smiles once more as she rests her head on his shoulder, moving to slip an arm around her waist and just enjoy the closeness for just a few moments as he ponders his own happiness. "Ah dunno," he says. "Ah'm pretty happy most of th' time, but ah also worry a lot. Ah enjoy this time though," he says. "Not something ah had a lot of since ah pushed folks away for most of m'life."

Nightingale has posed:
     "You don't need to push me away, though," Shannon replies, allowing herself a small sigh of contentment as she drapes her arm across his shoulders, burrowing down into the hug. "You've pushed folks away... and I've been afraid the ones I let myself care about, will leave. Maybe neither of us has to be afraid any more, though."

Ted Gammage has posed:
"Perhaps so," he says. "Though ah think ah'll always be jus' a little worried about..y'know." Ted sighs but he doesn't pull away, just draws her close and turns his head so he can see her face a bit better. "Ah was maybe a little surprised when y'...returned the affection," he admits after a moment. "Thought maybe y' weren't interested."

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon smiles and tilts her face up to look at him, pale blue eyes twinkling. "I wasn't sure if you were interested or if I was seeing things. I've... let myself mis-read signals before. I wound up with a good friend out of it, but it still stung pretty badly. Guess I was scared of that happening again." Reaching up, she brushes a bit of hair away from his eyes and smiles.

Ted Gammage has posed:
"Ah'm not really sure how t'send signals properly," Ted says with a low chuckle. He holds the gaze for a long moment or two, then smiles gently, "Y'thought about it b'fore then?" he asks, though pauses, "Sounds like y'had a rough time in th' past. Ah really hope ah don't screw all this up with m'.. Ted-ness."

Nightingale has posed:
     That last bit elicits a giggle from Shannon. "What do you mean, your Ted-ness? And... yeah, I have. I kind of thought maybe clear back around Halloween there was something, and all those times we've just talked and talked, and held on for what seemed like forever... I wasn't sure how to take it, but those were good times."

     My, my. Her cheeks definitely redden, but she smiles all the more. "I'd say you sent a pretty clear message with that kiss the other day."

Ted Gammage has posed:
"Ah mean m'clutzy, awkwardness when ah get inta new territory which this very much is," He explains. "So ah get kinda dumb." He gives a light shrug, "Yeah, ah didn't know how y'felt and ah'm no good at readin' folk. An' I thought y'might have had ah thing with Jeremy an' all." Ted sighs, "I wouldn't wanna get in th' way if y'did," he says. At the latter statement, though, he clears his throat, "Ah, yeah, ah figured 'What the hell' I guess. Seems t' have paid off, right?"

Nightingale has posed:
     "To be honest, I'm not sure if he wanted friends or what. I tried talking things out with him, and it seemed better to step back, and let whatever was going to happen, happen." Shannon's definitely not at all inclined to move, a sigh of contentment escaping her, and a light smile curling her lips upwards. "If it helps any, I'm pretty lousy at reading people, too. I sometimes let my own heart and wishes for things get in the way, and it's gotten me hurt a few times. Though," she adds, with a soft chuckle. "..sometimes 'what the hell' works, too."

Ted Gammage has posed:
"Yeah, y'didn't seem to mind 'what the hell'" he notes, giving her a wry grin and meeting her gaze now. "Ah do warn y', I still have no idea what ah'm doin', so feel free to be blunt t'help me not screw things up." He looks down a moment, then back at her and draws her close once more with a light exhale.

Nightingale has posed:
     "I don't think anyone really has any clue what they're doing with this kind of thing. I know I sure don't. Just... got to kind of feel your way through things, I guess. Not take any of it for granted. And talk things out." There's a moment of pure peace as Shannon meets his gaze, with the rest of the world seeming to fade away. Her smile answers that wry grin, one hand coming up near his face, and she taps the end of his nose very lightly with one fingertip. "Boop!"

Ted Gammage has posed:
He crinkles his nose as it's booped and chuckles. "Feel my way through ah'm prolly not great at, but ah'll always talk it out." He smiles a bit more, then reaches up to brush hair out from her eyes. He leans in just a little bit, "Wha'cha feelin' now?" he says playfully.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon holds very still, letting out a light sigh as Ted brushes a bit of hair away from her eyes. She's relaxed and very quiet for several moments, as she considers his question. "Very happy, mostly. A little scared that maybe it's just a dream, and I'll either screw this up or you'll disappear sometime and never come back. A little annoyed with myself for being so silly about it. But very happy, definitely. What about you?"

Ted Gammage has posed:
He chuckles a little, "Ah'm pretty sure y'got this," He notes, "Ah'm the awkward one." He smiles, "But ah'm feeling the same. Tryin' to live in th' moment. Enjoy it." And after a moment he adds with a wider smile, "Ah could pinch ya, if that'd help prove it's not ah dream."

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon just laughs, pretending to squirm as if to get away. But she's really not trying all that hard. "Oh, no! You -wouldn't-!" One could imagine her wings beating the air, if they were still there. But she's all giggles, her eyes twinkling in a very innocently playful sort of way.

Ted Gammage has posed:
"Actually," Ted muses, "Prolly not even a good idea t'fool around like that. Given m' strenght, it'd prolly really hurt. Ah'd be a terror on St Patricks day," he notes as she playfully squirms, his arms not really letting go, but does relax his grip so she can squirm free if she really wanted.

Nightingale has posed:
     "Then I'd better make sure to wear green!" Shannon replies, still laughing. However, she does stop squirming, and simply snuggles right down instead. "So... did you want to try seeing what's in the theaters, or maybe pick a DVD here, and I'll make something for dinner that night? Or we could get a pizza?" She pauses, furrowing her brows but laughing softly. "What -is- your favorite kind of food, anyways?"

Ted Gammage has posed:
"Ah'm a pizza and burgers guy," Ted says. "Ah mean, ah like other foods, but yeah, ah'm easy to please." He holds her a moment, replying "We should get out," he suggests. "Go to ah movie, eat somewhere, that kinda thing. Otherwise, it's jus' like any other day, right?" He ponders, "Not... that that's bad, obviously." He seems to ponder a few moments more, though he also just uses the gentle hold he has on her to heft her up off the ground a little bit.

Nightingale has posed:
     There's a little squeal of surprise followed by a peal of laughter as Shannon is hoisted up in the air for a moment. "Pizza and a movie it is, then. We'll see what's playing. Maybe one of the smaller theaters could be running a Throwback Thursday kind of thing... you know, where they pick an older movie and put it up on the screen for the night?"

Ted Gammage has posed:
"Always fun," he says, spinning once with her and giving a laugh himself. "Though, now ah seem to have ya. What should ah do with y'?" He squints playfully a moment, meeting her gaze, then angles to just give a light little peck on the lips before saying, "There's always ransom," teasingly.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon returns the little peck on the lips, followed by another tap to the end of Ted's nose. "Boop!" She giggles softly, holding on in a gentle hug. "Ransom, huh? Dunno about that, I'm priceless. What sort of ransom would it be?"

Ted Gammage has posed:
"Mmm, good point," Ted says. "I guess ah've no reason to letcha go." He does, to his credit, set her back to her feet, keeping close. He smiles a bit, letting out a slow breath. "Y'make me happy," he tells her and then leans forward to give a bit of a longer kiss, losing himself in the moment before drawing back enough to look her in the eyes and adds, "Ah mean it."

Nightingale has posed:
     "Oh, dear! Whatever shall I do, then? It seems I am fated to remain here!" In very melodramatic, playful fashion, Shannon puts her hand to her forehead, leaning back against Ted's arm and pretending to swoon. But she's all giggles, and can't maintain the serious facade for very long. As he sets her down, but keeps her close, she smiles, letting the quiet, peaceful moment settle between them. "You make me happy, too," she finally replies. Anything further is silenced as he kisses her again, leaving her with a wide smile on her face.

Ted Gammage has posed:
"Ah'm glad then" Ted says. He seems to reluctantly let her go. "Shall ah walk y'home," he says. "Ah think if we hang out in th' garage, makin' out, folks'll start talkin'. Well... more'n they already do," he adds with a smirk. "I swear, some of those gossipy folk know about things faster than th' people who can literally read minds."

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon snickers softly and nods, rolling her eyes. "I know, right? Makes you wonder if they're closet telepaths, too." Reluctantly, she starts following Ted back to the main part of the mansion, though she keeps her fingers threaded through his. "Should be fun, come summertime. Maybe we could do a cookout on the beach sometime. Something to look forward to, yeah?"

Ted Gammage has posed:
He gives her hand a light little squeeze. "Ah, yeah we could, jus' don't expect me t' swim much." Ted wrinkles his nose, "Ever since ah got m'powers, ah sink like a rock in water. Ah think ah'm, for lack of a better word, dense. But yeah, ah'd love t'go. Cook an' eat an' stuff. Never went much growin' up. Nearest good beach is like...Alabama or somethin'."

Nightingale has posed:
     "I love swimming. Grew up near some decent beaches, with Long Island Sound not too far away." Shannon just smiles innocently, pausing for a moment. "I'll have to go swimsuit shopping sometime soon, then. Should be fun." And she lets that thought hang there, without elaborating on it too much, as they walk back to the main part of the mansion, enjoying the moment, and each other's company.