12704/Language Arts

Language Arts
Date of Scene:	02 February 2021
Location:	Library - Xavier's School
Synopsis:	Ted and Shannon enjoy some quiet time in the library, making plans for pleasant times ahead. THrowback Thursday, anyone?
Cast of Characters:	Nightingale, Ted Gammage

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Nightingale has posed:
     Where was one to go in the pursuit of knowledge? Why, to the library, of course! There were one or two languages not offered among the current curriculum of the school, and it was two of those Shannon was looking up that night. She's in her two-piece pink satin PJ's, floofy Old English Sheepdog slippers, and has her hair long and loose save for the ice blue braid dangling on the left side of her head. She's rooting about the various tomes in the library, humming softly to herself.

Ted Gammage has posed:
It's been a quiet day. Ted did his studying and now his school books are set aside and he's moved to the most secretest of tables that he can hide at. He's got a roughed up looking copy of The Hobbit he's quietly reading along with a couple of books from a certain series involving a series of Wars in the Stars sitting on the table in front of him, waiting their turn. He's in his usual casual t-shirt that's a tad too tight, roughed up jeans, heavy boots. He's apparently lost in the book because he doesn't notice anyone nearby until the humming is a bit closer and Shannon's in eyesight of his super-secretest of tables.

Nightingale has posed:
     At just the right moment, Shannon turns in her pursuit of further knowledge, to see Ted there. She can't help but smile, her eyes dropping to the volume in his hand. Her smile widens still further, and she begins humming for a moment, before singing a few very soft lines from an old song.

"The greatest adventure
Is what lies ahead
Today and tomorrow
Are yet to be said
The chances, the changes
Are all yours to make
The mold of your life
Is in your hands to break...."

Ted Gammage has posed:
He closes the book after a moment, then grins, and sighs dramatically. "Y'caught me," he says. "Ah like readin' this stuff." He holds up the Hobbit, "Had this'n for years. Dad bought it for me when ah was ten. Read it like...ah lot." He smiles, glancing to the others, "Those ah'm just gonna check out. "

Nightingale has posed:
     "Nothing wrong with The Hobbit," Shannon says with a smile, leaning in to wrap her arms around Ted in a hug. She smiles at the tale of the well-loved volume in his hands, and nods, smiling softly. "Kind of like my book of Greek mythology that mom passed down to me. It was one of her old college text books. My bedtime stories were the myths of the Greek gods." There's something in her eyes as she pauses briefly, and chuckles. "In an age of heroes and gods like we live in, it kind of makes you wonder how much of those old stories were based in truth, and how much really is just myth."

Ted Gammage has posed:
He smiles as the arms slip around him and he in turn pulls her close as well. "It's good stuff. Less dry than th' sequels," he notes with a lighter tone, eyes narrowing with mirth. "Interestin' stories, though ah hope they censored some of them when y'were young." At her last comment, he nods, "Yeh, ah mean there's a literal norse god flyin' around New York City, so hell, what else is out there?"

Nightingale has posed:
     "He's actually pretty nice when it comes down to it," Shannon says, with a shrug and a smile, in reference to Thor. She perches on the arm of the chair which has been Ted's haven, his little nook to indulge in the guilty pleasure of The Hobbit. "I wouldn't be too surprised if there were others about." What mysteries could she be hiding up her sleeves?

     "That's really sweet you still have that from your dad," she says, her expression softening. "When I was with Sam and Mr. Summers on the trip to bring you back here, I kind of had the sense there was a lot of love there. You and your dad really close, then?"

Ted Gammage has posed:
"Yeh," Ted says, "'cause ah him and mom, ah left. Wasn't afraid people'd mob me, jus' hurt m'family." He gives a light shrug and lets out a soft breath, "But, it is th' way of things. One day ah may want t' stride back in, see what folks would say. Prolly try t'be hurtful but y'know." He ponders a moment more, "True. Maybe some of th' greek ones are around too. Which one are y'hoping will show up?"

Nightingale has posed:
     Here, Shannon pauses, tilting her head as she looks at Ted. She leans in against him, resting her head on his shoulder and allowing herself a small sigh. "I haven't told very many about this," she begins, a little warily. "But I've already run into two. It started with Poseidon, about a year ago, and he just turned up again a day or so ago after being silent for several months. The other's Athena, and word is she's joined up with the Avengers very recently. Hercules was around briefly for a while last year, but I haven't seen or heard from him in quite a while, so... who knwos."

Ted Gammage has posed:
"Huh," Ted says after a moment, processing it all. It takes a few moments, and he sits in silence back in the chair, his hand resting in the small of her back and fingers very gently giving a kneading there. When he does speak, he says "That's pretty amazin'," he admits, then with a light smile, "Get um t'sign yer book?"

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon just shakes her head and smiles, relaxing as the knots are worked out of the small of her back. "Naah. Did have some interesting discussions with Poseidon, though, about mutants and gods. Some of the gifts we have, if you think about it, would make us seem like gods to those who didn't have those gifts. Kind of puts things in perspective, and really reminds us to use our gifts with care."

Ted Gammage has posed:
"Ah guess ah got a sort of Hercules thing goin' on, ah suppose." Ted ponders that a moment, "Maybe they're like us. Though maybe somethin' else. More things in heaven an' earth an' all that stuff," He notes, keeping his hand doing its idle duty. "An' ah mean you all wingy looked angellic," he notes, "An' could heal folk, but that talk could get y'strung up in some parts of th' country." His part of the country to be precise, but he leaves it unsaid.

Nightingale has posed:
     "That's just it. We're not gods. But maybe there's more in common with us and them than we thought. Kind of gives you hope that if you can find points in common that way, you can find them with the rest of humanity, too. Maybe one day find a way to live in peace." Shannon utters a sigh of contentment, relaxing like a little ragdoll kitten as the knots in her back continue to be worked out bit by bit. "The way I figure it, Someone Up There gave us these gifts. Seems only the right thing to do to learn to use them to help others."

Ted Gammage has posed:
"Heh, 'less it was th' other place. Mah town thought that. Uncle was even rilin' up the folks when he heard 'bout me. He was th' preacher at th' church. Always kind of a..." he pauses, looks around, then says whispering, "Asshole." He winks to her and his hand stills, just resting against her back now. "But yeh, there's no tellin' the connections that can be made. Though ah suspect it ah bit above mah paygrade."

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon nestles in against Ted's side, listening to him. It's all she can do to suppress a giggle. Alright, maybe that's not so successful. She's soon snickering softly, looking at him with her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Asshole. Arschloch. Mudak. The list goes on. And... what's above your paygrade?" There, she looks genuinely confused.

Ted Gammage has posed:
"Heh, jus' mean outta my league. T'determine all the links and connections. All th' gods and monsters. Ah'm jus' gonna be me. Try to pass school. Build a car. Maybe figure things out, get older, start ah family. Ah'd rather not have t'fight but if ah do, then ah will." He shrugs a little. He makes a contented sound as she settles into him.

Nightingale has posed:
     "Those gods, they have hopes, and dreams, and feelings like we do. They get lonely sometimes and need friends just like we do." Shannon lets out a soft, contented little sigh, and smiles as she relaxes with Ted, listening to his hopes and dreams. "You'll pass school. You're doing great building a car. I don't think anyone's got things all figured out, though, or they'd make a mint selling books about it."

     Her fingers work in small circles to work out the knots in the back of Ted's neck, right where one can get them after sitting and reading for long stretches of time. "I want to use my gifts to help others. Already working on being an EMT, maybe a full doctor one day. But... someday, I'd love to start a family, too." She smiles a little, looking into his eyes. "I don't think either of us -like- fighting, but I don't see either of us shying away from it if it has to happen, either."

Ted Gammage has posed:
"Mm, people do try to make a mint selling those books, even if they don't know about it," Ted reminds with a big grin. He angles his head a bit, though because of his general powers, the muscles are probably nigh impossible to work out. Still, he does relax at the touch. "Yeh, ah mean, can't always help gettin' into a scrap," he notes.

Nightingale has posed:
     "Yeah, the ones who write those books claiming they know it all? They haven't got a clue. Nobody does." Shannon grins right back, humming lightly as she listens to Ted for a moment. It was a nice moment, a quiet one, a little bit of peace amongst all the chaos that was life recently. "Too true," she agrees. "Seems like trouble finds me a lot, though. It's enough sometimes that Mr. Proudstar's started making a game of it, coming up with new middle names for me that all seem to be variants on 'trouble magnet'."

Ted Gammage has posed:
"Trouble Magnet might be ah good codename," Ted notes with a light chuckle. He glances around, noticing the relative emptiness and then just draws her close again. "Y'know though, ah'll help out however ah can t'get ya out of trouble."

Nightingale has posed:
     "I'll try to make it easier on you by not getting into as much trouble. No promises, but I'll try." A little sigh of contentment escapes Shannon as she is drawn close. "It's moments like this I miss my wings, almost more than flying. They were always great in hugs."

Ted Gammage has posed:
"You'll get um back," Ted says with a wry smile. "An' if not, ah still like ya for you. Though th' angel look did do it for me." The last is said light and playfully.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon's lips tug upwards in a wry sort of grin, brows flicking upwards as she looks at Ted. She seems to consider him for a moment, then leans in to brush her lips across his cheek, hugging him tightly for a moment. "Thank you. That means a lot. But you -are- right. I'll get them back. Just wish it was a bit sooner rather than later."

Ted Gammage has posed:
He nods a moment and smiles once his cheek is kissed and he's hugged. "Ah know ah am. Usually am right," he says. "Its m' lesser known mutant ability." He gives a quick nod and a wink before glancing at her, meeting her gaze. He's quiet a moment, then, "Ah hope its soon though. Y'seem happier, an ah want you t'be happy."

Nightingale has posed:
     "You do make me happy," Shannon is quick to assure him, resting her forehead against his. "But I do miss them. Promised Mr. Worthington I wouldn't be making any deals with any devils to get them back the wrong way, so you can rest easy there. Still... keeping my spirits up so the teachers and my friends don't have to worry, it's hard sometimes. They can't be working as effectively on a cure if they're busy worrying."

Ted Gammage has posed:
"That is true," he notes as his head leans against her's. "But, ah worry for ya. Ah worry for ah lotta things. Can't really shut that part-ah my brain off." He ponders a moment, then smiles, "Maybe goin' out one night'll help though. Keeps those spirits up?" he suggests. "Y'can show me the sights. An' we can catch that movie. Whatever we decided on."

Nightingale has posed:
     "Sounds like a plan," Shannon replies, smiling and brushing a little bit of hair out of Ted's eyes. "Maybe we can go look at some listings, see what's playing in the area theaters. Hit up the local greasy spoon for some dinner. I'm pretty easygoing about that kind of thing."

Ted Gammage has posed:
"Its th' company that counts," Ted replies with a smile. He gently places a hand on her cheek and pulls her in for a quick little kiss while no one's watching before looking into her eyes. He think furrows his brow and chuckles, "Though last time ah think we went t' a greasy spoon in th' city, we ended up stoppin' a fake bank robbery."

Nightingale has posed:
     Leaning into his palm, Shannon kisses him back, briefly but sweet. "Ha, we did, didn't we? And you wonder why Mr. Proudstar calls me 'trouble magnet'." Indeed, though, it was the company that counted, eliciting a smile from the young woman. "I think there's one of those little hole-in-the-wall theaters that's got a Throwback Thursday thing going. We'll have to see what's playing."

Ted Gammage has posed:
"Think it'll be somethin' cool? Ghostbusters? Star Wars?" Ted muses, eyes squinting a bit. "Ah guess if it's somethin' borin' we could go an' jus make out in th' back row." He says it with such confidence but he actually kind of blushes a bit and looks away. He tried. "But yeh, sounds fun. Always loved those types ah theaters.

Nightingale has posed:
     "Think it's the first Ghostb... oi!" Shannon's face goes flame red, but she giggles softly. One hand comes up behind Ted's head, swatting him very lightly--almost more of a brush against his hair, really. "Back row... ha."

Ted Gammage has posed:
He was trying to get her to blush, so mission accomplished, but he also seemed to blush so might just be a wash. "Ah'm jus' kiddin'. Well, mostly. Ah mean, ah obviously like y' in that way.... ah'm shutting up now," he says with a chuckle."

Nightingale has posed:
     "You don't have to shut up," Shannon says, her ears now even starting to turn pink. "Guess those old kinds of theaters are neat. They tend to get the off-beat movies, the throwback Thursdays, and all that good stuff... huh. You do, huh?"

Ted Gammage has posed:
"Ah do," he admits. "Thought that was clear. Wasn't it?" He smiles gently, "But yeah, th' theaters are cool. We had one in the next town over. Was ah fun place to pop into." For lack of anything else to do with his hand, he just rests it against her back again and resumes the slow motions.

Nightingale has posed:
     "Still nice to hear it," Shannon replies, resting her head on Ted's shoulder again and relaxing. "Just not something I'm used to hearing, is all." For several long moments, as some fresh snow fell outside, the lights along the pathway in the front yard illuminated a hushed, peaceful world nestled under a blanket of white. It was enough to make her sigh with contentment, and smile.

Ted Gammage has posed:
"Yer not?" Ted says. "Ah'm surprised ah had a shot, honestly. Thought more o' the guys here would uh... y'know, be askin' y'out." He looks out too, puffing out a breath. "Though ah'm glad they're not. Since this is ah thing now."

Nightingale has posed:
     "They weren't, though." Smiling, she taps Ted on the nose lightly, giggling. "You did. So I guess it's kind of a thing. It'll be nice just to see where it goes. Get to know each other better. It's nice."