12719/SuPURR Bowl Sunday

SuPURR Bowl Sunday
Date of Scene:	08 February 2021
Location:	Rec Room - Xavier's School
Synopsis:	Jax and Shannon enjoy a Super Bowl watch party in the rec room. Ted joins in. Talk of cars abounds, and are plans being hatched...?
Cast of Characters:	Nightingale, Jax Miller, Ted Gammage

---

Nightingale has posed:
     It's Super Bowl Sunday at the X-mansion. Snacks of all kinds abound, trash-talking happens, pillows fly when tempers flare, but all in all, it's all in general good fun. Cries of dismay or triumph ring out when one's favored team scores, and everyone seems in generally high spirits.

     Enter in one erstwhile fan dressed in dark blue jeans, floofy Old English Sheepdog slippers, and what looks to be a Patriots hoodie. Shannon makes a beeline for the nearest table full of snacks, gathering up anything she can find that's high in protein and calcium, and noshing away happily. It didn't seem to matter to her what side won. She was just having a good day, and damned if anything was going to ruin it!

Jax Miller has posed:
    "Are they sleeping?! Is he just sleepwalking?! GET SACKED!"

    You can imagine that there's at least one super fan of football in general at the watch party, taking center stage and yeeting the requisite pillow then required. Surrounded by a debris of sugary drinks, savory snacks and the crumpled packets of a dozen different flavors of nachos and chips, he's practically giddy with glee at what he's seeing on the screen.

    The Chiefs had beat his beloved Bills, and so Jax was enjoying himself immensely.

    "Luck's run out boys, you're in the big leagues now, that's how a real team does it! Pack it up, go home, save yourselves the embarrassment!"

    Without even turning around, his head swivels just after his ears do, and he grins at Shannon. "Hey Shan! C'mon, I saved you a seat. Watch the Chiefs get cheesed."

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon grins a utterly cheesy, fertilizer-consuming grin at Jax, taking a few steps back from the couch. Behind her, as she prepares for some wild, crazy thing, something white and a little ragged-looking flutters, and then flares out behind her.

     It seems those well-hidden slits in her hoodie were being put to use after all.

     She takes a flying leap at the sofa, with a fully-laden plate of food, and vaults over the back. There is some minor spillage into her lap, and a couple pillows go tumbling to the ground, but she lands right beside Jax, giggling. "Just wait till next year, when it's the Pats and the Bills. Then you'll see some -real- cheesing. As in the Bills turn to Limburger!"

Jax Miller has posed:
    There's a grin returned as Jax watches Shan all the way to the cushions, glad to see that his christmas present is being put to good use... and even worn as it had always been designed to be worn. There's a quick look as he leans back to verify that those are... yup, wings! With his left hand reaching across to offer Shan a bowl of whatever he's eating now, his right steals a few of hers, and then his attention is back to the game. He's in full Bills regalia, including his actual jersey with team number.

    "That'll be something to watch. If that happens, tickets are on me!" Some popcorn is launched at the screen at yet another dropped pass. "Give it up! Baseball's more your game!"

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon plops her plate on a TV tray right between them, and grins. "Dibs on the chili and cheese. That's protein and calcium... my metabolism's going nuts, like it would with a healing but my body's healing itself, changing back." She extends one wing towards Jax; it looks as if she's molted entirely, and it's not quite fully grown. But definitely, on the mend!

     "Oh, COME ON! What the HECK kind of a pass was that?! BOOOOOOOO!" Another handful of popcorn was flung at the screen, and the healer-in-training just shook her head. "I think the Chiefs are sunk. Should we be playing taps for them now or later?"

     Of course, talk of future Super Bowl plans gets that fertilizer-consuming grin from Shannon again, and she just laughs. "I'll hold you to that one. And when the Pats win... and they WILL win... just don't say I didn't tell you so!"

Jax Miller has posed:
    "Eh, if they do win, it'll be a miracle, and I'm always looking forward to seeing an actual miracle... " This is punctuated with a loud jolt of a laugh at the antics on the screen. "And right now it'd be a miracle for that quarterback to actually get any passes going. Get off the field! I know a good trainer!"

    Far more quietly, and leaning towards Shannon as he does, Jax practically whispers. "If you want, I have a long handled scratching brush for when I'm shedding." Fur and feathers... they have a lot in common.

Nightingale has posed:
     "That might not be a bad idea to get one of my own. Between that and taking a lot of showers, it's about the only thing that helps with the damn pinfeathers." Shannon grimaces, but even that expression melts into a smile. "Bah. I'd rather have them than not. It's worth it."

     Her grin widens at the talk of miracles, wings fluttering behind her. They haven't stayed still much for the past few days, in nearly constant motion. "This sure is a week for miracles, so hey, you never know!" She winces as she watches the Chiefs getting utterly demolished on the field. "I think they may be beyond one by now, though. Think we oughta call time on this game?"

Jax Miller has posed:
    "Eh... I think, beyond some actual divine intervention, they're beyond help. But they've been beyond help for a while, just pretty lucky." And Jax grins, thinking of that frustrating moment a few weeks ago when the Chiefs seemed to have everything go their way. "Well, whatever dark ritual they did to get this far, it's worn off. Didn't you know guys?! No magic in the Superbowl! Go home! Go hoooooooooome!"

    There's a happy sigh, a certain sagging of ears and tail as if a whole lot of demons have been exorcised, and Jax nods. "Yeah. Time to call this one dead and buried."

Nightingale has posed:
     "If they come back from the dead after this, well, then just let 'em win." Shannon cackles, getting up to do a little happy dance. "Either that, or go down to the cemetery with a shovel and play one hell of a game of Whack-A-Mole!"

     The Super Bowl watch party is in full swing in the rec room, with snacks abounding, trash-talking happening, snacks and pillows being flung at the screen when one's favored team of the two playing fares poorly, and general high spirits all around. Shannon's near the couch, looking as if perhaps she was perched there just a few moments ago. But now she's let the energy of the room get her to her feet, doing a little dance just for the fun of it. She's in dark blue jeans, her floofy Old English Sheepdog slippers, and a Patriots hoodie that seems to allow for her growing wings quite nicely. They're roughly about half their former size by now, and still with a few pinfeathers--but far fewer than before.

Ted Gammage has posed:
Ted has been holed up in his room today, studying a bit, but he's taking a break and decided to see what was shaking. He smiles a bit as he sees the pair here and peers at the TV. "Aw, dang," he says, "Ah completely fergot th' game was today. Who's winnin'?" He says, moving over to them and grinning amusedly. "Saints didn' make it again this year so m'team's not playin'."

Jax Miller has posed:
    "Bucs have got this, all the way. Had it in the first quarter, Chiefs just didn't know when to GIVE UP AND JUST GO HOME!" That last bit is shouted at the TV, as Jax leans back, both arms over the back of the couch now. He looks about as happy as a cat with a bowl of cream, and twice as satisfied. He's dressed entirely in Bills regalia, including a very real looking jersey with his name on it.

    "Eh, Bills aren't playing, but the Chiefs had a lucky day at Orchard Park or it'd have been them and my dad out there now. And if they do come back from this, time to pull out the stakes and holy water I think."

Nightingale has posed:
     "Hey, Ted!" Shannon calls out, waving both hand and wing in his general direction. Snacks are forgotten for the moment as she scampers around the couch, right on over to give him a big hug. "Hey, you never know, maybe they'll make it next year! Oh lordy, if it's ever the Saints and the Pats...." She just grins, relishing the moment. "Come on, there's plenty of snacks, if you want to come join in for a while?"

Ted Gammage has posed:
Ted returns the hug, and actually hefts her up and spins her around once before setting her on the ground. "Hah, they made it once an' that's one more than anyone actually thought they'd do it," He looks to Jax and says "Is that yer team or you on th' losin' side..?" And to Shan he nods, "Sure, takin' a break fer now anyways." and he goes to settle on the couch where they were perched.

Jax Miller has posed:
    "I'm good with any team winning as long as the Chiefs finally get what's theirs." Jax grins, offering Ted a bowl of snacks. They're varied by now, because so much has been airborne that what started as a bowl of popcorn is now, inevitably, a half bowl of nachos and chips with bits of popcorn clinging desperately to the sides.

    "Saints ain't too bad. Was a time people said the Bills would never get anywhere, and look at them now. Never count a team out..." pause, glance at the screen, grin. "... except the Chiefs right now. Man, even I couldn't help them get out of this mess. Hah, I doubt anyone could." Yeah, he's going to be happy about this for a long time.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon flops down on the couch right between Jax and Ted, wriggling down among the pillows and cushions, and reaching out for what must be the biggest bowl of chili -ever-. Is it a bowl of chili with sour cream and shredded cheddar on top, or is it a pile of sour cream and cheese, with a little chili underneath? Whatever the case may be, she digs into the concoction with gusto, looking as happy as a kitten with a bowl full of cream.

     "Man, could you imagine us all during playoffs, if the Bills, Patriots, and Saints were all in the running?" She giggles, and shakes her head, peering at the screen. "Ohhh yeah. They're done. Dead and buried. Over and out. Ten-four."

Ted Gammage has posed:
There's a brief moment where Ted eyes the mixed bowl of snacks, clears his throat and says "Think ah'll pass on it fer now," with a wry grin. He also watches Shannon as she settles in with the gigantic bowl. "Good fer growin' bones an' feathers?" he asks her playfully, still looking right amused. "Mmm, well if it helps ah'm not ah rabid fan. M' experience with th'game is ah bit tainted now, all things considered."

Jax Miller has posed:
    With a blink, Jax looks into the bowl and shrugs, grabbing a bit of the mix for himself and munching happily. With a happy sigh, he puts his bare feet up on the coffee table, watching the disaster unfold, the midfield massacre, the end zone ending, the center crush... It can only be imagined what the scene must be like in Casa de Miller right now, but if Jax knows his father, this is about the time someone gets thrown in the pool.

    "What, all three? Y'know, if that happens, I call that an epic road trip." Ears flick and swivel towards Ted for a moment at the comment, and somewhere inside that surprisingly feline mind some cogs start whirring. Information filed...

    "Hey, Ted, I've seen you work on a car in the garage. You're good with mechanical stuff, yeah?"

Nightingale has posed:
     "Are you kidding? He's way better at mechanical stuff than I am." Shannon puffs up with no small amount of pride, her wings fluffing out behind her and flaring as if they were a peacock's tail. She's still noshing on her chili, bobbing her head in agreement with Ted. "Actually, yeah, this is pretty good for growing bones and feathers. Same thing after a healing. My metabolism's going nuts, screaming for protein, calcium, and veggies."

Ted Gammage has posed:
"Ah use t'work on my ol' busted truck and a couple old tractors, but also did a little work on some others as ah could. Also...y'know. Google." He shrugs and smirks, "But yeh, it's lookin' good right? Jus' need ah good paintjob an' y'know...paperwork. Legal stuff." He does smile again at Shannon's praise of his skills. "Well like ah said, Shan, you'll be flyin' away in no time, right? Looks like yer wings keep tryin' to lift y'off the ground already." He says, noting the fluffing and fluttering of her wings.

Jax Miller has posed:
    "Awesome! I got a problem with my Jeep, don't wanna take it to a dealer, 'cause... y'know, winter. Think you can have a look?" The inquiry seems to be entirely genuine, except there's that slight twitch at the tip of Jax's tail. He's up to something.

    And then he's the very pinnacle of relaxation, even if that means half twisting sideway to keep his feet on the table and the bowl of snacks nearby while still being able to see the screen. And the longer he looks, the brighter his smile gets.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon's eyebrows loft, even as she lowers her spoon into the bowl and peers over at Jax. She's been left with a sour cream moustache, to much comical effect. There's the twitch of Jax's tail, so very much like her own cat's, that just cries mischief. Covering her mouth with one hand, she coughs delicately--although, to those with exceptional auditory sensitivity, one might perceive a word referencing bovines combined with the inevitable aftermath of every meal. "Ooof. That's some spicy chili."

     Right.

     "No shame in using Google, but don't put down your skills either, Ted," she says, smiling. Her wings just can't seem to stop moving. Having been grounded for a month and change, it's plain she won't be contained for much longer. "Ha, they probably will soon. Maybe another day or two. Yeah, your car's looking pretty awesome. What color did you say you were going to paint it? Blue? And were you mentioning something about white stripes on it?"

Ted Gammage has posed:
"Oh yea, ah'm not gonna slap 'Google idiot' on muh resume," Ted says with a chuckle. He eyes her sour cream stache, pondering telling her about it but lets it ride for the moment. "Ah, ah Jeep? Never worked on one b'fore," he admits. "What'd y'do to it?" he asks. "Ah could look it over with y' to see what th' trouble is?" He doesn't seem to catch the telltaletail motion.

Jax Miller has posed:
    Tail twitch... Jax has extremely good hearing, but seems to be ignoring Shannon's sotto voce comment, but now well aware that she's onto him. "Dunno, really. Check engine light's come on, and the thing that looks like a can with a drop falling out of it, y'know? Could mean anything, it's been running fine, but I don't wanna risk it. Drive it a lot, don't want it to break down between here and Buffalo, y'know?"

    The talk of the paint job sets his ears perking though. "A shelby stripe, really? Man, that'll look awesome on that car."

Nightingale has posed:
     There's that coughing again, a light chuckle, and a grin from Shannon. She might not entirely have put all the pieces together, but she had a pretty good idea that something was going on. Some plan had been laid, was incubating, and would likely hatch in due time.

     Perhaps when the weather was right for driving.

     "Yeah, a stripe would look awesome on Ted's car. If he's going blue paint with the stripes, it kind of makes you think of gold flecks in the paint, too. But it's ultimately his choice in the end."

Ted Gammage has posed:
"Ah yeh, ah love the Shelby stripe. Honestly if ah could'a found a beater Shelby ah might've gotten it but the good ones are hard to come by." He does seem to be dawning on something not being right because of the elusiveness of the answers, but he does his honest best, "Well, ah.. guess we could look at it with y', see if its somethin' we can fix." His brow furrows a little in thought, then he looks back to Shannon, "Mm, ah'd haveta see how it looks on other cars, but been lookin' a lot of car images up too so I can get general idea."

Jax Miller has posed:
    "Yeah, they're hard to find. Even the ones that are beat to hell and back get snapped up as soon as they appear." Hmmm. Does Jax know cars, or just know collectibles? Can't be the former, if he can't recognise an indication that the oil in the engine needs changing. There's a commotion on the screen, and his attention shifts. More popcorn flies as the game ends with a crushing defeat for the Chiefs.

    "Yeah! See you again in Orchard Park in a few months, see who's got the last laugh!"

    Back to cars, back to being stealthily sly. "See you in the garage tomorrow after class then?"

Nightingale has posed:
     Some students cheer, some boo and hiss, some throw popcorn, while others hug and dance around, all depending on team affiliation. But in the end, everyone wound up laughing and having fun, noshing on snacks, and hanging out with friends. For her part, Shannon's settling back on the couch, leaning against Ted a bit and smiling as she listens to him and Jax talk. "Don't suppose you've ever been to Orchard Park, have you, Ted?"

Ted Gammage has posed:
Ted's pretty sure something's up. He's a bit thick sometimes, but his gut instinct is he's possibly getting pranked? "Sure," he replies to Jax, "Ah'll make some time an' we can look at it." He relaxes a bit more as Shannon leans against him, fairly pleased for the contact. He does reply, "Ah, naw, ah haven't. Really haven't been t'too many places since movin' here. Ah tend to just root in for th'most part." As the game ends, he just watches the others in their various defeats or celebrations, then sighs softly, "Ah should prolly head on back t' studyin'. Ah'll see y'all later. T'morrow? Whichever." He gives Shannon a light hug before standing and heading out.

Jax Miller has posed:
    On the couch, hidden from most eyes except Shannon's, Jax grins. "Someone saying they've soured on football? Not on my watch." He winks at Shannon and flicks a kernel of popcorn in the air, nomming it on the way down.

Nightingale has posed:
     "Ted's... got his reasons. His story to tell, but well... yeah, better to let him tell it." Shannon nibbles on her lower lip for a moment, then shrugs. "I'm not sure I'd push him into going to Orchard Park. Maybe put the idea out there and see what happens."

     Noshing on her chili, she curls her feet up under her, and just smiles, snuggling back into the couch cushions. "Can't complain about the game much, though. Looks like everyone had fun, so everybody won in the end."

     And really, wasn't that the way it should be?