10505/The Beetle's Tangled Web

The Beetle's Tangled Web
Date of Scene:	18 March 2022
Location:	Penthouse - Kord Co
Synopsis:	Hangovers, recriminations and Joan has a new robe!
Cast of Characters:	Ted Kord, Joan Wright, Booster Gold

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Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord woke up. This was his first mistake. He tasted the inside of his mouth. That was his second mistake. Bailey opened the door to his bathroom and remained on station, informing the other bots their beloved creator was experiencing several malfunctions... possibly venting something. Then he was brushing his teeth.

He comes out into the hallway, asking Bailey, "What time is it? What day is it? Where the hell is my robe?" He comes into the living room seeking Joan. She stayed, right?

Joan Wright has posed:
Joan had indeed stayed. But not necessarily for reasons Ted would be happy with. After their younger table guests had made leave. There was a bit more time spent walking about and meeting more fans of the Beetle.

Perhaps that was a mistake. But being Ted needed help getting home, Joan opted to stay there.

After the incident with the potted plant, Joan ended up taking the sofa instead of one of the guest rooms. The sofa in question has been slid out of place. It currently blocks the small hallway that leads to the elevator. Joan lies on it, sleeping away, in some more clothes that have been stolen from Ted's lounge wear collection. The robe in question is resting on the floor next to the potted plant.

Just what on earth happened to merit this?

Ted Kord has posed:
D'aww is the proper reaction to this moment. Seeing the little thief sleeping peacefully. He represses a chuckle when he sees the robe. Wonders a moment about the plant. Ah, in case she got sick? He'd ave to explain to the kids/bots about hangovers.

He puts a hand on the back of the sofa and does a flip over it, landing between Joan and the back, facing her back. He slips an arm around her. His headache protested the flip a bit. Some things are worth it. He settles and snuggles in.

Joan Wright has posed:
Ted's wiggling in ends up being successful as Joan slumbers away with just the slightest of shifts from the added person behind her. She snoozes comfortably and as an added bonus she's not snoring.

This time.

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord looks her over.

Pretty first thing in the morning. Score!

Not snoring! Score!

No more swol and bullet proof body to hug. Break even on that. Both were nice in different ways.

She seemed all right with a sort of pushy move he made.

Life is good when you have everything.

Joan Wright has posed:
It is rather peaceful on the sofa and despite the manuever Ted pulled, Joan is still on the sofa snoozing away. And then her knee jerks. It's probaly a good thing Ted's not on that side of the sofa.

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord is dozing pleasantly when he feels the movement. Half asleep, the arm around Joan's waist rises and he begins to rub her back, gently. "Sh-h-h-h... Go back to sleep. You're fine." He rests his hand on her arm, waits to see if she settles.

Booster Gold has posed:
It's the day after St. Patrick's day. And so of course, many people are still hung over.

Booster Green is not one of them. He flies into Ted's penthouse like he owns the place - because really, that's almost a thing now. He seems to be trying to be quiet, one might think ti be respectful. Of course, he has not accounted for the rearranging of the furniture and collides with the plant, dumping himself over with a crash.

"Damnit, Ted, ssshtop changing shhhhhtingssshhh."

Oh, he's not hung over because he's still drunk.

Also, every part of his costume that used to be blue is now emerald green.

Joan Wright has posed:
The rubbing of the back ends up having a little less of the influence that Ted was hoping for. Instead of lulling her back to sleep it ends up stirring her.

Kind of.

It appears that kick from earlier was a hint to a dream she was having. A fretful dream that also centered around food and drink.

"RHH!"

Joan brings back an elbow before throwing up her arms to pull at the hair of the person situated behind her.

"GIVE ME BACK MY DUMPLINGS! YOU BOWLER HATTED A*****!"

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord gets his hair grabbed. He hates that kind of thing! Hence the hood. He also gets poked in the eye. His reaction is instinctive. He shoves Joan away from him. "Wha? Hunh! Hey!" Doesn't sound very smart right now, does he?

This is the point at which the bots jump from their charging stations. Bailey grabs Joan's feet. Bingo her arms. Bobo flies over to Booster and picks him up bodily to stand him upright. Slapping people to bring them around is a thing, correct? Or does shaking work? He considers this. Would television lie?

Meh. He scans fo the talkie AI. May be he knows more?

Booster Gold has posed:
Booster swats at the bots. "Get out of my face, I can do that myself." Which is true, although as he does it himself Booster successfully tips over the entire planter, spilling vegetation and soil onto the floor as he climbs out of it. "I mean really, who puts a plant there??"

He turns to look at Ted and Joan. "Oh, sorry for interrupting." He might actually be sorry, or he is just saying the words that make sense. "I need to take a leak. Mind if I use your bathroom?"

Definitely just saying the words, as he turns and walks away without waiting for an answer. At least he is going on the right direction and not towards the pool or the sink.

Joan Wright has posed:
Still waking, Joan is not quite fully present as Ted shoves her away and off the sofa. "I DON'T WAN- OHMYG-hrr?"

Joan's volume drops considerably as her eyes open up, seeing the floor a few inches away from her face as she's floating above it. "No- Not again!"

As she starts lifting up in the air, it's then she realizes that the flying is not her doing but instead Bailey and Bingo's work as they right her and zoot her to a seat away from the alert Ted. "Oh thank God...It's not me."

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord blinks and sits up. "I had this weird dream. Joan was flying around the Green Giant and they were putting down a robot rebellion that turned into a slappy fi... WHAT IN HELL IS GOING ON?"

"Ow."

Booster Gold has posed:
The always polite Booster has found his way to the nearest bathroom. He has not, however, had the presence of mind to close the door.

Fortunately, or unfortunately as the case may be, he whistles a jaunty Irish jig while he provides amble evidence of just how much he drank. The answer is - a lot.

Joan Wright has posed:
Joan takes her newly seated position to try and take stock of the situation. A hand goes up to touch the side of her head as she winces. There is just too much darn light in the penthouse right now.

"Ted...do you remember any-" She pauses, hearing the new sound, "...when did you get a tabletop fountain?"

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord blinks again. He checks one arm for Joan, then the other. Then realizes she made it to another chair. He shakes his head, slowly. "Fountain? I thought I bought a racehorse. And I wish he'd shut the door."

Bailey flies off to comply and a door slams muting the sounds.

"Hey, my bathrobe!" He grabs for the robe on the floor.

Booster Gold has posed:
After what would seem an impossibly long time, Booster returns from the restroom. There is a towel in his hands, drying them. At least he has the common sense to wash his hands afterwards. Although there was no sound of a flush. Maybe Ted has one of those silent toilets.

"So. Did you two play hide the leprechaun yet?" He tilts his head, a goofy grin on his face. "Or are you still just shamrocking?"

At least his uniform is intact and sealed up.

Joan Wright has posed:
Joan looks curious at the mention of a racehorse. "...Just what did we do after Jonah's?"

Watching the bot zoom by, she starts to turn her head, seeing the door already in frame by the time her eyes reach the bathroom door. "Oh."

Joan rubs her head. "I think I need some water."

The impossibly long time that Booster was gone does allow Joan time to get just that. She is about halfway through before Booster's inquiry gets a squinty look. "Hide the what?"

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord gets up and stomps over to Booster. Not easy in your socks but he tries. "You do not joke about that with Joan. Understand? Would you like me to make cracks about Hella? You know Joan is deserving respect. And... I see you eying the robe, don't even think it, Joane Marie."

"Ow."

Booster Gold has posed:
Booster looks at Ted for a long moment. He meets his gaze. He allows it to linger. He glances over towards Joan. And then back to Ted.

"At least I know Hella's correct middle name."

Joan Wright has posed:
Joan blinks at the warning that is apparently supposed to be meant for her. And despite Ted lecturing Booster about making the joke, she seems to be directing a look at him instead. A less than enthused one. Why on earth would that be? He's obviously doing the defending, right?!

"Ted." Joan states, crossing her arms. "He's right."

Ted Kord has posed:
Ted Kord turns to Joan as the depth of his screw up becomes obvious.

"Mmmmm-a-r-ion!"

He hangs his head and holds out the bathrobe. "Not going to have any clothes left at this rate."

Booster Gold has posed:
Booster whistles as Ted removes his robe. "Yeah, man, take it off."

He flashes that trademark Booster grin, and then slowly backs away from the two. "It looks like you two have a bit of stuff to work out before anyone goes looking for the pot o' gold at the end of the rainbow, eh?"

He goes back to whistling that same Irish jig as he starts to make his way back to the exit from whence he came.

"I'll, uh, leave you two to that, then."

Joan Wright has posed:
You know Ted's screwed up when Joan tells him that Booster is right. The stern look remains as Ted's brain fumbles with the next succession of letters, expression not lightening until the name finally meets its completion.

And the robe is fully surrendered over.

She gets up, hugging the robe to her chest as she moves up to her tip toes to give Ted a quick peck on the cheek. "You're forgiven."

She turns, scooting to one of the guest bedrooms before Ted has a chance to change his mind. "Thanks Booster!"

Slam.