1677/A Quiet Night and Some Drinks

A Quiet Night and Some Drinks
Date of Scene:	15 May 2020
Location:	The Public House - Hellfire Club
Synopsis:	Jean, Ali, and Emma have girl time over beers and snacks.
Cast of Characters:	Emma Frost, Alison Blaire, Jean Grey

---

Emma Frost has posed:
The Public House is quiet this midweek evening. Emma Frost has grabbed a quiet, private table near the back for herself and Alison and Jean, where a pile of duck fat fried french fries (and a trio of dipping sauces: a spicy ketchup, a herb cream, and a horseradish mustard), a pile of hot wings (with the requisite blue cheese, ranch, and carrots and celery) in three different flavors, and a huge pile of nachos and their drinks already take the majority of the space on the table between them. Emma is already on her second beer of the night, grinning at the other women at the table.

"And then, I'm not kidding, Jean, Ali called him 'Fluffins'. In front of //everyone//. I thought Warren was going to sink through the floor."

Alison Blaire has posed:
Covering her face with her hands, Ali groans. "I was going to say Fluff'n'Stuff and like, my voice totally croaked out." She protests and looks over her fingers. "I call him the dumbest things. Chicken Little, Foghorn Leghorn, WingStop." Looking to Jean she adds "Honestly, it was like, a total flop." The singer explains hastily. "If Warren weren't so serious about this dating thing he might have left me then and there."

Jean Grey has posed:
Jean blinks, then laughs, "Fluffins???" She grins, having a rather thick-looking stout in a glass in front of her as she looks over at Alison, "I wish I could have seen //that//." She shakes her head, the redhead looking rather relaxed for a change. Just a girls night out with no worries about extinction or supervillains or any of that. She chuckles, "Well, Ali, if you're dating Warren I can probably be bribed into providing dirty secrets from his time as a student..." Since, well, she was in the First Class with him, after all.

Emma Frost has posed:
"They are so adorable," Emma laughs lightly. "Ali and Warren. I didn't really think either of you would settle down much at all, so..." she shrugs, taking a drink and then grabbing a couple of nachos. "How have you been, Jean? It's been a bit since I've seen you around. Keeping busy? How's the doctorate?"

Alison Blaire has posed:
"I will take all the dirty secrets. I never did stick around much at the school the first time I came across you all." Ali admits and looks to Emma sticking her tongue out. "We're not walking down the aisle or anything. Just dating." She points out and leans her elbows on the table to peer at Emma. "What about you and Alex? That's been looking pretty solid from the outside." She presses and curls her fingers around a lighter IPA. Looking to Jean she adds "And I'm so glad you came out. I am liking to getting to know other people from the school."

Jean Grey has posed:
Jean grins over at Emma, "I walk next week, as a matter of fact... which is something, I have to be honest. Never thought the day would come, but there it is." She chuckles, "Well, when Emma buys the drinks it's pretty hard to resist." She grins at Ali then, "Make sure to remind me about the essay incident. It definitely taught Warren a thing or two about ethics... and trust, for that matter." She can't help but snicker at the memory, taking another drink from her beer.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma blushes at Alison's question about Alex. "Um. It's... good. Maybe a little serious." She chugs a long swallow of beer. "Going to Aruba together to celebrate his dissertation being done... probably bringing him to have dinner with my parents soon." She turns to Jean, reaaaaalllllly wanting to avoid that subject! "Congratulations, Doctor Grey," she grins. "It's a big accomplishment."

Alison Blaire has posed:
"The essay incident?" Ali asks. "I assumed he was one of those closet nerds. His library at his place is all reference books and economics stuff." She huhs and reaches out to pat Jean's shoulder. "That's so great! Can we go watch you walk?" She asks and grins at the new grad. Sipping on her ale, Ali doesn't press about dinner with the folks but she gives Emma a little thumbs up of encouragement.

Jean Grey has posed:
Emma gets a sympathetic look from Jean at the mention of the parents, "Well, the dissertation should help with that, I think... and well, Doctor Grey, I like the sound of that." She grins and looks over at Alison, "Okay, so... Warren might put on an air of being very well learned, but he wasn't exactly the best student. And that first year, he bribed Hank McCoy to write an essay for him. Which, well, Hank did, because unlike Warren, we're /not/ rich. So... much to Warren's surprise, the Professor changed the report so that it would be delivered mentally." She snickers, "So Warren is just standing there, nary a thought in his birdy head." More laughter at that, as she still remembers the look on Hank's face when he told her.

Because OF COURSE HE DID.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma snickers. "Sounds like Warren. I'm sure he learned fast after that, though," she says. She picks at a couple of the wings, and as one of the waitstaff passes she gestures for another round all around. "And for all you say not serious, Ali, you're exclusive, and... that is something, considering." She grins a bit.

Alison Blaire has posed:
"Oh no! Oh poor Warren! I bet he must have panicked." Ali grins and chuckles at the tale Jean shares before looking to Emma and lifting her shoulders. "He's a good guy. I kind of need a good guy right now. Takes the sting off things not really settling between the Judge and I with my being a mutant and a singer." She rolls her eyes slightly.

Jean Grey has posed:
Jean chuckles, "Well, it turns out that Hank actually ratted out Warren's little scheme to the Prof." She pauses, then adds, "//AFTER// he cashed the check." She grins, "But yeah, Warren's a good guy, I'd vouch for him." She then sighs a bit, "Times were a bit simpler then, I think. And I'm not sure I'm ready for that exclusivity thing. I tried that once, and I got burned pretty hard, so... yeah, no thanks."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma bites her lower lip. "It's not that bad...." she protests Jean's comment about exclusivity. "I mean." Her cheeks flush again. "I... haven't seen an issue with it. It's fun. And... tiring."

She looks to Alison. "The Judge needs to get over it. You're fantastically successful. That should count for everything. And Warren is a good guy, for all the teasing we may give him otherwise." She glances to the side, then lowers her voice, asking surriptiously, "but does he have feathers... you know."

Alison Blaire has posed:
"We're not doing that either!" Ali says hastily and looks at Emma with alarm. "Not even on the agenda." She shakes her head vigorously and looks at Jean. "I'm sort of on the other swing. Keeping things casual I realized I had no one I could really call when I wanted someone to speak to more seriously. No one to help when I felt troubled. So...it's sort of nice being close to that feather head."

Jean Grey has posed:
Jean grins, "Well, I've just had some... bad experiences, so I'm perfectly fine with just staying casual. I have plenty of friends at the school, so that's all fine." She smiles a little bit, much like a cat that just caught a mouse, but doesn't elaborate on the look as she snarfs an overloaded nacho, chasing it down with a swallow of bear.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma giggles a bit at Alison. "I mean, normally I, too, would be in the 'not doing that either' club. But." She takes a swallow of beer. "Sometimes... being convinced otherwise is fun." She blinks too-innocently. "But yeah. Warren is a sensitive guy. It's good to have someone to talk to. Confide in." She smiles to herself a little bit. "Maybe it will happen for you, too, Jean. Someone you want to be uncasual with."

Alison Blaire has posed:
"Or not. As long as you never wake up feeling like you have no one. It's...the worst feeling." Alison sighs and helps herself to a few wings. Peeling some meat off she looks at Emma side long. "Is Alex considering moving in together or something? Must be serious." she teases gently. "Ah. I needed this. I am chasing my tail trying to come up with songs."

Jean Grey has posed:
Jean grins wryly at Emma, "Just don't try to sic Sebastian Shaw on me, okay? He's a little old for me, and... well, I'm not entirely sure I can trust him. Even though he is fairly handsome." She gives Emma a wry look, then chuckles, "Besides, I have... well, I'm not sure how uncasual we're being yet, but it's definitely nice so far."

Emma Frost has posed:
"No, no moving in," Emma shakes her head. "Though I think we spend more nights at his place or mine together than apart," she admits. She sighs softly. "Honestly, I sleep better that way. There's something comfortable about knowing he's right there..." she sighs a bit wistfully.

She looks to Jean. "Shaw? Oh, no. He's old, and I think... well, he's happy the way he is." She leans forward. "Ohhh? A mysterious lover then? Do tell."

Alison Blaire has posed:
"Shaw? Bleh. He needs someone...older." Ali makes a face and then looks at Jean intrigued. "So...a favorite? That's exciting." She murmurs and wiggles her shoulders. Looking to Emma Ali sips on her beer. "It's still pretty new and exciting when sleep overs happen. Not slipping out first thing is delightful."

Jean Grey has posed:
Jean grins, "Well, it's something that was building up for a while, and we just kinda... well, he's a good friend, and we haven't really locked into anything yet, but... it feels comfortable." She gives Emma a wry smile, "It's probably not who you expect, though."

Emma Frost has posed:
"I wouldn't know who to expect," Emma laughs to Jean. "Some of the folks at that school are... strange." She glances to Ali. "Wait, people just leave? Why would you even stay over if you're just going to leave?" She wrinkles her nose. "What's even the point then?"

Alison Blaire has posed:
"Hey look. I used to pick up guys at bars and clubs. I've skipped out on my share of dingy apartment rooms." Alison admits and tries to imagine who Jean might be interested in. She sighs and leans back in her seat. "You're a hard read, Jean. At least I can pick up on what Emma's thinking sometimes. Still. I hope things go well with you and your gentleman." She offers and looks to Emma. "Breakfast in your beau's shirt is only fun if you actually like them for more than a screw."

Jean Grey has posed:
Jean laughs softly, "Well, he does cook a pretty good breakfast..." She then flashes a grin at Emma, "It's Logan, actually. We've been good friends for a while, and well..." She smiles and shrugs, looking pretty happy about everything that's going on in /that/ regard.

Emma Frost has posed:
"Mm. Dingy apartments. Honestly, if Alex did move in, that would be one of the benefits-- getting him out of that rattrap." Emma makes a face. "He thinks my place is too sterile, though. I think it makes him uncomfortable a little." To be fair, her apartment //is// pure white and immaculately clean at all times. "Maybe there's a middle ground that I won't absolutely hate," she muses, swirling her beer in her glass a bit. "But if it happened, he'd be moving in with me here, either way. There's security here. Among other things."

Emma frowns at Jean. "Logan... I don't think he's one I've met yet." She tilts her head. "But if he's a pretty good guy, I'm all for it. Also, cooking breakfast is a plus."

Alison Blaire has posed:
"Logan? Really?" Ali's brows hike. "He doesn't seem like the type to get involved with people, he's always so gruff." She picks apart another wing and reaches for her IPA. Chewing thoughtfully, she looks to Emma and grins. "If Alex moves in with you you might have to allow for some color in your place. I mean, you used to have such a cute room back in the day!"

Jean Grey has posed:
Jean chuckles, "Gruff, well, if he doesn't know you. He's not exactly a people person, but he's actually a pretty caring soul once you dig down a bit." She smiles, and nods over towards Emma, "We're still feeling things out, but it does feel pretty good. He's definitely a step up from my previous dating history, that's for sure."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma scoffs at Alison. "It's adult now," she argues. "And perfectly managed." She looks to Jean, headtilting. "Gruff? Is he an older guy, then?" Oh man, Emma has //no// idea.

Alison Blaire has posed:
"Logan? Actually I don't know. He doesn't look /old/ but like, he's got the sort of face where-like George Clooney, he's gonna age nice. For a lumberjack. And so what if you're an adult now!" She rolls her eyes. Ali looks to Jean. "I'm glad. You guys have it rough at the school. I've been there only a bit and my head's spinning. So, you deserve a bit of good tlc."

Jean Grey has posed:
Jean chuckles, "He's... well, his healing factor keeps him somewhat young. Though he doesn't remember everything in his life. We have suspicions he's a bit older than he lets on, though. Not that you could tell." She blushes a bit at that, coughs, then adds, "But yes, he's been a bit of sanity in a pretty trying time, the past few months."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma blinks a little. "Oh. Huh." She shrugs. "Well, if you're happy, Jean, that's what's important." She grins, then looks thoughtful. "Maybe we all should-- Ali, you and Warren, me and Alex, and Jean and... Logan? ...do something together one night. It could be fun." She considers. "Dinner or drinks or some kind of social thing."

Alison Blaire has posed:
"Maybe a low-key social thing, like a cook out by the lake." Ali suggests to Emma. "I can't imagine Logan clubbing...and I'm not sure I want to. It's like imagining that grumpy old puppet in Mist Rogers Neighborhood clubbing." She notes with a little chuckle. "And the weather is getting nicer, so why not get some lake time in before it's over run by teenagers?" She points out and looks to Jean. "What do you think? Would Logan be interested in hanging out with all of us blonds? I promise we don't fit the sterotype when we're all together."

Jean Grey has posed:
Jean laughs, "Well, then that settles it, we'll have a cookout by the lake. We can actually host it at Logan's cabin. He won't mind... and well, if he /does/, I'll smooth it over with him." She smiles, looking a tad impish at that thought as she nods over towards Emma and Alison, "This sounds like it'll be fun."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma grins. "Its a date, then." She snags a couple more wings. "I will try and keep Alex from wearing some embarrassing loud summer print shirt," she says with a laugh.

Alison Blaire has posed:
"I'll let Warren know." Ali grins and looks at Emma. "Is that his thing? Oh man. Maybe I should make sure Warren doesn't wear anything weird too. He did wear sweats to a pool party. So, obviously he had to be knocked in. I can't imagine what he thinks you wear to a cook out." She fishes out her phone and looks at Jean. "I like that we're terrified our boyfriends are going to do something goofy and you seem cool as a cucumber about how Logan will take it."

Jean Grey has posed:
Jean chuckles, "Well, Logan can surprise you. I mean, he obviously did me." She smiles cheerfully, "And well, that's the nice thing about Logan, he's pretty stable, all things considered." Which seems like an odd thing to say, but compared to what she's used to... maybe not so much?

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma grins. "Text me, Jean, and let me know what we need to bring once we figure out the when," she says seriously. She looks to Ali. "Oh, god. Warren does that on purpose, though, to tweak people's noses. Alex I think just can't match colors or something." She snorts. "Men."

Alison Blaire has posed:
"Warren got so worked up over my insisting he had chicken legs under his suit he went out and bought jeans." Ali chuffs a soft laugh and picks up her glass, toying with it and texting one handed. "I like how he instantly assumed when I told him we were going on a group date that one of the couples was you and Alex, Emma. Maybe we should get places next door to each other." She toys with the idea and looks to Jean. "I probably can't crash at the school indefinitely."

Jean Grey has posed:
Jean gives Alison a sly look, "Well, you might, but we'd probably draft you into being a music teacher if you did." She chuckles a bit, shaking her head, "But it's fine, really. The purpose of the school is to be a haven in times of need, and you need. Besides, this keeps Warren out of trouble." She smiles wryly, "And I definitely don't mind, I'm sure no one else does either."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma tilts her head. "Do all of you really just stay there? I mean, I went to a boarding school, but it wasn't as... informal. As Xavier's seems to be."

Alison Blaire has posed:
"Well, I didn't go to school there, but I have been staying there for a few months." Ali admits and lifts a shoulder. "My old apartment wasn't safe once I came out and I needed time to re-evaluate things as a loud and proud mutant." She sets her glass down. "Home certainly wasn't an option."