Back To.....Normal?- OTA

[time_schizo]

"Fix it

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[hunt_the_devil]

John had seen the others changed back to their adult forms as they headed past the mess hall and it had taken him little time to go in search of Martini. Spotting him lurking further up the corridor he grinned and bounded over, his clothing still swamping his body.

"I hear you've got some good news for us then?" He's made sure not to pester Martini about trying to 'fix this' but he had once of twice tried to find out if there was any chance of it being sorted soon. But now that he had seen others changed... well John wanted in on going back to normal!

[time_schizo]

Martini saw the miniature cowboy, sans hat, approaching him. There was a tired but satisfied smile on his face. "Word travels faster around then this camp than a gossipy pack of cheerleaders. Walk with me."

Martini headed for the kitchen. "I have been working overtime at putting people back right, and need food." Truth be told, he should have stopped about two people back, but Martini had never been a good judge of his own limitations. He pushed himself until he collapsed, it was just the way he was. Reaching the kitchen, he began searching the fridge for something with caffeine or sugar in it. He just needed a quick jolt, and then he'd be good for another few hours.

[hunt_the_devil]

John followed, tugging at his trousers as he made every effort not to trip, fall and teleport himself randomly across camp. He sat himself in one of the chairs listening to Martini before reaching into his pocket and dragging out a bag of half eaten mini tootsie rolls, a smaller packet of Goobers and slightly squished BabyRuth bar.

"My sweet tooth kicked in an' someone was kind enough to help me out. Or if this don't take your fancy there should be a jar of marshmallow fluff hidden in the furthest right hand cupboard, behind the vegetables." John had never really admitted to anyone before that he had a sweet tooth or that he too indulged in things from time to time. Nor had he given away the truth about Fred's secret stash of candies.

It was easy to see that Martini looked drained from sorting various people out so he wasn't going to push him to hurry up. Especially if there was a chance things could go wrong.

[time_schizo]

Martini looked the candies over, but found nothing that suited his fancy. Turning to the cupboards, he found the jar John had told him about. "Oooo, fluff! Gracias for the tip, amigo." Martini didn't bother with the formalities of a spoon. Instead, he stuck his whole hand in, vaguely resembling a bear with a pot of honey.

He began contentedly licking the sweet concoction off his fingers as he opened the door to the fridge with his non-sticky hand. Marshmallow fluff was delicious, but it also stuck to a person's mouth worse than peanut butter. Finding a soda, he sat down at the table, a little of the weariness showing on his face. "Now just to wait for the sugar to kick in."

[hunt_the_devil]

John was frowning a little at the way Martini ate but he made no comment, knowing it was better not to insult the only person who could help at this moment in time.

"Bet you'll be glad when everyone is back to the way they were before an' not pesterin' you... an' your... errr... boyfriend." John had no issues what so ever with couples of any kind in camp or in general. What he did mind was the noise and the way that the teenage Ric had been sulking over the last few days. That boy was a bigger drama queen than Wade.

[time_schizo]

Martini continued his rather uncouth method of eating. Table manners had never been his strong suit, or indeed manners of any kind. Blame it on being raised in a houseful of nuts.

"I will. I plan on maintaining a low profile after this whole crazy debacle is over." Martini paused to lick more fluff off his fingers. The sugar was going to kick in soon, he could feel it. Remembering Ric, he felt a slight pang of guilt. He still hadn't seen his boyfriend, busy as he had been with requests to change people back. He looked at one of his watches. "Just a few more minutes, then I'll change you back."

[hunt_the_devil]

"I doubt you could keep a low profile in all honesty Martini, I gotta say that trouble seems to follow you an' Julio around like shadows."

John leant back in the chair, his toes scuffing lightly on the ground as he swung his legs back and forth. The lack of table manners were starting to make John want to start lecturing but he still managed to keep quiet, instead looking everywhere else around the room but at Martini for the moment. He had sensibly changed into his adult trousers having remembered how the shift in ages had rendered most of his clothes useless.

"There's no rush to change me, you look like you needed a break anyway. How many you managed to change back already?"

[time_schizo]

"I don't go looking for trouble. Trouble just seems to find me."

He leaned in with both elbows on the table like he was at a poker game, oblivious to the fact his caveman way of eating was at all making John uncomfortable. He took a swig of orange soda to unglue his mouth, as he tried to think in terms of numbers and people. It was a very difficult process, and he eventually gave up. He waved off a hand at John's concern.

"I'll rest when I'm dead. Fuck if I know. A lot. Didn't realize I had affected like, two-thirds of the freaking camp. And I'm still not done."

[hunt_the_devil]

"Oh I can quite believe trouble comes lookin' for you. Anyway it seems like your powers are quite far reachin' then huh?" John opened up the bag of Goobers and started to munch away, far more politely and cleanly than Martini was but at this moment John couldn't resist his childish sweet tooth. It was starting to be almost as bad as when he'd been the size of Fred an unable to help himself from stuffin' his face all the time.

A real eye opener that had been.

"Well don't you go hurtin' yourself. I'd hate to think you'd ended up in the medical wing 'cause of the rest of that lot pesterin' you an' all." It was genuine concern, John really didn't like the thought of another mutant suffering because the others wanted things back to normal right then and there.

[time_schizo]

"Very much so. I've never tested it, but I can affect pretty much whomever I want within reason. From a military point of view, you can see why I'm an invaluable asset. Can you imagine what I could do to the army of an enemy if I really wanted to?" Martini licked his hand clean once again, smiling a little, but there wasn't humor behind it, just the insanity that ruled his mind. Then in a flash, it was gone, replaced by his usual warmth. "Too bad for 'em I happen to be far too self-centered to serve their petty whims."

He was tempted to roll his eyes at John's concern, but didn't. John was just trying to look out for him. "Yes, Mother. I'll take it easy." Martini could feel the sugar beginning to kick in as his fingers began to get twitchy. "Want to be changed back, cowboy?"

[hunt_the_devil]

John snorted at the mother remark, rolling his eyes but smiling all the same. They didn't call him the mother hen for nothing round here and he was only saying and doing these things in the best interests of the team.

"Damn right I am! I've been missin' my hat!" John pushed back the seat and stood up, unsure what he had to do to help out with the change. He smooth down his over sized shirt and shuffled his bootless feet back and forth on the floor.

"Is it gonna hurt?"

[time_schizo]

"Aw, poor hat. It must be lonely. That must be remedied."

Martini stood up, walking around to the other side of the table, and pushed John gently back into the seat. "If everyone else's reaction has been a clue, you'll want to be sitting down. It won't hurt, but it tends to leave people feeling a little disoriented." By the time he was done finishing that sentence, John was back to normal.

[hunt_the_devil]

"Wha..." John was cut off by the sudden rushing feeling, like the whole world was tilting on it's axis and spinning a little too fast for his taste. His eyes close and he breathes deep through his nose and out through his mouth. This feeling really isn't that much different to that he used to feel when he first learnt to teleport. Only difference is that he hasn't felt that weightless, stomach flipping feeling in a long time.

Finally opening his eyes John looks up at Martini and blinks slowly. He feels like he's back in the right proportions, he's aware of that fact that he can feel the rolled legs of his trousers that are currently at bunched at the knees and how his shirt is tucked in all kinda of wrong but at least he's... he's normal.

"Thank you Martini." John takes Martini's hand and firmly shakes it, a god honest smile on his face.