Oh what a beautiful morning!! - OTA

[hunt_the_devil]

Everything is just hunky-dory. The sky is a pastel shade of blue, the air is cool but fresh, it feels so good that you want to breathe in deep just to clear your head and up in the sky there are no more than a few wispy clouds. John knows right then and there that today, was going to be a good day

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[angelica_jinx]

Scratchy sheets and a thin spring mattress, did not a pleasant Angel make. She was too much of a sensory junkie to not feel every spring digging into her pressure points to not spend the whole night tossing and turning. Just like in Russia, she was sure she'd get used to it but for now the red head was looking rough.

It wasn't even just the dark smudges under her eyes. Until she got a little caffeine in her system, her hair stayed in the same floppy, messy bun she slept in while she burrowed into her oversized hoody and sipped the bitter coffee she did her best to dilute with sugar. Oh, she'd be sock bun perfection when it was time for formation but at breakfast Angel looked a hot mess.

[hunt_the_devil]

Setting into the seat opposite Angel John took pitty on the young woman and slid over his plate of hot buttered toast as some sort of 'sorry you had to get out of bed this morning' peace offering. So accustom to the early mornings was John that he really wasn't bothered by the demands and constraints of the camp. He'd lived by the military rules far longer than most of the other members and although he'd gotten used to the freedom he also knew how fickle Stryker or the other military representative could be.

"You alright there Angel?" John sipped at his equally bitter coffee, wondering why was it that no place seemed capable of spending just a little bit more on the decent stuff. At least the food wasn't bad and the portions were reasonable. As for the rooms? Well John had slept in tents and far worse so the beds weren't that much of a bother.

[angelica_jinx]

If it weren't so early, that toast would have looked and smelled amazing but it took a few hours for her tummy to adjust and eating anything solid would just make her nauseous the rest of the morning. Angel forced a little smile but shook her head. "Thanks anyway. I'm fine. Just a little tired. Why? Do I look really bad?" She asked patting down the rat's nest that was her hair before giving up and pulling her hood up.

"I don't usually go into public like this. I just really needed some coffee, you know?"

[hunt_the_devil]

"Naw, not really bad just... you look tired." Which was a polite way of saying that Angel looked like she had gone tend rounds with Mike Tyson the Bed and lost. Every single one. He's never be so rude as to say that though and he did so hate confrontation or anything stressful.

Smiling John pulled the plate of toast back over to himself and tucked into his food, chewing carefully and swallowing his mouthful before speaking up. "How are you settlin' in?"

Trust John to want to check up on the welfare of the team, mood calming and soothing as he watched her carefully.

[angelica_jinx]

Sinking a little deeper into her chair, she took a deep breath and looked at him. "I am tired. I was able to doctor up the bed in Japan so I could sleep but they are a lot more strict about contraband here. I'd kill for a mattress pad and some better sheets. Ooh. Or a bath. Hot water and bubbles up to my nose and maybe a scented candle. It's been so long since I've had a bath. I think the first day we're granted leave, that's what I'm going to do. Just me, a hotel room, and John Mayer set to repeat."

Angel took a sip of her coffee caught in her own soothing fantasy for a second before she returned to the conversation. "What about you? What would you do if you had leave?"

[hunt_the_devil]

That was a very good question actually. What would John do when he was eventually granted leave? He stared into his coffee, thinking the options open to him really, whilst many of the others were constricted by the transportation methods open to them off of the camp he could go where he liked.

"I'd probably go to the nearest big city or town an' do some shoppin'. Visit a bookstore, maybe find a place with like minded people to chat and then in the evenin' I'd find myself a nice ol' home cookin' bar with the decent stuff on tap an' settle myself in for the night." It was the simple things that appealed to John, just a few home comforts and he'd be happy - tasty food, good drink and decent company.

Though he wasn't about to mention he might also find himself a pretty lady to talk to and entertain. There were some things you just didn't share over breakfast.

[angelica_jinx]

There weren't too many people on this base as easily amused as Angel but John came pretty close. They didn't need big Japanese festivals or hurting people. All they needed was a little peace and quiet, pleasant conversation, and the room to roam. Angel smiled. Any tension she may have been feeling over a bad night's sleep slowly left her shoulders. "That sounds like a really nice day. I hope you get to do it soon. I hope we all do."

[hunt_the_devil]

"We can but hope, an' the same goes to you Angel." John sipped at his coffee, the food on his plate mostly gone now as the mess hall started to slowly fill with half asleep team members all hungry and in need of caffine.

"So how are you settlin' in otherwise?" John was wondering when the Captain was going to show his true colours and up the training schedule of the team because he got the distinct feeling that was all part of the plans. Wait till the team got comfortable and then bam! Shock them with a taste of the true military ways. Heck why else had they been provided with such a well stocked gym and training facility?

[angelica_jinx]

"I'm okay. I think I'm adjusting better than some. Every time it starts to feel a little claustrophobic, I tell myself it's like a really aggressive summer camp minus the lake and horseback riding." Angel replied with a little chuckle and drained the last of her coffee from her cup.

"I have a date with Logan." She blurted out, unsure why she brought it up. Though it was really only a matter of time that finally bubbled to the surface.

[hunt_the_devil]

Barely managing to stop himself from choking on his mouthful of coffee John swallows, spluttering and coughing into a hastily grabbed napkin. It wasn't so much the whole Angel dating Logan, it was the whole Logan being willing to date after the Jean saga.

"Really?! I mean! Not to be rude, you're a lovely young lady an' all but a date? With Logan? I wasn't even aware you two were interested in one another." Well, well it would be good to see his friend at least moving on with his life and Angel was a nice, wholesome young lady.

"When are you two goin' on this date then? If I can ask."

[angelica_jinx]

Angel bristled slightly by his surprise. Was it really so shocking that Logan would want to date her? Why not her?

"Yes really. We happen to be very interested in each other actually." She was trying really hard not to sound pouty or defensive but she wasn't doing that great of a job with it. Angel wasn't the world's best liar. What she felt had this annoying habit of being very plain on her face.

"I... actually, I'm not sure. I mean he asked me but he said he doesn't want to have it on base. He was going to talk to Stryker."

[hunt_the_devil]

"I didn't mean it like that Angel, I'm pleased. You're a decent person an' he deserves someone like you. I'm just surprised that Logan finally got the balls to do somethin' about movin' forward." He really hadn't meant to cause offence to Angel. It wasn't the thought of Logan dating Angel that surprised him, if anyone he'd picked a decent person. But it was the fact that Logan finally seemed to be getting his head around the idea of dating someone.

"Well I hope fer your sake that Stryker or the Captain or even Emma have the decency to allow you to go off camp. I can't see why they'd want to refuse you both as you're hardly the types to cause trouble."

[angelica_jinx]

Her face softened a little. She probably was just being defensive and reading too much into things. It was just that she knew most people's reactions would be one of shock. She wasn't with the team when everything with Jean went down but she'd heard enough about the woman not to be a little concerned with comparisons being made

[hunt_the_devil]

"Oh don't go worryin' about things like that. If Logan likes you, an' I get the feelin' from the way you talk that he does then he ain't gonna be movin' on. I suppose it won't hurt to try an' talk to Emma or the Captain about gettin' that time off of camp." It was a long shot John knew but Angel had never been one to break the rules and if she couldn't get time off camp granted then who could?!

John luckily would just teleport off if he really wanted, but that wasn't something he was about to broadcast to the rest of the team anytime soon.

If Angel asked about Jean around camp there would be mixed stories. Some liked her, others didn't and some just felt hurt that they'd been lured in like Logan and blinded to what she was really like. But yes, Angel was nothing like Jean in the manipulative and evil department.

Thankfully.

[angelica_jinx]

Angel cracked a smile when he tried to reassure her. It was always so easy for her to over think things but John had such a way about him that just put her at ease. "I'm sure we'll get the leave. Logan said that Stryker owed him vacation time from before. Plus, I've never really been in trouble and Logan just saved the day with that whole Daken situation. I'm sure you heard about it."