(Untitled)

[daretodo]

We all have our origin stories. Ask most superheroes around the block, and they'll tell you they trained long and hard to get where they are now. Maybe they had their very own Mr. Miyagi or maybe they just had the time and resources to dedicate themselves to a life of having their kiester handed to them every other night of the week

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[nothingtomiss]

It has been, not to put too fine a point on it, a fucking bitch of a week. Everything has yet to settle, and Brad's weary, he's fucking bone weary. He's been staying at Terry's, avoiding his treehouse. Today's not looking much better. He's been for a run and he cuts through past the stage and, even though he's almost engaged to a girl he first came across in comic books, it's still jarring to see all of them there.

He slows but doesn't quite stop.

ooc: up to you who he gets? Jamie, maybe?

[howmanylives]

Freud once said that analysis does not set out to make pathological reactions impossible, but to give the patient's ego freedom to decide one way or another. Decision-making's never been a strong suit of mine, admittedly, but my ego's a different beast entirely, incurring a physical, gut reaction each and every time I cross paths with Sergeant Brad Colbert. The ship's long since sailed for Theresa and I -- and even if it hadn't, I have Layla, now, much as it's possible to have anyone -- but jealousy isn't known for its rationality.

"Didn't your mother ever teach you it's rude to stare?" asked Jamie, casting a wary glance over at Terry's Marine boy toy. He was glad, suddenly, that he'd left the dog at home. Terriers weren't known for boosting a man's intimidation factor.

[nothingtomiss]

"My Mother is a California hippy," says Brad, mildly enough, his face not changing as he slows down to a halt. He doesn't know why he keeps trying to talk to Jamie Madrox; maybe it's for Terry's sake.

"she wasn't terribly big on rules."

[howmanylives]

I almost tell him my mother is dead, but the less comparisons I draw to Batman, the better. It's bad enough I'm dating my erstwhile teenage sidekick.

"So you joined one of the most hierarchical institutions known to man to make up for a lawless childhood," he said in turn, giving Colbert a wide berth as he passed him. "Fascinating."

[getemtiger]

"What's that, Tiger?" Mary Jane asked, walking up in time to hear him speak but not to catch the words, resting a hand on his shoulder and ducking down to press a kiss to his cheek before she sat down beside him. As a rule, she never spent a whole lot of time around the stage, reminded too much of the one thing she could never have here, but with Peter already there, it was an entirely different story. Joining him was pure instinct, her teeth pressed to her lower lip as she smiled up at him. "What're you doing out here?"

[daretodo]

A smile tugs at the corners of my mouth as I turn to look at her, any earlier signs of serious thought fading from my expression. Not everything with Mary Jane has been easy, but moments like this, it's all too simple to forget about that fact in favor another, more welcome distraction.

"The speeches are soon," I say, flipping my now blank pad over so that the cardboard backing's on top. "I thought maybe getting out here would give me some inspiration, but so far all I've done is doodle."

[getemtiger]

"Oh, am I interrupting?" Mary Jane asked quickly, her eyes widening. That she had taken a seat with the intention of spending time with him was obvious, but this whole council thing had come to mean enough to her that the last thing she wanted was to interfere. Maybe he hadn't gotten anything written so far, but that didn't mean it was going to stay the case. Gesturing back over her shoulder in the direction she'd come from with a thumb, she said, "'Cause I can go, if you wanted quiet or something. I don't want to distract you too much."

[daretodo]

"Better you than Madrox and Mini Hawkeye," I say, shaking my head in response to her question. She is interrupting -- that goes without saying -- but it's not like I mind, either. I've been known to drag my heels in the sand before, and this is no different. The speech'll be written in due time -- whether due time's on the fly remains to be seen. "Stay. Please."

[butterflyfactor]

Layla was taking a walk with Richards, because Jamie's days seemed to be filling up and she wasn't about to leave the terrier alone in the hut with her exceedingly precious collection of acceptable clothing.

Jamie appeared from around a tree and her eyebrows lifted a little, which for Layla on a normal day was tantamount to a smile.

"You look disheveled."

[howmanylives]

Times like this, I wonder if I should lay on the romance -- tell her she looks radiant, as always -- but all this time later, I'm still feeling us out, uncertain as ever just what sort of couple we really are. We're as much of a puzzle together as she is on her own.

"Crazy disheveled or just... disheveled disheveled?" he asked, self-consciously patting down his hair. "I have an appointment with Doc Reid, and I'd rather if he didn't think I'd regressed."

[butterflyfactor]

"Not-Crazy disheveled," she reassured him, strolling to a stop in front of him and hooking her thumbs in her pockets.

"Outdoorsy-disheveled. It's not bad."

[howmanylives]

"I can handle not bad," he decided after a prolonged pause, and he stepped in, then, to kiss Layla on the cheek, one hand lifting briefly to cup her jaw before he lowered it back to his side. Gaze dropping down to Richards, he added, "Has he been good?"

[dinnerfor1_girl]

"With great responsibility comes a friend who likes that sort of thing and lists," Sally harrumphed as she overheard the man, butting in even though she wasn't necessarily asked to contribute. "Honestly. Most irresponsible people I've met just make someone else clean up the mess."

[daretodo]

"That... would be the definition of being irresponsible, yes," I say slowly, looking at the woman with a curious expression that all too plainly reads who asked you? I school it soon enough, though, not wanting to alienate any potential voters -- and the fact that that thought even occurs to me is enough to give me pause. "Though, uh, speaking as a generally responsible person, I can't say I've ever been a fan of making lists."

[dinnerfor1_girl]

"My friend from home, Susan? She's a list-maker. I'm fairly sure she thinks it makes the world right or something like that, the sort of nonsense that a person can come up with," she said dismissively, eyeing the man and then the crutches. "What happened to your leg?"

[daretodo]

"Remember that psychopath back in January?" I say, casting a glance over at the crutches with a frown. Only a few more days, and then the whole kit and caboodle comes off, but until then, I have to make do. Not waiting for her to respond -- at the rate people come and go, here, I wouldn't be surprised if her answer was a resounding no, anyway -- I continue. "I was one of the last guys to see him alive."

[asinglechange]

"Kate! Wait up!" Alice calls, half-running half-skipping as she diverts in her temporarily chosen path to fall into step with her friend. She casts a quick look in the direction that she had come from, her smiling face falling into one of mild confusion at the sight of the guy who has clearly seen better days.

"Someone got into something he wasn't supposed to," she comments with a shake of her head. "It's like playing with matches, some people never learn."

[forhawkeye]

"Who, Peter?" I ask, twisting to glance back over my shoulder before turning my attention to the path in front of us. I ignore the twinge of pain that flares up in my neck from the gesture -- maybe I'll ask Nate for a massage later. I could use one.

"I don't know, I think I could probably qualify for the never learns award today."

[asinglechange]

"That's his name? Then yeah, him."

Alice used to be very good at getting into things she wasn't meant to. She also used to be very good at keeping herself unbroken when that happened.

Arching an eyebrow she turns her full attention on her friend. "Would you? For what exactly or is it nothing new?"

[forhawkeye]

"I just got my butt kicked by an X-Men reject," I say, annoyed at myself more so than at Alice. I mean, it's not like she did anything wrong. "I did that thing where I thought I was awesome and it ended up blowing up in my face again."

At least this time I didn't lose my bow, but I should've listened when he told me he used to be a ninja.