Log: Madin, Arthur and Ben
Mar. 10th, 2023 03:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsIn which Madin's driving is terrible, Ben is justifiably worried and Arthur probably is lucky because no-one crashed the car. Backdated to 10 March.
Madin bounced on their feet as they took in the garage and the pool cars. "Holy shit, man, this is awesome." They sobered for a moment and looked over at Arthur. "And you said I can borrow any of them, right?" The mansion was more or less out in the middle of nowhere and yeah, Madin had spent enough time looking over maps that they were confident they could get to the nearest big town if anything went wrong - nothing is going to go wrong! - but it was good to know there were cars they could use if they really had to leave. Or just needed to get a coffee.
The honest grin that spread over Arthur's face only matched the promise in his tone as he perked up, eyes bright. "We 'can,'" and he leaned on that word conspiratorially, "take 'any' one you want." He winked, with a twinkle in his eye. Why did the man wink? Was that a literal twinkle? Mysterties.
"Well," Arthur conceded with the tiniest shrug, "Any ride that you and our missing orientation adventure buddy can agree on."
And as if summoned, Ben appeared in the garage doorway with his backpack, shoulders hunched and hands shoved into his pockets. To Madin he gave a partial nod, but as his eyes found Arthur a brow raised. “You the car guy? We going somewhere, right? Or you teach driving? I didn’t really understand what they were saying.” The longer he spoke, the more it became a mumble before finally he stopped, looking to Madin as if they knew what he was trying to say.
Madin nodded. "Yeah, that's Arthur. He's the car guy. But I'm driving." Survey finished, Madin grabbed the keys to an SUV. "We're going in to New York. You know there's a whole mutant town in Manhattan? And these rich arseholes are sitting here in like, luxury." The car started like a dream when Madin got in. "Anyway, we're going to meet them, get to know our kind."
Arthur gave an appropriately cheerful wave to Match, beaming, as Madin's frantic pace swept the two of them into their car of choice. He had, like a gentleman, let Match pick his seat before enthusiastically pointing out, "this is a beautiful choice. A whipple supercharger. Five hundred horsepower. Scott, serious... ly wonderful guy in charge, knows how to pick something that can move."
"Now tell me," and this was pointed directly at Madin, "Where did you learn to drive? It really says a lot about a person. Either of you! Both!"
Arthur shifted back a little in his seat, picture-perfect pleasant, eager to hear of these kids' adventures.
"My grandma taught me," Ben's voice was a little clearer, from the seat behind Arthur, as he zipped and unzipped the front pocket of his backpack. "In Chicago. So, ya know, standard three lane change and yellow means there's still time to get into the intersection."
Madin took the comment as a dig at their driving. "Um. My mates and I, back when I was a kid. We'd like, run amok. Get cars and shit and just drive around all night." They breaked harder this time, coming into an intersection and continued. "Then later, I guess I was travelling and stuff and we did a lot of offroading."
"Oh wow," and clearly if Madin had shown any affront it clearly didn't register, "That brings me back to growing up by the mountains. Take some bikes or buggies out to the flatland and mess around." Arthur considered for a breath, "We admittedly did a lot crazier with a lot more when I was in my Hollywood phase, but there's nothing like having time, no road, and nowhere to be."
Madin looked over, eyes completely off the road for a moment and stared at him. "Your Hollywood phase." Like that was something normal. An oncoming car appeared and they swerved slightly, staying on the right side of the line.
Ben stared at the back of Arthur's head in wonder as he tested the words out himself, though they went unspoken, for a brief moment he even looked to Madin in confusion before it dawned on him that, well, they were driving. "What's a Hollywood phase?" He finally asked, one hand coming up to clutch the handle above him. "'s that your name? Like, some people got codenames and you're Hollywood?"
For this, Ben was rewarded with a direct, no filter 'insert "ping!' sound effect' smile as the older man turned to speak to him directly. "Well, my mutant name is Longshot. I cheated just a little since I used that nickname back when I had a television show, but before that I did a lot of stunt work in movies. Lots of crazy, stupidly wonderful nonsense with cars and burning buildings and talking dogs." That last bit has a definite twinge of nostalgia attached to it, like Arthur was going to pull out a canteen and toast to the good old days.
"Mostly the codenames are for the spies and the superhero types. We don't bother with those at XFi so much."
Madin was almost willing to forgive him the flirting. "That's so cool, though. What's it lii----" they trailed off, staring at an upcoming traffic sign in vague terror. "What the fuck does that thing do?" Madin asked, breaking hard before hitting the horn to warn oncoming cars and just sailing on through a four way stop.
"Jesus Christ, my dude!" Ben shouted, temperature spiking out from him as he held his backpack to his chest like it could stop anything from happening. He'd fallen into a string of cursing, before laughing. "I can't believe you just did that."
Madin turned to look over their shoulder at him. "Did what?" They swerved again and corrected it.
"Don't worry," Arthur reassured without a worry in the world despite the sudden driving or the sudden heat, "It turns out every single Australian I've ever known is immune to stop signs. It is a time honored tradition."
He turned back to Madin. "You were saying?"
"That was a stop sign?" Oh well, too late now. "I never really drove in cities much. I mean, when we'd like, get cars and go driving but mostly it's. I don't know. Offroading and in the..." Madin trailed off. "bush when I was in Africa. I didn't drive in the cities there but, cos like, mostly we were nnngh." The traffic was increasing slightly and the cars behind were driving closer than they preferred. "Fuck off cunts," they muttered.
Admitting defeat came hard but Madin pulled over to the side of the road. "Um."
Match forced himself back to what seemed to be normal temperatures, pulling at the neckline of his shirt. There was the urge to parrot Madin, their phrases, as a grin spread across his face. He looked expectantly to Arthur. "Can I drive the rest of the way?"
"I'm not driving anymore. Everyone here drives like an arsehole," Madin muttered.
"I'm told that's of the New York charm," Arthur supplied helpfully before focusing fully on Ben. "Now that sounds like an adventure, but did you sort out your license or learner's permit before we left?"
Madin cut in before he could answer. "He doesn't need one. It's a human tool designed to oppress mutants and further disenfranchise us. We can refuse to follow human laws that only make things harder for mutants."
This earned Madin a slow blink. "That's very forward thinking and I see you." Then Arthur's attention went back to Ben, punctuated by a patient smile.
Madin bounced on their feet as they took in the garage and the pool cars. "Holy shit, man, this is awesome." They sobered for a moment and looked over at Arthur. "And you said I can borrow any of them, right?" The mansion was more or less out in the middle of nowhere and yeah, Madin had spent enough time looking over maps that they were confident they could get to the nearest big town if anything went wrong - nothing is going to go wrong! - but it was good to know there were cars they could use if they really had to leave. Or just needed to get a coffee.
The honest grin that spread over Arthur's face only matched the promise in his tone as he perked up, eyes bright. "We 'can,'" and he leaned on that word conspiratorially, "take 'any' one you want." He winked, with a twinkle in his eye. Why did the man wink? Was that a literal twinkle? Mysterties.
"Well," Arthur conceded with the tiniest shrug, "Any ride that you and our missing orientation adventure buddy can agree on."
And as if summoned, Ben appeared in the garage doorway with his backpack, shoulders hunched and hands shoved into his pockets. To Madin he gave a partial nod, but as his eyes found Arthur a brow raised. “You the car guy? We going somewhere, right? Or you teach driving? I didn’t really understand what they were saying.” The longer he spoke, the more it became a mumble before finally he stopped, looking to Madin as if they knew what he was trying to say.
Madin nodded. "Yeah, that's Arthur. He's the car guy. But I'm driving." Survey finished, Madin grabbed the keys to an SUV. "We're going in to New York. You know there's a whole mutant town in Manhattan? And these rich arseholes are sitting here in like, luxury." The car started like a dream when Madin got in. "Anyway, we're going to meet them, get to know our kind."
Arthur gave an appropriately cheerful wave to Match, beaming, as Madin's frantic pace swept the two of them into their car of choice. He had, like a gentleman, let Match pick his seat before enthusiastically pointing out, "this is a beautiful choice. A whipple supercharger. Five hundred horsepower. Scott, serious... ly wonderful guy in charge, knows how to pick something that can move."
"Now tell me," and this was pointed directly at Madin, "Where did you learn to drive? It really says a lot about a person. Either of you! Both!"
Arthur shifted back a little in his seat, picture-perfect pleasant, eager to hear of these kids' adventures.
"My grandma taught me," Ben's voice was a little clearer, from the seat behind Arthur, as he zipped and unzipped the front pocket of his backpack. "In Chicago. So, ya know, standard three lane change and yellow means there's still time to get into the intersection."
Madin took the comment as a dig at their driving. "Um. My mates and I, back when I was a kid. We'd like, run amok. Get cars and shit and just drive around all night." They breaked harder this time, coming into an intersection and continued. "Then later, I guess I was travelling and stuff and we did a lot of offroading."
"Oh wow," and clearly if Madin had shown any affront it clearly didn't register, "That brings me back to growing up by the mountains. Take some bikes or buggies out to the flatland and mess around." Arthur considered for a breath, "We admittedly did a lot crazier with a lot more when I was in my Hollywood phase, but there's nothing like having time, no road, and nowhere to be."
Madin looked over, eyes completely off the road for a moment and stared at him. "Your Hollywood phase." Like that was something normal. An oncoming car appeared and they swerved slightly, staying on the right side of the line.
Ben stared at the back of Arthur's head in wonder as he tested the words out himself, though they went unspoken, for a brief moment he even looked to Madin in confusion before it dawned on him that, well, they were driving. "What's a Hollywood phase?" He finally asked, one hand coming up to clutch the handle above him. "'s that your name? Like, some people got codenames and you're Hollywood?"
For this, Ben was rewarded with a direct, no filter 'insert "ping!' sound effect' smile as the older man turned to speak to him directly. "Well, my mutant name is Longshot. I cheated just a little since I used that nickname back when I had a television show, but before that I did a lot of stunt work in movies. Lots of crazy, stupidly wonderful nonsense with cars and burning buildings and talking dogs." That last bit has a definite twinge of nostalgia attached to it, like Arthur was going to pull out a canteen and toast to the good old days.
"Mostly the codenames are for the spies and the superhero types. We don't bother with those at XFi so much."
Madin was almost willing to forgive him the flirting. "That's so cool, though. What's it lii----" they trailed off, staring at an upcoming traffic sign in vague terror. "What the fuck does that thing do?" Madin asked, breaking hard before hitting the horn to warn oncoming cars and just sailing on through a four way stop.
"Jesus Christ, my dude!" Ben shouted, temperature spiking out from him as he held his backpack to his chest like it could stop anything from happening. He'd fallen into a string of cursing, before laughing. "I can't believe you just did that."
Madin turned to look over their shoulder at him. "Did what?" They swerved again and corrected it.
"Don't worry," Arthur reassured without a worry in the world despite the sudden driving or the sudden heat, "It turns out every single Australian I've ever known is immune to stop signs. It is a time honored tradition."
He turned back to Madin. "You were saying?"
"That was a stop sign?" Oh well, too late now. "I never really drove in cities much. I mean, when we'd like, get cars and go driving but mostly it's. I don't know. Offroading and in the..." Madin trailed off. "bush when I was in Africa. I didn't drive in the cities there but, cos like, mostly we were nnngh." The traffic was increasing slightly and the cars behind were driving closer than they preferred. "Fuck off cunts," they muttered.
Admitting defeat came hard but Madin pulled over to the side of the road. "Um."
Match forced himself back to what seemed to be normal temperatures, pulling at the neckline of his shirt. There was the urge to parrot Madin, their phrases, as a grin spread across his face. He looked expectantly to Arthur. "Can I drive the rest of the way?"
"I'm not driving anymore. Everyone here drives like an arsehole," Madin muttered.
"I'm told that's of the New York charm," Arthur supplied helpfully before focusing fully on Ben. "Now that sounds like an adventure, but did you sort out your license or learner's permit before we left?"
Madin cut in before he could answer. "He doesn't need one. It's a human tool designed to oppress mutants and further disenfranchise us. We can refuse to follow human laws that only make things harder for mutants."
This earned Madin a slow blink. "That's very forward thinking and I see you." Then Arthur's attention went back to Ben, punctuated by a patient smile.
