Madin & Mel | Friday Night
Jun. 7th, 2024 09:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
xp_aero posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
xp_logsBackdated to June 7th. Madin and Mel have a drink and a chat.
Madin had attempted to memory hole their new knowledge but hadn't been able to. It was just. It was too much. And Mel had taste. Couldn't be true, right? It had to just be transactional.
But the gossip in them couldn't resist getting confirmation. They had a six pack of beers in one hand as they knocked on the door to Mel's suite.
Taste and Mel should never really be uttered in the same sentence, as evidenced by her state upon opening the door. She’d just gotten back from what rivaled The Abandoned School Incident for worst first date ever, and zeroed in on the beer the other mutant held. Lord knew she needed it.
“Madin, hey! Come on in, good t’see ya!” She led them into the suite as she awkwardly attempted to undo her heels. “Lemme jus’ go change an’ then we can hang, yeah?” Not waiting for much of a response, Mel hurried to her room to get out of the cute, but terribly uncomfortable, dress she was wearing and emerged a few minutes later in significantly less makeup and an oversized hoodie.
She smiled, albeit a bit awkwardly. “Hi, sorry. What brings ya ‘round? Dunno when Paige is gettin’ back but we can stay out here or go in my room?”
"Sure," Madin said, wandering in and sitting on the sofa in the suite's common room. They cracked open a beer. "How's it going?"
“Oh, y’know,” Mel gestured vaguely, helping herself to a beer. “It’s goin’. Work an’ trainin’ an’ dates an’ all that. You?”
"Same. Working, training with the X-Men, sleeping. It's been a lot. Now, who is the date with?"
“X-Men? That’s exciting! Happy fer you,” she exclaimed before draping herself over one arm rest of the couch. “It was awful. She’s from the DX? Green hair, horns?” A bit awkward if Madin knew her, but Mel continued anyways. “I gotta stop usin’ dating apps. Truly the trenches.”
Madin shook their head. "I don't think I know her but seriously, you should know the dating pool is... It's bleak is what it is. It's all chasers and people with issues or flatscan pleasers."
Mel sighed. “Yeah… somehow I’ve managed to have worse luck here in New York City than back home with population of no one. An’ I know I have it easier than most mutants ‘cause I pass or whatever but I still don’ feel comfortable dating normies anymore? Safety wise. An’ it’s not like I can even hook up with ‘em without commitment cause…!” Okay Madin probably didn’t need to know that detail. She took a long sip of her beer. “Jus’ not in the cards for me, I guess.” A flush crept up her neck. “Sorry, that’s a bit much.”
Madin shrugged. "I'm not here to judge. I mean, I am, but not that. It's not like you can date here at the mansion." That was pure bait. Mel damn well was dating at the mansion.
If Mel caught on to said bait, she wasn’t letting Madin get anything that easily.“I would be open to it I think, jus’ don’t know anyone who’s interested in me like that here.”
"Not even Wazza?"
“Who?!” Mel sputtered, halfway through another sip of beer.
"Wings, rich, kind of a dick. Pretty old, in a sort of hot dad way."
“Oh my God, I will pay you to call Warren that to his face.” There wasn’t any surprise attached to finding out that Madin knew, because honestly who wasn’t all up in her business these days, but definitely a tinge of embarrassment. “An’ we ain’t dating, jus’ foolin’ around.”
"But, Warren? For free?" Madin scoffed. "I'm not judging but like, you can do better than an entitled wanna be human passer. At least pick someone that's not ashamed of who they are."
Mel raised an eyebrow. “Hon, I wouldn’t be continuing on with him if better was lookin’ my way. He’s rich, he’s hot, he lets me sit on his face. I could do worse- an’ trust me, I have.”
Madin looked down at their beer. "He spends his whole life pretending to be something he's not. He's fucking coward."
“He may not be ‘out an’ proud’, but he provides a space fer other t’be. My brother? Jay? He works fer him and has his wings out at the office an’ events. War isn’t ashamed to be represented by visible mutants.” And what a life she led where she was actually defending Warren Worthington the Third.
Mel downed the rest of her beer and placed the empty can on the coffee table, snagging another. She opened it with a pop. “Why’re ya so twisted on this anyways? Didn’t realize the morality of my sexual partners was so important t’you.”
Madin shrugged. "It's not. I mean, I just. I don't have a lot of time for someone who could do a lot of good for our community except he keeps his wings hidden." This was starting to sound Brotherhoody. He could do what he damn wanted.
"Anyway, it's fine. I'm sorry. I'm being a dick."
Contrary to popular belief, Mel wasn’t exactly having that much time for him, but she waved them off. “Whatever, yer welcome to your opinions. Cain’t be any worse than my siblings have been.” She sighed at that and sunk lower into the couch.
“Enough about my terrible awful no good life, how’re things with you? Tell me about the X-Men? If yer allowed, that is. Or anythin’ else, really.” Another graceful topic change by Melody Guthrie.
Madin grabbed onto the topic change like a life raft. "It's. Um. So much basic PT and studying and then getting my arse kicked multiple times a week. I thought I was in shape but I'm not. Then, when I'm not training, I'm so damn tired I can't even. It's like my whole life is eating, sleeping, training and praying no one fucking breaks shit around here that I have to fix."
She hummed commiseratively, thinking about the training with Namor she had to wake up early for in the morning. “Hm, yeah. Are ya enjoyin’ it at least? Is it like… rewarding?”
"It is. It's like, you ever think about what if you could make a difference in the world?" They didn't want to sound like a zealot but were aware they might, if they kept talking. "I could legit make a difference with the X-Men, once I get through their version of basic training."
“I get that, bein’ a part of somethin’ more than yerself an’ all that.” She fiddled with the tab of her beer can contemplatively. “I’ve been thinking about it, ever since….”
"Ever since what, babe?"
And there she’d gone, running her mouth and bringing up another topic she’d wanted to avoid. Mel stared at her hands. “That stupid video game. It put some things into… perspective. Like what am I even doin’ with my life?!”
Nothing good, really.
“Dunno. The idea of a team is nice. People you can depend on to help in a situation like that. Being the one to help.”
"Yeah. It is. It's good to know we're going to make a difference." Madin looked at her speculatively. "Thinking about joining up?"
Mel shrugged. “Maybe, if they’d have me. Long ways ‘till that inquiry though. I still ain’t sure.” She sighed and stretched out a bit, before tucking her feet beneath her. “M’glad yer likin’ it. Hopefully it continues to go well.”
"Thanks." That was a dismissal if Madin had ever heard one. "I should go."
“It was real nice t’see you again.” That felt weird- why did she always make it weird with Madin?
This whole conversation was proof that Madin was just too damn broken and fucked up to ever really fit in with the normal mutants. Oh, Illyana? Sure, she was a demon queen but things didn't get weird. Hope was a kid but after the future apocalypse shit, anything was fine. Jono? Mel, Ashley, Nica, they were all so fundamentally normal at first and underneath and every time Madin tried with them, they messed it up.
Couldn't even talk to a cute girl without making it too weird for words. Madin waved goodbye and started out the door.
Was it the mansion? Was this place turning her into the most socially inept version of herself? Probably. A tad bit desperate, Mel called out, “Hey, wait, we should do something. Sometime. I work in SoHo, if yer ‘round in the city we could get coffee? Lunch maybe?” Surely a change of scenery was all that was required to shake her out of this funk.
"Like, lunch-lunch? in a restaurant? Yeah. That's like, so fancy. Let's do that. I don't ever go to restaurants. But yeah, lets."
Something fluttered in her chest, and Mel beamed. “Great. I’ll text you an’ we can figure somethin’ out?”
"Yeah, thanks. I'd like that."
Madin had attempted to memory hole their new knowledge but hadn't been able to. It was just. It was too much. And Mel had taste. Couldn't be true, right? It had to just be transactional.
But the gossip in them couldn't resist getting confirmation. They had a six pack of beers in one hand as they knocked on the door to Mel's suite.
Taste and Mel should never really be uttered in the same sentence, as evidenced by her state upon opening the door. She’d just gotten back from what rivaled The Abandoned School Incident for worst first date ever, and zeroed in on the beer the other mutant held. Lord knew she needed it.
“Madin, hey! Come on in, good t’see ya!” She led them into the suite as she awkwardly attempted to undo her heels. “Lemme jus’ go change an’ then we can hang, yeah?” Not waiting for much of a response, Mel hurried to her room to get out of the cute, but terribly uncomfortable, dress she was wearing and emerged a few minutes later in significantly less makeup and an oversized hoodie.
She smiled, albeit a bit awkwardly. “Hi, sorry. What brings ya ‘round? Dunno when Paige is gettin’ back but we can stay out here or go in my room?”
"Sure," Madin said, wandering in and sitting on the sofa in the suite's common room. They cracked open a beer. "How's it going?"
“Oh, y’know,” Mel gestured vaguely, helping herself to a beer. “It’s goin’. Work an’ trainin’ an’ dates an’ all that. You?”
"Same. Working, training with the X-Men, sleeping. It's been a lot. Now, who is the date with?"
“X-Men? That’s exciting! Happy fer you,” she exclaimed before draping herself over one arm rest of the couch. “It was awful. She’s from the DX? Green hair, horns?” A bit awkward if Madin knew her, but Mel continued anyways. “I gotta stop usin’ dating apps. Truly the trenches.”
Madin shook their head. "I don't think I know her but seriously, you should know the dating pool is... It's bleak is what it is. It's all chasers and people with issues or flatscan pleasers."
Mel sighed. “Yeah… somehow I’ve managed to have worse luck here in New York City than back home with population of no one. An’ I know I have it easier than most mutants ‘cause I pass or whatever but I still don’ feel comfortable dating normies anymore? Safety wise. An’ it’s not like I can even hook up with ‘em without commitment cause…!” Okay Madin probably didn’t need to know that detail. She took a long sip of her beer. “Jus’ not in the cards for me, I guess.” A flush crept up her neck. “Sorry, that’s a bit much.”
Madin shrugged. "I'm not here to judge. I mean, I am, but not that. It's not like you can date here at the mansion." That was pure bait. Mel damn well was dating at the mansion.
If Mel caught on to said bait, she wasn’t letting Madin get anything that easily.“I would be open to it I think, jus’ don’t know anyone who’s interested in me like that here.”
"Not even Wazza?"
“Who?!” Mel sputtered, halfway through another sip of beer.
"Wings, rich, kind of a dick. Pretty old, in a sort of hot dad way."
“Oh my God, I will pay you to call Warren that to his face.” There wasn’t any surprise attached to finding out that Madin knew, because honestly who wasn’t all up in her business these days, but definitely a tinge of embarrassment. “An’ we ain’t dating, jus’ foolin’ around.”
"But, Warren? For free?" Madin scoffed. "I'm not judging but like, you can do better than an entitled wanna be human passer. At least pick someone that's not ashamed of who they are."
Mel raised an eyebrow. “Hon, I wouldn’t be continuing on with him if better was lookin’ my way. He’s rich, he’s hot, he lets me sit on his face. I could do worse- an’ trust me, I have.”
Madin looked down at their beer. "He spends his whole life pretending to be something he's not. He's fucking coward."
“He may not be ‘out an’ proud’, but he provides a space fer other t’be. My brother? Jay? He works fer him and has his wings out at the office an’ events. War isn’t ashamed to be represented by visible mutants.” And what a life she led where she was actually defending Warren Worthington the Third.
Mel downed the rest of her beer and placed the empty can on the coffee table, snagging another. She opened it with a pop. “Why’re ya so twisted on this anyways? Didn’t realize the morality of my sexual partners was so important t’you.”
Madin shrugged. "It's not. I mean, I just. I don't have a lot of time for someone who could do a lot of good for our community except he keeps his wings hidden." This was starting to sound Brotherhoody. He could do what he damn wanted.
"Anyway, it's fine. I'm sorry. I'm being a dick."
Contrary to popular belief, Mel wasn’t exactly having that much time for him, but she waved them off. “Whatever, yer welcome to your opinions. Cain’t be any worse than my siblings have been.” She sighed at that and sunk lower into the couch.
“Enough about my terrible awful no good life, how’re things with you? Tell me about the X-Men? If yer allowed, that is. Or anythin’ else, really.” Another graceful topic change by Melody Guthrie.
Madin grabbed onto the topic change like a life raft. "It's. Um. So much basic PT and studying and then getting my arse kicked multiple times a week. I thought I was in shape but I'm not. Then, when I'm not training, I'm so damn tired I can't even. It's like my whole life is eating, sleeping, training and praying no one fucking breaks shit around here that I have to fix."
She hummed commiseratively, thinking about the training with Namor she had to wake up early for in the morning. “Hm, yeah. Are ya enjoyin’ it at least? Is it like… rewarding?”
"It is. It's like, you ever think about what if you could make a difference in the world?" They didn't want to sound like a zealot but were aware they might, if they kept talking. "I could legit make a difference with the X-Men, once I get through their version of basic training."
“I get that, bein’ a part of somethin’ more than yerself an’ all that.” She fiddled with the tab of her beer can contemplatively. “I’ve been thinking about it, ever since….”
"Ever since what, babe?"
And there she’d gone, running her mouth and bringing up another topic she’d wanted to avoid. Mel stared at her hands. “That stupid video game. It put some things into… perspective. Like what am I even doin’ with my life?!”
Nothing good, really.
“Dunno. The idea of a team is nice. People you can depend on to help in a situation like that. Being the one to help.”
"Yeah. It is. It's good to know we're going to make a difference." Madin looked at her speculatively. "Thinking about joining up?"
Mel shrugged. “Maybe, if they’d have me. Long ways ‘till that inquiry though. I still ain’t sure.” She sighed and stretched out a bit, before tucking her feet beneath her. “M’glad yer likin’ it. Hopefully it continues to go well.”
"Thanks." That was a dismissal if Madin had ever heard one. "I should go."
“It was real nice t’see you again.” That felt weird- why did she always make it weird with Madin?
This whole conversation was proof that Madin was just too damn broken and fucked up to ever really fit in with the normal mutants. Oh, Illyana? Sure, she was a demon queen but things didn't get weird. Hope was a kid but after the future apocalypse shit, anything was fine. Jono? Mel, Ashley, Nica, they were all so fundamentally normal at first and underneath and every time Madin tried with them, they messed it up.
Couldn't even talk to a cute girl without making it too weird for words. Madin waved goodbye and started out the door.
Was it the mansion? Was this place turning her into the most socially inept version of herself? Probably. A tad bit desperate, Mel called out, “Hey, wait, we should do something. Sometime. I work in SoHo, if yer ‘round in the city we could get coffee? Lunch maybe?” Surely a change of scenery was all that was required to shake her out of this funk.
"Like, lunch-lunch? in a restaurant? Yeah. That's like, so fancy. Let's do that. I don't ever go to restaurants. But yeah, lets."
Something fluttered in her chest, and Mel beamed. “Great. I’ll text you an’ we can figure somethin’ out?”
"Yeah, thanks. I'd like that."
no subject
Date: 2024-06-30 09:32 am (UTC)