Backdated: Puck Arrives part 2
Nov. 1st, 2025 02:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsKane and Judd continue their catchup at Harry's.
"Super hot Florence Nightingale who can read your mind? You're a better man than I. No woman would put up with what goes on in here." Puck took off his toque and stuffed it into his pocket and tapped his bald head. He glanced around the room, pretty cushy. Better than a cot in a closet or something. He stiffled a comment about room service and maids, Better not make those kind of comments just yet, might seem ungrateful. "Harry's Hideaway? Saw it on the way in. A Moosehead sounds good but have they got poutine on the menu?"
"I'd take credit for it, but really, it was Marie who pushed for the poutine. My success is The Platter." He said to a blank look. "I'll explain on the way." Kane took the lead, taking Judd along the well used trail through the forest to the local bar. Along the way, he pinged Logan and Marie to let them know who had showed up at their door finally. "So, was this just an itch to get on the move again, or are the Hudsons going to call in a couple of days telling me some kind of perious situation you're tangled up in?"
"So long as it's real cheese curds and not just shredded cheese, gotta have that squeak when you bite into it." Puck followed along making mental note of the path. If this is the way to the nearest bar it would definitely behoove him to remember the way. "You know I'd do anything for Mac and Heather, eh? But things have been a little too quiet lately, they've been calling on me less and less so I've been finding adventure elsewhere. You know I get antsy if I don't get my share of adrenaline." Garrison knew Judd well enough that there's probably more to it, but he wouldn't be up to anything that would put friends in danger.
"You came to the right place." Kane said, finally reaching the parking lot of Harry's. Gord padded off to the covered area of the patio, where he could hunker down without being snowed on as Garrison pulled open the door for the warm and inviting bar. "I'm certain we'll have a ton of action for you to throw yourself into, and if not, a ton of people who could use your training. I mean, I've already made you a training bogeyman here over the years."
In his 111 years of life Puck has been to plenty of drinking establishments. This one immediately felt warm and welcoming and reminded him of a bar just outside of Montreal. When was that again? 15 years ago? 30? "Oh, are there any 'tall-tales' I need to live up to? Tireless and impervious to pain? I can do the broken thumb trick." Hopping up on to a barstool Puck gripped one thumb with his other hand and bent the thumb backwards that would certainly be a break for anyone else. After a moment he bent it back to normal shape. "Some might need a boogeyman, some a drill sargeant, and some a test dummy to beat up on. Which was I for you Garrison?" Suddenly getting somber and pensive.
"You and Logan beat the shit out of me for three years. You taught me how to handle that. Without that training, I wouldn't be alive today." Kane said, taking a seat. Briar brought over a pitcher unbidden and he poured a couple of pints. "When I was a teen, I hated you. I blamed you for all my problems. And then... I discovered why and how you pushed me. You knew what I could come back from and as a result, I learned how to do that in real time." Kane was uncharacteristically serious. "You taught me the skills I needed to do so much, Judd. I've faced down devils, gods and all manner of insanity. And came out the other side. Part of that is on you and your training."
"Logan beat you up a little more than me though right?" Puck asks with a wink. "Knowing who your father and grandfather were I knew you could take it. If you'd gone through Gamma training and just wanted to sit back and live a normal life I woulda been more than a little disappointed." Puck raised his glass to clink it against Garrison's and then took a sip. "I'm sure I told you the story of the bear when I was a kid, I swore then to always lead a life of adventure. I'm glad you also found some for yourself."
"I could have done with a little less adventure, to be honest. But I've been able to do a lot of good. That matters." He said, taking a long sip. "That's what I've been trying to train into the kids here. So, how many beers do I need to bribe you with before you agree to take a half dozen through your master's class of staying alive and fighting dirty?"
"Keep 'em coming and I'll let you know when we reach that point." At Garrison's question Puck downed the rest of his pint and began to pour himself another from the pitcher. "I'm happy to help for some room and board. What do you know about the kid that brought me to you, he seemed to have a bad reaction when I mentioned Department H."
"Liam? His mother was Greer Grant. Remember, the mutant with cat powers from Beta Flight back around 2006?" Kane said. "She ended up on some program with Director Colcord that went sideways. The Hudsons haven't been able to get clear answers about the details, but she's been in the wind for years, and Liam is her son, raised by adopted parents. He won't talk to me about it because of my connections with Flight." He said with a shake of his head. "Once again Colcord's secretive shit splashes over on us."
"The Director?" Rolling of his eyes, Puck refused to ever use that man's name and whenever he used the title it would drip with disdain. ""Well that ruined the good feelings of catching up with an old friend. Maybe I can use my connections to try to get some answers. Extend the old olive branch, eh? I've been hearing rumors of more shady crap. I think that's why Mac and Heather have been letting me stretch my legs, so I can follow these rumors and report back to them without them getting blamed for any hornets nests I stir up."
"Yeah. Heather specifically sidelined me. I guess Colcord is keeping a close eye on my activities, but I happen to have some very close friends who work with the intelligence side of his place. I'll make some introductions if you want a little spy help from them." Kane said, refilling his pint and watching Briar whisk away the first pitcher and wordlessly replace it. "Trust me, there's all kinds of trouble available for you here if you want."
"It's cuz you're too damned tall Garrison. If you were a dwarf like me you might be 'beneath' his notice if you get me." Puck smiled flirtatiously when the pitcher was replaced. He couldn't help it. But he doesn't want to say too much about his suspicions while out in public anyway. Once the server has moved off he leans in. "Many hands make light work, if you've got some spook friends for me I'd love an introduction. And in the mean time if you show me how to work that Danger Room I'll happily teach some of your kids how to think on their feet."
"Welcome to the X-Men, Judd. I hope they survive the experience." Kane said, toasting him with his pint.
"Super hot Florence Nightingale who can read your mind? You're a better man than I. No woman would put up with what goes on in here." Puck took off his toque and stuffed it into his pocket and tapped his bald head. He glanced around the room, pretty cushy. Better than a cot in a closet or something. He stiffled a comment about room service and maids, Better not make those kind of comments just yet, might seem ungrateful. "Harry's Hideaway? Saw it on the way in. A Moosehead sounds good but have they got poutine on the menu?"
"I'd take credit for it, but really, it was Marie who pushed for the poutine. My success is The Platter." He said to a blank look. "I'll explain on the way." Kane took the lead, taking Judd along the well used trail through the forest to the local bar. Along the way, he pinged Logan and Marie to let them know who had showed up at their door finally. "So, was this just an itch to get on the move again, or are the Hudsons going to call in a couple of days telling me some kind of perious situation you're tangled up in?"
"So long as it's real cheese curds and not just shredded cheese, gotta have that squeak when you bite into it." Puck followed along making mental note of the path. If this is the way to the nearest bar it would definitely behoove him to remember the way. "You know I'd do anything for Mac and Heather, eh? But things have been a little too quiet lately, they've been calling on me less and less so I've been finding adventure elsewhere. You know I get antsy if I don't get my share of adrenaline." Garrison knew Judd well enough that there's probably more to it, but he wouldn't be up to anything that would put friends in danger.
"You came to the right place." Kane said, finally reaching the parking lot of Harry's. Gord padded off to the covered area of the patio, where he could hunker down without being snowed on as Garrison pulled open the door for the warm and inviting bar. "I'm certain we'll have a ton of action for you to throw yourself into, and if not, a ton of people who could use your training. I mean, I've already made you a training bogeyman here over the years."
In his 111 years of life Puck has been to plenty of drinking establishments. This one immediately felt warm and welcoming and reminded him of a bar just outside of Montreal. When was that again? 15 years ago? 30? "Oh, are there any 'tall-tales' I need to live up to? Tireless and impervious to pain? I can do the broken thumb trick." Hopping up on to a barstool Puck gripped one thumb with his other hand and bent the thumb backwards that would certainly be a break for anyone else. After a moment he bent it back to normal shape. "Some might need a boogeyman, some a drill sargeant, and some a test dummy to beat up on. Which was I for you Garrison?" Suddenly getting somber and pensive.
"You and Logan beat the shit out of me for three years. You taught me how to handle that. Without that training, I wouldn't be alive today." Kane said, taking a seat. Briar brought over a pitcher unbidden and he poured a couple of pints. "When I was a teen, I hated you. I blamed you for all my problems. And then... I discovered why and how you pushed me. You knew what I could come back from and as a result, I learned how to do that in real time." Kane was uncharacteristically serious. "You taught me the skills I needed to do so much, Judd. I've faced down devils, gods and all manner of insanity. And came out the other side. Part of that is on you and your training."
"Logan beat you up a little more than me though right?" Puck asks with a wink. "Knowing who your father and grandfather were I knew you could take it. If you'd gone through Gamma training and just wanted to sit back and live a normal life I woulda been more than a little disappointed." Puck raised his glass to clink it against Garrison's and then took a sip. "I'm sure I told you the story of the bear when I was a kid, I swore then to always lead a life of adventure. I'm glad you also found some for yourself."
"I could have done with a little less adventure, to be honest. But I've been able to do a lot of good. That matters." He said, taking a long sip. "That's what I've been trying to train into the kids here. So, how many beers do I need to bribe you with before you agree to take a half dozen through your master's class of staying alive and fighting dirty?"
"Keep 'em coming and I'll let you know when we reach that point." At Garrison's question Puck downed the rest of his pint and began to pour himself another from the pitcher. "I'm happy to help for some room and board. What do you know about the kid that brought me to you, he seemed to have a bad reaction when I mentioned Department H."
"Liam? His mother was Greer Grant. Remember, the mutant with cat powers from Beta Flight back around 2006?" Kane said. "She ended up on some program with Director Colcord that went sideways. The Hudsons haven't been able to get clear answers about the details, but she's been in the wind for years, and Liam is her son, raised by adopted parents. He won't talk to me about it because of my connections with Flight." He said with a shake of his head. "Once again Colcord's secretive shit splashes over on us."
"The Director?" Rolling of his eyes, Puck refused to ever use that man's name and whenever he used the title it would drip with disdain. ""Well that ruined the good feelings of catching up with an old friend. Maybe I can use my connections to try to get some answers. Extend the old olive branch, eh? I've been hearing rumors of more shady crap. I think that's why Mac and Heather have been letting me stretch my legs, so I can follow these rumors and report back to them without them getting blamed for any hornets nests I stir up."
"Yeah. Heather specifically sidelined me. I guess Colcord is keeping a close eye on my activities, but I happen to have some very close friends who work with the intelligence side of his place. I'll make some introductions if you want a little spy help from them." Kane said, refilling his pint and watching Briar whisk away the first pitcher and wordlessly replace it. "Trust me, there's all kinds of trouble available for you here if you want."
"It's cuz you're too damned tall Garrison. If you were a dwarf like me you might be 'beneath' his notice if you get me." Puck smiled flirtatiously when the pitcher was replaced. He couldn't help it. But he doesn't want to say too much about his suspicions while out in public anyway. Once the server has moved off he leans in. "Many hands make light work, if you've got some spook friends for me I'd love an introduction. And in the mean time if you show me how to work that Danger Room I'll happily teach some of your kids how to think on their feet."
"Welcome to the X-Men, Judd. I hope they survive the experience." Kane said, toasting him with his pint.
