Who: Scott Summers and Guido Carosella NPCs: - When: Monday, January 4th, 2009 (backdated) Where: Harry's Hideaway, near Xavier's Academy What: Scott and Guido go out for a drink and some friendly chat. Rating: PG
Scott, to be honest, had always liked Guido. Their times as students at Xavier's hadn't much overlapped, which was unfortunate, but Scott definitely remembered that his good humor, and his wonderful cooking, had endeared him to many even back then. It was good to see apparently that not much about him had changed in the ensuing years. He knew he was a very composed, reserved kind of man, but that in no way meant he didn't enjoy the company of those who were more lighthearted. It kept him from taking himself too seriously sometimes.
And of course they'd get to all of the business end of things--being a teacher, a member of the X-Men--but there was time first to just chat and enjoy a pint, catch up on times both old and new. One of Scott's 2010 resolutions had been to try to take more time for the personal side of life and its joys, and certainly this would be no exception. He had the feeling Guido's temperament would help make sure the evening overall didn't get too heavy and serious anyhow. "What are you drinking?" he asked Guido as they slid into a corner booth at Harry's.
Guido's face got a big grin. "Depends... you buying?" He shook his head. "Kidding. I'll take a Rolling Rock." Essentially, Guido was a beer and wine man. He liked wine with his dinner and beer with nothing. He took a sigh and flopped his arms on the table across from Scott. "It's weird, this teaching thing. I've only been at it for one day but it's like....." He shrugged. "What I was meant to do."
After he confessed that, he chuckled. "OK, perhaps I should have waited for a couple drinks before the drunken confession, huh?" He, too, was happy to see Scott, Ororo and Jean and the rest. Just being back at the school felt good...right.. as he had confessed to Scott right there.
"I'm buying," Scott assured him. After all, it seemed like he should--proper welcome to the school. Ordering two Rolling Rocks from the waitress, he settled back into his seat and couldn't help a grin. He actually knew exactly what Guido was talking about. He taught the math classes and knew he was competent, though it was hard to make math inspirational. He saw it as just a tool of sorts himself. But shop class, and the opportunities he had to act as a mentor to the students in general, filled him with a contentment and certainty. He was doing what he meant to do.
The X-Men were a part of his life and he knew that fighting the good fight was important too. It mattered intensely to him and he wouldn't give it up easily when the day finally came for him to hand the mantle over to someone else. But the quieter satisfaction of teaching, inspiring, never stopped filling him with a kind of wonder. In between the team and the students, he felt like he was helping make the future a better, brighter place.
"You've got the right guy for the confession at least," he said with a laugh. "I know what you mean, Guido. My first day here as a teacher I was scared to death of screwing up. By the time I hit fifth period I just knew I'd done the right thing. It all suddenly clicked, you know?"
Guido took his bottle and tapped Scott's own one. "Hear. Hear." He beamed at the mutual feelings. "Couple 'o' softies, you and me. Shhh, don't tell the ladies. I need to come off as a badass." He winked as a lady walked by. Guido did get the looks, being huge and all, but he really was looking for that certain, special one.
"So, Ororo still single?" He had to ask.
Scott grinned at him. The offbeat humor really was catching, and he felt himself relaxing, joking back. "And I need to come across as stern, so I'll keep your secret if you keep mine." He didn't need to come across as badass for the ladies, thankfully. He had the one he wanted and she liked him just as he was.
"As far as I know," he answered the question. 'Ro would probably tell him if she was dating, he thought. They didn't have many secrets. "She might well be happy to take you up on a date if you offered." Maybe it was his own happiness with Jean being so new and so acute, but he wanted to see others experience that kind of joy in their own lives too.
Guido beamed at that. "And I am certain I will take her out on that. You know, we had a disastrous date back in the school days. I was sporting this ridiculous mullet and pastel jacket, feeling like the man. And poor innocent, off-the-boat Ororo had no idea what I getting at." He laughed at the memory shaking his head into his palm. "I was such a tool."
He could see that Scott was a bit happy. "And I have warned your wife to be.... I'm setting up the bachelor party... well, me and all the guys." He gave a devious eyebrow arch and sat back, letting Scott wonder what to expect.
"Mullets!" Scott found himself laughing again. "Oh man. That's a fad I'm sure we all would like to forget. I was sporting the grunge look when I got to the school, if you remember. Plaid flannel, ripped denim. Pacific Northwest boy and all, you know? I don't understand why Jean even took a second look at me. But come on. We were young. Teenagers make mistakes."
He took a swig of his beer. "You'll find that out firsthand a lot," he promised mischievously, "now that you're here at the school. And you'll wonder how any of us ever make it to twenty-one and beyond."
As for Jean, he found himself grinning even more like a fool and blushing a bit. "Well, she's not my wife yet...technically." In his mind where it mattered the most, though, she might as well be. "Bachelor party?" He had no idea what to expect, to be honest. But he resolved to take it in good humor. "Well, I'll look forward to it." He had another thought. "I don't suppose you make wedding cakes, Guido? If so I'm sure Jean and I would love to hire you to make ours."
"Mmmm." Guido pulled the beer away from his lips. "Funny you should mention wedding cakes. Alison Blaire called on me the other day to make a wedding cake for her upcoming nuptials. Have yet to meet the chap she's getting hitched to. But I said I'd do it, like I can say no to Dazzler." He leaned closer. "Like you need to ask, friend. Of course I'll make yours and when you are ready, I'll have flavor samples for you two to choose from. I can see Jean liking that."
He leaned back. It felt so good to be back in the kitchen, especially one made for his size. Ever since his own burned down, he felt a heavy spot in his heart. Now it felt much lighter. "And you two are joined at the hip. Have a date set yet? Or are you going to enjoy the engagement for a while?"
"Oh, that's right! Alison is getting married. Actually, I don't think I've met the prospective Mr. Blaire either, but I'm sure they'll be very happy together." He'd have to talk to Jean and make sure they sent her and her fiance something nice as a gift. "And I look forward to that." He raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Like you need to twist my arm, or Jean's, to come around and taste cake."
"No, we're still talking that over, but since we're holding it at the school, it'll probably take less time to plan and execute." That was Scott. Using mission language in everyday situations. "I'll definitely let you know as soon as we've got something settled, though. I have the feeling it'll be soon; we've been together so long that it feels like we're just ready to take that step, you know?"
And Guido caught that 'mission' language and guffawed. Guido's laughed, like his size, was huge. It was a deep bellow.
"Listen to you!" His voice got a robotic sound as he jerked his head to one side. "Plan and ex-eh-cute." Luckily Jean did compute. "You crack me up, Summers." But there was no one Guido trusted in the field than Scott Summers. He was rather looking forward to resuming his duty as an X-Man, something he never quite committed to; his culinary career took priority. But he was ready now. Sure, if he hadn't suffered so many downfalls, perhaps he wouldn't be here, but he was a strong believer in fate and he figured he would end up with the same result no matter what happened.
Scott found he was definitely blushing as he realized the gaffe. "Don't tell Jean I put it like that," he said sheepishly. "It's...sometimes hard to turn the X-Men brain off." He grinned at Guido. "As you'll find out, I'm sure." He was pleased to have Guido on the team also. Strategically, yes--a big, strong fighter was always a great addition. But also just personally; there were a lot of strong personalities on the team, and Guido's equally strong good spirits and inspiration for camaraderie would go a long way to endear him to the others. They all needed someone sometimes who could make them laugh and remind them to not take everything so seriously. And Scott certain wasn't the man for the job there.
"So long as you let me kick your ass in the Danger Room..." Guido chuckled into his bottle as he took a drink and realized it was empty. "And buy me another beer." He held it out. "What? I haven't gotten my Xavier's paycheck yet." He joked. He had some savings.
"So, I was thinking that I can take the kids to a real working kitchen for a field trip later this year. I think Rocco may be willing to let me do that." He nodded. "Puck's mad at me still because of my cannoli beating his."
Indeed, Guido did know the celebrity chefs as he was one for a while until his mutant reality cam crashing down. Still, most of his former colleagues supported him.
"You're on," Scott accepted. "Anytime in the Danger Room; it's good to have someone to train with." As for the beer, he waved the waiter over and soon enough another round of Rolling Rocks were on their way. "Your paycheck should be coming soon," he reassured him. "Paperwork always takes a while, though," he teased. "Good thing you're the chef. Means you can't starve while you wait."
He nodded at the idea of the trip. "Getting them to see their subject in action is important, and I'm sure they'd love it. And they'd probably love to taste the better-than-Puck's cannolis to boot!" Scott wouldn't mind that himself, to be honest.
"Well, I hear I have only two registered in class, so I won't need an extra chaperone, but maybe after all the kids hear how awesome Home Ec is, I'll get some more." He paused, and wondered for a moment. "Well, perhaps two mutant students would be more difficult. I know I was a bit of a terror for poor Charles." He laughed.