[center][h3][b][color=DBA1DE]Casper[/color], [color=mediumspringgreen]James[/color], and [color=FAFD95]Havok[/color][/b][/h3][/center]
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[center][color=DBA1DE][b]Skills[/b][/color]: Mediumship[/center]

Casper had dressed up in his finest clothing - which really wasn't saying much, given that he didn't have a lot. His mother had surprised him though, perhaps sensing that he'd run into a situation like this. She had gotten him a form-fitting sparkly black dress. He felt like a princess with it on and now, he was ready to be doted upon by his prince. [color=DBA1DE]"Okay, Jamie, where we going?"[/color] Casper asked his boyfriend, excited and eager for their first real date in aaaaaages. [color=DBA1DE]"And Ben, you can come but it's $20 to watch."[/color] 

[i]"Eww, gross. I have better things to do."[/i]

James gave himself one last look in the mirror, feeling oddly nervous. Maybe giddy was a better word for the butterflies-in-the-stomach feeling but he felt like he did on their first date to the boardwalk carnival. Maybe it would have been stranger if the Mutant Underground wasn't in constant danger but it was such a welcomed relief to not feel the dread of impending doom that he didn't care. Everyone was awake, he was going on a date with the love of his life, and even though things were still a little tense, finding normal was looking more and more likely. 

James hadn't spent much time before now considering his wardrobe. He was pretty sure he could count the number of different outfits he wore since waking up in Genosha on one hand. Clothing and style and all that hadn't ever been something he really cared about but he'd taken sometime to get something a nicer than his usual fair. A new button up shirt, a nice leather jacket, new jeans, and a pair of boots that weren't his usual steel toed ones he used to wear at the Underground or his current, worse for wear sneakers. 

[color=mediumspringgreen]"Well right now, I'm trying to convince myself to not to drag you back to bed. Who said you were allowed to look so damn pretty."[/color] James reminded himself to do something for Renegade in return for getting Casper this dress. He satisfied himself with only a kiss though. [color=mediumspringgreen] "Let's go grab a bite to eat first. I want to show everyone how lucky I am to have the best boyfriend in the world before I drag you off. Sound good?"[/color]

Casper smirked, very pleased with the effect the dress was having on James. Casper's sense of fashion was all about what he wanted to wear, but it was an added bonus when it was something fun for James as well - almost like a two for one special. It was [i]definitely[/i] worth putting up with Ben's grouchy nagging over. Somehow, death had only made Ben even [i]more[/i] boring, a feat that Casper hadn't even realized was humanely - or mutantly - possible. [color=DBA1DE]"Hmm, only one problem,"[/color] Casper said, pausing for dramatic effect, [color=DBA1DE]"[i]I[/i] am the one with the best boyfriend in the world - one with an ass that would put Captain America to shame even."[/color]

James laughed, heat prickling at the tips of his ears. [color=mediumspringgreen]"Putting America's ass to shame? High praise."[/color] He threaded his fingers into Casper's, kissing the back of his boyfriend's hand, and led him out the door. [color=mediumspringgreen] "You know, I was thinking about making funnel cakes as a cute little throw back to our first date but then I realized considering my limited culinary skills, it was probably better than I didn't try to speed run that process."[/color] James chuckled.

Casper's eyes started sparkling, as he gasped. [color=DBA1DE]"Babe!!!!"[/color] he gushed, positively dazzled at the idea of James making funnel cakes. He adored funnel cakes - almost as much as he loved waffles. They were up there in his top food groups. [color=DBA1DE]"Maybe we could try making them together? And maybe I could use my funnel to give you some cake, if you catch my drift,"[/color] he said teasingly. 

[color=mediumspringgreen]“We might end up having dessert before dinner if you keep saying stuff like that babes.”[/color] James warned with a chuckle. [color=mediumspringgreen]“Making funnel cakes together sounds fun. We’ll just have to try and make sure not all of it ends up like last time we had them. I’d like to actually eat a few, not just start a food war even if it was a delicious one.”[/color] James let go of Casper’s hand for the moment, booping Casper on the nose in a way reminiscent of the beginning of their food fight at the boardwalk. He slid his arm around Casper’s waist after, pulling him a little closer and relishing the warmth of their sides pressed together. He’d missed the casual physical affection most of all; everything else about Casper was amazing but the ease with which Casper indulged James in his need to be touching him as often as possible made him fall in love with Casper a little more every time. 

[color=DBA1DE]"What's wrong with having dessert before dinner?"[/color] Casper teased. [color=DBA1DE]"You know I have a sweet tooth - and a sweet dick,"[/color] he said more bluntly. He would have continued with some more rather naughty talk, if it hadn't been for the person who just came into view, wandering out of the Tiki Bar, clearly beyond wasted - the resident asshole himself, the duke of dickery, Havok. [color=DBA1DE]"... Wanna bet on how long till he falls over? Or accidentally blasts a hole through a tree?"[/color]

James sighed. He should have known. Anytime this asshat was in the general vicinity of people enjoying themselves, Havok showed up to ruin it. It was like some fucked up sixth sense. [color=mediumspringgreen]"I'm surprised he hasn't blasted something already."[/color] James grumbled. He chewed the inside of his lip, considering. Nothing had happened yet. As long as Havok stumbled on home and passed out, James didn't need to intervene but could he really trust the walking TNT stick to get home?

[color=mediumspringgreen]"I’m calling faceplant in 30 seconds."[/color] James offered, unimpressed with Havok’s inebriation. 

[color=DBA1DE]"If you're wrong, I get a kiss,"[/color] Casper said, more or less setting the terms of the bet. [color=DBA1DE]"I'm thinking.... Twenty nine seconds, I'm Price is Righting you,"[/color] he boasted with a snicker. Unfortunately for both of them, Havok kept his balance - and ended up walking straight up to James and Casper. Whether or not Havok had meant to come up to them was up for debate of course. 

[i]"You should make sure he gets home okay,"[/i] Ben advised. 

[color=DBA1DE]"Ben, shush, I'm trying to have fun!"[/color] Casper whined. 

[color=FAFD95]"Hey, bros..."[/color] Havok mumbled, swaying on his feet. 

[color=mediumspringgreen]“You can get a kiss either way.”[/color] James shook his head fondly even as Havok approached them. James held his hands out as the drunkard swayed in front of them. [color=mediumspringgreen]“Alright dude, what’s going on?”[/color] James gestured at all of Havok. He wasn't really invested in whatever drove Havok to the bottom of a cup but he would feel a little guilty if he didn't make sure the guy couldn't get home safely.

[color=FAFD95]"Don't [i]dude[/i] me, we aren't dudes,"[/color] Havok mumbled, before falling forward, into James' hands. 

[i]"This is what you look and sound like when you're high,"[/i] Ben pointed out, much to Casper's shock and disgust. [color=DBA1DE]"I do not look like a dudebro, Ben!"[/color] he whined. [color=DBA1DE]"Look, Havok, I'm sure it's very hard... being straight or whatever, but we're kinda on a date right now, so unless you're going to make us some waffles, maybe go find someone else to bother?"[/color] Casper suggested somewhat selfishly. 

James had to keep himself from flinching, like when an insect unexpectedly lands on you. He'd had his arms up in case Havok needed a hand to keep him upright, not to invite him to launch himself completely in James' arms and he made no effort to hide his own annoyance with the situation. He absolutely agreed with Casper and if Havok hadn't been completely and totally wasted, James wouldn't have given him a second thought but James hadn't ever been able to tell someone who needed help no before and just because it's [i]Havok[/i] won't change that. 

The first part of Casper's statement made him huff in amusement but he fixed Casper with an earnest, pleading look. [color=mediumspringgreen] "We can at least get him back to the apartment, right? He might be a total dick but he's going to collapse out here and I'd feel awful leaving someone out here like that."[/color] James asked, hoping that if he pouted enough Casper would let him off the hook for delaying their date to help someone neither of them particularly cared for. [color=mediumspringgreen] "I'll make you waffles in bed tomorrow to make up for it?"[/color]

Casper sulked slightly. He knew it wasn't too far to get back to the apartment, but he really hadn't been imagining a drunk Havok as being a key part of his night. He had been envisioning far more intimate and creative activities with James - hell, Casper should've been the one leaning on James for support, not the Summers douche. [color=DBA1DE]"Do we have to?"[/color] Casper whined, giving James puppy dog eyes. 

[color=FAFD95]"M'fine,"[/color] Havok mumbled.

James felt guilt churning in his stomach as Casper turned the puppy dog eyes on him. He really wanted to give in to Casper and just dump the asshole on the side of the road so he could have an uninterrupted night with his man but he'd feel just as guilty, if not more, if he left Havok to fend for himself while he was defenseless and even more so if Havok lost his temper and decided to get all blasty on some poor unsuspecting people. It was all but guaranteed that James was going to help Havok home the second they crossed his path. Hopefully, Casper wouldn't be too upset at the delay.

[color=mediumspringgreen] "You know you're the cutest person in the world and even more so when you do that but of this was you and someone ignored you just to go on a date, I'd be fucking pissed."[/color] James replied as apologetically as he could. [color=mediumspringgreen] "We just have to drop him off on the couch and we can go out again, okay? We'll be back on track in no time, baby."[/color]

[color=DBA1DE]"Jackie did it all the time!"[/color] Casper insisted - whether or not he was lying or stretching the truth was another question. However, his shoulders slumped slightly in acceptance. [color=DBA1DE]"Fiiine, we'll help the straight,"[/color] Casper grumbled. [color=DBA1DE]"But we're drawing on his face with a sharpie,"[/color] he then decided, as if that was some sort of huge win in this little negotiation. 

[color=FAFD95]"I heard that,"[/color] Havok said, before taking a step back and promptly faceplanting into the ground. He let out a pathetic little whimper. [color=FAFD95]"... I miss Polaris... She was always here for me... And now she isn't and this stupid island ground is here for me instead... And it's not even my favorite island..."[/color]

[color=mediumspringgreen]"Okay, babes. You can draw on his face if you want."[/color] James grunted as he pulled Havok to his feet. James set a path back to the apartment, rolling his eyes at the absolutely inane whining. Irritation bubbled in his stomach and he couldn't keep himself quiet, plenty of months of festering anger taking the opportunity to seep out. [color=mediumspringgreen] "Havok, you're whining to the wrong person. Just because I don't want to abandon you on the side of the road doesn't mean I give a shit about the bullshit in your head."[/color] James snapped, hoping the jackass would just stay quiet.

[i]"... Oh shit, he snapped!"[/i] Ben exclaimed, torn between excitement over the drama and concern for James' wellbeing. Casper must have been a horrible influence on him. Even Casper was surprised, seeing the anger come out of his boyfriend. And if he was being honest with himself, it was a little bit hot. He [i]liked[/i] seeing angry James. Casper, if he had more shame, would've been wishing he wasn't wearing such a tight dress at the moment, but Casper was Casper so he felt no shame. Maybe that was his real mutation. [color=DBA1DE]"Is there anything else you want to say to Havok, babe?"[/color] Casper asked. 

[color=FAFD95]"I don't want the bullshit in your head either!"[/color] Havok snapped back. [color=FAFD95]"You act like I'm some sort of... some sort of monster, but I'm not. I'm a good guy. Why can't she see I'm a good guy..."[/color]

[color=mediumspringgreen]"A good guy? Is that how you really fucking see yourself? You haven't once, just once, looked in the mirror and realized how much of an asshole you are?"[/color] James demanded incredulously, sending his boyfriend a flat look at the obvious egging on. James did have quite a bit to say to Havok and now that he'd started he doubted he could stop. All the irritation and frustration after the whole situation combined with all the unpleasant feelings he'd bottled during their slumber were too much of a train wreck to stop now. 

[color=mediumspringgreen]"Let's review. You kidnapped a girl who left because she wanted to and turned the entire MU, the people who have had your back and have supported you, into your accomplices, fully painting a fucking target on our backs. Then when Magneto literally threatens to being a building down on us and mobilizes the entire brotherhood against us, you hide behind us like a fucking coward and send us to fight them. You sent a [i]child[/i], one that'd barely been with us a few days! I watched Pyro wrap one of us in a fucking flaming snake and if I hadn't the mutations I did, I'd be six feet under with a full fucking clip in my chest!"[/color] James shook with the emotions spilling out as he marched them towards the apartment, jaw aching where he spat words from between clenched teeth. [color=mediumspringgreen]"And Harry, the brother of Veil who is the only reason I bother to tolerate you, was nearly paralyzed. It took Sapphire, Luna, and me to make sure he could still stand and here you are, head up your fucking ass like always and going on about how you can't get hour god damned dick wet! Where in that equation is there an iota of good? Because I can't fucking see it!"[/color]