Member
Morose
RPM
Blue Wolf
Scrawl Banditta
Lucid Dreaming
Kirah
teenangstlife
TokyoPewPewDanni Kingston
Location: Medical Bay, Strange Academy -> Home - Court of Two Sisters
Skills: Sleight of Hand
It was a dream come true.
Napping on Sabine was nice after the chaos of the tournament, the Entity, just all of it. Beanie was warm and familiar and safe and Danni could have happily spent another hour dozing. But when the news hit the infirmary, when Katie and Tommy’s tablet blared with the announcement and everyone jolted into action and people rushed in with congratulations and condolences, Danni could only sit there and blink. April and Dorian and Danni wanted to join the competition together from the second they’d collided. Every moment of extra time was dedicated to training once they’d realized. The burns, the aches, the blisters, the near brushes with death, the frustration when they were separated, the irritation at the rest for standing between them – all of it led here, their team name plastered across screens, shouted in the stands, broadcast to all the world that the time and effort and suffering was worth it. Things were quiet, Danni felt numb, and everything seemed a little too bright to be real.
It took him several long minutes to shake off the strange numbness that seeped into his muscles, that took his breath from his lungs, that muted the energy that surrounded him but when he did, he exploded. The exhaustion and fatigue fell away because it mattered so little when in the face of such challenges, they’d won. Danni swept Beanie off the bed, screaming incoherently. He almost tackled Percy if it wasn’t for a nurse managing to intercept him and redirecting him like an overexcited puppy to the next nearest patient – Eli. Danni didn’t mind one bit, immediately falling into the medical cot, bouncing up and down while screaming his head off, and racing off to the next person just to repeat until he bolted out the door.
The resulting whirlwind of events only served to hype Danni up further. Selfies were taken and posted through the entirety of the next five hours, Danni screaming and fanning over his own fans and pulling up the memes about them to show the team. His accounts blew up and he knew he’d have to get everyone on his channel one way or another. But plotting (or puppy dog eyes and begging) would come later because right now, Danni had as much attention as he wanted and he was going to absolutely milk that for every bit it was worth.
Danni was disappointed that the photoshoot wasn’t longer. There were so many more interesting poses he had in mind and Excelsior had an entire professional team at their command – it was crazy the amount of them that were relieved when it was done. Danni had tried to make Vision listen to reason but even then, he was overruled and they were ushered out even as he tried to beeline it back. Danni was appeased when they were placed at the long table in front of cameras, both live and recorded, and they got to bask in the limelight once more – even if some of them were clearly trying to egg them on.
Danni! California is regularly plagued by wildfires. This year, thousands lost their homes and were displaced. Where were you?
“Oh well, def in school. My Pops-shout out ta t’e fam best one in the world and I love y’all!-always reminds me t’at just ‘cause I’m learnin’ ta be a ‘ero doesn’t mean I’m ready ta be one so I gotta leave savin’ everyt’in’ and everyone ta t’e experts ‘cause yeah we got powers, but we don’t ‘ave all t’e esperience t’e best of t’e best ‘ave yet, right? T’at’s why we’re in school – ta learn ‘ow ta ‘elp in t’ose sitchs. I mean, ya wouldn’t want a ‘eart doctor ta cut inta your ‘eart wit’out some books under t’eir belt right?”
A follow up – Did you set any of those fires or make them worse when practicing?
“Woooooow. We accusin’ kids of ‘urtin’ people. If you must know, my practice ‘as been in danger rooms, not outside, where people are ready and trained ta ‘andle any emergencies or problems. I’ve want ta go ta t'is institute since I was a kid – I know t’eir t’e best of t’e best and t’ey wouldn’t let students or bystandards get ‘armed! Danni definitely wasn’t going to mention how often superhero students just… ignored the school and did what they wanted anyways.
Danni! Your skin is so good! What’s your routine?” Danni pointed at the reporter in question and beamed. “You’re my favorite, askin’ t’e real questions! Okay so…. The reporters would then regret this question as Danni quickly overtook any particularly aggressive questions with detail recommendations for facial routines.
The next phase was another exciting one: sponsorships. That meant real gear, real work, real press. Danni chatted with everyone and anyone who approached, taking business cards and portfolio summaries and numbers at every turn. Danni knew one thing about this – don’t turn anyone down directly, don’t turn anyone away, and if someone clearly doesn’t want another suit and tie to talk to him, that’s the next person Danni’s talking to. He smiled and smirked and played the room, flitting about like a hummingbird in a flower garden and soaking up attention like sunshine. Danni was more than happy to drop things off with Vision and, finally, the fam (their arrival did in fact trigger another round of excited cheering and roping in the stuffy corporate suits into the frenzy).
One would think that, upon returning to the Kingston-Grey house, Danni would finally come down off his sugar high but after swapping numbers with America and Eli in the infirmary, Danni was determined to show off. They had to be fashionably late and he needed full creative control over his outfit, which meant Danni tore through the house in search of the perfect set. To most, that meant Danni coming in and out of his room a hundred times but at the Kingston-Grey House? This was war. No closet was safe, no accessory hidden enough, every bedroom was an opportunity and he pursued it relentlessly. Casper was dragged into it and the pair tore Danni’s closet, his parents’ closets, and Dorian’s closet to satiate Danni’s need for the greatest, strangest, most stunning fashion statement he’s worn this year. He grabbed styles from Dorian and Max, colors from James and Casper, and brought a number of his own items and begged his Pa to make his vision happen because Danni had to go do hair and make up and everything else still! He didn’t need hours – he needed days!
Danni’s outfit
Danni tucked his phone away in his jacket as they crossed the threshold of the portal. The music and life of New Orleans washed over him and the brief bit of him that started lagging suddenly roared to life once more. It bubbled out and Danni laughed in disbelief. They’d won. They’d won They’d won! He paused a moment outside the restaurant, unable to resist dancing to the street music, before he spun his way inside and thanked the staff as he bustled past. Danni followed the noise out the short walk and grinned. Music started up as the band set and Danni knew he’d absolutely drag someone into dancing with him. He pulled on a little fire, fully planning to burst out like peacock feathers behind him, but he could only manage a short wave and dissipated seconds after rolling past his shoulders. He felt a pang of exhaustion shot through him and he grimaced. Danni supposed he was pushing himself a little too much. They had just won the Contest after all. Danni waved the lingering warmth away and bounced his way to Eli, bopping him on the nose.
“‘eeeeeeeeeeeeeey! I told ya I was comin’! Now what do ya t'ink? Do I look good or do I look good?” Danni flaunted and preened, addressing the table before putting an order in for gumbo and water. He caught sight of Tommy all on his lonesome, shoving food in his face faster than Danni could see. A terrible idea flickered in the back of his head and cackling like a gremlin, he gave in. “BRB! Imma see if I can do a little sneaky sneaky. But I got a question for you so don't go anywhere.” Danni pointed at Patriot, before sulking poorly across to Tommy.
“‘eeeeey, Tommy. ‘ow's it goin’? T'ose were some sick moves out t'ere-” Danni dove for one of the tomatoes and he'd thought he'd been sneaky, waiting til Tommy was distracted, when he found himself a victim that same.super speed and cackled like a mad man in Tommy's head lock. “And ‘ere I t'ought I ‘ad ya! Guess I'm t'e loser tonight, pffft.” Danni cackled, putting the offending piece of food back and trying to wiggle free.
