Happy Hour

[balancingminds]

Charles is tugging off his tie that goes with his elegant three piece suit as he enters the Bar, laughs and calls behind him, "Raven, Milliways is in my room. I'm going to get a drink before we head out!"

Then he walks through and tucks his tie into his pocket as he unbuttons his collar, he'll have time to change into something else before they go to the pubs.

When he reaches the counter, he grins as a note appears and he nods before shifting behind the counter and looking for some specials.

Happy Hour with Professor Xavier
Teacher's Pet
Cherry Champagne
Piece of Mind
If I can't figure out what drink you want then your drink's free.

Once the specials are up, he pours himself a glass of champagne and waits to see what Milliways will bring tonight.

Tiny tag: Charles Xavier, Jess Day, Gwaine
OOC: Charles is going to be actively listening to minds so please include thoughts in narration.
Open until I say its not, threadhop, enjoy and help Charles celebrate his degree.
Home after midnight and if you're interested in starting a new thread, ask me before tagging as this has been a great but busy Happy Hour.

Comments

[singsometimes]

Jess leaves her diorama at a booth, assured that it'll be okay. Anyway, she won't be far.

She just wants to grab a bit of dinner, and maybe a drink.

It's her first time here, and actually? It's been kind of cool.

"Excuse me?" she calls to the barkeep, once she's approached.

Only then does she notice the specials board.

Huh.

[balancingminds]

"How can I help? I can explain anything you've got questions with,"

Her enjoyment of Milliways makes him smile.

[singsometimes]

"Uh - hi, um ... Mister Bartender."

She's still got her eyes on the specials board before she turns to give the bartender her full attention.

And oh. He's kind of cute.

There are apparently a lot of cute guys in this bar.

"I don't know what any of those drinks are," she says, "but I'm more hungry than in the mood for boozin' anyway. That's not going to be a problem, is it?"

[balancingminds]

"Charles Xavier, professor Xavier as of today. No, its not at all. I can get you whatever you'd like from the kitchen and the drink doesn't have to involve booze of any sort,"

He smiles at the compliment and her.

[singsometimes]

"And are you supposed to like, guess what I want or something?"

She gestures vaguely towards the last line of his specials board.

"Congrats, by the way. A professor, huh? So you've finished your PhD?"

[balancingminds]

"Yes, I have at Oxford. Then I will tell you. I'm rarely wrong,"

Sometimes he'll make his answer not quite exactly right to not make people suspicious but he knows how to read thoughts.

[singsometimes]

"Are you like, a mind reader or something?"

At this point, he can be just about anything. Maybe a god.

She did just meet a goddess, after all.

But she focuses her mind on what she wants to eat, which is - at this moment - a bowl of Udon noodles, and a cup of green tea.

Though she might want something alcoholic at some point. You know, while she's in a bar.

[balancingminds]

"A telepath, yes, and wait one moment,"

He goes into the kitchen and soon returns with just what she wants.

[singsometimes]

"Wow," she says, a laugh escaping her.

She is obviously delighted.

"That's pretty awesome. You really can read minds."

[balancingminds]

"Of course I can. I don't say things I don't mean. Enjoy and welcome to Milliways."

[singsometimes]

"Thanks," she says, beaming.

It may occur to her that his name and his ability strikes a comic-book-y chord in her.

There was a time when she spent a whole lot of time reading comic books. Mostly during detention monitoring. Those kids sure have a lot of comic books confiscated.

"I'm Jess, by the way."

[balancingminds]

"You're welcome. Do you have any questions that I can help answer?"

If she asks, he can explain, he had a discussion about comic books with someone else.

[singsometimes]

She does give it some honest thought.

The first question that comes to mind, even before the whole comic-book Professor X thing is: "Well, I saw these rats walking around with waiting trays."

She scrunches her nose.

"What's that about?"

[thenextround]

Well.

Gwaine's thinking the straight-to approach.

So:

"I'm Gwaine," he introduces himself to the dark-haired young woman, offering her a leather-clad hand.

[singsometimes]

Jess, in the middle of stirring the last bit of her noodles around, glances up.

Whoa, mama.

He's kind of ridiculously handsome.

"Hi," she says, her brain taking a half-second to catch up. "I'm Jess. It's nice to meet you."

She takes his hand and is proud of herself for not giggling like a teenager.

"Uh - did you want to sit?"

There's an empty stool beside her.

[thenextround]

"Ah, since you've offered," he says, taking a seat while still holding her hand.

He may even give her knuckles a little kiss.

It's just good manners.

Really.

"Jess, hm?"

[singsometimes]

"That's right," she says. "It's short for 'Jessica'.

"And you have a really nice name, too."


... wait.

Why did she say that?

[thenextround]

Gwaine laughs.

"Do I?"

She's quite funny, this one.

"Ah, well, I don't think I'd repeat it around."

He leans in, just a touch.

"Yours, on the other hand..."

( - All night long?)

[singsometimes]

Okay, now Jess giggles.

She can't help it.


(She is so glad she's not having a pink wine right now.

... or maybe she could use a glass.)


It's just - no one's ever kissed her hand like that before.

Or is so ridiculously charming. Even if it's pretty clear he's a little drunk.

Maybe it's the whole End of the Universe thing that makes everyone feel a little more reckless.

[thenextround]

Giggling is always a good sign.

"You have a beautiful laugh," Gwaine says with that utterly charming grin of his.

(Yes. He may be a little drunk. But this? This is something he always does.

Gwaine doesn't need the End of the Universe to be reckless.)

[singsometimes]

Well, if giggling is a good sign, here - have another giggle!

She needs to stop acting so ... silly.

"Um - thanks," she says, pressing down on both a ridiculous smile and another giggle.

She's mostly successful.

At least where the giggling bit is concerned.

"Are you always like this?"

[thenextround]

Gwaine chuckles. It is not a shy, coy chuckle but something with a bit of growl to it.

"Am I always like what, luv?"

[singsometimes]

She waves a hand.

Oh, god.

Okay, dude. Whoever you are - you've got to stop doing that.

"You know," she says. "All 'luv'" (this is said with a change in voice and accent, which while the accent is half-decent, the deepening of her voice makes her sound a little silly) "and the compliments, and the hand-kissing. It's pretty convincing, actually."

[thenextround]

Stop? But Gwaine is quite the persistent flirt.

He chuckles again and leans in once more.

"Ah. Am I being too forward? I would think a lady such as yourself would be used to such attention."

[singsometimes]

He smells so ... manly.

It's such a dumb word to use, but she can't think of anything else more appropriate. There's the scent of leather and the outdoors after a ride in the wind, and alcohol and sweat and -

He smells like a guy. A real guy.

Not like Schmidt with his mango chutney hair products, or Nick who smells like a mix of Dove soap and Schmidt's conditioner (which has extracts of orchid and Argan oil) or even Winston who probably smells the most normal of them all.

Jess ducks her head at the next compliment, laughing.

"Well, I can't quite say that, no," she admits.

The laughter helps her feel a little less awkward.

Sort of.