8:35 p.m., The Gate House, the Institute
Logan walked to the front door. "Who is it?', he asked, trying to sound busy in case it was one of the students.
"The Kingpin. I heard there was a table here, running without my knowledge."
Logan smirked, opening the door. "Get in here Sticky, before anybody sees ya.
In the doorway stood a smiling Spider Man, a.k.a. Peter Parker, dressed in his spider suit, but with a buccaneer style half-mask on instead. "Hey furball, keepin' those claws sharp?", he joshed, walking in. He noticed Pappy, who had gotten up to greet him.
"Well, I'll be! Hello Spider Man, pleased ta meet ye. Me name is Angus Ian O'Bryanson, but please, call me Pappy." He said, pumping his hand up and down. "Do come in, an me hopes ye brought money ye can leave here!"
Spidey looked to Logan with a 'Huh?' look on his face. "He's alright, he's the father of a new student, we hired him on as Gate Keeper. He's harmless."
"Ok, if you say so, wolfman jack." Spider helped himself to a beer and some snacks.
knock-knock-knock
Pappy went to answer it. In the doorway were a fair haired young fellow who was slightly steaming, and a, well, a rock formation.
"Hiya Pops, is Logan here?" the steaming fellow asked.
"Yeah, the pipsqueak told us there'd be a poker game tonight!" growled the rock formation. Pappy was able to make out the eyes and mouth now.
"Saints above!", exclaimed Pappy, "Ye must be the Thing, or paint me blue and call me Pappa! Who be yer friend here?"
Johnny Storm, a.k.a. the Human Torch lit up his fingertip, placing it under the stoagie jutting out of the Thing, a.k.a. Ben Grimm's mouth. "My names Johnny, but some call me th' Torch. Pleased to meet you!" He and the Thing came in and sat down, the Thing needing a whole loveseat for himself.
"Alright!:, Logan spat, "We almost got a game here. Help yerselves boys, but Thing, you gotta stop at 24 brewiski's – we ain't carrin' yer big butt home tonight!" The group laughed at this, save Ben, who just mumbled something about 'adamantium seepin' in the brain...'.
Back in the Mansion, Boys DormForge was fiddling with Mally's new clock. "I added a video two-way to this thing, so if you want a classmate, just say their codename an it will ring them up. See how I did that?"
"Yep, thanks mate. That seems easy and pretty rippa too. You rock with tools Forge, I mean it!" Mally clapped him on the back.
"No Prob. It's what I do." Forge reached down into his huge 'toolbox', which was really just a giant duffel bag he used to hold everything. "I made this for you to; well the replicator did." He pulled out a cricket bat, not a wood one like Mally's, but a gray metallic looking one, kinda fearsome looking.
"Dear Lord, it's the devils bat itself," Mally said getting a feel for it in his hand. "Feels just like me old one. What's different Forgie?"
Well, this one is a adamantium/graphite alloy, making it highly resistant to damage, and will pack on average three times the wallop of your wooden one. It's a cricket bat designed just for fighting." Forge smiled.
"Rippa! Thanks again Forge! Your Ok in me book, mate! This is too cool! Bonzer!" Mally jumped to and fro, test swinging his new bat.
Right then Kurt !bamph!'ed into the room. His eyes were big and scared.
"Mally, all the girls are holed up in Kitty and Jubilee's room, having a meeting about some'zing. Even Ms. Munroe is there!" Kurt was so nervous, he was picking up and putting down Mally's stuff with his tail without noticing.
"Vell, I knocked on their door, just to see if they vanted a snack or some'zing - " Forge and Mally rolled their eyes at him. "Ok, Ok, I vas being nosy! Anyways, Rahne opened the door and said 'No boys, especially furry ones!' then shut it in mein face!" Kurt looked sick. "Why not furry ones do you suppose?"
Mally grimaced. "I think she means me, Kurt, not you." He looked at his watch. 9 p.m. "At 10 o'clock, I'm going to talk to me Pappy about girls and how to deal with them. Hopefully Mr. Logan will be there too. Don't worry Kurt, we'll get this figgered out mate.
"I hope so," Kurt yipped, "I like being furry."
The Gate House, the Institute, 9:20 p.m.
Luke Cage, a.k.a. Power Man got to the game about 5 minutes ago, and was just sitting down with a cold one. "Man, Logan, you didn't tell me that Rockface and Fireplug were coming. I brought my 'A' game, when I could brought my 'B' or 'Z' game. It's such a shame to steal from the ignor – Whoa!" The cigar he had been chewing on suddenly flamed up, surprising him, but not hurting him.
"Ya had better of brung yer spare underpants, Lukey, 'cause IT's CLOBBERIN' TIME, ya punk!" The Thing was shuffling the cards' Johnny smiling next to him. "Say, Logan, who we waitin' on? Let's get this 'A' game started already."
The door opened. "Well, you fellows can't have an 'A' without the big 'A'! quipped Steve Rodgers, a.k.a. Captain America. "Howdy boys!"
There was a chourus of 'hello cap' and 'what's happen'n cap't?' from the guys. The Captain pulled his cowl back. "Hope you boys don't mind losin' to an old timer." The Captain noticed Pappy looking right at him. "Oh hello sir, sorry about the 'old timer' comment, I meant no offense." He stuck out his hand.
"No, No, No! Tis my pleasure to meet ye, Captain! I remember seeing you on the beach at Normandy, during the big one! God Bless ye laddie! Hear, take my chair, and let me draw ye a pint!" Pappy babbled.
"Cap, this slobbering old goat is Pappy O' Bryanson, father of one of our new students here, and the new Gate Keeper too. He's A-1, so don't mind him any." Logan joked. "Pappy, the Cap'n don't do the brewski thing, so get him a grape nephi, eh bub?"
Logan addressed the group. "Alright girls. Lets play poker. Game; 7 card draw. Bennie, you got the cards, start throwin' them. Anty up, losers!"
The Front Door, the Institute, 9:55 p.m.
The mansion was like a ghost town; all the girls were still holed up in Kitty and Jubilee's room, Ms. Munroe included. It made the mansion quiet...too quiet.
'Crikey, now I'm makin' it sound like a bad movie,' thought Mally. 'I just need to talk this stuff out with me Pa, an maybe Mr. Logan. Maybe they know the skinny on the female of the species.'
Sam and Jaime were playing PS2 in the TV room off of the entranceway. Mally stuck his head in the room. "Hey mates, I'm going up to me Pappy's place to have a chat. If anyone needs me, send them that way. Thanks"
Sam and Jaime just waved, engrossed in their game. Mally headed out the front door, to the Gate House.
Kitty and Jubilee's Room, Girls Dorm, The Institute, 9:45p.m.
"......but Ms. Munroe, all these other lassies, pretty lassies mind you, were eatin' the boy with their eyeballs, quite disgusting, right? They have no idea what he really looks like, what he really is, which YOU KNOW they wouldn't like! But, when school starts again, all the girls from town, the PRETTY girls from town will be on the bloke like flies on sh - ......poo ppo. And me, lil ole Rahne Sinclair, Ms. 'she's so cute' Sinclair won't have a rich mans chance on tax day!" Rahne looked to Ororo, tears in her eyes. "I mean, I thought he was cute the night me an' Logan first saw him. Why should they get him?! They don't even know him! Bullocks!"
The girls, ALL of them, were piled up on Kitty and Jubilee's beds, which they had pushed together, Ms. Munroe sitting up at the headboard.
"Rahne my love, it seems to me that you have two choices. One, to let things be as they are, and remain unhappy. Two, you can swallow your pride and tell the boy how you feel, and at least get some release for your feelings." Storm replied calmly.
"But Ms. Munroe, I'm not all graceful and mature like you are. I don't want to make an ass out of meself, and have him thinkin' I'm full of sheppards pie! How do I jest walk up to the lad and say whats in me heart? Why, I'd melt into a puddle bigger than Bobby!" The girls laughed.
"Rahne Sinclair, the girl whom I know will run paws first into any fray? Scared to talk to a boy? My, my, my, how funny." Rahne paled, looking down.
"No, dear, I didn't mean to tease you," Storm said softly, "I just mean that you have plenty of courage, I have seen it. Why so frightened of a boy?"
Rahne sighed. "I don't know. He just makes me feel all loopy inside, like I'm made of butter, and He's a hot knife. I just don't think I can do it!"
Ms. Munroe smiled. "I have faith in you little one. Think on it tonight, discuss it more with your friends, and tell me what you decide tomorrow morning. As for me, I need to get some rest. Breakfast at 7:30 as usual girls......" Storm paused by the door, looking at Rahne. "I expect all of my Little Women at breakfast at 7:30. Goodnight ladies."
The Gate House, the Institute, 10 p.m.
Mally hopped up the path to the gate house, deep in thought. He hoped Pappy had some answers. The door was slightly open, and Mally could smell cigar smoke. 'Good, ' he thought, "Mr. Logans here too." Just then, he heard a loud crash, and a NYC voice say –
"Ya filthy cheatin' hound dog! That's three in a row! Where you got them cards stashed! !#$&!
As Mally pushed open the door, Mr. Logan was calmly looking at a big orange rock man saying "I play 'em where they lay, Rockhead. Quit yer bellyachin', bub......Oh Sh-sh-shugar, hiya Mally, ya shoulda knocked first! What's wrong?" Logan was up at once, afraid something was up at the school. Mally noticed everyone else at the table tense up also.
"Uh, nuthin' Mr. Logan, I just came up here to talk with Pappy, remember Pappy, I asked you at dinner.", Mally timidly said.
Logan looked at Pappy, who had his hand across his forehead. "Logan, tis not me at fault here! Twas the Weather Witch's beef stew! It put a hex on me, made me forget my own boy!" Pappy pleaded.
Logan calmed down, frowning/smiling at Pappy. He turned to Mally. "Well, bub, what did ya wanna talk about? Was it private between you and Pappy? I can clear these bums out if ya want."
"No I wanted to see you to, actually, Mr. Logan. I wanted to ask you about.........girls.......", stammered Mally.
The room got deadly silent, like national anthem time at a baseball game.
The Thing pulled out a chair. "Hey kiddo, have a seat...this may take a while."
Spider Man leaned back and sat on the wall. "You came at the right time buddy, if anyone knows about weird relationships with women, it's us"
End – Chapter 5 – The Girls Talk