Damn Good Times

[Tess Abrahams]

Redención House was unbearably crowded.

Granted, that was pretty much status quo for the halfway home that saw a regular flow of visitors in addition to it’s more permanent residents. With all the activity that double-digit occupancy brought there was always a baseline of busy energy about. But never before had that energy been transformed into such a stifling force, drawing the walls in closer and snuffing out what little air the summer heat hadn’t already quenched from the modest rooms. Perched on the edge of the couch, Tess felt the bumbling press of it itch against her skin and she squirmed, tucked her feet up underneath her body and then pulled them out again just as quickly. She cleared her throat and contemplated kicking the coffee table. Probably not a good idea.

On the muted TV screen, channel listings scrolled by slow as molasses reduction rolling uphill. There was nothing on, daytime television sucked. Which begged the question: why was anyone still watching?

“So.” Tess said brightly. “What’s going on today?”

[Aimee Connors]

"Nothing," said Aimee glumly, settling the TV on Ellen and holding onto the remote so no one else could change it. "Nothiiiiing." She curled up on the other couch, all the throw pillows bundled around her for maximum comfort.

On the screen Ellen was interviewing some actor, but Aimee could barely summon enough interest to pay attention. She looked sideways at Tess, and smiled crookedly. "What are you up to?"

[Ronnie Bluth]

Leaning back against the wall with a basketball passing back and forth between his hands in fast, nimble rhythm, Ronnie rolled his eyes at Aimee's choice of viewing entertainment and let his head fall back against the plaster with a thunk.

"Seriously, can't you put a game on or something?" the teenager groused, impatience bleeding into his tone. He glanced at the stairwell which remained stubbornly empty.

"Me'n Scott are heading down to the park," he said. Ball never wavering in it's left-right orbit, Ronnie raised his voice and directed his next words to the ceiling. "As soon as he stops primping and gets his ass down here!"

[Tess Abrahams]

How to do this subtly.

"I'm... going to this..." Tess went with a likely suspect. "PETA thing. We're going to picket in front of In-N-Outs all afternoon."

Ignoring the muffled groan that drifted over at that pronouncement, she offered Aimee an ambitious smile. The girl had been noticeably less animated ever since she'd lost her job - a completely understandable (though mildly frustrating under the present circumstances) response.

"You know, it's a really nice day out, Aimee," Tess said casually. "Maybe you should get some sun, go with the guys and shoot hoops. Vitamin D is essential to good health."

[Anna Fernandez]

"Come on, Jamie!" Anna paused on the stairs, looking into the family room as she beckoned upstairs to the girl. "I wan' to get to the mall before -" She paused. "Aimee, do you want to come?"

"No... I'm just going to watch some TV. Read a book." The seventeen year old didn't even look up, her head nestled on her arm as she laid on the couch.

"Okay." Anna turned to look back up just as Jamie flew downstairs, feet thundering like an elephant. "We will be back after dinner." Clothes shopping and dinner at the food court was a treat that Jamie needed after her recent nightmare.

Of course, Anna needed new clothes too, and was currently growing out of all her regular clothes. She jingled her keys, and they headed to the door.

[Aimee Connors]

"Bye Anna."

After a few moments filled with commercials and Ronnie jiggling the basketball around annoyingly, Aimee shifted and looked at Tess. "I don't do so well in the sun. Have you seen me with a tan? Exactly."

She propped herself up on one elbow. "Maybe I could go with you..?"

[Alex Kaine]

"So I really think it's something we should think about. Every mutant has their own perspective. It's not even like we're one whole new species, there are dozens, maybe even hundreds of new human species in the making, psychics, speedsters, shifters, pyrokinetics, and we need a society that can accommodate all those talents. Y'know, not just so we can survive, but so we can flourish."

Alex liked to walk while he talked, especially when the topic was some nuanced facet of mutant activism. It was really considerate of Aidan, then, to keep moving as Alex lectured him on the latest intellectual burden to occupy his mind. In the garden, through the cramped spaces of the garage, around the fence - Alex navigated the obstacles by muscle memory, because all his cognitive faculties were otherwise engaged.

"I think we should write one. The House. As a mutant community. What do you think?"

[Aidan Fox]

Aidan was on the point of giving up. He'd weeded the front row of tomatoes, cleared away some loose tools in the garage, and inspected the picket fence for God-knew what, and Alex had been an ever-present commentary through the whole exercise. The kid had his heart in the right place, but he had a way of taking single-mindedness to previously uncharted territory.

And Aidan had just realized he'd been asked a question, and he'd lost the last few sentences of context. "Uh... write one what?"

[Alex Kaine]

Alex only lost his momentum for a moment. "A mutant bill of rights," he said. "A document that lays the foundation for the ethical government of mutants. Of course, ideally, that's government of mutants by mutants, but there needs to be some guidelines for mundane governments, too."

Aidan had turned toward the kitchen, and Alex followed his trail like a terrier. "What do you think of this for Article One: All mutants have the right to practice and perfect their genetic gifts."

[Aidan Fox]

Aidan stepped inside and filled a glass of water from the sink. Drinking it gave him some time to reorient his thoughts to the conversation instead of to what he'd much rather be doing right now.

"It's a bit open-ended, isn't it?" he said. "What if you have someone with the ability to feed on the life energy of other human beings?"

[Alex Kaine]

"I'm not saying you don't have limits, I mean - everyone has to respect everyone else's rights," Alex said. "But that's the point, considering our rights as mutants... okay, your hypothetical energy vampire. It's his responsibility to find an expression of his power that can be a benefit to society. You know that, you're all over this kind of stuff."

[Aidan Fox]

Aidan set the glass down. "What are you doing later today?"

[Alex Kaine]

Alex's train of thought found the bridge was out, and it took him a moment to switch tracks. "Nothing, really. Got some reading to do. Why, you want to do something?"

[Aidan Fox]

Yes, actually...

Aidan threw a glance down the hall into the living room and caught Tess's eyes. There was a look of quiet desperation there that he could identify with deeply.

"I was just thinking," he said in a quiet voice. "Aimee's been really down ever since she lost her job. Maybe you and her could do something. Take her out to lunch, see a movie."

[Alex Kaine]

Alex studied Aidan's face for any clues that he might be missing something.

"You... you do know I'm dating Lana, right?" he said.

[Aidan Fox]

"I'm not talking about a date, just... as friends. She looks up to you, you identify with each other." Aidan shrugged and looked in Tess's direction again. "You know, sometimes you just need the personal attention of someone who cares about you. That's all."

He dug into his pocket and pulled out a twenty.

[Alex Kaine]

Alex put up a hand. "Oh no, dude, you don't have to--"

[Aidan Fox]

"Just think of it as a favor," Aidan said, and then he decided to take the guilt tack. "You know, I think Anna would really appreciate it."

He gave Alex the most earnest look he knew.

[Alex Kaine]

Alex hesitantly took the bill and then slipped it into his pocket. "Uh... okay, sure."

Then he headed down the hallway into the family room where Tess, Aimee, and Ronnie were gathered in various states of restlessness and lethargy. "Hey, guys. What's going on?"

[Tess Abrahams]

For a moment the cringing guilt was so strong that Tess almost caved. How hard could it be to find an animal rights display on the fly in a city as vocally charged as Los Angeles?

No, no. Focus.

"Well, the thing is," Tess started, trying to ignore the way Aimee's smile started to droop. "We'll be out in the sun, too. And these things can get really obnoxious and serious. Honestly, Aimee, hanging out with a bunch of angry vegan advocates is the last thing you need right now. What about - "

And there was Alex, beautiful Alex whose entrance was like a brown-paper package tied up with string. Aidan trailed just behind and Tess gave him a half-glance because any more than that and the jig would be up, poker face smashed to smithereens.

Tess brought her hands together in an enthusiastic clap. "Well, Ronnie and Scott are off to get some fresh air and I'm doing one of my things and Aimee here is open for suggestions. What about you, Alex?"