StrongBox (strongbox) wrote in marvel_nextgen,
@ 2009-08-23 15:39:00

Entry tags:

alex bowmaster, inactive - mystic, jordan bochs, melanie hall, nimue smallwood, plot-"taking flight"

Taking Flight, pt 2
The base was nice, and definitely spacious, but it wasn't home. The government gave them no real budget for outfitting the base with creature comforts, and while the current set up would be quite comfortable, even luxurious for line soldiers, as far as Jordan was concerned, it was entirely unacceptable for teenagers. This was going to be fixed.

The one thing he has relatively easy access to is electronics at a discount, so that's where he starts, along with the necessities. Even then, its a busy day.

It starts with the subtle stuff he can sneak into people's rooms. He has no idea what people have for computer systems of their own, but the government issue 'can check e-mail and file reports and not much else' systems are entirely insufficient. So everyone gets gift certificates to either get a custom cpu, or seriously upgrade what they have.
Everyone also gets a sound system worthy of belonging in a teenager's room. Music is a must. To go with it, there's gift cards for 'The Beat Goes On', so everyone can get a few dozen used CDs or several new ones.
Alex in particular takes some work, but Jordan insists he be treated like everyone else. So he gets a 128 CD changer and a large push button remote so he'll never need to handle a CD once they're loaded, and could change the CD in almost any form with paws.

He's not as connected where beds are concerned, but military style twin beds are also not ok. Ikea gift certificates are added so people can bring in something nicer, or equip the kitchen instead if they like. Alex, again, is included, with explanation that Jordan will pick something up on his behalf.

The real changes, however, are in the process of being made to the main lounge. The old metal card table and 6" TV are stuck in a closet. A coffee table complete with cupholders is ordered instead. The room is equipped with movie theater quality surround sound, Jordan hangs the speakers himself for best effect. Black leather couches are on order as well, and a room layout taped out. Jordan is currently working on installing the 60" flat screen TV, the centerpiece of the room, and hooking the sound system to it.
He's made sure to be as sneaky as possible, and work a lot in the middle of the night so there's some surprise involved, so the first sign most people are likely to get of the work being done is the sound checks, as well as the sign now hung over the lounge door:
Welcome to the Temple of Boom.

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	tooth_n_claw 2009-08-28 06:25 am UTC (link)
	Alex, in beagle form (it was his favorite), sat in the middle of the room and looked around. Someone had been in here and judging by the scent it had been Jordan and there was stuff in his room. Alex was puzzled and a confused. He didn't ask for anything and he didn't need anything outside of a relatively soft spot to sleep. (Reply to this)(Thread)

	strongbox 2009-08-28 06:42 am UTC (link)
	Eventually, Jordan makes his way into the room. "Hey, Alex. Sorry for any confusion, and for sneaking into the room." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	tooth_n_claw 2009-08-28 06:46 am UTC (link)
	/I knew it was you. Caught your scent. I'm just confused to why./ (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	strongbox 2009-08-28 06:51 am UTC (link)
	He shrugs. "Honestly? Its because I can. I know not everyone has my kind of money, and this is likely to be a shit job ninety percent of the time. I wanted people to have a home. Not beds, not a base... but comfortable beds, their choice in music... the little things." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	tooth_n_claw 2009-08-28 06:55 am UTC (link)
	/Oh. It's just I don't need any of this. I was just...surprised./ (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

strongbox
2009-08-28 07:01 am UTC (link)

"No one needs any of this. The team doesn't need the big screen TV with surround sound either. They're pure creature comforts. But I spent the first part of my life with absolutely nothing but four walls and a cot, and then came into... well... whatever I wanted within reason. I realize you're probably not used to stuff, and don't need a lot, but it was important to me that you not be treated any different than anyone else. If they were going to get new beds, you got one... or a nice leather couch like my dad's dog loves curling up on, or a bean bag chair, or an indoor jungle gym, or reptile heat lamps, or a kiddie pool, or anything else you and your favorite forms think might be comfortable to sleep on, play with or listen to. Whatever you want to get, or ask for, its yours."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	tooth_n_claw 2009-08-28 07:03 am UTC (link)
	Alex is quiet for awhile while all of this sinks in. /Thanks. I appreciate the thought./ Alex is definitely not used to being thought of by someone else. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

strongbox
2009-08-28 07:06 am UTC (link)

"One way or another, Alex, you're part of the team. And it doesn't matter to me if my teammates sleep in the bathtub and have blue hair, if they regularly live in the walls and have purple skin, or hang out as a Beagle. You're all going to get the same treatment, and that starts with having your own space. Sooner or later, everyone should have a room of their own. Not everyone does, but everyone should. And that's something I can do for this team."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	tooth_n_claw 2009-08-28 07:07 am UTC (link)
	If he could smile he would. /Thank you. It means a lot./ (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

strongbox
2009-08-28 07:11 am UTC (link)

Jordan grins. "You don't know the half of it. Anyway, most of it for you is gift certs. I can bring in catalogs if you need it and order whatever you want. The stereo is installed... yours was a special order. 128 CD changer. Once the discs are put in, you'd probably never need to mess with it again. You have a push button remote that I re-rigged a little with a kid's remote. You can control the stereo, plus anything else you add to your home entertainment system with anything with paws German Shepherd sized or smaller, so no need to shift around to fiddle with stuff. If you need anything hooked up, just let me know."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	tooth_n_claw 2009-08-28 07:15 am UTC (link)
	Alex is humbled. He has never in the past five years have someone look out for him like Jordan did. A complete stranger no less. /Thanks. I wish there was something I could do for you in return./ (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	strongbox 2009-08-28 07:22 am UTC (link)
	There's a rare thing. Jordan is actually very quiet a few moments before answering. "There is. Use this stuff, enjoy it, make this room /yours/. Even if you don't need it, that isn't the point. This isn't Stark money we're playing with, but within reason, get stuff, do stuff, turn this room into not so much a place to be... but a place you want to be." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	tooth_n_claw 2009-08-28 07:24 am UTC (link)
	/Yes, sir./ If Alex had a face there would be a smirk on it. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	strongbox 2009-08-28 07:27 am UTC (link)
	The usual relaxed grin returns to Jordan's face. "Hey, I haven't been elected team leader yet. They're probably shipping some prick in now to handle that job. I'm just doing my part. Anyway, if you need anything, catalogs, help hooking stuff up, orders for CDs, whatever, just let me know. I should go finish hooking up the electronics in the temple." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	tooth_n_claw 2009-08-28 07:29 am UTC (link)
	/You're it for now,/ he said. /I will. Temple?/ (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

strongbox
2009-08-28 07:46 am UTC (link)

Were it possible, the intensity of Jordan's grin suggests he should have flames dancing about and imps doing his bidding as the temple is brought into conversation.
"When its finished, the X-Men may have their danger room, the Avengers their floating island, and the Fantastic Four an entire skyscraper full of futuristic lego constructions, but Alpha Flight is going to have one of the finest audio-visual feasts for the senses available in this, or any realm. Genuine leather couches, hand-crafted mahogany coffee table with cupholders built in, four slide-away refrigeration devices designed to keep cola point-eight degrees above freezing, eleven atmosphere-controlled wall-inset cupboards arranged by type of chip, popcorn, jerky and other snacks type, sixteen speaker surround-sound and a state-of-the-art movie-theatre quality flat-screen plasma television with a screen taller than four-fifths of this team if you don't cheat and become a giraffe. And I call my unfinished creation the Temple of Boom."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	tooth_n_claw 2009-08-28 07:48 am UTC (link)
	/Ah. Cool. That sounds like it will be awesome when it's done./ (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	strongbox 2009-08-28 07:52 am UTC (link)
	He deflates a little. Hard to keep up that level of enthusiasm when its not entirely shared. "Oh, it will be. I should be done within two days. The sound and television are mostly hooked up, but I still have some work to do on all the support systems, and get us hooked up to satellite TV. But in the meanwhile, it should get local stations and work fine." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	tooth_n_claw 2009-08-28 07:54 am UTC (link)
	/I'm looking forward to it. It's been a long time since I've watched a movie./ it's been a long time since he did things normal kids his age did. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	strongbox 2009-08-28 07:56 am UTC (link)
	"Really? Cause I can always hook my DVD player up to it. What's your favorite movie?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	tooth_n_claw 2009-08-28 07:57 am UTC (link)
	/I don't know. I haven't watched a movie or tv in five years./ (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	strongbox 2009-08-28 07:58 am UTC (link)
	"I'm not a huge junkie, but still... you've missed quite a bit. What was your favorite before that?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	tooth_n_claw 2009-08-28 08:00 am UTC (link)
	/Star Wars. I used to watch those with my brother./ (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	strongbox 2009-08-28 08:03 am UTC (link)
	"Excellent, I have them all on DVD. And the new Trek movie, and a bunch of other sci fi. I'll get the player unpacked and hook it up to the tv and get you all set up. When the temple is in, we ought to start doing team movie nights or something." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)