concoursec | Gotta hit the ground dancin'

Entry tags:

Gotta hit the ground dancin'

Character(s): Tom Bronson, Oli Westcliffe
Location: The DAN 101 ballroom
Rating: PG at most
Open/Closed/Finished: Closed!
Summary: Two old buddies catch up on old times! Aaand Tommy's getting some badly-needed dance lessons since he barely passed the first time.

If it weren't for the fact that Oli - no surprise, of course - taught DAN 101, Tom knew that he wouldn't have bothered to stop by the classroom. But as it was, he was impressed with himself for a) bothering to read the memos Headmaster sent out and b) actually attempting to step into the classroom after his so-called "epic failures" in the ballroom.

Still, part of him couldn't help grinning as he leaned against the wall and waited for the class to end. Once all these kids headed out towards lunch, he'd have time to catch up and talk to someone he hadn't seen in nearly forever. Part of him immediately felt bad for not sending out letters, but he supposed it was better to talk to Oli in person than through snail mail anyways.

The kids couldn't leave fast enough. The minute they packed up their bags and headed out, Tom wove through the crowd and waved energetically at his friend, "Hey!" He called, his happiness somewhat contagious, "Oli! Got a moment?"

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Oli waves his class off. It'd been a hard lesson, some people had not been as receptive of his lessons and many of his male dancers needed a strong beat around the head. However, the faculty frown upon physical contact with the dance students. Well, negative physical contact at least.

He took his towel and wiped his face shaking his head into it, fluffing his hair a little bit. He looked to the side of the room and saw his long lost friend. He chuckled and waved back, sliding towards him elegantly. IT was the atmosphere that kept him in true dances check.

"Well, Top Cat! It's been a long time since I've seen you." He said with a grin. Giving him a spin and a bow before he walks up and opens his arms for a hug.

Only Oli could make dance moves look masculine. Tom chuckles, tilting his head slightly as he watches him, "Missions do get in the way of that, don't they?"

Immediately giving Oli a bear hug (one-armed hugs just didn't do, especially since it'd been what, forever?), Tom lets go and resists the urge to ruffle his hair. "Looks like you're doing pretty well in the teaching department," Tom remarks, returning the grin with ease. "Maybe I'll have to audit it one of these days."

Oli accepted his big bear hug and with a sly grin, channelled a little super strength into his hug. "Miss me did you?" He grinned, patting him on the back and holding him at arms length. "And yeah. Best teacher to ever teach them how to dance and to fight." He grins, punching his shoulder gently.

"Still smell of the old cigarettes then." He laughs. Hugging him again.

"Course I missed you," He chuckled, folding his arms. "Not like metas keep popping up every day around here." Yeah, he knew the term was 'mutant' in Oli's world, but 'meta' just rolled off the tongue better. Or maybe that was just his own bias showing there.

At the mention of his scent, Tom manages a wry smile. "Darn," He laughs, "I thought I hid it well with the citrus. Maybe I should make it stronger before class today?" One of these days, it'd probably get him - and he knew it, after just about everyone lectured him on it - but at the moment, he was pretty content with his life just about the way it is.

"Ahhhh I missed your stinky alcoholic butt too." He said letting go of his hug. "Citrus was a nice touch. But I suggest soaking your clothes, that's what gives you away." He smiles stretching

Oli shakes his head. "Mutant." He said clearly and authoritatively. "I gotta stand loud and proud T.C. You know it." He says effortlessly arching his back and shifting his weight onto his hands, lifting his legs straight into the air. "How was the mission? You get whatever it was done and dusted?" He asked walking over till he was standing again. His back clicked twice.

"That's better. Little bit tense after the little nooblets refuse to learn dance. 'A man's pride is his killers greatest weapon.' ... Can't remember where I learned that." he taps his head three times. "Comic book or movie?"

"Duly noted," Tom grins, carefully sniffing his sleeve again as he makes a mental note to go change after lunch. Hopefully his students'd appreciate it this go-round!

He shakes his head, watching Oli with an amused smile, "I'd say movie. They're profound like that. But... actually, I'm teaching here. Shocker, right? The old teacher retired and I had nothing better to do, so... well.. here I am."

"You serious?" Oli beamed at him walking up and clapping him on the arm with a grin. "What're you teaching? Animal care?" He said with a wider grin.

"No serious! Welcome to the faculty. I suggest keeping away from some groups of instructors. Little bit nasty. But you'll be a great teacher if you can keep away from certain substances." He said with a smile. "Or at least share 'em with me." He gave a wink.

Heh. Just listening to Oli made Tom's whole day. Stuffing his hands into his pockets, he grinned, "I've been here for about six months now, as weird as that sounds... and it's Boxing, mainly, though I've been thinking about talking to Headmaster about teaching remedial Math. Maybe."

The 'maybe' came as no shock, considering that Tom hated paperwork with a passion. "Hey now, I promised I'd share all the good booze with you. Right now, I'm sober, but who knows come break time?"

"Boxing? Awesome man!" He laughs and gives a grin. "Good. We should get a weekend on town again. I've not had much fun since you've been away" He smiles at his buddy before sitting on the steps down to the dance floor.

"Remedial math? You've got the patience for it. I mean, you kept me on task and you only had to bribe me a few times." He said with a chuckle. "So. Dinner? Shower? A dance for the handsome man?" He asks holding out his hand with a toothy grin.

"That'd depend on what kind of fun you're looking for," Tom chuckled softly. "I don't think we'll have much time for the heroing thing again." Though it was fun while it lasted! Except that Tom knew the natives didn't like his werepanther form, so he mostly kept it in reserve for a fight.

He made a face as he plopped down beside Oli. Dancing? Him? But he knew better than to voice that thought. "Whatever you want, man. I just wanted to catch up."

"Well before we do anything I need to take a shower. I do smell a little ripe after three hours of teaching dance." He says standing abruptly and picking up his bag. "Gimme ten minutes? We'll grab a bite and really catch up." He says tossing his towel into the bag.

"We can hit the 'secret spot' so you can have a secret ciggy? I may even partake and cough elaborately in an attempt to inspire crippling guilt for starting me on such a filthy habit." He said with a wink heading towards the ballroom door, his keys jangling in his hand.

"Out ya go. Gotta lock up." He said, finding the big pretty key.

Being kicked out already? Tom tried to hide his relief - thank god he wasn't getting dance lessons off the bat - as he rose to his feet and started to walk alongside him. "Sounds good to me," He nodded. What could he do in ten minutes? Snag a trade from the library and read it twice? (Once a comic book nerd, always a comic book nerd, it seemed.)

"I'm actually good concerning the smokes," Tom grinned, pumping his fist. "Doc put me on nicotine gum, so I've been trying that... on and off." What he meant was, 'it worked on the days he remembered he had it.'

He gives a laugh and a wink and locks up. "You didn't have to look so relieved. I would only have taken you for another spin." He grinned slyly, flicking the lock and looking his friend.

"Why don't you go get the food? I want something spicy chickeny. Oh! Put it in bread. It's called a baguette in France. or French bread. Please? I'll make it worth your while." He said heading towards the shower.

Ah man, and he thought he was getting better at acting! Tom could only give a sheepish grin in response as he started to head towards the cafeteria. Baguette... he could do that, no problem.

"Yeah, no problem," Tom replied, humming thoughtfully under his breath. "Meet me in the Quad when you're done? I'll get us a table and everything." (Well, he would've said the Cafeteria, but the weather was too nice to sit inside.)

Oli walks out into the quad, his hair still damp from the shower. He hasn't bothered to do up his shirt either, and has a towel around his neck. He walks towards Tom with a smile.

"Hey. I see you got the goods!" He grins tossing his hair with a chuckle. "God I'm hungry. But eating something actually tasty before three hours of dancing causes stomach cramps. So it's cereal or a salad or something." His voice tainted as if having to eat salad was the worst thing about dancing.

"I hope you got something for yourself." He said with a smile.

Pushing the sandwich (and baked potato chips) in Oli's direction, Tom returns the grin as he gestures towards his own burger and carrot sticks. Granted, he knew that he should've probably eaten something slightly healthier, considering that he had Boxing this afternoon. Well, whatever, he'd deal when it came time for that.

"I wouldn't forget myself. I'm not much for spice, so you can blame me if it's bland for you," He joked, taking a bite out of a carrot stick. After a moment, he added, "But it's pretty much the same for fighting classes. I might regret this burger later."

Oli surveys his baguette and takes a bite. His eyes widen a little bit but he chews cheerily. "Top Cat still makes a top sandwich and you should do it more often. In fact, you should just be my personal sandwich chef." Oli jested, chomping down another bite.

"Hey, I teach fighting too you know. But my martial arts don't really require me to keep my core firm." He noted, cracking open the bag of potato chips and putting a few into the baguette too. "I'll massage any cramps out, I'm an expert." He grinned. "I'll even use the smaller sledge hammer cause you're my friend."

So he hadn't lost his touch! Tom couldn't help humming under his breath. Funny how he inherited bad habits from his friends after he was no longer in their presence... Maxine would've probably laughed at him if she could see him. "Your wish is my command," He joked, "All you have to do is ask. It's not that hard, man."

... And that was one memo he missed. (Darn those pesky notices.) Tom made a face, "Seriously? ... I missed that memo. As usual." One of these days, he'd actually read all the memos and be informed. Alas, today was simply not that day.

"Aww, I'm touched. And here I thought I was going to get the large one."

"Yeah. Martial arts. Someone's gotta teach these pansies that there is no such thing as a Karate Chop." He grins and takes another large bite of his sandwich, gesturing that Tom shouldn't go anywhere because after this bite there was an important thing he had to know.

"And wishes are my commands are they?" a mischievous grin spread across his lips. "Well! We'll see about that." He continued, chomping another giant bite out of his baguette.

"So." He said through his mouthful. "Did you meet anyone out on your big whatever-you-were-doing?" He grinned.

Wait what. How did this conversation jump from sandwich making to him meeting a girl? Tom nearly choked on his burger. How did he...? Was this even a relevant question? Furrowing his eyebrows, he reached for his water bottle and nearly guzzled it down in one sip.

"What?" He asked, trying not to sound as confused as he was, "Not... really?"

Granted, he still had a crush on someone, but his not-so-secret crush on Sharpay was obvious to pretty much everyone but her, and Tom was convinced it wasn't going to go anywhere as it was. "There were like, drunken make-out sessions, but it wasn't anything serious or 'write-home-worthy.'"

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Gotta hit the ground dancin'

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