Secrets, Early Afternoon Jamie/Mortimer

[Jamie Madrox]

Jamie was strolling swiftly down the corridor, trying to act subtle and nonchalant while he headed for the den. He was pretty sure the TV was free and there was a game console with his name on waiting for him. But he was convinced that if he made a break for it then someone would either beat him to it or be a pain while he was trying to get his game thing on. It was a law like gravity or something. So he feigned nonchalance and tried to saunter his way over there. Just be cool Madrox and you'll finally get your game on without sugar addict Asian chicks or anyone else.

Hurrying while trying to act painfully relaxed meant that Jamie wasn't paying attention to the lift that led down to the secret areas. Wasn't like any of the X-Men he wasn't supposed to know about was going to come out right that instant.

[Mortimer Toynbee]

Of course, any X-men who got the E-mail, or the five billion times Scott warned them to use the back elevator would have not had this problem. However, this particular X-man had no E-mail address, and didn't give a damn what the leader said, mostly because he didn't pay attention. Mortimer Toynbee, better known as Toad, did what he wanted whenever he wanted... as long as he didn't get caught doing it.

So naturally, who came up the elevator while Jamie was in the hallway? Toad.

Toad hopped right out of the elevator and into Jamie, accidentally sprawling him on the floor.

"Heh heh... oops," Toad said, looking back towards the open elevator. Uh oh. "I... er... uh"

Yeah. He was doomed. There was no way to explain that.

[Jamie Madrox]

"Ow! Man, where'd that come from? I didn't do anything." Both the Jamies who were suddenly on the floor complained loudly and in perfect tandem. The unexpected knock had caused Jamie to pop out a dupe, who looked just as unhappy as the original, whichever one was which.

He looked up at Toad with the kind of annoyance a kid showed to an adult who theoretically had authority. "Man, aren't you like meant to be paying attention where you're going?" Jamie wanted to add 'as an X-Man', but he kept that bit to himself since he wasn't supposed to use that word in public.

[Mortimer Toynbee]

Toad sighed, and picked himself up. Yeah. Because this was all totally his fault. He definitely couldn't have had the whole collision by himself. And now instead of one, there was two. Toad did a double take. Oh, now he was doubly screwed.

"Look, it ain't loike Oi meant ta knock ya over," Toad said abrasively, "It was an accident, oll roight?"

The elevator doors closed. Toad turned back to the Jamies. "Oi'm guessin' there's no way I could convince ya that ya didn't see that?"

[Jamie Madrox]

As one Jamie was drawn back into the other, the newly reformed kid gave Toad a speculative look. What was the guy talking about? He already knew.... But then, maybe Toad didn't know that!

Suppressing a sly grin, Jamie put on his best innocent expression and cocked his head at >Toad with an i9nnocently curious expression. "What, the secret elevator? What's down there?" This was gonna be soo much fun.

[Mortimer Toynbee]

Toad was beginning to make a speedy getaway, or hopaway rather, before the twins (though it only sounded like one voice this time) piped up again. He stopped and winced. Crud. Not good. How much was it going to take to shut the kid up?

Toad spun around to see... one twin? He'd figure out that part later. Toad mustered up his courage in one breath. "Look, Oi don't mean ta be rude, but it ain't none-a your business, an' Oi could get in some serious trouble for tellin' ya," Toad explained. "So could ya just keep quiet about it?" he said, putting on his best desperate face.

[Jamie Madrox]

"But I bet it's really cool!" Jamie exclaimed in fake consternation as he tried real hard not to laugh. It was too early to find that quiet corner he could cut loose in. "Besides, we always get told that it's good for us to exercise our curiosity. it broadens our horizons and makes us into well-rounded individuals. And communication is the key to the kind of fair exchange of ideals that helps remove fears and stereotypes." Who'dve ever thought that boring stuff he got told in philosophy class by the Professor Xavier hologram would ever come in handy? GOod thing he'd paid attention to that one instead of doodling.

"You aren't in favor of racism are you?" Jamie's expression was one of wide-eyed dismay. He was just a kid who didn't want to think badly of the adults he respected and looked up to. Shyeah right. Don#t lay it on too thick Madrox, or you'll make yourself sick.

[Mortimer Toynbee]

Toad groaned inwardly. He swore he'd take up praying and giving money to the church and all that jazz... anything... just so long as that kid shut up already, and walked away. How hard was that? He could shut his trap, walk away, sneak down later when nobody was around, and then Toad wouldn't have to take the blame. How hard was that?!

Apparently though it was too much to ask, as eager beaver possible-twin couldn't seem to settle down. Toad was turning dark green in embarassment and anger.

"Oi'm green," he stated, "Do ya really think Oi'd be racist?"

Toad sighed. "An' ain't ya eva 'eard that ignorance is bliss? Really, it's true. You don't even wanna know what's-..." Toad said, then cut himself off. He couldn't make it look like anything down there was of any value.

"There is nothin' special down there. Oll roight?" he said.

[Jamie Madrox]

Riight, there was nothing down there. That was why Mortimer was getting so worked up. Jamie let his expression show the disdain and disbelief he actually felt. What did the guy think? That Jamie was some kind of dumkb kid?

"If there's nothing down there, why's there a secret elevator?" He asked in a reasonable tone of voice.

[Mortimer Toynbee]

Toad winced visibly. Dear God, why couldn't he just leave well enough alone and snaek in later like a normal person? But his logic made sense. And he knew the kid was not going to shut up until he found out what was down there.

Freakin smart alec Toad silently cursed.

"Oi dunno. Do Oi look loike an architect?" Toad replied annoyedly. "Trust me, if Oi could show ya without gettin' in monumental amounts of trouble Oi would. But ya gotta wait until ya graduate ta foind out."

[Jamie Madrox]

This is too much fun, there's now way I'm letting him off this easy. Jamie chuckled inwardly and let his expression get that dawn of realization that people got when they figured something out.
"Oh, so it's only secret from the STUDENTS. Is it like some sort of secret teacher club or something? Some sort of crime-fighting thing like on TV?"

That's playing it awful close Madrox. The Humphrey Bogart-style voice that was what passed for Jamie's sense pointed out.But Jamie ignored it resolutely, like he always did until it was too late. there was no way the green dude was gonna figure out that he already knew about the X-Men.

[Mortimer Toynbee]

Toad was caught so off guard by Jamie that he tripped midhop. How the hell was he supposed to cover up this one? He totally blamed the teachers for this. This guy was too wide eyed and bushy tailed for his own good. He was just about ready to blow his top.

"Yeeeeaaaah, since when 'ave you ever seen me teach a class?" Toad asked sarcastically, brushing off that it was a teachers-only thing. Even though it technically was. "Look, you'll foind out soon enough. 'Ow many years ya gonna graduate in? One? Mebbe two?"

Please be right with age, please be right with age, please be right wih...