nextgen_adult (nextgen_adult) wrote in marvel_nextgen,
@ 2010-07-12 19:37:00

Blind Date.
Arilynn Williams still wasn't quite sure how her recent conversation with Sylvia McCoy, which had started with borrowing a pen, had gone all the places it did. But here she was. Sylvia was always a good kid, and Arilynn did need to get out more.
And so she was talked into dinner with, apparently, the gym teacher at Xavier's. With all the things she'd cataloged in the archives about New York and its denizens -- a few of which she'd admittedly documented herself -- she had to figure some weird things might go on in gym class at that particular insular private school. But she couldn't prove it, nor would she want to. When a future queen saves your life and then helps you save the world, you don't try to make life difficult for her old work buddies years down the road.

And so here she was, at a nice Japanese place. Right on time.

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	nextgen_adult 2010-07-16 12:38 am UTC (link)
	"Sounds like it was a reasonable plan. Ever been much to the Mediterranean? I spent some wonderful times in dusty old rooms around North Africa, the Levant, and Greece." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_parent 2010-07-16 02:21 am UTC (link)
	He shook his head. "Not much. Spent time in Madripoor an' Japan. Got around Europe and the poles on occasion. Special...uh...projects." Then there was space, but explaining that would require privacy. "I'm usually there for a reason an' then I'm gone." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_adult 2010-07-16 02:55 am UTC (link)
	"Madripoor... I've always figured the place required some pretty good survival instincts. And for many of us, of course, those instincts say 'Do not go to Madripoor.'" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_parent 2010-07-16 03:14 am UTC (link)
	"Most of you should listen to those instincts." Though he would give her points for being tougher than she appeared, and not just because she was a redhead. "The island has a lot o' history, but knowin' it has never been exactly healthy." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_adult 2010-07-16 04:17 am UTC (link)
	"I'm very willing to believe that. Although there's plenty of dangerous-to-know things that need to be kept available. On a need to know basis. This one monograph I did in North Africa...it was messed up. But, the world being as weird as it is, it turned out to be vital information for a few people once upon a time." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_parent 2010-07-16 04:51 am UTC (link)
	Logan nodded. "Long as the world stays in one piece, it's the best anybody can do." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_adult 2010-07-16 05:05 am UTC (link)
	"Yeah." And finally, it's time to start eating the food, which she does with enthusiasm. Soon. "I don't want to seem too forward, Logan..." She pauses to take a sip. "But I'd like to get your phone number when we get the chance." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_parent 2010-07-16 12:45 pm UTC (link)
	A nice woman, a smart, pretty woman, asking for his phone number. He was going to have to thank Sylvie. Mikey couldn't have come up with this woman on his own. "I'd like that, Arilynn. If ya don't mind, I'd like yours before the evening's over." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_adult 2010-07-16 03:43 pm UTC (link)
	"Great, that would be fine." She smiles. "Is your school schedule busy these days?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_parent 2010-07-16 05:54 pm UTC (link)
	"It's flexible. Some need it in the mornin', most in the afternoon, an' some I just toss off the balcony when I catch them." He sounded like he might be kidding on the last one, but in reality he wasn't. Training took all forms. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_adult 2010-07-16 06:16 pm UTC (link)
	She's not positive whether or not he's being literal, but she chuckles anyway. "Quite the specialized curriculum." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_parent 2010-07-16 10:53 pm UTC (link)
	His answering smile was just as amused. "Kids like Sylvie need different methods. I find it an' teach them the basics to stayin' alive." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_adult 2010-07-17 05:02 am UTC (link)
	"I suppose they would," Arilynn says thoughtfully. To be honest, she's a little taken aback at the idea of Sylvie's being in...Situations, but she realizes there's no reason she'd be immune. "It's good to have different angles covered." "Did you take the train in?" She asks. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

nextgen_parent
2010-07-17 06:03 am UTC (link)

That was his job - covering the angles and knowing how to take a kid down if he left Xavier's and because a danger. He was good at it.

One might say he was the best at what he did.

One might want to avoid a fist full of claws. Even Logan got tired of the joke after the first half million times he'd heard it.

"Rode my bike in. Thought I was meetin' Mikey. He's been livin' in his head too much lately an' I thought he wanted to talk about it away from the school. I'm not much for bein' in a small area with a lot of strangers if I can avoid it. You ride at all?"

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_adult 2010-07-17 06:30 am UTC (link)
	"Well, I suppose it is one way of dealing with the fact that one needs to get out, from a certain point of view -- pay attention to how much other people apparently need to get out, and make them." "I've been on them a fair amount before, though it's been a while. Never had one of my own." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_parent 2010-07-17 06:50 am UTC (link)
	"Had him ridin' before he was ten. My other boy got his first bike last year. It's a tradition." He slid the plate back a few inches. "There's a place thirty miles north that makes the best homemade ice cream. If ya want to take a ride and give it a try some afternoon." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_adult 2010-07-17 06:54 am UTC (link)
	"How old's your youngest?" "That sounds very appealing." She's finishing up her food, as well, and reaches for her purse. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_parent 2010-07-17 07:08 am UTC (link)
	"He'll be sixteen in a couple of days. He's survivin' along with the other students." His brows moved together in a trademark scowl. "I'd call it a favor if ya let me take care of dinner." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_adult 2010-07-17 07:12 am UTC (link)
	"Glad to hear it. Sixteen's quite a year, for most kids. "Done, then. Thank you." She opens the purse anyway, gets out a little notebook and pen, and writes out her number, tears the page out, and passes, with accompanying offer of the pen and paper. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_parent 2010-07-17 01:23 pm UTC (link)
	Logan tucked her number into his shirt pocket before writing his down for her. He slid the paper and pen back across the table. "David's pretty mild. Mikey was on the wild side. Threatened to take him to the vet more than once." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

nextgen_adult
2010-07-17 02:58 pm UTC (link)

She cheerfully returns it to the purse.

"Sounds like he was a real handful. It's funny, the differences and similarities you see in siblings. And of course, it's a matter of perspective. My brother and sister and I don't think we're much alike, but some people say otherwise."

When the check is settled... "I've only got a couple blocks to walk. Care to take this conversation outside?"

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

nextgen_parent
2010-07-17 03:19 pm UTC (link)

Once outside, Logan offered his arm. He could do gentlemanly and pull it off.

"I raised Mikey, so that's partly my fault. David's mom found me over a year ago. He was startin' to..." they were on the street, but it was still not safe enough in his opinion, "...have problems an' she needed help. I was glad to take him. Wish I'd known sooner. He's had a few rough times but he's steppin' up an' workin' at it."

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	nextgen_adult 2010-07-17 03:27 pm UTC (link)
	She took it. "14 years is a long time to find someone," Arilynn feels compelled to comment. "Glad to hear he's managing." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_parent 2010-07-17 04:03 pm UTC (link)
	Logan didn't waste time with apologies. His past was exactly that, his, and David was his. He didn't mention Rose for now. That would require Arilynn to believe in what should have been impossible and was happening all too much lately in his opinion. "You live around here?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_adult 2010-07-17 06:12 pm UTC (link)
	She nods. "Nine blocks. Been there for ages. It's a convenient spot, I like the view, and the neighborhood's pretty safe for New York." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)