[ i'm freezing and losing my way ]

[superxgrlfriend.livejournal.com]

WHO: Monet and Jamie.
WHERE: MAC X-Factor HQ under construction.
WHEN: REAL TIME.
WARNINGS: Unresolved sexual tension.
SUMMARY: Remaining members of X-Factor derping around.
FORMAT: Parafactor and whatever.



The winter air was biting as Monet made her way over to the MAC building, her light leather coat doing nothing to insulate her. Jamie owed her at least one fairly expensive date in exchange for her suffering the elements, his ridiculous bossiness and manual labor. It was the least she deserved.

She found her way there easily enough; it was the only door that boasted a crudely written X-Factor Investigations sign, and underneath, a hastily scribbled James Madrox. Shaking her head, she sighed, and without knocking, opened the door.

Comments

[jamie-prime.livejournal.com]

[ Cross-legged on the ground, Jamie sat with a group of his dupes eating lunch. One was covered in splotches of paint, another a thin layer of sawdust, and Jamie himself, sleeves rolled up, sweating and eating a sub.

He hadn't expected Monet. Had he known she were coming, he would have picked her something up. Instead, he sheepishly poked at the other half of his sandwich, mouth full. ]

Hungry?

[superxgrlfriend.livejournal.com]

[ Monet crossed her arms over her chest, resisting the urge to sigh. If she did that, the dust that was permeating the air would fill her healing lungs, and she supposed that would be a poor decision. She tapped a high-heeled shoe against the half-shining, half-dingy floor. ]

Not anymore. What are you doing?

[jamie-prime.livejournal.com]

[ He looked thoughtful for a moment, maybe even confused. ] I swear I thought we had this conversation.

[ Jamie gestured around the room, sub in hand. ] This place isn't gonna get up and running by itself, is it? And I'm certainly not gonna crawl to Scott Summers for work.

[superxgrlfriend.livejournal.com]

I meant on the floor, not in general.

[ She takes a look around. It does seem to be shaping into a semblance of an office. ]

I think it needs a woman's touch. This woman's touch. When can I go shopping for furniture?

[jamie-prime.livejournal.com]

Eating a sub. [ He said plainly. ]

And I don't know where you plan on going, [ He took a bite. ] but considering our cash flow right now, the only place I can think of starts with I and ends in kea.

[superxgrlfriend.livejournal.com]

Obviously.

Don't underestimate me, Madrox. I can make miracles.

[jamie-prime.livejournal.com]

[ He mumbled, mouth full, and stared at her plainly. ] If these miracles involve James Bond or Tony Stark, I'm out.

[superxgrlfriend.livejournal.com]

[ Stares at him in disgust. ]

You wound me with your insinuations.

[jamie-prime.livejournal.com]

Okay, okay, [ He relented, standing up. Then, without looking, he extended his hand and reabsorbed his duplicates. ]

What did you have in mind?

[superxgrlfriend.livejournal.com]

Well, firstly, you're in desperate need of a shower. Then, you can take me out to lunch, and we can shop for amenities.

[jamie-prime.livejournal.com]

[ He blinked and looked down at himself. ] Oh.

Yeah, just... [ he began, and then wrapped his sub up and tossed it in the tiny fridge. ] ...just gimme a few minutes.

[ He pulled off his shirt and shut the door behind him. Monet could hear the shower start, and he called out. ] AH... MAKE YOURSELF COMFORTABLE. THERE ARE SOME DRINKS IN THE FRIDGE.

[superxgrlfriend.livejournal.com]

[ While she waited, Monet looked around the apartment. It wasn't snooping as much as it was evaluating her future work environment. The living room was sparse, which was expected, as that was where Jamie was doing most of the work. A single armchair stood in one corner. The kitchen was, at the very least, clean. Predictably, the only things in the small fridge were the sandwich and beer. Nothing appealing.

She was about to peek into the bedroom when the water shut off, signaling that she should probably return to the living room. Not knowing entirely why, and it certainly wasn't because she just processed that Jamie was naked ten feet away, she stood where she was at the juncture between the bathroom and bedroom.]

[jamie-prime.livejournal.com]

[ The door open, steam moved from the door, and Jamie walked out, not looking, and just about walked right into Monet. His eyes went wide for a minute and he grabbed onto the towel around his waist ] UH.

Thee uh... chair... [ He pointed towards the direction of the living room. ] ...is that way, Monet? [ The question in his voice was more because he was... confused. What was going on? He knew Monet was forward, but he didn't think? Was... that what this was? ]

[superxgrlfriend.livejournal.com]

[ She looked him up and down. Slowly. ]

I know, I was just looking around. Nothing really of interest, sadly.

[ She turned and walked out toward the living room, her hair swinging behind her. ]

Try not to take too much time getting ready. I hardly have all day.

[jamie-prime.livejournal.com]

[ He'd been unconsciously holding his breath in his chest the entire time she'd been standing there up until the point she walked away. Only then did he release it in a relieved, but equally frustrated sigh. Goddammit, Monet.

It only took him a few minutes to toss on his usual jeans, trademark henley-esque shirt, and jacket, and then he was back out in the living room/office waving her towards him and the door. ]

Ready? I hardly have all day. [ He turned from her and rolled his eyes. ]

[superxgrlfriend.livejournal.com]

[ She let her eyes linger perhaps a little longer than necessary, but, as he was turned, there was no harm. In fact, it was a bonus. It was a pretty nice view; who could blame her? ]

You should consider yourself lucky to be spending time with me. I'm very busy, you know.

[jamie-prime.livejournal.com]

I know, I know. [ He sighed breathily. ] You're very popular. [ He said, walking. Actually, he was really glad she was here. He wasn't sure what he would do, would have done if she weren't. ]

Where do you want to go? I'm really thinking in the Applebees-esque tier. [ He was joking, of course. Kind of. He really didn't have much money. ]

[superxgrlfriend.livejournal.com]

[ It was sweet, really, that he was taking her seriously, though he often did. She knew that he was putting every penny of his paltry superhero income into the new X-Factor; despite all appearances, she would never bankrupt him for her own entertainment. In the end, he was still her friend. ]

Applebees? Hardly. We can take a walk down 6th avenue and window shop menus. There's a fabulous Indian restaurant just a few blocks from here, if I remember correctly.

[jamie-prime.livejournal.com]

You know, a private eye's salary doesn't usually allow for more than a bottle of whiskey and a pack of cigarettes... [ He clasps his hands behind his head casually. ]

But for you, sure, wherever you want. [ He declared lightly. ]

[superxgrlfriend.livejournal.com]

[ As they leave the building, Monet uses her right arm to wrap her coat around herself tightly and reminds herself to buy proper winter clothing when she next gets the chance. The wind is brutal. ]

I think you can make some sacrifices for the comfort of one of your most loyal employees. Do you think Rahne would come work for you in this city? I think not.

[jamie-prime.livejournal.com]

[ He looked a little embittered for a minute. ] Yeah, well... Rahne still thinks she's going to kill me on my wedding night.

[ He gestured towards her. ] You, on the other hand, have been more than happy to tell me you're going to kill me on a few occasions.

But... [ He offered a small smile, though he stared ahead walking, rather than directly at her. ] You stayed. She didn't.

[ Jamie shrugged his shoulders. ] I guess that deserves a lunch on me.

[superxgrlfriend.livejournal.com]

[ It was a mistake to bring up a Rahne, Monet realized. Too fresh of a wound, barely scabbed over. Jamie had internally monologued for weeks. ]

Rahne is an idiot. The future isn't written in stone; perhaps one day she'll realize it.

[ Suddenly, Monet noticed that they were standing in front of one of her favorite Japanese restaurants. The food was excellent, the atmosphere was pleasant, and there was a lunch special. That should mollify the frugal gourmet. He didn't even smoke. ]

Let's go here.

[ But she was already walking in the door. ]

[jamie-prime.livejournal.com]

[ He blinked hard realizing she was already in the restaurant, and he felt kind of like an idiot for a moment having continued walking on and then having to double back. ]

O...k... [ He commented to himself, mostly. ]

[superxgrlfriend.livejournal.com]

[ She'd lost him, but he'd be back. They always found their way back. He was, in fact, right behind her as she was seated, and he dropped unceremoniously into the chair across the table. It was a small, quaint restaurant, and the waitress seemed friendly enough as she handed the two menus. ]

What are you thinking about ordering?

[jamie-prime.livejournal.com]

[ He'd been looking at the menu for a minute, then just looked up at her blankly for a minute, and without blinking (or looking back down), ran his finger down the menu and stopped like he were spinning the wheel on the Price is Right. He looked down. ]

Uhhhmm... soba noodles.

[superxgrlfriend.livejournal.com]

[ Had been raising a cup of tea to her mouth, but she had to stop to laugh. Amazing. ]

In a world where you're the lone anti-hero, your fatal flaw would be indecision so ridiculous you can't even decide what to eat for lunch.

[jamie-prime.livejournal.com]

People have that problem all the time, Monet. I just have a more efficient way of choosing.

After all, [ he said, raising the beer he'd ordered, ] impulse and chance are two key characteristics of being noir.

[superxgrlfriend.livejournal.com]

Creating the exact number of dupes necessary to exercise all options doesn't quite count as choosing, Madrox.

[ She twirled the chopsticks around in her hand. ]

It doesn't feel all that noir, either.

[jamie-prime.livejournal.com]

I do fine. [ He was lying. ]

[ He took a sip of his beer. ] Besides, we didn't come here to talk about how useless I am, did we?

[superxgrlfriend.livejournal.com]

You're not useless. Confused, and not very fashionable, but not useless.

You do have quite good taste in lunch companions.

[jamie-prime.livejournal.com]

Well, it's nice to be right about something for once. [ He smiled, and looked down at the hand touching on the condensation of his beer. ]

You've got some good friends, [ He paused and looked up. ] I don't think you've ever told me about them.

[superxgrlfriend.livejournal.com]

Don't get used to it. It likely won't happen again for some time.

[ She paused. ]

There's hardly much to tell. Emma Frost and Sean Cassidy ran a mutant boarding school in Massachusetts. Jono, Paige, Angelo and I played the part of junior X-Men for years -- teenage angst, a danger room, recurring villains and all. Then Emma went a little loopy after she killed her sister, and Sean became an alcoholic after Moira MacTaggert died. We ended up leaving at around the time I met you for the first time. In Paris.