[ 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

[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.