xp_logs | Hank, Carlie, Wednesday noonish (Reply)

Hank runs into Carlie in a hallway, and they have a little talk, mostly on the subject of the Care and Dating of Madelyns. It all goes pretty well.

Hank was humming softly and walking with a slow, rocking gait, trying
to get Billy to doze off again. He'd been a little fussy again
today... he was either missing Maddie, or he was just getting more
alert, a normal thing for babies as they aged. Or both. Could be both.

He rock-knuckled his way around a corner, and saw Carlie. "Good
morning," he said cheerfully. "Well, good noontide, really..." She and
Jubilee had abducted Billy for a couple of hours yesterday, but he
hadn't had a talk to Carlie on her own as yet. He supposed he should,
given that he was dating her sister now. Mm, the shiny hadn't worn off
that thought yet...

"Hi, Hank!" Carlie replied, giving him a wide smile when she saw he
had Billy with him. "Hi, baby!" she continued, coming over and gently
stroking one tiny, bunched-up fist. "Not sleeping?" she asked, looking
up at Hank. "He looks grouchy."

"He misses Maddie, I think," Hank said, bouncing Billy a tiny bit.
"He's been a little fussy the last couple of days. I miss her too," he
admitted, and then grinned teasingly at her. "I assume she's told you
that the two of us are together, now... should I be afraid of you? Any
plans to defend her honour?"

Carlie made a most unladylike sound as she snorted. "Yeah, right.
Afraid of me, when you're dating the scary former FBI agent who has
been known to get nasty when she hasn't had her morning coffee." She
gave Hank an amused look. "If you break her heart, more fool you -
she's a lot more capable of doing horrible things to you than I am. I
could just write scathing articles on what an evil person you are,"
she added almost innocently.

Hank laughed. "This is very true. She can be scary; I like that,

though." He shook his head, joggling Billy a little... he seemed
interested by Carlie, and much less cranky. "But... no intention of
breaking her heart. I'd had feelings for her for some time before I
dared to say anything, and now that I've had the near miraculous good
fortune of securing her interest, I have no intention at all of
screwing it all up now... knock wood," he added, tapping on a handy
doorframe. "I just hope I don't somehow mess up accidentally."

"I lived with her before she went off to medschool - I know how
scary she can be." Carlie smiled at Billy and let him grab her finger,
gently jigging it up and down to keep him occupied. "And I knew you
liked her the last time I was here - anyone who wasn't terminally
oblivious could. But Mad's always been like that, too absorbed in what
she's doing to think about personal stuff unless it jumps up and bites
her on the ass." Carlie snickered a little. "I feel bad for Kurt -
he's a sweet guy too - but Mad would stomp all over him in the end.
Just don't let her get away with too much - she'll respect someone who
argues with her when she's wrong a lot more than someone who agrees
all the time." The expression on her face turned mischievous. "Not
that we've had some screaming fights, oh no."

Hank blushed. "Was I that obvious? No, never mind, I probably was." He
shook his head wryly. "I feel bad about Kurt... he's a good man, and I
like him a lot. I wound up announcing to Maddie that he cared for her
at the same time I told her I cared... it seemed so unfair to
get in ahead of him, so to speak, because I'd managed to work up the
nerve to speak and he hadn't." He cuddled Billy gently, smiling as the
baby tried to get Carlie's finger into his mouth. "We've argued a few
times, and probably will again... she thinks I'm insane for liking her
temper." He laughed a little. "I really do, though. I've been around
strong, temperamental women all my life... if a woman never yelled at
me, I wouldn't know how to handle it at all. At least with Maddie I
know she'll come right out and tell me when I do something that annoys
her, instead of storing up grudges to use against me later."

"No, Mad isn't the grudge type, that's for sure. It's the best thing
abotu her temper - she has her explosion, screams at someone for a
while, and then afterwards? All done. It doesn't come up again. And
ew, no baby drool, Billy-boy." Carlie gently manoevered her finger
away from Billy's mouth. "She might worry about hurting your feelings
'though - I know she felt terrible about Kurt. For someone who can
tear strips off someone verbally, she doesn't like hurting people's
feelings." Carlie fell silent for a moment, and then gave Hank a
considering look, twisting a curl around the index finger of her free
hand. "Do you think... if I asked Kurt to come see a movie or
something while I was here, do you think he'd say yes? I emailed him
while we were gone, but he never emailed back."

Hank... blinked. "I... certainly think it's worth a try. From what I
know of him, you'd have to be fairly blunt about it; he's rather shy."
He gave her a thoughtful look. "Only if you're genuinely interested,
though. He's only gotten more reticent, since Maddie told him she'd
prefer to remain friends. I'd hate to see him get hurt again, even if
it weren't my fault this time... and I don't think Maddie would like
it, either." She might, in fact, tear off some of those strips Carlie
had mentioned... he knew she felt guilty about hurting Kurt, and she'd
probably feel even worse if Carlie did the same, however
involuntarily.

Carlie nodded, sighing a little. "Yeah, I figured it would be like
that when he didn't email me back. I think I scared him. It's just...
he's not like anyone I know, and I'd love to get to know him better,
but I don't want to mess with his head - I'm only ninteen and
so not looking to settle down any time soon. There's too much
to do yet. And I don't know if I'm genuinely interested yet, I hardly
know the guy. All I do know is I'd like to get the chance to know him
better." She chewed on her lip a little, thinking it through. "Maybe
if I invite him along with a group - that wouldn't be as date-ish as
just us, and at least then he'd get a chance to have some fun. He's so
serious all the time."

"That sounds like a good idea." Hank nodded. "And I'd recommend just
cornering him and talking to him, too. He's tentative about making
moves himself, but I don't think he'd mind having a conversation or
two with a lovely young lady." He smiled. "And while advice is being
exchanged... do you have any for me in dealing with Maddie?" Thwarted
in his attempts to suck on her finger, Billy's face crumpled up and he
made some unhappy noises. "And would you like to hold him? Being held
by someone new often distracts him from being fractious."

"Can I?" Carlie's eyes lit up and she moved closer so Hank could pass
Billy to her. "Ooh, he's so cute," she murmured as she cradled him
carefully, supporting his head against her arm. Obviously she'd held a
baby or two before. "As for Mad... well, the main one is to not let
her push you around, but I already told you that." She rocked Billy a
little in her arms, considering the Care and Dating of Madelyns. "See,
the thing about Mad? She's spent so much time depending on herself,
she's forgotten how to let other people help her. She likes being
fussed over, in small doses, but too much and she gets impatient and
feels all smothered - that's what happened the last proper boyfriend
she had. And you've probably noticed, she doesn't really think of
herself as anything apart from a doctor or an FBI agent. So she'll
need reminding sometimes that she's a person too." Carlie gave him a
bright smile. "I think you'll be good for her that way. As logn as she
knows you're not wanting her to be either your little fragile doll to be kept in
cotton wool, or your mother, you'll be fine."

Hank laughed. "I have a mother... who I want Maddie to meet, actually.
And as little as she is next to me, I certainly don't think of her as
fragile." She was holding Billy just right, he noted, and Billy was
gazing at her with great interest. A new face was always a good
distraction. "I'm drawn to Maddie because of her strength and
intelligence, as well as her beauty. I certainly won't try to make a
doll of her." He sighed. "I can, I admit, be a little smothering at
times, but I'll try to curb that."

"Well, Mom'll be making sure she meets you as well - once she knows
about you. Mad made me promise not to say anything just yet since she
doesn't want Mom picking out china patterns again." Billy made a
burbling noise, and Carlie bent over him a little, cooing at him. "And
hello to you too. Aren't you a cutie? Oh, yes you are!" THen she
looked up at Hank and grinned. "I remember Mad telling me once, back
when I was starting to date, that sometimes the problem with being a
strong, independent woman is that you tend to attract the wounded
puppies. Men who want you to look after them, make all the decisions,
take charge. I think she got that a lot when she was in school, since
she was very serious about telling me not to get stuck with one of
them. As long as you don't go all puppy on her, you should be fine."

"I already have china," Hank said, absolutely straight-faced. "A
forty-piece set. Heirloom. Belonged to my grandma. Your mom is already
foiled." Which was entirely true... technically his parents still had
it, but they'd been planning for years to give it to him if he ever
did get married. He smiled a little. "And... well, my problem, I
think, is that I tend to get overenthusiastic sometimes, about nice
new things like a shiny toy or a relationship. And, well, given that I
look like a blue gorilla, my self-esteem's a little shaky." He reached
out to touch Billy's little hand lightly, as it unfurled a bit from
its clenched fist. Maybe he was finally getting sleepy. "But I won't
go all wounded puppy... overenthusiastic puppy in need of a smack on
the nose with a newspaper, maybe. But not wounded." At least, he'd try
not to. Maddie could be a bit... oversensitive, to some things, he'd
noticed.

Carlie stuck her tongue out at him. "You haven't met Mom. She's
never foiled." Billy yawned, and she started rocking him a bit
more soothingly. "And I don't want to know abotu newspaper smacking or
anything like that - what you two get up to in private is your
business," she continued, with an equally straight face, although
there was an evil glint in the blue eyes so much like her sister's.

Hank blushed, hard. "Oh, good lord, yes. No details of any kind
whatsoever for anyone." Not that there were any, yet. But Maddie had
asked to take things slow, and he would. If it killed him. "But I
shall do my best to make a good impression on your mother. I'm hoping
that my status as Doctorate-Holder from a Nice Family will help offset
the costume-wearing gorilla aspects."

The Look Carlie gave him was worthy of her mother. "If I didn't have
my hands full right now, I'd smack you," she told him in a tone that
would have been more severe if it wouldn't upset Billy. "You think the
fur matters? To any of us? For crying out loud, Hank, you think Mad or
I would be the way we are if we came from a family who cared about
shi... stuff like that? Mom'll be thrilled that you're a nice guy
who's serious about Mad and has an instant foster grandkid."

Hank grinned, reaching out to poke her side gently. "I know, I know...
the fur doesn't matter. Maddie's convinced me she thinks so, and I
know you do too... but I'm not an especially safe person for Maddie to
be around, and that is something that parents worry about...
That unimportant fur makes me very recognizeable, even without the
costume. And if she were here, she'd be insisting loudly that she's
used to danger, so we'll take that as read. But still." He smiled.
"Honestly, I've been more worried about the single dad stuff... but if
you think your mother will like that part, then I won't worry too
much. As for my folks..." He grinned ruefully. "Mom and Dad are very
understanding about the whole X-Men thing, but I know they'd really
prefer I get involved with someone more... normal. Maddie is a nice
girl who's at least seen the inside of a church now and then, has held
down a real job, and she's still on speaking terms with her family.
They'll be ecstatic."

Carlie was mollified, sort of. "Doofus," she told him. "Mom and Dad
will approve of you - the hard part will be not getting overwhelmed by
Mom. And anyone that could hold Billy against you isn't worth
knowing." She looked down at Billy, smiling. "Isn't that right, squib?
Your daddy's a big doofus for worrying, isn't he?" Billy blinked at
her sleepily a few times in apparent agreement. "Seriously, Hank, I'm
pleased for both of you. Just relax and be yourselves and things will
go fine - that's what you like about each other, isn't it? The people
you are? So don't give a damn about what people might expect you to
do, or try and be the perfect boyfriend. And the less worrying you do,
the better." With these sage words delivered as only a nineteen year
old who believes they know everything can, Carlie made a slight
movement towards Hank with her arms. "I think Billy's ready for
naptime, and you make a much better blankie than I do."

"I am a doofus. Maddie tells me so often," Hank agreed, taking Billy,
tucking him back into his sling and settling him against his furry
chest. "I'm pleased for me, too... I'm still a little stunned by how
lucky I am. She's an extraordinary woman." He smiled at her. "Thank
you. I'll do my best to keep your mom from overwhelming me - I can
wave the baby at her, that should make a good distraction."

Carlie laughed. "Oh, that'll work - you'll probably have trouble
getting him back off her, but it'll distract her for sure." Putting
her hand on his shoulder, she stretched up and kissed his furry cheek
briefly. "I'm glad Mad saw sense in the end," she said with a grin as
she moved back. "I've been dropping hints for months."

He beamed, giving her a quick, one-armed hug, the other hand still
holding Billy gently to him. "Well, it's nice to know I had so
powerful an influence on my side." He shook his head, still smiling.
"Months, huh? Adorable as she is, I have to admit that Maddie is even
more oblivious, in some areas, than I am. Apparently everyone in the
mansion knew how I felt, save for her."

With a shrug, Carlie said: "Well, if I was going to be all
psychoanalyst, I'd say subconsciously she knew about both you and Kurt
and didn't want to have to make a choice until she couldn't avoid it
any more." She laughed then, and went on. "Or if I wanted to just be
the bratty little sister, I'd say Mad is brilliant in some areas, but
completely dense in others. I think most of the time she still thinks
of herself as the skinny uber geek she was in high school, and just
focusses her attention on anything else but her. But hey, this place
is drawing her out of that."

Hank thought about it for a moment. "No," he said consideringly, "I
think that I would have found her devastatingly attractive even as a
skinny ubergeek - all those brains and that firey temper. Mind you, I
have no complaints at all about her current appearance." Mmm.... none
at ALL, nope, none whatsoever... wait. Adjust expression to avoid
appearance of mental salivation. "The denseness is kind of cute,
though. Of course, just now I think almost everything about her is
cute." He grinned sheepishly. "I'm terribly sappy about her. I'm a big
fuzzy mushball when it comes to romance, I admit this."

Carlie snickered then. "Yep, you're completely and utterly hooked.
Line, sinker, tacklebox and fishing boat." She didn't sound
particularly displeased, though. Then Jubilee's voice could be heard
through the window at the end of the hall, calling for Carlie, and she
facepalmed. "I forgot, I was going to go for a swim with Jubes. Wanna
come watch? There's a nice shady spot on the patio."

"I'm home, cleaned, scaled, and in the pan, too." Hank smiled. "And
very happy about it. And sure... we'll come and watch. Maybe when he
wakes up, Billy can dabble his toes in the pool, get the idea of water
feeling nice that isn't his bath."

"Great idea!" Carlie bounced over to the window and stuck her head out of it. "COMING JUBES!" she yelled back, and then looked over her shoulder at Hank. "See you down there? I'll stake out a comfy spot for you."