xp_logs | Angelo and Amanda, New Orleans

Angelo gets to see where Amanda's living now, then they go for a drink. She's doing well, and some measure of closure is achieved for both of them.

The adult education centre was easy enough to find, with the directions Angelo had been given. He'd got there a little early, even, and was leaning against a wall across the street, cigarette in hand, watching the building idly while he waited for her classes to finish. Eventually, people started to flood out, none of them looking especially well-off - but that was only to be expected, the rich wouldn't be in a place like this.

When he finally spotted her, it made him smile. She looked well, relaxed and happy, and had left her hair blonde. She was talking animatedly to a few other students, and he watched and waited for them to split off and go their own way before he made his presence known, pushing himself off the wall.

"Amanda!"

The girl jumped slightly, looking around with a confused look. Then she caught sight of Angelo across the street and her face lit up.

"Ange!" she called out, drawing startled and then amused looks from the people around her. With no more than a cursory glance for traffic, she dashed across the road dropping her book bag as she reached him and flinging her arms around his neck. "What the fuck are you doing here? It's so good to see you!" Then she loosened her grip a little and shifted back to look into his face. "'S not bad news, is it? Everyone's all right?"

"Nathan's pretty cut up, but he's survivin'", he answered, taking the opportunity to get a better look at her. "The others're okay. Came down to see how you were doin', actually."

"I'm... better," she said, with a lopsided grin, relieved to hear there were no new dramas. "Hey, walk with me back to my place and we can talk. 'S not much, but 's home for now. How'd you'd get down here, any way? What're you up to?" The questions tumbled out of her as she hugged Angelo tightly again. "I can't believe you're here!"

He hugged her back, laughing. "Got a Greyhound, and workin' with Nate same as I was when you left. Where're you livin, then?"

"Greyhound? Gah." She pulled a face and unwrapped herself from the death-grip she had on him long enough to scoop up her book bag. Straightening, she looped her arm through Angelo's and began leading him down the street. There were a few amused cat-calls and whistles from her remaining classmates, asking her who the boyfriend was, and she blushed. "I've set meself up in a flat just 'round the corner. I stayed at Tante's place for a few months, but she and Remy said it would be better for me to see what this normal living thing was like. I've got a waitressing job that helps pay the bills, and I'm working on that high school equivalency thing here." Looking up at him, she tilted her head slightly. "And how're things with you? Meet any more interpreters?"

He flushed slightly, under the grey, and told her, "Still writin' to Samie, actually. Don't need to meet any more, do I?"

"Probably not," she replied cheerfully, squeezing his arm a little. "You must be shagged after that bus ride, tho'. Buses aren't the most comfy form of transport."

"Not the worst, either. I am kind of tired, though. Be good to sit down for awhile."

"Fair enough. If you want you can have a shower, clean up. It's what, half a day to get here?" Distances in the US were boggling to Amanda even now. The area they were walking through was run down, obviously not well-to-do, but Amanda seemed comfortable there, more comfortable than she'd ever been at Xavier's. She pulled him to a stop outside a dilapidated townhouse, paint peeling and signs or water damage from the hurricane floods. "Like I said, it ain't much, but hey, it's mine. Well, the landlady's, but you know what I mean."

"Nearly two days", he corrected absently, looking around as they walked. "An' yeah, it's good to have a place of your own, even if it's rented."

"Two days? On a bus? Bloody hell." Amanda unlocked the front door and held it open for Angelo to go through before following. The foyer was dim and a little dusty, the stairs narrow and rickety. "So, where'd you and... where were you working this last time?" she asked, leading the way up the stairs. Her apartment was on the second floor and there was no elevator - she got plenty of exercise this way.

"Kazakhstan. With Nathan, Haroun an' Wanda." He didn't complain about the climb. It was familiar, after all - buildings like this weren't so far different between New Orleans and LA.

"Wanda? That must have been a right laugh," she said, neatly avoiding mentioning Nathan. Reaching her door - painted blue and showing the years, the number '201' picked out in white - Amanda fitted the key in the lock and jiggled it a few times before it would turn. "Thing sticks sometimes," she said with a small, embarrassed grin, shoving the door open with her shoulder. "Um, welcome and all that. Make yourself at home."

The apartment was small, barely more than a bedsit, with a kitchenette in one corner and a door leading to what was obviously the bedroom, a mattress sitting on the floor visible through the doorway. The living area held a battered couch and small television resting on a milk crate, with several more crates comprising a bookshelf. There were several text books dealing with psychology and sociology, plus a collection of beaten-up paperbacks and CDs. Over by the window was a small table and two chairs, with a jam jar full of carnations set in the middle. Well-appointed it was not, but it was clean and Amanda moved inside with an ease of manner that told Angelo more than any number of words that she was content here.

"Have a seat," she told him. "And just dump your bag on the floor. You want a cuppa? I've got tea, or some of that French coffee they have around here - Remy drops by to check on me sometimes so I keep it for him. Too strong for me."

Angelo did as she said, dropping into a chair and looking around the room with approval. Well-appointed it might not be, but it was quite clearly a home. He pulled a teasing face at the mention of tea. "Coffee'll be fine for me. Thanks."

"I'm English. Tea is life and all that." She busied herself putting the coffee maker on, and then flopped down on the couch while it ran. "So, satisfied I'm okay?" she asked, teasingly, although there was a hint of gratitude in her voice. It was nice to know she hadn't been forgotten.

Well, he had promised not to. "Mostly, yeah", he answered with a crooked smile. "Looks like you're doin' well for yourself."

"Doing all right," she agreed. "And without powers too - my mutation's still on the blink and Tante's cut off the magic. I do a bit of work with her, learning all the stuff I missed with Rack, mainly so I don't go doing something stupid like teaching someone else do to what I did." She shrugged a little, and then got up to pour the coffee. "Considering what the whole thing cost people, I'm not missing it."

"Cost you a lot too", Angelo pointed out quietly. "I can't say I blame you."

She shrugged again. "Some would say it's what I deserve - I knew what I was doing was wrong and I did it anyway. Tried to justify it, but it was a bunch of bollocks and I knew it." Bringing his coffee and her own tea back over, she sat opposite him at the table and gave him a wry grin. "Tante's been good with the hammering me over the head with that."

Angelo nodded, taking the cup. "You'd hardly be the only one. But I think you're doin' good."

"I'm glad you think so. And I am - should finish this high school course soon, get my certificate. I'm thinking of working a bit, getting some dosh together and then signing up for that social work course down here in September. Make some good out everything maybe." She sipped pensively at her tea and then said quietly: "I miss you all, y'know. I don't write as often as I should, but I do. Moira writes, lets me know how Rachel and Nate are getting on, and I get the odd call from Pete." She bit her lip. "Talk about making you realise what you've thrown away. Nate... he doesn't even mention me, does he?"

"Sometimes", he said quietly. "He knows I hear from you, he asks how you're doin' every so often. I think he does miss you."

Amanda sighed. "I should write to him, only... I don't know what to say. What I did to him, to Askani... She told me to do it, but he still hates me for taking her away from him before he was ready."

"Hate's a strong word, Amanda", he pointed out. "You should write - worst he's gonna do is not answer. I'll take one for you, if you want."

"I know, it's just..." Amanda stopped herself, and shook her head. She was whining, and if Tante was here she'd be thwapped over the head. "I'll try. Can't guarantee I'll have anything worth taking, but I'll give it a shot." Taking a sip of her tea, she shrugged and changed the subject. "I'm really glad you came, Ange," she said, reaching over and squeezing his hand. "So, tell me what I've missed, yeah?"

"Ah, you know the mansion. Never stops, an' you've been gone nearly two months." He paused, trying to remember what had come first. Angie sent you some stuff, by the way."

"She did?" Amanda beamed. "Good old Frenchie - those emails of hers have really helped. I've got some bits and pieces around here for people, if you don't mind being my pack mule?"

"Nah, it's no problem. If I can carry an extra dufflebag down here for Angie, I can take some stuff back. Got things for you from Moira an' Doug an' some of the others, too. An' I'll be goin' out to see Remy an' Tante Mattie later."

"You're a mate, Ange. And there might be something in there for you too." Suppressing a bounce, Amanda sipped at her tea again. "So, tell me what's been happening?"

"Okay... Catseye's brother came to visit..."

***

"Hey Louis," Amanda said, waving to the barman as she led the way into a small bar not far from her apartment. It was a little on the seedy side, like the rest of the area, but Angelo would have been surprised by anything else. New Orleans was for Amanda, he realised, a return to her roots in a way. But on her own terms this time.

Louis, an older black man with steel-wool hair, nodded and smiled. "Hey there, 'manda. Who your frien'?" He spoke like Remy, the Cajun accent so thick as to be nearly incomprehensible.

"This is Angelo, a friend from up New York way. Ange, this is Louis. He knows Tante, keeps an eye on me for her, don't you Louis?" Amanda was grinning, though, obviously teasing.

"'Taint worth my skin t' cross that one, 'manda. Nice t' meet y'all, Angelo. how long you stayin'?"

"Just for the weekend", Angelo answered with a grin. "Had to come check on the little sis here, make sure she'd settled in okay. Good to meet you too."

"She be doin' just fine - she got Tante as her sponsor. No-one'll cross dat." Louis chuckled, low and from deep in his barrel chest. "You go sit, I'll bring you over somet'ing t' drink."

"My kind of place", came the laughing response as they turned to look for a seat.

There was a booth in the corner that would give them relative privacy; Amanda slid into one side as Louis arrived carrying a pitcher of beer and two glasses.

"Cheers, Louis," Amanda said with a grin, reaching to pour the first drinks. Louis nodded and wandered back to the bar where he started serving another customer. "Louis never asks me for ID," Amanda told Angelo a touch smugly. "As long as I behave myself and don't cause problems, that is. Good bloke."

"Well, hey, you're legal in England anyway, right? Always thought 21 was a stupid drinkin' age."

Amanda nodded and pushed over one of the glasses to Angelo. "Yeah, that's right. 'S eighteen back there." She avoided calling England 'home' on purpose. "So you had plenty t' say 'bout everyone else - what about you? Planning on working for Nate for good, or what?"

He took a leisurely drink before answering. "Good beer. An'... for good's a long time. I like workin' for Nate, it's a really good job, but I'm only nineteen, y'know? Who knows what'll happen."

"You can say that again." Amanda snorted briefly. "If you'd asked me what I thought I'd be doing this time last year. leaving the school would have been the last thing I'd have said." She fell silent, tracing patterns in the condensation on her glass with her finger. "Marie-Ange told me that Manuel left," she said at last.

"He did, yeah", Angelo said neutrally. "Don't know if he'll be comin' back, now..."

"He won't," she said. "Not with what I did to him, and with Pete still there. I just hope..." Amanda fell silent again, frowning a little. "Askani told me last year at one point that it was up to me to make sure he didn't go bad. There was this dream, a vision sort of thing... doesn't matter. When I told Nate about it, Askani went balmy, told me I had to make sure it didn't happen." Amanda's lips pressed together. "Hell of a thing to lay on a messed up seventeen year old. I love Manuel, part of me probably always will, but in the end... I couldn't be what he needed me to be. I'm no-one's redemption, not even mine. I never meant to hurt him, tho'."

"You did everythin' you could for him, before it all went to hell", Angelo offered.

"It wasn't enough," she replied. "Not for either of us, in the end. I just hope he doesn't use it as an excuse, use me as an excuse, to fuck people over."

"If he does, it'll be exactly that. An excuse. God knows he had enough chances."

"I know. It's just..." Amanda looked up at Angelo, as if gauging his possible response and decided against it. What had happened with Remy had pushed Manuel to the edge, and her breaking the link might have nudged him over it, but that was for her to reconcile. Angelo couldn't give her forgiveness and Tante's lessons were sticking - forgiveness began with her. If she couldn't forgive herself, she couldn't ask anyone else to. "Doesn't matter. I fucked things up and I hope it doesn't mean he'll go bad, but... that's his choice. I can't keep feeling responsible - that's why I ended up here. I need to concentrate on sorting my own shite out first."

"Yeah, you do." He glanced around the bar, smiling. "Looks like you're makin' a good start, though."