xp_logs | Backdated Tuesday night | Ororo and Logan

Ororo and Logan run into each other in the kitchen for a reunion of sorts. They're both glad he's back, and there is talk of... grading papers.

Coffee in the evening was never a very good idea. That is, unless you were planning on staying up half the night anyway, and then it was an excellent idea. Ororo knew that she could use all the help she could get when it came to tackling the amount of work still on her desk, and so that evening saw her padding into the kitchen to brew a pot to keep her company during the long hours ahead.

Ororo's entry would have caught a lesser man than Logan red-handed swilling a beer. But given that Logan was Logan, he had shifted to face where she was going to enter the kitchen and was holding his beer in an easy grip. "'Ro." he said with a grin, honestly pleased to see her. "Been a while." he said, saluting her with the bottle.

"Logan," Ororo remarked with a smile, pausing momentarily as she took him in. "It is good to see you. By the time I had heard you were back at the mansion you had left again. I'm glad you have returned."

Logan shrugged at that. "Took a little trip into the city. Can't say I enjoyed it, but it had to be done. I plan on stickin' around for a while." he said with an easy comfort. "Lookin' good." he said, eyeing her up and down. "Been workin' out?"

"As much as I always have," she said with a chuckle. "Or at least as much as I have been able to squeeze in. I'm afraid I have been too lazy, though. You will have to give me a refresher in hand-to-hand, when you are able."

Logan nodded at that. "Be happy to." he said. "So they got you runnin' this joint now?" he asked with a smile. "Guess you're movin' up in the world."

With a nod, Ororo turned and opened up one of the cupboard, reaching for a coffee can situated on the highest shelf. It was pushed back, out of sight, so that only those who knew it was there would be able to find it. "Yes, with Scott, of course. I could never try to take on all the responsibilities on my own."

Logan snorted at that. "Scotty's got his head firmly up his ass of late." he said. "Checked in with him earlier."

"He has many things on his mind," Ororo allowed, her tone gentle. Unable to quite reach, she snagged a stool from next to the wall and began to climb onto it.

Logan grinned as Ororo stretched and climbed for her coffee can. He always did like a fit woman, and Ororo's hard work had definitely been paying off for her. "He's holed up licking his own self-inflicted wounds, you mean." he translated. "May not like the guy much, but still. Shitty way to go about life."

'Ro said nothing as she snagged the can and climbed down again, setting to starting the coffee brewing. "So what brings you back here, Logan?" she asked after a minute, glancing over her shoulder curiously at him.

"Got tired of Canada." he said. "That went as far as it was gonna." he added after a moment. "Thought I'd come back, settle down for a bit." he said with a grin. "Chuck's got me teaching hand-to-hand and I'm gonna look in on tha Kyle kid sometime tomorrow. From the sound of it he ain't holding up real well and nobody here can really get him like I can."

"Oh, I'm glad," Ororo said with a genuine smile. "I'm sure that will be good for him." She listened as the water began to percolate and then turned, resting one hand on the counter. "You have come back just in time - spring will be here any day."

Logan smiled at Ororo. "Your favorite, right?" he said with a guess. "All the green things growing."

"Yes, I'm afraid I may have to move my desk outside when that happens," she said, laughing. "Even the greenhouse cannot compare to the spring."

Logan couldn't help but grin at that. "Guess we should schedule Outside Time for you and your kids." he laughed. It felt good to laugh. "And I like the greenhouse. It's soothing."

"Do you think so? Others have told me similar things, and I'm glad they feel that way. I must say, it was on a selfish whim that I cultivated it," 'Ro admitted with a wink, "but now I see that it has the same affect on others as it does on me."

Logan shrugged. "It's nice to have a place to sit and relax." he admitted. "It's calming. And the company's always nice." he said.

"Well, now that you are back here, I'm sure you will have no lack of company. I'm surprised you aren't surrounded by students and staff begging to hear your stories since you've been away."

Logan couldn't help but snort at that. He took a swallow of his beer to wet his throat, then continued. "Not likely. I wasn't the friendliest of guys when I was here. Still aren't, but I'm more willing to give it a shot this time around. Besides, couple of the kids like to think they hate me."

Ororo quirked one eyebrow. "May I ask who, and why?"

Logan shrugged. "Was a real dick to Ramsey about the whole potion thing, and I think he's still holdin' a grudge. And Drake was never real happy about the thing I had with Marie." he said with a wince. "In hindsight, neither am I, but I _don't_ want to talk about it."

"I'm sorry if some of the students are being difficult," 'Ro said, pursing her lips. She gave Logan a look that almost, but not quite, said 'Teenagers'.

Logan caught it and voiced it. "Teenagers. Gotta expect 'em to be dumb. Although, in the spirit of honesty, they're not the only ones. Do me a favor? If I ever make like I want to start shackin' up with a student here? Fry me down to the bones."

"I shall write it into my job description," she said with a laugh, looking highly amused. "I'm sure the parents will thank me."

"They're not the only ones." he said. "That part of my life is over and done. She's doin' her thing, I'm doin' mine. We like it that way."

Ororo nodded, turning to pluck a mug out of the cupboard. "I'm glad you are both happy, then."

"Can't complain." he said, taking another swig from his bottle. "And speakin' of seeing people..." he said with a quirked eyebrow.

"Of all the ones to gossip, Logan, really..."

Logan just quirked an eyebrow at her. "Who's gossiping? Here we are, chatting in the kitchen - I've got a brew, you've got coffee - and I asked if you were seeing anyone. Gossip ain't what I'd call it, darlin'."

"Perhaps I overreacted, then," 'Ro remarked, her lips pursed. She felt a familiar prickle at the back of her neck, as whenever anybody mentioned this particular subject, but it was very hard to stay annoyed at Logan. She said nothing more, however, turning to pour a cup of coffee.

Logan grinned at Ororo. "Perhaps you did." he said, and then left it at that. Lady got a funny scent when he mentioned it, which was usually a cue that now might not be the greatest time. Suited him fine - she knew where she could find him. "The Amazing Nightcrawler still around somewhere? May have to take him out for real beers."

"Yes, I believe he is usually in the gymnasium at this hour," she replied. "I'm sure he would enjoy the outing." She turned around to face him, wearing a slightly wistful expression. It cleared after a moment, however, and she smiled. "Be sure to bring him back in one piece."

Logan laughed. "Since you asked so nicely." he said with a grin. "And maybe after ..." he said, thinking out loud before letting the thought die.

"You would get an early night's sleep in preparation for tomorrow's classes?" she teased.

Logan grinned back at Ororo. "Who needs sleep?" he laughed. "That coffee shop in Salem Center still open?" he asked.

"Yes, the last I checked." It had been a while since she had been on a casual outing. "I didn't know you liked coffee, Logan." Dear goddess, if I didn't know better, I'd think we were...

Logan shrugged that off. "Coffee and I get along just fine." he said. "I don't get addicted like some I could name..." he said with a blatant pause and a wink, "but I like the stuff all the same."

"Ah. Well, yes, I believe it is still open. Though you are, of course, welcome to anything you find here. As long as you don't tell where it's hidden," Ororo said with a grin.

Logan shook his head. "Thanks, 'Ro, but save your stuff for you. I'll get my own stash."

"I don't know, perhaps if I'm so addicted, it would be good for me to share," she replied playfully.

Logan paused for a moment to consider it. "Getting between an addict and her fix is generally a bad idea. Doubly-so when it's an attractive woman who can bring lightning down from the sky to fry the offending soul who stood between her and her caffeine." he teased.

Ororo laughed, sipping from her mug. "I thought I had permission to fry," she said, mock-pouting over the rim at Logan.

"Only if I start shacking up with a student, not just if you feel like it or you're jonesing for a cup of Joe!" he protested playfully. "Come on now!"

"What good are amazing healing powers if you don't act as a lightning rod every once and a while?" Ororo asked. She licked her lips, leaning back against the counter and smiling at him. "Or must I settle for more conventional means of venting frustration?"

Logan couldn't help but laugh at that. "Sure, I'll heal, but it still _hurts_." he pointed out. "And what'd you have in mind?" he said with a grin.

"Oh... grading papers, of course," 'Ro said with another chuckle. "It's quite effective. If you're ever in need of stress relief, I could help you out with that."

"May have to take you up on that." he said thoughtfully. "Stress buildup is a terrible thing indeed. Best to let it out when you have the chance."

"Yes, I agree. Better than letting it build up weeks upon weeks..." 'Ro trailed off, sipping at her coffee once again.

Logan nodded. "That's not healthy. Best to find someone who you find pleasant and work out all that stress by grading papers." he said solemnly. "Go too long and it starts to change you."

"Oh? Does it now?"

Logan grinned, knowing that he was treading on dangerous ground. To give himself time he took a healthy swallow from his beer. He then leaned towards Ororo. "I heard it turns your hair white," he said with a grin.

One eyebrow quirked upward, and then Ororo let out a most unladylike snort. "I'm afraid it must be too late for me, then," she said, grinning back at him.

Logan grinned back at her. "I don't know. Some men, maybe they've get intimidated and back away. Others take it as a ... challenge," he said with another wink.

"Well, if you're up for a challenge, then I have a whole stack of papers waiting back on my desk..." 'Ro kept her gaze steady on his for a moment longer, then her expression sobered. "Actually, I do. I ought to get back to them."

Logan nodded. "I don't intimidate easy." he told her, then paused for a moment before nodding one more time, catching her shift in meaning. "Not a problem, 'Ro. Knock yourself out."

Turning slightly, Ororo refilled her mug and returned the pot to its place in the coffeemaker. "It is good to see you, Logan. I am glad that you're back," she said for the second time that evening.

Logan drained the last of his beer and chucked the bottle into the trash. "Good to be back, 'Ro." he said before stepping out of the kitchen.