xp_logs | Ororo and Patrick | Wednesday, lunch

Ororo meets Patrick, the wayward clairvoyant (and her old boyfriend) for lunch in the city. At least one of the COs seems to be following people's good advice in order to preserve much-needed sanity.

It was nearly impossible to get away from the school exactly when you needed to, 'Ro thought, walking quickly down the sidewalk towards the little cafe where she and Patrick always met. Despite her best efforts to the contrary, she had gotten pulled into a discussion with a few of the other teachers and was therefore late for lunch. She only hoped he didn't think she had stood him up.

As she reached the cafe, it became perfectly obvious that even if he had thought that, he hadn't given up on her just yet. Patrick, seated at one of the outside tables, gave her a little wave and a relaxed grin.

"There you are. Here I was thinking you'd gotten shanghaied or something," he said cheerfully.

"No, just waylaid," Ororo replied with an apologetic smile, taking the seat across from him at the table. "I am sorry to be so late. How are you, Patrick?"

"I'm good," he said, the grin staying, even growing a little. "The guys at work have even stopped giving me a hard time about being possessed and running off like that. I think they finally figured that I was enough weird shit in and of myself that a little more wasn't going to hurt." He laughed and took a sip from his water glass. "Cops. Very practical creatures, when it comes right down to it."

"So it would seem," 'Ro said with a chuckle. "And besides, you are good enough at your job that they can surely put up with a little oddness now and then."

"We can hope." The waitress appeared with the menus, giving them a bright smile, and Patrick took his, then frowned a little, shaking his head as his hands came into contact with the menu. "Huh," he said, his eyes unfocusing as the waitress departed again. "She had a fight with one of the other waiters in the back earlier today. Doesn't look upset, does she?"

Ororo glanced up, her eyes following the waitress as she made her way back inside. "No, she does not. Perhaps they resolved their disagreement? Or she is a good actress."

"Possibly. I so rarely see the end of the story," Patrick said a bit ruefully, re-focusing on Ororo. "That's when I know I need a vacation, you know. If I start obsessing over where what I do see leads, or how it all ends. Charles warned me about that years ago."

"It is good you are prepared for that eventuality. Too often the warning signs get ignored, and things continue on until there is no going back." 'Ro pursed her lips, knowing that Patrick would know at least some of what she was referring to. "And it is more difficult for everyone then."

"How's Scott?" he asked, somewhat disingenuously, and then reached out, laying a hand on her wrist - very carefully making sure there was fabric keeping them from skin-to-skin contact. Patrick had always been meticulous about using his powers in personal situations. "I know you've been worried."

"He is... well, better, if you can believe it. Or he will be. I think." Ororo summoned up a smile, looking over at Patrick gratefully.

Patrick was giving her a very intent look, as if gauging the sincerity of her response. He finally smiled back. "Good to hear," he said, leaning back and taking a look at the menu. "I hate to see you stressed over anything, 'Ro, and seeing you stressed because Scott's stressed... well, that makes two people I worry about both stressed, and given the lives you lead, that makes me stressed. It's a vicious circle, really." He looked up at her with a crooked grin.

"Well, if it makes you stressed, we ought to stop right away," 'Ro joked, still smiling. "I know coming here to see you helps my stress levels immensely, so you should expect to feel better shortly."

"I always feel better when I see you, 'Ro," Patrick said, and while his voice and his expression were very, very warm, there wasn't the slightest hint that he was joking. In either.

Ororo blushed slightly, picking up her menu and studying it carefully. Scott's words from the bar echoed in her mind, causing her to chew on her lip thoughtfully.

"I think I will try something new today," she decided, setting down her menu at last. "What about you?"