xp_logs | Ororo and Nathan, Thursday morning (Reply)

Nathan takes Lorna's suggestion and buys Ororo a rosebush to make up for the broken African violet. The two of them have a little talk while she plants it, and Ororo proceeds to demonstrate a keen ability to find and exploit a win-win situation.

"I think perhaps this would be a good spot," Ororo decided, stopping at last in front of a neatly-weeded section of the outside garden and setting down the tub she had been carrying around for the past twenty minutes. It contained a small rosebush, its few small blooms showing off the rich, dusky apricot coloring it was known for. Nate had arrived at her greenhouse with the bush in tow and an apologetic look on his face, and had insisted on helping her plant it. With his arm still in a sling it wasn't likely that he would be much real use, but she had accepted his offer, and consulted with him about the best place to plant the bush before finally deciding on this spot outside the dining room.

"It will get plenty of sun here," she explained, gesturing to the wide-open space. "And the soil is well-drained. I think they will do quite well here."

"There's a real art to this, isn't there?" Nathan said, sitting where she directed him to sit - meekly. Very meekly. As she knelt down gracefully beside the spot in question, he wondered if he could at least offer to hand her tools.

"Roses are extremely popular because of how magnificent they look when they bloom," 'Ro explained. "But they are not the easiest plant to care for. There are many other, hardier plants that are more suited for someone who does not have the time or inclination for roses. But on the other hand, if you do have the desire to care for roses correctly, there are few things more rewarding."

"They are beautiful," Nathan said, sounding a bit distant as he watched her start preparing the place where she was going to plant the rosebush. "When I was at the nursery, I was appreciating the whole point of the 'stopping to smell the roses' cliche."

"I am glad you enjoy them as well. I love the greenhouse, but sometimes there is nothing like coming to sit out here, where things are at least a little more wild and natural." Ororo smiled and sat back on her heels, looking up at Nathan. "Sometimes weeks will go by before I realize I have done that... perhaps that it what makes it so precious."

"I don't spend enough time outside," Nathan said after a moment. "A little more than I used to, now that I have the deck out in front of the boathouse, but... I get stuck behind the desk so much. Or in meetings in New York. Or down in the subbasement." He paused, then cracked a slight smile. "I'm learning bad habits from Scott, maybe."

"At least your well-being is not dependent on sunlight," she replied dryly. "Though I am of the mind that everyone can be benefitted by time spent outdoors. Except perhaps Forge."

"I've still been having headaches," he said after a moment. "Eyestrain seems to make them worse, I don't know... I just hate the idea of backing off the paperwork, because then I'd quite literally be good for nothing around here." He stopped, his gray eyes wide for a moment as he blinked down at her. Where had that come from? And why had it come out with Ororo?

A slight frown crossed Ororo's face, and she brushed off her hands before rising and coming to sit next to Nate on the bench. "I think that of all the things you do here, Nathan, paperwork is not one of the most essential. There is so much else that you do that does not involve sitting at a desk."

"Is there, anymore?" Nathan shrugged with one shoulder, then sighed. "Listen to me. Self-pitying again. I'm just getting so damned depressed, Ororo... I haven't had even another TK fit since I broke that violet."

"Nathan... it has not been that long. I know this has probably been counseled before, but you must be patient. There is much you can do without your TK."

"I suppose classes will be starting up in a few weeks," he said after another brief pause. "That's something. I..." He smiled, a rueful laugh slipping out. "I have lesson plans to do."

"Don't we all." 'Ro smiled back, shaking her head. "And there are always Danger Room sessions to supervise... I have not told you this, but I have seen the most improvement in the trainees you have coached."

Nathan blinked, then looked down at her, raising an eyebrow. Still smiling, though. "Now you're just trying to blow sunshine up my ass, Munroe."

"I assure you that is not one of my powers," she replied, chuckling and shaking her head. "I have been woefully behind on monitoring Danger Room sessions, but the reason I have not stressed too much about them is that I know you are more than capable of handling them, better than I could in most cases." Her expression was more solemn now, and earnest.

The smile faded a bit, turning reflective. "I... like the training, you know. Supervising the DR sessions, running the tactical reviews... it feels comfortable." Felt right, and how many things could he say that about these days? It was an intellectual challenge of an entirely different type than the Elpis work. More familiar, in a way.

"Then I will not feel bad asking if you will consider handling them for me, at least for the time being. With Scott as he is, and school beginning soon, there is so much work I must get done... and I would not feel right trying to juggle the school and the team. I would rather have someone I trust help me, especially with the trainees. Would you consider this for me, Nathan?" Ororo looked at him hopefully.

Nathan hesitated - but only for a moment. "Yes," he said quietly, nodding. "I mean, yes, I'll do it - I don't need to consider." He looked around at her, his expression more wry. "I don't particularly want to see you run yourself into the ground." Sure... and we'll just gloss right over how overwhelmingly grateful you are to have something important to do. He was smiling helplessly as he looked back out at the garden, amused and sheepish at the same time.

Things were bound to get even more embarrassing as a moment later, 'Ro put her arms around his shoulders and hugged him tightly. "Thank you, Nathan," she said, pulling back after a second. "You do not know how much of a relief this is."

Nathan cleared his throat, definitely looking a little red. Not that he was adverse to hugs - it was a long time since he'd been skittish about casual physical contact, and on the whole he thought the friendly hug was much underrated. "Well, you know, I have whole stretches of hours that aren't filled these days... I'd like to see them filled up with something worthwhile. I like to feel useful." Wasn't that the understatement of the year. "And hey," Nathan said a bit evilly, "if it means you have a little free time for occasional lunches... maybe even dates with a certain clairvoyant..."

"Not you too," 'Ro groaned, pummeling him lightly on the upper arm. "Lorna nearly talked my ear off last night about that... If I didn't know better, I would think you two were working together." She grinned and shook her head, reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

"We just want you to be happy," Nathan said, his lips twitching in amusement. "That leads us to be a little obnoxious on the subject. Call it an endearing trait?"

Ororo smirked and stood up, motioning to Nathan to do so as well. "I am flattered that you care. Truly. Now come, I will show you how best to plant this bush... I will teach you how to care properly for plants if it takes all day."