xp_logs | Kurt and Wanda, Saturday evening

Kurt goes to visit Wanda to leave her a letter for Amanda, and to ask how Amanda is. Banter ensues and then they go to get food.

He hadn't heard from Amanda, other than her posts to the journals, since she left for Tel Aviv. And while he knew she was alive and safe, someone who'd actually spoken to her would know more about how she was - and the most likely person for that to be was her boss. So, when a letter came from Stefan, Kurt took the excuse to go to the brownstone, to leave it with Wanda and, while he was there, just happen to ask if she'd heard anything. He wasted no time making his way to her apartment to knock.

Startled, Wanda spared the door a glance before yelling, "It is unlocked, come on in. Hands are a bit busy at the moment..." Currently, she was curled up on one end of the couch, laptop settled on the table before her, hands moving over the keyboard. She was following up on Pete's suggestion, as was the rest of the team but she figured no need to go into the office if she could do this from home. If they took out the mutant element...

He smiled and pushed the door open, looking around for her as he stepped inside. "Hello, Wanda."

"Kurt!" Pleased, she made sure she didn't lose the page she was on before untangling herself from the couch. "Oh, it has been a while," Wanda said, coming over to him to offer a hug. "How are you doing?"

"Well enough", he answered honestly, hugging her back with a smile. He seemed markedly more confident, somehow, than the last time she'd seen him. "Though of course the current situation is... worrying."

She grimaced as she stepped back. "Yes it is. Tea?" Heading into the kitchen, because she could use a cup herself, Wanda kept talking. "Every time we take a few steps forward, it is like someone yanks the rug out from under us again. Fantatics are, plainly, something to be avoided, I've found. Sadly, these ones are doing their best to rile up everyone on either side of the mutant/human line."

"I will always take tea", he said lightly, then nodded agreement. "That is what they want, it seems. All-out war, which they believe we - they - will win."

"Hrmph. And no one seems to realize that the war of that kind? There would be no winners." With the kettle on--microwaved water simply never cut it for her--she turned to lean against the counter, facing him again. "So what prompted the visit? No complaints from me, I rarely see you these days. You're looking...well. Very well, actually."

"It is true", Kurt acknowledged ruefully. "That we rarely see each other now, I mean. I should make more effort to come here. And today, it was to leave a letter with you - for Amanda, from Stefan. You will probably see her before I do, after all."

"I will be there at the airport when they get in--hopefully on Monday if nothing else goes wrong, so I can certainly tell her about it. The lovely thing about being in the same place is that after being locked together during the holidays, we have remarkable access to each other's flats." Wanda grinned. "And you certainly do need to stop by more. Though, honestly, I need to make more of an effort as well, since I am actually at the Mansion once a week for Jennie's lessons as it is."

"You are always welcome to visit, before or after the lessons", Kurt told her, putting the letter down on the table. "If I am not teaching at the time, of course."

"How are the little hellions over there these days?" she asked, tone teasing. She missed the students sometimes.

Kurt laughed. "In what contact I have with them... they are actually often very well-behaved. Where we can see, at least."

"Of course." The kettle whistled sharply, so Wanda went about preparing the tea. "How about yourself, Kurt? How are you doing these days?"

"Well", he said again, smiling. "There were hard times, but... I am much better now."

"Good. I know I have not visited you in a while, but I do worry. The stress of personal lives, and of our respective jobs, do tend to run us through the wringer. Thank God for paid vacations." When the tray was loaded, Wanda carried it out to the dining room table which was, thankfully, clear of the books and papers her coffee table was currently sporting.

"Likewise", he said teasingly, looking up at her. "Especially with what I know of your job."

"Oh yes, the true dangers of researching. No one ever suspects that the records of stuffy politicions from fifty years ago can be harmful to your health. Wicked papercuts, all up and down my arms." Wanda sighed and gave him a wink.

"Not to mention all that dust", came the answer, absolutely straight-faced.

"Did you know the most common sickness of researchers is due to allergic reaction to dust mites?" she asked, sounding horrified. "Just imagine the tragedy!"

"Such a terrible waste, indeed", he agreed sadly.

At last, Wanda broke out laughing as she sat down, reaching for the tea pot and the cups. "Oh, if dust mite allergies were my only concern," she mused, shaking her head. "On the other hand, I might very well be bored to tears, despite the love of research. In the end, it all evens out."

"Or you would not be doing the job, I imagine", Kurt said with a nod. "If it did not come with any compensations at all."

"Mmm, there is that. And since one of the compensations of the job just happens to be the thrill of doing said job, I suppose I cannot complain. Much since I have been told on more than one occasion I have a bit of a sharp tongue."

Kurt laughed. "You, sharp-tongued? Perish the thought."

Wanda sulked. "They say such cruel things about me..."

"Clearly the only thing to do is revenge", he said solemnly.

At that, she looked positively gleeful. "Ooh, revenge. I knew I liked you for a reason." Taking a sip, she sat back, allowing herself to fully relax since she'd woken up that morning. Lunch with Jennie had been good but as soon as she'd gotten back it had been back to the drawing board with the terrorists. "Anything new lately?"

"I think you have probably heard most of what is new at the school", he said after a moment's thought. "Through the journals, if nowhere else."

"A curse and a blessing, at times."

"In many different ways", Kurt agreed. "But overall, I think, a blessing."

"I was never any good at communicating through that." A sigh. "And sometimes Doug despairs over how much computers and I do not get along. But with so many people around here with better computing skills than mine, I am surprisingly happy with the status quo."

"As long as you have people who can make them work where you cannot, I do not see why you should need to know more than the basics", he said with a grin.

"Exactly! He should be grateful I have the control I do now. A few years ago and the computer would be more than simply turned off when I get disgruntled." Wanda squeezed her hand into a fist, looking amused. "A hazard of having powers that lean towards a destructive fit, especially when attempting to learn how to use them. Oh the dishes we went through."

"I can imagine", Kurt said sympathetically. "Especially as a teenager." He was well acquainted with teenage emotional control or the lack of it, by now.

"One of the reasons I am glad I am not at the mansion any more. If we break things at Snow Valley, it was done on purpose. Or someone is lobbing something at Mark."

"Does that happen often?"

"Only when he sets up the system to blast something called Fall Out Boy." Shooting Kurt another glance, she wrinkled her nose. "I had quite the liquid lunch that day, all on account of that blasted song. And it was the same song, over and over again."

"Ah, yes. That would be the day everyone in your office was posting about it?"

"I think it was either that or string him up by his innards."

"Well, in that case, the posting would be preferable, yes. Rather than messy murders of your receptionist."

Wanda snorted into her tea. "And can you imagine the mess? Blood stains the carpet and it would be a pain to get them all replaced. Though, trust me..." An evil grin crept across her face. "I have a heavy hand in his training, along with Amanda's, and the next one shall be interesting, to say the least. Musical appreciation my foot."

Kurt tilted his head curiously, interested. "His training... for the job? Or with his powers?"

"Not so much with his powers, they tend to be a bit messy." She shrugged one shoulder. "His training for the job, self-defense, that kind of thing. Amanda and I work on a bit more advanced stuff but he's catching up. I am no longer throwing him around quite so much these days onto his back."

Kurt nodded, understanding. "He has not been working with you for so very long, has he?"

"Not as long as we've been here, no. But he's a smart boy, if a little touched in the head, so he has certainly fit in very well around her."

Kurt laughed. "For both of those reasons, I think." His voice was teasing, again.

An eyebrow arched. "Well, of course. If you expect to fit in around here you need to be bright, with at least a dash of common sense and be slightly touched in the head. Some more than others, of course." The tea was starting to get cold but Wanda enjoyed the banter. It was a nice break from the last few days of stress.

Kurt suddenly seemed to remember his tea, turning slightly to pick it up. "And now I come to think of it, the same could be said of both our places of work."

"You might want to be a bit more touched in the head at the mansion," she responded. "After all, you have students. We, on the other hand, do not."

He laughed, taking a drink. "You may have a point. Unless you count this training."

"More mentorship than student/teacher. Though...." Putting down her cup, Wanda grabbed her purse from the floor and started going through it. Eventually, she pulled out two stacks of business cards. "One is the normal one. But the other...someone, who I won't name, got me these as a bit of a joke. Considering how many times I'm called this by them..." Right under her name on the second batch it said "Boss Lady". As amused as she looked, she looked a bit proud as well.

Kurt took one of the cards, looked at it, then started to laugh, as it disappeared into his pocket. "Would this someone happen to be my little sister, perhaps?"

"Possibly, though I would not doubt if Mark had a hand in this. It's a good place, Snow Valley, I am glad I started working here."

"You do seem happy", he agreed, looking up at her as she settled back on the couch. "You and Amanda both. Have you heard from her recently, by the way?"

"Actually, yes. She's...doing as well as she can be, I suppose. We traded emails a day or so ago, though I had to press to get her to tell me how she was. Typical Amanda, always looking out for everyone but herself at times. Does it run in the family or is that a trait unique to our girl?"

"It runs in the family, to an extent. Though I know it is especially so in her... you say she sounded all right, though? If you have spoken to her on the phone?"

Wanda shook her head in a no. "Just email, I'm afraid. Too much time difference, too little time to do more than that, sadly." And she kept her mouth shut about the developments between Amanda and Angelo. As much as she enjoyed gossip, it was something different to inform the older brother of a potential relationship on the horizon. Besides, Amanda would kill her. "She's coping."

Kurt nodded, accepting that as the best he was going to get for the time being. "I will talk to her myself when she comes back. Come to the airport with you, perhaps."

"I think Amanda would like that. Like I said, possibly on Monday, though if I hear of the date being moved, I will let you know." With the tea gone, Wanda glanced at the clock. She couldn't afford too much time on the visit, work needed to be done, but she could stand a few more minutes. "I need out of the apartment for a bit. Do you mind walking with me to the little deli down the way? I need to get a few things."

"Not at all", he said cheerfully, finishing off his tea and standing up. "I should get some lunch while we are there."

"Wonderful." It took only a few minutes for her to get ready but then she stood up and slid her arm through his. "Shall we?"