Lorna & John | Wednesday Evening

[x-pyromania.livejournal.com]

Lorna invites John over for dinner.



The invitation for dinner at Lorna's had been gladly accepted. John made his way to her room a little after seven. He knocked the door, leaning against the wooden panel as he glanced down at his watch. He was right on time.

Since it had been less of an invitation and more of a command appearance, it was all to the good that he'd accepted. Without looking away from her careful piping, Lorna flicked the lock open and gave a quick, "Come on in, John." There was music playing, something cheerful and just a little retro. She smiled over from the small suite kitchen, "Hey, you're on time. I was expecting you to be running late. I'm not quite done here but give me two minutes. Want something to drink?"

John closed the door behind him. "Water's, fine. I'll help myself," he said and headed to where the fridge was at. He took a bottle out, grabbed a glass and leaned against the counter as he poured himself a drink. "What are you making?"

"Right now or what's for dinner?" She set aside the piping bag carefully then slide the tray she'd just finished into the oven. "These are triple chocolate meringues because I was bored. Dinner is bacon-wrapped filets and twice baked potatoes because I wasn't feeling fancy. You haven't changed your eating habits on me, have you?"

"I've been on a good staple diet of cardboard tasty TV dinners." He let out a bit of a smile. "I think I can make do with bacon-wrapped filets."

Lorna shuddered, "Ew. You say those things to horrify me, I know you do. Sit down, tell me about what you've been doing and how all your fingers were broken so you couldn't dial or send an email." Checking the time, Lorna bent to the broiler and pulled out the aforementioned steaks, setting them on the plates she'd already dressed with the potato and steamed vegetables. Her portions weren't even half the size of his but that wasn't all that surprising. "Bon app étit."

"Thanks." John eyed her plate but made no comment about it. She could afford to eat a hell of a lot more but there was no use in telling Lorna that. "Haven't been doing much," he said. "The Wolverine thinks I've been sent here on some mission by Magneto. But all things considered, I don't blame the guy for having his suspicions." He sliced the potato in half. "So what have you been up to?"

"You mean in the last three years? Well, I hung out with old metalhead for a while myself, tracked down my sister, got engaged then broke it off and have gone through at least three educational institutions for this damn degree. You know, same old same old." She grinned even though it was quite a litany of woes. "I'm hoping for just a nice quiet rest of the semester so that I can actually finish school and figure out what I'm going to do about my Masters."

"Yeah but I hate to break it to you -- we're not exactly in Kansas, Dorothy." He smirked. "'course you could make like me and disappear for three years."

"I'd say that getting out of here is the only way to get a little peace but considering that Alex would up with a goddess for a girlfriend and she tried to sacrifice him...I really think that's a pipe dream all around. Not even leaving helps." Lorna speared a baby carrot, "Besides, I like it here for the most part. And Lili is tired of moving."

John took in another forkful of steak and potatoes. He chewed for a moment. "OK, Magneto issues aside, although I'm curious about what happened -- who the hell were you engaged to?"

Lorna smiled softly, with the just slightest trace of regret, and picked up her glass, "Alex. Not for very long...I was pretty messed up at the time and didn't have any business being engaged to anyone. I'll tell you a secret: trying to cover up trauma with fake happiness doesn't actually work. It's shocking, I know." She shrugged one shoulder. "You still haven't told me what you've been doing for three years. Don't think I'm too self-absorbed to notice. I mean, I am but I'm not that self-absorbed."

He chuckled. "I've been working on my degree. Seriously -- there's nothing more to it." John poured himself another glass of water. "Now let's get back to pretending that you're extremely self-absorbed because I'm not good with the sharing."

Green eyes narrowed at him. "For now. But I'll get you yet, my pretty. And your little lighter too." Taking a moment to cut into her steak, Lorna considered her next question thoughtfully. "So since you're back, what kind of plans do you have? You know how the betting system goes--the kids probably already have the odds on what you're going to wind up teaching."

John gave out a wry smile. "You're aware that those questions requires answers that equates to sharing, right?" He shook his head. "I don't think I'll be doing any teaching just yet. There's always the issue of trust and all that high morality nonsense." He snorted just then. "Ororo mentioned something about looking through homework though."

"I know that, I was just hoping you wouldn't notice." Lorna grinned repentantly. "Homework checking is the first step. Then you'll be moved up to test grading and then study session giving and then subbing and next thing you know the kidbits will be calling you Mr Allerdyce and pestering you day and night for what's going to be on the midterm."

"And I'm guessing the brainwashing happens at the start?"

"Subtly." Lorna watched him eat for a moment then calmly added, "We also drug the food." Behind her the oven tugged itself open and the tray of meringues slid out, settling on the stovetop to cool.

"Oh, that's very cute." He snorted out a laugh with a shake of his head. "I guess I'll have to do myself the favor and pass off on the good food. " John leaned back against his chair. "What are you teaching anyways?"

She winked and grinned as she stood. Taking out a decorative plate, she started to transfer the meringues from the cookie tray. "Cooking, obviously. Basic and Advanced. Geology since it's inline with my major. And I co-teach Self-Defense with Angelo. That's actually a lot of fun--it's a no powers class so everyone gets to start off on the same foot."

John raised his eyebrows. "So between all that and your duties as an X-Man, where do you find time to breathe?"

"It's not so bad as it sounds. The teaching is only part-time and my X-Men duties are a lot of riding the bench these days. College takes up the most time, honestly and I just study that whenever I grab a minute." Lorna took her seat again, bringing the chocolates with her. "But you know how it is around here. We'll all just sleep when we're dead."

"Guess it's a good time as any to gloat that I'm getting a good eight hours of sleep a day," John said. "Now are you gonna hold on to those chocolate meringues all night?"