xp_logs | Ororo and Nate | Saturday night (Reply)

After her conversation with Remy, Ororo seeks out Nate to let him know she won't be coming home quite yet. Nate is... amused. Backdated.

The evening was winding down and Ororo was about ready to leave, but
there was one last headstrong man she needed to talk to first. It
wasn't hard to find Nathan, even in a crowd - he stood head and
shoulders above most of the guests. Waiting to catch him alone, she
seized the first opportunity she could and slipped through the
remaining guests to his side, smiling a bit to herself. "You have been
a popular man, tonight," she remarked.

Nathan was looking slightly worn - the crowd had been tiring, after a
while - but largely satisfied, like a man who'd held a number of
productive conversations and was still mulling them over. "Blame
T'Challa and that terribly managing mother of his, pointing all these
people in my direction," he said lightly, focusing on her. "I haven't
seen much of you."

"I have been likewise busy," she replied, giving a slight shrug. "A
great many people to speak with. Not all of them expected." She let
this statement sit alone for a moment until Nathan gave her a
questioning look. "Remy is here. I was not aware his plans included a
banquet in Wakanda, but... it seems he sought me out."

Nathan actually rolled his eyes, just a little. "He came looking for
you. In Wakanda. What, have the two of you been having more
issues than you've let on?"

"So it would seem," came the wry response. "I came upon him just as he
was ready to insult T'Challa for... well, for what I am not sure, but
I can only imagine what he thought. It is true we have not seen
much of each other lately, not since before... all the kidnappings."

Nathan arched an eyebrow at her. "I thought I told you in Yosemite to
make sure that the two of you talked," he chided her. "God knows what
kind of ridiculous self-flagellating nonsense he's been cooking up in
that brain of his in the interim. Remy's interpersonal skills are not
of the robust."

"Coming from an emotional tower such as yourself that is not a
surprising judgment," Ororo said, though there was no heat behind it,
and she was smiling. "I did at least attempt communication, but it was
less than successful. Which would explain the trans-Atlantic flight
and the fake ID." She looked all too amused by this retelling. "I
suppose that is yet another endorsement for your way of handling
things, but I think Remy and I still have some work to do on that.
Give us time."

"I recommend large bodies of water. They do wonders," was Nathan's
tart response. He shook his head, looking around the less-crowded
room. "Where did he go? Do I want to know? If he's going to take
another stab at insulting T'Challa, I want to watch. It would probably
be very entertaining."

"I believe he has found a slightly less suicidal way of passing the
time. I should find him, actually... we still have more things to talk
about. I wanted to tell you, though, that I will be changing my flight
and staying a few days longer in Africa. I will inform Scott as well,
so he has no cause to worry. But I think I am still due a few more
vacation days."

Nathan gazed down at her for a moment, and then nodded. "Well, your
break really was nothing of the sort," he said wryly. "I'd stay
myself, but I promised Angelo I'd be back for his birthday."

"Of course," Ororo said with a nod and a smile. "And I am sure you
will have many more opportunities to return. Nyami seemed quite
insistent that Elpis continue its connections with her contacts."

"Funny, how we managed to make connections, even in the midst of all
of this... I think I need to give Rahne a raise." He reached out and
took her arm, steering her through the open glass doors that lined one
side of the room, out to the verandah that overlooked the mountains.
"It's beautiful here," he said. "You and Remy should enjoy
yourselves."

"We shall try." It would certainly be better than the last time they
had met in Africa, of that she was sure. She stared out over the
horizon for several long moments, feeling a certain sense of
well-being settle over her at the view. "You know," she remarked then,
her tone light, "I think it is only fair that the next time we go
climbing, I get to choose the venue..."

"Oh?" Nathan drawled. "Have something particular in mind?"

"Perhaps. We shall see how your endurance is when the trip-planning
begins," Ororo said, grinning and reaching up to pat Nathan's
shoulder.

"Oh, now I'm worried."