xp_logs | Jane, Kurt - Thursday Afternoon (Reply)

Jane monopolizes Triscuit, and she and Kurt catch up.

Well, this was different, Jane thought as she lay sprawled out face-first in the snow, a warm, wet tongue lapping frantically at her cheek. She'd been out walking the grounds, distracted by the sky, when a small, furry missile had hit the back of her legs.

Sneezing, she rolled over and reached out to pet her assailant. "How can evil be so cute?" she asked.

"Triscuit!" came a scolding voice as Kurt appeared nearby. "I thought it was understood you were not to attack people so. Are you all right, Jane?"

"I'm fine, Kurt," she assured him with a giggle, scritching the puppy behind his ears. "I just wasn't expecting a stealth-puppy attack. Out for a walk?"

"The third of the day", Kurt confirmed. "It is not good for him to spend all his time in the suite, and in any case I like the outdoors. Even if the walks do not seem to burn off any of his energy."

"It is beautiful out here," Jane agreed, giving Triscuit a final pat before climbing back onto her feet. "Everything so quiet and still and sparkling. I don't know how anyone can not like winter."

"In some cases, I think it is because they were not used to it, where they came from. Those who lived in warmer places often have some trouble adjusting to... snow."

Jane smiled. "I hadn't really thought of it that way. I wonder if I'd have trouble adjusting to the heat if I moved somewhere warmer. I can't imagine it being hot for Christmas." A stick protruded through the snow and Jane grabbed it. "Does Triscuit play fetch?" she asked.

"He does, with great enthusiasm. Be aware you may not be allowed to stop for some time, once you start."

"That's okay," Jane waved the stick through the air a bit, attracting the attention of the wiggly puppy before flinging it off into the distance. "I could use the playtime." She watched Triscuit go bounding through the snow. "How have you been? We haven't had much of a chance to talk since I got back. And well, you got back, too, I guess."

"Yes", he agreed, "and many things have changed since you were last here. Visibly and otherwise - but I have been mostly well." The last was a reference to his scars being gone, of course.

"I noticed. The fuzzy look is a good one for you. It looks cozy." Triscuit dashed back up to her with the stick, and then ran away when she tried to grab it. "I was glad to hear you were coming back. It was really weird coming back and having so many people be gone elsewhere, you know? And also," her voice took on a somewhat more frivolous tone, "I wanted to ask you what you thought of Pirates of the Caribbean."

Kurt laughed at that, watching the puppy dash around manically. "I am glad to be back, now that I am. As for the film... it had some fine action set pieces. And Mr. Bloom could have a fine career ahead of him as the new Errol Flynn, should he choose the right roles."

"I know, right? Someone needs to take him aside and explain that in every generation there is a chosen one, who alone will wear the tights and carry the shiny sword. Because Elizabethtown was just not good. Hah!" She grabbed the stick and flung it away again.

Tris raced after it, barking fit to wake the dead. "Perhaps I should try to work myself in as his acrobatic trainer", Kurt suggested, half-serious but grinning.

Jane turned to him with a gleeful laugh, her eyes sparkling. "If you do that, you have to *promise* you'll let me be your assistant. I'll make coffee and everything."

"I will certainly have need of an assistant, if I do it", he said solemnly, but his eyes were dancing. "The job will be yours."

"I will hold you to it," she informed him. "I can see it now: 'Jane Gale, assistant to the stars'. We'll make a fantastic team."

"Ah, but I will not be the star", he pointed out. "The lifestyle would not suit me, I think. Yvette and I have already found what it is to have fans."

"Well, you could be famous among trainers," she mused. "No one said you had to be in the movies yourself." She eyed him thoughtfully. "So if you have fans, do you have a fanclub?"

"Not an official one that I have ever heard about. But perhaps the Amazing Nightcrawler did have a small following." He grinned a little wistfully.

Jane smiled. She had heard stories about Kurt's Amazing days and would have liked to have seen them. She'd always thought that the trapeze must be like flying. "You never know. Have you tried searching for yourself on the Internet? You might find a fanclub just waiting for your return." She paused. "They might have buttons."

It took him a moment to hide his expression of mild horror at that idea, and then he smiled back. "I suppose they might. Though I did not get much beyond local fame - my time in bigger circuses was... short-lived."

The expression that flitted across his face was priceless. Jane hid her amusement by bending down to flap Triscuit's ears and steal his stick. So, no armies of button wearing fangirls for Kurt. "Do you miss it a lot?" she asked.

Triscuit responded by launching another volley of barking and leaping in an attempt to get the stick back. Kurt considered for a moment. "Sometimes, yes. But I can still practise here, and if the urge grows too strong, I can always return to the family circus for a time. I am happy here."

Jane waved the stick in air one last time before flinging it out into the growing dark. "Good. Unhappiness is definitely something to avoid." She grinned up at him. "I've never been to the circus, you know. If you do go back for a visit, you'll have to have someone record it. I'd love to see it."

"It would not be quite the same, I know", he said slowly, "but you would be welcome to watch me practise whenever you like."

"Really? That would be-" Jane searched for a word that covered the inordinate amount of pleased excitement that Kurt's offer caused. "That would be really excellent. Thank you."

He laughed aloud, pleased, as the puppy came scampering back one last time. He always liked getting that reaction from people, however it was achieved. "Then you shall, before Christmas comes. Or... you know, I will be returning to my family for the winter feast. I know they would welcome a guest, if you have no other plans...?"

Jane was taken a bit aback, but if anything the giddy feeling increased. Kurt's generosity amazed her. She'd have to ask Yvette if they could bake cookies a bit earlier than planned, but she'd probably be okay with it.

"I'd love to," she told him.

"Good." He gave her an honest smile. "They will be glad of it, as I am. Guests are as important as anything in the celebrations."

"Well, all right then." Jane was beaming, she knew she was beaming, she couldn't help it. This was totally a beamable thing. She'd never spent a Christmas anywhere other than here or with Mike before, and never with anyone's family. It was possibly the best present she could have been given.

And then reality set in a bit. Cookies, shopping, and unfinished stocking stuffers danced before her eyes.

"Oh my gosh," she exclaimed, dragging a hand through her hair. "I've got so much to do! E-mail me the details, okay?" She gave Kurt a fierce hug."Thank you so much!"

He blinked but hugged her back, careful not to step on Triscuit despite the puppy's best efforts to get underfoot. "You are very welcome, Jane."