Lil and Jean-Paul - Backdated to Wednesay

[x-cynosure.livejournal.com]

Lil takes Jean-Paul up on his offer of lunch and makes it clear that she has no intention of going native.



Lil'd barely had enough time after the snowy activities with Manuel, Val and a good portion of the mansion's residents to shower and change before heading to Jean-Paul's suite. A quick knock on the door and the blonde shoved her hands into her pockets, trying to ignore the way her stomach growled. True, she'd eaten earlier - a couple tasty sandwiches in the company of both de la Rochas - but that was before the snow war. Plus, peanut butter and jelly had nothing on the food the speedster had promised.

Jean-Paul opened the door, and savory scents from the suite's kitchenette practically shouldered him aside to take Lil's hand and escort her in. Oh, yes, there was poutine waiting in there, and peameal bacon sandwiches if her nose wasn't deceiving her. All welcoming, come-in-from-the-cold food (and whether those being welcomed in could feel the cold or not was immaterial).

"Good to see you, Lillian," Jean-Paul said with a slight smile. "Come in. I've finally gotten the place fit for company again."

"Merci," she said with a little nod and a dazzling smile as she was ushered into his suite. "Thanks for having me over. It smell delicious." And certainly better than anything she could make. Most of the cooking was left to Amara when kitchen time was called for while the taller blonde took cleaning duty... when she remembered. "And I go by Lil. Only time I get Lillian is with Manuel who refuses to call me anything else and Heather who's usually scolding me for something."

"Pardon. I'll try to keep it in mind. It is probably better that we get off on the right foot this time around." He recalled all too well that he hadn't been exactly social back in the Flight program and that was one set of habits he wasn't eager to fall back into. "The table is all set, if you'd like to have a seat. I am almost done in the kitchen."

The giantess nodded again, causing her ponytail to bounce before she moved to the table. "I appreciate it. All of this, actually," she said, gesturing to the spread as she sat, still smiling. "Haven't been away from where I called home this long since I joined Gamma."

"I've jumped homes so often that location does not mean nearly as much as people. Still, there are things that you miss." Jean-Paul returned to the table with drinks. The menu was definitely informal -- sandwiches, poutine with actual cheese curds, and nanaimo bars sitting off-sides. He gestured to the table as he spoke. "Being able to get decent poutine without having to make it yourself or go on a run across the border is definitely something to be pined for."

"A stroll down the hall is much more convenient than a flight back to Canada," Lil agreed, chuckling. She'd grown up - some - since their shared time in the Flight program and even though they'd never been in the same tier at the same time, the blonde had heard plenty about him and his escapades. Her immaturity and his celebrity hadn't lent themselves to a close relationship but if he was going to continue to cook, Lil was certainly willing to make the effort in trying to form a decent, working relationship at the least. After all, this time, they were going to be teammates. "Everything looks as good as it smells."

"I have a friend who would be happy to hear that." He smiled slightly and offered his glass. "Shall we drink to second chances?"

"To second chances. Tchin-tchin," Lil said as she lifted her own glass, clinking the rim of hers to his then taking a healthy sip. "You have a friend who's thinking of running away to Canada for food?"

"Non," Jean-Paul chuckled. "I have a friend who is indirectly keeping me supplied. I have been trying out her recipes lately. Still not quite the same, bit I am getting closer, I think. And I think she would forgive me for cheating on Shiro with you. Maybe. If I groveled enough."

She nodded her understanding as she took another sip. "Pass along my gratitude, then. A little piece of home is certainly appreciated. Didn't think I'd miss the place but it's starting to hit a little bit." Namely because of the time of year. The holidays had been bumpy and she wasn't looking forward to February, either.

"Culinary longings aside, I think I am settling all right." Jean-Paul speared one gravy-soaked fry with his fork. "When I got the job offer from Xavier -- the first one, anyway -- I decided it was not such a bad position, but there was part of me convinced that I would not like it very much. And then once I found myself with time on my hands again, I was the one asking to come back. It was a surprise."

Having waited for the host to make the first move towards the meal, Lil dug in. "Mmm," she moaned, her mouth full of food that helped stamp out any lingering homesickness. "I wasn't happy when I got sent here but it's grown on me. And by not happy I mean I almost put a hole in Heather's desk. Woulda been counterproductive in trying to prove my anger issues have lessened so I waited until I got back to my hotel room to start wrecking things. Haven't destroyed anything here, though. Yet."

"You are one up on me, then. I've already had to reimburse the school for a new speedbag, and I have the added disadvantage of being old enough to know better," he teased. A slice of avocado tried to escape his sandwich and he adjusted his grip to keep it trapped. "I do not think I would go back to Alpha Flight, myself. Admittedly, much of this was my own fault, but it never quite worked out for me."

"You've been here longer than me; there's plenty of time for me to catch up with the destruction of property," Lil assured him. There was nothing dainty about the way she ate, stuffing herself full of the home-cooked comfort. "That's the way I feel about Beta, kinda. If I don't make Alpha, I dunno what I'm gonna do 'cause I'm sure as hell not gonna go back to Beta. Too many burnt bridges, too many ghosts."

"I'd offer to write a recommendation once you head back up north, but I think that could only work against you," the speedster joked. "With any luck, you won't have to worry about it. If the worst happens, though, you are already a trainee here. Not what you have your heart set on, I know, but there are worse places to be."

Lil shook her head. "I'm only a trainee because they couldn't figure out what else to do with me here. I doubt I'll stick around here if I don't make Alpha; I can get along in the clubs back home, bouncing and tending bar." She didn't want to, but it was something she was good at. "The mansion's nice and all but it's not home for me."