Log: Lil and Wanda; backdated to Friday, Sept 11

[x-diamondlil.livejournal.com]

Wanda meets Lil at Harry's to cash in on the last of her free drinks and gives the Canadian a going away present.

Backdated to Friday night.



"Thanks, Harry," Lil said, dropping the bar owner a large bill and leaving the change after slipping a piece of paper into her pocket. "Be back in a bit." One more happy smile and the giantess carried the bottle of Jamison and two glasses back to the table where her companion was sitting. It had taken a little longer than she'd expected but the pay off was certainly worth it; Madison was going to love the suicide wings provided she got the recipe correct.

"Sorry about that. Just some cleaning house," she told Wanda and settled down into the booth while scooting a glass to the brunette.

Wanda waved off her apology as she snapped closed the book she'd been reading; nothing like the serious tomes she sometimes carried around, this time it was a beaten up paperback that had seen better days. "Oh no," she said blandly, "I had some time to unwind and not do a million things at once."

She flashed a grin, teeth bright against her tanner skin. "No worries, really. I've got plenty of time."

The taller woman returned the smile as she poured out, filling each of the tumblers. A little more dignified then straight shots but Lil was certain the pair would kill the bottle in no time. "No, you only have until I go home," she corrected. "At least, to score the free drinks."

"I’ll be sad to see you go,” Wanda remarked, genuinely meaning it as she accepted the tumbler that was now filled with a cheery looking amber drink. She tilted it slightly in a sort of salute before tasting it carefully – not that Harry would stock anything but the best, of course. While she would rather miss Lil, she understand, perhaps better than most, the need to pull her roots. Especially in the face of such a tragedy. “I’m sorry to see you go and I’m so sorry in general.”

"Thanks. It sounds horrible but I know it coulda been a lot worse," Lil replied over the top of her own glass just before taking a long sip. "Madison came outta it the best outta all of them and that I'm grateful for. Doesn't change the fact there's still five dead and two injured, though... Not to mention the disbanding of the program," she added with a little growl of displeasure. "Tell me you've been doing something more entertaining this past month than watching a man watch the shadows on the wall from his hospital bed."

Wanda’s eyes clouded for a moment as she thought of dark museum hallways and curt silences from her supposed mentor, plus Remy’s disappearance. She shook it off after a moment, putting it all back in the box marked “Deal with later”. “The same old, which means a short trip to the E.R. to get a bloody rabies shot, of all things. If it’s creepy, spooky or sneaky, we’ve probably had to go kick it in very sensitive areas the last few weeks. The same old, same old is never boring, I’ll give it that."

"I don't know if I agree. I think the 'same old, same old' is about to get very boring for me. Creepiest shit I'm gonna deal with is laundry. And cooking." A dry laugh and the blonde shook her head, downing another generous swallow of the whiskey. "Rabies shot? Do I wanna know the story behind that?"

“I was used as a chew toy by a fear based shapeshifter, who turned out to be rather touched in the head,” came the deadpan response. She tilted her head at Lil as she swirled her drink around in her glass, content with taking her time in enjoying her free drinks. “Do you think you’ll be happy up there?” she asked, not unkindly.

Lil's nose wrinkled, picturing the attack and while such a thing wouldn't hurt the invulnerable blonde... "Ouch. I'd offer to buy your next drink but I'm doing that anyway. As for being back home," one shoulder lifted and fell casually, "I really don't know. Ain't about my happiness right now, really. I gotta focus on helping Maddy." It's what she kept telling herself, what she had to keep telling herself to ensure she would in fact get on the plane for Toronto.

These sorts of things were tricky. After all, even if there were still any lingering feelings over any of her ex’s (which, of course, Wanda would simply never admit) she still didn’t have the kind of attachment that Lil had to Madison. It was, probably, one of the many reasons the brunette had simply decided that the married life was not for her. The idea of being attached to someone so tightly made her skin crawl. But then again, she understood personal sacrifice.

“Speaking as someone who regularly forgets this, so please heed what I say and pay no attention to what I do, remember to take care of yourself, too. Madison may very well need you but if you are not whole and happy yourself…” She spread her hands to either side of her, pretending to weigh and measure.

"I got Gar's sister looking after me," Lil promised with half a smirk. "Keeping me sane and well-watered at least twice a week right now. Once Maddy gets home, she'll probably show up more often. Complete with stories about all the fun and sex she's having while I play house and mark a year of not getting laid on the calendar." Amusement lingered in her voice, though it was tight and a touch bitter. "Thanks for your concern, though. I'm taking Mist with me so if I ever need to get away, the option's there."

That got a grin. “Henri would be heartbroken if you didn’t,” she teased before enjoying more of her drink. “Just remember that even though you might have been pining for the Great White North while you were here, it is home of a sort. You’ve got people down here if you need – or want – to come back.” This was where her job came in with another perk – it wasn’t all that difficult to arrange for travel when you needed it and time in the office was flexible at best. She grinned more, eyes crinkling in response. “Also, if need be, I can bribe a few teleporters, you know.”

The blonde woman returned the smile, much brighter than before and took another sip. The whiskey was too good to ruin with tears and drowned sorrows. "Planning escape routes already," she laughed. "I don't think that fits into the whole 'sickness and health' bit by why the hell not? Just so long as there are couches big enough when I'm on this side of the border, I'll give you a call when I'm in need of a jailbreak."

“Well, you know my couch quite well –“ That lovely L shaped monstrosity that had nearly killed several of her teammates moving it into the apartment in the first place. They were going to have to get it out by taking a saw to it and chucking it out the window. “And since I bought it with myself in mind, plus others, it’s able to fit even you.” She grinned and topped off their drinks. “Well, love, like I said – you’ll be missed and not just myself. In return, we demand many gifts of Canadian variety. Mounties seem to be in style this year…”

"Those are still in fashion?" Lil asked with a expression of mock disgust. "Ugh, I thought that particular fad would be over come fall. Not an accessory I ever experimented with," she added with another warm chuckle, swirling the alcohol in her tumbler slowly as if contemplating the very idea of it. "But, hey, if that's what people want, that's what they'll get. Good luck getting them off their horses though."

At the mental image conjured up by Lil, Wanda sputtered into almost hysterical laughter for a moment. She had to brace her hands on the table for a moment in an effort to regain a semblance of balance. "I - I'm sorry. It's just ..." Good memories, drink and the mental image of trying to get a Mountie off his horse to "sex them up", as Jubilee had said once, made it almost impossible to continue.

"Now I'm glad I never if it's that hysterical of a situation. Wait 'til I tell Vikks," Lil laughed along with her, smiling brightly. It felt good to let go an enjoy a few minutes instead of worrying about the future. "You gonna be okay or should I be worried about whiskey coming out your nose?"

“The minute I waste such good drink, no matter the situation, feel free to kick me,” she replied, leaning back in her chair and wiping at her eyes. “Trust me when I say it was the overall image and not the specific memories that caused that reaction – though his sister will be gleeful either way.” She snickered at the look Lil gave her. “No worries, my friend. I’ve never been the kiss and tell kind of woman anyway. It’s a bit gauche and I don’t enjoy traumatizing my friends.”

"Please," she said, waving the comment off. "I've known him since I was sixteen and have made it a point to act as a surrogate pain in the ass when Vikks'a ain't around. I know stories about Beaver Boy. Hell, I probably invented a few of them myself. No first hand knowledge, though." Lil smirked over the top of her glass then took a long sip before looking around the bar. "Fuck, I'm gonna miss this place. Present company included, of course."

“Speaking of being missed…” The oversized purse that could be used for either holding things or stopping a robbery in mid progress was on the floor and it took Wanda a few seconds to pull it up onto the counter. Despite the number of things in there – books, wallet, an umbrella, to name a few – she reached in with a practiced hand and pulled out an envelope. “Like I said early, you will be missed and hopefully this will remind you of that when you’re up there.”

With a curious expression, Lil took the envelope - and was instantly glad she hadn't taken a sip of the whiskey before opening it because she probably would have choked. "Wanda... This, wow. I can't... I can't accept this," the giantess stammered, shaking her head back and forth slowly as tears began to prick in her eyes. The gesture was overwhelming, the names and well wishes and the cash alike but... "Seriously, I can't take this. It's too much."


A gentle but firm hand covered one of Lil’s. “Yes you can,” Wanda said with a smile. “Whatever your plans are now, you might have a long road ahead of you but we were not willing to let you walk it completely alone. You always talked about eventually going home but, Lil, you inadvertently made one here, as well.” It had been rather gratifying to see how many people had happily joined in and how many more had heard about it through the grapevine and had hunted her down to either sign the card or donate. She’d even gotten a slightly amused Charles to sign the card.

Lil bit her bottom lip and turned her hand upward, taking Wanda's by the fingers to squeeze softly while looking over the names. Very little could silence the blonde but the card and gift had left her speechless. How long had it just been her and a handful of people she kept close? Her father, Madison, Victoria. The generosity and camaraderie she'd come to experience from the people at Xavier's and Snow Valley was staggering and it pained her that much more to have to leave it behind.

"Thank you," she finally whispered when words returned. "I don't know what else to say other than thank you."

"When you cannot say anything - drink!" While Lil put herself back together, Wanda liberally topped off both of their drinks, understanding that the giantess needed a moment; raising her own glass, she said, "To drink, to friends, to us. All roads lead back to each other in the end."

Thankful for the understanding, the blonde blinked back the few tears the still threatened then lifted her own tumbler and clinked it against Wanda's. "And to our bikes. No matter how bumpy those roads, we ride in style."