Log: Amanda & JPB, Saturday Evening

[x-quebecois.livejournal.com]

Amanda needs to get back to the city and JPB thinks that letting her drive would be a bad idea.


Jean-Paul stepped out of the kitchen downstairs, a sandwich in one hand, and considered his options for where he could go. He'd finished his therapy session and was actually in a fairly alright place mentally. There was dinner later, but he didn't feel like heading to the gym before that, so... that left him with watching a movie or something equally lazy.

Turning to walk back through the kitchen so he could take off from the porch, he paused and tilted his head to the side. Amanda was coming down the hallway and... she didn't look well. "Bonjour," he said, quirking a brow.

"Huh?" Amanda looked startled for a moment, even though Jean-Paul hadn't exactly been hard to see walking down the hallway. She just hadn't noticed him. "Oh, hey, Jean-Paul. Didn't see you there."

Jean-Paul looked down at himself, then back up at Amanda. "I am not so small," he commented, then held out his uneaten sandwich. "Eat, mon ami. Come, sit. I will make another sandwich."

Amanda blinked down at the sandwich, as if trying to remember what to do with it. "Thanks," she said at last, taking it and having a large bite. She was starving, in more ways than one. "'M a bit out of it, sorry," she continued, muffled by the mouthful.

Shrugging, Jean-Paul opened the refrigerator and pulled out everything he'd need to make another sandwich or three. "You are welcome," he said, starting construction of the new sandwich. Then he asked, "Are you not sleeping? Or is there something wrong?" He didn't know why she'd be out of it, but he supposed food was a good answer to that - or she'd go into a food coma and he'd wind up having to figure out where to stash her while she slept. The thought made the corners of Jean-Paul's lips quirk upward a bit.

Amanda hesitated, not sure how much information she wanted to divulge about Nico's 'condition'. "I've been working a lot with Nico," she settled for. "What we're doing, it's a bit draining. I'll be fine once I get back to New York and power up a bit. Just need to pull my shite together enough to get there."

"You have someone to drive you?" Jean-Paul quirked a brow and put another sandwich in front of Amanda, then made one for himself.

She shook her head. "Not really. I couldn't find Ange and Kurt doesn't drive. He'd 'port me if I asked, but I think he and Monet were having a thing tonight and I didn't want to be a bother." She shrugged and finished off her purloined sandwich. "I'll just rest up a bit and go when I'm up for it. The food's helping - thanks for the save," she continued, muffled by food.

Jean-Paul frowned. "This, it is not such a good plan." He didn't like cars on the best of days and when people he knew weren't feeling one hundred percent, he liked them even less. "You are too tired to drive." There'd been an episode of the Mythbusters on where they showed that driving while tired was actually more dangerous than driving when slightly intoxicated. "I will take you."

Amanda tried to protest, but a yawn caught her out before she could really start. "If it's not a bother?" she replied, meekly - she didn't want a repeat of the time Doug had confiscated her car keys because she had pushed herself too much with the drive between New York and the school. "I'd really appreciate it?" There may or may not have been hopeful puppy eyes.

Waving his hand, Jean-Paul said, "It is not a bother, as you say." Better to keep her safe than to worry about her crashing into a tree - and it wasn't like it would take him very long. "I will fly you, oui?"

Amanda's eyes grew round - even now, she loved flying and the idea of one of the fliers taking her for a joyride was considered a treat. She had to repress a very un-tough squee noise. "You have so totally made my night, Jean-Paul," she said with a grin.

Jean-Paul wasn't quite sure he'd gotten that reaction from anyone before and it amused him. "You are looking forward to the flying, oui?" That was a pleasant change, at least. "It should not be such a long flight, but it is a nice one, I think." Then he pointed at Amanda's sandwiches. "Eat both of them."

"'M a flight junkie," Amanda explained, finishing off one sandwich and beginning on the other one, even though it was as big as her head, apparently. "I spent most of the time I was younger trying to learn flying spells, but I never had the oomph to manage anything more than a slight hover. Nate used to take me out sometimes and do the TK version, when I was a student." There was a brief flicker of regret in her expression - things had never been the same with Nate after the Hellfire Club and she had to admit she missed the closeness sometimes. Although with what she did these days, distance was probably just as well, like with Angelo. "What brings you to the mansion?" she asked instead, changing the subject. "I thought you had a place in District X?"

"Oui," Jean-Paul said, putting away the things he'd used to make their sandwiches before he began eating his own. "I have a place in the city, but Kevin is here, and so here I often am." He took an overlarge bite and chewed contemplatively, half-swallowing it before he said, "Also, I am working with my powers. It is safest to do so here. Your student, she does not like to go into the city? Is this why you are here, as well?"

"She had a bit of a rough time in December," Amanda explained, as vaguely as she could without actually being vague. "So we're sticking close to home for a while, at least until she feels stronger. Her mutation's activated, so she's needing to relearn a lot of stuff."

"Ah," Jean-Paul said, nodding. He understood about problematic mutations. "I hope she is doing well, at least. And that things get better for her in the new year."

"Me too." It was a heartfelt agreement. "How about you? Things going well with Kevin?"

"Oui," Jean-Paul spoke from behind his sandwich, then took another bite. "Very well, now that he is not blowing himself up and I am not leaving." Tipping his head to the side, he asked, "Have you found someone with which to make many fat babies?" He had to grin, the expression still hidden behind his food. "Our small, Asian friend will be very sad if you have not."

Amanda coughed, almost inhaling a chunk of bread. "You mean I can't just pine for you?" she asked, once she'd recovered. "She'll be so disappointed in us!"

"Non, pining, it is not allowed," Jean-Paul said, laughing quietly. "It is, as they say, the easy way out."

"Bah," was the reply, just as amused. "Guess I'll have to find a new hobby then."
"Mmph," Jean-Paul laughed again, more than halfway finished with his sandwich now, but his voice was so muffled by meat and cheese and bread that he didn't bother trying to say anything else. A few minutes later and he'd finished it entirely.

Amanda had already finished hers and was waiting, perhaps a little impatiently, although she tried to hide it. Jean-Paul was, after all, doing her a favour. "Flying now?" she asked, as soon as his plate was empty.

Jean-Paul snorted. "Oui, flying now." He took their plates to the sink, though, and took care of them quickly before moving toward the door that led to the porch. He couldn't help grinning. "You should not imply that a speedster is slow, mon ami."

Amanda slung her bag across her body and zipped up her jacket. "Does this mean I have to watch out for friction burns?" she asked with an innocence that was anything but.

"Tsk," Jean-Paul tutted at Amanda and held the door open for her. "Such things you say to me. If only I were not involved. And gay."
"Such a waste," she replied, grinning. "I like my way of doing things - you don't miss out on anyone, that way." As they reached the back steps, she turned and held her arms out to him. "Is this where you sweep me up, or are we going the far more practical piggy-back?"

Jean-Paul half-bowed, then swept Amanda up into his arm. "Here, I will be a romantic, if only for a single flight." With that, he took off and angled for the city.

She gave a muffled squeak and wrapped her arms around his neck, careful not to actually employ a choke hold. The air was bitterly cold once they got high enough and she pressed close to share Jean-Paul's body heat. "It's so pretty from up here," she remarked, breath fogging.

"Oui," Jean-Paul said, raising his voice a little so he could be heard over the rush of the wind around them. "This is part of what I love." It was very rare that he flew someone anywhere and rarer still that he found someone who seemed to enjoy it even half as much as he did. Quirking a smile, he thought that Amanda might be the sort of person who'd enjoy going a little faster, but he wasn't going to throw that at her unannounced. Some people seemed alright at first, but vertigo hit later. If she asked, he'd up the pace.

If it hadn't been for the cold, she would have jumped at the chance of more speed, but as it was, she didn't want to become an ice lolly. "You know," she said, deceptively innocently. "Nico's going to need a lot of training for a while, so 'm going to be back and forth a bit. Might be safer if I get myself a designated flyer." She looked up at him with a grin despite the strands of hair whipping across her face.

Jean-Paul laughed at that. "Oui, this might be safe. If I am at the mansion, I will do this for you. You have my mobile number, do you not?"

"Yeah, in my phone." Amanda shivered a little despite herself, still looking out across the snow-covered scenery passing beneath them. "Okay, I'm still convinced. Flying has got to be the best bloody power, hands down. I wonder if I ask London nicely, she'll give me enough juice to try it under my own power?"

The cold didn't bother Jean-Paul - it never did. But he flew a little lower in an effort to make it easier for Amanda. Of course, it was below freezing even at ground level. "I am very fond of flying," he commented. "And going very quickly, this is nice also." After considering what she'd said, he shrugged a little. "Simply make sure that someone who flies regularly is there also, oui? So if London is not helpful, you do not fall. And wear more clothing next time, or you will shiver out of my arms."

"London wouldn't hurt me, not on purpose." Amanda's tone was sure. Then she laughed. "And only you would ask a woman to wear more clothes, Jean-Paul. It's a date."

"I am, as they say, a gentleman," Jean-Paul replied, his tone overly dignified, expression comically serious.