xp_logs | Meggan and Korvus (Backdated)

While they’re both in the garage, Meggan apologizes for not telling Korvus about the electrical synching aspect of her powers before she pounced on the electrokinetic. Then, a picnic is planned, with a surprise bottle of champagne produced, and they talk about planning for college.

Korvus' hand slapped along the back bumper of the Impala a few times as he grasped for the shop rag he had left there. He was buffing rust from the undercarriage and the metal splinters clung to the lenses of his goggles along with the rag around his mouth and his clothes. With his mutation they seemed to be less inclined to turn into splinters, however. He was glad for the small things.

Meggan had entered the garage, not surprised to see Korvus, since she knew he liked to fix cars. Once she decided she could guess what he was reaching for, she reached down and placed the slightly dirty rag into his hand as it swept back her way. She peeked under the bumper, then, with a small wave and a smile. She didn’t want to surprise him or cause him to knock his head into the undercarriage. Even if it wouldn’t hurt him, it still likely wouldn’t feel anything approaching nice. It might damage the car he was trying to repair, too.

Taking the rag with a smile, Korvus wiped his goggles clear, pushed them up to his forehead, and wiggled out from under the car along the cardboard between him and the concrete floor. He leaned back against the back of the Impala and looked up to Meggan. "It is nice to see you. I was not expecting a visitor." He pulled the rag covering his nose and mouth down to around his neck as speaking reminded him it was there.

Meggan edged back slightly as he moved out, to give him more room to maneuver from beneath the car. “Thought I’d surprise you,” she admitted with a grin. “Unless you were neck deep into piecing an engine back together, and couldn’t move more than to breathe. But you can, if you can wriggle out.”

"I would like a surprise from you even then." Korvus said with a smile as he used the rag to wipe his hands as clean as he could before standing.

That was always nice to hear. “Yeah? Well, it’s mutual,” Meggan smiled. “Even if I were waist deep into something, I’d want to be surprised.” If she were being hopelessly swallowed up by some project, it would be a welcome change. But there was something else she needed to say, before anything else was spoken of. “And while you’re here and I’m here…I also thought I should apologize,” she said, a bit guiltily. “For worrying you before? Because I told you everything else, but I didn’t say I could synch up with electricity.” It wasn't a good thing to surprise someone with.

"I know it was not neglected to be malicious. It was an unforeseen event." With his left hand as clean as he could get it, Korvus offered it to Meggan. "I did not feel slighted and you do not need to apologize." He smiled, sweet and honest.

“I know, I just still thought it needed saying.” Meggan squeezed the offered hand gratefully, knowing that any sudden hugs might just end up with them both a greasy mess if there was anything he had missed. She wouldn’t mind, but the washing machine might. “You’re not the only one I’ve startled with it," she added. "When I was smaller…I used to take a fork and put it in the sockets for a quick snack if I wasn't all the way full a few times when Kurt wasn’t looking. Even if this was bigger.” It didn't need doing so much these days, unless she had to jump an electrokinetic.

"You consumed it? That's very interesting." Korvus leaned back against the trunk, happy to just stand and talk while holding Meggan's hand. "I sometimes wish my mutation were more extraordinary like you...yours."

Meggan nodded. “Just enough for what I thought I needed to get by, not so much that I shorted out any appliances. The only dimmed for a minute. Except for one light bulb blowing up, once. Teensy little blow out there.” But that didn’t count as shorting out, just needing a bulb replaced. And swept up. That hadn’t been her fault entirely, that bulb had been at the end of its lifespan and flickering before the fork met the socket. His last comment gave her pause. “But yours is extraordinary, too, isn’t it? The endurance, the stamina, the sword—Nandaki, I mean.” She needed to get the name right, she shouldn’t call it ‘the sword.’ That felt disrespectful to it.

"Nandaki aside, many people have said I am blessed. I feel very usual. I am more capable than average but I am not capable of any actions that another isn't." Korvus shrugged casually. "As for Nandaki, it is quite exceptional. I am not sure how it relates to my mutation. I suspect if I had any other it would operate just the same."

“I meant, more since Nandaki comes when you call it, even if it’s not a mutation. Instead of being a sword for someone else that sits around and doesn’t do all that much,” Meggan clarified. “That could fall into the extraordinary slot, couldn’t it?” To her mind, it did.

Korvus laughed softly and nodded, "I appreciate your efforts to raise my spirits." He squeezed her hand softly. "Your company has made my transition here much more bearable."

"Your appreciation is appreciated right back," she chuckled. Not looking out for any leftover grease on him, Meggan rubbed his arm soothingly with the hand not currently being held. “But that’s good. I’m glad to hear that company’s helping with settling.” Feeling lonely wasn’t good, when it came to settling in.

"What are the common ways couples spend time together in America, other than movies?" Korvus asked. "Perhaps I could shower and then we could share an activity."

“That’d be nice. Besides movies?” Luckily, Meggan had read a few things, just in case there needed to be an idea other than veering off towards the rec room at lightning speeds. Even if that was fun. “There’s dinner, or there’s dancing. Which...we've done before, with Homecoming. Or a picnic, something with music. Ice skating, but I don’t know if it’s cold enough. It could be…the indoors sort wouldn’t matter.” It might be too cold for roller skating, and she was better at the icy version.

Korvus listened to the options and nodded, thinking quietly for a moment. "Perhaps a picnic?"

That had been one of the top picks for Meggan, too. “I’d like that, yes.” She had a Lord of the Rings blanket that might be up to the task for wherever they picked to sit and eat. “There’s no chance of ants trying to carry away our food in February, even if it’s warmish,” she reasoned with a bit of amusement. An out of season bug cliché.

"I have seen that in a cartoon!" Korvus said with a soft laugh. It wasn't often he got a cultural joke. "I will shower and prepare our meal, then come retrieve you?"

Meggan would have promptly initiated her own special cartoon education of him, beginning with a marathon of Tiny Toons, if he hadn’t been familiar with that reference. “Yes! I'll be waiting...and I’ll bring the blanket for everything to sit on, instead of the ground.” She wondered if little wicker baskets were a requirement for picnics.

***

In under an hour, Korvus knocked softly on Meggan's door. Little wicker baskets may not have been a requirement for picnics but he carried one anyway. Assuming the dress code would be casual, he wore a standard jeans and t-shirt combination. He grinned to himself as he waited for her to answer.

Meggan answered quickly, with her own accompanying smile, not wanting to keep him waiting. Her blanket, covered in the One Ring on one side, with Sauron’s eye on the back, was half rolled up under one arm. It was likely to be wide enough for the two of them, and food. She was keeping it casual as well, and hadn’t noticed until a moment before she opened the door that shirt and blanket matched. “You found a little basket,” she noted with pleasure.

Korvus nodded and grinned. "It was important." Even though he was dressed casually, he smelled of jasmine and honeysuckle now. It almost covered the smell of oil and grease. "I make many people traditional Indian food. You will be the first I have made a traditional picnic for."

Meggan thought the jasmine fragrance smelled the better of the two, once it drifted her way. “Then, I’ll just consider it an honor to be the first person you’ve traditionally picnicked with. Thank you. In advance of eating it.”

"I believe we can both endure the cold well enough to take this event outdoors, correct?" Korvus smiled, moving with her toward the main entrance. He walked very casually, more interested in enjoying his time with her than darting for one place to another.

“Correct,” Meggan confirmed. “Outdoors, on the grass, or under a tree. In a spot nobody will accidentally step,” she joked. It wasn’t like it was due to reach frostbite territory today, or high winds, so outdoors was what she had assumed they would be doing. If it took too much of an uncomfortable and unexpected dip, they had the blanket or she could make what amounted to fur gloves for herself. She stopped herself from asking what he had packed them to eat, wanting it to be a surprise for when they had found a spot.

Korvus was more than content to walk silently with her until they reached a spot with a good view of the front entryway from under a tree.

This was a great position, Meggan realized as they slowed to a stop. They wouldn’t be stepped on, because they weren’t in the way of any doors or walkways. The wind was calm, so their basket of food shouldn't blow away. She quickly shook out the blanket, and smoothed out a few wrinkles in the middle of the fabric once it was on the ground.

With the blanket in place, Korvus began to unload the picnic. First a plate of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches which had been cut at angles, had the crust removed, and been arranged so they very generally resembled butterflies. Fresh strawberries and a small cup of chocolate dip followed. Finally, Korvus produced a smuggled bottle of champagne and two glasses. He arranged the baskets contents before looking to Meggan to see if he had got it right.

Meggan looked on in approval, especially when the strawberries were unveiled. The chocolate! This would be delicious. She bit her lip at the last, however, unsure if they would get in trouble for the champagne. “I’m not sure if we should. With the bottle and the little glasses,” she began. She wasn’t upset about him sneaking it out. Just a mixture of hesitant, and curious. “But if we do, just a sip at the end. Or the middle. Somewhere in between things. Not much, ” she reasoned with a small smile. “To see what it tastes like and wash the peanut butter and jelly down?” Before they moved to strawberries dipped in chocolate, that's all it was. Champagne bottles tended to spurt when opened from the movies she had seen. If that happened on the blanket, she would figure out a way to get it clean the minute they finished.

"I do not believe it would be enough to intoxicate either of us. Also, I find the paradigm in which you are praised for eating electricity and saving many lives but scorned for drinking champagne at harm to no one to be... unacceptable." Korvus sat across from Meggan, his legs crossed. He left the bottle corked for the time being, unwrapping the small, halved sandwiches and the fruit first. "If anyone asks, I will make such a case. No one has seemed unreasonable to me."

“I don’t think anyone would be unreasonable. More…gently concerned at first, with a few other things swirling around in their heads, while still listening to reason,” Meggan said after some consideration, as she took her little butterfly sandwich. Amanda and Kurt sprang to mind for the worry part, with Wade bringing up the rear. “There might not be any need for cases being made, but thank you. For offering to do that,” she gently added. It was sweet of him. “You’re right, though, it wouldn’t be enough for drunk. Or tipsy. Or whatever any other low levels of drunk are. Just…learning if the bubbles tickle our noses.”

"Are they supposed to?" Korvus asked curiously about the bubbles as he took his sandwich. "That sounds unpleasant."

“I think so? For the first sip or two.” Meggan was basing that knowledge off a movie or two she had seen. “It’s not supposed to be that bad. The foaming bubbles are like the ones in carbonated drinks. When they’re very fresh, and if you were too thirsty to wait.” And decidedly not like scrubbing bubbles.

Korvus nodded, "I suspect it will be fine but we will get to see for ourselves." He smiled to her. Doing things for her gave him a very simple, basic pleasure he enjoyed quite a bit.

“When the peanut butter’s all gone, the bubbles will show themselves,” Meggan smiled back, before she took another bite. She would get herself some of that wonderful smelling chocolate dip and a strawberry for dessert, after the small sip. A breeze briefly wafted through, satisfyingly cool, and not approaching unpleasant in the least bit. Not bad for February. It was nice, sitting out here like this with him.

Having snacked a bit while he put everything together, Korvus ate a bit less. He was much more interested in enjoying her company. He sipped a bit of the champagne with her, having opened it well off the blanket, but set his glass aside. It wasn't something he had a taste for, he decided. "Do you have plans for after this school year?" He read that small talk was necessary for dates. He felt it had been lacking.

Meggan had given it a moment, but no. There was a half itchy nose for an instant as a bubble had taken her by surprise, but it wasn’t the best taste in the world. So now she knew that champagne wasn’t really something for her, even if the foamy bit had gone almost exactly as she had seen in the movies. She put her glass down beside his, in the grass. Having bitten into the first chocolate covered strawberry, she knew that was much better. “Not very many,” she said with a shake of her head. “Other than figuring out where I really want to go to college…but that’s not going to start until after summer. Do you? Have plans?”

"I hope to study philosophy and work for a mutant rights organization while I do. It is why I chose to move here." Korvus smiled, following suit and getting a strawberry to dip in the chocolate sauce. "I should start looking at the local philosophy programs."

“That’s good. We could find you brochures from every college, for anything with philosophy. Figure it out from there?” Meggan realized she worded that wrong. “Every college in the area, not every single one in the country.” A stray drop of chocolate almost made its way onto the blanket, then, before she quickly caught it on the tip of her finger. "Oh! Almost lost that one," she said as she shot it a mock scolding look, before eating it. It wasn’t getting away from her, not this drop.

Korvus nodded and smiled, "I would enjoy scouting colleges with you. I wish to learn more about Western Philosophy."

“I’d like that, too,” Meggan said between chocolate bites. “Hey, maybe there’s a class that teaches about all the philosophies, just for a variety of learning. So you can learn about Western, plus anything extra that you don’t know much about already.” If not around here, maybe there was an online course along those lines.

"I am already somewhat familiar with Western Philosophy but I feel I may lack a firm understanding of some of the more detailed points." Korvus finished a strawberry he had dipped in chocolate. "Do you know what you would like to study at university?"

While it was still mostly vague thoughts, there were still a few that Meggan was interested in considering. “Since I love water, I thought I should try one or two marine biology classes. With another sociology class, since I like the one I’m in now. But I don’t know about majors yet, it’s too soon.” Scouting could help with that.

"Marine biology would suit you, I believe." Korvus offered encouragingly.

“I’d probably love whatever I had to do down there,” Meggan realized as she finished off the remains of a strawberry. They could share that last one. “There’s always the chance to go playing with dolphins between more serious stuff, too.”

"You would be uniquely skilled, as well." Korvus added, preparing the final strawberry for her with as much chocolate as he could get on it.

“Especially when the gills are in action,” Meggan laughingly added. She hoped she would be good at marine biology, and not do something wrong if she did go that way. That amount of chocolate Korvus piled on without anything dripping off was impressive, and she shot him a pleased, appreciative look. “We could split this last one,” she said with a questioning look as she accepted it. She was ready to pull it in half if he indicated he wanted one more bite.

Korvus laughed softly and shook his head at the offer. "I believe you would just make a mess if you attempted to pull it apart."

Meggan knew he was right. “There’d be more than a little dripping there, yeah,” she said almost sheepishly. “On everything. On both of us.” She would probably wear more than either of them ate if she tried, but she still felt like she had to ask. That out of the way, she set about devouring what she now decided must have been the best of all the strawberries. It was the best level of juicy. "I love this. Thank you," she said when she was almost finished. Meaning the picnic as a whole, and not just their food.

"It satisfies me to please you." Korvus said with a smile in response to the gratitude. He was, quite likely, completely unaware of any double entendre. "I hope to do many more things you desire."