xp_logs | EDIT: two logs - Angelo and Moira; Angelo and Kitty (Reply)

Angelo and Moira run into each other in the kitchen and talk about many things, including Nathan, chick-flicks, and the past.

Angelo was sitting at the kitchen counter, having a sandwich and trying to read one of his class texts without much success. Hearing the door open, he glanced up to see who it was.

Moira mused that they could probably hear her stomach gurgling back home in Scotland as she entered the kitchen. She'd eaten very little the day before, that kind of headache tends to dimish one's appetite a great deal. She blinked when she spotted Angelo, she hadn't really expected anyone to be in here yet. The Sunday crowd tended to sleep in a little long.

"'ello, Angelo."

Angelo smiled in greeting. "Hey, Dr. MacTaggart. How's it goin'?"

"Better than it was yesterday, tha's fer certain." Moira started rummaging through the fridge. There had to be protein somewhere among the junk food. "'ow 'bout yerself?"

"Oh, same here", he told her. "Better than it was."

She glanced over her shoulder at him. "'ow's yer arm?" she asked, a little dryly.

Angelo blinked. "Ah - you know about that? It's fine now, just a bit sore for a day or two."

"Was kind o' 'ard nay t' find out, lad. Nathan's face looked like someone 'ad taken a distinct dislikin' t' it." Her voice was inbetween frustrated and slightly amused. "An' I'm a bear when I want t' find out thin's."

Angelo grinned wryly. "Yeah, I'm sorry about that. He's... persistent."

"'Tis nay yer fault tha' 'e's bloody stubborn." When she stumbled on the left over steak, Moira beamed and took it out to heat up. Left overs were always fair game. "Did it 'elp? Because if it dinnae *I'm* goin' ta 'urt 'im."

Angelo smiled. "Yeah, it did. Seems like he had the right idea..."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm sure'n there could 'ave been a better way than beatin' th' crap out o' each other," she remarked wryly. "But it seems ta work. Ye can do worse ta get out yer aggression's than wit' sparrin', I suppose."

Angelo chuckled. "Yeah, I think so. Marie's already offered, an' I'm in Logan's classes. An' when Sarah comes back, I'll take it up with her again. Can't have too many different styles to practice on."

"Nay, I suppose ye cannae." She grinned a little. "'opefully these'll be done wit' ye knowin' wha's goin' on unlike Nathan's last approach."

Angelo grinned back. "Yeah, that'd be a bonus. Though I don't know if he'd've got what he wanted if I'd known in advance he didn't mean it."

"'mmm, probably nay." She squinted in memory. "'e's right bloody good at tha'. Did it t' me a few years back. Granted, there 'ave been times when 'e wasnae fakin' it."

Angelo blinked, not knowing enough about their shared past to understand. "Yeah... I'm only sure he didn't 'cause he said so, after."

"Then 'e dinnae mean it." She caught the slightly confused look on his face and laughed. "Angelo, wit' bot' o' us bein' right stubborn asses, when we get int' a row we *really* get int' a row."

Angelo laughed a little. "Yeah, I can see that. Sure knew what result he wanted, that day, an' made sure he got it."

Moira nodded and then rescued her now done steak. "'e's sneaky like tha'." She raised an eyebrow at him. "Are ye really doin' okay after th' Mexico stuff?"

Angelo paused to consider. "I'm doin'... better. A lot better."

"Good. I'm glad ye an' Amanda are doin' better. Knowin' 'er, she'll probably be talkin' 'er way out o' th' MedLab soon enough." She sighed. "Two better, one more ta go it seems like."

Angelo frowned, then said hesitantly, "Amanda was askin' what was wrong with Manuel, an' I couldn't tell her. Does she know now, d'you know? She's really worried..."

"I think she does. Nathan probably told 'er an' she's a smart lass. Th' link actin' weird is probably leadin' 'er t' figure it out."

"Yeah, she said somethin' about that. That the link was open, but he wasn't on the other end where he should be. Think it's maybe even hurtin' her..."

"We're doin' our best t' fix tha'," Moira assured him, thinking of Nathan's potential plan. "We'll make sure they'll bot' be okay."

Angelo nodded. "I know. How've you been doin', anyway?"

"Workin' meself sick, as usual," Moira remarked with a smile. "Reason I wasnae out an' about yesterday."

Angelo looked a little concerned. "You okay today? Seems to be a theme 'round here, people workin' themselves sick."

"'ungry an' there's still a wee headache lingerin'. But luckily th' worst part o' th' 'eadache is gone. Thought it was t' much sleep but I guess I jus' overworked meself. Again." She couldn't help snickering. "Nathan 'elped me feel better. Even watched a chick flick wit' me."

Angelo laughed out loud, hearing that. "He did? Which one?"

"'Under Th' Tuscan Sun'. Was a really good movie an' 'e even seemed ta enjoy it."

Angelo grinned. "Not that much of a chick flick. Thought you meant, like "Thelma an' Louise", or somethin'."

Moira shuddered at that. "God 'elp me. Nay. I'm nay one for th' real chick flicks. I like me movies wit' some dept' ta them...or explosions." She nodded seriously. "Explosions are good."

"There are explosions in "Thelma an' Louise"", Angelo pointed out. "An' please don't ask how I know that."

"Well, I'll 'ave ta keep tha' in mind...black mail, ye know." She winked.

Angelo laughed. "It's Paige's fault."

"O' sure, blame th' lass," she teased gently.

Angelo grinned. "Not sayin' I complained too much. But she chose the movie."

"'ere's ta 'oping ye get t' pick th' next one," Moira said almost seriously.

Angelo snickered. "I think I might have to insist on it. Who knows what she'd make me watch next time?"

"Probably 'Fried Green Tomatoes'." Moira paused. "'ow is Paige? I know she went off ta be wit' 'er family but I dinnae know if'n we've 'eard anythin' since then."

Angelo shrugged, his smile fading a little. "Not sure - I've not heard from her since she made that post. I figure if anythin' was badly wrong, she'd get in touch..."

"Paige is responsible. Lass 'as a rather good 'ead on 'er shoulders. Ye could always drop 'er a line."

Angelo nodded. "Yeah, I will. I would tell her what happened, but she left so suddenly it seems like she might have stuff to worry about already."

Moira frowned. "Maybe. But ye may want t' let 'er know stuff 'as been goin' on back 'ere. This isnae somethin' ye want t' surprise 'er wit', after all."

Angelo nodded again, conflicted. "Yeah, you might be right. Wish I knew when she was comin' back..."

"Maybe she's said somethin' ta Sam?" The fact that Sam hadn't gone with her was confusing but Moira figured that it was simply not all that urgent if both Gurthries hadn't gone.

"Maybe so. I'll ask him", Angelo answered pensively.

"Ye dinnae seem t' thrilled, Angelo."

Angelo looked up and shrugged. "I just miss her. Everythin' else is goin' okay, really."

Moira smiled in sympathy. "I know all 'bout missin' someone. Wit' all those years Nathan an' I bein' t' stubborn..." Her smile was wistful and she shook her head.

"How long've you known him?" Angelo asked curiously, realizing he didn't know.

"God, now I 'ave ta think..." Moira squinted and mentally counted. "7 years, roughly, when 'e first came t' Muir. Lon' time."

Angelo grinned. "Yeah, it is. How'd he end up comin' to Muir?"

She thought for a moment, trying to remember how open Nathan had been with some of these kids. The quick version would work. "'e was injuried durin' 'is work an' 'e was pretty damn close t' diein'. They sent 'im ta me."

Angelo nodded. "He, uh... showed me what he used t'do. Telepathically. Some of it, anyway - don't think for a second he showed me everythin'."

Nathan must really like Angelo, she mused to herself. "Angelo, I dinnae know everythin'. I come close but there're thin's 'e keeps close t' 'imself."

Another nod. "Yeah - from what he did show me, I can see why. He sent some thoughts, too, 'bout why he wanted t'make me angry like he did. He wants to be sure I won't end up there."

So that's what it was. "Aye, it makes sense," she said slowly, looking him over. "Ye've got a lot bottled up inside ye, lad. Now I am glad 'e did wha' 'e did. Wish 'e could 'ave done it slightly easier but still."

"I'm not sure anythin' easier would've worked", Angelo answered honestly. "Nothin' really did before, after all."

"Well, there are time everyone needs they're ass kicked," she said, cheerfully. "At least 'e dinnae toss ye in a lake."

Angelo laughed suddenly. "He... to you?"

Moira grinned slightly sheepishly. "Aye. In th' middle o' winter, nay less."

"I won't ask why", Angelo said, amused. "Not sure I want t'know."

She grimaced. "'Twas nay a fun reason," Moira replied. "Remind me ta tell ye when I'm nay quite so wobbly upstairs, aye? Nay somethin' I want ta go int' right now."

Angelo nodded. "Fair enough - tell me when you want. 'f it's somethin' like that, I'm not gonna push. Did it work, though?"

"It was a start," she admitted. "Took a lot o' badgerin' an' 'elp ta get me back on track."

Angelo looked sympathetic. "Hearin' you there. Sounds more familiar'n I'd like, actually..."

"Yer nay as far gone as ye think, lad," Moira reminded him softly. "An' yer were ye need ta be ta get a 'elpin' 'and."

He nodded. "Yeah. Nathan had some things t'say about takin' those helpin' hands, though - or not takin' them. Gonna be tryin' to do better with that."

"Good, ye should." Moira glanced up at the clock and grimaced. "Time for me ta 'ead back t' the lab." She scooped up her plate of food. "Take care o' yerself, will ye?"

Angelo smiled. "Sure. You too - no workin' yourself sick again."

"Mmm, I'll certainly try. Cannae promise beyond tha'. This place is a madhouse at times."

Immediately after the first log, Angelo and Kitty watch The Truman Show and talk about college and schoolwork. Just friendship-fluff.

Kitty was curled up on the couch, a book open in her lap but mostly forgotten in favor of the movie on the tv - The Truman Show had come on and had distracted her from her reading.

After eating lunch, Angelo wandered into the rec room to see if anyone was there, and smiled at her. "Hey, Kit. Anythin' good on?"

Kitty glanced up. "Oh, heya. Just watching this," she said, pointing to the tv show. "Whether or not it's good really depends on your view of Jim Carrey when he's not being funny."

Angelo nodded and sat down. "Don't think I've seen it - d'you think it's good?"

"Well, I like it. Jim Carrey's playing the lead, Truman, who's been living a normal life, he thinks. But secretly, he's the star of a real reality tv show, and he's slowly catching on that the people around him are actors and his life isn't real. Very strange."

Angelo blinked. "Sounds... interestin'. Mind if I watch with you?"

"Not at all," Kitty said with a grin. "It's such a weird idea - that maybe everyone you know is being paid to interact with you, that people on the street are just walk ons, and the buildings you don't go into are merely facades."

Angelo grinned back. "Yeah, that is kinda freaky. Good to see you takin' some time off work, by the way."

"Well, terms almost up, which really just means that I've run out of things to read ahead in." She laughed. "But yeah, I figured a day to do nothing very much sounded good."

Angelo chuckled. "That's what weekends are for."

"That's what people tell me, but I don't think I believe them."

"We'll just have to work on convincin' you, then", he said lightly. "Paige, too. Maybe get Miles or Artie to sit on you."

"Miles and Artie might work, but on their own they're too small. And really, as long as I could reach a book, that'd be ok..." She grinned.

He nodded. "Good point. Okay, both the boys, away from the bookshelves."

"Heh. But then, of course, I know where the boys are ticklish, and I bet Paige could figure it out. You'd be better off getting Jamie and yourself to do it..."

"You've only got two hands", he pointed out. "Couldn't tickle them both at once, not with them holdin' you down. But you might be right", he finished with a wicked grin.

"Mmm, but getting one would distract him long enough to get the other. I think I could manage it. No, Jamie's far the better choice." Her own grin matched Angelo's. "But, hey, what have you been up to?"

He shrugged easily. "Oh, nothin' too excitin', this week. Since Amanda woke up, I've mostly been tryin' to catch up on the backlog of classwork I seem to have gathered."

"How's that going? You know if you need any help you can just ask..."

Angelo smiled. "Thanks. An' it's goin'... slow, but steady. I think I'm gettin' there - an' I can use the vacation to catch up."

Kitty nodded. "Yeah, break will be good for all of us, I think. I haven't heard what 'optional' summer classes they're planning on offering this year, though."

Angelo frowned slightly. "Do they do that? I didn't get here 'til near the end of the summer, last year."

"Yeah. The classes really aren't required and they're usually not very hard, but if you stick around during the summer they like to give us something to do. Last summer it was self defense and telepathic defense. Kind of... a response to what happened last spring." Kitty was looking at the tv, but not really seeing it as she thought back to the previous year.

Angelo nodded, reaching out to squeeze her hand. "Yeah, I get you. Well, I figure if I take any classes over summer, they'll be remedial ones t'help me catch up. Or somethin'."

Kitty looks over and smiles. "The summer classes aren't hard, promise. And who knows what they'll do this year. All depends on what the Prof comes up with, I guess."

Angelo smiled back. "Yeah. I'm thinkin' about goin' to college next year, so I wanna get the credits down in case I do decide to."

"Sounds like a good plan," Kitty said. "Got a first choice for college, or are you just going to see what appeals?"

He shrugged. "Still lookin' into the possibilities. 's only been about a week since I found out I can apply without endin' up in jail, so I'm not even sure I want to yet. Won't send in any applications 'til next year, anyway, so there's more than enough time."

"True enough. We'll miss you if you go too far away, though. There's loads of colleges around here you might go to... Not that I'm suggesting, or anything."

Angelo grinned. "Hey, it's okay. Not like I wanna go too far, either. Pretty soon, everythin' that matters is gonna be in New York State, unless anybody leaves, so..."

Kitty nodded. "Exactly."

"You thought any about where you might go?" he asked. "I mean, I know it's a while before you have to think about it, but every school in the country's gonna be after you..."

"I don't really know. I would kind of want to stay out here, maybe NYU or Columbia." She shrugged lightly. "One of those things that I'm kind of putting off deciding on until I know more of what's going to happen."

Angelo nodded. "Makes sense. Still got a year or two before it needs to be an issue, right?"

"Pretty much," Kitty agreed. "I mean, I could probably pass the GEDs and go now, if I really wanted to, but I like it here."

Angelo blinked. "See, this is what I mean about you workin' too hard. You're not even sixteen yet an' you already have the credits for university? You scare me sometimes", he teased her.

She laughed. "Well, really, the GED's not that hard, and has nothing to do with credits, and I've been taking college level classes since two terms ago, before I turned fifteen."

Angelo tried not to stare. "...Not gettin' any less scary here, Kit. You really could get any school you wanted, you know that? An' I think most of them do correspondence, if you don't wanna leave..."

Kitty blushed brightly. "Yeah, I know. But correspondence lacks the personal aspect, I guess. Besides, it's very hard to do higher level labs by correspondence - we've got good tools here, but nothing to compare to the bigger universities."

Angelo laughed and pulled her into a one-armed hug. "You should think about it. Nothin' to stop you bein' based from here, an' comin' back in vacations and some weekends, if you wanted. Take your chances when you get them, Kit. Go for MIT, I bet they'd jump at the chance."

The blush still firmly in place, Kitty leaned into the hug. "I don't know, it'll really depend. I've still got time..."

He nodded. "'Course you do. Just... don't rule anythin' out right off the bat, just 'cause you'd rather stay here."

"Yeah, I know," she said, the blush slowly fading.

"So, what've you been doin' with yourself lately?" he asked lightly, purposely changing the subject.

"Oh, not that much. Classes and all. It's the usual." Kitty smiled.

Angelo chuckled. "Yeah, I get you. All goin' well?"

She nodded. "Indeed. Things have been pretty good."