Log: Jean/Kane: A Cup Of Bad Coffee

[xp_dominion]

BACKDATED: Jean takes Kane out for a bite around his birthday. She's patient. He's insufferable.



"So what are your plans for today?" Jean said as she leaned against the doorframe of Garrison's room.

"I was thinking we could go for some breakfast and a cup of bad coffee."

"Huh. Well, my current plan was to hang around feeling sorry for myself in between this guy's demand for food. So, yeah, sounds great." Kane said, getting up from the sofa as the wolf jumped forward to nuzzle her hand.

Jean unconsciously took a step back, surprised by how big the wolf was in person. "Wow, hello there," she said, reaching out to scratch him behind the ear.

"So you have a preference on where to go or would you like to be surprised?" she said, turning her attention back to Garrison.

"If you ask me to choose, it will be Harry's because I'm both a creature of habit and very lazy these days. So, lady's choice today."

"I'm sure Harry's been thrilled that you've been single-handedly keeping his establishment afloat," Jean mused. "Get dressed in something presentable. I'll meet you downstairs in 15 minutes."

"Presentable is a loaded term." Kane mused. "Should I bring the wolf?"

Jean laughed. "Probably not. I don't think most people are used to seeing a wolf in polite society."

"Alright, let me go change. And you-" He said, pointing at the wolf. "Are going to Auntie Amanda and MA's to get spoiled for the day."

"How do you spoil a wolf?" Jean said curiously.

"He loves junk food." The wolf lifted his head and made a 'burruph' noise. "Yeah, you. Don't think I didn't notice that bag of dill pickle chips disappear." The wolf sulked off with a look behind his shoulder at Jean. "He loves a weak touch."

"What do you mean by weak touch?" Jean said, watching the wolf go.

"People who buy his 'i'm starving' act and feed him entirely too often." Kane said, heading for his bedroom. "This mansion is full of people who show affection by feeding every animal or person as much as possible."

"Yes, that is a common thread," Jean mused. "There are worse love languages."

"Yeah, but I'm responsible for him now, it seems. And I can't have a fat wolf addicted to junk food." He said, muffled by the closed door. After a few minutes, he reappeared, dressed in a collared shirt and a blazer. "Do I pass muster?" He held out his arms.

Jean tilted her head thoughtfully, then stepped over and adjusted his collar slightly. "Not bad," she said with a grin.

"Dare I say presentable."

"The deja vu from Prom Night is pretty acute right now. I mean, I'm kidding. I never went to Prom Night." He joked. "So Pretty Doctor Lady, where are we going tonight?"

Slightly caught off guard by the compliment, Jean laughed. "Tonight? I had some ideas but I wasn't sure if you were up for more than just breakfast. Would there be enough time for wallowing?"

"See, I'm told that's one of those pickup manuals with women. Make the date longer. Also, I'm supposed to neg you, but I don't know what that is, so let's start with brunch." Kane grinned, lightning quick as he let the wolf out and fell into step beside her leaving the mansion.

Jean paused. "The..." she stuttered a little, but kept walking. Finally she glanced over, just as they were entering the garage. "Is that...what you want it to be?"

"Doc, I'm just teasing." Kane said, chucking her shoulder as they got to her car. "You're off your game. Normally by this point, you would have told me off. Multiple times. But you missed your opportunity, so I get free pancakes."

Rubbing her forehead, Jean climbed into the driver seat. "There's always time to tell people off," she said, slamming the door.

"You coming?"

"What a horribly invasive question." Kane said as he slid in beside her in the car. "So where are we eating? I do like food."

"Well, I do need to know whether or not I have to get my car detailed," Jean replied with a simple smile, turning on the car. "And a greasy diner with the best omelettes and waffles in town."

"You are speaking my language, Doc. I love me a good diner." He settled back. "And lots of coffee."

"I will admit that their coffee is not bad. Will that create a problem?" Jean said, hitting the garage door opener.

"Coffee never causes a problem. I work for the government, so I'm entirely used to shitty institutional coffee."

"We'll call it a little birthday treat," Jean mused.

"Fair enough. Lead on, MacGrey."

"MacGrey?" Jean echoed as they headed out. "Have you been watching a lot of MacGuyver?"

"Like MacDuff. Shakespeare and all that. My mom used to take us to a couple of plays every year in High Park."

"If I'm MacDuff, who are you in this analogy?" Jean said.

"I think Duncan. Needing his help to overthrow MacBeth and be crowned the new king, although I'm not sure how that applies to pancakes."

Jean snorted with a laugh. "Don't ask me, you're the one who brought up English literature before 9 am," she said.

"I haven't even had my caffeine yet. If there's a quiz I'm throwing you out of this car."

"My mother loved Shakespeare. I grew up with a lot of it. I'd try and make you impressed with me, but I'm told I just come off as insufferable."

"Insufferable is in the eye of the beholder," Jean said with a smile. "Go on. Dazzle me."

"One woman is fair, yet I am well; another is wise, yet I am well; another virtuous, yet I am well; but till all graces be in one woman, one woman shall not come in my grace." Kane said, with enthusiasm if not much skill as an orator. "Every year, at least two shows at Stratford during the festival."

"Do you still carry on the tradition?" Jean said.

"Sadly, haven't been there in years. Part of being in New York now," he said, with a shrug.

"And I'm sure New York City is absolutely bereft of Shakespeare festivals," Jean mused.

"Last time I got close to Shakespeare in the Park, Valkyries took me. It influences things."

"They what now?"

"I was an anchor point for a bunch of doomed Valkyries for a bit. Because Thor beat me to death. I don't have a lot of good explanation."

"Wow. You have all the interesting stories," Jean said, blinking with a curious and surprised laugh.

"But I can see why it'd be a no go, then. It was a nice read, though."

"I miss it a lot." Kane said, settling into the passenger's seat. "So where is this diner?"

"A few blocks down from the New York Public Library. It's been awhile since I've gotten to go but I checked to make sure they're still open," Jean said, brushing her hair behind her ear.

"Oh nice. I do like the stone lions. Like Ghostbusters, right?"

Jean smiled. "Exactly. When I was a kid I kept hoping they'd come to life and I could ride them. Nowadays, I'm afraid that might happen."

"That would be fun. Although, I have a wolf that might argue." Kane said, navigating the streets. "I really like Bryant Park."

"In my fantasy scenario they're all friends and go running around together," Jean said casually. "Also for some reason Harrison Ford is there."

She squinted. "Anyway...Bryant Park is pretty neat. So much history. Did you know it used to be a cemetery?"

"I do. I used to come down for lunch and lose twenty bucks a day playing chess. It's just- it's so New York to me." He said, ghosting her a smile.

"Everyone knows better than to play the old men in the park. They've got skills," Jean grinned. "One of them used to come into Claremont from time to time. Roger. Lived in District X but he'd make his way over to get in a little sun and cash. He'd buy fresh muffins from the bakery and bring them in to me when he needed a checkup."

"I didn't lose money because I thought I'd win. I was paying for lessons." Kane said with a grin.

"But you call that a loss?" Jean said skeptically.

"Did I say that? I learned from them how much I didn't know."

"I'd consider that more of a payment than a loss. They schooled you," she said with a smirk, elbowing him.

"Of course. Like I'd go to someone just to get mediocrely beaten. What's the point in that?" He said, leaning back in the seat. "Back in Canada, I was trained to fight by a guy named Eugene Judd. You had to stack two of him on top of each other to match my height and yet... that guy beat the holy hell out of me day in and day out until I learned how to fight properly. They weren't easy lessons to learn, but once I had, I could go toe to toe against the best. Still can. That's how I want to learn. Although... I'm a lot further away in the whole chess area than in a fist fight."

"Chess was always Charles's game. He tried to teach me but I never really picked it up," Jean admitted.

"Now...poker. That's a game I'm not bad at."