![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
xp_spectrum posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
xp_logsClea comes across Nica taking advantage of the spring sunshine and the old classmates catch up.
With the coming of Spring, the mansion grounds were abuzz with nature. Plants were shooting out new growth and blossoming, birds were building nests and filling the air with their hopeful songs, the squirrels were gambolling around the lawns and digging up stashes of nuts. And with the sunny days, Nica was spending as much time as she could outside, sometimes studying, other times reading mission reports and taking notes, but sometimes just lying on the lawn and basking in the light. Today it was the latter, in the sunniest spot on the grounds, not far from the greenhouse.
Clea was very pleased with how the greenhouse was progressing. With the invasive plants gone, Clea realized there was an old sitting area, probably used as a place where afternoon tea was once held. She was hoping to revive it and then it could be a cozy area for anyone that was looking for a place to relax. After taking some measurements, Clea left the greenhouse pausing for a moment to allow the outside to her face. It was then she saw Nica lying on the lawn and realized she hadn't actually talked to her old friend in awhile. Clea decided to change that and slowly made her way to where her fellow alumni lay. "Hello Nica. I don't mean to disturb your sunbathing time. I just wanted to say hi since I have seen you in a long time."
At the sound of Clea's voice, Nica opened her eyes - she hadn't been asleep! she was only resting! - and grinned at her. "Hey! Long time, no see! Which is weird, since we live in the same house." She sat up, removing any grass or leaves on her back by synching with the UV and going ghost-y for a moment. "What's up?"
Clea knelt down and faced Nica, planting her bag next to her. "I know. We weren't supposed to grow apart. I thought living here would make us all grow closer." The red head laughed. "Doing this and that for X-Force, Kamar-Taj is bloody boring so I've been only going when I need to, and finishing up my school while focusing on my new hobby." She pointed back at the greenhouse. "What about you? How have you been?"
Nica shrugged. "It's a big place and things were pretty crazy when you came back. At least it seems to be calming down a little?" Of course, she tapped lightly on her head, since there was no actual wood within reach. "I've been focusing on school and my team as well, to be honest. I had a bit of a crisis of faith last year, so I've been trying to catch up with things again. Which should include people, to be honest. Megan always pokes me to be more social."
"I heard. The kitchen took a hit right before I came back. And I've met a few of the newer residents here. So much changed in so little time." Clea listened, concern was written on her face. "I am sorry to hear that. I hope everything is going better. If you need help being more social, I can make more time for old friends."
"Oh, I'm getting there. And it's too nice a day to be worrying about things." Sun definitely had a relaxing effect on Nica. "So what are you planting in the greenhouse? I saw you asked for help on the journals, but unless you need a sunlamp in winter, I didn't think I could help much."
"Agreed." Clea closed her eyes and moved her face towards the sun, letting the rays hit her pale features. She knew she wouldn't be able to stay out long in the sun, unless she wanted to pay for it later. Pale skin be damned! "Oh, all kinds of things." Turning back to Nica. "We have a section for vegetables, so we have some tomatoes, cucumbers, peas, and some peppers. I have strawberries and blueberries growing as well. I thought about maybe planting some pumpkins so they would be ready for Halloween. I also have a section for herbs, both for eating and the magical kind. But there is still plenty of room for so much more." She rambled. "I would be happy to give you a tour and and sunlamp or not, you are always useful."
"You might regret that." Nica held up her hand. "Black thumb. Literally and figuratively." She grinned. "But my grandma in Louisiana grows all the vegetables, so I might have some advice. Like, plant pumpkins outside, since they need lots of space and don't like humidity, like you find in a greenhouse. So maybe I'll be useful after all?"
"See. That kind of information is helpful." She pulled out a notebook and made a note of it. "And if you have any ideas of what you like to see grown, I will add it to the list." Clea nodded her head. "What are your plans for later?"
"Later when?" Nica was a little puzzled. "Like, five year plan?"
Clea laughed, "No. I wanted to see if you wanted to hang out. Maybe get a bit to eat. You know, so that we don't have to keep meeting every five years. I also need more friends that aren't magic people."
Nica had been brought up to be polite, which is why she didn't grimace at the mention of magic. But only barely. "If it's in aid of getting both of us better socialised, let's do it," she said instead, with a smile. "My suite, tomorrow night, pizza and movie night?"
Clea clapped her hands together in excitement. "That sounds like a plan. Okay, I didn't want to disturb too much of your sunbathing time. I just couldn't resist saying hello. Oh, bloody hell, I sound like one of those cheery neighbors that used to annoy my mum." Clea's cheeks flushed red. "Let me know if I am a bit much. I won't take it personally. I just need a reality check."
"You're fine," Nica reassured. "I don't know if you know my roomie, Megan? She goes by Pixie, has pink hair. Any way, you and her are pretty much the same with the being cheerful thing. I think you'll get along great."
"I do know Megan. We used to hang out a lot more when I was younger." She looked up at the mansion, "I wonder what she is up to these days." Clea looked back at her friend and smiled, "I'll bring extra snacks if she wants to join us."
"Well, that settles it." Nica beamed, literally lighting up. "Pizza night it is!"
With the coming of Spring, the mansion grounds were abuzz with nature. Plants were shooting out new growth and blossoming, birds were building nests and filling the air with their hopeful songs, the squirrels were gambolling around the lawns and digging up stashes of nuts. And with the sunny days, Nica was spending as much time as she could outside, sometimes studying, other times reading mission reports and taking notes, but sometimes just lying on the lawn and basking in the light. Today it was the latter, in the sunniest spot on the grounds, not far from the greenhouse.
Clea was very pleased with how the greenhouse was progressing. With the invasive plants gone, Clea realized there was an old sitting area, probably used as a place where afternoon tea was once held. She was hoping to revive it and then it could be a cozy area for anyone that was looking for a place to relax. After taking some measurements, Clea left the greenhouse pausing for a moment to allow the outside to her face. It was then she saw Nica lying on the lawn and realized she hadn't actually talked to her old friend in awhile. Clea decided to change that and slowly made her way to where her fellow alumni lay. "Hello Nica. I don't mean to disturb your sunbathing time. I just wanted to say hi since I have seen you in a long time."
At the sound of Clea's voice, Nica opened her eyes - she hadn't been asleep! she was only resting! - and grinned at her. "Hey! Long time, no see! Which is weird, since we live in the same house." She sat up, removing any grass or leaves on her back by synching with the UV and going ghost-y for a moment. "What's up?"
Clea knelt down and faced Nica, planting her bag next to her. "I know. We weren't supposed to grow apart. I thought living here would make us all grow closer." The red head laughed. "Doing this and that for X-Force, Kamar-Taj is bloody boring so I've been only going when I need to, and finishing up my school while focusing on my new hobby." She pointed back at the greenhouse. "What about you? How have you been?"
Nica shrugged. "It's a big place and things were pretty crazy when you came back. At least it seems to be calming down a little?" Of course, she tapped lightly on her head, since there was no actual wood within reach. "I've been focusing on school and my team as well, to be honest. I had a bit of a crisis of faith last year, so I've been trying to catch up with things again. Which should include people, to be honest. Megan always pokes me to be more social."
"I heard. The kitchen took a hit right before I came back. And I've met a few of the newer residents here. So much changed in so little time." Clea listened, concern was written on her face. "I am sorry to hear that. I hope everything is going better. If you need help being more social, I can make more time for old friends."
"Oh, I'm getting there. And it's too nice a day to be worrying about things." Sun definitely had a relaxing effect on Nica. "So what are you planting in the greenhouse? I saw you asked for help on the journals, but unless you need a sunlamp in winter, I didn't think I could help much."
"Agreed." Clea closed her eyes and moved her face towards the sun, letting the rays hit her pale features. She knew she wouldn't be able to stay out long in the sun, unless she wanted to pay for it later. Pale skin be damned! "Oh, all kinds of things." Turning back to Nica. "We have a section for vegetables, so we have some tomatoes, cucumbers, peas, and some peppers. I have strawberries and blueberries growing as well. I thought about maybe planting some pumpkins so they would be ready for Halloween. I also have a section for herbs, both for eating and the magical kind. But there is still plenty of room for so much more." She rambled. "I would be happy to give you a tour and and sunlamp or not, you are always useful."
"You might regret that." Nica held up her hand. "Black thumb. Literally and figuratively." She grinned. "But my grandma in Louisiana grows all the vegetables, so I might have some advice. Like, plant pumpkins outside, since they need lots of space and don't like humidity, like you find in a greenhouse. So maybe I'll be useful after all?"
"See. That kind of information is helpful." She pulled out a notebook and made a note of it. "And if you have any ideas of what you like to see grown, I will add it to the list." Clea nodded her head. "What are your plans for later?"
"Later when?" Nica was a little puzzled. "Like, five year plan?"
Clea laughed, "No. I wanted to see if you wanted to hang out. Maybe get a bit to eat. You know, so that we don't have to keep meeting every five years. I also need more friends that aren't magic people."
Nica had been brought up to be polite, which is why she didn't grimace at the mention of magic. But only barely. "If it's in aid of getting both of us better socialised, let's do it," she said instead, with a smile. "My suite, tomorrow night, pizza and movie night?"
Clea clapped her hands together in excitement. "That sounds like a plan. Okay, I didn't want to disturb too much of your sunbathing time. I just couldn't resist saying hello. Oh, bloody hell, I sound like one of those cheery neighbors that used to annoy my mum." Clea's cheeks flushed red. "Let me know if I am a bit much. I won't take it personally. I just need a reality check."
"You're fine," Nica reassured. "I don't know if you know my roomie, Megan? She goes by Pixie, has pink hair. Any way, you and her are pretty much the same with the being cheerful thing. I think you'll get along great."
"I do know Megan. We used to hang out a lot more when I was younger." She looked up at the mansion, "I wonder what she is up to these days." Clea looked back at her friend and smiled, "I'll bring extra snacks if she wants to join us."
"Well, that settles it." Nica beamed, literally lighting up. "Pizza night it is!"
