xp_logs | MIXTAPE: 'T-Shirt'

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Marie-Ange was sprawled on her couch, relaxed in a way she rarely let anyone see. One leg bent, one over the armrest, hair in a messy bun that stuck out awkwardly, in a pair of yoga leggings and a t-shirt that she had. absolutely. stolen. from Garrison, ages ago, knotted at the waist. She looked up at Garrison - literally craning her head to look upside down at him standing in the doorway. "How was Canada? I am high. I sprained my knee on a jog."

Kane reached into his pocket and tapped her on the lips with a Coffee Crisp. "It was fine. Doublechecked the house, Got yelled at every day by Heather." He dropped the candy bar for her. "I have a box of butter tarts in the kitchen."

"If you unwrap it I will eat it no hands." Marie-Ange was definitely a bit more than high. She had a wicked smile, let the candybar stay where it landed on her chest, balanced between the t-shirt and the seam of her bra. "Was it boring yelling, or did she have a real reason? Do I need to kiss your ego and make it better?" She sat up, dislodged the candy bar into her lap and frowned at it. "I really do want this. Why is Canadian candy so much better than the candy here?"

"No sugar lobby in Canada. Makes it cheaper to use than corn syrup." Kane said, taking a seat. "While tempting, I'm just trying to get back in the flow here. Heather always thinks I should be back in Canada while Mac prioritizes the relationship with the X-Men and the mansion."

"Mac is right, because it keeps you here." Marie-Ange said. "Plus what would you even do in Canada? Be a real RMCP agent? ... " She pondered this. "The only thing that gets us is you and the Stetson and you bring that with you when you come here, so I think you should stay. How is Gord? Did he like his trip to Canada too?"

"He did not like being away from all the people who spoil him foodwise."

"See, that is why you should stay. Heather does not spoil the wolf, so he has to stay here. He agrees with me." Marie-Ange shuffled up a little, resting on her elbows. "We missed you. Not just your very fluffy best boy."

"So it isn't just because I provide the best candy?" Kane joked.

"It is not just that, no. Do you want the serious answer? You keep us grounded. If I ever need to know if I have crossed a line, I ask you." She sat up a bit, leaning back on the armrest of the sofa. "You undervalue yourself, Garrison, sometimes. We like you. I like your old police car and the CD player and the pop rock music and how much you like hockey and baseball and chips with gravy and that horrible fried food tower at Harry's. You remind me I am allowed to indulge and be ridiculous and like things for what they are."

Garrison was quiet for a long moment, drywashing his hands. "I- I should be dead. A dozen times over. Nothing I would regret but the fact I'm still here... and I love Jean. I love Adrienne. And I love you and Amanda, but in a different way. I feel pulled apart every day by fate. By my feelings. By my sworn duty." He took a deep breath. "I always need to be strong. Or feel that way for everything I handle. Except for you. And Amanda and Jean. And Gord. I feel like I've done everything to fool everyone that I'm always going to make it out. I'll stand against the darkness and win. And I don't have a clue how I do it. And it fucking scares me."

With the last admission, Garrison looked up, more vulnerable than she'd ever seen him.

"Come sit down, ridiculous man." Marie-Ange sat up all the way to make room on the sofa, crossed legged and elbows on her knees and patted the cushion next to her. "None of the rest of us know what we are doing either. I get to -cheat- and I have no idea. You would think you were the one who had taken the strong edible, since you are in your feelings. We love you too. "

"Man, I wish I had the ability to enjoy drugs. Without catastrophic injury." Kane said with a bit of a sigh as he sank in beside her. "I'm- I don't know. The whole thing in New Orleans. The wolf. None of it really makes sense and because I'm me, I feel like I'm supposed to be alright somehow."

"Who said you have to be alright?" Marie-Ange asked. "I shall stab them." Probably she would not. Because the likelihood was that it was Garrison himself who was the only one thinking that. "If you need to fall apart about all this, I think anyone reasonable would understand. Garrison, you -died-. Not just a little, you completely died. We brought you back, you are allowed to be a wreck, or not, as you need. You also get to ask me to call in favours to find you drugs that work. I am sure Tante Mattie could cook up something. It might have frogs in though."

"I just-" Kane paused, drywashing his hands. "I just feel like I need to do more. Be better. Save everyone." He gave her a bleak smile. "I know you're right. I know that. But... it's who I;ve been for so long."

"I am right, because I am very wise, and also very high." Marie-Ange said. "I am at my most wise when I am high, because when I am sober I do all the horrible thinking for everyone. Which is, what is the phrase. I am feeling you? I feel you? One of those. What can I do to help? A vacation? A reminder to take time off? Actually finding you drugs that work?"

"How about we share a bottle of wine and you tell me all the gossip I missed since I've been gone? How was being a French exchange student in the 90s? Did Amanda make you wear your gym outfit for her?" He grinned.

"I have many bottles of wine and ordered terrible short soccer shorts so Amanda could see me in them.." Marie-Ange said. "I have magnificent legs. Everyone agrees. And the best gossip I heard was that you ordered starter cards decks for a certain game, and I'm not permitted to steal any of them for combat reasons." She fumbled to get up - ended up with one foot in Garrison's lap for a moment, but actually got to her feet. "I need to swear you to secrecy. I still play. Do not tell anyone. I lie and tell my team I only buy them for the art."

Kane was quiet for a long second. "You need to pour the wine and then teach me this terrible game I don't understand."

"Drunk magic is the best magic." Marie-Ange said. "So. The first thing to learn is that you cannot in that game, be capable of fighting everything." She found the wine bottle and an opener. "I am not trying to make it a metaphor, but we are going to teach you how to play green. Big monsters who hit hard."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

xp_daytripper

Drunk magic is the best magic.

That's what Amanda says. ;) But yes, high Angie is the wisest Angie. <3

From:

xp_cypher

Your honor, I love both of these dorks.

From:

xp_catseye

"I feel like I've done everything to fool everyone that I'm always going to make it out. I'll stand against the darkness and win. And I don't have a clue how I do it. And it fucking scares me."

I really appreciated this moment. It's so rare to see Garrison verbalize his uncertainty aloud, and processing "I was successfully murdered" isn't the sort of thing you just bounce back from.