Madelyn, Kurt - Saturday night

[x-madelyn.livejournal.com]

Saturday night is party night. Madelyn and Kurt take a moment to catch up, since it's been a little while. He surprises her.





Standing near the refreshments table in a break from dancing, Kurt was watching in amusement as Carlie swooped on Forge and dragged him onto the dance floor. He glanced round, hearing someone walk up to him, and smiled.

"I can't decide if Forge is going to die from embarrassment or from shock..." Madelyn said with a smile, watching the pair as well. "If it's the latter, at least he'll die happy." She took in the suit, and nodded approvingly. "You're looking nice tonight, Kurt."

The smile brightened as he tried very hard not to blush, taking in her dress in turn. "As are you. I hope you are having fun?"

"I am. And thank you - Carlie made something of an executive decision by means of having Clarice 'port everything else in my closet to parts unknown..." Madelyn tried hard to look angry, but didn't quite manage it. The dress was more clingy and perhaps a bit shorter than she was used to, but she had to admit, it looked good. And there had been a lot of compliments already. "It's nice to see the kids having fun, even with the complaints about the dress code."

"I think they feel obliged to complain about the dress code", Kurt answered with a grin. "They like it really - those with physical mutations that make it uncomfortable aside, of course, and I think even Kyle and Jay are fine with their adapted clothes."

"Well, they certainly look fine..." Madelyn smiled as Jay walked past and heard her, and visibly preened. "I'm looking forward to hearing Jay sing - I've heard from Al he's amazing." She didn't mention the postponed concert for Alison - the less people who knew about that, the better the secret would keep. "And I think Kyle's realising that sometimes clothes do make the man - Hank did a good job getting him fitted."

Kurt nodded. "Perhaps with the right maker, he will even find shoes that he can comfortably wear, next."

"Given Hank's own problems with clawed feet, I think that's not going to be a problem. And I saw something on the journals about snow boarding boots, so there's his bribery right there." Madelyn sounded amused as she glanced over to where Hank was chatting with Dani. "It's good to have him back. And not just so Kyle has a wardrobe."

"Of course", Kurt agreed. "The workload for medlab is too much for one person, at times. And he is a friend."

His tone sounded a little... off. Madelyn shrugged it off and changed the subject slightly. "I'm sorry I haven't been around so much lately - with the team evaluations, and Moira gone, we've been pretty busy. Plus, you know, Cyclone Carlie..." She gave her sister a fond look as she started laughing at something Forge had said. "I'll be sorry to see her go, even if it does mean more free time. My friends here will have to help me fill the gap..." She gave him a hinting grin.

He grinned back, the oddness of a moment before gone now. "I would be happy to help. We still owe each other a dinner, after all, and there is no reason why it should be only one."

"Or there's always that pool rematch, if your manly pride can handle being beaten again..." she teased. Last time she had very much handed his ass to him. "I suppose with Al all recovered now, you've got your monthly dancing partner back?"

"Alison is well enough to dance now, yes. But... I am sure she would not mind giving up her place once in a while, if you wished to come along again...?"

"I think I'd like that sometimes..." Madelyn suddenly snickered. "Oh, you should have seen Carlie's face when she found that pirate wench costume in my closet. I thought she went into shock - she thinks I'm terribly boring, at least clothing-wise."

Kurt smiled. "I wish I had. That theme night was fun, I think perhaps they will have similar ones in future."

"It was fun. A lot more than I thought it would be. Although I could have done without the emergency call when we got back..." Wrinkling her nose at the memory of being called down to deal with the aftermath of the Cain incident, Madelyn switched the subject again. "You've been pretty quiet yourself, Kurt. Busy?" Unconsciously her fingers went to the small cross she was still wearing - she hadn't really taken it off except for sparring with Haroun, who tended to grapple if she let him get too close.

"A little", he answered with a shrug, smiling slightly again as he saw her hand go to the cross. "There was my trip home, and I have been working on new things to do with my classes, and so on."

"I suppose you haven't really had a chance to talk to Amanda since you got back, either, with her off to various places. No chance of follow-up, to see how she feels about things... I had noticed she hasn't really mentioned it in the journals, which usually means it's something important, from what Moira tells me."

"She seemed fairly happy", Kurt said softly. "She met and spoke with the family, and I think she went riding with Stefan once or twice, while she was there."

"But she hasn't gone out of her way to talk to you?" Madelyn asked, catching something in his tone. "There's been a lot going on for her. Once she's had a chance to think things through, assimilate it all... You said she's started remembering things? About her life with your family?"

"A little, I think", he answered, the smile returning. "Riding with Stefan, she mentioned - or rather, since she was not much above the age to learn to walk, Stefan putting her on the horse and then sitting behind her to hold her safely as they rode."

"Hmm." Madelyn thought for a moment, watching Angelo and Paige over in one of the corners. "Have you noticed how Amanda collects big brothers and father figures? Perhaps because she remembered hers, however subconsciously." She gave him a smile. "Perhaps she'll come to remember you too."

He returned it. "I hope so, with time. I think she may - impressions, at the very least, she was too young then to remember details even if she had been with us all along."

"True. Time, I think, is what you both need, although that's not always something you get..." Madelyn chuckled wryly. "Sometimes I think we're incapable of sitting still for too long - we almost seem to go out and find something to do. I know I've been pushing for more work with the team - not me going out personally, but liasing with the contacts I have in the government, that sort of thing."

He tilted his head. "That sounds interesting - and something that could do us a great deal of good. Have you had any answers from the team leaders or the Professor on it?"

"Scott offered to let me beat him over the head with the paper version of my personal file?" she replied, giggling a little. "He and Al are plotting on my behalf, I think."

Kurt chuckled. "Well, that sounds promising, then." After a moment's hesitation, he seemed to come to a decision and asked, "Would you like to dance?"

She blinked, a little startled - she hadn't had to hint at all... "Yes, I'd like that," she replied, recovering.

Kurt grinned, holding out a hand. "Well, then. Shall we?"

"I think we shall." Giving him her hand, she let him lead her out onto the floor.