xp_logs | Nathan and Rahne, backdated to April 15th

Backdated to April 15th. Nathan runs into Rahne in the library. They chat a little, about several subjects; it's a generally cheery little conversation.

Library. Oh, how he'd missed the library. Nathan wheeled himself carefully inside, smiling at Shan and then shaking his head when she would have gotten up to see what he needed. He'd been out and around for less than a week, and already he'd had his fill of people thinking he needed constant attendance. Finding a specific book in the stacks wasn't going to take too much out of him. Really.

He was headed back towards the history section when he saw Rahne curled up in a chair, her nose buried in - something, he couldn't see the cover from there. With a little telekinetic push, he turned the wheelchair in that direction, smiling as she looked up at him.

"Hey there."

"Hi!" Rahne beamed back. Seeing Nathan up and about again (if rolling) felt oddly like a victory, even though she hadn't, strictly speaking, had anything to do with it. She doubted he would mind too much if she felt triumphant on his behalf, though. His weariness of the medlab had been palpable. "Ye look like 'tis a good afternoon."

"Not so bad," Nathan said with a chuckle. "Haven't had my rehab session yet, so I still have energy to spare. And I think it'll be quite a while before I get tired of being up and around. You don't know how much you miss sunlight and mobility until you're deprived of both for a while." He tilted his head, looking curiously at her book. "What are you reading?"

She lifted it to show the cover. "Grimm's fairy tales."

Nathan smiled. "Folklore," he said speculatively. "We need a class in folklore next term. Would that be something you might be interested in?" He gave her an inquiring look. "Folklore and mythology, maybe cross-cultural?"

Rahne looked intrigued. "That could be interesting...."

"Look at me," Nathan said wryly. "Coming up with ideas for new courses when I wasn't able to finish off this batch." He was surprised by the note of longing in his voice. "They let me have some of the marking, at least."

Rahne laughed. "I think ye had what they call an excused absence."

"Doesn't make me miss you all any less." He relaxed a little in the wheelchair, breathing out carefully. "It's so good to be up and around, at least. Frequent visitors aside, the medlab wasn't a whole lot of fun."

"I could tell! But ye were much more patient than ye might have been." She smiled. "And we missed ye too, in classes -- for all I did get to see ye about as often."

"The visitors really helped," he said, his voice quiet but his eyes warm. "Don't think I don't remember you sitting with me the weekend of my surgery when I felt so awful."

"...It seemed like ye could use a little company."

"I was glad you were there." Nathan hesitated, then gave her an apologetic look. "When I said I didn't want any visitors for a couple of days there... I feel pretty bad about it, in retrospect."

"Nathan, there've been times *I* felt like talking to people was too much, and I've never been hurt nearly so badly."

"I didn't know what I wanted for a few days there," Nathan mused, then shook his head. "In any case," he said more heartily, "I think I'm much more myself this week. You know, I've even been making phone calls and sending emails regarding wedding plans?"

"Oh, have ye? What plans were ye making?"

"Talking to florists. Musicians, too, actually. Well... a piper, singular."

"Ooooh." She had not, Rahne reflected, heard nearly enough bagpipes lately. She would have to fix that.

"I thought you might like that idea," Nathan said with a chuckle, then shook his head, his expression wistfully nostalgic. "You know, the first time I actually heard bagpipes was there. Hadn't even heard a recording of them before then."

"Good place to hear them."

"Authentic and all," Nathan agreed whimsically. "You know, everyone I talked to over there was just thrilled with the idea of being part of the wedding. It was something of a revelation. I knew how well-regarded she is, but it's always interesting to see that in practice."

"I grew up... always knowing she was there. I doona think Reverend Craig always quite approved of her, come to think of it, but he couldna help respecting her too."

Nathan blinked suddenly. "Reverend Craig... I'm fairly sure Moira's got him on her guest list for the wedding, actually."

"He'll come, then," Rahne said thoughtfully. "Doona be offended if he looks dour. He usually does."

"Do you think..." Nathan hesitated. "I'd like to meet him," he said, a bit awkwardly. "Talk to him a little, about you... even if it's just to tell him how well you're doing here." He smiled a bit wryly. "Do you think he'd rather hear that from Moira, though? If there were times he didn't quite approve of her, I probably wouldn't make that good an impression."

"...I doona think it would be a problem." If Reverend Craig hadn't taken her from the school by now, talking to Nathan wasn't likely to change his mind.

"Oh, good." He was never sure, with parents or similar creatures... "Plus, you know, I would just like to meet him." He offered her another, more easy smile. "I'm still hoping to be walking around under my own power by then."

Rahne smiled back. "I hope so too."

"I suppose I should let you get back to your book," Nathan said a bit regretfully. "I was in here looking for some reading material of my own, actually... oddly enough, I'm kind of limited to sedentary pursuits these days." He grinned cheerfully at her.

"Can't imagine why." Rahne chuckled a bit. "I hope ye find something good."

"At this rate, I'll be down to reading cereal boxes within a few days," Nathan joked, flipping the brake off the wheelchair and turning it back in the direction of the stacks. "Take care, Rahne. I'll see you later."