kitchen_maid | (no subject)

Even with the chief conspirator rather definitely dealt with, there is rather a lot that has to be addressed in the wake of an attempted royal coup. The others involved must be located and taken care off, a nervous populace must be reassured.

Arrangements must be made for the room and board for Norman the Royal Dragon of Ambergeldar.

The heroes of the day must be properly thanked and acknowledged. (Which means finding a new Protocol Officer who can throw together an appropriate ceremony and celebration, immediately.)

In the meantime, however, those heroes have earned a bit of a rest. Amy made sure, personally, that everyone had a room, fresh clothes and anything else they want.

She also has the Royal Family's Sitting Room set up for their use. The room is full of comfortable chairs, and has a lived-in feel, with Perry's books and Amy's handwork and several of Merry and Susan's toys scattered about.

There is also, on a long, low table, rather a lot of food -- bread, meat, cheese, a couple of pies and a tray of other pastries, fruit from the palace greenhouse, pots of tea, pitchers of apple cider and milk and wine.

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X's expression remains blank.

Then --

"I am a weapon. It is useful."

He's guessing she means 'being a weapon' is useful, rather than 'being pretty' is useful. Though he could see how it works both ways.

"And sex isn't?"

"No."

Beat.

"It is not relevant."

Logan studies her for a long moment, notes the surcoat. Laura's movements are neat and efficient, and her conversation is (to say the least) economical

"You don't do a lot of things just for fun, do you?"

X shrugs, one-shouldered and quick. It's also a little awkward.

Just a little.

"I try. Sometimes."

Beat.

"It is okay."

It's a learning process.

Logan nods.

Everyone's got stuff they've got to work on. For X, it's having fun. For him it's...Well. Everything else.

"It's hard, trying to learn new things. New ways of being."

"Yes."

It's only a little relieved-sounding (in addition to being a little fierce).

Logan grins at her. "Not a lot of people get that, huh?"

She doesn't smile back, but a little of her habitual tension (and awkwardness) has eased.

"Sometimes they do."

Beat.

"Sometimes it is not relevant. For them."

And sometimes they do not get it at all.

"It is the same for you?"

"Sometimes," Logan says. "But I've only - it's only recently that I realized just how much I need to change. You need to learn how to have fun, right? Well, I need to learn how to be, you know. Responsible."

He sighs. "Sometimes people don't think it's something that's important, that you don't need to change. I guess they're the ones it's not relevant for. Other people don't think you can. And sometimes, trying really hard is just not good enough."

That's when you have to stop just 'trying' and really start just getting shit done. And it's where Logan is. He hopes.

Logan's speech is followed by another long silence.

And then --

"How do you know? When it is not good enough."

This does not make sense to X. But then again, she has no idea how often people use 'trying' as an excuse not to get things done.

"When you're not trying as hard as you can," Logan replies promptly. "Or when you are, and then you stop, and pretend all the work that went before makes up for the moment you give up."

He's not sure if that makes sense, but it's maybe the best he can do.

"Like, I'm the champ at keeping things together for a little while, then getting rip-roaring drunk and falling off a balcony. Or, well, other things."

Logan sighs again. "And the trying does not make up for the screw-up."

Because the screw-up just proves that the 'trying' was just an excuse, which can then be used as a further excuse to screw up more, and it all turns into a vicious cycle.

"Oh."

X is able to parse this in relation to Logan because she has seen it happen to other people. Somewhat.

But in relation to herself, that's another story.

Blankly --

"I do not do that."

She probably wouldn't even know how. It's not how her training worked.

"I do not like alcohol."

"Probably just as well," Logan says. "It makes people do stupid stuff, a lot of the time."

"What do you like?" Because Logan could see this conversation turning into a catalog of 'things X does not like.'

Edited 2009-04-14 15:48 (UTC)

"Spaghetti," X says. "And root beer floats."

Beat.

"And flying with the dragon."

This pause is longer.

"And cats. Liz has some. And Red."

Hellboy has a lot of cats.

"That's all good stuff," Logan says, nodding. "Parker taught me how to make spaghetti. One of life's most important skills."

He grins. "The cats are good, too. And I bet flying with the dragon was awesome."

"I can make quesadillas, too."

Parker also explained to X that they were easy to prepare.

"You have not been flying?"

Ever?

"Those I figured out on my own. After my sister taught me to make grilled cheese."

Logan shrugs. "I don't think an airplane is really the same thing, somehow."

X frowns, considering.

"Skydiving is not the same, either. But it is closer."

You know, if Logan ever wants to try.

"I'll keep that in mind," Logan says. "Mostly I like to surf. Or at least, I did, back in California. I don't know that I'll be able to do it in New York."

"Oh."

X's frown deepens, if only momentarily.

"I do not think the waves are good."

Beat.

"I have never been. Surfing. You are very good at it?"

Logan shakes his head. "Probably not," he agrees.

"Pretty good. Not good enough to go pro or anything. But it's fun."

"Good," X says.

And if she's parroting Logan himself -- well.

One day she won't have to.

"I am glad."

"Me too. And it's not like I'm stuck in New York forever. I'll probably head back to California one day."

Shall we fade here?

Edited 2009-04-17 02:09 (UTC)