Lorna looked between them and then smirked. "I appreciate you both being worried about me and my marriage. I am just exploring myself and that is probably the look of someone contemplating destiny you saw."
"Well, it is a big thing," Jim said, struggling to recalibrate. "You and Alex have been together for a long time, haven't you?"
Lorna thought about it, "College. We were freshmen in College. Before that, I wasn't allowed to date. Or rather, people were afraid to date or flirt with me. Not after the incident."
"See, college is that magical era where everyone pretends they know who they are," Arthur said, giving his drink a slow, dramatic spin like he expected it to reveal secrets. "Sure, I skipped that campus tour myself, but I did date more than a few people whose unofficial major was 'Reassure Arthur So He Never Stops Smiling.' Terrible program. No accreditation whatsoever."
He softened, the performance ebbing out of his voice.
"I'm not exactly the dating expert," Jim said with staggering understatement, "but I agree. Trying to shut out that nagging voice that tells you there might be more out there because you might lose what you already have, even if that isn't perfect . . . that's a terrible feeling. Too many people shrink themselves out of complacency, or fear. But it gnaws at you." The telepath's odd-colored eyes dropped briefly to the tabletop, where his long fingers picked at an old groove in the wood. It was difficult to tell whether it was a gesture of contemplation or avoidance.
Then the moment passed, and he lifted his eyes to Lorna's and smiled.
"How is it going, then?" he asked. "Contemplating your destiny, I mean."
She smiled at the two men. "It is okay. But since returning, I've fallen into the world of work. I mean I also got my masters and am licensed Forensic Psychologist. So I haven't really done anything to explore that side of me." Lorna took a long sip of her drink before picking up a chip. "I am a workaholic, and I really don't get out much."
"Forensic psychologist? Oh, that's amazing," Arthur added. "You can analyze motives when I touch a thing and get its emotional backstory. Finally someone to compare notes on which office chairs are plotting things."
Jim winced. "I wouldn't try that on any surface Warren might have touched. But just leaving the office, period, is probably a good idea if you're trying to meet people. However you do that." He traded a glance with Arthur. "Uh, how do people do that? Apps?"
"I was just interested in the subject and that is an image that we can all try to avoid. Warren on any surface." Lorna shuddered at the thought. "I never got into the apps. I have a phone yes. But I have hardly any apps." She pulled out her phone to show her bare minimum phone menu, except for a few games and some self-care apps."Also, I don't think many people on those apps would be open to the idea of polyamory. They may say they do, but then change their mind when it doesn't work out."
Arthur eyed the almost factory standard phone like it had personally failed him.
"Well, that explains it," he said. "You’re trying to rediscover yourself with a device that has the social range of a graphing calculator." He leaned forward, elbows on the table. "You don’t have to leap straight into apps or polyamory webinars or whatever the kids are doing. Just pick one new thing that isn’t work and follow it. Low stakes, but talking to people in real life."
Then he flicked a glance at Jim.
"Right, David? Even destiny needs a little fieldwork."
"Yeah," agreed Jim, a man who had never quite grasped the nuances of human interaction on a strictly social level. Most of his friendships happened in spite of rather than because of any effort on his part, as with Sooraya. Still, Arthur was a universal social solvent. Surely between the two of them they could come up with something for Lorna. Or Arthur could, and Jim could nod. Moral support was also a contribution.
With a scuff of his hand through his hair, Jim straightened in his seat and turned his thoughts to business. "Okay," he said, trying to turn his mind to the task at hand, "let's see. Something that's not work that involves meeting people. Um . . . a book club?"
"Could be a book club," Arthur agreed. "Could be gloriously horrible improv. Oooh, jam sessions. Whatever it is, it doesn’t have to be sensible."
He grinned, brightening.
"So, which bad idea are you starting with, Lorna?"
"The bottom of this drink first. And then we shall see which horrible idea I will use from the both of you. Though spicy bookclub does sound enticing." She lifted her drink and clinked it to both of them.
2018: Felicia posts to her Instagram to let people know she’s alive, but pissed off. The Danger Room Paradox: Topaz texts Ty and Hope A. about her adventures in Night Vale and her lack of magic there; Miles is relieved to have his normal body back; Marie-Ange asks X-Force to check in after the Danger Room incident; Darcy never wants to hear Minecraft zombies again. Clarice complains about the cost of private islands. Matt shares his favourite Christmas music by Straight No Chaser.
2019: Sue informs the mansion that Johnny's moved to California for the foreseeable future.
2022:Case File: The Underbelly Project: Terry texts Kyle about trouble in the Underground; she also asks if he or Angelo have any thoughts on reliable people to use for security for the community centre; Terry texts Doug asking if he could do a security deep dive on community centre workers. Nica posts about the X-Men team holiday celebration and there are mentions of hot wings; Betsy and Kane bond during the X-Men holiday get together; Sooraya and Kyle discuss movies and flight training.
2023:Collective Soul: Haller wakes from his month-long coma to find Charles there, and is understandably fragile; Haller emails various people (and with a declining ability to type) to thank them for their help.
2003: Hank goes to Mexico to help with the Leech adoption. Pete recruits Jake to track down the freakshow that had Leech.
2004: Alison finds Forge rebuilding the musical equipment. Domino visits Nathan but he has a very unusual reaction, witnessed by Alison, and Domino leaves. Alison follows and the subsequent conversation solves an old mystery but opens a whole new can of worms. Bridge feeds Amanda and they talk. Later, Domino comes to Amanda looking for comfort. Alison starts training again.
2005: Nate and Domino are having a perfectly fine time playing in the gym when Marius shows up to observe. Long story short, during the course of the session almost everything in the gym is, at some point, hurled. Occupants included.
2006:Living Pele: Shiro reports on Hawaii, and the fact Alex still hasn't been found; the volunteers continue the evacuation, and Shiro encounters Alex's friend Jared, who tells him Alex was with Dr. Madison Rocca and has vanished; Scott tells Lorna Alex is missing. Yvette feels lonely in a suite almost empty of roommates.
2007: Monet and Jay catch up and Monet expresses her frustration with rehab. Yvette helps Nathan go over Serbian military records, looking for possible mutant teens being pressed into serving.
2008: Angel finishes her project - an album of photographs of the missing - and then crashes. Lil posts asking about employment opportunities. Bishop asks Lil to come to the shooting range with him. Lil meets Yvette, and helps her with her chores in a way only someone who is six foot four can. Jane and Callie go dress shopping. Morgan and Kyle talk about his side of things with Laurie. Lil moves into Amara's suite and the two new roomies exchange details.
2009: Jay gossips with Amanda and reveals he's thinking about Warren; later, Warren goes to Silver and encourages Jay to leave work early. This Devil's Workday: Adrienne and the staff know she and Cammie are going to Chicago for a couple of days. Jean-Phillipe 'complains' about the noisy sex his roommate had the day before. Amara winds up having dinner with Manuel and Valentia and the subject of Selene comes up. Jay helps Kyle mend a pipe and they talk about old times - and Jay gets loan of a suit jacket.
2010: Jean and Amanda discuss what to do with Nico, which leads to Amanda's own experiences in life draining.
2012: Sue makes a journal entry asking about Christmas stockings, where they hang them and what kind people have. Maddie e-mails Hope, Tandy, Renee, Molly, Topaz, Sue, and Clint about Billy’s birthday, the end of the world, and Christmas break plans. Tandy is called back to Adrienne's classroom where her Uncle and Adrienne tell her what their plan is. Betsy e-mails the Trenchcoats about being home for the immediate future. Betsy makes a journal entry announcing her return for the time being.
2013: Matt posts thankful for the fact that he doesn't have finals to deal with today. Tabitha emails the mansion residents to let them know the library is closed. Angel wakes up in the med lab after getting hurt during the fight, and Clarice fills her in on what happened. Kyle swings by to feed Angel, and discussion ensues.
2014: Adrienne texts Rogue asking help to cure her boredom. Gabriel texts Clint asking him how many more days until Winter break.
XProject Announcements and News:
Another new character is coming from Mari, stay tuned for Kevin MacTaggert!
Coming soon, Laura Kinney, who has been apped by Rei!
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