The Park, Wednesday Morning

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

It was fairly early morning-- Tether had to be walked, and if Tether was going to be walked, then Cable would have to take a walk, and if Cable went anywhere, Janice had to come with for safety.

He never took this walk at exactly the same time of morning, or in the same place; he did always take it equally armed, and the lap he was taking around the park this morning (not on the mainland, for once - he'd gone to the mainland a few times, the past few weeks) was kept under careful observation, despite his seemingly idle walk.

Neither Jan nor Tether paid any attention to it. They were too busy enjoying the early morning air in... roughly the same way, even if Jan's involved an awful lot more rambling.

[ open park, open post, woo ]

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[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

Which just continued to be adorable. And managed to draw a fellow ginger redhead like a bee to honey.

"Oh, hello Mr. Dayspring!"

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"Morning, Jean," Nathan replied, and any trace of wry humor had nothing much to do with her disposition. He watched her as she went for a moment, considering.

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

"Good morning, Janice," She said, crouching down to say hello properly to her.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

Janice squealed at her, as if in recognition of something, and flailed for her arms.

Nathan approached with steady steps, silent for the moment. "She likes you."

It continued to be-- strange, on a very familiar level.

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

"Aww." Jean reached over to pick her up and then stand. "I used to babysit before--" Living at the Institute.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"Your previous school?" he prompted.

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

"Oh! Yes, before-- then." Oh, Jean. Just because he was kinda hot, doesn't mean you should forget how to speak.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

Nathan would facepalm up a storm if she voiced that fact.

He nodded, then tilted his head. Stuck with that for a while, as Jan flailed. Finally: "It wasn't an ordinary school, was it?"

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

He just reminded her of someone! She couldn't manage to place who.

"It wasn't really a school. Like this, I mean."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"Like this covers a lot," he noted. "Maybe more like this than an ordinary high school, but..."

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

"Do you know the place?" Jean asked uncertainly.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"I know your file has Xavier's written all over it," he said, finally.

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

Jean paused. Carefully. And reached out very faintly to brush against his mind.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

Nathan didn't move, physically; mentally, he nudged back lightly, but with a firm control born of years of fine-tuning. You're a telepath, he continued, without malice, If a very young one.

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

Jean's eyes widened in surprise and she took a reflexive step back. "Are you a mutant?"

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

Nathan's mouth quirked up. "Yes," he said. "A telepath and a telekinetic, much like yourself."

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

"How--did you know that?"

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"I suppose 'I know stuff' doesn't suffice for an explanation..."

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

Jean's bitchface was well practiced at this point, so it should really come as a shock to no onw when she employed it.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

If anything, it just let the small smile settle on his face. "I can help you," Nathan said, "If you'd like more training while you're away from Charles Xavier's side."

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

"You can?" Oh Jean. Just randomly trust him because he's pretty.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

It was a Summers family thing, kind of. It all tended to end in betrayal. Sigh.

"I can," he affirmed, "To help you channel and control it-- you've got a great deal of potential."

He glanced towards the baby, who giggled and flailed back at Jean again. "See me at Wellspring on Saturdays."

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

"This Saturday?" Because that was important to not miss her first... whatever this was.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"This Saturday," he agreed, casting a look towards Tether next.

And plucked him up off the grass with his telekinesis once, just to prove his point. Show-off.

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

That poor, poor dog.

Jean stared again. Okay, she wasn't used to telekinetics. "I'll be there."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

That poor dog was set down gently by Nathan's feet. He smiled slightly again. "Thank you, Jean," he said, "Take care."

She was Jean Grey. He was allowed to get a little sentimental.

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Irulan decided to don the new hat in her collection, it was a classic one. She understood it was once popular during the 1920s or 30s. She liked how it look on her.

She decided a brisk walk in the park with her new hat was what she needed before opening the Imperial Brim.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

Cable glanced at her as she passed on by-- wondering if the 'friendly neighbour' routine was something to go with, or whether he should just focus on Jan.

As per usual, 'focus on Jan' won out.

It didn't keep Tether from trotting up to sniff at her.

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Irulan looked down at the dog and smiled. "Hello, who do you belong to?"

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

Tether just replied by wagging his tail, and making a valiant attempt to push himself up against Irulan's knees.

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Irulan knelt and proceeded to scratch behind his ears. "What's your name, boy?" She murmured. "You're so cute!"

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"Tether!" Cable called from afar, while the dog just wiggled happily under her hands.

His voice was quickly echoed by a tinier, more feminine version of the same.

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

She looked up in surprise, "Mayor Summers, Jan." Irulan stood with as much dignity as she could and released the dog Tether. "Is he your dog?"

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"He is," Cable agreed, walking towards her. "Unfortunately, sometimes," he added, in deadpan.

Tether wasn't going anywhere yet. He liked Irulan's legs.

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

She didn't mind, Tether reminded Irulan of a pet she once had.

"He's a very lovely dog," she told Cable. "What breed is he?"

Irulan turned a smile to Jan, "And how are you, young miss?"

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"He's a husky," Cable supplied, snagging Jan's hand to make sure she was still there.

"Young miss!" Jan giggled. "Tether."

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Irulan laughed, "Is she in the stage where she repeats everything you say?"

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"Starting to grow out of it," he said, wryly, "Not as fast as I'd like..."

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

"Imagine having two toddlers to contend with," Irulan said with a shake of her head. No matter how the twins insisted about their pre-born status even they couldn't escape the phases they went through. "Four times the headache and the trouble." Irulan sounded nostalgic at this revelations. She sighed, "Time flies so fast."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"It does, and it doesn't."

Cryptic was his middle name. Well, beyond Christopher Charles Dayspring.

He hoisted Jan up to his shoulder.

"After all, it has a habit of dragging when you don't want it to."

Not actually what he'd meant with his first statement, but he was looking to keep this light.

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

"But then it flies by at the moments you find yourself enjoying," Irulan answered. She grinned at Tether and ruffled its fur, "Isn't that right, Tether?" Irulan looked at Cable again, "I wanted to thank you again for letting me purchase the weapon. I haven't had time but I shall resume practicing my shooting in the Wellspring if you permit it."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

Ah, old, worn proverbs were good for any conversation.

"You're permitted," Cable answered, freely. "I'll put you on the list. I won't say no to a good shot with a good reason."

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Irulan bowed her head in gratitude. She was already thinking of hats to give to Cable and Jan, perhaps she could even find one for Tether.

"My thanks, Mayor Summers-- Cable."