The Park, Sunday Early Morning

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

There was no better time or place to oversee the work being done to set up for the graduation brunch than early in the morning with the dog, out in the park. The first men and women were up and about their roles.

Cable paid them a moment's worth of attention, then proceeded on his way.

Tether had calmed down over the years, and so Cable could devote most of his attention to Jan. Who hadn't. Calmed over the years, that is.

In fact, she was trying to get a look at just about everything. Ever.

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Comments

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

It might have been her last day, but that didn't mean Jean didn't go for her usual jog. It was totally important, you know.

But she did slow and wave when she saw Jan and... you know... Mr. Dayspring. Nathan. Still weird.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"Jean," Nate greeted, when the redhead arrived in sight.

Sadly enough, it... still wasn't the weirdest thing in his life by far. Less so even if you factored in 'in terms of my family'. "Congratulations on your graduation."

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

"Thanks!" Because only in that family could a son congratulate the alternate reality version of the mom his biological mother was cloned from, but raised him in a post-apocalyptic future.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

There had to be a word for this kind of family relationship, right? Right.

It had to be in the Summers Genealogical Dictionary.

"How long are you going to stay?" he asked, ignoring the fact that Jan was already hurtling towards her knees.

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

"I'm leaving tonight, actually," she admitted, crouching down to see Jan up close. "Hello there."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"Getting an early start," Nate said, with a slightly whimsical quirk of his mouth. Only Jean could manage that one.

Jan flailed her little limbs at Jean, reaching for a hug.

"Where to next? Back to Xavier's?"

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

She nodded, picking Jan up for a hug. "Yeah, it's been too long since I went back there."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"You'll be a graduate," he noted. "Ready to join the big leagues?"

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

"I think I have to be," Jean admitted. "That--other me."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"You always do fine, Jean," he said, mouth quirking. "That doesn't change across dimensions."

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

"You think so?"

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"I know so," he said, gently. "You've always been one of the most amazing women I know."

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

Which was sweet--and still weird--but still sweet. "Now she's going to have to be amazing in my place," Jean said, bouncing Jan on her hip the once.

And then making spoiler-phobes squint.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"I think she'll be all right," Nate said, the smile spreading across his face. "She's got a few good role models..."

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

"You take care of her, okay? And find a new babysitter."

Damn all those times she was modded into it!

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

Yes. How dare she be modded.

"I'll do my best," he said, wryly.

He wouldn't trust any of them the way he did Jean.

"Jean... remember that you're a solid and strong person all on your own merits."

... that didn't have anything to do with sun-eating. Really.

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

Jean smiled, pulling Jan back down. "I will."

Hopefully.

Look, that sun was just askin' to get eaten.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"Good," Nate said, and paused.

He kind of looked like he wanted to go for a hug.

[ihavenocodename.livejournal.com]

Which meant Jean was now hugging him. Hugging the hell out of him.

...which was an accomplishment for someone almost a foot taller than her.

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"That your dog?" Price said, a good of a greeting as any. He was in uniform. He didn't have to be, he never had to be. But it always comforted him a bit. Let him feel less of a worm, hiding under a rock.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"Tether," Cable agreed, giving the dog a nod. "What brings you out here today?"

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"Not one for staying indoors too much," Price said. For various reasons. "Fresh air is something most people take for granted. I take it some event is happening here, today?"

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"The graduation brunch," he offered up, flicking his eyes briefly towards Jan. "Many of the students will be leaving this weekend, or during the coming week..."

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"Don't suppose she's graduated, eh?" Price said with a chuckle. He nodded in Jan's direction. Children at least he was better suited to talk about than dogs.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"I think she still has a few years on her," Cable deadpanned. "She's a slow learner."

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"Well I'm sure she'll pick things up in time," Price said. "Do you have much affiliation with the school? I know you're the mayor and all, but never thought that meant much of a personal obligation in the academics."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"It doesn't," Cable agreed, "Besides the fact that I believe a good education can solve a myriad of problems before they start. Zoe has her ballpark and I have mine."

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"What sort of problems are those, then?" Price said, rather curious as to what his boss was implying. The man was both utterly respectable and utterly terrifying. Which mainly just spurred his curiosity.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"In this world?" he asked, casting a look towards the dorms. "In any of theirs...? There are very few problems that can't be fixed with a good education... or a blow to the head..."

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"Interesting philosophy," Price said. "Most problems I see in the world... they aren't caused by a lack of education. But maybe that's just my own world."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"I said a good education, Captain Price..." he said, snagging Jan's arm before she hurled herself into a bush. "I never said we had any good examples of it in the world today. It takes a lot more than mathematics and language lessons to teach children about right and wrong, and cooperation."

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"The problem there is, whose version of right and wrong do you teach?" Price said. "Because what's good for The Motherland isn't what's good for Merry Old England."

He was a cynic, always would be. It wasn't the Gulag that did that to him.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"What's good for humanity is what's good for us all," Cable said, shooting him a glance. "Thinking in terms of nations and political stakes generally brings conflict."

Pause.

"And a large headache for the UN."

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

Price nodded, unable to disagree with that. "The problem is, most people like the idea of separate nations. The poor in America sleep better knowing they aren't starving like orphans in Africa. They want to know they're better than someone."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"And where do you think that want starts, Captain Price?"

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"Greed, I imagine. Envy. The usual biblical sins. Not that I put much water in the book itself, but... as for base human vices, it's pretty spot on," Price said. "People will always want something more. Myself included."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"So you'd admit that the issue to be solved isn't so much if they want..." Cable said, his mouth quirking, "But what they believe they want."