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April 28, 1992 (Again)
Even when parties are not loud, raucous affairs, the time right after one is over seems very quiet in comparison.
Meg kind of likes it.
She and Laura have finished putting the leftovers in the refrigerator and loading the dishwasher, and are just sitting down in the living when Alain comes back in from taking out the trash.
"That did not exactly go as I planned," Alain says, dropping onto the couch next to Meg.
"Well, no," Meg says.
In that Heidi gave her number to his friend Marc, and his brother left with Meg's friend Donna.
"But I think everyone had a good time."
Meg kind of likes it.
She and Laura have finished putting the leftovers in the refrigerator and loading the dishwasher, and are just sitting down in the living when Alain comes back in from taking out the trash.
"That did not exactly go as I planned," Alain says, dropping onto the couch next to Meg.
"Well, no," Meg says.
In that Heidi gave her number to his friend Marc, and his brother left with Meg's friend Donna.
"But I think everyone had a good time."
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"Some people like to be alone. Or they think it is safer."
For a given consideration of 'safe'.
"That is okay."
In case Alain was worried.
Or Meg.
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"What about Donna?" Luc asks.
"I know she's not. This is going to be what you might call a fling."
"Ah, well," Alain says, with a gesture to dismiss the topic. "It's good to see you again, X. How have you been?"
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She hesitates, flicking a glance at Meg as if to make sure she gets the word right.
" -- fling."
In case that is problematic, too.
"And I think it will be quiet. At home. For a while."
Maybe not a long while, but still.
"You have been okay, too? Here."
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He hasn't had one in years.
"And we are doing very well. Looking forward to the summer. Meg doesn't have classes, there's summer vacation. We get a break. Maybe we'll even take a vacation."
"Some place restful," Meg says.
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Then she frowns. Just slightly.
"There are places like that?"
Beat.
"Here."
The lack of supervillains is strange sometimes.
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Alain breaks off, confused, but Meg nods.
"Yeah, there are restful places. Or at least places that are meant to be restful. I suppose there are always unexpected things that can happen and be not restful, but it's possibly to plan a vacation that's meant to be very uneventful. As opposed to a vacation that's very full of activity. We haven't decided where we're going to go, if we're going to go."
"We're going to go somewhere," Alain says.
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"The Maldives were quiet," X ventures. Carefully.
"When people were not paying attention to Bruce."
Maybe they are like that here, too.
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"And why were people paying attention to him?" Alain asks.
(And then adds, more quietly, to Meg, "Bruce is her boyfriend, yes?" and she nods. "Bien.")
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If she could be more specific, she would. But keeping track of time when not on a mission is -- definitely not in her skill set.
She flicks a quick look at Alain.
"Many people know Bruce. On his world. Sometimes it is problematic."
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"Rich and famous, basically," Meg says.
And then, to Laura, she adds, "Did you have a nice time? Problematic people paying attention to Bruce aside?"
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Or so people tell her. It does explain a lot.
Then --
"Yes. I like scuba diving. And snorkeling."
And, you know. Bruce's company.
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Alain is just going to assume something got lost in translation there.
(Never mind that as far as he knows, X is a native English speaker speaking English. Especially since "as far as he knows" on that subject falls remarkably short of "with any certainty.")
"It sounds very nice. Maybe we should consider some place warm with a beach."
Probably not the Maldives. But warm!
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She also flicks a quick glance at Meg.
"You can explain?"
Beat.
"I do not have any photographs." Well, not here, at any rate.
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And there's nothing even a little awkward about explaining to your husband that your friend's boyfriend is attractive. In front of her.
"Objectively speaking, Bruce is handsome," Meg says to Alain. "If you go for go for his type, which I don't, because I go for yours."
Alain looks like he's working very hard at not laughing. "Handsome?"
"Yes."
"But not as handsome as me?"
"Well, I certainly don't think he is. Laura may not agree with me, though."
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Then --
"I do not think you are very good at fighting."
Beat.
"It is a concern."
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Not the way he thinks X means.
"Though I did break my brother's nose once."
That's worth something, right?
"Accidentally," Meg tell X. "When he was ten."
Maybe not much, but something?
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"Oh."
X flicks another look at Meg.
"It is probably better you did not do it on purpose."
Right?
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"She doesn't," Alain says. "You don't, do you, X?"
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This is probably for the best.
"I do not think it is relevant," she says finally.
"For you."
She reaches out at this point to pat Alain's shoulder.
Just the once.
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"You're not a wimp, honey," Meg says reassuringly. "Very handsome, and not a wimp."
"And being humored by my wife."
"Maybe just a little."
Alain takes one of Meg's hands in both of his, and then turns back to X. "So Bruce is good at fighting?"
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X's response is simple.
"I do not have to hold back. When we spar."
Well, except for the claws, but those do not count. In this context.
She flicks a quick glance between Meg and Alain.
"You could learn, too. If you wanted."
Meg could teach him!
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Meg has interesting friends.
"Um. I suppose I could.
"Do you think I should?"
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"I do not think it is relevant."
Meg has got him covered.
"Unless you want to. Learn."
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Though, really, he's probably more than capable of handling anything he's reasonably likely to be asked to handle.
So, no, it's probably not relevant.
Alain quirks an eyebrow. "I'll consider it. Thank you, X."
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"And I will be careful. With you."
Beat.
"If you decide to learn."
It's a promise!
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"I appreciate that."
Now, what can they change the subject to?
"So, X, anything interesting going on for you at home?"
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It seems safe enough, right?
"My team is not losing."
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It beats not not losing.
"Alain spent a couple of years playing baseball, when he was younger."
"I wasn't very good at it," Alain tells Laura. "I didn't always pay enough attention to the game."
It's a peril of the outfield.
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"You did not like it? Playing baseball."
It seems to be enough to keep the kids distracted.
"Or it was boring? The position you played."
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"But it wasn't hockey," Meg says.
"Basically," Alain admits. "It just seemed so slow. I like baseball better now, to watch if not to play, but Meg's really the baseball fan here."
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"Hockey."
Uh oh?
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But she doesn't think this is likely to end with having to build an ice rink.
(Or having to learn to skate well enough to be a hockey ref.)
"You could try some time," Alain says. "If you wanted. Do you skate?"
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Beat.
"But I do not think it will be difficult for me to learn."
Physical things usually aren't. Strangely.
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"Meg is reasonably competent," she corrects.
"And better than she thinks she is," Alain says. "Anyway, X, you might like it. And then you can decide about hockey."
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Then --
"I do not think it would be terrible."
Beat.
"Skates are easy to find?"
She could bring custom ones from home, but maybe that is overkill?
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"And it's probably better not to go to the trouble to buy your own until you know you like it. You know?" Alain adds.
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"I will not forget."