April 28, 1992 (Again)

[noteful]

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."

Comments

[coeurs_en_papier]

. . . and that's not a euphemism, is it? Sparring. She actually means, well, sparring.

Meg has interesting friends.

"Um. I suppose I could.

"Do you think I should?"

[cutting_edgex23]

X flicks another quick look at Meg.

"I do not think it is relevant."

Meg has got him covered.

"Unless you want to. Learn."

[noteful]

"You can consider it," Meg says. "If you like."

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."

[cutting_edgex23]

"You are welcome," X says, very seriously.

"And I will be careful. With you."

Beat.

"If you decide to learn."

It's a promise!

[coeurs_en_papier]

Oh, she definitely thinks he's a wimp, doesn't she?

"I appreciate that."

Now, what can they change the subject to?

"So, X, anything interesting going on for you at home?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"There is Little League."

It seems safe enough, right?

"My team is not losing."

[noteful]

"Not losing is good," Meg says.

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.

[cutting_edgex23]

X considers this, studying Alain.

"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."

[coeurs_en_papier]

"Left field," he says. "And I didn't dislike it, but . . ."

"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."

[cutting_edgex23]

"I have not played," X ventures, after a few long moments.

"Hockey."

Uh oh?

[noteful]

If Laura were Castiel, this turn of the conversation would make Meg incredibly nervous.

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?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"I have not skated," X offers, after a long moment of silence. "Before."

Beat.

"But I do not think it will be difficult for me to learn."

Physical things usually aren't. Strangely.

[coeurs_en_papier]

"You should try skating sometime, even if you don't try hockey," Alain says. "We go sometimes. Meg is very good at it."

"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."

[cutting_edgex23]

X considers this for a few moments. Silently.

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?

[noteful]

"A lot of places where can skate have skates that you can rent," Meg says. "So it's not hard at all, at least here."

"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.

[cutting_edgex23]

"It is sensible," X agrees, after only a moment of thought.

"I will not forget."