The X-Project

Backdated to just after Masque did his dirty work and Marius undid it. Ororo needs a change, so Lorna takes her to get her hair cut. Afterwards they meet a very nice young man and talk about Lorna's propensity for botanicide.

Ororo sat across from Lorna at a tiny table at the outdoor cafe they had chosen, feeling the strange sensation of a breeze fluttering over the back of her neck. Her hair was now significantly shorter than it had been when they came into town, and she realized it might take some time for her to adjust to the feeling.

"You are sure it looks all right?" she asked her companion, reaching up to run her fingers through her chin-length hair a bit nervously. "It feels so strange."

"For the third time, it looks...you know what? Here." Lorna set down her coffee cup and looked around, a mischevious smile on her face. She found what she was looking for almost immediately and raised her hand in a little wave. It caught the attention of a tall man in a grey suit and he walked over with a smile. "Hi, I'm Lorna!" she chirped, offering him her hand, "I noticed you noticing my friend here. What do you think of her hair?"

The man shook her hand enthusiastically, glancing between Ororo and Lorna with a wide smile on his face. "Oh, I think it looks great, really... it definitely emphasizes her beautiful eyes." Ororo blushed and shot Lorna a look. "Both you ladies have very unique hair... and very beautiful eyes," the man continued, not quite letting go of Lorna's hand.

Lorna's grin widened even as she drew her hand away and waved him toward Ororo. "Just good genes, really. She was worried that it didn't look good short and wouldn't listen to me when I told her differently. I figured I'd get the opinion of a man."

"Well, of course, I don't know what it looked like longer, but honestly I can't in good conscience say you should have it any other way," the man said with a grin.

"Thank you," Ororo replied, putting on a smile for him.

"And besides, hair grows, so if you don't like it, you just have to be a little patient," he pointed out.

"Yes, that is true..."

"But it looks lovely down and that's the point. Besides, it's got attitude. Attitude is good." Lorna watched the two for a moment longer then sat back in satisfaction. "So, 'Ro. Do you believe me now or should I shake down another passerby to prove it?"

"No, that's quite all right," Ororo said, shaking her head. Her short white locks fell around her face, causing her to have to reach up to push them behind her ears. "You have been very helpful, as have you, Mr...?"

"Locke. And it's the least I could do, if it earns me the chance to speak with two lovely ladies such as yourself," the man said.

It was always so much fun to go out for the day and this was exactly the reason why. Lorna preened just a bit. "Well, thank you anyway, Mr. Locke. I appreciate the support for the brilliant work my hairdresser did." Ororo always looked fabulous of course but the shorter style really brought the elegant angles of her face.

The man nodded and smiled, obviously hoping to be invited to join them. When it became evident that no invitation was forthcoming, he smiled again and shifted where he stood. “Well. Since I’ve already been forward once, I suppose it can’t hurt for me try again. I have to be going, but before I do, let me give you my card…” He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a leather wallet, pulling out a business card and handing it to Lorna. “I hope to hear from you sometime… I know I won’t soon forget about you.” With a nod to both women, he turned and headed back down the sidewalk.

Lorna looked down at the card and smirked, "Oooh, Esquire and the third. I'm so good it's scary." She held out the card to Ororo, "He's a junior partner. You should call him. Get him to take you to dinner and tell you more about your beautiful eyes."

“He gave the card to you, not me,” Ororo pointed out, raising an eyebrow. “Besides, your eyes are much more striking than mine.” Rolling her eyes as if to demonstrate this point, she set the card down between them and picked up her coffee.

"I'm not that kind of single. And he liked both of us. I just talked to him first is all." Lorna made a face at Ororo, "And hello, of the two of us, you're the one who looks like she's an unattainable model. Clearly as all men are dumb and afraid of rejection he just picked me as the less likely to already have a significant other." Lorna shook her hair back, dismissing the issue, considering it settled, "Anyway, like I said the hair is marvelous."

“Thank you, even if your logic is highly questionable,” Ororo replied, laughing. “It certainly feels… different. But that is what I was hoping for.” She ran her fingers through it again, trying to get used to the new length. “Though it will take more work in the mornings. I hadn’t thought of that. I can no longer scrape it back into a ponytail and go.”

"My logic is impeccable. I taught Philosophy remember." Lorna laughed and sipped her coffee. "You're going to save time washing it though. I'm a little jealous. Maybe I should cut my hair too. Do you think I'd look good with a pixie cut?"

“I am sure Mr. Locke Esquire the third would think so,” ‘Ro retorted with a grin. “You would look lovely no matter how your hair was, but it would be such a shame to cut it. Even if it does grow back,” she added, making a face.

"I'm not looking to impress anyone let alone the eminent Mr. Locke. It would be easier to take care of on missions anyway." Lorna giggled again at Ororo's face. "Would you stop thinking about it? I can actually see your brain starting to smoke from all the worry."

“Of all the things to push me over the edge…” Shaking her head, Ororo took another sip of coffee and put on a smile. “There. It’s fine. No more worrying. My hair is wonderful. And maybe I will call Mr. Locke.” Even as she said this, however, she knew she probably wouldn’t. “Maybe.”

"Liar," accused Lorna good-naturedly. She picked up the business card and examined it for a moment, "Maybe I'll email for you so that you don't chicken out." She finished off her coffee and leaned back in her chair, "So what now? We're fabulous and we have the whole afternoon free since neither of us are on duty today."

“First, you can give me that card back,” Ororo said, giving Lorna a look. “Second, I am not sure. I have not been into town for myself in ages… Oh! I know. We could go to the nursery and see if they have new plants in.” She smiled hopefully. “And then you can pick something?”

"The nursery?" Lorna batted her eyelashes at Ororo as she let her grab the business card back. "Why, Ms. Munroe, you certainly know how to show a girl a good time." Grabbing her purse, she signaled the waiter and handed over her credit card. "Okay, plants it is then. You can help me find something that I won't kill in a week."

“What is it with you all?” Ororo asked, shaking her head. “You can save a dozen civilians, but you can’t keep one tiny houseplant alive…”

"The herbs do just fine! I just...I don't know. Decorative plants are scared that I'm going to eat them or something. I keep telling them that they're not supposed to do anything but bloom and look pretty but they all just commit suicide instead." Lorna pouted, it wasn't easy having a black thumb. "I even killed that cactus that you got me."

Ororo’s eyes widened comically. “The cactus? Oh, Lorna, you might be helpless… Not even a desert can kill a cactus.”

"It wasn't my fault! It totally committed suicide! I think it just pined away from lack of sunshine or something!" Lorna sighed her credit card receipt and added thoughtfully, "Well, if a cactus can pine. Not being an evergreen and all."

“Perhaps we will ask the nursery for a nice plastic plant for you,” Ororo teased, gathering up her things. “Like the kind in Horatio’s fish tank. I am pretty sure they cannot pine at all. Or commit suicide.”

"It definitely committed suicide. I just don't know if it did it because it was pining or not." Lorna was quite adamant about that. She stuck her tongue out at Ororo. "Ha ha, plastic. Very funny. There must be something I won't kill that's actually alive. I mean, I can take care of a very active puppy, surely I can take care of a plant!"

“Hmm… perhaps an iris. They are quite beautiful, and hardy. And they bloom early, so they will certainly be flowering now. And they come in nearly every color. Yes, I think that will do well,” Ororo said decisively. “And if it starts to look droopy, I will take a look at it. Before it makes any tiny nooses.”

"I solemnly promise to give it antidepressants at the first sign of pining." Lorna bounced, rather excited by the idea of getting a plant again. She really did like to have greenery around, reminded her of home, and was more than a little disappointed that thus far she'd been the Ted Bundy of the plant world but without the creepy stalking and false broken leg. Mostly just the serial killer part.

Ororo grinned, glad that Lorna shared her appreciation of plant life and looking forward to finding just the right specimen for the other woman’s room. “Let us go, then, and pick out the happiest, healthiest iris we can find.” On impulse she linked her arm with Lorna’s and set off for the nursery, sharing whatever tips she could think of to ensure stress-free plant ownership.