The X-Project

Lil returns to her favorite chef with wine in hand, leading to her and Jean-Paul discussing their current non-relationships.


Two bottles in hand - white and red, suitable for whatever Jean-Paul cooked - Lil knocked on the suite's door. "Open up, Speedy. Company's here." She need a night of casualness. No work, no missions. No frustrating ex-soldiers to worry about. At least, for a few hours. Just her, the speedster and whatever delicious dinner he'd put together for them. "Wine's getting warm."

"Diamond heart, warm hands?" Jean-Paul teased as he opened the door. "You just had to be born with tits. A waste. Jeanne-Marie won't be joining us. I managed to...ah...rather unsettle her this morning."

"Don't gotta be a telepath to know there's a story behind that," the blonde woman told him with a smile, bustling past him and headed straight to where the wine glasses were kept. "Spill. What did you do to your sister?" Given the past few weeks, it could have been anything and though the Amazon kept her voice light and playful, she was concerned something else had happened.

"She walked in on me and Jacob. She took it well enough, once we were both up and dressed, I think, but still." Jean-Paul handed over a corkscrew. "There are shortbreads on the counter if you wish to snack. The chicken will need a few more minutes."

Lil couldn't stop the laugh that slipped past her lips and slapped her hand over her mouth the wipe away the smirk. "Sorry. Poor Jean-Marie," she chuckled. "Mind you, I'm not against voyeurs myself but walking in on a sibling, yeah, that'd be awkward." Setting the glasses down, she popped some of the offered treat into her mouth then nodded to the bottles. "What kinda sauce on the chicken?"

"Just a basic oil and garlic marinade with some cilantro. I think white will be fine; there should not be anything on the table tonight that will overwhelm it."

"White it is," the blonde said with a nod then made short work of the cork before filling both glasses and offering him one. "So, she's avoiding you until the embarrassment goes away or is Jake still in the bedroom?"

"They have both fled. I think Jeanne-Marie just needs a little time, that is all. Jake is not so intimidating, do you think?" Jean-Paul sipped from his glass, then moved to get the salad out of the fridge. "And I think she rattled him more than he did her."

The giantess laughed again. "I wouldn't know how intimidating he was," she teased with an impish smirk, "But what a way to meet each other. You're supposed to save that kinda shit for your friends and people you wanna piss off." Lil smiled and folded herself into the nearest chair while having a sip of the drink. "Bet she'll knock from now on though."

"Or send advance guards." Jean-Paul smirked and leaned against the counter. "How go the affairs of state in the Greater Republic of Lil? Have your enemies all been struck down? Or at least run over?"

"Now, I have this mental image of her standing outside your door with a glass pressed against it, trying to hear any tale-tell moans or grunts." She did feel bad for the other woman, but the fact that the almost-nun had walked in on her brother and his lover was amusing, to say the least. Lil gave a shrug of one shoulder and took another sip. "Haven't run over anyone in weeks. Too much blood and then I gotta clean up Mist. Easier to ignore them, or make them avoid you. Like Lex," she added with a chuckle. "I don't think he's gonna be knocking on my door anytime soon."

"Likewise, but I think that ties back into the whole running people over business."

"Looks like we both put him down in our own ways. Oh well, just another mechanic who thinks I'm a total bitch; story of my life," she snorted, unable to keep the hint of bitterness out of it.

"Is this the part where I take credit for spoiling you for other men? Because I think that would just be sad on both our parts."

Lil shook her head. "How can any man live up to you? You let me bitch, keep me fed. Only thing missing is sex and it's been what, eight months for me now, almost. Fuck, I might as well give it up all together and find away to bind you to my side somehow."

"Distract me with a decent bookstore, then roll me in poutine."

"Kinky."

"Well, I cannot let you go about thinking that I am too perfect. It can only lead to heartbreak."

The blonde woman laughed once more then finished off her wine and stood to refill it. "You think a little kink is going to put me off wild and unattainable fantasies of you?"

"Even if it means gravy on the sheets?" Jean-Paul set his glass aside and began last-minute arrangements on the table. "Have you heard anything from Madison lately or is it back to long silences?"

One shoulder rose and fell as the white wine flowed into her cup. "He's busy," she offered softly in answer. "Training and all. And I really haven't reached out to him recently, either." Except for the week before but the drunken emails had been sent early in the morning which made perfect sense that he wouldn't reply.

The timer went off in the kitchen and Jean-Paul crossed the counter to get dinner out of the oven.

"Hope alone is a thin diet for a young heart," he said quietly. "I cannot fault you for standing by your man, but I hope he appreciates it."

Lil offered him a small smile then reclaimed her seat. "Thanks. I do, too. And you're onna the few people here I believe mean that. Others tell me I'm fucking crazy, condemn me for wanting attention from others or just tell me it'll be okay just to make me feel better." She frowned into the glass and propped her elbow on the table with her chin in her hand. "I don't wanna think about him right now. Things are good with you and Jake?"

"I cannot claim that I understand it completely," Jean-Paul admitted, "but it is obvious who you truly want." He brought over neatly-arranged plates of chicken, cobb salad, and wheat rolls. "Jake and I...well, I broke it off shortly after they let me out of medlab, then apologized. We are not together, but we are sleeping together and..." He rolled his eyes heavenward. "I do not know. I am in bed with my ex. Your guess is as good as mine."

"I don't even understand it completely," she sighed as she straightened up and smiled at the food as well as the Quebecois. "Being in bed with your ex doesn't sound all that bad, Speedy. Could be a hell of a lot worse. You could be branded a whore but still be alone like me." Her voice was not without light humor and she continued to grin.

Jean-Paul snorted and raised his glass. "Here's to heading right to hell with the rest of the whores, faggots, and mutie freaks then. Whoever gets there first saves the slowpoke a room with a view."

"Tchin, tchin." Lil clinked her cup with him then traded the wine for a fork. "Let's eat. I'm fucking starved."