The X-Project

The Team Weirdo basement dwellers leave their cave for food. Backdated to January 6.



This library was probably going to be one of the safest places on the mansion grounds with all the spells Topaz had put around it. She was currently sitting cross legged on the table, flipping through a book of spells she had "borrowed" from Amanda and was muttering to herself, magic swirling in the air around her as she cast enough spells to keep out the apocalypse.

Yawning, Matt shuffled awkwardly from his office until he stood, half melted against the door frame to the library. "Wanna get food?" he asked Topaz, absently scratching his jaw. He wasn't sure what time it was, but he was pretty sure it was long past time to get up and move and eat and see to those pesky basic human needs.

Topaz held up one finger, caught up enough in her own world to forget that Matt couldn't actually see her; but she needed to finish this spell. Starting it over would be a pain. It took her another thirty seconds to finally sigh, scrub her eyes, and close the book. "I could eat," she said, hopping off the table.

Good news was that blind or not, his powers allowed him a version of sight, so he caught the movement and waited, "What time is it, anyways?" he asked. Granted, he could ask Siri, but why when Topaz was right here? Maybe he should shower? Go out and experience fresh air? He suspected they both would benefit from going outside, even if it was only briefly.

"Um..." Topaz looked around for her phone, finally deciding it was in the growing pile of books on the table next to her. She sorted through them quickly, finally finding her phone. "A little after seven a.m. Wait no, that can't be right." It had definitely been around eight p.m. when she had hauled her books down here. When had this happened?

"Huh," Matt mused, "that does explain why I feel like this. So then, is this breakfast we're getting or dinner?" Did it matter? "I'm thinking the diner in town. I could go for some lox, onions and eggs."

"Yeah, that sounds good." Topaz looked down at herself. She was pretty sure she had been in these clothes for two days. "Clean up then meet in the garage? I'll drive."

Oh, right. Clothing. "Good plan," Matt agreed, "And you better drive. They don't let me have a license," but there was always lyft or uber out here, too. It wasn't as easy to get transportation as in the city, but it wasn't awful either.

Heading to his room and taking a quick shower made Matt feel worlds better even as he slipped on a pair of jeans and a Columbia Law sweatshirt to wear to the diner. He wasn't interested in fashion, he was interested in warmth and comfort. Once he was ready, he headed to the garage. The now three-days stubble he sported would have to continue. He wasn't in the mood to shave.

Topaz was sitting cross-legged on the hood of her own car (almost a year later, that was still mind boggling to her), playing a game on her phone. She had stopped in long enough to change her clothes and feed Midnight before heading down to wait. "Ready to go?" She asked, hopping off the car and pocketing her phone.

"Yeah," Matt agreed, going the passenger side and getting in. "Hope I didn't keep you waiting long."

"Nah." Topaz dug her keys out of her pocket, climbing into the driver's seat. "You have directions for this place?"

"Siri does," Matt replied, using his phone to start navigation. In the city, he never had a navigation issue, he knew Manhattan. Out in Westchester though, the roads were more random and he didn't have the usual navigational markers he had in the city. "So, I know what kept me up all night working, what's your excuse?"

Topaz was quiet for a moment as she listened to Siri. "Protection spells. Not sure having a base on the mansion grounds is a great idea, the place is a trouble magnet. The PIs and the spies had the right idea getting out."

Ah. She was not wrong, at least in the limited amount of time he'd been there. "Not sure location makes much difference, but I know you'll do your best no matter where we are. Can I help at all?" Matt wasn't much for magic, but he'd try.

"Just try not to bring back anything that'll kill us," Topaz said dryly. "Everyone's done that at one point or another and it never ends well."

That seemed reasonable. "I....can try?" he offered, semi-dubious given the track record, "I think death and dying is a bad idea unless you're 90 or so."

"Everyone tries," Topaz said with a long-suffering sigh. "Death is usually not recommended for living a healthy lifestyle, though."

It was hard to be Topaz. "No, it's not," Matt agreed. "Though, it can be argued that we have chosen not to live a healthy lifestyle. What with the fighting and attacking and all that." Of course, doing the right thing and healthy were not the same.

Topaz snorted, keeping quiet for a minute to listen to Siri, and turning right. "I never said any of us were actually going to live to see old age."

Details, "You don't think we will?" he asked.

"Maybe if we all retired from the hero business right now." The sarcasm was light. "I've lost count of how many times I've almost gotten killed, usually over something stupid."

"You think we're heroes?" Matt was doubtful. He was many things, but he didn't think dressing up in body armor and running around made him a hero. Maybe tetched in the head. He was trying to help, if nothing else. "Sometimes I wonder."

Topaz resisted the urge to give him a Look. "Whatever you want to call people who dress up in various kinds of body armor and go out and fight things, then," she amended. "I'm not getting into a 'is what we do morally right' debate. I'm just here to organize books."

"And occasionally you do too," Matt's stomach growled and he was glad they were nearly there, "But your book organizing is important and appreciated."

"Usually by accident." Topaz paused to listen to Siri and took another turn. "I'm better off in the library, unless you lot need me to keep you from doing stupid like touching something you obviously shouldn't touch."

"I do touch a lot," Matt waggled his fingers, "Side effect of being blind." He was only partially joking.

"I'm aware," Topaz said dryly. "Maybe wait for an all-clear on something magic, though, yeah? You destroy my library again I'll break whatever the thing is over your head." She was not at all joking.

Not an unreasonable request in the here and now, but in the heat of something? Matt made no promises, "Turn here and park," he instructed in lieu of answering, "I'm thinking pancakes. Or maybe crepes. Decisions, decisions."

"Decide fast or I'm leaving you in the car," Topaz said, parking and turning the car off.

"You don't want to read me the menu?" Matt asked innocently as he got out.

"I'm sure you have it memorized."