2795/Catching Up: Spa Style

Catching Up: Spa Style
Date of Scene:	05 August 2020
Location:	The Epitome
Synopsis:	Emma and Lorna catch up and have girly talk.
Cast of Characters:	Lorna Dane, Emma Frost

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Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna had been on Genosha almost constantly since the issues with the bottles had occurred, long hours spent watching and guarding and brooding and in general being rather morose and stressed. Who knew what else might go wrong in the grand scheme of things. So Emma's offer to a spa day, had taken a little convincing to get the green haired woman to agree. But agree in the end, she had.

The pair hadn't truly had time to sit and talk for months, and there was in fact, a great deal to catch up on. The privacy of the mud baths, with drinks in hand and the warmth of the room was just the start of the much needed time to relax.

Lorna sighed as she leaned back in the mud, wiggling slightly to put her back against the edge and tilt her head back. She kept an arm outstretched, holding a pink fruited drink with a little umbrella in it beside her. "Alright, yes, I will admit that this was a good idea. As always I put things like this off for too long." She drawled, and glanced side long at the blonde telepath.

"It's been too long, what have you been up to?"

Emma Frost has posed:
"Much the same as usual. Things at the company are relatively quiet. Father is irritated we weren't able to acquire one of the pharmaceutical companies we were looking at, but such is life. They aren't going to be in a position to fight us off next time." Emma sips her second mimosa of the spa trip. "I've been working on adding another club to the Hellfire building for the Legacy members and their cohort... I remember being that age and how frustrating it was there was nothing really I could do until I turned 21." She glances to Lorna. "How did the whole... heroing bit go? World saved? I heard Mutant Town is... mostly... back where it came from."

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna hmm'ed and she considered Emma's words, "Your father shouldn't be too upset about it, it's not as if you won't get it in the end.." She offered, and took another sip of her fruity drink, shifting the umbrella about to stir it as the ice began to melt and water the drink down.

"I was going to ask about my own membership.. Since it turns out my father isn't dead. Is my membership still in good standing?" She asked, arching a brow upward as she shifted in the warm mud. She rolled her shoulders back, feeling her muscles ache in response.

"Hero'ing.. is... well.." She coughed, "Messy. Genosha is on lock down in terms of security, nearly had a coup..? I dunno if that's the right word for people trying to keep me in power exactly..." She blinked repeatedly at that, seeming confused.

"And I've been in and out of meetings with various science inclined people. Get them in a room and it's like herding cats I swear..." She shook her head. "And I've been working on Genosha's alliances with various nations.."

Emma Frost has posed:
"Membership is for life, after all, unless you do something to get kicked out." Emma shrugs. "And really? Your people like, tried to keep you in place as ruler instead of letting your Father come back? That should tell you something," she points out idly. "I'm having a similar experience at the company. No one wants to say anything directly, but," she taps her temple, "when you can read minds, a lot of interesting thoughts come up. Most of the people working under me vastly prefer me to Father. It's... odd, but gratifying."

She isn't rooting about in Lorna's head at the moment, or that alliance bit at the end might trigger another question.

Lorna Dane has posed:
A blink followed, "Oh.. I wasn't sure what was up with my membership, since it was inherited... and well, it's hard to inherit things from living people I guess, was my thought process." She mused, and took another sip of her drink as she shifted her frame to the side and carry on the conversation as she stretched out in the mud bath.

"Several people have outright told me that they want me to remain as Queen. They don't like my father, to put it bluntly, I've been told several alliances are at risk with his return. But at the same time, I want to just.. I want a break. I've been in charge for six months and I'm exhausted. I want a chance to just, be me. To travel and take classes. All of it. Not get tied down to being a Queen and try to follow all the diplomatic policies and be //responsible// all the damn time." She made a vague gesture with her hand.

"Selfish of me, I guess. I should want to put my people first and yadda yadda.." She rolled her eyes and exhaled a breath. "But it's just making everything more complicated for me."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma downs the last of her mimosa, putting the glass aside. "It's part of having the parents we have. I don't really want to be running the company, either. I'd much rather settle down somewhere quiet and teach." She shrugs. "It's the responsibility that comes with the privileges, however. We are who were were born to be, and we have people relying on us. You to a far greater extent than me, of course, but the principle is the same." She leans back against the wall, closing her eyes and listening to the buzz of mental background noise for a bit. Then she suddenly sits up a bit, her face way too amused. "What was that about his royal fishie-ness?"

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna grumbled mostly to herself, as she sank a little deeper in the mud, sipping at her drink as she did so. The glass now partly ringed in it. A surprised look crossed her features though as Emma talked of wanting to settle down and teach instead of handling the brutal world of business. Her eyebrows shot upward, and she blinked a few times. "What would you want to teach?" She murmured.

Still, further commentary broke down as Emma doubtlessly picked up the mental picture of Namor from her thoughts. After all, it was hard to not think about or talk about alliances and not have her mind skim back to the Sea King nor her relationship with him... whatever it was.

A blush colored her cheeks and she took a long moment to sip at her drink through the straw rather than outright respond. The mental grumblings that followed ran along the lines mutants and privacy being nonexistent.

"Uhm.." She reached up a hand to push her hair back, leaving a streak of mud in it and she wrinkled her nose. "Well.." As she struggled to put words together, her mind went into rather more private directions. She cleared her throat, and set her now empty glass down.

"I didn't mean to do anything like that.. when uhm.. I just wanted to have a treaty with Atlantis at the start. I mean, hell Genosha is an island! It's surrounded by water. They could have been a threat or a friend, and I wanted to ensure we didn't get flooded or whatever." Her cheeks burned. "And I just.. he demanded the right to have a building on the island, so I shot back that I wanted to visit Atlantis whenever I wanted. To be fair... and not make it look like I was letting him do whatever.. and then he was in the club when I was meeting for business..."

Emma Frost has posed:
"And he's Namor," Emma says dryly. She looks entertained at Lorna's embarrassment. "Oh, please. If it becomes official, all the better, but speaking from experience... getting laid really helps with the whole stress thing." Emma doesn't seem to be judging at all, beyond mild teasing. "Maybe you should make it official. Eventually. A nice, formal treaty and one of those state marriages. You could do worse, and besides, can you imagine how utterly wrecked anyone would be at threatening Genosha at that point?" She grins.

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna shifted so that she was resting her arms on the edge of the mud bath, her cheeks still flushed as Emma spoke bluntly. "We can't do anything official.. I mean.. at least that's what we talked about. I'd have to give up my ties to Genosha, at least he thinks so. There are factions in Atlantis that are already displeased with any associations with the surface and my being there is pushing the issue more so." She grimaced at that.

"And I am willing to bet that there are plenty of mutants on Genosha that wouldn't want Namor to be their King either. I dunno. It's a complicated mess Emma. I have no idea what I'm doing. He's been King longer than I've been alive." She made a face, and small sound of frustration. A glance was spared for the telepath again. "But yes, tactically I am quite aware of how useful it is to have an alliance like that with Atlantis. He's already agreed to patrols around the island's borders.." She tapped her fingers against the tile of the mud bath wall. Her lips pursed together.

Emma Frost has posed:
"Mmhmm." Emma shrugs. "Evntually minds can change. But, at the end of the day, it's up to you, isn't it?" She grins. "But if I were you I woulnd't worry too much and just enjoy what you can while you can. He's old, but experience probably has benefits."

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna shrugged and she glanced back at Emma, her eyebrows knitting together. "I dunno, ugh.. Emma, it's even more restrictive than Genosha. No one cares there who I end up with, not really, so long as it's a mutant, and there's a chance I have a kid that has strong powers. And even then.. Wanda and Pietro might have kids. It's not exactly pressure like an old established monarchy." She grumbled.

"I mean hell if it was, there's //no// way I'd be heir. But Atlantis.." She exhaled a breath. "Also, it's hard for me to rule effectively if I can't even breath. One little accident and woops.. I'm dead and crushed under the entire ocean!" She reached up to rub her temple, smearing more mud.

The comment about 'experience' earned another flush of color over her cheeks. "Uhm.. about that.. he doesn't like plastics. I mean the ocean is sort of littered with it all.. and I uhh.." She coughed.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma lifts a brow. "That's what," she taps her bicep, "these are for." She shrugs. "I mean, Alex and I don't..." she tilts her head thoughtfully. "need to worry since it's already taken care of," she finishes diplomatically.

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna exhaled a breath, glancing at Emma's arm and she grimaced. "I'm literally bipolar, and how that impacts ... everything isn't exactly clear with mutant powers. I mean, sure I'm in therapy and everything too.. but.." She shifted in the mud again, and squashed it between her fingers. It was //so// awkward. But she had no mother. And no one in particular that she'd ever felt comfortable to talk to about any of this. Emma was the closest person that she felt wouldn't lecture her. Or judge. Or tell everyone in the Mansion through the gossip chain.

"And if I was serious about being official with being a Queen or something.. there's certain expectations there.."

Emma Frost has posed:
"Eh. I have the same expectations... eventually. But it's not like its a permanent thing." Emma peers over at Lorna. "It might be worth looking into, and if it doesn't work, pulling it out isn't hard. Five minutes at the doctor and boom. You wear a bandaid for half a week." She shrugs. "But that's besides the point. There are other options too. Though honestly, if he's being responsible //he// should be thinking about this too." She gives Lorna a pointed look.

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna sank a little in the mud, considering what Emma said and looking thoughtful. The look Emma sent her way made the green haired woman color again, even if it wasn't meant to. She had a slight suspicion that there was a good chance Namor might get that look the next time he visited the club.

"I don't even know what Atlantis does for medicine. If they have it. I mean.. they're underwater and all.." She poked at the mud bubbles that poked up in front of her for want of something to do with her hands now that her drink was empty.

Emma Frost has posed:
"Hm." Emma wrinkles her nose. "It would be just like him to be too 'above' it to worry about it. He's a bit of an arrogant ass." She sighs. "But. If you're having fun, then have fun as much as you want."

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna nodded, a snicker escaping her. "I mean, yeah.. basically. He spoke of how his vizier might be hopeful for an heir or something. And a bunch of other things about his past lovers and how he has no consort or Queen.. and that I shouldn't worry." She rolled her eyes. "I mean, I get it, he's been about. Not complaining about that. But he is definitely arrogant about it." She shifted in the mud.

"I don't regret having something for myself. I just worry about consequences and what headaches it might cause later down the road."

Emma Frost has posed:
"You want my advice?" Emma gives her a serious look. "Deal with those when they come, and don't worry about them too much now. Right now it sounds like it's just some friendly tumbling while you are negotiating ruler-things. If it ends, you had fun. If it doesn't, deal with the fall out then." She looks distant for a moment. "I mean, my Father hates Alex. Hates him. He's a peasant. Alex could melt him to ash, and while part of me is admittedly amused at the thought, Father has no idea what he's pushing aside." She shrugs. "He's made noises, but so far, the company is still mine and I hold the board seat on the Hellfire Club. If... things got more serious, I think he might make good on his feelings, but for now...? I get to enjoy myself. So. I suggest you do the same. If things start getting serious then worry about that then. Until then, see how often he'll bend you over the bed."

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna blinked at Emma's words, her gaze swinging back up the to the blonde telepath. She bit her lower lip, "He's not what I ever thought I'd choose for myself. I thought I'd fall in love and do.. the whole thing that everyone else does. He's the opposite of basically everything, beyond tall dark and handsome I guess." She muttered, "I don't even want to think about my father's feelings on it. Because frankly, he's in a damned bottle right now." She shrugged once.

Magneto and Pietro were over protective of her, typically, but right now? She didn't care what they thought in regards to her love life. Besides... Wanda was dating a human. She could do worse.

Another flush of color crossed her expression at Emma's last comment, she shot the other woman only a faintly scandalized look. Which gave away into a laugh, as she smeared mud over her forehead again as her hand brushed over it. "Geeze, I made it to 22 sounding like an idiot about all of this.."

Emma Frost has posed:
"Mm. I mean, I grew up around the Club. There's more of a lassiex faire attitude about sex in general," Emma admits. "I mean, I'll level with you, I didn't until Alex, but that's not from lack of chances, but because most men are disgusting pigs, and it's pretty clear when you can see what they are thinking." She wrinkles her nose. "Alex was refreshing in that-- I mean, he's not a saint, but at least I didn't have to deal with nothing but thoughts about wondering what I'd look like in certain situations or certain clothing." She rolls her eyes. "So, if he at least respects you for you and not for being a...n option. Then just enjoy it. And screw your Dad. He's in a bottle, and really WOULD he say anything? Namor's a mutant, he's a king, he's rich, and he's at LEAST as arrogant as Magento is. So. Quite frankly, your father would probably approve."

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna blinked, looking at Emma in slight surprise. She'd just assumed she was a weirdo, everyone else in the Mansion well.. it was a high school plus mutant powers. She'd seen it over and over again over the years of team mates and students dating and breaking up. "Oh..." She hrmed under her breath, "We had a conversation about that. About how in my past.. no one was really interested. I was that weird kid with green hair and dead parents. And then at the school, I was Magneto's daughter.. and well, then I was the Princess and Queen. Not that people weren't interested per say.. but.." She pursed her lips together.

"I didn't want someone to want me for any of that. I wanted someone to look at me, and see Lorna. Just me. And well, he's definitely not concerned about my station, or powers. He's not worried about my father. And he respects my choices." She smiled slightly as she spoke, and as Emma mentioned Namor being //at least// as arrogant as Magneto she laughed.

"Okay, fair enough. I mean, I did point out that he and my father had a thing for grand entrances.." She mused, and shook her head. "You're right though. I could do worse in terms of men that meet a very long list of standards my father might have."

Emma Frost has posed:
"See? Then what's to worry about?" Emma looks amused. "Besides, now you can show up to things at the Club and cause a stir. That's always fun."

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna exhaled a breath, "I dunno, I overthink things." She mused, and settled to rest her chin on her arms as she leaned against the edge of the mud bath. She smiled as Emma spoke of causing a stir at the club with her entrances. A laugh followed and she shook her head.

"He walks around without a shirt more often than not. I mean, sure it makes sense if you don't feel cold the same way, and live under water. But it definitely means he's not going to be as into the Club's fancy dress events I think." She paused, "Unless there's a way to wear white tie without a shirt?"

Emma Frost has posed:
"He's done it before," Emma notes, though she's not clear on whether that means he's dressed up or wandered around shirtless.

Probably both.

"He's been a member longer than I've been alive. Um, I think longer than my FATHER has been alive." She grins a bit.

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna blinked, and she paused, considering. "I uh.. should have asked how old he was I guess.." She colored, she had no idea how old Namor was other than 'older than he looked'. But that didn't mean much in her world either. Her father likewise was older than he looked, and so was Logan. She seemed surrounded by those with long lives and relatively young appearances for it.

She laughed softly, shaking her head. "I guess the fact that he's that old and doesn't have half a dozen kids like my father should be a good starting point.." She mused.

Emma Frost has posed:
"Probably a good sign, yes." Emma agrees. "Or he hasn't acknowledged them. Men can be bastards about bastards, you know." She shrugs. "But I don't know of any, and the club is notorious for that kind of gossip. So."

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna shrugged and gestured to herself, "I am. My father messed around with my mother, who was a married woman, I might add. And I don't even know where Pietro or Wanda came from. My father's lack of care in regards to his relations is how I exist.. but all the same.." She shook her head.

"Thanks Emma, for just listening. It's not like I have all that many people I can just talk about this with."

Emma Frost has posed:
"No judgment," Emma says quickly. "Just saying there's more than a few men at the club with dirty little secrets on the other side of the sheets, and who have no inclination to make good on them." She waves a hand, laughing. "No problem, Lorna. That's what friends are for after all."

Lorna Dane has posed:
A soft laugh escaped her, "I mean fair enough, I just find it hilarious that me, of all people...I'm a Queen, and all I hear are bloodlines, and mutant powers, and duties all related to who my father is. And then there's all this talk of bastards and children and legitimacy. And I feel like I'm reading a Victorian novel or something." She snorted and rolled her eyes.

"Not exactly something that most people deal with these days." She smiled and shrugged. "Still, I'm glad that you're my friend either way."