7844/Just a Quiet Drink

Just a Quiet Drink
Date of Scene:	15 September 2021
Location:	Harry's Hideaway (Bar)
Synopsis:	Clarice and Logan talk about the Brotherhood - and Lorna shows up to get some political advice, and learn news about her Godson. Logan drives a tipsy Lorna home.
Cast of Characters:	Clarice Ferguson, Logan Howlett, Lorna Dane

---

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Sometimes it's nice to get away from the Asteroid, and just enjoy a quiet drink in public - somewhere that you know mutants aren't going to get a side-eye, or a snide comment.
    Or at least, where it's not terribly likely.
    Clarice was settled in at the bar, a bottle of scotch whiskey in front of her, along with a shot glass. She sips from it occasionally, but her attention is largely focused on the comic book lying in front of her on the bar top. Reading has, she'll admit, started to get a little easier - but it still takes her a fair bit of time to finish a page as she periodically struggles to sound-out some of the unfamiliar words.

Logan Howlett has posed:
With everything that had been going on at the school for the past week, Logan needed just a few minutes away before starting another night of patrolling the halls. He could have just gone walking, but he wanted a draft beer and that meant Harry's.

Before entering he could pick up a familiar scent, too faint to be the real thing, but more than enough really. Walking into the bar, his eyes scan the room while he looks for the reason for that scent... there it is, at the bar. Snorting, he walks to the end of the bar and takes a stool as he says, "Beer."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice looks up briefly at the gruff voice, taking in Logan's appearance and demeanor before turning her attention back to finishing off the bit she was reading. Ohhhh... //pinecone.// ...that made sense. She dog-ears one of the pages, closing the book before she remarks, "First round's on my tab," in a friendly voice.
    No reason to go making enemies with one of the tetchy members of the Xavier crowd.

Logan Howlett has posed:
The scent wasn't too strong, but it was enough to remind him, constantly, who she hung around with. They were 'allies' right now, that didn't mean shite to him really, but he wasn't going to go around ticking Charles off either.

Turning his head to look at the magenta mutant, one brow raises. "Why?" he asks plainly.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Just being friendly," Clarice answers - lifting her glass towards Logan. "There are enough troubles, and enough assholes in this world without folks like us being at each others' throats as well."
    She takes a sip before adding, "Besides, Lorna always gives me an earful when I start shit."

Logan Howlett has posed:
Logan studies her for a few minutes, debating what she said, right up until the beer was in reach. Then he shifts his eyes to it while picking it up for a drink. Once he's had that one drink, he looks back toward her.

"No beef with you," he comments plainly. "Just who you hang out with." He takes another drink, still watching her from the end of the bar. "But seems there's some changes in the wind, right?"

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "If you mean the Brotherhood in general..." Clarice remarks, shrugging her shoulders in response. "We're trying to - yeah. Fear and rage just make more trouble. We're creating our own problems when we sow terror." She takes another sip of her tea before adding, "But I owe the Brotherhood a lot. You know how it is."

Logan Howlett has posed:
Turning on the stool slightly, Logan holds the beer in hand as he offers a little more of his attention to the magenta mutant.

"Sure, they help you out, you help them out, hundreds die for no reason," he shrugs slightly, another pull from his glass. "Luckily those days are over, or so I've been told. Saw the new footage, suppose that covers Raven. What about the others?"

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "We're keeping them in check," Clarice answers. As best they can, anyways. "Just got to provide them with, you know, more appropriate targets. Going after any groups that enslave or abuse mutants directly, or even sometimes humans. As long as our efforts can be categorized as rescues, and as long as no innocents are harmed..." Then maybe folks will turn a blind eye to few excessive uses of force.
    "Some folks are just too dangerous to leave running around."

Logan Howlett has posed:
Logan huhs softly, then for some reason starts chortling to himself. The mental image of Victor being aimed at specific targets amuses the shit out of him really.

"One place we all agree," he comments after enjoying that mental image. "As for innocents being harmed, happens every time, can't avoid it. How do you keep Victor in line?"

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Oh, Mister Creed is getting a kick out of being a 'good guy.' He laughs about it," Clarice answers, smiling and giving a shrug of his shoulders.
    "Besides, he knows how livid I'd be if he fucked this up. I've been pushing for this change for a while now. So, like I said, we just gotta give him the chance to get his claws wet every now and then... We've gone over drug runners, slavers, genocidal military troops... There's a lot of assholes in this world. No one seems to mind, or even be terribly surprised, if they meet a bad tend." She takes a sip from her scotch, letting out a satisfied sigh in response. She can tolerate beer - but she's always found the hard stuff more enjoyable.

Logan Howlett has posed:
For a moment Logan's face looks blank, as if he's staring off into no where and lost in a thought, then slowly he focuses on Clarice again.

"Creed'll never be a good guy," he snorts. "Might do some good thing, but he'll always be a psychotic bastard no matter how you spin the words to describe what he does."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "He's not all bad," Clarice answers. "...but he's pretty bad. And I know the pair of you, in particular, have a history. So I won't take offense."
    Anyone else calling him a 'psychogic bastard' would be sure to get her hackles up, though.
    "He can be reasoned with, you know. It's not like he's some... mindless monster. He just happens to have a temper." And a sizeable blood lust. Still, she keeps her voice calm, and neutral as she talks, reaching out for her bottle to add a bit more scotch to her glass.

Logan Howlett has posed:
Logan's eyes narrow slightly at Clarice. Clearly she doesn't know the history between them, or she would never have offered those words. She doesn't know, he reminds himself, and probably doesn't care. Creed's helped her, that's all that she's seen and needs to see, leave it be.

"Sure, reasoned with," he mutters darkly, then downs the remainder of the beer and moves to stand. "Thanks for the beer."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice lets out a sigh. No, she has no idea what the pair has done to each other, but she presumes it involves pain, bloodshed, death, and torment spanning back decades. "Don't let me run you off your patch. If I'm a bother, then //I'll// go," she offers, standing up as well - her comic book in one hand, and the shotglass in the other.

Logan Howlett has posed:
Logan pauses for a moment, out of arms reach of her but on his way to the door.

"You were here first," he shrugs. "Besides, it's not you running me off. I get you trust the man, that he helped you, that you are loyal to him... I barely tolerate him still existing. I shouldn't of asked about him, should of just left it alone."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "I'm sure whatever he did was awful - I don't doubt it for a minute, and you've got every right to hate him for it. I'm sure it doesn't help, and he'd probably be pissed at me for saying it, but //I'm// sorry for the pain he's caused," Clarice replies - still standing with her drink in hand.
    "Look - if you still want a drink, stay. I can shift off easy enough. I'm a teleporter."

Logan Howlett has posed:
Logan smirks, turning more toward her.

"Why would you apologize for him?" He asks bluntly. "You've got no idea the things he's done, the pain he's caused. You can't apologize for what you don't know about, but I appreciate the sentiment kid, I really do."

Standing there for a moment longer, he walks back over to the bar and sits down, this time one stool away fromh er. "Let me buy you a drink this time."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "I've got some idea," Clarice answers quietly. "He murdered - and probably tortured - people you care about. I don't know the details, but I know the man well enough to know that. I don't know how it started, or why... But I'm sorry for the pain the feud's caused. I'm trying to put a stop to feuding and infighting. We have enough enemies without tearing each other apart as well." She watches his reaction to her words - waiting to see if his response before she'll take her seat again.

Logan Howlett has posed:
Leaning against the bar, Logan stares at her for a moment like snakes just erupted from her forehead.

"There's not a single thing you can say to end the feud between us, Blink," he says with a certain venom to his tone. "Right now, I'm not hunting him, he's not hunting me... that's the closest you'll get to a truce for what he's done. There's no forgiving him, and some day, either I'll kill him, or he'll kill me, but right now we're... not hunting each other."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "I didn't mean-" Clarice says hastily, then lets out a sigh. "I know I can't. There's too much blood, and too much pain. I wouldn't ask you to forgive him. I wouldn't ask him to forgive you. I just meant... I understand it, even if I don't know the details, and I hate that it ever started, because I hate these fueds. And I am sorry for your pain." She sinks back into her seat before she adds, "All I can ask is that //I// don't get drawn into it, by association. I know even asking that much can be a lot."

Logan Howlett has posed:
Logan shrugs slightly, waving the bar tender over to refill her glass and get him another beer.

"You didn't do shit, so you don't get drawn into it, at least by me," he nods toward the drink set in front of her. "I don't hold the shit he did against you or anyone else, he did it all on his own."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Hell, I've done shit - just not to you," Clarice answers with a wry smile. "But I appreciate it. And - yeah. Causing trouble on his own is one of his specialties," she agrees with an amused huff of air. She's seen him pop off for seemingly no descernable reason before. ...she was used to it, really.
    She holds out her glass for a refill when the bartender some closer, but sips at it slowly. She's had enough that it's well time to slow down - unless she wants to get really trashed.

Logan Howlett has posed:
Reaching into the pocket of his over shirt, Logan produces a cigar. Biting the end off, he uses a set of matches to light it.

"Sure you done shit on your own," he snerks, breathing out the smoke away from her. He's not a complete ass. "We all have. Clearly I'm not the 'non-lethal' sort of mutant either, but you go for those who deserve it."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "There's a lot of people who deserve it," Clarice agrees. "And it doesn't seem very likely I'll run out of targets anytime soon. Kill ten assholes - it feels like 10 more pop up to fill the vacuum. It's a bloody game of whack-a-mole." Literally bloody.
    "Still, it saves lives and gives us something to do. Who knows, maybe someday it'll make an actual difference in the world. Maybe there'll come a day where there's less people like us in this world."

Logan Howlett has posed:
There was a comment that popped into Logan's head, but he shoved it down. Why would he dash her hopes like that?

"So you're the reason the Brotherhood's gone social?" He asks instead, trying to imagine how she had some sort of sway over Raven.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "I mean - not the only reason. I'd need a pretty swelled head to take full credit for something like that - but, yeah. I've been pushing for it for a while. Like I said - wasted effort, fighting amongst ourselves. And when we sow terror by publically going after politicians, and accepting civilian casualties and the like to achieve our goals... It just makes people hate us, and fight us all the harder." Clarice gives a shrug of her shoulders before adding, "But it was //Lorna// that convinced me of that. So I give her at least some of the credit."

Logan Howlett has posed:
Something of a smile plays across Logan's face at the mention of Lorna. He still wasn't sure where he stood on the whole Genosha thing, but he'd been there to help free it all the same. It had to be really tough being Magento's daughter, let alone a queen.

"Do you're saying Lorna's behind it, through you." He comments. "How'd you get Raven to do it? I mean, really."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Blackmail," Clarice deadpans, talking a sip of her scotch, and holding the expression a few moments before breaking into a grin.
    "I mean, whether you believe it or not - I guess I just wore her down, and convinced her. Plus, I mean... she'd started to see it herself. What our more violent means had begun to cost us - and to cost her, personally. She's been trying it her way for what - over a century? How far has it gotten us?
    "Work smarter, not harder. Yeah?"

Logan Howlett has posed:
Logan smirks, taking a drink of his beer to try and conceal it as much as possible.

"Sure, smarter..." he comments with a half smirk now, the rest managed to get rid of. "I'm sure your all doing the same things, just not getting caught at it now."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Not all the same things," Clarice answers. "...a lot of them, though. But like I said - collateral damage isn't acceptable anymore. The innocent are off limits. We still won't tolerate people hurting or enslaving mutants, though. We stand up for our own," she says fiercely. "That'll never change about us."

Logan Howlett has posed:
Another drink from the mug before Logan turns slightly toward her.

"Who determines who is innocent and who isn't?" He asks plainly. "We don't tolerate people enslaving anyone, does the mutant part of it matter at the end of the day? I get it, change comes slowly, but Raven loathes humans, and that will never change."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "She loathes most humans," Clarice agrees easily. "There's very, very few she'd think worth her time. I've saved groups of enslaved humans before - I'd do it again. But that's not the Brotherhood's mission, is it?"
    She studies Logan with an almost amused expression on her features before asking, "Just how far do you think me capable of swaying the Brotherhood?"

Logan Howlett has posed:
Logan out right laughs at that question. "I don't think you can kid," he laughs. "I think you got lucky, and I think Raven will be back to her usual self in a few months. The Brotherhood has always been about Mutants first, at the expensive of anyone who gets in their way. So close...." he snaps his fingers. "Mutants can be first, but not at the cost of human lives. I could almost get behind that."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "What - you think she turns herself over to Wonder Woman on a whim? Goes under the lasso on a lark?" Clarice shakes her head. "I think you underestimate what that cost her." What that cost all of them. It had been miserable.
    "Things won't change back - not as long as I'm there to keep us on track."
    She could well see Mystique losing it if something happened to her, though, she would admit. Especially depending on the circumstances, and that causes her to take sip of her drink with a thoughtful frown on her features.

Logan Howlett has posed:
Again Logan laughs, shaking his head.

"There's been other times, kid," he comments. "She's tried to go the straight and narrow. Maybe not as bold a move as that lasso, but that doesn't change a damn thing. Something will happen, something will trigger it and she'll be back to killing humans and anyone in her way."

He takes another drink of the beer, a large one and sets the mug on the at top. "It may not be this week, or this year, but it'll happen."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Well, my intention is that it won't happen in my lifetime," Clarice answers. "But I'm not likely to last as long as Raven, so maybe you're right." She gives a shrug of her shoulders before she adds, "Or maybe I keep her on the path long enough that she sees it does work better this way. Only time'll tell, you know?"
    She can't help but think - they both call her kid. Logan probably wouldn't appreciate the comparison to his most bitter enemy, though...

Logan Howlett has posed:
"Then we all hope, for the sake of Mutants everywhere, you don't kick it any time soon," Logan states plainly, then finishes off his beer. Taking another puff from his cigar, he blows the smoke toward the window, even though it isn't open.

"So what are the Brotherhood's plans then? Same thing as the rest of us, try to stop bad shit from happening to mutants and humans?"

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "I mean - I plan on living a long and useful life," Clarice answers. She just can't guarrantee it - not without a healing factor like Logan's, or Mister Creeds. "I'm not the only one influencing her in that direction, though, these days. I mean, I can't give Lydia the credit for the change the Brotherhood's taken, but maybe she could keep things on track if anything happened to me." She hoped so, anyways.
    She takes another sip of her scotch before agreeing, "Pretty much, yeah. Try to stop bad shit from happening to mutants." Oops. Did she leave the humans off?

Logan Howlett has posed:
Logan waves down the bartender again, "New brew." is offered then he looks to Clarice.

"So you got that same thinking then," he comments to her, shaking his head a touch before taking another puff from his cigar and breathing out a ring. "Humans can go fuck themselves, right? You only give fucks about mutants?"

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "You asked about the //Brotherhood's// plans," Clarice points out simply.
    She gives a shrug of her shoulders before adding, "People are people, whether they're humans or mutants. If someone's in trouble, and I'm there, I'll help them. My parents were humans. I don't believe humans are bad. I'm just opposed to //assholes,// you know?"
    She sips her whiskey again before adding, "Doesn't change the fact that the Brotherhood's goal is to save mutants, and to fight for mutant rights and mutant equality. So I don't see the organization going out of their way to help people - except for when we were doing stuff like fighting off the Shi'ar, you know? Saving our planet for everyone who lives on it."
    Clarice is currently perched on a barstool near Logan - a bottle of scotch in front of her, a glass in her hand, and a comic book on the bartop nearby.

Logan Howlett has posed:
Logan has selected a stool one away from Clarice, technically just out of arms reach. His mug of beer is just being refilled and he has a cigar in his off hand that he takes a puff on from time to time.

"You're right," he nods. "I asked about the Brotherhood, that hasn't changed at all. Just put a new face on the old shit."

The tender sets the new mug of beer in front of Logan and he picks it up, taking a drink. Most people would say all beers taste the same, clearly they were clueless. "Much better," Logan offers to the man. "Keep this one coming."

Lorna Dane has posed:
Harry's was of course a place many at the mansion came to when they needed a good drink well away from the halls of the school itself. The fact that Clarice was here added to the pull of it for Lorna to visit as well tonight. She wasn't aware Logan was here until she steps through the door seeing the pair chatting.

Raising her eyebrows a little she allows herself a grin as it was, apparently, just a discussion and nothing worse. The Brotherhood that Clarice belonged to wasn't always well thought of after all, and Logan was known for his temper--as well as being at odds with one of the long time members that Clarice was associated with. Better they just be talking.

"Mind a third?" The question is asked while she strides up to place a hand lightly on Clarice's shoulder with a small squeeze as way of greeting her friend. The other hand very gingerly takes hold of that bottle of scotch she was drinking though to judge how much was left in there. "I really hope you haven't been drinking this entire thing."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "It's not the same old shit," Clarice counters. "...not entirely, but I know it'll take a while before that's accepted. I mean, there's been decades of the terrorism, and just a few months of our new way of operating."
    Looking up towards Lorna, Clarice greets her with a smile of amusement. "I saved you some!" she protests. Hell, she saved her most of it. She's sipping her way through her third glass now. "Logan here and I were just having a friendly chat about how the Brotherhood doesn't murder humans for fun anymore."

Logan Howlett has posed:
Logan turns his head slightly, he doesn't need to see who it is as he already picked up her scent the minute the door open, but he looks all the same.

"More than welcome," he offers with a shrug, gesturing toward the others stools at the bar, those closer to Clarice obviously.

Turning himself back toward the bar, rather than partly facing Clarice, he takes another puff of his cigar and once again blows the smoke toward the unopened window. That's when the bartender finally goes and opens it, and turns on the fan to help disperse the smoke.

"But they still don't give a rats ass about em either," he adds to the end of Clarice's statement. "I suppose that's half the battle won there, still won't care me backing em any time soon." He takes a quick side glance to Lorna, one brow lifting slightly. He still had troubles grasping what she was doing hanging around the school when there was a country with her name on it, but he wasn't one to go poking into the business of others like that.

"Hope you're doing alright, Lorna," he offers, then takes another drink of his beer.

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna Dane wasn't around too often, but with someone like Clarice around, she could be anywhere within, ahem, a blink of an eye. The mansion was just a good, usually safe place to crash when she was bouncing between the city, Genosha, or on occasion the Asteroid. A small laugh comes at Clarice's remark though she nods. "Good, I could use a stiff drink. I spent half the day with politicians discussing foreign policy," she mutters darkly. Never fun.

"Quite well, thank you, Logan. Good to have you back from your trip," she offers in return not entirely sure how to handle him, either, sometimes. It doesn't stop her from smiling though, and she pauses only to gesture at the bartender when he finishes his task. "A glass for me as well please."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Oh, that sounds fun," Clarice replies, grinning at Lorna for a moment. The bartender sets a glass on the counter for Lorna, and Clarice obligingly pours - before lifting her glass towards her friend.
    She takes a sip, before remarking simply, "I think we should open an embassy in Bushwick. I mean - it's only logical, right?" She has other suggestions in mind for Lorna to consider - but perhaps it was best to space them out - a little. And let her at least get a sip of scotch first.

Logan Howlett has posed:
Logan studies the two women as they talk, making sure to blow the smoke away from them as he's not a complete ass. He listens to them talking while sipping his beer, not wanting to interrupt.

"Sounds like a nightmare to me," he admits, regarding Lorna's day. "Not my specialty, but..." he pauses, setting the cigar down to look more toward Lorna. "If there's anything I can do to help with Genosha, let me know."

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna Dane tips the scotch back with a little eyefluttering sigh as it burns the way down her throat. Her finger taps against the side of the glass a moment apparently deciding if she wants a refill or not after downing the entire thing rather than sipping. The glass is offered back toward Clarice with a nod. One more. "Not my favorite thing to do by far, and I've been doing far more of it than I like lately. I feel like I ought to have crammed government classes instead of my degree," she utters with frustration.

"An embassy isn't a bad idea, but it would require quite a lot of permissions. Plus," she begins to add glancing back to Clarice with an eyebrow raised. "I'd have to decide on an Ambassador. I already juggle far too many hats to be in one place too often."

It's Logan's remark that earns a smile in turn. "Thank you. We've got quite a lot rebuilt, and a good amount of other things in play to help get back to a comfortable state for everyone. If I can think of anything, I'll be sure to ask."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "It needs doing," Clarice replies simply, as she tips more scotch into Lorna's glass. "And I'll help if I can. Preferably not as ambassador, that's not where my skills lie. But you think on it, and we'll iron out the details later." She sips her own glass again, as she ponders over her next statement. Theo had said she should feel free to tell folks, and Lorna had a right to know...
    "So. I learned something interesting about Thia..." she says a bit cautiously, knowing how Lorna reacts to the subject of 'kids' sometimes. "I mean. Doesn't make much of a difference, really, but I figured I ought to at least mention it..." She takes another sip.
    "You've heard of 'transgender' before?"

Logan Howlett has posed:
Logan offers Lorna a nod. "I may not be the diplomatic type, but I can keep my cool when I need to."

He leaves it at that, because he's not sure what else he might say or offer in regards to that. He gets that most people don't understand him, and he's fine with that. There's a reason for the gruff exterior, and it's been working for him for the last thirty years or so.

He was just about to say something else when he realizes the conversation just took a turn that sounded some what personal, so he just remains silent and puffs at this cigar again.

Lorna Dane has posed:
"And here I thought *I* was the Queen," Lorna teases of Clarice at her insistence on the embassy. It was needed, though, she had to admit so she merely nods in agreement. If Clarice wanted to set up the groundwork she wasn't going to argue. Less on her plate.

"I wouldn't really want to inflict politicians on you..." Lorna starts only to hesitate before adding, "But if you ever feel like putting on a suit for some functions to help chase off 'gold diggers', I'd certainly appreciate it." Even some men liked to try and hook up with a Queen it would seem.

Clarice's remark causes her to blink a time or two before she sips, slowly, at her drink. This one was for enjoyment. The other was to take the edge off. "Are you telling me I have a Godson instead of a God Daughter?"

Logan Howlett has posed:
Logan sits up straighter at Lorna's mention of a suit and chasing off gold diggers. He could do that, he would willing to do that. Lorna has enough to deal with, she didn't need some asshat trying to get into her pockets while she was being a Queen.

"I clean up real nice," he offers to Lorna, avoiding the other subject as it wasn't aimed at him. "I'd be honored to clean up, put a suit on and help you out, Lorna, any time. Just let me know. I swear, I'll keep the claws inside unless someone gets too handsy."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "That's the gist of it, yeah," Clarice confirms. "Theodore Ferguson, or Theo, instead of Cynthia." She smiles wryly before remarking, "Though you took that onboard significantly more easily than I did. I, uh- wasn't very familiar with the concept, and-" Well. She'd fumbled about a bit. "Anyways. //He's,// umm, happier now, I think. And that's what really matters, yeah? I bought him a suit - you should've seen the way he smiled."
    She flashes Logan a briefly apologetic look that he got caught on the edge of her family gossip.
    "Man," she mutters. "I'd pay money to watch Logan toss some gold-digging ass out a window."

Lorna Dane has posed:
"So would I," Lorna agrees gravely before cracking a smile at the thought of Logan defenestrating someone annoying her. The look softens a bit though. He did agree to help, and the half-joking statement was now one she was considering quite seriously. It would help quite a bit. "That would really help more than you know," she admits offering Logan a warm smile. "Thank you. I'll let you know next time I need to go make an appearance at one."

Clarice just earns a little cluck of her tongue. "I'm not as emotionally involved with ... him as you are." The hesitation was just to help fix the correction in her mind to ensure she said it right. "I've heard of it, and to be honest it's not an unheard of situation in Jewish culture. So long as an individual is true to themselves. I'm glad he's feeling better." There's a pause as she adds, "I'm still pissed about Montana."

Logan Howlett has posed:
Lorna gets another nod, then he takes a drink of his beer. He owned a couple suits, but he'd head into New York and get himself a really nice one, just to be certain, and if needs be he'd rent a tux, or buy one. Been a long while since he cleaned up for something important, but he already knew he could do it, and he would do it. He saw the point of it, very hard to handle Queenly business at a social gathering or fundraiser when every single male in the place was trying to sniff up your skirt.

Giving Clarice a half smile and nod to indicate he doesn't mind, he doesn't go repeating secrets, that's not his business. He learned a long time ago to hear something and yet not hear it, an art of privacy in Japan even in a crowded room. "Good for your brother," he then offers by way of further proving he doesn't mind.

"Gold digger out a window? Hmmmm..." he gets a bit of a wicked grin. "That permitted, Lorna? Or would off a balcony into a pool work too?"

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice sighs. "I know. How many months, you think, until I live Montana down?" she asks - flashing Lorna a sheepish smile.
    She pulls out her phone then - flicking through it before offering it to Lorna. "I managed to sneak a little photo of him," she offers. The camera shows Clarice's little brother, with his dark-hued skin spotted with purple, and his hair now shorn much shorter - grinning into a mirror, dressed in a black suit jacket and trousers which had just been pinned up to fit him properly. "I don't remember hearing much of anything about this transgender thing before this. I mean, I don't watch much TV, it wasn't an issue that interested me... So it's been a steep learning curve."
    Smirking in amusement Clarice remarks, "If you toss them into a pool it has the added bonus of ruining their phone for them. They'd deserve it."

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna Dane leans closer to Clarice to utter, "Neveeeeer," in a teasingly drawn out way that made it clear she wasn't THAT serious about it at this point. Just grumpy over it. The picture earns a grin at the sight. "He does look very happy. It suits him. I should tell father about him if he's a potential part of the family, now," she murmers thoughtfully before her attention shifts back to Logan.

"If you keep sweet talking me like that, Logan..." she begins just as teasingly before catching herself to take a quick sip of the scotch. "I'm not against the idea of giving them a dunk, but I imagine there are some instances that won't be allowed. Unfortunately."

Logan Howlett has posed:
One brow lifts high on Logan's head, as a smile plays across his face. Clearly alcohol was in effect here, because he hadn't really tried to sweet talk her, well not /really/ tried.

"I'll make sure to check if it is a snikt, out the window, off the balcony or some other situation before acting beyond growling at them in your name," he then offers with that smile. "After all, we can't have unworthy scum trying anything with the Queen of Genosha, and my date for the night."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    The suggestion that Lorna bring up Theo as 'part of the family' clearly brings Clarice up short as she blinks at her - surprise showing on her features. Sure, she's gotten used to Lorna being her friend - but there was still a distance between herself and Magneto, and a sort of reverence for the man who was ultimately responsible for her rescue, and for liberating Genosha. "I- yeah. Sure, I mean- I guess."
    It was almost a pity Theo wasn't there to enjoy the moment, after she'd sprung the whole 'by the way Lorna's your Godmother now' thing on him.
    "Umm - Theo and I were also thinking it would be nice to have memorial parks built in the residential neighborhoods of Genosha since... I mean, everyone lost somebody." Most people lost //everybody//. "We were going to plant some flowers in memory of our parents, and put up a plaque and thought others would want to do the same - and it'd be nice to have some space set aside to do that. You know? Anyways. Just something we were talking about..."
    Her gaze flicks between Logan and Lorna for a moment without comment, before she finally tops up her own cup. Glass four? Is she going to be able to get herself back to the Asteroid?

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna Dane breaks into a quick laugh when he assures her he'll check first. Even the thought of him growling at people to stay back, well, that would garner such an amusing reaction. She goes to take another sip of her drink only to pause as she finds it empty. "Ah," she lets out apparently realizing herself what she'd done. If she were just sipping at it she would be alright. However, she had downed her first one. It was hitting about now.

Clarice's hesitation earns a softer grin at her friend's reaction. "It's similar to the way you're asking me to be his godmother," she assures. "'In case something happens', then there will be others to fall back on as well. Pietro and Wanda will also be on the list to tell. Though let's hope it never falls to my brother." Oh boy that would be a fiasco.

Stepping away from the bar she sets the glass back down. "For now it's time for me to head back and catch some sleep. Thank you for the drinks, Clarice, and thank you for the future assistance, Logan. It was good speaking with you both." How was she getting where? Oh, wait. Yeah. She can fly. She'll be fiiine.

Logan Howlett has posed:
Logan looks to Clarice for a moment, than back to Lorna before he stands up, leaving the rest of his beer sitting there.

"You need a ride back to the mansion?" he asks plainly, not implying a damn thing with his tone. It's a ride for the almost drunk woman, nothing more. "Can give you both a ride if you'd like, got my truck outside."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Well. Theo's an adult in a year, so - I seriously hope nothing happens to the //both// of us in that amount of time," Clarice remarks quietly. "But I appreciate it. Really."
    Her gaze shifts from Logan, to Lorna, and back again. The consideration was obvious - did she trust this guy to be alone with her drunken Queen?
    In the end, it seems that she does. "Nah, it's fine. I don't think your ride breaks orbit, you know? I can call up," she points skyward, "for a ride if I need it."