Sitting in the park, wasting time

[prof_methos]

Methos sits in the part near his new apartment. He managed to get very, very drunk last night and missed library work at all today, after the debacle with Draco. Now, he's nursing a hangover and trying to figure out how to find the Immortal who isn't Draco.

Comments

[janet_fraiser]

Janet is on one of her rare forays into town when she sees Professor Methos in the park. He looks almost as hung over as the students who attended Liz's victory party last night. She doesn't decide whether to tease him or be sympathetic until she sits down.

"Hey," says Janet quietly, letting her backpack slide off her shoulder and onto the ground next to the bench. "You don't look so good. Feeling okay?"

[prof_methos]

"Well, define okay. I'm not going to die. It would be just a merciful result." He pauses and then says, "It was a piss-poor way to treat a fine Scotch, but yesterday was..." He shudders.

[janet_fraiser]

"I personally feel that death should be staved off as long as possible," says Janet dryly. "It tends to be a painful and traumatic experience." She slumps down a bit and gets comfortable on the bench. From the looks of it, this wasn't going to be one of those 'tease the professor' kind of days. "So what happened yesterday to cause you to abuse a defenseless bottle of scotch?"

[prof_methos]

"Never mind me, I'm being metaphorical. Or sarcastic. Or self-pitying. Although you do sound rather... educated on the topic. As for what happened... you might be the one person who hasn't heard about me making a fool of myself and nearly skewing a student, so perhaps I should keep you in happy ignorance. Happy for me, that is."

And the scotch had it coming.

[janet_fraiser]

Janet smiles. "I like to read," she says. "It helps to educate people on just about any topic imaginable."

"You know," she says, her eyes twinkling. "It's good to know that the aged and infirm have an equally great chance as the young do of making fools of themselves." She bends down, pulls a chocolate bar out of her backpack, and unwraps it and breaks it in half before she straightens back up. "Have some chocolate." She holds half the bar out to him. "It's a great cure-all. Then you can tell me what you did, because you know if you don't that I'm going to hear about it from someone else instead."

That's what they all say.

[prof_methos]

Methos aims a glare on her over his nose. "A little thing like you should have more respect for her elders." He reaches out and accepts the chocolate. "I could almost prefer that you hear it from someone else, if only to find out what's being said. But... I, ah, attacked Draco Malfoy with my a sword, under a mistaken apprehension that he was responsible for the pranks that were pulled last week that sent several people to the clinic. I was... incorrect." Methos eyes the chocolate. "Any more of that? If not, I need to get more scotch."

[janet_fraiser]

"Little thing?" Janet arches one eyebrow and gives him the same look she gives the Colonel Jack when he starts in on her. "I'll have you know it's not the height that matters, it's the attitude, and that I have in spades."

After listening to what he says, Janet pulls one knee up to her chest, wraps her arms around her legs, and considers for a minute while absently nibbling at her chocolate bar. "If I hear anything, I'll let you know," she says. "But you may have to bribe me in return. I'm partial to all sorts of material indulgences."

"I have no more chocolate," says Janet. "Except for the truffles which are a flirty thing between Sam, Liz, and I so you don't get to share them. Sadly, I raided my emergency depression bar just for you. Do you have more scotch somewhere, or do you need to buy some?"

[prof_methos]

Methos raises his hands in defense. "Far be it for me to challenge you, oh small-but-fierce. And I can't disagree on the attitude."

"I like that phrase. 'Material indulgences.' Although it is less appealing after having indulged last night. I haven't quite plumbed the depths of the mini bar CJ left with me when she moved out of the apartment. I know there is at least some wine, and possibly other harder beverages." Methos paused and checked himself before he invited a sixteen-year-old girl back to his place for a drink. It was somehow very easy to forget that she was sixteen, what with her attitude, and her knowledge... and suddenly he felt like hitting himself sharply in the head, though that wouldn't do much for his hangover. And why Immortals get hangovers, I'll never understand, not in another five thousand years.

"So, Janet. How old *are* you? A medical degree, several years of practice... I'd say, what, mid thirties? I must admit, you're well-preserved for it."

[janet_fraiser]

Janet laughs. "I like that answer!" she exclaims. "You do realize you hired three of the most attitude-challenged people in the school to work in the library, right?"

"Material indulgences are some of my favorite things." Janet shrugs one-shouldered and eats the last bite of her chocolate bar. "So you live in CJ's old place? Nice building." She looked quizzically at the strange expression crossing his face.

"Oh, damn," says Janet, leaning her head against the back of the park bench and staring up at the sky. Thankfully, no one was around to interrupt or overhear. "You figured it out. I never was very good at pretending I know less than I do." She laughs ruefully. "Actually, I'm pretty horrible at it. The answer to your question is 'closer to forty than thirty.' And no, I'm not telling you how close."

She tilts her head back up for a minute and squints to look at Methos. "Okay, now I need something stronger than chocolate."

[prof_methos]

"No, actually, I didn't. I hired the ones who brought me coffee. Except in your case, in which I hired you because you were doing the work already."

"I would never ask a lady her age. Well, perhaps Amanda, but since I know she would lie to me, it is an exercise in futility. And as such doesn't count. So, would you, Dr. Janet, join me for a drink at my place?"

[janet_fraiser]

"Yes, the two who were willing to break your own library rules to bring you coffee," says Janet, breaking out in an amused grin. "I was doing the work already because I cannot abide disorder. Chaos and I are natural enemies. What I'm doing at this school, then, I'll never know."

"I have no idea who Amanda is, but I suspect I'd like her," says Janet. She grins at Methos and stands up. "I'd love to. I'm kicking Daniel's door on the way in. Thanks. We can avoid trading the tales of our interesting and likely sordid pasts by dancing around every conversational topic known to man, if you'd like." She reaches down for the strap of her backpack and slings it over her shoulder. "Being sixteen again is a horrible experience, I'll have you know. It was bad enough the first time."

[prof_methos]

"The concept of you and Amanda in the same room is... amusing, if one could acheive minimum safe distance. Come, I'll look like I'm corrupting you and everyone will think I'm a dirty old man in addtion to a homocidal loon."

[janet_fraiser]

"You're not a dirty old man?" asks Janet. "Shame. I'm disappointed. And now I have to meet this Amanda."

OOC: New post, new thread, what? Let me know.

[prof_methos]

"Well, since Duncan's here and since I know someone's trying to get her in as a townie, you'll probably get your chance."

[OOC:New post in Methos' apartment? Although I'm about to duck out to catch up on last week's Veronica Mars...]

[janet_fraiser]

OOC: New post is good! It's your apartment, so I'll let you do it. Let me know when it's up.

[prof_methos]

[ooc: Here!]