[For Layla]

[howmanylives]

Christmas had never held that much importance in the Madrox household, and Jamie had had enough Christmases throughout adulthood through his various dupes that he had as many good memories as bad ones. Still, it was his second Christmas Eve on the Island, now, and while he preferred the decor of the previous year, he undoubtedly preferred the

Comments

[butterflyfactor]

Layla had been staring at a page of True Grit for the better part of an hour, without really seeing it. Her gaze flicked up to Jamie with no indication that her thoughts had been anywhere but with the book.

"I've heard he usually kicks around the island for the whole month, so it's entirely likely. I'm sort of rooting for an appearance by the Grinch, though."

[howmanylives]

"If any classic character later played by Jim Carrey is about to show up, I'd honestly prefer the Riddler," Jamie replied with raised eyebrows, something of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He held a busier schedule than most people on the Island, but he was still restless more often than not, much as the play had had a way of taking his mind of most things. Maybe he wasn't the goddamn Batman, but he was a good detective in his own right, and being able to stretch those particular skills wouldn't be entirely unwelcome, sticky implications aside. Absently, he reached out beside him to tuck a stray lock of hair behind Layla's ear.

"How's that one page treatin' ya?"

[butterflyfactor]

"Mask beats Riddler," Layla murmured, turning a page of her book, "and I'm sure he counts as classic to all five people who read that comic."

"It was great," she said, flashing him a Layla version of a smile and looking up at the brush of his fingers.

"Warranted lots of critical thinking. How's the stage direction vexing you?"

[howmanylives]

"We'll have to deviate from what's in the script. Our set just can't accommodate what's written. Inconvenient, yes, but no big deal," he replied with a shrug. Layla had never been a particularly easy person to read -- it was what made her simultaneously interesting and vexing to him -- but he had the unshakable sense that something was off nevertheless. Still, he didn't press just yet, though his hand lingered, sliding under the curtain of her hair, and onto her opposite shoulder, as he moved in to sit closer. Strange as it was to have an honest-to-God relationship, he'd been getting better about it in the past couple of months, finally realizing he was able to act on certain impulse he'd curbed when she first showed up earlier this year. He tossed his script and pen onto the table.

"Think we should call it a night or hold a stakeout... See if the Grinch doesn't make an appearance after all?"