Just as Nate did the polite thing in offering Jack some of the coffee, and to her credit, she declined the cup in a very polite way. He did not blame her; the school’s coffee was nothing special, and once he was settled in, he would probably invest in a more enjoyable brand to keep on hand. In the meantime, there were some days when coffee itself was more important than the taste of coffee.

It was not until his offer was declined that Nate thought about the mask Jack was wearing. Logically she would have had to remove it to drink coffee, but Nate could not really picture what might be under the mask. It was likely a unique jaw structure, but the mask could have also just been to keep something inside; he still remembered one of his students who naturally exhaled a poisonous gas. There were too many types of mutants to make guesses about anything.

Nate took a sip of his black coffee, savoring the bitter taste, even if it tasted a little more burnt than he would have preferred. The warmth of the piping hot drink spread through his body quickly, and he knew a burst of energy would follow soon. Coffee Mission Success.

Even better, with Jack choosing not to drink any coffee and Nate being relegated to the kitchen until backup arrived, he could drink his mug and have a second mug to bring back. It was a better day than he thought.

Still sipping regularly from his coffee mug, Nate returned his attention to Jack, who had broken the silence to mention her girlfriend. It would be really easy to judge or make assumptions about Jack’s dating experiences, but Nate knew better; there was someone for everyone, he was genuinely starting to believe. She was a physical mutant and he was a convicted felon, and between the two of them, her situation was far easier to sell a girl on.

”Honestly, the things you don’t have in common with a girlfriend are just as important as the things you do,” he agreed, thinking back to the one “long” relationship of his life. ”My ex hated onions, but loved sneaking bites of my food. When I was really hungry, I’d always make sure to order something smothered in them. She’d always pout and roll her eyes and tease me when the food came out.”

Bringing his mug to his lips, he stopped just short to smile and laugh to himself. ”She had an adorable pout,” he added before taking his sip. He did not think about Quin very often, but when he did, he liked to think about her fondly, regardless of how things ended.

Nate looked back up to Jack and decided to ask a probing question or two, looking to appease his curiosity. ”So your girlfriend, does she work in the Mansion, too? Or is she a human?” He tried to keep his tone respectful, but the latter would have been surprising. It was no fault on Jack, but the majority of humans were not as accepting; even some of the pro-mutant crowd still struggled around mutants who were visibly different. There were exceptions, but most mutants were ready to assume the worst until a human proved them otherwise.

>> ”Honestly, the things you don’t have in common with a girlfriend are just as important as the things you do. My ex hated onions, but loved sneaking bites of my food. When I was really hungry, I’d always make sure to order something smothered in them. She’d always pout and roll her eyes and tease me when the food came out. She had an adorable pout.”

Jack nodded her head slowly, half-listening and half-watching the door. It wasn't that she didn't care about Nate's old love life (although she really, truly, didn't)... it was just that Jack had never before been in the position to swap girlfriend stories. I mean, Zinnia was her first girlfriend, after all.

>> ”So your girlfriend, does she work in the Mansion, too? Or is she a human?"

"Nei-zer," Jack said, shaking her head, "Zinnia is a nyu-tant, 'ut she's not at duh Nan-sion. She's training to 'e a nurse."

"Net at duh gin I 'orkout at," Jack explained, "Didn't know she 'as nyu-tant at duh tine. She just... seen'ed really interested an' 'e got sun-ting to eat." Coffee, if Jack remembered correctly. Even if she didn't, knowing Zinnia, it'd probably been coffee, "And 'e just... ne'er got rid uzz each udder."

The prawn smiled at the explanation. It was true, how things had just sort of "happened".

As a silence began to settle, Jack heard the heavy, familiar footfalls of utility boots making their way up the hall. Another person from the security staff peeked into the kitchen. They were toting a clipboard and, Jack noted, a guest badge.

"I'll be damned," the guard greeted, "Jack wasn't blowing smoke!" The clipboard was tossed onto the counter-top, badge and all, and Jack's coworker closed the distance between him and Holloway. One arm was extended for a handshake, the other opened wide for the manliest of one-armed embraces, "Nate! How the hell are you?"

"Know hin?" Jack asked coolly, ascertaining the obvious.

"Hell yeah, I know him," the fellow guard confirmed, "He's the old art teacher. It's been ages, man! Was Jack giving you grief?"

"Didn't know hin," Jack huffed tersely, rolling her eyes, "'e's lucky grease was all I gaze hin."

A smile still tinged her tone, though. What a relief, this guy really was the real deal.

Nate’s story was replied to with nods; Jack was not much of a talker, which was fine by him. If Jack was not looking to have a conversation, he could keep quiet until it was time to head back to his room.

Just as he was getting ready to accept that silence, Jack did open up a little more and give a little backstory to her relationship. Her girlfriend was Zinnia, a mutant and a nurse in training. It was amusing to think of how mundane their meeting was, despite who the two were. Meeting at a gym and deciding to go out for a meal; it was such a normal way for two people to meet. Appearances could be deceiving. Nate smiled and replied, ”Good to hear it.” That was probably the key to a good relationship: just don’t get rid of each other.

Nate was comfortably leaning against a kitchen counter when the next security person entered into the kitchen. The guard was excited to see him, which was surprising for the returning teacher. Back in his day, he was always friendly with the guards, using his social charms for his own good, but he was not invested in those interactions because the old Nate still struggled to trust security people. It was a consequence of his former trade: security was to be treated with an eye of suspicion, possibly more so than police.

He did greet the man with a smile and a handshake, which was followed by a reluctant one-arm back-pat hug. Apparently, Nate made an impression on the younger security officer. ”Nah, Jack’s just doing her job. I totally get it. She let me come get my coffee, so she’s alright in my book,” he said, tilting his mug toward Jack as a gesture of thanks.

>> ”Nah, Jack’s just doing her job. I totally get it. She let me come get my coffee, so she’s alright in my book.”

Saltily Jack thought that if everyone was doing their job, they wouldn't have had this problem in the first place. She kept that sentiment to herself, however, only a droll look finding its way to the other security guard. See, the look said? I let him get coffee. I'm alright in his book.

She watched as the fellow guard got the paperwork in-order, signed Nate in, and handed him a guest pass.

"'til we get your official staff I.D. in order," he said warmly, "I've got to head back, but it was good seeing you! Don't be a stranger!"

After a short farewell, the guard was off.

The prawn shifted her weight, clearing her throat. Now that he was all checked-in, there really was no point in her lurking around.

"Sorry sore duh trou'le," Jack said with a nod. She extended a closed fist towards Nate-- fistbumps were easier than handshakes-- and the prawn rumbled, "I'll catch you 'round sun-tine."

She was dismissing herself, leaving Nate to his morning coffee.