xp_logs | Late Saturday Afternoon

x-roulette.livejournal.com posting in

Crystal discovers that Jennie hasn't been to see Marius since Wednesday, and gives her a talking to.

Jennie rubbed her eyes tiredly. Four solid hours of websurfing and reading medical files provided by Moira, and Jennie knew all about pulmonary arrests, sulfuric acid, and mutants whose lungs started being unable to process oxygen. Jennie rested her chin on her knees, and chewed a thumbnail. In all her research she hadn’t seen anything about lungs re-adapting back. In fact, every case had resulted in said mutant’s death by asphyxiation. Sighing, she was about to close the browser when she heard the door behind her slam.

"Greetings, Jennie!" Crystal called out cheerfully as she entered the room. She had just finished yet another solo mid-air dancing session and was still wearing her work-out outfit. "How are you? How is Marius? Have you seen him today?"

"Fine." Jennie muttered from around her thumbnail. The silence passed for a little while before Jennie looked up and saw Crystal that was still staring at her, expectantly. "Dunno. Haven't seen him today, either, no." She added.

"Why not? Are the medical staff members keeping you away?" Crystal frowned. She knew that Marius and Jennie were very close friends. Even as he became unable to breathe, he had expressed concern over allowing Jennie to continue her usual night-life. "I am sure that distractions can be provided so that you can see him."

Jennie uncurled her legs from the chair seat and leaned back to get a better look at Crystal. "I'm not sure if that's a good idea. He's.....he's not doing so hot right now."

Crystal's frown deepened. "What is wrong with him?" Noticing Jennie's bruise, she added, "And what happened to your head?"

Jennie lifted a hand to touch it automatically, and then put it back down. "It's nothing, I slipped when I was in the medlab and gave myself a concussion. Just some bad luck is all." Jennie was feeling strangely defensive.

Crystal shook her head, trying to figure out what was going on. "Jennie," she began gently. "What exactly did you mean when you said that Marius is not doing very well right now?"

“He…” Jennie paused, searching for what to say. Would he even want me saying this? “His powers are…” She sighed and pressed her fingers to her eyes. “His skin’s falling off. All of it. He’s shedding it.” Unbidden the image of rough grey skin underneath Marius’s normal olive shade came to her. “On top of that, his lungs won’t process oxygen anymore.”

Shocked, Crystal's eyes widened and she let out a gasp. The skin part, although disturbing, was something she could handle. After all, hadn't the boy been skinless the day she had arrived at the mansion? The not-processing oxygen part, however, was shocking. "He... I could have... what are they... how is he still alive?"

Jennie kicked herself for saying anything. Marius definitely didn’t want it known what was going on with him, and here she was blabbing to Crystal. In for a penny Jennie thought. “Look, you can’t repeat any of this okay? What’s happening with him? Did he tell you about his teleportation mishap?” On the other girl’s nod she continued. “Doctor MacTaggart thinks his body’s adapting so that won’t happen again. Which means his skin’s changing so he won’t burn it off and his lungs…..His lungs now only process sulfuric acid vapor. Forge rigged him a respirator so he can breathe. But….” Jennie sighed. “It’s not fun, what’s happening.” She finished lamely.

Sulfuric acid vapor? That definitely did not sound like something fun to need in order to breathe. "I would think, then, that at a time like this Marius needs his friends at his side. Of course he needs some time to himself, but he needs to know that you are still there for him."

Jennie shook her head. “You didn’t see,” she began. “You weren’t there, I saw him peel off his skin.” I saw just how fucking freaked he looked. “I know him. I don’t think he would want to see me, or anyone right now.”

"His skin is missing or changing or something nasty, yes, you already said that." Crystal paused for a moment. "Is this about him not wanting to see you, or is this about you not wanting to see him?"

“Of course I want to see him!” Jennie said, offended. “I’m just not sure how much he wants to see me.” And I wouldn’t be able to stand it if he threw me out.

"I'm sorry, I just..." I just thought that maybe you were staying away because of the way he looks at this moment. " As long as you're sure that he knows why you're not there."

Jennie put her head down on her desk and exhaled. “I actually haven’t seen him since Wednesday,” she admitted.

Crystal sighed. "Jennie, I'm not going to argue with you. I cannot force you to visit your friend. I can only tell you what I've already said, that Marius needs support right now. He needs to know that no matter what has happened or will continue to happen to him, his friends will be there for him. He needs to know that skin or no skin, whether he looks normal, like a skinned cat, or mutates into a five-headed dragon, you will still be his friend."

It wasn’t that. It wasn’t that at all. “Crystal, I don’t care what he looks like. I…I’m just,” Jennie ran a hand through her hair in agitation. “Fine, you know what? Why don’t we go see him now?” And get you off my back.

That's better. "I think that's a very good idea," Crystal replied, smiling. "If you don't mind, I will shower and change before we go to see Marius."

“You do that.” Jennie said, and Crystal exited towards their shared bathroom. She put her head back down on her desk. Oh my God, what did I just do?