Scott and Crystal, Saturday afternoon

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Scott runs into Crystal down by the lake. The conversation's a little awkward at first, but small talk leads to a literary discussion. Strangely, the two of them wind up almost at ease with each other.


The lake made a beautiful setting to be near while working out. With seemingly everyone being busy or somewhere away from the mansion, there was little else to do besides practice, study, or work out. This was fine with Crystal, who having had experienced the mansion in busy moments and crazy confusion, was content to spend a peaceful afternoon without any interruptions. Crystal finished her few final stretches and then sat down, simply staring at the lake.

Scott, emerging from one of the walking trails, out from under the trees and back into the full sunlight, hesitated for a moment as he saw Crystal sitting in more or less the spot where he'd intended to spend the rest of the afternoon. He stayed where he was, torn between turning around and slipping back into the woods or... what? Going over and talking to her? He wasn't very good company these days, especially for the kids.

Feeling a slight shift in the air currents, Crystal realized that she was no longer alone. Remaining seated, Crystal's head turned until she saw Scott. "Greetings, Mr. Summers!" she called out cheerfully.

Well, that answered that. Scott tucked his book under his arm and came over to join her rather tentatively. "Afternoon, Crystal," he said, wishing he'd worn a long-sleeved shirt. The weals on his wrists were healing, but slowly. "I... didn't realize you were out here. I could go?" he offered a bit lamely, gesturing back in the direction of the mansion. "If you were wanting... space. Privacy."

That settled it. The interaction between students and those in charge was quite unusual. Mr. Summers asked her if he should go back inside? Was there not enough space outside for the both of them? He couldn't have just said hello and then found another spot if he wanted his own space? "I can leave," Crystal said politely, "I've already been outside for a while, so it is probably time for me to go back inside."

"No, it's..." Scott bit his lip, then mustered up a faint smile. "Sorry, Crystal," he said, and sat down beside her. "I'm... not doing so well with people these days."

The headmaster of the school wasn't doing too well with people? Well, that certainly inspired confidence and a continued feeling of safety. Well, Crystal certainly didn't feel lacking in her own defensive capabilities. Unfortunately, she knew that not all of the students could say the same. "I'm sorry to hear that," Crystal replied, looking at Scott. Out of the corners of her eyes, she noticed… something… on Scott's arms. The gaze of her eyes flickered upon his arms for less than a second, then returned to his face.

Had she maybe not heard? Well. It wasn't as if there'd been many details getting around, in any case. "I had something of an... unfortunate incident, last month."

Crystal nodded. "I assume you are referring to the kidnapping," she answered calmly. From what she had heard, being kidnapped was close to being a rite of passage in this place. If you already hadn't been kidnapped before your arrival at the mansion, you were a likely candidate for being kidnapped after you came. Crystal figured it was only a matter of time before someone came gunning for her. She didn't intend to be taken so easily.

Scott nodded. "I've been jumpy," he said quietly, "and not really comfortable around people. Hence the awkward question as to whether you needed the whole lake to yourself." The corner of his mouth tugged upwards.

"Oh, well, no, I do not require an entire lake," Crystal said, laughing a bit. "There is plenty of space around the lake, as well as the actual lake itself." Again, the "not comfortable with people" statement. Was that really something Mr. Summers wanted to repeat and advertise so openly? It sounded like he really needed to talk to people, not try to avoid them, but it wasn't her place to say such a thing, was it? What had happened to him that being home wasn't enough?

"Yeah, I know." The slight smile was staying. It was... weirdly good to be around someone who didn't know, even if he'd given away the fact that there was something wrong with him. "It's pretty out here this afternoon," he said after a moment.

Ah, small talk. "Yes, the weather is very nice today." Was there really any other response to that sort of comment? Her gaze shifted to the book he was holding. "What are you reading?" Crystal had lived through several exceedingly boring royal parties and was aware of several ways to continue small talk.

"'100 Years of Solitude'," Scott said, holding the book out for her to take it and take a look if she wanted. "It's a type of literature they call 'magical realism'."

"'Magical realism'?" Crystal repeated, taking the book. "According to Amanda, magic is real. Everyone else seems to agree with her, so I assume it is true."

Scott smiled more naturally, and tried to explain. "It's a literary genre. It's... hard to quantify, really. There are fantastical elements, that aren't explained, and the characters accept the logic of them. Usually there are a lot of sensory details," he said, looking back out at the lake. "Sometimes a skewed sense of time. Or inverted cause and effect... a good book of this type leaves you wondering whether to believe in the magical interpretation or the 'realistic' one." His gaze was very distant. "I thought it was appropriate, this week..."

Confused, Crystal asked, "There are actually two interpretations in the same book? In science fiction, you can choose to accept aliens and different civilizations at face value, or you can see another hidden interpretation, fictional people and events mirroring those in our own real society, but it is still only one interpretation that can be seen in different ways. Is this 'magical realism' similar or different?"

Scott tilted his head, regarding her for a moment, his eyes refocusing. "It's hard to explain," he said, and the smile was even steadier. "What I should really do is loan it to you, let you read it, and see what your answer to your own question is afterwards."

"After you have finished reading it, of course. Or are you reading it again?"

"Reading it again. It's an old favorite. Well, not old," Scott said. "I read it for the first time a couple of years ago. Shan made a concerted effort to get me reading more books for leisure, and this was one of the first she gave me." He rubbed unconsciously at one wrist, nodding after a moment. "You can borrow it if you'd like. I'd be interested to see what you think of it."

"Thank you. I will read it and give you a full report on what I think of the book," Crystal replied seriously.

It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her that this wasn't a classroom assignment, and she didn't have to approach it as if it were... but then, she had struck him thus far as a serious young woman. Maybe this was just the way she approached things in general. "'We read to know that we are not alone,'" Scott said, still rubbing at his wrist. "What do you think of that idea?"

Crystal blinked. It wasn't the first time that she had heard the quote and she wasn't quite sure what she thought about it. "I don't know that I really think too much about it," she confessed. "It is great to have a fictional world to escape into, but at the end of the day, that is all it is. It is just pretend. An author creates characters that act in the exact manner he or she wishes them to act. Sometimes the ending is written before the beginning and everything else is just something to get to that point."

"I'm a very successful convert to the idea of reading as a major hobby," Scott confessed, his gaze back on the lake. "I suppose that means I'm fond of escapism. But it's a relief, sometimes, to be immersed in something where you can successfully predict the turn events will take..."

Crystal nodded, sure that the ability to have everything planned without any sudden surprises would be a welcome relief to someone who had spent several days without any knowledge of what the next day would bring. Surely such a thing could only come from reading a book or watching a show or movie you had already read or seen. Even a precog's vision wasn't always entirely accurate. Knowing the outcome of events sounded boring to her, however. "I can always read this later," Crystal replied, offering the book to him. "It sounds like you need it a lot more than I do."

Scott hesitated, then shook his head. "No, it's okay," he said, then sighed. "I need to not look for escapism. The only problem with distraction is that what you're trying to avoid is still there when the distraction is done."

Well, yes. Obviously. This was why Crystal didn't generally go for the distraction method. Distraction was just that and was not an actual solution. Not that she had ever really had a desire to escape from anything, boring parties aside. And parties just had to be lived through by making idle chit chat and hopefully being able to engage in a real conversation. Of course, that last one had ended with a boy being sent to the hospital when he landed after becoming airborne on a sudden and strong gust of wind. Crystal did her best not to think about that too much. "What we experience does affect us, but dwelling on certain experiences can end up being quite harmful," Crystal said carefully.

"Sometimes it's very hard not to. Dwell, I mean. The mind plays tricks on you," Scott said slowly, "after certain sorts of situations. Memories keep coming back involuntarily." He stared hard at the water. "I have trouble getting in the shower, since I got back," he said, "because water was part of something very... bad that happened to me, while I was away. I can know why I'm afraid, precisely where the fear comes from and why it makes me react the way I do... but it doesn't seem to help. The logic doesn't quite... penetrate in any kind of helpful way."

And now he was opening up. Crystal was sure that it would have been better for him to open up to someone on the staff or a trained professional, but if he really wanted to talk to her about it now... "Well, I don't know what happened to you," Crystal said softly, "but I assume it was something you couldn't control, and it seems to me that that was the actual problem, not the water itself. You can control the water in your shower. Your shower is under your control."

"I know," Scott agreed, his tone calm, almost conversational - and yet quite noticeably detached. "Intellectually, I know that. The problem is that you aren't always in control of your own reactions. However much you may try to be. Sometimes the irrational wins." He looked sideways at Crystal again, smiling a little again. "And now we're into philosophy."

"Then we have now covered weather, literature, and philosophy," Crystal replied, returning Scott's smile. "And it hasn't been so bad, has it?"

"... no, it really hasn't." Scott looked back out at the lake. "You'll like the book, I think," he said after another moment.

Crystal nodded, gazing at the cover of the book. She sincerely hoped she would like the novel. She had not been joking about giving a full report, and she had no desire to give an unfavorable one. Looking at the headmaster, Crystal said, "I will go ahead and start reading it. Would you prefer that I remain here or go inside? I have been outside for a while now, and I believe you came out here for some alone time."

"I should probably stay out here - I need the sunlight. Or my mutation does, rather. But you can... stay or go," Scott said after a moment, rubbing at his jaw and trying to hide a slightly sheepish smile. "I really don't mind, either way. Maybe I'm not so uncomfortable around people after all."

Crystal's mutation did not require her to stay outside in the sunlight, but she did enjoy being outside in the fresh air. Not that the air in New York was really that fresh, but she did her best to filter out as much of the unneeded junk as she could. "I will stay here and read, then," she told Scott.

"All right." And it was, surprisingly enough. Scott turned his gaze back to the lake and let his mind go comfortably numb. It struck him, though, that he wouldn't really mind if Crystal broke the silence.