xp_logs | The Amaquelins' Day In

When you can’t go to the spa, bring the spa to you. While the Amaquelins get pampered, they chat about the mansion’s newest residents and how to welcome them.

"~...and then he told me that it was a paycheck, Medusa! Can you believe it? Finally I accepted the envelope if only to have proof of its existence!~" Crystal shook her head, laughing, greatly upsetting the stylist who had been about to trim her hair,

Medusa giggled, the action almost cracking the seaweed mask covering her face. "~Have you told our parents about your period in the working world? What will they think, their daughter, the mail room attendant!~" she said, clutching her chest in mock horror. The manicurist sitting across from her waited patiently until she set her hands back down, then resumed the massage she'd started a minute before.

Crystal shook her head again, almost losing a chunk of hair she'd rather keep, and earning the enmity of the stylist behind her. "~Of course I have not told them that I am working. I am not really working; I am volunteering. Assisting others on a volunteer basis is perfectly acceptable.~"

"~Yet you have a paycheck~," Medusa replied the amusement in her voice evident. "~We should frame it and hang it on your wall. A fond memory and a story to tell your children!~" Two strands of hair extended to wrap around bottles of nail polish. "~Which do you think? This would work well for an American style," she said holding out a soft pink shade, "or this one?~" while holding out an iridescent bluish-red.

"~I only accepted it under the condition that I would not receive another one!~" Crystal responded, more than a bit annoyed at her sister. "~And again, it is physical proof that the faculty members here are quite insane. Why else would they even think about paying someone who clearly offered to volunteer?~" The hairstylist handed Crystal a mirror, and Crystal examined the work and nodded her acceptance before turning to look at Medusa's choice in nail polish colors. "~Do you really want to go with an American style?~" she questioned, looking at Medusa.

Medusa made a face at her sister, though her _expression was obscured by the face mask. "~It is not truly American, that is just the name of the technique.~" Setting the pale pink down, she handed the other one to the manicurist. "~Perhaps they were just trying to be nice. It is rather odd, though, as you clearly volunteered.~" Shrugging, Medusa didn't worry too much about it. One of the other technicians had moved to stand in front of her, gently removing the green substance covering her face. "~Did I miss anything else while I was gone?~"

"~Nothing that I did not tell you over the phone or that you are unable to read on the journals,~" Crystal said with a small laugh. "~The people here do a great job at making sure that new arrivals feel welcome and wanted.~"

She sighed as the last of the seaweed was cleaned from her face. "~Indeed. Perhaps we should offer to do something with Pietro? To make him feel more welcome than either of us did upon our arrival? And the other person, though people seem to have been more...considerate of his arrival.~"

Crystal held out her hands so her own nails could be painted, looking slightly surprised. "~Yes, you are right...I had completely forgotten about the arrival of Mr. Garrison Kane. I believe that the residents here have a special...selective process that they use to decide who should be welcomed right away and who should be rejected or ignored. At least it took Ms. Dane a few days to give me my warm welcome. However, Pietro's situation is much different. I would have hoped that given the fact that he worked with the X-Men at the risk of his own life, people would be more forgiving, but unfortunately that does not seem to be the case, and it does not appear that the staff members are helping to alleviate the situation.~"

"~Well, we shall have to show people how gracious individuals welcome new residents. Perhaps some welcome baskets are in order?~" Medusa held up one hand to admire the freshly painted nails and the manicurist began on the next one. ~I would recommend a spa day for them, but something tells me neither would fully appreciate the relaxing effects of a manicure, pedicure and facial.~"

Crystal burst into laughter at the thought of either of the newest arrivals sitting down for a spa day. Well, maybe Garrison would, she hadn't met him, and she wasn't quite sure if mounties went in for manicures, pedicures, and facials. "~Perhaps we should do that, my sister. I already have a pre-existing relationship with one such local delivery place. They are quite adept at making exquisite baskets on short notice.~"

"~Excellent,~" Medusa said holding up her other hand. "~Then I shall leave the task in your more than capable hands unless you need something from me.~" She looked down to wiggle her toes, admiring what the pedicurist had done with them. With a satisfied sigh, she leaned back in her chair. "~We should do this more often.~"

Crystal nodded, smiling at Medusa. "~Yes, with everything that has happened during the past month, I did not take the time to do things like this, but I am very glad that you arranged for it.~"

Medusa smiled at her little sister, a red tendril of hair snaking out to squeeze her shoulder. "~I had a feeling you needed it.~" Even more than I.