xp_logs | Tuesday afternoon, foreign redheads unite!

Medusa helps Terry with more wedding planning and with admirable grace puts up with the Irish girl's concerns over her musics, the flower arrangements, schoolwork and Terry's bad habit of swift topic changes. That's breeding, folks.

Terry tossed aside the wedding magazine she'd been looking at and looked over at Medusa. "I'm really better than that, you know," she said, out of nowhere. She was clearly agitated, fidgeting in place and stabbing a pencil through the messy twist of red hair she'd pinned up earlier. What on earth she was talking about and how it had to do with the discussion of hydrangeas over lilies was in no way immediately apparent.

Despite the seeming randomness of the comment, Medusa merely raised an eyebrow, keeping the magazine on her lap open as she reached out for a tab to mark the page. "Of course you are," she said reassuringly. "Better than what?" The question was asked cautiously as she watched the Irish girl for a reaction.

"Singing. You were at the club when I was losing my voice. I know I sounded awful." Clearly this was something that had been on Terry's mind, probably since that night. "I'm a lot better than that, really. Not just like kinda better but lots. I don't...when I perform there I only use my regular voice, not the whole range." That had been a conscious decision on her part--not because she was hiding the fact of her mutation but because her real voice, as she tended to think of it, felt more like she was really putting effort behind her performances.

"I see. I will not lie and say the performance did not surprise me following my sister's description of your performance abilities," Medusa replied, her voice carefully neutral. "But many performers often have off nights," she added quickly.

"There's off and then there's bloody awful." Terry sighed and pulled the pencil back out of her hair again, twirling it in her fingers, "I was hearing heartbeats. It put me off meter and off pitch. I didn't want you to think that's what I usually sound like." It was a matter of pride. She could be easy going about many things, rarely took slights seriously, laughed off all manner of dismissals but her music was different. It was solely for her.

"I am sure that I could arrange to come to another performance," she was surprised to find herself offering. Something about the earnestness with which the other girl spoke had struck a chord in her. Medusa understood wanting other's...not approval, but something similar. People's understanding of one's own talents or abilities.

But Terry just shook her head, smiling wryly, "There aren't anymore. The owner wasn't really very happy with me for walking out on him that night and what with the publicity and all, he's not having trouble booking people like he used to. Every night is packed now." There was a little disappointment in her voice but not so much that she sounded bitter. More like the wistfulness of looking back at a road not traveled. "Besides, it was taking too much time. My schoolwork is an utter wreck this semester. My GPA is going to look like I spent the whole semester in a coma."

"Well, with the stories I have heard about student's experiences here, I would imagine you could convince people that is exactly what occurred," Medusa said as she marked another page in the magazine before setting it on a nearby table.

The Irish girl laughed, "It's not as bad as all that. We're like vampires, we like to talk big. Demons and alternate dimensions and invasions and all that. It's just tough guy talk. Truth is, it's good here. You've got people who care. A great education. It's home for a lot of us who didn't have anywhere else to go. In all my years here, I've never regretted it and never doubted the people here after I came to know them."

"I wish people would say things like that more," Medusa said. "I have often found myself wondering why my parents sent Crystal and I here when I listen to the stories people tell." A red strand of hair extended to pull a magazine into her lap as Medusa smiled at Terry. "It is a pleasure to hear that some people have highly valued the experience's they have had experienced at Xavier's and gives me hope that I may still learn plenty during my time here."

"It's easier to complain," she sat back on the couch with a shrug, "Sure and there have been their share of happenings here but it's just part of growing up, writ large. Most people have to deal with bullies, ours just get armed and organized. Powers attracts power so when you have a whole school of kids who are just fumbling their way through, things get messy. I think if you honestly asked most people they'd tell you that the school has been a good thing for them. The teachers, lots of them trained here and they believe in what they're doing." Terry shrugged again and eyed Medusa thoughtfully, wondering why the two Amaquelins stayed when they seemed to find no value. When she'd arrived, she'd hated the whole thing too but she'd had nowhere else to go and the Professor made it impossible to run away in an effective manner. But Medusa at least was a legal adult. So why stay?

Medusa's hands continued to flip the pages of the magazine, though she wasn't paying attention to their content any longer. "That is part of what I think my parents wished for us to see. How those who were not raised to treasure their gifts rose up to accept them and use them in productive manners." She smiled apologetically at Terry. "But that has nothing to do with either flower arrangements or singing."

That made more sense though. It just didn't appear that either sister were terribly appreciate of the differences. "No, no it's not. Sorry, I'm easily sidetracked." Terry flashed her a grin. "Especially when I'm trying to put off making a decision. Flowers are just completely beyond me. All I know is that they're pretty and they smell good."

"But they have meaning as well," Medusa said. Flipping open one of the magazines on the table to a tabbed page, she pointed to an arrangement of roses. "Everyone thinks they know roses, but only red ones mean love." She flipped to another page. "And most people don't know that orchids also mean love and beauty too." Another page turn and she continued. "Or that sweetpeas signify a goodbye." She smiled as she turned to point to a spider flower. "Or that these are asking someone to elope."

Terry giggled and leaned in to look at the book, "We did that part already. Asking him again isn't necessary. What about tulips? I like those. And the little white flowers?" She flipped through another book to show Medusa what she meant, stephanotis pinned into place with pearl tipped straight pins.

Medusa allowed herself a grin as she looked at Terry. "Well tulips mean a perfect lover or passion, so you will have to be the judge if those are appropriate. Certain colors can add meaning as well." Glancing at the other flowers, she nodded, approval entering her voice. "Stephanotis are perfect, they represent happiness in marriage. And that is a truly lovely arrangement."

Terry turned approximately the same shade as her hair. "What do the different colors mean?" Which was far better than saying 'you have no idea' as had been her first impulse. "How did you learn all of this anyway? Is it part of being a lady?"

"Red for love as always, yellow for hopeless love and a mix of many colors means beautiful eyes," Medusa explained. "My mother's gift has to do with plants," she said as she set the magazine she'd been holding down. "She knows more than anyone I know about flowers and growing things, so I suppose I just picked up the meanings from listening to her talk." Her smile grew dreamy and a little distant. "Plus, the idea that people used to communicate with flowers always seemed so romantic to me. A secret message all wrapped up in the bouquet you sent your sweetheart."

If it wasn't the Irish who'd invented being romantic fools, they'd never admit to it. Terry's smile was just as soft as she replied, her voice lilting gently, "Aye, so it was. When chivalry was still alive and well and a knight would carry his lady's favor into battle for his kingdom and her honor. There's a certain segment of the population who doesn't believe in love. I feel so bad for them."

"That is just because they have not found it yet," Medusa said softly, the smile on her face growing. "So there is no need to feel bad for them as they will come around when they do."

Terry gave her an unreadable look. "That's an optimistic viewpoint." She looked down at the tulip bouquet a bit longer, "I think I want color. I'll give the girls white on white but I want color for me. Do you think I should try for something to match the dresses or just go bright?"

Medusa looked at Terry thoughtfully for a moment before responding. "Bright," she said firmly. "It suits you." Her hair shifted slightly, floating placidly around her face. "Have you settled on a date yet?"

Terry shook her head, "Not exactly. Sometime in February or March, I think. The Church prefers that you wait 6 months but I'd like to not have to wait quite that long. We'll have to see if I can talk the priest into it." She dog-eared the page of tulips and kept flipping, "I still have to worry about music too. I've no idea what I'm going to do there. Do you think that Alison...actually, you don't know her but...if you have a friend who was a musician, is it rude not to ask them to do your music?"

Medusa shook her head. "Not at all. I would almost think it rude not to ask them, if they were highly talented. Requesting that someone perform at your wedding is a great honor." Picking up yet another magazine, this one featuring cake designs, she began flipping through it. "It is just the way you ask that will be important. Make sure it comes across as a request, not a demand, and I am sure your friend will be flattered that you desire her to perform."

"She hasn't performed in a couple of years. I mean, she's definitely talented. Platinum records and sold out concerts and all that," Terry fidgeted, "I just don't know if I should ask her. Or maybe I should just get a DJ. I don't want her to think that I'm just trying to use her for her talents and get out of paying for a band."

Medusa smiled and nodded, though she wasn't sure if platinum records and sold out concerts really signified talent. After all, hadn't one of those bleach blond pop princesses done that? "What if you just asked her to pick a special song or two? That way she would still be able to enjoy the wedding as a guest, but you could also receive the pleasure of her performance, if you enjoy her talents."

Terry looked thoughtful, "That's not a bad idea. I could ask Alison and Jay both." She grinned, "How many people get Alison Blaire singing for their first dance, aye? She'd probably do it." Grabbing her planner, she scribbled a note to herself to call Alison about the wedding. Her former music teacher already knew, of course, about the marriage and upcoming wedding but there was a difference between telling about it and asking her to perform for it.

"Are you going to sing as well?" Medusa asked curiously, as the talk of performers brought to mind Terry's defensiveness about her own voice. "If you are feeling up to it, that is."

Terry's first impulse was that that would be weird but her second was that she really liked the idea. "I hadn't really thought about it. I guess I'll ask Bobby and see what he thinks." Bobby didn't really care about the wedding plans, Terry knew. He just wanted to show up and do as he was told. That hadn't stopped Terry yet from getting his opinion on a great many things. "I don't want it to look strange."

"It would not look odd if you introduced it as singing a song to your new husband. Or your newly re-avowed husband," she replied with a shrug. "But what is most important is that you do nothing that makes you uncomfortable. It should be your day." Medusa smiled. "Well," she amended. "Yours and his of course."

Terry laughed, "Bobby's just going along to make me happy, I think. He's a bit of a romantic but not so much that he wants to fuss over a wedding. If I told him I wanted to do the whole wedding as a musical, he'd go along with it so long as he didn't have to sing himself." She sounded, even to her own ears, utterly, indulgently besotted with her husband. And just a bit smug.

"He seems like a nice man, from what I have seen of him at the Elpis office," Medusa said, mildly amused by the fact that Terry was obviously head over heels for Bobby.

"He's the best," Terry affirmed with admitted bias, "I've known him since I was 11. He's always been there for me." She drew a leg up to her chest, rested her chin on her knee, smiling, "No matter what it was, Bobby was always there. Any time I needed anything. There was a while there that I felt like I didn't have any real family. The school became that for me instead. Sure and we've had our troubles, there's nothing perfect in the world. But I'd rather have troubles with him than perfection with someone else."

"That is a very long time to have known someone," Medusa said with a mild amount of amusement. "There are few perfect things in the world. As long as you are both open and honest about what lies ahead and your expectations, then you have prepared well."

Again Terry noticed that Medusa was more optimistic than she was herself. She wondered if it was differing life experiences or just disposition. "Aye, that's what we've decided as well. There's been our share of troubles so far--this time was the second that he'd asked me to marry him and it was with just as little planning then too. But we're stronger for them."

In truth, Medusa's optimism probably resulted from a little of both. "I see," Medusa said with a polite nod. She didn't pry for details, though she had to wonder that someone so young was on her second marriage proposal, albeit from the same man. She wouldn't have been pleased with a proposal that hadn't been planned, but all that mattered was that it had sufficed for Terry. "Life is rarely without trouble and marriages never are. What matters is that you care enough to work through them."

Terry laughed, "Aye. Sure that's the God's honest truth. There's naught worth anything in life that doesn't require work to get and keep. That's how things become precious, don't you think?" She smiled and bent over her magazines again, "Now about these tulips..."