xp_logs | Crystal and Pietro - Winter Ball Warning (Reply)

Backdated. With the preparations for the Winter Ball out of the way (Crystal says thank you, Medusa) Crystal decides to prepare Pietro for another night of noisy student fun. Crystal discovers a secret about Pietro that could result in a massive explosion of heads around the mansion if people knew about it.

Everything for the Winter Ball was as ready as it could be, save for the few finishing touches that could only be added at the last minute. A few additions to the menu had been made in order to make sure that everyone would have something to eat. Her preparations were done; now she was just making sure that someone else was prepared in advance for a loud night of noisy student fun.

"I'm assuming that you already know that there is going to be a Winter Ball here," Crystal told Pietro. "It will be held Friday evening. I believe that most of the noise will be contained within the ballroom, but there is the distinct possibility of shrieking and whooping in the hallways."

"Yes, I've noticed the preparations, but thank you for the warning anyway," Pietro replied wryly. "I'll find something quiet and--I can only hope--inoffensive to do; one misunderstanding blown out of proportion was quite enough. I hope the evening goes well, for all the work you've been putting into it."

He thought things had been blown out of proportion... and that was without knowing about the "grinch" discussion on the students' journal. "Yes, I'm sure they would have responded in a much more favorable manner had you done what they suggested and asked nicely," Crystal replied, shaking her head slightly. "Perhaps a few of them might have been less...crude...but..." She doubted that Pietro would have received mostly postitive responses even if he had done so. Probably at least one of them would have yelled even louder, just to spite him. "You can come see for yourself how the evening goes," Crystal offered. "You don't have to stay the whole time, of course, but maybe you'll want to see the final product? Medusa and I have dedicated a lot of time and effort into the preparations for the dance."

"I might stop by just briefly--I am curious to see how well your efforts have paid off. But I doubt I'll stay long enough to be noticed." Pietro smiled gently. "Especially since you have put so much work into it. There's no reason for all of that to be tarnished by some of your less tactful classmates, when the whole issue can so easily be avoided."

"It is a shame that this is how things are, but yes, I can think of some... unpleasant reactions several of the students might have if they saw you." Crystal shook her head. "You should not have to try to avoid them in order to prevent incidents." She tilted her head slightly, looking slightly amused. "I'd try to make sure that you're leaving this suite for more than food and runs around campus, but I understand that you took part in a social gathering at the boathouse this past weekend."

"I don't have to," Pietro protested. "Usually I couldn't care less what they think of me. I just don't want them spoiling your night." He smiled. "And yes, Summers inveigled me into a poker game with some of the staff. I was pleasantly surprised to find myself hoping it won't be a singular event."

"You had fun," Crystal translated, then grinned. "What would the other residents think if they knew the truth: Pietro Maximoff can have fun."

"Ssh." Pietro winked at her. "Best keep that a secret. They might try to make me clean up the exploded heads, else, and that's never pleasant."

Crystal grinned, laughing. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. I would hate to be the one responsible for putting you through a clean-up duty like that."

"Do you suppose they have an official exploded heads policy?" Pietro asked, chuckling. "It is a school for mutants, I'd be surprised if the issue hasn't come up. There could be disciplinary policies, procedural guidelines . . . possibly even a helpful pamphlet: What To Do Should Your Head Explode. I may ask Summers about it."

At the mention of the pamphlet title, Crystal dissolved into laughter. "Yes, you should do that. You could even bring it up during the next poker game. A few heads might explode right there and then."

"Thus helpfully demonstrating the need for an instructional pamphlet. And I do so like watching Summers try to track a non-sequitur." Pietro grinned at her. "I think I'll do that. It would be . . ." He paused significantly. "Fun."