xp_logs | Crystal and Forge - Expect the Unexpected (Reply)

Crystal goes to the garage to thank Forge for the spotlights at the Winter Ball. An international incident is narrowly avoided, and they end up discussing their viewpoints on what it's like to be a mutant. Surprisingly, Crystal reveals her manifestation experience to Forge. Always remember: expect the unexpected.

Crystal entered the garage, not making a sound as she glided through the air. She should have come to speak with Forge earlier, but she'd been away for a week and then she'd had other things on her mind, so now was as good a time as any. One never knew what tomorrow might bring.

Forge could have sworn he heard a sound, but looking out from under the truck he was working on, he saw no feet crossing the floor. Shrugging, he went back to replacing the oil pan gasket, the rhythmic sounds of the ratchet as soothing to him as his usual musical accompaniment.

He'd left his headphones behind today, however, and there was that noise again. Like someone had left a door open and there was a breeze or something. Curious, he scooted out from under the truck...

...and looked up right at Crystal. He blinked once, then cocked his head quizzically. "You know," he finally said, "it's a good thing that you're not wearing a skirt."

Crystal looked down at Forge, darting back when he spoke after he suddenly appeared from under the truck she'd been floating past. "Usually, I do wear skirts," she told him, moving closer to the ground, glad that she'd happened to decide to wear designer jeans that morning. "It is most fortunate that I did not do so today."

Blushing slightly under the oil stains on his cheeks, Forge ducked back under the truck to slide out the other side and stand up, retrieving his toolbox as he did so and placing it on a nearby shelf. "Yeah, I tend to like to avoid embarassing incidents with foreign royals who happen to be in position to stomp my face," he admitted with a shrug. "So, what can I do for you today, Lady Crystal?" For possibly the first time, Forge actually used Crystal's proper title without any sarcasm or rancor. Either he was seriously distracted, or someone had left a large helping of tact in his Christmas stocking.

"I wanted to thank you for your wonderful spotlight idea for the Winter Ball, and also to thank you for setting them up," Crystal said, quite taken aback by Forge's use of her proper title. His tone was not malicious, but hearing him say the title was quite a surprise. As for stomping on his face, of course she wouldn't have done that. Stomping on people's faces was not, well, ladylike.

"Oh, that," Forge might have been a bit humble, but masked it well by wiping his face with a shop towel. "Your sister did most of the actual decorating. I just remembered something that I'd seen in one of those old movies, outside that theater in California. You know, the one with all the carpets and spotlights and statues..." he snapped his fingers absently, searching for the name, the metallic clicking echoing off the garage walls. "Mann's Chinese Theater, that's it. Blame Alison for making me expand my musical horizons. Um, that'd be Alison Blaire. Used to be the music teacher here. But really, it was just an idea that I'm glad worked well."

"The spotlights were your idea, though," Crystal reiterated politely. "Yes, it is good that Medusa was able to decorate the ballroom for the Winter Ball. I did not want to decorate the ballroom more than a week in advance, and then I ended up going to Hawaii and did not return until a few days before the ball."

"That's why it was important," Forge said, as if stating the obvious. Waiting a moment, he shook his head as if to clear a memory. "I mean, the dance's timing was really lucky there. And necessary, too. I mean, after this year and everything that happened, I think everyone needed it. I know I sure did. And hey, the Silver party as well. I saw that you managed to make it. Sure looked like you were enjoying yourself. I don't think I've seen you smiling for that long a period of time unless you're flying."

That's why it was important? Interesting. And wasn't "everything that happened" considered just a normal part of life at Xavier's? "I came back to New York for a few hours just for the party at Silver," Crystal told Forge. "Jennie sent me an email and asked me to come. I attended the royal party in Attilan, then teleported over to go to the one at Silver."

Forge nodded as he finished wiping the grease from his face and hands. "So I heard. It was appreciated. I mean, not only having you there, but the fact that inevitably someone will mention in a gossip column somewhere that two of Attilan's young royals were present at a HeliX fundraiser, and that's good exposure." He wadded up the towel and tossed it into a bin, reaching over at the same time with one foot to lower the hydraulic jack under the truck and let it sink back to the garage floor. "So what about your holidays, hmm? I know you surprised your sister with..." Forge quickly thought, but could not for the life of him remember how exactly to pronounce Blackagar's name. "...the Prince coming to visit. Any big surprises for you these past few weeks?"

If there was one thing Crystal hated more than being told to be discreet and hearing how everyone at the school was so accepting of everyone else, it was gossip columns. Especially gossip columns involving her family, and even more so gossip columns that actually included her. "Yes, excellent exposure for HeliX," Crystal said, forcing a convincing smile to appear on her face, "but no, no surprises for me in Attilan, Everything was as I expected it to be."

"I suppose stability must be nice, especially after some of the things you've seen here," Forge offered, walking around to lean on the side of the truck by Crystal. "Although a little unexpected surprise now and then can be... nice." He gave no explanation of the sudden dopey grin that crossed his face, though.

Crystal stifled a laugh at the silly look on Forge's face. She hadn't said she hadn't had any surprises at all; she'd said she hadn't had any surprises in Attilan. Of course, even if he hadn't been preoccupied with whatever else was on his mind at the moment, he probably wouldn't have caught the difference anyway. "I was led to believe that a large number of things that I have heard about since my arrival are simply considered normal occurances here," Crystal replied. "Lakes on fire, kidnappings, broken brains, people going evil, things blowing up, people running off to save the world..."

"There's 'common' and then there's 'normal'," Forge said, refocusing his attention on Crystal. "Simply by being who we are, normal is never really going to apply. 'Normal' is the majority, who can't bend the wind to their will," he nodded at Crystal, then patted the truck, "or turn a broken-down rustbucket into a hover-capable all-terrain monster. Which I am not allowed to do, the Professor says. Some silly rule about all the cars needing to keep all their wheels on the ground."

His face grew serious for a moment. "I've been here a little over two years now, and it's been... it's hard to describe, I mean, you've known what you can do since you were what, seven? For you, being a mutant was expected, your lifestyle didn't undergo a massive change, or at least not one you didn't know was coming. For me, this has been just... we joke about these things that happen and we try and pretend they're ordinary so that we can deal with them. But to tell the truth? Every time I see that Blackbird take off, I'm scared to death for them. Just being a mutant right now means our lives are never going to be 'normal'. So we joke about it, and we pretend." He wrapped his arms around himself, less to ward off any chill in the garage and more of an unconscious protective gesture. "That's why this Winter Ball was important - because it lets us have that moment of pretending things are normal and just like what we thought it was like before. It's like an anchor for that stability we're striving for, you know?"

He realized he'd been babbling somewhat and blushed, running one hand through his hair. "I'm sorry, you of all people probably can relate. I mean, this is probably nothing like you've expected. I mean, what with all the jetting off to Attilan at every opportunity, you know what I mean about needing that stability."

Crystal remained silent for a few moments, taking in what Forge had just said. "I suppose that all depends on your version of 'normal'," she began slowly, "on what you perceive to be normal and what you want to see as normal. For me, being a mutant is normal. Completely normal. It is who I am, what I was meant to be, and I am glad that I am a mutant. I know what you are trying to say, but I would never want to be 'normal' in the way you mean, as a member of what you call 'the majority.' As you stated, even before I manifested I knew that I was a mutant. I did not know what ability I would have until the day an anti-mutant group, unaware of the fact that the royal family consisted of mutants but well-aware of the fact that they were staunch supporters of Attilan's mutant-friendly policies, decided to show just what they thought of a mutant-loving government and a mutant-loving royal family." Blue-green eyes glinted harshly at the memories. "I can do a lot more than bend the wind to my will, and you know it. That much I have been able to do since the moment they pointed their guns in my direction and I threw the would-be assassins out of a second-story window. Medusa manifested just a moment before I did and her hair disarmed them. If we had not… we would have died that day. My family and I knew we would gain abilities, but we never expected it to occur in such a way. I have no need or desire to pretend that things are your version of 'normal.' I never had a 'before.' I am who and what I am, and I would not want it any other way."

Thinking silently for a moment, Forge nodded. "I admire your honesty," he finally said. "and I envy you the chance you've had to grow up with that kind of support. Most of us here, this is the only place we can get that. Most of the folks here, their parents love them dearly but they're just not equipped to handle the stresses that come with trying to raise a mutant child." He cocked his head, smiling slightly. "You ever wonder if that's why your parents had you come here? To kind of see what a different perspective is like?"

"Oh yes, I am quite sure that this was one of their reasons," Crystal told Forge. "My time here has been quite an eye-opener. I have learned many new things. It has been a very unique experience so far, and there are still five months left until graduation. Who knows what else I might learn and experience during that time?"

Forge shrugged with a "who knows?" gesture. "Never can tell around here. Expect the unexpected, and all that."

"Well then," Crystal said, looking a bit amused, "I will remain on the lookout for anything unexpected. You never know when someone might suddenly appear out from under a stationary vehicle."