xp_logs | Crystal and Forge - Politics (Reply)

Crystal searches for Forge after their conversation here. Forge is Very Stupid, proceeds to insult Crystal and her family, and barely escapes with his life.

Crystal was not the sort of person who bribed people with pies or desserts or whatever types of food were the popular ones to use as bribes these days. As a rule, Crystal didn't pull pranks, and therefore Forge's unattended, unscathed, black Mazda RX-8 still remained in the same condition it had been when Crystal had gone to the garage to see if Forge was there.

He hadn't been, and he hadn't been in his workshop, either, so now Crystal was checking to see whether or not Forge was currently in his suite. The suite door was open, and Forge was indeed present, stretched out on the sofa in his usual lounging gear of basketball shorts and a tank top. He tilted his head back to see Crystal in the doorway and smiled. "Come on in," he quipped, setting down his magazine. "What can I do for you, Lady Crystal?"

Apparently Forge wasn't into having privacy when he was in his suite as the door had been wide open, and anyone walking by could see into the main room. "Forge," she began, giving him a dignified glare, 'grown-up talk'?"

"Indeed," he responded, stretching the word out dramatically. Kicking his legs around, he sat up, motioning towards a chair for Crystal. "I'll answer your question with another - how often do you parade your royal status out on the public journals? Not often, am I right?"

Crystal remained standing in the doorway. "Contrary to what certain people seem to believe, I do not usually make any sort of a fuss about it in public in any way. Other people appear to take delight in pointing it out to people, but I have never seen much reason to remind people about it."

"Precisely. Now, to answer your question that you posed on the journals, your sister's doing me a favor. Well, not me. Not exactly." Forge shrugged, running his hands through his unruly mop of hair. "She offered to use some of that royal clout and celebrity to spread some good will about HeliX. Sort of free advertising. If there's a popular young royal talking about it, an entirely different group of people's going to get interested, not just the folks reading the political section of the paper."

He spread his hands in a gesture of openness. "I admit, I was teasing you a bit. But I didn't want to out and out say this on the journals. I know the trouble some people have pointing out that you come from a privileged background, I just didn't want to bring it up publicly."

"Oh, of course," Crystal replied. "Your earlier comments proved that, did they not? You think there are protocols against Attilani royals having fun? Propriety prevents you from calling a Lady of Attilan to the lab for tests?"

"I'm well aware that Medusa likes to go out and have fun," Forge answered calmly. "And I would no sooner attempt to tell you or your sister to do anything than I'd try to go stick my face in the blender. I was merely conveying a sense of surprise that your sister chose the library for some horseplay, with Marius of all people. The two of you are quite different at times."

"What the new assistant librarian witnessed was not horseplay," Crystal informed Forge. "As I am sure Medusa would want me to tell you, ladies do not engage in horseplay. Medusa simply showed Marius, upon his request, some of her capabilities."

"Semantics," Forge dismissed Crystal's objection with a wave of his hand. "Point being, she occasionally tends to do the unexpected. That garners attention, and she's willing to use it on HeliX's behalf. One day she'll be running Attilan, after all."

"Oh?" Crystal raised an eyebrow. "That is news to me. Medusa has never said anything about intending to run for any sort of an office in the Attilani government, let alone announced her intention to run the country."

Forge returned the raised eyebrow. "What, Prince Blackagar's going to be King someday, no? Who's going to be giving his speeches for him? Sign language on CNN? Think about it, who's the world going to see as the real power behind the throne, the King with the handicap leaving him unable to communicate with most of his people, or his personable, vivacious Queen? It's simple politics, Crystal. I've learned at least that much."

Crystal's patience was wearing thin. "Forge, Attilan has a government. My aunt and uncle do not run the country. The king and the queen of Attilan do not create or pass laws, they do not sit on thrones all day and ask people to pay homage and pledge fealty and service. They are there for the people. My family, my parents, yes, they know people in the government and there is no doubt that what they say may influence some of them, but there is much more to being a member of a royal family than being a 'power behind the throne.' Furthermore," she continued, giving Forge an icy glare, "Blackagar has a powerful presence despite his inability to speak, and of course, it is not that he is not able to speak, it is that he does not wish to cause death and destruction to everyone and everything around him!"

"Well," Forge said with a condescending smile, "I'm sure he'll be a wonderful figurehead. So, now that you know what your sister is assisting with, is there something else I can do for you?"

"At least neither of them ever have to beg for small favors in order to reach their goals," Crystal shot back, disgusted. "The pros of being a 'popular young royal' as you phrased it. What else did you say? Oh yes, 'royal clout' and 'celebrity status.' People are interested in what they say, and speaking of what people say, having someone on hand to translate sign language is no different than using an interpreter for vocal languages, something that is quite common when dealing with people from different nationalities. Enjoy the rest of your evening." With that, she turned around and stalked out of the room. A few moments later, a wind slammed the door shut.

Forge blinked a few times, then picked his magazine back up and stretched out on the couch.

"That went better than expected."