xp_logs | Crystal and Jennie, Crystal and Logan

Crystal and Jennie have one last conversation in their room before Crystal heads out to return home.

There. That was that. The last paper had been turned in and the last exam had been taken; the last box of clothes had been taken to the car. Now, all that was left was for Crystal herself to go down to the car, travel to the airport, and leave this crazy country. Crystal surveyed her side of the room; the only things remaining were the bedframe and the dresser that had been there when she moved into the room nearly a year earlier.

"I would ask about the not staying for graduation, seeing as how it's another American tradition you'll be missing out on. But something tells me no power on this earth can get you to stay here," Jennie said from behind Crystal. She leaned against the doorframe and hooked her fingers into the beltloops of her capris.

Crystal smiled lightly. "Somehow, I think I will manage to survive without walking across a stage. I completed the required work, my diploma has been earned, and I will still receive it. Did you know that it was exactly one year ago today that I arrived at the mansion? Well, exactly fifty-two weeks, anyway. I have no need to stay here any longer."

"Well, like I said, all you'll get to miss a long boring ceremony in which we all get to wear goofy caps and gowns. If my family weren't insitant I'd be skipping too." Jennie sat down on her bed with a sigh. The room felt off, now. There was always a very clear divide between Jennie's half and Crystal's, but now the room felt strangely naked. "I find the one-year anniversaries always end up being oddly poetic in one way or another. Mine was spent in the company of my father in Italy last year."

"It would not do to simply not show when your family expects you to be there. Before my parents agreed to allow me to leave today, such a thought had crossed my mind, but it would not have been proper to skip it if they were here to attend the ceremony." Crystal looked thoughtful for a moment. "You had just found your father at that point, yes? That is not such a bad anniversary to celebrate, is it?"
"Well, no. I think I shall keep that anniversary. Others, no so much. I can't believe it's been a year almost. Parts of it were like I just blinked and it was several months gone." Jennie sighed. The older girl leaned her elbows on her knees. "Is it tradition in Attilan to call the high school years the best times of your life? Because if that's true, then my life suddenly seems a whole lot less fun." Jennie's tone was joking, but her expression was not.

"Up until this past year, I received education through private tutoring, so this year has been my first and last year of high school," Crystal replied. "I have to say that it has definitely not been the best year of my life, and I certainly hope that the following years will be much better and will contain much less anxiety. Yours too, Jennie. It has to get better from here."

"That ...we can only hope." Jennie nervously cracked her knuckles. She still hadn't spoken to Crystal about her plans for after the summer. As far as most of the students knew, Jennie would still be leaving to attend college. With Crystal it didn't matter if she knew, as Crystal would be leaving for Attilan and not be wondering why it was fall and Jennie would still be there.

"Plans have changed, Crystal. Mine, at least. I'm not moving out anymore. Not while I'm still paranoid about certain things. And ...and ... I may have signed up to be a trainee. For the team."

Crystal blinked. "You may have signed up? By 'team' I suppose I have to assume that you are referring to the X-Men as I am not aware of people talking about any other 'team' here, but how do you not know whether or not you have signed up to be a trainee for the X-Men?"

"Expression of speech. I have. I went to Ms. Munroe's office with Kyle and Marius and we asked permission and everything. We're official. We start training soon." Jennie looked into Crystal's eyes and inwardly dared her to say something about it.

"It is your life," Crystal told Jennie. "You can do with it what you wish. Have fun." Have fun running for your life, fighting, escaping explosions, constantly winding up in the medlab, having your life constantly turned upside-down, and making excuses to your college professors for why you're not in class and your assignments aren't done.

"Not all of us get to live in a country where it's safe, Crystal. Not all of us have that kind of luxury. We can't afford it." Jennie stood, raising her chin. "I've been fighting since the day I manifested. Defending myself. Now it's time for me to fight back." It wasn't just Rory Campbell. It was the other things she'd experienced. The girls that sneered at her and called her names, it was the times she found her things destroyed and the words "mutie" scrawled across her locker. It was the beatings she'd recieved simply because she was who she was. She had been deluding herself that she could ignore it. Live a normal life. But if the rest of the world wasn't going to let her have one, then she was going to push back. Hard.

"Jennie," Crystal said calmly, "in just a few minutes I will be leaving the school. I was not attempting to start an argument with you, and I will not do anything that will help along anything even remotely resembling an argument. If you wish to argue with me, you will have to wait until you come to Attilan in two weeks."

"I'm not arguing with you. I'm just stating my reasons for joining. If you don't understand them, well." Jennie shrugged. "Lucky you." She blew her bangs out of her face. "Of course, that last statement could have been taken as an argument, which I must plead is simply not...Christ, I've been hanging around the Australians too much and not getting enough sleep." She pressed her fingers to her eyes and gave Crystal and wry smile. "Next you'll know I'll be swearing every other word and name-dropping labels."

Crystal hadn't heard any sort of reason for joining the team in anything Jennie had said, but she wasn't about to say that to Jennie and start an actual fight. "I would prefer that you avoid doing that while you are at the palace, especially during the engagement party itself, but if constant cursing is what you want to do..." Crystal gave a small shrug and a slight smile. "Still, you should get the rest you require. You will need adequate sleep to function properly as a trainee."

"I hear with enough physical activity you get so tried you don't dream. I'm very much looking forward to that." Jennie said almost cheerily. She didn't expect Crystal to understand. She would have been surprised if the girl had. Crystal had grown up in a safe little bubble. And she liked her bubble enough to go running back there. And Jennie had to admit, deep down she couldn't fault her for it. "I promise to keep the swearing to the minimum and only lick the butter knife when no one is looking."

Crystal smiled. "I will have to make sure that someone is always watching you, then."

"I'm sure I'll have a bevy of people trying to correct my manners. I'm honestly quite torn on whether to act like the slavering beast everyone expects just to give 'em a show, or to act like the debutante I've been slowly been beaten into becoming." Jennie made a show of inspecting her nails, which were currently a violent purple.

"No one in Attilan expects you to act either way," Crystal pointed out. "Just be Jennie. There is no need to act over-the-top in either direction. Just be you."

That would be nice. If Jennie could remember how she was supposed to be. "I'll try. If anything, I promise I won't embarass you."

Crystal nodded, still smiling. "I am sure that you will be just fine. I do not wish to say anything that may or may not jinx anything or influence future events, but I do intend to see you at the palace in two weeks, Jennie, so please... well, you know."

"I'll be fine. I have incurred my yearly dosage of hideous trauma." Jennie tilted her head. "if I so much as trip in the next two weeks the universe and I will have Words."

"If the universe knows what is good for it, it will definitely take great care to prevent such a thing from happening," Crystal said in a mock-serious tone. "I believe that it is now past my appointed departure time, and therefore it is time for me to leave now. Please take care of yourself, Jennie. I look forward to seeing you in Attilan."

"I'll be there. Take care of yourself, Crystal." Jennie approached the Attilani girl, and instead of a hug, she offered her hand and raised an eyebrow.

Crystal took hold of Jennie's hand and shook it solemnly. Then she gave Jennie a quick hug and, a moment later, flew swiftly out of the room and was gone

One year ago, Crystal arrived at Xavier's. Now she leaves and her last conversation at the school before she returns home ends up being with Logan.

Logan dashed down the stairs, having every intention of heading outside for the longer-way-around walk to the garage. It was a beautiful day outside and he was going to drag Sarah out of her apartment or her office and go enjoy some of it with her. He had his smokes in his pocket and she undoubtedly had beer back at her place. His movements slowed, however, when he saw who was sitting by the door, obviously heading for the same door he was.

Crystal paused, her hand halfway to the doorknob of the door. So close to freedom and yet so far. She could just walk out the door and ignore the person behind her, but no. Maybe he'd think she hadn't noticed him, but no. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her flee.

Crystal turned around and offered Logan a smile. "Good afternoon."

Logan returned her smile with a nod of his own. "Afternoon." he said, careful to keep his voice exquisitely neutral. "Headin' out?" he asked, still advancing slowly on her and the doorway outside.

Crystal nodded. "Yes," she said simply, standing her ground as he moved closer. "School is over and I am going home.

Logan nodded to that. "Enjoy yer trip." he said as he drew close to passing her and walking out the door. He was hoping she wouldn't start something - she was still in a cast, after all - and he didn't feel like dealing with the fallout.

"Thank you," Crystal replied, giving him another nod as he walked by. She floated out the door herself, the door shutting softly behind her as she headed towards the waiting car.

Logan was heading in more-or-less the same direction - the breeze the girl was kicking up was blowing more crap into his nose than he really would have preferred to be there but he was determined to just put up with it. He hummed tunelessly as he turned his face to the sky and stopped for a moment to just appreciate it.

Crystal continued on her way to the car, her glance never wavering as she kept traveling in a direct path to the car. The door was held open for her and she entered the car, her feet never touching the ground. The door was shut, the car drove away, and Crystal never looked back.

Logan resumed his walk for the garage, to grab his bike and go enjoy some blue sky and open road.