xp_logs | Callie & Manuel Evening

Manuel goes to get some hot tea and runs into Callie. Unkind words are exchanged and tempers are lost.

The best medicine was tea to Manuel. He enjoyed dipping into different flavours, exploring the slightest health improvements that the box on the counter suggested. Tonight was passion flower, a purple branded box that had been overly priced for what tea was normally worth and steeped in less time than it took to pay for it. The tea bag had to be removed immediately, noticing the immediate purple change clashed against the mug's white walls. The tea was straight from the stove instead from the electric kettle that seemed to have some boiling point that never quite got hot enough and was usually cold by the time he got to his room. This would remain hot until then and possibly ten minutes after that, to which he would have the full enjoyment with a book.

Taking the tea, Manuel headed out of the kitchen, only to collide carelessly into a younger girl. The tea splashed across his shirt, staining the white button down and he took in a sharp breath. The hot water clung to his shirt, sticking to his skin and he dropped the mug. It broke and Manuel backed into the frame. "Hijo de puta," he swore and scowled at the younger girl before him. Manuel's free hand grabbed the fabric, gritting his teeth to the burning sensation on his stomach. "Watch where you are _walking_! Mierda!"

Callie glanced up from her position on the floor and frowned slightly. The string of expletives coming from the mouth of the man she had just ran to were startling to say the least. But then again, judging but the wet spots on his clothing she had caused him to spill whatever was in the mug on his person. Oh. A mug. That probably meant that whatever it was holding was quite hot. "I'm so sorry," Callie apologized as she pulled herself to her feet. She was such a klutz and now Manuel was probably suffering from mild burns. "I didn't see you there. Are you okay? Let me go get you some towels or something. I'm so sorry."

"No.. NO!" Manuel said a little too angrily and the harsh tone was meant for the burning on his stomach, not the girl. He stepped back a pace, kicking the broken mug aside. The idea of dabbling a dry cloth on his skin was not appealing and he lifted his shirt to see the burns had made their marks. The start of ugly red welts formed on his skin and he gritting his teeth again, pushing off the wall to head to his room. "Next time--" he said, though his words hung in the air as he went around her, surging in angry irritation. He didn't even think to ask if she was alright.

"I know, 'next time watch where you're going.' I know. I'm a huge klutz. I said I'm sorry," Callie spun around as he tore past her, hoping that her words would stop him. She struggled to keep her voice calm as his grew angry. It would do them no good if both she and he were to grow upset. "It was my fault. I wasn't watching where I was going. I bumped into you. And I'm sorry. I'll pay for your dry cleaning or whatever. It was totally my fault. But look, you should really put some ice on that. Or go to the medlab. For the burns."

For the moment, he couldn't douse his anger at the burn and her clumsiness. "No," he repeated. "I _know_ I should go get it tended to. _Thank you_," he said firmly, impatient for her to leave him alone. "Go back to whatever it is you were doing." He resisted calling her a little girl because it was degrading and he was trying to withhold terrible remarks like that.

Perhaps it was the stress that the end of term was bringing, or perhaps it was something else, but Callie felt something shift inside her. He was being rude, and dismissive, and downright mean to her, and this did nothing but agitate her more. She threw her hands up in exasperation; she didn't have time to deal with this. "Fine," she announced, her voice louder and sharper than usual. "Be that way. I was only trying to help you."

Now it was her turn to storm past Manuel as she retreated toward her room. When she was a few feet away, Callie turned around to face him, her face pink with fury. "You know what? You're a huge jerk. You probably deserved to be burned anyways. So you know what? I'm not sorry. Good night," she spat before turning on her heel and marching up to her room.

He deserved it? "Of all the ignorant little--" Girls. Manuel's face reddened at the remarks and he clenched his fists, dismissing the very strong urge to hook her with his cane and smack her across the head with it. Estúpida niña. No quiero niños." He briskly headed for the medbay, fury etched deep in the creases of his scowl.