Manuel & Jean-Paul, the morning after

[x-empath.livejournal.com]

Manuel comes to make ammends properly and shed some light on his situation, concerned that what happened with Callie happened to Jean-Paul.

Quite recently, he left this room, angry and unhappy with the results, thinking JP had not wanted to hear what he was going to say. Up until now, Manuel had always figure he was not at fault for most of his emotional dealings with people, however it really was his fault and it took a situation with Callie to see that. With Morgan's help, forming shields around him, he was actively able to see clearly the turmoil his unbridled anger caused and nearly ruined a sweet innocent girl because of it. If Manuel had needed Morgan this badly to fix Callie, then who did JP have to bring him down off his emotional anger or did he let it run its course? He could only think of Nathan as that one person, though even then, he was limited with his training. As a result, he found himself in front of JP's door, briefly knocking at it and anticipating the obvious reaction that would come up. Riding Morgan's good feeling still, Manuel was able to approach without his narrow vision.

When the door opened, he put up his hand to stop the door before it was closed on his face. "Please, allow me to apologize properly," he said in a hurried tone. "Please--" he said in a quieter tone.

There was no need for empathy when it came to fathoming how Jean-Paul felt about this unexpected arrival. The gaze that raked over Manuel might was well have been cold steel. "Your initial apology was sufficient," he said, his tone equally cool. "I doubt there is anything more we have to say to each other."

"It may have been sufficient, yet not enough," Manuel said, moving a long bag from one hand to the other. "I cannot control my powers. While it is not an excuse, it is difficult to ignore initial emotions of either a first impression or a greeting. Quite frequently, I am caught up in that, unable to break from it and I often make it worse rather than better. I did this to you and I humbly ask for your forgiveness."

While leaning on his cane, he produced a bottle of the finest Pinot Grigio. "I am hoping there will not be a next time with my poor comments or my uncontrollable emotions." It was obvious he was not good at apologies yet he was here in all humility, like he was with Callie though his apology was much different and not accompanied by Morgan but her emotions.

Jean-Paul raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but wonder if the boy had talked to Jubilee, Morgan, or if he were simply getting a reputation as the resident lush.

'Heaven forbid you entertain the notion that he's honestly trying to make amends.'

He waited another moment, then stepped back from the door. He hadn't accepted the wine, but he was, at least, willing to talk. "Do you want to come in?"

He noticed the wine was not taken and questioned his universal choice for an apology. Flowers were the next likely choice however JP was male and Manuel was not about to give those, adding to a bad impression already. He nodded though and walked carefully inside but not before slipping the wine back into the bag. He set it down on a nearby table. This was possibly as awkward as Forge and yet he lingered next to the table, removing the bottle out of the bag again, looking down at the label.

"I was unsure if you would like Pinot Grigio or perhaps another wine? I prefer it myself with a three course meal of fish, though I cannot cook. Therefore, wine had to suffice."

"Your choice is fine. I am more interested in why this sudden need for further amends. I thought the matter between us was buried, more or less." Both men were still on their feet, but Jean-Paul took it as reason to head into the kitchen. "Do you want anything?"

"A situation brought to light consequences that I was not aware of. Consequences that I was concerned put you in a similar situation." Manuel pulled out a chair, taking that moment to seat himself as his leg was getting tired. Pacing around his suite did that.

"A glass of water perhaps?" he nodded, brushing his thumb over the wolf's head of his cane before he set it aside. "My power projections appear to have lasting effects. I should have come to see you sooner than this, though I was not fully aware of it at the time. Were you alright that night?"

"I had someone to help put my mind back in order. It took my hands a few days to heal, but there have been no lingering effects otherwise." He wasn't going to confess to any doubts; Nate had put him back together, his decisions were his own, and that was that. He set the ice water in front of Manuel. "What consequences?"

"My projections are emotionally damaging. Unintentionally, they force people to do things that are out of the norm. Intentionally, I know better, however, I cannot see without shields. I am blind to my own power and the separation between my emotions and another's. What happened to your hands?"

"I damaged them after you left, while trying to keep myself from killing you or wrecking something. As I said, they healed." Jean-Paul repressed the urge to put some distance between the two of them again and sat across from him. The memory of how quickly -- how effortlessly -- his emotions had been turned in on themselves still put ice in his gut. "I don't understand what you mean about your shields."

Manuel slid the glass in front of him, closer to his chest and he thumbed the edge of the glass, concentrating on it. "I simply do not have any," he replied, sensing that push of an emotion into him, an intrusion opposed to Morgan's feel-good emotions, though hers were stronger, lasting and would not be swayed so easily for awhile. "I feel everything that you are feeling, everything that anyone within a two kilometre radius and it overwhelms me at various times. It is somewhat maddening."

"I would wager that is an understatement." He wanted Manuel's confession to have more effect than it did. The boy was confirming what Nathan had said. More, he was essentially at the mercy of his own powers and it had taken some courage to come around to apologize after what had happened last time. Yet the idea that he himself was practically an open book and there was nothing either of them could do about the matter save flee or endure was not a settling one. Don't dwell. Think of something else. He was closer to understanding some things about their last encounter, at least. No situation was ever as intimidating once it had been broken down and examined by bits. "I imagine you engineered much of your own payback regarding the fuss you helped cause, if that is the case. I doubt there were any settled minds in the school afterward."

He knew that feeling, the one that lingered at the edge of his senses, tapping at his consciousness. The distrust laced with a wary caution and he kept his visual attention on the glass, leaning back and turning it at the base. "I do not think of it in terms of payback, but rather a constant. It does not always last long before another emotion pushes it out." He'd been very open about his lack of control this week, though he withheld how much it disturbed him. Sometimes he wondered if he was going mad.

He shook his head once and then inclined his chin, dark eyes glancing up and fixating on JP's own. "I do not deal with ways of the mind. That is telepathy and two are distinctly different. I can only speculate what you are thinking and much of it falls onto body language without the speaker knowing it." People conveyed their feelings and he'd learn to watch for them over the expressions that surfaced. The most subtle of emotions gave away the slightest movement.

"For future reference, asking questions will get you further than speculation." Whatever thin discipline his sessions with Nathan had imparted, Jean-Paul could feel that the end of his control and tolerance was drawing near and he did not wish this to go as badly again. "I am not comfortable with you or what you did to me, Manuel, but I doubt this has been a picnic for you either. I do respect that you've made this effort. You did not have to."

He took that moment to drink the water and finished half of the glass before setting it down carefully, swirling the liquid around. "You did not have to let me in. Thank you for listening. And the hospitality. I did not deserve it." He hesitated and then stood up, adding as an afterthought, "No one will ever be comfortable around me Jean-Paul. The protection of shields is not a luxury I have, unless you magically form a secondary empathetic mutation." The joke was dry on his tongue and he could have finished that water just about now, but instead, took that as his cue to leave. Hand on the door, he paused. "Thank you."