xp_logs | Crystal and Forge

Before Crystal leaves to join Laurie, she and Forge discuss the upcoming trip.

Her suitcases had been packed for days, something that had been easy to do when the majority of the contents of the two suitcases had been purchased specifically for the purpose of the "world tour" she was about to take. She wasn't sure how long Laurie's planned trip would actually last, but that was fine with her. Crystal knew that she would not have to stay with Laurie the entire time, but the possibility of accompanying Laurie for the rest of her trip, however long that was, was also an accepted possibility.

There was no feeling of "Did I forget to pack something?" in the young woman's mind. She knew exactly what was in the suitcases, and she definitely planned on leaving some things behind and purchasing other items as the trip progressed. So she sat in her suite now, calmly, waiting until it was time to leave for the airport.

A pair of arms gently wrapped around her from behind as Forge hugged his girlfriend briefly. "About ready for the big mission? Gotta say, keeping Laurie from doing something dumb in Europe is up there with taking a squid sub to the depths of the ocean." He pondered a moment, then smiled. "And I'm not talking regular dumb. Laurie-Dumb is an entirely new order of magnitude. I half expect to see some BBC News report about 'Ditzy American Tourist Moons Queen'..."

"She worries me," Crystal replied. "Laurie likes to feel older than she is, but she does not act this way. I would have thought that after her time at the school, her experiences with the X-Men, she would exercise a bit more common sense and restraint, but she does not."

Forge nodded and walked around to sit on the edge of the bed. "Who knows?" he said. "Time away from here gave me perspective. Hopefully it'll work that way for Laurie. Except, you know, without the whole two and a half years stranded on an island and dealing with a regicidal headcase like Maximus. I think the worst Laurie's liable to wind up with would be some random drunken hookup in Prague or something. We can only hope," he added with a roll of his eyes.

"Do you think that this would actually be good for her?" Crystal questioned Forge. "I am hoping to keep Laurie out of trouble the best I can, and while I am certainly not intending to act as her parent or prevent her from having fun, not at least attempting to stop her from doing something I am certain she would regard as a mistake later is not high on my 'To Do' list."

"She looks up to you," Forge replied. "With you around as a traveling buddy, and not as a chaperone or tour guide, she'll loosen up a bit but she's still not going to want to embarrass you. With regards to mistakes, eh," he shrugged and bounced off the bed, coming to his feet and wandering towards the small kitchenette. "Let her make her own," he called. "She can't keep being handheld through life and protected from everything. Especially not if she wants to be in a position where she might wear the X-Men uniform someday. Let her sow her wild oats, get it out of her system."

"Publicly wondering whether or not she should use her powers on innocent passengers waiting for a plane is not something that can be 'solved' by having her 'sow her wild oats'," Crystal said. "While people learn from mistakes, I am not sure that one like this is something that should be learned by actually making the mistake. Intensifying people's fears regarding mutants is not the proper way to go about things."

Forge smiled, returning with two small plates of reheated pasta. "Good thing she'll have you there, then," he said. "You've got experience using your powers responsibly. Outside of the mansion, in a more informal environment? She might learn from your example. So long as you don't go vaulting rude tourists out off a bridge or something."

"I would never do that!" Crystal protested. "If for some reason I need to keep us away from people, there are many other, better ways to do so that do not involve causing harm or anguish to people."

"Not even horribly rude grabby-hands tourists?" Forge asked impishly as he put down the plates, then playfully reached out to goose the Attilani princess soundly.

"Not even horribly rude grabby-hands tourists," Crystal replied, frowning. "Someone can be moved away without being thrown off of a bridge, balcony, or through a window."

Chuckling, Forge leaned in to kiss Crystal on the cheek. "Yes, dear," he said with a grin. "Just make sure you call me if you guys have any trouble. I do happen to have one of the most advanced flying machines ever created at my disposal should you guys need a pickup. Because, you know, European vacations rarely end well for folks here..."

"I am hoping to keep us, and anyone who may join us later on, out of the sort of trouble that would necessitate a pickup by your X-Wing," Crystal pointed out. She could hardly imagine sitting holed up somewhere, waiting for the X-Men to arrive. Besides, she had a teleporter on speed-dial. "Remember, I am from Europe; I am not an American tourist."

"Very true," Forge answered. "Just remember, no going to the clothing-optional beaches without me."