Crystal and Kurt - Checking in on Changes

[x-aerial.livejournal.com]

Noticing that Kurt hasn't been seen out of his room very much for the past week, Crystal pays him a visit to see how he's coping with the change and to see if she can talk him into leaving his room more often.



A knock on Kurt's door sounded. It was a knock like any other, which is what made the action so unusual. It was the sort of sound that resulted from closed fingers hitting a wood door, just a normal, every day knock. Again, this was the unusual aspect of it. Crystal Amaquelin, princess of Attilan, she who could control the air (usually) did not use her hands to physically knock on doors to announce her arrival. She did this with her mutant powers, creating a gust of wind just strong enough to rap upon the door to alert the occupants that she was outside. Maybe her usual technique didn't sound very different from the method she was employing now, but to Crystal, the difference was quite noticeable, reminding her both of why she was here and what she had lost, albeit temporarily. She hoped.

"Hello?" Kurt called from just inside, restraining an excited Triscuit from jumping up at the door. "Who is there?"

"Crystal," came the reply. "I hope that I am not bothering you." It was interesting to note how some mansion residents would just open their doors right away, perhaps even keeping the door unlocked in the first place, while others questioned who was at the door first.

"Not at all", he said politely, opening the door with his hand still hooked in the dog's neck fur. "What can I do for you?

"I have not seen you out in the halls or around the campus in the past few days," Crystal explained. "While there are residents of Xavier's for whom this is normal, I did not think that you were one of the ones who liked to stay in his suite all day. With what happened to those of us at the museum on Sunday, I thought that I would pay you a visit and see how you are doing."

"That would depend on the day and the situation", he said with a faint smile, gesturing her into the suite. "And, all things considered, I thought it was safer this way."

Crystal's walked into the suite. Last week I would have floated in here, more than likely. Her gaze flickered to the device Kurt wore. "I would have thought that the air scrubber would have alleviated some of that concern. For some of us, there are certain things that can be done to help prevent unwanted uses of abilities," she said, indicating the modified uniform she was wearing.

"Some of it, certainly", he agreed. "And that is why I have not been confining myself to this room all the time. But I am not quite sure how much of the effect it removes, all the time."

"It is quite effective, I believe," Crystal told Kurt. "I recall Jennie's concerns when Laurie decided to cease using it so that she could learn to control her abilities by herself. Usually, as was the case then, I would not have to worry about the pheromones affecting me, but at this point in time I would not be able to prevent them from reaching me. Still, I am not afraid, and I do not believe that others would be. People have been notified as to the situation, and I would like to think that the people who live here would act in a compassionate, understanding manner should unintended slips occur. I am fairly certain that the air scrubber will prevent that from happening, and that it is perfectly safe for you to leave your suite more often without needing to worry."

"Perhaps I will", Kurt allowed. "You may well be right, after all... and they do tell me hermiting is a bad thing."

Crystal nodded. "Yes, I remained in the medlab until I felt it was safe to leave, after Forge brought me this outfit, and even then I did not go outside until after I had spoken with Amara on Tuesday night. I have also spoken with Laurie about my abilities, which she now has."

"And you have Amara's?" he guessed. "That must be even harder, with the nature of them."

"Yes and no," Crystal told Kurt. "Yes, they are potentially dangerous, but that can also be said of many mutant powers. Even those people do not usually tend to think of as destructive can be. As I told Laurie not so long ago, it is up to us to choose how to use our abilities, to control them instead of allowing them to control us. Still, I am quite used to the idea of having to learn how to use and control destructive powers. and have been doing so for a decade-and-a-half."

"My abilities are so simple in comparison to many", he said thoughtfully. "I concentrate, and I am where I wish to be, within the limits. There has never been any question of control going both ways."

Crystal thought about that for a moment. "If you do not mind me asking, do you miss having your own abilities, simple as you are saying they are? I know that some mutants do not wish to have their powers, that some would not mind at all if they suddenly found those abilities gone or changed, but your ability to teleport is quite useful, something I am sure you are used to being able to do. My sudden inability to perceive things as I am used to and being unable to utilize my abilities in my daily life... I miss that."

"I have been able to teleport for almost twenty years", was the quiet response. "It is, among other things, one of the reasons I have never tried learning to drive. Yes, I do miss it and I think I will for as long as it is gone."

"Let us hope that you will not have to miss it for long, yes?" Crystal offered Kurt a smile. "The situation is not being ignored, and hopefully a conclusion will be reached soon, with a working idea of how to resolve the situation. Until that happens, however, we must accept that it has not happened yet but still will. I know it will." It has to. This cannot be permanent. My abilities are mine, Amara's belong to Amara, Laurie's abilities should be with her, and Kurt's must return to him.

"And at least it is limited to only us. Whatever has caused it, it will not go beyond the group it has already affected."

"Yes," Crystal agreed with a nod. "It is good to look on the positive side of things. I am sorry that this has affected two of the students here, however. The adults appear to be handling it well, but from comments on the journals, it is clear that this is affecting Callie and Julian in a negative manner. I am glad that neither one of them received my abilities, however. I do not believe that I would be able to stay as calm as I am had that not been the case."

"Why is that?" Kurt asked curiously. "Just their young age?"

'Just' their young age? Kurt's comment took Crystal by surprise. "They are students, yes? They should not have to go through things like this. The adults, especially ones who actively go out and put themselves in the line of fire, can expect to run into trouble and unusual circumstances. The students did not ask for any of this. They are here to learn about their abilities, to be around other mutants, to be in an environment safer than the ones they were in before. Callie and Julian are having a difficult time with the mutations they now have; just imagine if they had my powers or Amara's powers, yes, Laurie's powers, too. Abilities that cannot be prevented from occurring by wearing more clothes or not going out in public, ones which can be quite a burden to people not used to controlling them, that can be extremely dangerous without an extreme degree of control or protective measures in place, such as the safe room in the medlab, the air scrubber you now wear, and the uniform I now wear. Many abilities can be dangerous, of this fact I am well aware, but some abilities are more dangerous than others."

"No one asked for the powers they have", was the calm response. "And Callie and Julian, as hard a time as they are having with it, are not children. Not grown, true, but not children... and perhaps even better equipped to deal with their new powers than if they had gained them at the usual age."

Crystal nodded. "True, but they have already had to deal with their own manifestations, as have we all. Julian and Callie are still learning how to use those abilities, and now they have had those taken away while given new ones unexpectedly. They have had their powers for relatively few years in comparison with the rest of us who have had our powers change recently. We have already learned what to expect from our own powers and they have not yet had the chance to fully learn and explore what they can do with theirs." She shook her head and laughed a bit. "I do tend to go on and on regarding the subject of powers, do I not? It is something I have been thinking about and discussing even more than usual as of late, for obvious reasons. My apologies, I am standing here and taking up much of your time."

"Perhaps we could talk about it again another time", he said politely. "When things are somewhere closer to normal, at least."

"Hopefully that will be very soon, yes?" Crystal said. Of course, when were things ever normal, and as she had pointed out to Forge earlier that week, just who or what determined what was 'normal' anyway? But that was not a discussion that should be had now with Kurt. "Thank you for speaking with me, and I do hope to see you around the Xavier's campus, even before our own abilities return to us."