xp_logs | LOG: Manuel and Emma Frost

Who: Emma Frost, Manuel de la Rocha
Where: Emma's Office, mid-afternoon - just after Shinobi's invitation.
What Happens: Invitations happen.

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As soon as Shinobi is gone, Emma sits back against her desk and picks up her Verlaine. She scans the pages idly, but her thoughts are elsewhere. Two steps ahead. Bryce Manning is out of the way. The White Rook, Martin Keller, is likely to be more of an obstacle, and filling the post of White King with a workable candidate is proving the biggest nightmare of all. In the meantime, there is at least one move she can make. As soon as Manuel gets here.

Manuel got the message, but took his sweet old time to arrive. But he does arrive, figuring this for Just Another session on his numerous and grievous flaws. Hence the lag. But eventually he does arrive at her door, and knocks upon it loudly, once.

"Come in, Manuel," Emma calls out, keeping her attention focused on her book.

Manuel opens the door and walks in, then stops dead at the very different emotional atmosphere of the room. "You asked to see me?" he asks in as accentless-as-he-can-manage-it English.

Emma smiles over the top of her book like a predator and arches an eyebrow. "Hello Manuel. How are you feeling today?"

"A loaded question, considering." he replies wryly, then sinks artlessly into one of Emma's overstuffed leather chairs. "There's still a lot of hostility out there" he says, making an expansive gesture with his hand.

"In the corridor, the school, New York state, or the world, darling?" Emma sets the book down and crosses her ankles, arching back a little against the desk.

“Yes." he says with a smirk. "But I don't think you wanted me to tell you that. So why _am_ I here?" he says, eyes narrowing.

Still smiling, Emma takes a moment to look Manuel over once more, just to be sure of her decision. She's sure.

"There's going to be a little party on Saturday," Emma explains. "I thought I'd take a few students along. A formal function. Part induction, part... family reunion."

Manuel quirks _both_ his eyebrows. "I didn't know you had any family, Emma." he says, feeling somewhat emboldened by Emma's own emotional state. "Surely you're not referring to my own." He smirks at her, and leans back in his chair.

"I have quite the family, Manuel," Emma assures him. "But no, they won't be there. I'm talking about your father, Manuel. Yours, and Shinobi's."

Manuel blinks again, clearly poleaxed by this revelation, and switches to Castillian in his confusion. ~But - they said that I couldn't contact him...~ he stammers.

Emma stands and walks across to the seat beside Manuel's. "You probably won't be able to avoid him on Saturday, darling. It's a Hellfire Club function. Your father is expected. So are you."

Manuel nods slowly. "I will be there. This is too good of an opportunity to miss. And I need to talk to him - I've had no news from home, and I'm sure he'll want to know all about this vile asylum business."

Emma narrows her eyes. "They're trying to drag you back?" she asks.

Manuel looks confused. "I doubt that highly. He probably doesn't even know about the asylum. I can't imagine that he's very pleased that I have been gone for so long. Even after I left, I knew he was keeping track of me."

"You needn't worry, Manuel. You're under my protection." She reaches for the brown paper envelope on the occasional table beside her, and pulls out a piece of embossed card. "After all, every queen needs her knight."

"Why would I need your protection from my own father?" he asks, then takes the card and looks at it. "Is this what I think it is?" he asks in a low voice.

"You'll need protection from all sorts of people, Manuel, and you may not know who your enemies are at first sight. Whoever they are, I'm here." She leans back in her chair. "The card is a formal invitation to join the Hellfire Club, under my sponsorship. If you accept, I have the power to name you as my White Knight."

Manuel is many things, first and foremost his father's son. When power comes a-knocking, you answer it. He tucks the card into his breast pocket, and then nods his head. "I accept, I think. I would need to know what all this entails - both rights and responsibilities both."

"Of course. In effect, you would be my personal secretary. Don't balk at the word, Manuel, it doesn't involve making cups of coffee or taking minutes. You'd be my charges d'affaire. You would represent me to the membership. And you would sit on the Inner Circle, alongside Sebastian, Selene, and Shinobi, the new White Bishop." She smiles sweetly. "You would outrank your father."

Manuel smirks at that potentially sweet little bit. "Sounds delightful. Does this new job come with a commensurate paycheck?" he asks. "And ... I need papers for this country. I do not know what happen to my EU ones."

"I'll place you on my personal retainer," Emma replies, amused to see how quickly Manuel takes to the news. "We'll have your new papers by the end of the week, and I will personally ensure that your friends at the asylum learn to file their papers correctly."

Manuel smirks again. Seems to be his day for it. "I almost wish I could sense their reactions." he says, then his mood visibly crashes - which it always does when the talk comes around to the asylum. "I am thinking that a celebration is in order. Since I still am unsure of the proper procedure to actually leave this place ... shall we pilfer a bottle of wine and raise a glass to this new endeavor?"

"How about I take you out for dinner tonight, darling?" Emma suggests. "You, me and Shinobi. You and he really should get to know each other a little better."

"Sounds delightful. I'm sure I can find something to wear appropriate to the seriousness of the moment." he smirks with a gleam in his eye.

Emma rises to her feet. "Until this evening, then, Manuel. I'm afraid I have another class to prepare for."

Manuel takes the cue, and rises to his own feet. "To the White Queen, and her Knight." he says seriously, saluting Emma with an invisible goblet before spoiling it with another grin. "Send word when it is time to go."

"I will, darling. You may have to get used to answering my summons, though, if that isn't too much of an affront to your pride." She picks up her Verlaine, and pulls open the office door with a smile.

Manuel stops to think about it. "It's only temporary." he reassures himself. "I don't plan on stopping at a Knight-hood. The word "King" has a delightful ring to it in any language, don't you think?"

It's Emma's turn to smirk. "Well, we'll see," she says. "You're young yet, Manuel. Don't let your eyes get too big for your stomach."

"Wouldn't want that to happen." he agrees in mock-seriousness. "But, good things come to those who wait, yes? I seem to remember someone telling me that..."

"Excellent advice, whoever it was," says Emma. "I'll see you later, darling."

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