xp_logs | Crystal and Manuel - Meeting at Midnight

While hunting for a midnight snack in the main kitchen, Manuel senses strong emotions in the hallway: Crystal has just returned from her anniversary date.

"Thank you, and have a pleasant night," said the young blonde woman to the man standing next to her. The man nodded to her and teleported away. Of course, it was already early morning in Attilan, his intended destination and where he already was as Crystal began walking to the door of the mansion. She could go for a flight, but she didn't particularly feel like doing that at the moment.

Manuel paused at the freezer door, intent on taking one of his guilty pleasures upstairs without anyone seeing he'd be packing on the pounds with such an appetite when a surge of emotions struck him. Raising his brows, he closed the door and fetched a spoon before making his way slowly down the hallway to intercept.

"Late night?" he said by means of greeting.

"It is three hours earlier on the other side of this country," Crystal returned the greeting of sorts, "and that is where I was up until a few moments ago. It is not so late in California at the moment and had it been necessary for me to take a flight to return, I would not be arriving for another few hours."

"You look quite nice for such an ungodly hour of the night," Manuel observed before he offered her an arm to escort her up the stairs, ice cream and all. He was not quite clad in appropriate clothes; a black wife-beater and red pyjama pants, hair tied back in a pony tail that had grown quite long since his first arrival from Muir.

"Anniversary date," Crystal explained simply. "Forge and I had our first real date exactly two years ago. And thank you for the compliment," she added as she accepted the offered arm, her proper upbringing not entirely deserting her. The princess didn't know Manuel very well, although she had certainly heard varying stories from people, both positive and negative ones. Still, as she had pointed out to Forge almost two years earlier when he was upset at Manuel's return, it was very possible for people to change.

Going up the stairs was slow, although Manuel was accustomed to it, every step pushed up with dignity well beyond his years. "I see," came his solemn reply. "Two years to date and yet you convey the strangest posture for someone who should be particularly pleased about that stretch of time." There was no need to point at the obvious too much.

"It... an anniversary date that ends prior to nine P.M is one that ends early," Crystal admitted, hesitating a bit as she spoke. She didn't really have anything against Manuel, other than the way he had treated Laurie, but she was also well aware that his actions and words had been due to concern for his young sibling. Still, she wasn't exactly known as the most open person in the mansion, and she wasn't sure if whatever she told Manuel would be known around the mansion by morning. "It may very well have been our last, as well."

"That is a shame," he replied. Contrary to popular belief, Manuel had grown quite fond of his interactions with Forge, easily trusted with his sister, give or take a few gestures that she would not have learned from a book. "Although you did always identify separate from him, do you realize? Your independence proceeds your relationship."

"Yes, of course," Crystal agreed. Oh yes, she was very independent. She'd independently tracked down her parricidal cousin, hadn't she? "That does not mean that I must be happy about this. Forge and I spent much time apart during our relationship, but there always remained the idea that we would spend much time together again. Now... Forge greatly enjoys the work he is doing on the West Coast, so much, in fact, that he plans to stay there on a permanent basis. His work is very important to him and takes up much of his time, and I do not see myself relocating to California."

"You have grown apart then," he replied as they reached the first landing. Today was not one of his better days for his hip. Forge always struck him that was someone far too deep into his work, although the princess also was thought to be into her work too, she seemed also able to balance a family on the side. "His aspirations later on will close in on him. Although perhaps it is a good thing you are not with him now? It is all about perspective."

"Is it?" queried the young woman, noticing Manuel's difficulty up the stairs and wondering whether or not she should offer to help. "What is it that you mean by that? Are you referring to the idea that it is better to have reached these conclusions at this particular juncture rather than at a later point down the road, or something else?"

"Forge will wake one day to his work, not a woman in his bed - if you will excuse the expression. You will be married and I have a feeling you are wanting children, two things he will not have. You are smart and not difficult on the eyes, therefore, it is only a matter of time before another catches your eye. You will forget all about Forge except on a vague disappointment that perhaps he will not find something on his own until it is too late to do so."

They made it to the level and Manuel guided her towards her room, very well aware that she had taken up Lorna's old room, a room Manuel had shamefully avoided since he'd come back from Muir.

"Yes, that would be nice." The first part of the empath's statement was correct; Crystal's plans for the future did indeed include the idea of having a family, she just had never been sure if she would ever meet the right man. Now she was unsure of this once again. However, despite what Manuel said, Forge had been her first and only relationship, and the Attilani was not so sure that she would meet someone of interest anytime soon. "I wish him well... I will need to arrange for the remainder of his belonging to be sent to the West Coast Annex now that he is not planning on returning to the mansion."

"That is kind of you. Lesser women would have stamped his things to go to Antarctica and wished him well that way," he mused as he paused at her door and allowed for her hand to slip from his arm. "It was pleasant to talk to you Crystal although I am sorry for your relationship."

Crystal nodded in agreement. "Muchas gracias, Manuel," she replied, a Spanish accent of the sort that would actually be heard in Spain rather than Mexico replacing her usual Attilani accent as she spoke. "~I enjoyed speaking with you as well.~" It was the polite thing to say, but surprisingly, it was also true.