xp_logs | [Manuel, Marie] ...revenge is right out too, mister. (Reply)

During the day today, Marie talks to Manuel about seeking other options for dealing with his anger and embarassment and thinks she may have gotten somewhere. He's so cute around her, it's not funny.

Manuel has had a very busy day at classes today, but he did remember that Marie wanted to talk to him. So, obediently, up to her suite he went, to knock upon her door.

The door is open a little, and Marie is sorting through a handful of writing assignments when Manuel knocks. "Come on in," she calls. "You don't have to knock when it's office hours."

"It is the small things that keep us civilized." he says with a smile, entering her suite. "You wished to see me?" he asks.

"Yeah, I did." Marie tosses the assignments down and gestures toward the chairs and sofa. "Have a seat, I don't think this will take long." She crosses the room and throws herself down in one of the chairs, her eyes on him the whole time. "What this talk about you getting revenge on Angelo?"

Manuel flops into one of the indicated chairs. "It seemed plain enough. I owe him a bad turn for what he did to me, what he awoke inside of me. I'm not going to kill him or anything - that would be too much of an honor. And I don't have my power, so I can't really just scan him to know the best way. I just want to make him hurt like he hurt me. Simple enough, no?

Marie took a deep breath and let it out slowly, counting to ten in her head. "Manuel, you simply can't act like that. Not here." She fumbled for the right words. "That's not how we deal with things here. What happened between you was awful, yes, but it wasn't malicious on Angelo's part. Shit happens and we have to deal with it, but that is not appropriate for this setting."

"Whyever not? Am I supposed to just smile and thank him for the abuse he's delivered unto me? And it _was_ malicious - he meant every word of what he said. If I cannot take my revenge like a man should, then what do _you_ recommend? And no, doing nothing is an unacceptable answer." he says, frustration etched on his face.

"He may have meant what he said, but the reaction afterwards, your suffering, that was not intended, I'm sure. But that's not the point here. Regardless of what he did, you can't go around threatening revenge and taking matters into your own hands." Marie shook her head, frowning. "If someone here has done you harm, you bring the matter to the people who are responsible for working these things out; a teacher or Emma or Charles, for example."

Manuel does not look very happy with this answer, but he grudgingly nods his head. "Very well, we will try things your way. I cannot stress enough how _angry_ that Mexican has made me. I do not enjoy being humiliated like that, whatever his motivations are. Perhaps Emma or Charles will be able to give me satisfaction." Pausing for a moment, he looks thoughtful. "I believe this is what Samson was referring to, when he was talking to me about coming to terms with my emotions. Angelo has made me angry, and I am expressing that."

"Fair enough," Marie says, looking somewhat relieved. "I think this is a good thing, in its way. There are appropriate ways to express emotions, and they're often very different from the intuitive ways. Maybe through bringing your grievance up with others, you'll find a kind of satisfaction in being acknowledged and attended to that you wouldn't get if you'd just gone and done something unpleasant."

"Perhaps." the Spaniard says, nodding his head. "I will try things your way - after I talk to Samson later today."

"Definitely." Marie says with a smile. "You have no idea how nice it is to know that you're able to talk to him. It does seem like y'all are making some headway."

Manuel looks confused. "I'm sorry, I didn't understand that. It seems like ... what?"

"Oh..." Marie stops and searches for the right words. "Like you're making progress. In this case, on understanding and identifying emotions."

Manuel ahs. "I don't intend on being a cripple forever." he says flatly. "So I do what they want me to do."

"You still don't see any other value in it?" Marie's tone isn't judgemental, just curious.

"There is, but that overrides all others." he says. "It is getting late, and I need to get back to class. I wanted to ask you - are you free this evening?"

"I should be, yes." Marie gets to her feet and casts a glance at her schedule. "I may be training later, but no set time."

"Training? In what? I wanted to know if you would like to, how does Shinobi put it - catch a flick?" he asks.

Marie laughs at that. "I'd like that, yes. And training in the usual martial arts melange that I've been working with lately. But let me know when you'd like to get together and I'll train a different time."

Manuel looks fascinated and repelled all at the same time. "Hand to hand? Yeech. I prefer blades. And come find me if you free up - I don't actually own any films, and I'm still not permitted to leave while under medical supervision..." he says sheepishly.

"Shinobi's got more movies than is healthy for anyone. We can find something to watch in his collections. Of to classes with you now," Marie approaches and reaches out to pat Manuel's shoulder gently. "I'll find you later."

"I am not hard to find." he says with something of a grin, before he turns to leave the suite.

"Yes, I'll just look for the man in black," Marie teases, turning back to her work.

Manuel straightens just a little bit, adjusting his imaginary tie and sashaying just a little bit as he leaves the suite. "I'm the handsome one, remember?" he says over his shoulder.

"Oh, right. /How/ could I forget?" Marie's laughter follows him out into the hall.