LOGS: Forge & Carlie, Thursday afternoon // Forge & Wanda, Thursday evening

[x-forge.livejournal.com]

The mansion's newest guest heads down to the garage to meet the resident tech wizard/political activist. They surprisingly hit it off, and Forge finds himself in an unpredictable dilemma.



Clarice had told her Forge was to be found in the garage more often than
not, and since she didn't have permission to go down to medlab and its
workshops on her own, Carlie hoped this would prove to be the case. After
reading his comments in the journals following the cafe fire and Columbia,
she was curious to talk to him - he sounded like her kind of people. Coming
into the garage, she paused, hearing metal on metal. Someone was
working. She hoped it was the right someone.

"Um, hi?" she called, her voice echoing a little in the large
concrete-floored room. "Forge? Clarice told me you might be down here?"

Upon hearing his name, Forge turned off the lathe, letting it spin to
a stop. Pushing his safety glasses up on his forehead, he wiped a
layer of sweat from his face and looked out into the garage.
Hm, he thought, noticing the unfamiliar girl. New.

"Over here by the shop," he called out. "I'd hobble out to meet you,
but I'm a little caught up in something..." Reaching down to the
lathe, he removed the curved piece of metal, fitting it against the
side of his left thigh. As he began fastening it in place, he wondered
idly who'd come looking for him - and more likely, who would ask
Clarice.

Oh god, he realized, It's another one of the glitter brigade...

Following the sound of his voice, Carlie came over, in time to see him
finish fastening the metal to his leg. Which was also metal. "Oh," she
said, for once stuck for words. It was strange, she could accept and be
excited by any number of mutations, but the sight of Forge's leg startled
her more than, say, Kurt's tail. A reminder that mutants had the ordinary
tragedies too. "Hi, I'm Carlie, Madelyn's sister. I was reading what you
wrote in your journal, about Columbia, and I wanted to meet you," she said,
with much less airhead bounce in her tone than usual. "But if this is a bad
time, I can go. You look like you're busy."

"No," Forge sighed, "just the usual. I'm - well, you already know." He
gave a halfhearted wave. "So, um, hi."

"The usual? Does it need a lot of maintenance? Or you just like tweaking
it?" she asked, a slight smile appearing on her face. The initial shock
over, she was remembering Forge was the mechanical whiz - that was his
power, or something. Drifting over to the workbench, she idly picked up a
spanner, turning it over in her hands, remembering watching her father and
Joe working on the car sometimes when she was small. "I've been reading
through the journals when Jubilee naps. That was important, what you said.
About needing to find our causes."

"Huh? Oh, yeah," Forge finished fastening down the sheath covers he'd
designed on his leg. Form and function, he'd decided. One did not
preclude the other. "Seems pretty obvious to me. I mean, who wants to
settle for being second-class citizens, or worse?"

"No-one should," Carlie agreed, with a decisive nod that sent blondish-red
curls tumbling. Pushing her hair back, she went on. "This HeliX group...
Jubes couldn't tell me much about it, since she was having her meltdown
when it was getting started, and then didn't really join in. I get the idea
it sort of got stuck at the social club level? There were ideas for doing
more that didn't go anywhere?"

Forge nodded. "I don't know who had any more ideas. It kind of seemed
to be more of a 'hey, let's get together with out girlfriends and hang
out' club than anything really productive. But I've got some ideas.
Activism stuff, you know?" He brushed a hand through his hair briefly,
leaning back against the workbench. "Raising people's awareness,
letting them know we're here, that sort of thing."

"You said you had some ideas, things to do... Um, I don't know if this is
sort of pushy of me or anything, but if you want to get into that, maybe I
can help? I've only been with our group for a year, but I know lots of
people who have been involved with mutant rights for ages, and
they've got all sorts of ideas, for everything from letter writing
campaigns to sit ins. And I'd like to help. Philly's not that far
away, and now I've convinced Mad to let me visit once I'm sure I can again,
maybe for some of the summer." Carlie paused for breath, realising she was
babbling like a sugar-high toddler. "Um, yeah, if you'd like me to, of
course." Without realising it she was giving him the pleading look that
worked so well on Joe and her father.

"You're sure you want to be on our side?" Forge practically
snapped back. Almost immediately, he shook his head and held his hands
up. "Sorry. Bad experience Monday. Not really used to, you know,
helpful. Yeah - I'd love to have you." He paused, then swallowed.
"Helping out, I mean! Yeah, that's it. I mean, the more experience,
the better. With the mutant thing. Rights. Thing."

"Well, not all mutants are terrorists and not all humans are bigots,
y'know?" Carlie retorted, not exactly angrily, but not apologetically
either. "Look at Mad - she's human, same as I am, and she gave up her
career in the FBI to teach here." Well, there was more to it than just
that, but Carlie didn't know all the details - Madelyn didn't exactly
confide in her little sister. At least Forge had apologised. "But I'd like
to do whatever you let me. Besides," she added with a grin. "The more
excuses I have to visit, the easier it'll be to convince Mom and Dad to let
me. It's the problem of being the youngest by a lot - everyone keeps
thinking of me as the baby, even when I'm very much not a little kid any
more."

Forge leaned across the workbench, exhaling as he stared up at the
ceiling. "You're right," he admitted. "Sorry, it's been a hectic week.
Yeah, we really could use all the support we can get if we're going to
get this off the ground. I mean, Saturday really hit HeliX hard.
Nearly everyone who doesn't go here got pulled out by their parents or
decided it wasn't for them." He snorted loudly. "There's a show of
commitment, huh? Bail when it gets tough." He sat up, looking over at
Carlie with a serious gaze. "But you're into this, huh? Right thing to
do and all that?" He nodded. "I can respect that."

She smiled at him. "I know I come across as a total bimbo, but yeah, I'm
into it. And I won't let you down, or get scared off. I wouldn't be able to
forgive myself if I did - Mad isn't the only stubborn one in our family.
And if all HeliX was to those kids was a social club, then yeah, they would
get scared. This sort of thing, it takes balls, committment. As well as
brains." With a teasing laugh, she added: "And I've got the brains - I'm
not just a pretty face, y'know."

That made Forge grin. "Bimbo? Please. You come down here to hang out
with us," he gestured around him. "Not exactly the mark of a shallow
person. And if you're half as stubborn as Doc Bartlett, well, I know
not to get in her way. So yeah, not just a pretty face."

Say something else now, moron, his inner voice chided himself.
What was it Amanda had told him before she'd left? Be yourself? That
was the problem, wasn't it? Say something, anything, first thing
that comes to mind-

"So are you going to be here for the party this weekend, then?" Forge
tried to sound nonchalant, looking for something less interesting to
try and pay attention to.

Carlie nodded. "Wouldn't miss it," she replied, enthusiastically. "Even if
I have to borrow something to wear from someone, since Mad forgot to
mention the semi-formal part..." Winding a curl around her finger, she gave
him a considering look and asked. "Are you going? I hope so - I haven't
really met a lot of people yet, and the ones I have are nice, but they're
mostly teachers, and well, you know, teacherly."

"Me?" Despite the leading question, Forge was taken aback. "I mean, I
was going to- I thought about it- I have a nice suit. Yes?" Yes?
What did I just say? "I mean, of course I'll be there. Everyone's
going, right? Wouldn't miss it."

What am I getting myself into?

He really was rather cute, Carlie decided. Especially with the shyness - it
was a relief after Manuel's smug charm. "Um, you don't mind me asking a
personal question, do you?" she asked. At his thunderstruck nod, she went
on. "Your leg... you can dance on it? It won't hurt you or anything?"

"Oh no, it doesn't hurt. Yeah, I can dance-" Note to self: LEARN TO
DANCE BEFORE SATURDAY "-just as well as anyone, really. Doesn't
hold me back in the slightest. I designed it myself, you know." Back
on familiar - and safe - ground, Forge reached over to pat the lathe.
"That's what I do. Build things. Not the most flashy mutant power, but
if I can think of it, I can build it. Taking a break from my robotics
project right now, actually. I'm not nerding out too much here, am I?"

"Not too much, no, 'though I'll have to plead liberal arts nerd here and
not be able to talk about the finer points of giant robot squid design.
It's a pretty amazing power, any way, even if isn't flashy. Making
something as intricate as that..." Carlie nodded towards his leg, itching
to touch but realising there were limits. "And it's good that you can
dance. Because I think you owe me one for that comment before, and I intend
to get it. I'm not very good - not as good as Mad is - but we can sort of
shuffle along, right?"

"I-I-I..." Forge stammered momentarily, then caught himself, "I think
I can definitely give that a shot, yeah. I mean, as long as you're not
expecting Fred Astaire here."

"And I only look like Ginger Rogers..." Giving Forge a mischeivous grin,
Carlie glanced at her watch. "Have you eaten yet? 'Cause I haven't and if
you wanted we could grab something and maybe talk some moer about these
HeliX ideas you have?"

"Eating. Eating works." Forge glanced at his watch and then looked
down at his t-shirt, streaked with oil and dust. "Tell you what, I'll
get changed, and then meet you in the kitchen? Great."


"See you there!" Carlie replied, restraining herself from adding a teasing
'it's a date!'. There was a limit to how much teasing this one could stand,
she realised. And he was cute, in an awkward, nerdy way - Carlie had been
one of the popular girls in school by sheer charm, but she'd always
preferred the company of the misfit types. They at least had brains in
their heads and opinions of their own on things besides clothes and shoes.
Not that those weren't important. "But don't keep me waiting, okay?
You know us blonde glittery types - short attention spans." Giving him a
wink, she turned and practically skipped out of the garage the way she'd
come in.




Later that evening, after a panicked email, Wanda teaches Forge things only an experienced woman can. She is gentle, and he may have potential.



"I'm sorry if I'm no good at this. It's, well, my first time and all."

"Relax, Forge. No one is expected to be an expert on their first time.
So what do you know already?"

"Not much. I mean, I've read a bit about it. Seen it in movies,
checked it out on the internet - not with anyone around, mind you.
That'd be kind of weird."

"It's really one of those things you can only learn by doing. So let's
get to it."

"Just... right into it?"

"There's no better way."

"Well, I... okay. I'm not sure where I, um, put my hands."

"Right here. Now just get used to how my body moves at first. You are
going to have to eventually take the lead, but while you're learning,
I'll go ahead."

"You do have more experience than I do here, so I - whoa, sorry. Not
really sure what-"

"You need to move your hips. Like this."

"Hey, whoa! Okay, didn't expect that."

"See? You will get the hang of it. You're not doing bad for your first
time."

"I, er... thanks. Okay, was it this awkward...?"

"My first time? I don't think so. There were a lot of people."

"You used to do this with a lot of people?"

"Trust me, as much fun as it is in private, eventually you'll want
people to watch."

"I think I want to get the basics down first. First time and all.
Should I move my hands?"

"You're going to have to eventually. My first time was rather awkward,
come to think of it. My brother is a mutant with super speed, so you
can guess how it went."

"Your first time was with your brother?"

"Of course. My mother taught everyone in our traveling clan. With us
being twins and being so close, mother assumed that would make things
easier."

"I don't have any siblings, thank god. I mean, that's why I asked you.
I figured you were the kind who'd know how to teach this stuff. And,
well, I kind of didn't want anyone to know I don't know how-"

"You're doing fine, see? All you have to do is stop thinking about it
and do it."

"Hey, I think I've got the hang of it. And if I move my leg like this-"

"-no, don't do that. You've got to try and keep the rhythm. Here, feel
how my hips move, like this. You've got to let your partner know if
you're going to change things up on her."

"I think I've got the hang of the slow stuff. Can we try it... faster?"

"Trust me, you don't have the hang of the slow stuff yet. But you
will, with practice."

"I hope so. I don't want to look like a fool when I - hey, the music's
ended. Should I go start it again?"

"Well, it is customary to stay holding your partner for a second or
two after it's over. But not too long, not unless you're looking to
make it romantic."

"Oh no, definitely not that."

"After you get done with the first one, you can always switch
partners. It keeps it interesting."

"How many partners can you have? I mean, I'm new at this, I may need
to take a rest between."

"As many as you want. It's often considered impressive for a young
unattached man to have as many as possible. Sometimes my brother would
ask every girl in the clan in a single night."

"Wow. I don't know if I could do that."

"In time, Forge. In time. Now, go start the music again and we'll start
over."

Forge walked over to where the Jeep was parked, doors open, in the
middle of the clearing. When Wanda had suggested a private spot for
the instruction, Forge figured that nowhere in the mansion could
possibly be private enough, but he'd found this nice secluded clearing
out in the woods while driving.

"Aha, this should work." A slow song played over the speakers as Forge
walked back over to Wanda. "This is still kind of embarassing. I mean,
it's not like I've ever even TRIED dancing before. Not, you know, WITH
someone. But there's this thing, and I kind of talked myself into
going, and I don't want to look all stupid, right?"

Wanda grinned, just a little. "This is only embarrassing if you think
it is," she remarked, hands on her hips. When Forge had asked for her
help, she had clearly been taken aback. But also very much thrilled.
Forge needed socialization more than anyone else or so she thought.
Part of the reasoning behind her choice for when she sent him and
Marie-Ange out shopping.

"Now, this is really all about concentration. You're good at that.
Concentrate on your partner, the rhythm and on your own movements."

"But if I'm concentrating on my feet," Forge complained, "I can't pay
attention to anything else." He moved his feet in the simple box waltz
pattern Wanda had showed him. "See? I can do that - but it can't be
that easy, right?"

"Actually, it is if you think about it." Tapping her finger against her
cheek, she frowned. There had to be a way to play Forge's way of
thinking to what they were doing. "The music is your guide, you follow
that. And your partner follows you."

"Oh," Forge thought out loud. "It's like an instruction set, and as
long as you've got the necessary subroutines down, you just use them
to match the input - the music. I think I can wrap my brain around
that. So," he asked as Wanda stepped in and led him through another
basic dance, "Doctor Bartlett's little sister asked me to make sure
and dance with her. Does that mean she likes me?"

"There's a good chance, yes," Wanda responded, laughing a little inside
at the look on Forge's face. "I have not met her yet but most girls
only enjoy dancing with people they like or find interesting."

Forge practically beamed. "Cool. Definitely cool. Now hey, show me
what you did there with the turn thing..."

Comments

[x-mirage.livejournal.com]

cuuuuuuuuuuute.

Forge is much with the cuteness.

[x-beast.livejournal.com]

VERY cute. *g* When Hank finds out that Forge is taking an interest in girls, he's going to sit him down for a long, long talk on the subject... it is, after all, Hank's favourite topic! (He likes the ladies VERY much)

[x-madelyn.livejournal.com]

That second log? Brilliant. Utterly brilliant. Had me sniggering all the way through.

(Of course, the first one was good too, but that wouldn't be very Australian of me to say so... ;) )

[x-icarus.livejournal.com]

Jay would've helped Forge with the dancing if he asked ;) That would've made an interesting (and disturbing) log . . .