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xp_logsBefore everything went kablooey - Manuel, Amanda and the Thai place Nathan recommended. They talk about Manuel's new interest in art, the return of his powers, and the future beyond Xavier's. Irony, much?
Manuel knocked on the door to the room that Amanda shared with Marie-Ange. He was dressed casually for him - a silk button-down, nice dress slacks, and loafers. He also held a single red rose in his hand, and he had a grin on his face. He could feel her anticipation, her excitement. He knew she had something special planned for him, and he was eager to see what it was.
Ack, Manuel was here, and she was still getting ready... Still putting in her earrings, Amanda moved to the door, hoping he'd approve of Marie-Ange's clothing choice. Certainly _she_ liked it - a simple long-sleeved blouse in dark red velvety material, with a low-cut scooped neckline, and plain black pants. The boots had passed muster, if only because it was still cold out and there was snow on the ground. "Hey," she said with a smile, opening the door. Her expression softened as she saw the rose. "Is that for me?"
Manuel looked at Amanda, and grinned. "Yes, I believe that it is." he said, extending the rose to Amanda for her to take if she felt so inclined. "I'm impressed." he said with a laugh. "You cleaned up for me! You didn't have to..." he said, but with a gigantic grin on his face. "I really like it." he confessed. "Am I too early? We're in no rush, so take your time."
"I don't mind doin' it sometimes, as long as I get t' decide t' do it or not," she told him, pleased by the compliment. And the rose - she'd never admit it, but the core of her teenage soul was thrilled by the gesture. Taking it from him, she waved at her desk chair. "Have a seat - I won't be a sec." Her desk was unusually bare, her magic books and paraphernalia put away out of temptation's reach while she was still healing up. "So, Thai, huh?"
"It comes recommended at the very highest levels." he said with a grin, plopping himself down into one of her chairs. "No magic stuff?" he said, puzzled by the lack of magickal paraphernalia that usually crowded her desk.
Amanda shook her head. "No magic for a week, an' probably for the week after. I told you I strained meself with that spell, yeah? Well, what I actually did was gave meself a bit of damage. Not a lot, but some." Putting the rose in a glass of water, Amanda kept her tone light. "So I'm benched for a while, an' it's easier t' keep stuff out of temptation's reach."
Manuel frowned. "I don't think I like the sound of that." he said dubiously. "How bad was it? I mean, I trust you and all, but I worry. I like your brain, I like the way it feels, the dirty thoughts it has late at night, the small considerations. Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Moira said it wasn't too bad, but I've got t' be careful. I can't do that spell ever again, tho' that's not a big loss. But I've been pushin' too hard, an' if I keep doin' that, I could give meself permanent damage." Amanda's tone was casual, but the worry was clear on the link as she rummaged in her closet for her jacket. "If I do as she says an' look after meself, I should be fine." She found what she was looking for and turned and gave him a reassuring smile. "She'd probably appreciate it if someone made sure I didn't overdo things."
Manuel nodded. "I can do that. It would be an honor." he said, rising to his feet to give her a little bow. "And as my first official act as your health and welfare warden, I think that I should take you out to get a bite ot eat." he said with a silly smile. "So the sooner you get ready, the sooner we can make that happen."
Slipping her jacket on and giving herself a final once-over in the mirror, she grinned and did a small pirouette for him. "All set," she announced. "So, how do I look?"
Manuel paused to study Amanda from head to toe, and then gave her a wink and a grin. "The Castillian judge gives you a nine point five." he said with a laugh. "And now, food awaits, my bitter British rose." he said with a flourish. "After you."
"Nine point five, eh?" Pausing to plant a kiss on his cheek as she passed him, Amanda led the way out the door.
***
Manuel pulled Amanda's chair out for her as they were finally seated at the little Thai place that Nathan had recommended. "It's about time. They're quite busy tonight." he pointed out, referring to the large number of townies in various stages of their meals. "Remind me how long it took to get a table when it comes time to settle out the tip." he grumbled.
"If a place is busy it usually means the food's pretty good?" Amanda suggested, taking her seat with a minimum of awkwardness. She was definitely getting better at this stuff. And oh good, forks as well as chopsticks.
Manuel ordered a drink for himself (tea) and let Amanda order as she saw fit. "Well, I just hope it lives up to its billing." he said with a slight grumble. "Menu looks good, though." he said, glancing through the aforementioned document. "And the guy at the table behind us is desperately in love with you." he pointed out. "Poor guy."
It took all of her self-control not to turn around and look. "He is?" she asked, sounding honestly surprised, then shrugged. "His bad luck - I've got all I want right here. Well, I will have once I get some food." Winking at him, she asked the waiter for apple juice, and then set about the task of reading the menu. "Wow, there's so much here..." she said, sounding a little lost.
Manuel grinned. "His bad luck, indeed. I just thought you might like to know." he said with a laugh. "And there is, isn't there? Amazing - the food is supposed to be of acceptable quality, from what Nathan tells me, and there's a lot of it. Which is good, as I am starving, and you need to eat more." he said.
So he'd noticed that too... "Nate suggested here? Then it should be good. An' I haven't been hungry lately, tho' I think that's gunna change tonight," she said with an abashed grin. "An' I have no idea what I'm lookin' at here - you wanna order for us both? You know what I like well enough by now."
Manuel nodded, pleased that she'd deferred to him like that. "I would be delighted." he said with a laugh, and then gave some serious thought to the menu. "So - anything you're not in the mood for, anything that just doesn't appeal to you? I would hate to order falsely." he said after a moment's consideration. "I'm liking this combination appetizer thing - a little bit of everything, by the looks of it."
She nodded. "That sounds good - that way I can try a few things an' see what I like for next time..." She ran her eye over the menu, hrming slightly. "Nothin' really greasy? I've been off that a bit lately - Moira says I need more vitamins any way, so somethin' on the healthy end of things? An' protein always goes down well."
"This is Thai food. If done correctly, it leans towards the healthy side of things to begin with. Do you want vegetarian, beef, chicken, or fish? Or some combination?" Manuel asked her as he sipped at his recently-arrived tea. "I'm having beef, because I'm in the mood for it."
"Chicken, I think," Amanda decided. "Nothin' too spicy, tho', since I haven't been eatin' that much lately. Leaving him to decide what, she tilted her head slightly as she looked at him, propping her chin on her hands. "So, crayons an' paints an' colours. What's all that about?" she asked, tone curious rather than accusatory.
Manuel nodded, and then set the menu aside. "What that is about - well, since you gave me the idea, I suppose I can tell you." he said with a grin. "Marie-Ange predicted when my power would come back. She bought me my new sunglasses and a very colorful set of oil pastels." he explained. "She had the thought that it might help me, help other people, if I could record what I saw. You did something like it, once, for me. Using the computer."
She smiled, pleased he'd remembered. "With the photomanipulation? Yeah, I remember. So, you've got the pastels... what happens next? Labellin' them accordin' t' the emotions they match?"
Manuel nodded. "Already started. Not quite done yet, but I'm trying to be thorough." he said, returning her smile with one of his own. Taking a drink of his tea, he continued. "Once I've got everything labelled, then I start in on pictures. Snap a photo, move it to the sketchpad, then draw over it with my emotional pastels until what's on the paper matches what I saw at that moment in time."
"That's a bloody brilliant idea," she said, enthused by it. "An' yeah, it'd help explain t' people how yer power works, at least." Remembering there was juice to be had - Moria had been pretty emphatic about the not drinking - she picked up her glass and sipped as she went on. "So... you remember everythin' now?"
"In a manner of speaking." he said warily. "I remember, but only the thoughts. Not the feelings. The only feelings I can recall from the things I used to care about is you. The rest are gone, ground into dust." he admitted. "But in a way it has helped me greatly. To move beyond my limits, to remove my blinders and finally _see_ who and what I was."
She nodded. "An' it doesn't stop you from makin' new emotional connections either," she pointed out with a small smile. "That new start you were talkin' 'bout makin' in the limo that night..." Fortunately the appetisers arrived then, and once the waiter had left, she steered the conversation into slightly safer territory. "So, now you're operatin' with a full deck an' all, have you thought about what you want t' do with yerself? The future, I mean."
Manuel nodded. "Been giving it quite a bit of thought, actually." he said, snagging a plate full of Thai goodies for himself and leaving the rest for her. He knew her, knew her appetite. "I think my future lies in business. I should ask Marie-Ange, she might be willing to tell me." he laughed. "For all I know, my great genius could lie in biology."
"I don't need pre-cog t' know business is probably it, from the way you've been enjoyin' that economics class," she teased, picking out what looked good. Which meant one of everything, pretty much. "One thing 'bout this magic ban - I've got more time for regular homework. This keeps up, I might even graduate eventually."
Manuel nodded. "We may graduate at roughly the same time - we both had holes to fill in our educations." he said. "Yours from all the foster homes, mine from the time on the street, and the slant on my early schooling." He paused for a few moments and then smiled. "Jubilation recommended a film to me, one that I enjoyed thoroughly. Ever see a film called "Wall Street"?" he asked her curiously.
"Well, not this year, but maybe next year?" she suggested, nibbling on a spring roll. It was hot, but very good. "An' no, I haven't, tho' I can guess what it's about - that whole stock market thing, yeah?"
Manuel nodded. "That's precisely it. I think that may be what I spend my life doing." he said with a silly grin. "Potentially very lucrative, especially for a man of my gifts." he said with a wink. "And completely honest."
With a grin, she picked up her glass. "Sounds like you've got a good idea then," she said, amused. "Think this deserves a toast." She held her glass out towards him slightly. "To new beginnings, yeah?"
Manuel picked up his teacup and expertly toasted her glass with it. "To new beginnings, and the promise of the future." he toasted, and then drank deeply. "And how about you? What do you see yourself doing in the future?"
She shrugged as she set her glass back down after having a sip from it. "Dunno really. I mean, I always thought the magic'd be enough, but stuff that's come up has been makin' me think. Like what was bein' said, 'bout how yer powers are just a part of you an' not the whole thing? I've been tryin' t' think 'bout what else it is I'm good at." A little nervously, she paused, before going on. "I was thinkin'... 'm good with people. Talkin' to 'em, helpin' out, that sort of thing. Maybe somethin' along those lines?"
Manuel hrmmed. "It's possible." he said as he thought the idea over. "You've also got your art, but that's an even worse way to make a living. Helping people - perhaps you could do what Samson does?" he mused? "It would involve a great deal of schooling, I think, but the rewards would be worth it."
"I wasn't thinkin' the full on shrink degree - that takes years an' years of university, an' I know I'm not cut out for it. But something like..." She practically muttered the next two words, but Manuel caught them. "…social worker?"
Manuel wisely held his first, second, third, and fourth reactions to that statement. "An interesting choice." he said diplomatically. "Concentrating on which side of your experiences, I wonder?" he murmured. "The wytch, or the brat?"
"Why not both?" she asked. "Yeah, the magic lets me cheat a bit, see more into people than they mean t' let on, but I think the rest of it's the most useful part. You know, been there, done that... I dunno, maybe it's a dumb idea, but I figured it was somethin' I could do that'd use everythin', y'know? So much of me past life I've had t' toss away, an' rightly so, but I'd like t' think it was worth somethin', even the shite parts. Makin' good of all of it."
Manuel grinned. "You won't hear me complain about that." he said with a laugh. The waiter chose right then to reappear, and Manuel ordered for the both of them. Once the man was gone (bearing more tea, so Manuel mentally added a little to the tip) he spoke again. "If that is what you truly wish out of your life, then of course I will wish you well in your efforts."
"I dunno if it's what I really want yet, 's just an idea," seh said, reaching for another appetiser and realising she'd eaten quite a few without noticing. Apparently her appetite was back with a vengeance. "But yeah, it helps that you're there for me. An' that you're not laughin' at me."
"Why would I do that?" he asked, puzzled. "You feel fairly strong on this - there's some confusion, some uncertainly, but underneath all that you're considering it quite honestly. The least I can do is to respect that, acknowledge it." he said. "I would never mock you for such an important consideration as that."
She shrugged. "'Cause it's daft? I used t' loathe social workers an' make their lives as impossible as I could, an' now I'm thinkin' 'bout bein' one?"
"I'd just chalk that one up to karmic justice." he said with a laugh. "Isn't that a big part of your life now? The Threefold Law and all of that? You get what you give threefold."
She laughed outright at that. "I hadn't thought of it like that, but yeah, could be." A slightly silly smile crossed her face as she looked at him. "You're all right, you know that?"
Manuel shrugged. "I do the best that I can." he said modestly, then took another drink of his tea. "I am very much not all right, when taken as a whole. I've done some terrible things, hurt some people very badly. Now, with the emotions behind those things gone, I can look at them clearly, objectively, and start to do what I can to make amends in the time and way that I am given."
"But you want t' make amends, an' that's the important part. You care enough t' want t' try. An' that's what makes you worth it, t' me." She smiled at him again, and nudged his foot gently under the table. "I think you'll manage."
"We'll see. I talked to Lorna the other day." he said, then drained his tea to the dregs. "Wish I could say that it went well, but it did not. Well, it could have gone much better, really."
"Lorna..." Amanda sighed. "It's as much her problem as it is yers, love. Not sayin' you shouldn't feel bad for what happened, but... she's good at avoidin' things. An' as long as she does that, she's never gunna get over 'em. An' that's nothin' you can change." Sorry the topic had come up, she toyed with her remaining food. "I talked t' her, not long after what happened in November. She didn't want t' know - even tho' you weren't the same person any more, even tho' yer powers were gone, she still didn't want t' face up t' things."
Manuel nodded. "I know." he said simply. "And I think I know how to get her to confront her demons. I need to talk to Alex." he said with a grin. "Bah, too dark of a talk for such a lovely evening as this. Did Marie-Ange take you out shopping again? I don't recognize that blouse."
"Definitely time for a subject change," she agreed. "Yeah, she did. Well, I asked for help, an' she decided help involved goin' t' the mall. Apparently the new hair colours don't go with what I had in my wardrobe. Tho' I think she was just lookin' for an excuse t' make me try stuff on."
"Knowing her, it was likely a combination of the two." he laughed. "She did her usual excellent job. A pity she has so many problems with colors, but even so handicapped she does all right." he said with a small chuckle. "Ah, good. The food is arriving." Manuel said, as he felt the waiter approach long before he was visible through the press of people.
"Not all of us gets the high-definition colour vision, love," she teased him. "But we do the best we can."
Manuel knocked on the door to the room that Amanda shared with Marie-Ange. He was dressed casually for him - a silk button-down, nice dress slacks, and loafers. He also held a single red rose in his hand, and he had a grin on his face. He could feel her anticipation, her excitement. He knew she had something special planned for him, and he was eager to see what it was.
Ack, Manuel was here, and she was still getting ready... Still putting in her earrings, Amanda moved to the door, hoping he'd approve of Marie-Ange's clothing choice. Certainly _she_ liked it - a simple long-sleeved blouse in dark red velvety material, with a low-cut scooped neckline, and plain black pants. The boots had passed muster, if only because it was still cold out and there was snow on the ground. "Hey," she said with a smile, opening the door. Her expression softened as she saw the rose. "Is that for me?"
Manuel looked at Amanda, and grinned. "Yes, I believe that it is." he said, extending the rose to Amanda for her to take if she felt so inclined. "I'm impressed." he said with a laugh. "You cleaned up for me! You didn't have to..." he said, but with a gigantic grin on his face. "I really like it." he confessed. "Am I too early? We're in no rush, so take your time."
"I don't mind doin' it sometimes, as long as I get t' decide t' do it or not," she told him, pleased by the compliment. And the rose - she'd never admit it, but the core of her teenage soul was thrilled by the gesture. Taking it from him, she waved at her desk chair. "Have a seat - I won't be a sec." Her desk was unusually bare, her magic books and paraphernalia put away out of temptation's reach while she was still healing up. "So, Thai, huh?"
"It comes recommended at the very highest levels." he said with a grin, plopping himself down into one of her chairs. "No magic stuff?" he said, puzzled by the lack of magickal paraphernalia that usually crowded her desk.
Amanda shook her head. "No magic for a week, an' probably for the week after. I told you I strained meself with that spell, yeah? Well, what I actually did was gave meself a bit of damage. Not a lot, but some." Putting the rose in a glass of water, Amanda kept her tone light. "So I'm benched for a while, an' it's easier t' keep stuff out of temptation's reach."
Manuel frowned. "I don't think I like the sound of that." he said dubiously. "How bad was it? I mean, I trust you and all, but I worry. I like your brain, I like the way it feels, the dirty thoughts it has late at night, the small considerations. Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Moira said it wasn't too bad, but I've got t' be careful. I can't do that spell ever again, tho' that's not a big loss. But I've been pushin' too hard, an' if I keep doin' that, I could give meself permanent damage." Amanda's tone was casual, but the worry was clear on the link as she rummaged in her closet for her jacket. "If I do as she says an' look after meself, I should be fine." She found what she was looking for and turned and gave him a reassuring smile. "She'd probably appreciate it if someone made sure I didn't overdo things."
Manuel nodded. "I can do that. It would be an honor." he said, rising to his feet to give her a little bow. "And as my first official act as your health and welfare warden, I think that I should take you out to get a bite ot eat." he said with a silly smile. "So the sooner you get ready, the sooner we can make that happen."
Slipping her jacket on and giving herself a final once-over in the mirror, she grinned and did a small pirouette for him. "All set," she announced. "So, how do I look?"
Manuel paused to study Amanda from head to toe, and then gave her a wink and a grin. "The Castillian judge gives you a nine point five." he said with a laugh. "And now, food awaits, my bitter British rose." he said with a flourish. "After you."
"Nine point five, eh?" Pausing to plant a kiss on his cheek as she passed him, Amanda led the way out the door.
***
Manuel pulled Amanda's chair out for her as they were finally seated at the little Thai place that Nathan had recommended. "It's about time. They're quite busy tonight." he pointed out, referring to the large number of townies in various stages of their meals. "Remind me how long it took to get a table when it comes time to settle out the tip." he grumbled.
"If a place is busy it usually means the food's pretty good?" Amanda suggested, taking her seat with a minimum of awkwardness. She was definitely getting better at this stuff. And oh good, forks as well as chopsticks.
Manuel ordered a drink for himself (tea) and let Amanda order as she saw fit. "Well, I just hope it lives up to its billing." he said with a slight grumble. "Menu looks good, though." he said, glancing through the aforementioned document. "And the guy at the table behind us is desperately in love with you." he pointed out. "Poor guy."
It took all of her self-control not to turn around and look. "He is?" she asked, sounding honestly surprised, then shrugged. "His bad luck - I've got all I want right here. Well, I will have once I get some food." Winking at him, she asked the waiter for apple juice, and then set about the task of reading the menu. "Wow, there's so much here..." she said, sounding a little lost.
Manuel grinned. "His bad luck, indeed. I just thought you might like to know." he said with a laugh. "And there is, isn't there? Amazing - the food is supposed to be of acceptable quality, from what Nathan tells me, and there's a lot of it. Which is good, as I am starving, and you need to eat more." he said.
So he'd noticed that too... "Nate suggested here? Then it should be good. An' I haven't been hungry lately, tho' I think that's gunna change tonight," she said with an abashed grin. "An' I have no idea what I'm lookin' at here - you wanna order for us both? You know what I like well enough by now."
Manuel nodded, pleased that she'd deferred to him like that. "I would be delighted." he said with a laugh, and then gave some serious thought to the menu. "So - anything you're not in the mood for, anything that just doesn't appeal to you? I would hate to order falsely." he said after a moment's consideration. "I'm liking this combination appetizer thing - a little bit of everything, by the looks of it."
She nodded. "That sounds good - that way I can try a few things an' see what I like for next time..." She ran her eye over the menu, hrming slightly. "Nothin' really greasy? I've been off that a bit lately - Moira says I need more vitamins any way, so somethin' on the healthy end of things? An' protein always goes down well."
"This is Thai food. If done correctly, it leans towards the healthy side of things to begin with. Do you want vegetarian, beef, chicken, or fish? Or some combination?" Manuel asked her as he sipped at his recently-arrived tea. "I'm having beef, because I'm in the mood for it."
"Chicken, I think," Amanda decided. "Nothin' too spicy, tho', since I haven't been eatin' that much lately. Leaving him to decide what, she tilted her head slightly as she looked at him, propping her chin on her hands. "So, crayons an' paints an' colours. What's all that about?" she asked, tone curious rather than accusatory.
Manuel nodded, and then set the menu aside. "What that is about - well, since you gave me the idea, I suppose I can tell you." he said with a grin. "Marie-Ange predicted when my power would come back. She bought me my new sunglasses and a very colorful set of oil pastels." he explained. "She had the thought that it might help me, help other people, if I could record what I saw. You did something like it, once, for me. Using the computer."
She smiled, pleased he'd remembered. "With the photomanipulation? Yeah, I remember. So, you've got the pastels... what happens next? Labellin' them accordin' t' the emotions they match?"
Manuel nodded. "Already started. Not quite done yet, but I'm trying to be thorough." he said, returning her smile with one of his own. Taking a drink of his tea, he continued. "Once I've got everything labelled, then I start in on pictures. Snap a photo, move it to the sketchpad, then draw over it with my emotional pastels until what's on the paper matches what I saw at that moment in time."
"That's a bloody brilliant idea," she said, enthused by it. "An' yeah, it'd help explain t' people how yer power works, at least." Remembering there was juice to be had - Moria had been pretty emphatic about the not drinking - she picked up her glass and sipped as she went on. "So... you remember everythin' now?"
"In a manner of speaking." he said warily. "I remember, but only the thoughts. Not the feelings. The only feelings I can recall from the things I used to care about is you. The rest are gone, ground into dust." he admitted. "But in a way it has helped me greatly. To move beyond my limits, to remove my blinders and finally _see_ who and what I was."
She nodded. "An' it doesn't stop you from makin' new emotional connections either," she pointed out with a small smile. "That new start you were talkin' 'bout makin' in the limo that night..." Fortunately the appetisers arrived then, and once the waiter had left, she steered the conversation into slightly safer territory. "So, now you're operatin' with a full deck an' all, have you thought about what you want t' do with yerself? The future, I mean."
Manuel nodded. "Been giving it quite a bit of thought, actually." he said, snagging a plate full of Thai goodies for himself and leaving the rest for her. He knew her, knew her appetite. "I think my future lies in business. I should ask Marie-Ange, she might be willing to tell me." he laughed. "For all I know, my great genius could lie in biology."
"I don't need pre-cog t' know business is probably it, from the way you've been enjoyin' that economics class," she teased, picking out what looked good. Which meant one of everything, pretty much. "One thing 'bout this magic ban - I've got more time for regular homework. This keeps up, I might even graduate eventually."
Manuel nodded. "We may graduate at roughly the same time - we both had holes to fill in our educations." he said. "Yours from all the foster homes, mine from the time on the street, and the slant on my early schooling." He paused for a few moments and then smiled. "Jubilation recommended a film to me, one that I enjoyed thoroughly. Ever see a film called "Wall Street"?" he asked her curiously.
"Well, not this year, but maybe next year?" she suggested, nibbling on a spring roll. It was hot, but very good. "An' no, I haven't, tho' I can guess what it's about - that whole stock market thing, yeah?"
Manuel nodded. "That's precisely it. I think that may be what I spend my life doing." he said with a silly grin. "Potentially very lucrative, especially for a man of my gifts." he said with a wink. "And completely honest."
With a grin, she picked up her glass. "Sounds like you've got a good idea then," she said, amused. "Think this deserves a toast." She held her glass out towards him slightly. "To new beginnings, yeah?"
Manuel picked up his teacup and expertly toasted her glass with it. "To new beginnings, and the promise of the future." he toasted, and then drank deeply. "And how about you? What do you see yourself doing in the future?"
She shrugged as she set her glass back down after having a sip from it. "Dunno really. I mean, I always thought the magic'd be enough, but stuff that's come up has been makin' me think. Like what was bein' said, 'bout how yer powers are just a part of you an' not the whole thing? I've been tryin' t' think 'bout what else it is I'm good at." A little nervously, she paused, before going on. "I was thinkin'... 'm good with people. Talkin' to 'em, helpin' out, that sort of thing. Maybe somethin' along those lines?"
Manuel hrmmed. "It's possible." he said as he thought the idea over. "You've also got your art, but that's an even worse way to make a living. Helping people - perhaps you could do what Samson does?" he mused? "It would involve a great deal of schooling, I think, but the rewards would be worth it."
"I wasn't thinkin' the full on shrink degree - that takes years an' years of university, an' I know I'm not cut out for it. But something like..." She practically muttered the next two words, but Manuel caught them. "…social worker?"
Manuel wisely held his first, second, third, and fourth reactions to that statement. "An interesting choice." he said diplomatically. "Concentrating on which side of your experiences, I wonder?" he murmured. "The wytch, or the brat?"
"Why not both?" she asked. "Yeah, the magic lets me cheat a bit, see more into people than they mean t' let on, but I think the rest of it's the most useful part. You know, been there, done that... I dunno, maybe it's a dumb idea, but I figured it was somethin' I could do that'd use everythin', y'know? So much of me past life I've had t' toss away, an' rightly so, but I'd like t' think it was worth somethin', even the shite parts. Makin' good of all of it."
Manuel grinned. "You won't hear me complain about that." he said with a laugh. The waiter chose right then to reappear, and Manuel ordered for the both of them. Once the man was gone (bearing more tea, so Manuel mentally added a little to the tip) he spoke again. "If that is what you truly wish out of your life, then of course I will wish you well in your efforts."
"I dunno if it's what I really want yet, 's just an idea," seh said, reaching for another appetiser and realising she'd eaten quite a few without noticing. Apparently her appetite was back with a vengeance. "But yeah, it helps that you're there for me. An' that you're not laughin' at me."
"Why would I do that?" he asked, puzzled. "You feel fairly strong on this - there's some confusion, some uncertainly, but underneath all that you're considering it quite honestly. The least I can do is to respect that, acknowledge it." he said. "I would never mock you for such an important consideration as that."
She shrugged. "'Cause it's daft? I used t' loathe social workers an' make their lives as impossible as I could, an' now I'm thinkin' 'bout bein' one?"
"I'd just chalk that one up to karmic justice." he said with a laugh. "Isn't that a big part of your life now? The Threefold Law and all of that? You get what you give threefold."
She laughed outright at that. "I hadn't thought of it like that, but yeah, could be." A slightly silly smile crossed her face as she looked at him. "You're all right, you know that?"
Manuel shrugged. "I do the best that I can." he said modestly, then took another drink of his tea. "I am very much not all right, when taken as a whole. I've done some terrible things, hurt some people very badly. Now, with the emotions behind those things gone, I can look at them clearly, objectively, and start to do what I can to make amends in the time and way that I am given."
"But you want t' make amends, an' that's the important part. You care enough t' want t' try. An' that's what makes you worth it, t' me." She smiled at him again, and nudged his foot gently under the table. "I think you'll manage."
"We'll see. I talked to Lorna the other day." he said, then drained his tea to the dregs. "Wish I could say that it went well, but it did not. Well, it could have gone much better, really."
"Lorna..." Amanda sighed. "It's as much her problem as it is yers, love. Not sayin' you shouldn't feel bad for what happened, but... she's good at avoidin' things. An' as long as she does that, she's never gunna get over 'em. An' that's nothin' you can change." Sorry the topic had come up, she toyed with her remaining food. "I talked t' her, not long after what happened in November. She didn't want t' know - even tho' you weren't the same person any more, even tho' yer powers were gone, she still didn't want t' face up t' things."
Manuel nodded. "I know." he said simply. "And I think I know how to get her to confront her demons. I need to talk to Alex." he said with a grin. "Bah, too dark of a talk for such a lovely evening as this. Did Marie-Ange take you out shopping again? I don't recognize that blouse."
"Definitely time for a subject change," she agreed. "Yeah, she did. Well, I asked for help, an' she decided help involved goin' t' the mall. Apparently the new hair colours don't go with what I had in my wardrobe. Tho' I think she was just lookin' for an excuse t' make me try stuff on."
"Knowing her, it was likely a combination of the two." he laughed. "She did her usual excellent job. A pity she has so many problems with colors, but even so handicapped she does all right." he said with a small chuckle. "Ah, good. The food is arriving." Manuel said, as he felt the waiter approach long before he was visible through the press of people.
"Not all of us gets the high-definition colour vision, love," she teased him. "But we do the best we can."
