xp_logs | Kitty and Manuel at the cake celebration

Manny sat by himself in a table near to Katherine's booth. His eyes glowed ever-so-faintly red, to keep unwanted attention away. Before him sat a mug of horrible diner coffee. He allowed two people to be aware of his existance - the waitress, so he could get refills on his glass of water and occasionally his coffee, and Katherine. Most of his attention was spent just scanning the local emotional landscape, looking upon all the threads of friendship and well-wishing, and using those to lighten his own black mood. So far, it seemed to be mostly working. Manuel felt better than he had in weeks.

Kitty had originally worried about Manuel, uncertain if he'd really be happy coming and hiding as he intended, but he seemed to be doing ok. She flashed him another smile, unnoticed by the others in the greater mass of her smiles. She was glad he'd come, being firmly convinced that everybody needed some time out sometimes.

Manuel caught that smile, and smiled back. "Congratulations" he said, pitching his voice so that she could hear him over the general babble. It was harder to maintain his social invisibility weave when he was speaking but he had the power to spare and he compensated easily. Adjusting his sunglasses on his face, he took another sip of his awful coffee. She deserved a little bit of happiness, and just to make sure that she knew it he touched her feelings lightly, to give her a little shot of his own pleasure in her accomplishments.

It was sort of like the mental equivalent of being tickled, Kitty decided as a little giggle escaped her. She bounced a little bit in her seat with a "Wheee" and contemplated stealing some strawberries. But no, the frosting almost certainly wasn't kosher and if she was going to be good she'd be very good. Instead she stood up and said, "Back in a sec," as she phased out to slip past Jamie and get out of the booth - sometimes her power was so useful.

Manuel watched her get up, and then shook his head softly to warn her off. This day wasn't about him, it was about her. The _last_ thing he wanted to do was rain all over her day by drawing attention to himself. He took his eyes off of her, to return them down to the murky depths of his cup of coffee. He closed his eyes, to once again touch the threads of happiness that came from all of Katherine's schoolmates. ~Does it ever get any easier, Professor?~ he thought over his light psilink to Xavier. Shrugging at the reply he got, he went back to idly stirring his coffee.

Kitty caught the look and nodded with a sigh. She could accept it, but she didn't have to like it. Instead she vanished towards the front of the restaurant, presumably to the bathroom. A few minutes after she returned the waitress came by his table and set down a plate with a pair of warm chocolate chip cookies and a note. Maybe the cookies will make the coffee more palatable - I'm told they're good. Thank you for coming. -K

Manuel looked at the note, and then back over at Kathernine. He quirked an elegant eyebrow, and then mimed a laugh. He took a cookie, bit into it, and then looked surprised when they were actually somewhat tasty to his tastebuds. Normally he didn't care for cookies. Looking with his power at them, he saw why.

Cookies given in friendship would always taste better.