So break me down if it makes you feel right

maybe they're cultural?

I cut my hair for mourning and won't be 'officially' out of it until it's back to my waist and a lot of Indian;s would cut off their fingertips if they lost a child or someone equally significant, although that's pretty rare now.

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No wonder they lost the war. ;)

Anyway - stop up and see me sometime, eh? You don't do that anymore. Besides, now that you've lost all that weight you need to upgrade your wardrobe.

And I am just the man to help you do it.

Manuel

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....what's wrong with my jeans?

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Indistinct! Shapeless!

This will Not Do. Now that you've lost all that weight, you have _curves_.

Show them off! If you've got it, flaunt it! And there's many, many ways to, as they say, show us what your Momma gave ya. And since I'm mobile now ... mall trip? I've got some cash if you want.

Manuel

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I got some money, don't spend yours.

mall trip? okay....but can we go when there aren't so many people? my mind still feels like it needs bleach from the FOH rally.

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You know, Manuel, there are times I can't figure out whether you're being willfully idiotic or if you've just reverted back to the days when you had the people skills of a insect.

I'm not sure which is preferable.

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I cannot abide that much ugliness without saying _something_.

She was all proud of herself. Disgusting.

Manuel

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And your aesthetic sense is of course the most important thing here.

You were sound asleep with your eyes open every time we talked about this whole strange, scary concept of 'logic', weren't you? Sorry, no... forgot. It's just that jumping to bizarre judgements based on improperly understood empathic input is so much easier.

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x-jeangrey.livejournal.com

Until you can tell why she is proud of herself, Manuel, you have no right to judge her for it. Jumping to conclusions about the reasons behind actions, emotions and thoughts will just get you in trouble.

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For someone with an MD, you're being dense. Guess all that happiness does that to you.

She comes out in that awful backless top to show us all her new body-art, and she's got a head full of proud. Nervous, but proud. Of herself.

Do the math.

I've seen better scarification among the asylum's inmates. Some of those people approached works of art - for small enough values of art, true, but under the circumstances...

Anyway.

I'm judging her aesthetic sense. Don't be dumber than you have to be.

Manuel

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Free piece of advice, Manuel. Next time you feel the need to do math, just come right out and tell us that you believe two and two make five. That way no one will be under the impression that you actually know what the hell you're talking about.

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x-jeangrey.livejournal.com

For a young empath who makes such bones about not being able to read thoughts, you certainly seem to enjoy 'forgetting' that some of us can. You're a bright boy, Manuel, but you couldn't tell it from this oversimplification.

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You're assuming I _care_.

Why is it that every time I express an opinion people give me shit about it?

Her body-modification is ugly. I don't like it.

End of story.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a little red man that needs to know what pain is.

Manuel

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xp_daytripper

Maybe it's not the scars she's proud of, but the fact she's not hiding any more?

Just a thought.

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I did think of that.

And that's why I said something. That body-art is awful. Bloody awful. And I couldn't let it pass without saying something. She wants to get all cut up, that's her business. She wants to stick it in our faces, that's when it becomes our business.

She should thank me.

Manuel

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Okay, now you're being an ass. Is it your business if I display my prosthetics as something I'm not necessarily ashamed of? The sign of an injury, Manuel, repaired and moved past.

Not all of us are so lucky to be rich, pretty, and unscarred.

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Your prosthetics aren't as aesthetically offensive as Ms Blaire's body-art.

They're not thrilling to look upon, but they're not offensive.

Manuel

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Maybe you should feel what they're like sometime, or better yet, what it feels like to lose a limb. I remember it very clearly, Manuel. And believe me, I'd love to share if you want a little perspective.

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Because if you really want to compare traumas, I can let you feel what it's like to be violated. Repeatedly. With blunt objects.

Would that suit you?

My range is definitely getting better. I can't see you, but I can _feel_ you. Hrm. This might take some effort. Try to clear your mind.

Manuel

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As you keep reminding me, Manuel, I'm an open book. You want to compare, fine. We'll do this thing,.

(deleted comment)

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You pick the _damndest_ times to get dumb on me. We've been over this a thousand times.

I'm really not much interested in going for Time 1001. Feel what you want, think what you want.

Manuel

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x-scarletwitch.livejournal.com

Maybe it is you who are the dense one in this case, Manuel, and not Amanda? Or Alison or anyone else for that matter?

For someone who can see past the first layer of a person, you obviously don't care very much to contemplate it, do you? Looks are NOTHING without what is inside.

Alison is one of the most stunning women I know. Not only because of her body but what is on the inside.

You, sir, on the other hand...nice to look at but too bitter on the inside for my tastes.

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xp_daytripper

I've deleted the other post, 'cause you're right, we've been over it a thousand times, and any way my point's not about me, it's about Alison. So I'll try again, logically and simply. And maybe you'll get it.

The problem with what you've said isn't because it's your opinion, but because you've made an assumption right from the start that makes you look like an insensitive arse. You've assumed that the scars are body art, something Alison did on purpose. But what if they aren't? What if they're like mine, something someone else did to her to hurt her? And she's been hiding them for the same reason I used to hide mine, because they identified her as a victim, and would make people pity her? Wouldn't make getting over that, walking around in a backless shirt, the same as me going out to the pool in a swimsuit that first time? I'm guessing the feelings you could pick up were sort of the same - nervous, but bloody proud of myself for being that brave and getting over something pretty big. So you saying that it's ugly, that you're repulsed by Alison, well, it could be a bit like you saying the same thing about me when I first came down to the pool in Lee's bikini. And if you think someone wouldn't be hurt by something like that, then you really don't know people at all.

Now, maybe you don't care about hurting Alison's feelings or making her feel like shite. But maybe you should remember this is the same person who helped you last year when you couldn't get anyone else to. You needed someone to practice your powers on, and she stepped up. So you owe her. An apology, at the very least.

And if you can't see what I'm getting at after all that... then you really are an ass and I wash my hands of you.

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Loath as I am to admit it, Manuel's got a point. If it's body art it's... rather unconventional. And if it's an injury, it's even more unconventional given that Ms. Blaire's not spent any major time in the medlab since the sonics incident and she certainly didn't have THOSE then.

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What point would that be? That it's unconventional, whatever it is? How very, very acute of him.

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Unconventional like the Professor suddenly showing up with a blue spiked mohawk, or Mr. Summers getting an earring.

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In case no one's noticed, we have a hell of a lot of unconventional things going on around here. Sometimes we understand them, sometimes we don't. And mocking something one doesn't understand just makes one an ass.

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Guess this makes you an ass, then?

Manuel

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Oh, was that meant to be a snappy comeback? Leave me gnashing my teeth at your impeccable display of logic, twisting my own words back on me and leaving me writhing with frustration?

Your aim needs work. Although if you get in the car and drive for an hour or so you might find someone who was actually cut to the quick by your rapier wit.

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x-foliate.livejournal.com

...squirrels?

Oh! You meant the other way. Got it.

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x-roulette.livejournal.com

So I take it it's not a natural part of her mutation?

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not that WE know of...

but I don't see what the big deal is, really.

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x-roulette.livejournal.com

Is it always like this? Somebody says something stupid and everyone jumps in and tears them a new one?

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Yes. Are you suggesting the system is flawed? Because believe me, it's better this way.

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x-roulette.livejournal.com

Nah, just wondering if it was because Manuel was special

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People just don't like it when I express opinions.

Makes doing it all that much more fun. I've never been one for shut-up-and-conform. Tried it, didn't care for it much.

Manuel

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No, people just don't like you. Your opinions? Icing.

I bet you could get good at the shutting up part if you tried, though!

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But the time in my life when people could tell me to shut up has long-passed.

And I know I am not liked. I can see it in Tetrachromat color every moment of every day.

I'm about as well-liked as you are.

Manuel

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Gosh, do people hate me? That makes me so sad. I may have to cry into my pillow and write angsty poetry and dress all in black.

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x-juggernaut.livejournal.com

That's it, both of you, neutral corners. Simmer down, princess. And you too, Illyana.

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x-jubilee.livejournal.com

Well, I know I don't hate you. Especially since you have impeccable taste in icecream.

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Well, we don't have a short bus, but he'd probably be on it if we did.

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