Schools For New Mutants

[Serah]

Rache

Rachel looked Cai Up and down and smiled. "This is going to be easy. Unlike me girl I'm a major constructin zone when I get a make over. for you it'll just be some new stylish glasses a hairstyle and a makeup advisor, and of course some new clothes . C'mon this will be fun." Rachel practically dragged Cai. She seemed so at ease in the mall. She flew past sevral salons until she picked the right one she slipped some money out of the wallet she had lierated yesterday and slipped it to the receptionist with a whipsered "can you fit us in for complete makeovers you see we were in one of those 'reality television' survivor style competitions and now its over and the style needs a little tlc." She slid out Ms. Frosts card and winked. " money is no object we just have to look good for the awards banquet."

 

[sojournerwolf]

Lucas

I nod slightly, thinking, That explains the accent. I'd heard something similar from a mutant called Miles in the underground in New York.

I stretch a little, inhaling. Tara's scent is light, rather nice. I enjoy it for a moment before replying.

"Me, I grew up on the--,"I hesitate a heartbeat. Not sure if Tara would remember the news from two years ago, the Waco type raid by "government authorities" that got quickly covered up. So, I continue with "--a reservation in Montana. People started getting a little too curious about me, so I ended up leaving, kicking around the country a bit."

How to explain why I am here, gives me another moment's pause. Tara, being a Dreamwalker and with what she describes as her mutation, maybe she might understand, maybe not.

"Why I'm here, well, kinda hard to explain. 'bout six months or so ago, I started having these dreams. "

Dreams, yeah, leave it at that, I decide. Hard to explain to someone about vision quests and what's involved there.

"Anyway, they all seemed to keep pointing this direction, almost like I was being called. Not looking quite human, I tended to hang out with mutants in the underground, sort of a sub-culture ya might say, of those who can't or don't want to pass quite for normal. Started hearing more and more about this place, this Professor. Thought mebbe I could find a few answers here, mebbe learn a bit. See what it's all about."

Not to mention finding a place to hide while I try to figure out how to deal with the people after me, I think to myself.

I feel awkward trying to explain around some large gaps, like being chased by Feniman and his crew, getting caught twice and escaping. And some of the things that've happened along the way. Maybe later, I'll tell her more, if I can figure out how much she would be able to accept and understand. I figure she's known her own share of being treated warily by the "norms", but never been in the kind of trouble I've seen. Wouldn't wish that on anybody. Well, not on most, anyway, certainly not her.

"Dreamwalking...sound interesting. How do y'do that? Are you asleep when it happens or awake? If you don't mind my asking."

Yeah, I know I'm being nosy, but this really does have my curiosity itching.

 

[BadForm]

Cai Chan: Makeover

Cai virtually crawled around the mall compared Rache who was dragging her. Rache seemed so self-assured, so in control. She knew exactly what she wanted, and exactly where she should go. Cai had never seen anything like it, at least not in someone behaving in any kind of friendly way to her. It was so new it was almost scary.

Then she was led into the salon. Her fear was nearly tangible as the beauty therapists began to ease her to a chair. A second later, she was sitting down with one woman brushing her hair, ready to wash it, and another working out what to do with her fingernails. She barely felt like she had time to catch her breath. Still, so far, nobody seemed ready to hurt her, and Rache was positively bubbling over with enthusiasm. Cai sat back and tried to relax.


OOC: Heh, Isolde - don't think you're the only one, I emigrated to one of the northern states from much-more-mild-wintered England, in Midwinter... I know exactly how you feel, in reverse.

 

[Gaea]

Zoe

Zoe decided to stroll through the store as Joseph fawned over his soon-to-be new coat. They had a lot of nice things here, plenty of-

She stopped. Oh, it was so beautiful... a dress, elegant and fine, the perfect shade of crimson. Low-cut and flowing, with a slit up the side... it was just amazing...

Zoe picked up the garment gently, and held it against herself as she looked in a nearby mirror. She'd always wanted a dress like this. Or ANY dress, for that matter, but that was just a little out of her control.

"I could never wear something like this..." She said quietly. One last wishful look in the mirror, and she returned the article to where she had gotten it.

 

[Angelus]

Joseph watched as Zoe walked off before putting the coat back and decided to follow her. When he got to where she was standing the first thing that he saw was her standing in front of the mirror holding the dress in front of her. He whistled silently, she looked beautiful in that dress but she didn't need that dress to look beautiful. He stood out of the way and watched as she looked at herself in the mirror then turned and started to put the dress back.

Joseph knew that he had to do something and quick, he couldn't let her put the dress that seemed to be made for her back. He walked up behind her and without touching her whispered, "You shouldn't put that dress back. You deserve it."

He watched as Zoe jumped slightly in the air and smiled then took a step back.

 

[mfucker]

OOC: since i'm asleep, maybe you might want to try probing into my dreams? just a thought, or you could continue with Lucas, which seems to be going just fine.

 

[Gaea]

Zoe

She turned a bit to look at Joseph over her shoulder, perhaps blushing a little...

"I don't think you know how much I want it..." Zoe let her fingertips brush the soft, red fabric, then turned away. "C'est la vie. I'm used to it."

She took a few steps toward the exit, clasping her hands behind her back. She seemed... a bit more comfortable now. "Are you getting your coat? We have more stops to make."

 

[Isolde]

Emma Frost

Emma watched her students depart with a smile and strode over to the food court. Getting a large cup of coffee, she found a comfortable table and seated herself at it.

Sitting there sipping the hot liquid, she occasionally 'checked up' on her students as they went about their shopping. A frown marred her face and then a smile would appear as she 'got in touch' with each one without them knowing but she did not interfer or interrupt. They needed this outing to work some things out for themselves and her interference was not neccessary.....so far.

 

[Neale]

Professor X

The van arrived at the Westchester mall safely. As the students waited for him to extricate himself from the vehicle, he cast his thoughts out, cautiously. Much to his surprise, he brushed up against tendrils of a very familiar telepath's power. He carefully withdrew his own power, and cloaked his thoughts. No sign of his contact showed on his face as he pulled out a bag, and began to hand out cards to the students. "These cards should enable you to purchase whatever you feel you need to make your stay at the school more enjoyable. If you have any questions, or run in into any problems, give me a call. My number is on one of the cards I've just given you. I'll likely be checking in with each of you periodically, telepathically, but I promise not to invade your privacy any more than necessary. Now, if you will excuse me, there is something I need to attend to."

Charles turned his wheelchair around, and made a bee-line for the food court, where he stopped by a Starbucks stand, picking up a large coffee, and rolled up to a table. A beautiful woman with platinum blonde hair sat there, drinking her own coffee, smoking a cigarette, and quietly watching the passersby.

Charles spoke aloud, "Emma. What an unexpected pleasure!" There was a little tension in his voice, but there was also a depth of genuine warmth in his tone that came as a bit of a surprise to them both.

 

[Isolde]

Emma Frost

Emma had felt the telepathic touch of Charles Xavier along with the cloaking of his thoughts against any intrusion of her own and so his appearance at her table was far from unexpected. Pulling her thoughts and telepathy away from her students for now as they were doing well, she turned to take in the distiguished man in the wheelchair.

Though unable to walk on his own, Emma knew better than to take the professor at face value and she knew far better than to underestimate him. He was a powerful and intelligent man. Two things that always struck Emma each time she saw him...or had contact with him in 'other' ways.

"Charles," She said, her voice matching that of the man before her,"Always a pleasure. Please, sit down and join me. I assume you are here for the same reason as I. It is almost time for the school period to begin, yes? Your school is full as always, I assume? More students to teach being a doormat to those considered normal?"

There was no malice in her tone, simple statement of what she felt was fact. It was a conversation that she and Charles Xavier had had many times before and probably would have many times after this day.

 

[sojournerwolf]

Lucas

As we pull up to the mall, I realize I'd best do something about my appearance. Slipping off the leather thong with the teeth I wear about my neck, I clench it for a moment in my hand, then slip it into a vest pocket. Not having a comb, I extend my talons just a bit from my fingers and run them through my hair, brushing it down over my ears and onto my shoulders.

There's a faded blue bandana in my back pocket, and with a sigh I take it out and tie it around my head, carefully covering the tips of my ears. It's not comfortable, but I figure better that than drawing undue attention. It's the same reason I slip a pair of battered, mirrored sunglasses over my yellow eyes.

As we pile out of the van, a hard knot forms in my stomach as I watch a mall security car slowly roll by. I take a deep breath and try to look as casual as possible. The Professor hands out these cards and I'm more than a little surprised. I'm a little more uncertain about how he says he will keep in touch with us, but I realize, somewhere along the line, I'm going to have to start trusting someone. And the Professor genuinely seems concerned about our welfare.

I walk into the mall with the others and pause, just inside the door. The smells, the sounds, the sights, flood over me and for a moment I just revel in them. There's food here, too, as I can tell from the way my stomach rumbles. The Professor heads off in that direction.

For a moment, I consider options. Despite my earlier words with Tara, I am not familiar with shopping. Not exactly something included in what Grandfather and Grandmother taught me, nor in bumming around the country as I have these past two years.

I look around at the others as they laugh and talk, figuring maybe I will just sort of tag along and watch what they do. It's then I notice one of the mall security people giving me a hard eyed stare. The knot of tension returns, this time tinged with more than a little anger. Yeah, I know I look like a refugee, but I can see humans walking around dressed as bad or worse. A low growl starts deep in my throat, but I silence it quickly.

I turn my attention back to the others, wondering what they're thinking, feeling. I've not talked to most of them, only Tara, yet already, I have their scents imprinted in my brain and figure I could find anyone of them within a reasonable distance. I find myself wanting to get to know them better, especially Tara and Angel, who still looks shaky.

 

[TygerEyez]

Tara

I'd sat there for a few moments, trying to explain my DreamWalking, when we'd started to pull up to the mall. Instantly, Lucas shifted, preparing himself to be seen.. or rather, not be seen.

I could understand his hesitance to go into the mall. I knew people who went here, too. But why he slipped the leather throng from his neck, I'd never know. I kind of liked that jewelry. It seemed to mean something to him.

As we left the van, I watched the other students. I'd only talked to Lucas and Angel... and the Professor. But the others were already busy by the time I had come to the school. I'd eventually get to know them. Maybe a room party... that might be fun.

I pulled back a door, and slipped inside, just ahead of Lucas. And not for the first time, I was actually glad I wasn't an empath or someone who sensed things like that. It would just be too overwhelming. As it was, Lucas looked... nervous. Though I could no longer see his eyes, the way he stood, and the tension in his shoulders showed it all.

I followed his gaze, finding some Security watching back. I smiled at them, and slid my arm through Lucas'. "C'mon. I still haven't explained DreamWalking to you."

Truly, I don't understand it. I was never open about my abilities before this, but then.. I 'd never known another Mutant like myself. I shrugged mentally, and threw a glance at Angel as we made our way to her. "You ready, Angel? I found us a chaparone."

ooc: hey, Vivid. *grins* Tara (or Dream) doesn't just randomly shift through people's Dreams. There has to be a reason, or something that makes her want to.... Besides, she doesn't have control over her powers enough to direct them at you.. that's why she's at the Professor's. Great idea for later, though.

 

[sojournerwolf]

Lucas

At Tara's cheerful smile, I force myself to relax.

"Yeah," I say with a grin, "I'd like to hear about the Dream Walking. It sounds pretty cool."

As she tucks her arm in mine, I'm again very conscious of her scent, not just the perfume, but her own body's chemistry in reaction to it. And the warmth of her skin even through her clothing. It feels wonderful.

Suddenly, I'm looking forward to this outing, spending time among people, getting to know the other students...getting to know Tara better. As we walk up to Angel, I hold out my other arm for her to take and smile.

"Tara, Angel," I say, looking at each in turn with a great grin on my face, "Lead on. Your combination escort and baggage bearer is at your command."

And for the first time in I don't remember when, I feel happy.

 

[mfucker]

Angel:

I was shaken awake, not by Tara, nor Lucas. Somehow, it was a strong wave of sensation, it's magnitude only matched by that of the presence of the Professor. It was not the Professor.

Turning towards my companions, I am glad that neither of them had managed to pick up the thought I just had. In a single day, somehow I have learnt to mask my expressions slightly.

Smiling, I put my arm around Lucas's, and the three of us head towards the mall. I knew it was not a sign of machoness, but rather for security. He feared going back to the crowd, where he would be looked upon differently.

Instinctively, I tilt my head and glance in the general direction where I could sense the Professor. Whoever the other person was, he or she was very close to him.

OOC: ok...i suppose we're all going to meet one another now? wonder if i should start reading all the other 100-odd great posts that you guys on the other side have posted.....going to be a long day....

 

[BadForm]

Cai Chan: Hair

Cai had begun to relax, and enjoy the feel of what the beauticians were doing to her. Mostly, so far, they were cleaning her up, and there was plenty of that to do. However, soon they were ready to move on to the next step.

The hair stylist smiled at her. "Madam, how would you like your hair styled?"

Cai looked up at her and blinked. "Ummm... sorry, I don't know the names of any styles." It was true, in all her years, the only hair cuts she had had were simple crops from her mother. Even that was before she had run away.

The stylist quickly produced a book and passed it to her. "Then perhaps you would like to choose one form our style book."

Cai flipped through the pages in uncertainty. She had no idea what would look good on her, and she could hardly picture the hair on the models being on her head - after all, the models were so beautiful. Eventually, virtually at random, she just pointed to one picture which had short hair, her hair having become painfully matted so many times she had had enough of its length.

The stylist suppressed a chuckle. "Madam, that particular style is generally only selected by our African American clients. I do not believe the tightness of that afro would not suit your particular hair composition. If you are looking for a short hair style," she said, flicking through the pages. "The bob may be more to your liking... I would suggest bob 4a, to match the contours of your face, and add a slightly spiked fringe to bring out the exhuberence of your soul."

Cai nodded in mute embarrassment. Unknown even to her, that embarrassment had saved herself and Rache from an unpleasant situation.

 

[sojournerwolf]

Lucas

Though it doesn't show on her face, I can sense Angel's agitation in her touch upon my arm, can smell it. I remember from earlier wondering what or who she was running from.

Maybe some conversation might help put her at ease, I think. I figure we're all going to find out about each other sooner or later, so I ask.

"Hey, Angel. Tara and I were talkin' earlier about where we came from, what we're doing here. What's your story, if you don't mind sharing?" I smile, pitching my voice as soft as I can and still be heard over the mall shoppers by her and Tara.

 

[Serah]

Rache

Rachel quickly selected what she wanted for herself, everything from highlights to nails to hairstyle. She the looked over as Cai chose the afro. Rachel cringed but noticed that Cai recovered quickly. Rachel asked to borrow the phone and called ahead to a store she had dreamed about but never entered. It was on the 3rd floor and was only available by apointment. Rachel relayed the credit card number and made an apointment for Cai Chan and Guest. She heavily specified that Cai was to be treated with the utmost of patience and would require an added amount of 'courtesy' Rachel grinned as she rembered the scene from pretty woman. Rachel sat back and hoped Ms.Frost would be pleased with the choices she had made. "Cai after this we have an appointment at Toreas fashions... we can shop off the rack after we get you a basic wardrobe."

 

[Neale]

Professor X

Charles sipped his coffee, and looked at his counterpart. She was so very much like him in powers, abilities, and position, and yet so very different in outlook. "Emma, how many times have we had this conversation?" He smiled at her, softening his words somewhat. She was not really an enemy, and they had long ago agreed to disagree.

"Yes, my students, even now, are roaming about the mall, bonding with each other in that time-honored tradition of young people... shopping."

"Are Magnus and the Hellfire Club still supporting your school? You know they only want you to train warriors for their insane plan to rule humanity. It doesn't have to be that way, Emma. The only thing separating those like us from the rest of mankind is fear and ignorance. By training my students to use their powers for the benefit of all humanity, they will be able to show that having these gifts does not automatically make them threats. We have a duty to mankind, Emma, to use our powers responsibly, for the greater good of all."

 

[Isolde]

Emma Frost

Emma looked up when Magnus and the Hellfire club were mentioned but quickly dismissed the comment with a wave of the hand that held her cigarette, a trail of smoke following the gesture.

"I do what I have to to keep the school alive. But dont kid yourself, I am in charge of the school and it is my vision that holds sway. And my vision is to teach them to survive."

"Survive, "She repeated as if the word itself held all the weight of the world. "Dont fool yourself, Charles, that is the name of the game. We have both lost students to the whims of humanity." She almost spit the word out as if it left a bad taste in her mouth and paused to sip at her coffee.

"Your best and brightest, Charles, where are they now? What did your philosophies of 'love thy neighbor' and 'turn the other cheek' get you with them? Even the strongest among them were not saved from the slaughter. And what results have all their years of fighting gotten you? Nothing. 'Normal' people still fear us, still hate us, still reject us. They still persecute(sp) us, still kill us and still exclude us from even the basics of life......if we let them."

"All your effort has gone wasted and has been showered upon ungrateful beings. No, my students are going to know how to fight back, when to fight back and to, one day, enjoy this world as so many others who are considered 'normal' enjoy it."

"Though your intentions are good, your philosophy is flawed. It is not a 'love thy neighbor' world we live in but a 'survival of the fittest'. And my students will survive. I wont let them fail."

 

[Inkubus]

Vincent

Vincent walked animatedly alongside Martin, enjoying the fact that this was so 'normal'. He stopped and froze alongside a store called Orpheus. He didnt have to shop he saw his hearts desire. It was a Fransisco Rabini Acoustic guitar. it was small sweet and elegant and Vincent was in love. Martin walked on led to a store called Silcon Valley.

 

[Neale]

Professor X

An expression of deep pain creased Charles' brow when Emma reminded him of the fate of his first students, the XMen. He sighed, "Emma... my XMen gave their lives to save the entire world from Apocalypse, one of our kind, someone who thoroughly subscribed to your Darwinian theories. They didn't do it for the gratitude of 'normal' humans, but there are those who know of and deeply honor them for their sacrifice."

He shook his head sadly, "Don't you see? There must be more to life than survival... I, too, train my students to survive, but there are higher purposes. A great man, a great human once said that there was no nobler cause than to give one's life for one's country. Emma, all of humanity is our 'country', even if they don't yet accept us as part of it. Despite our powers and abilities, we are human, too."

 

[Isolde]

Emma Frost

"It was the belief that humans would ever change and view us as equals that sent them into a fight they could never win. They fought for something that just cannot be. And any recognition they recieved from it will not make up for thier loss. And the percentage of humans who did recognize them was negligable. Humans...'normal' humans...and mutants can never be equal. One must always rule the other and I am tired of it being the humans who rule."

"We are not human, Charles. If we were we would be given the same rights and priveleges that all of humanity takes for granted. Instead we have to buy our way into the hearts of these lesser beings. Why to you think I allow Magnus and the Hellfire Club to have any part of my school? Because with the infux of money I can truly make a place for my students."

"We are denied even the right to live without fear. The right to stand up and proudly declare who we are. We are not humans but we can be something more. And they know it. That is why they wish to suppress us but they will not succeed. One day we will be making the rules. We will be living off the fat of the land instead of living off the leavings of those less talented than us."

"We were given these powers for a reason. And it was not to be 'equal' to those who are without them. Does an eagle come down from his perch to try and be equal to the sparrow? Does a lion try to blend in with the lamb? Does whale try to swim with the minnows? There is no comparison. They simply hold more power than us...at the moment. But moments pass and so will this one."

She smiled and it was not malicious but instead rather sad, as if he had missed the point of their whole existance.

"And where will your philosophy have you standing? You and your students? Will they be ready to join in the new order of things or will they be taken down with those they seek to protect? The humans will turn on them. They wont care how many have sacrificed for them or what they have given up. No, they will see them simply as a target for their anger. The anger that will accompany their failure to have exterminated us despite their best effort."

 

[Neale]

Professor X

He smiled sadly, realizing that their veiwpoints were just too far apart... for now. "Let us both hope it does not come to that, Emma. Nothing makes saddens me more than to see mutants fighting mutants."

Charles looked around at the people in the mall.
"Our powers do not give us the right to rule over these people, Emma. Being able to leap over a tall building in a single bound does not impart wisdom! Yes, we do have abilities that most humans cannot even begin to imagine, but none of that makes us fit to rule. Ask yourself this... Would you honestly want Erik ruling over us all? He is, after all, the most powerful mutant alive today. Does that mean he should rise to the top, and dominate all of humanity?"

He shook his head slowly, "No. All sentient creatures deserve the right to govern themselves. We do, too. You are quite right in that. However, we cannot respond to fear and hatred with more violence... even if we did win, we would become that which we fought so hard against..."

 

[TrippingBilly]

Brad/Fallout

ooc: I'm gonna have to take a break for a while. Going on vacation (a much needed one) for about a week. My character wasn't really doing much anyway, but I just thought it would be polite to tell you all...

 

[Isolde]

Emma Frost

Emma shook her head and smiled. "I was not suggesting that our students are going to end up fighting each other in the end but that the humans, after the natural order of things exerts itself, will turn on your students...the ones who have helped them and protected them. And they will do it because they cannot give up the hatred and fear of our kind."

"And I do not seek to fight them. I simply will not go out of my way to help them as you seem so intent on doing. At least they admit what you never will. That we and they can never live together in peace. At least not while the balance stands as it is right now. Prejudice and hatred, once bred, never die. The humans will never give those up."

"You, who are so fond of history, should know that. Prejudice for other races may be buried and denied but it never ceases to exist. It is always seething under the surface. The only chance we have of living 'normal' lives is to replace those that would harm us and try to hold us back. Once they are replaced....then can we work for a better life between the races."

"They can never hope to understand us because they cannot empathize with us. It takes a mutant to understand a mutant. But we...we have been where the humans are now. Before our powers showed themselves, we were like them. We can understand them and use that to our advantage and then, when we have triumphed, we can work for a better world."

"That last is the part that Eric does not understand. He simply wants to rule the world, to crush the humans. I know that we must become the ones in the ruling position, not to crush but to finally set things straight between us."

She let her smile light upon the professor. "And when that day comes your students are welcome to stand with us. I, too, hope they do not stand against us. We do not need the deaths of our own on our hands."