G: Acumen by the Dozen

GOOD (Clear)

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DRYAD: Even after seven tries, even after excogitating the situation, her will still refused to budge. What was it about morality anyways? Callie very well knew that morals were only auspicious to the one ho held them. The Cherokee definitely had different morals than the Incas, as did them in comparison to the Aztecs.

It’s funny when the Aztecs, the focal point of her studies, started sacrificing people. Well, not literally something to laugh at. Just not what you expected. They had only been sacrificing people like they did for around one hundred years, where most believed it was an aspect of their culture that was root around their time of fruition. That’s wrong.

She took a sip of water as she removed herself from Childs pose in the library. No one had been in the room yet, from what she saw, but after catching her eye on a book of yoga she decided to give it a shot. There had been too much on her mind, her mind over encumbered with the dilemmas of the soul.

Being alone was something Callie felt she deserved at times. Recognizing that was wrong was not such a large endeavor, but accepting what she knew was a bias against herself was.

At this mansion she wanted to learn to control her powers so she could resurrect dead plants, cover dry and barren plains with trees and flowers. She could single handedly bring the age of Nature into play. But with this ability came the price of time.

Callie leaned out a window that directly opened not the courtyard. It was old enough that she needed to crank it open, but the access to the open air in the morning was nice. She wore a green string strapped tank top, and a brown skirt which flowed down to her knees. It reminded her of Gabrielle from Xena, which was precisely why she wore these two things today. Maybe she would grow a bit of confidence in this costume she paraded in? Maybe…she would realize it didn’t have to be a costume in her eyes anymore, but an everyday outfit?

Some of the people she had noticed while at the school were flamboyant in more ways than she had expected. Jean Grey, a woman only a year older than her, seemed very sweet and supportive. She could only hope that Jean would want to socialize with her more often.

Beast, who’s name she had not attained yet, had azure blue fur which was stunning. Jean told Callie how Beast was one of the most ingenious men of our time, but sadly many would never learn that because of how he looked. Now this was a guy she wondered about. Sure he was animalistic on the outside, sometimes frightening even, but there was something very endearing about how Beast looks. And to boot, if his intellect lived up to it’s ‘infamous’ reputation, she joked in her head, than she would love nothing more than to discuss history with him. Maybe more?

Emma Frost apparently, was nice enough, though you did not want to get on her bad side as far as she could tell. That woman wore an ruling hand,; she was not afraid to pummel a bitch with her iron gauntlet if need be. And then Cordelia, Callie wouldn’t recall her codename. It was slightly irrelevant to her power from what she remembered. Cordelia was apparently even more uptight than Emma, and her little sister! Both of the girls were very pretty from what she could tell, and the differing opinions of the two around the school were quite interesting.

Some said both girls had a reason to be angry, their parents were dead. Other’s believed that what they said didn’t matter as long as they both kept looking as ‘fine’ as they did. Callie herself wasn’t sure what she thought of them, but hoped to get to know them before she judged. All she could do now was assume the best, even though she wanted to just hide from them the very moment she sees them.

Where all these people plagued by problems like Callie had been? Jean had a control issue from what she had been told, and Beast was an outcast because his looks. Then the two Frost siblings apparently were as cold as ice, if not the temperature at which all things cease to move. People didn’t just decide on day to be angry at the world. They are hurt by others, and that shapes who they are. Callie knew that even if she did become the target of one of them, she would always believe they were a victim. Callie would just be a victim in result of their own victimization.

Red and brown strands tossed around her shoulder as she peered towards the library door. Would she climb through the window if someone were to show up? Or would she stay and take advantage of her chance at a friendship?

Message 1 of 22. [#35665]

Summary: Callie sits in the library and thinks over some of the rumors she had heard around the school.

Where: Library - Xavier Mansion;

When: Early Morning, Jul 24, 2010;

OOC: Beast, Epiphany, Psyche and Whisper tagged for mention.

Tags: Everyone, BEAST, EPIPHANY, PSYCHE, WHISPER

ICEMAN: Bobby had decided to clean out his room during the night. And he though to himself that he'd done a good job doing so. He'd gone to bed at his normal hour around 2:30 am was up again by 6:00 am to get a fresh start before the training session in the Danger Room later. He had stacked various thing on the floor by the door that didn't belong in his room:

A shirt he had borrowed from one of the others at the school, then there was a few plates that had at some point inhabited a few sandwiches or other stuff. It wasn't like anything was grossed out or anything, but it would be nice to get out of his room. He could finally see the floor again. He also had a large selection of games and movies from the rec-room and last but not least a few books from the library that he had borrowed in best intentions but just never got around to reading.

After all the items had been returned except the books, he grabbed them and went out the door to go downstairs to return the items to its proper and rightful places. He grabbed the books and headed downstairs once again to return the books.

He arrived in the library to see one of the new arrivals. Bobby had decided to go to the library so he would not run into people, but he figured that the girl wouldn't know him that well yet to know that he wouldn't step into the library more often that two or three times a year. At least he had no reason to.

"Oh! Hey there… " he said casually to the redhaired girl in the room with all those books.

"I… I was just returning a few books, didn't mean to disturb you." he said sounding a little shy - maybe that was because he was not in known territory by a long shot.

Message 2 of 22. [#35678]

Summary: ICEMAN enters the library

With: DRYAD, ICEMAN

Where: Library - Xavier Mansion;

When: Early Morning, Jul 24, 2010;

Tags: DRYAD

DRYAD: “You’re okay.” Callie had not bothered to move from her spot as she saw Bobby enter the room. He seemed confused as to what he should do with the books he had been carrying., and that concerned her enough to stay incase he needed help. It was that moment she realized just how much of a book geek she was. This was the very beginning of her fourth day here, and she had already taken the liberty of learning the layout of this room.

She drew her hand towards her chest as she rose from her spot, and slowly made her way over to him. Her step held grace, and made it seem she was lighter than the air that surrounded her. Callie walked along the desk that was empty. She had a feeling that even though a desk for a Librarian had been built, it had never truly served it’s purpose.

The idea of getting behind the desk and playing a game of being said librarian cam across her mind. But ultimately, she felt she did not know him, or anyone for that manner, well enough to do something so spontaneous.

“Do you need help putting them away?” She removed her hand from her chest as se gestured towards the books he was holding. Only a second had passed, but she decided to speak up. Callie had not been sure if he had heard her the first time, but figured it would be strange if it seemed she silently approached him. “I’m Callie. Callie Betto.” Her smile held much sincerely, her voice uncertain hope. She knew today she was going to socialize probably more than she has for most of her life as a collective.

Message 3 of 22. [#35680]

Summary: DRYAD decides to stay, and offers to help ICEMAN.

With: DRYAD, ICEMAN

Where: Library - Xavier Mansion;

When: Early Morning, Jul 24, 2010;

OOC: She did say it loud enough, if you were wondering. ;)

Tags: ICEMAN

ICEMAN: Bobby lighted up when the girl introduced herself. He wasn't one of those who would actually read files on people when they got here. It was always better to meet them face to face. Well, that was his opinion anyways.

"Hi Callie, I'm Bobby Drake." He said, flashing her a warm smile. "Yeah, sure, why not. You look like you have grown acustomed to this place already, so why not?"

He gave her 3 of the 7 books and looked on the title of the first one that remained in his stack of books. It read "Habitat of the Red Back Salamander" ◄God did I really borrow that book for that assignment?► he thought to himself and looked for it's correct shelf. He honestly had no idea where this book went.

He looked to Callie: "So Callie? Do you go by a nickname or just Callie?" he asked the girl. In fact, she was really pretty, not extremly pretty as some other girls, but she was very classic beautiful.

He looked at the next book after giving up on the first one - This one was really heavy. He had no idea on where this one went either: "Important royalists in the early years of America." No idea what so ever.

"So.. What can you do? I mean, what does your mutation make you able to do? I am an iceman, you know? I can create ice and cold elements. Comes in handy in the hot summer months" he smiled.

Message 4 of 22. [#35687]

Summary: ICEMAN introduces himself and lets DRYAD help him

With: DRYAD, ICEMAN

Where: Library - Xavier Mansion;

When: Early Morning, Jul 24, 2010;

Tags: DRYAD

DRYAD: “I’ve never had a nickname before actually. I’m not really…well. I try and be social, I talk to a lot of people I see. But I kind of scare people off.” She frowned at how she had decided to respond to Bobby. Really? You mention how you scare people off? She did so, hoping maybe he would be understanding. She wanted to warn him incase she said anything dumb, or rude, or whatever, that it was her social skills and not her…well…herself she supposed.

“I can show you were both of these books go. Here..” Callie grabbed his first book and waved for him to follow as she found the zoology section in the library. She used her finger to follow along the books, and finally found it’s spot from what she could tell. The number recorded on a piece of paper taped to the stem of the book showed that it belonged right there. But she soon realized that the entire library was unorganized. Books from different sections found their way on shelves where they didn’t belong. Cooking in the zoology section? Mathematics as well? “Oh this is terrible!” Callie exclaimed, trying to avoid his question about her abilities. “Look at this….it’s all out of order. I don’t know if any of these books have an exact placement.” Her finger tapped her chin as she observed several shelves nearby them with great interest. “Curiously, it seems that no one has kept that specific section organized. The shelves over here are fine, but this spot, as well as a couple shelves to it’s side are like a cracker jack box.”

She fit the book in roughly the spot it should have belonged, and turned to him to take the next book. “I know where this one should be as well. I was actually over in that section a little bit ago.” She started to walk, but paused to turn her head back around his direction. “You most think I’m some major geek knowing all this huh? Well it’s true! I love books!” She began to shake her head disapprovingly as she went on. “But, I have to say your taste is truly concerning. Colonial American History is the worst!” A delicate, joyous laugh escaped her lips. “I don’t know how I could look at you the same now that I’ve seen this!”

She turned slightly red as she realized she was letting herself joke with someone who she hardly knew. Fear rushed through her mind as she wondered how stupid he thought her attempt at comedy was. His name was Bobby. The “Iceman” he said. Well, Callie thought to herself, the worst that can happen is that you never speak to him again, right? The girl figured that with all that was happening, not trying to befriend him was the biggest mistake she could make.

She began to wonder just how smart he was, like every other person she spoke with. Callie would never admit it, but she was shallow when it came to intelligence. She just plain didn’t want to get to know someone unless they could carry a conversation with her. Now, it didn’t mean she disliked ignorant people, or people who were uneducated. Callie loved showing off her knowledge by teaching others. It was the people who didn’t catch on. The one’s who seemed that no matter how hard you tried to explain something, they still just couldn’t get it that upset her. Those people, as far as she was concerned, were the most dangerous types you could find. Sure, Callie may not be physically fit. But she was one to definitely try and talk her way out of conflict. But with someone who was dumb, that was more difficult than it was usually portrayed in films. Reason just didn’t click for some, so using it to get out of a jam was problematic.

“So,” Callie began, as she decided to try and look at Iceman as an intellectual. “A man, complaining of headaches, entered a hospital for diagnostic tests. A doctor examined the results for a brain scan and told the patient, "I have bad news and good news for you. The bad news is that you have a serious brain disease and will die without treatment. The good news is that this hospital has developed a new procedure for brain transplants and due to a car accident this morning two 'fresh' brains are available: one is from a taxi driver and the other is from a scientist. The brain of the taxi driver costs $225,000, while that of the scientist is only $29.95." Puzzled, the patient asked, "Why is the scientist's brain was so much cheaper?" The doctor replied, "It's used." “

She ended with another soft laugh, only this one was filled with a little more energy. Was she coming on too heavy? Callie was not certain, but she was certain of one thing. She hoped he got the joke.

Message 5 of 22. [#35703]

Summary: DRYAD finds a place for a book, recognizes part of the library is unorganized, and decides to try and joke around with ICEMAN.

With: DRYAD, ICEMAN

Where: Library - Xavier Mansion;

When: Early Morning, Jul 24, 2010;

Tags: ICEMAN

INKLING: Behind the “Applied Sciences” section, wedged firmly between the Stacks marked “Aerodynamics’ on one side, and ‘Engineering’ on the other… roamed a purple ‘shadow’ of sorts…

A light huff raised as she withdrew yet another volume, flipped through for reference, added it to the growing stack on her personal hand dolly, and moved on. The better part of a half-hour had found her channeling some shared aspect of another inventor of far greater note than herself… Leonardo DaVinci…

Case in point… his obsession with the dynamics of Flight… and the recurrent drift of her purple consciousness upon a particular behavior, that carrying the overtly clinical designation of ‘Compulsive Fixation.’ The subject cross-referenced in her mind to an earlier conversation with Alex Power…. small details flitting back and setlling to her concentration… just how did the varied dynamics of air pressure affect one’s ability to stay aloft?

She was on a research mission now… the ‘fuse’ had been lit…

Marina was currently draped by a loose, long-armed blouse with a low-cut collar, which appeared to be made of several layers of black, spider-web style lace, a pair of baggy, black pants with enough chains and buckles to set off metal detectors from the distance of a football field away, and her feet resting solidly in black 12-eyelet Doc Martens bearing bright purple laces…

The sound of a pair of voices brought a single lock of her ‘hair’ around the corner… engaging the initial field of vision like a horizontally-oriented periscope, then quickly withdrawn back. The Amethyst Amazon slowly wheeled the hand dolly around into Iceman and Dryad’s view, reaching up one hand over her lilac tresses to pluck out the copy of the MIT dissertation on ‘Flight Dynamics and Small Frame Vectors’ by A. Stark, and drew it back down to place it on the collected works so far in tow.

The pair of coal-black eyes studied both of them for a moment, before Marina raised a cautious hand. Drake, she partially knew… a nice enough guy, but his ‘gift’ gave a subtle hint of warning to the Lavender Lass… that being that out of all those at the school, her unique translucent purple body was most readily freezable, although Drake was highly unlikely to do it on purpose. It happened once before, from her own mistake of accidentally sealing herself in the walk-in freezer… still, Marina was not wanting to repeat having to be thawed.

The other titian-haired one, Marina had not met before, but was willing to try. Marina wasn’t unfriendly to either as she offered a soft, “Hi guys…” from a steady, honest smile, and a small wave of her lilac fingers. “How goes it?”

Message 6 of 22. [#35705]

Summary: Inkling finds others in the Library , after having become fixated on certain subject matter, and says hello cautiously.

With: DRYAD, ICEMAN, INKLING

Where: Library - Xavier Mansion;

When: Early Morning, Jul 24, 2010;

Tags: DRYAD, ICEMAN

DRYAD: Callie had full intentions to try and converse with Iceman, but before she had much chance to really speak with Bobby it seemed someone else had joined the two of them. Her natural instinct when a group grew to a size larger than her and another person was to make some excuse and leave, that or start announcing information that was only slightly irrelevant to the situation. Inkling sounded so shy though, Callie did not want to take the chance of scaring her away. Her voice was sweet, with an obvious amount of insecurity in her voice. God, Callie knew just how that felt, to be too scared to say much.

“It goes alright,” Her voice went all soft, like how you would speak to a puppy or a baby, only much less condescending. She could not hold her eyes back from widening as much as they did when she turned to get a look of the get. Standing several feet away was an Indigo Amazon! Callie couldn’t help but think she reminded her of more of a squid though, a squid who would wear combat boots and fishnet stalks.

Her eyes widening were not in fear, Callie was just confused. I mean, Inkling was just kind of strange….

There was something undeniably gorgeous about this creature, as Callie decided to now direct her attention Marina’s way. Callie couldn’t help but gain some confidence and vision when others around her lacked confidence. It was natural for her to want everyone to be comfortable. “What’s your name?” She gestured towards the guy by her as she went on. “This is Bobby, and I’m Callie. We actually just met ourselves.”

Message 7 of 22. [#35723]

Summary: Callie introduces herself and Bobby to Marina.

With: DRYAD, ICEMAN, INKLING

Where: Library - Xavier Mansion;

When: Early Morning, Jul 24, 2010;

Tags: ICEMAN, INKLING

INKLING: The mauve tresses bordering her face flinched for a moment on their tips, then noticeably relaxed as Marina took another step lightly forward. Dryad’s response sounded friendly, so Marina thought anyway… so less reason for caution there, really.

It was a lingering problem sometimes for Marina… not being able to ‘read’ unfamiliar people’s expressions as well, due to having been so reclusive before she’d ever come to the school… but the reasons for that were probably best left in the past, unless the discussion turned there on it’s own. This was in the ‘now’ and the Lavender Lass was more interested in just making friends than dwelling on her own past conditions.

“Good to know.” Marina replied softly under a slightly wider grin to the note of their status.

BLINK BLINK went the full, ebon eyes.

“Oh, I know Bobby… well… from around school anyway…” A light rouge flowed against her neck and cheeks, over the internal wisps under her ‘skin’ increasing a notch in the rate of their sub-dermal ‘dance’. She might be cautious of his ability, but Marina recalled Drake as a generally amiable sort of person. She just hadn’t really gotten to know him very well yet.

“Nice to meet you, Callie. I’m Marina… around here though, a few just call me Inky or Bubbles… ” she giggled slightly, “The first one’s short for ‘Inkling’, my codename.”

Marina cast an honestly curious gaze toward the books they respectively had. “Reptiles in general?” She inquired to Bobby, noting the book on Salamanders, “Or is your next essay on general ‘Amphibia’?” A slight turn of her head, and the long lavender locks of her ‘hair’ seeming to shift position on its own to let her peek at Callie’s seeming focus of literature. “Meso-American Tribes?… Lives of the Aztecs?… Early America:Territory and Tradition?” Marina’s gaze flitted upward from her forward lean, although with her eyes fully imbued the flat, non-refractive black, it might be hard to see she was looking at Callie’s face. “History or Cultural studies, right?”

The Purple One rose a casual purple thumb to note her own 1 ½ meters-tall stack of books on the hand dolly behind her. “I’m working on Flight Dynamics… another one those ‘projects’ of mine…”

A snicker crept in, adding, “Just for future reference, you guys… there is no such thing as light reading in Mechanical Engineering , Physics, or Electronics… it’s alllll long reading… lucky me.”

Message 8 of 22. [#35728]

Summary: Inkling replies to the greeting and makes a short inquiry about Iceman's and Dryad's literary selections, then comments on her own.

With: DRYAD, ICEMAN, INKLING

Where: Library - Xavier Mansion;

When: Early Morning, Jul 24, 2010;

Tags: DRYAD, ICEMAN

DRYAD: The red head laughed at Inkling’s joke, as she felt she knew full well what it was like to be reading heavy material. Callie shrugged, having no preference towards any of the nicknames. She had held a minor curiosity as to what exactly would cause patrons of the school to nickname her with such terms. “How exactly did you get those nicknames?” Callie knew asking should be okay. Why would someone mention them, and offer for you to use them, if they weren’t comfortable with explaining. Callie knew full well why someone would in that scenario actually.

“You mentioned aerodynamics right? That subject is quite interesting when you look at it fro ma biological standpoint.” She peered over at the cart, using her toes to raise her height to get a better look. “You know, the Aztecs took a great interest in studying the Hummingbirds aerodynamics? They learned many things from that bird about it’s flight patterns, and the sort.” She smiled as she pet the cover of a book within reach. “But, even though they had studied it, they never could replicate flight in the fame effects for humans. Some tribes believes that if they creating a contraption which flapped it’s wings fast enough, they could achieve artificial flight. I think the Hummingbirds Latin name is the Logradic. Of course that is it‘s species name…wouldn‘t it be HILARIOUS if that was it‘s family, genus ,species, etc.?! How inconceivable that is!”

Callie’s eyes widened in embarrassment, did she just unload all of that?

~Callie, you’re trying to NOT make yourself seem like a know it all…~

“Sorry!” Her hand began to play with the ends of her hair as she nodded her head. ‘I have a tendency to spill out more info than I should.” Callie was relieved she had stopped herself before she said too much more. At least then, all it seemed like was she was spouting a fact, a random spontaneous fact. She had to agree though, at least it wasn’t like the usual lectures she gave.

~This is good!~ She thought to herself approvingly. ~It shows I’m getting better at spilling my information everywhere…though, I suppose it isn’t such a bad thing.~

"Bobby… " Callie began to feel like she was leaving him out of the conversation, she did not want him to feel alienated. "Maybe you have a better subject to contest with?"

Message 9 of 22. [#35743]

Summary: Callie gives a small lecture on Hummingbirds…

With: DRYAD, ICEMAN, INKLING

Where: Library - Xavier Mansion;

When: Early Morning, Jul 24, 2010;

Tags: ICEMAN, INKLING

INKLING: [Dryad]“How exactly did you get those nicknames?” Dryad inquired.

A pomegranate-shaded eyebrow rose. Marina’s guess was that Callie referred to codenames as nicknames. “Well… I can’t speak for Bobby here… becuase he's always cool. But mine I think had to do with some description-crossing.” Her black eyes flitted down for a moment then back up, with a slightly forced snicker, “Of what I look like… and the fact my mind doesn’t shut off. The Professor has us use those I think to protect us… like for anonymity. A lot of those who come here… the public doesn’t know who we are. So I think the intent is to keep personal information private if we have to.. umm… do something.. outside of the school grounds.”

If Callie hadn’t been informed about some of the things and people they faced sometimes, Marina would be glad to explain… later. She was aware though, of what happened very recently regarding Muir Island… and the fact Bobby had been part of that ordeal. Therefore, Marina thought it prudently tactful to not bring up a possibly painful recollection to him if possible. She didn’t imagine what he’d been though had been anything approaching comfortable.

The point on aerodynamics offered a good segue off some feasibly uncomfortable details, and Marina listened… actually interested in the points she had to offer. “I get lost in Biology…” she admitted with a small laugh, “Now, you give me a power core, a drive assembly, and a decent chassis… I can modify up all the leads for you just fine. As far as the flight specs on… umm…”

Marina held a lilac digit to her lips for a moment, scanning her eidetic memory, “…the… Trochilidae family… yes those are very cool. Unfortunately for the Aztecs, yeah… plus even if they somehow developed the gearing to generate the necessary downforce to keep a human body aloft… and developed an alternate form of gliders… and hinges with an independent axel from the shoulder… there’s still the problem of that ‘figure-8’ pattern allowing a vertical ‘hover’, the ‘Y’ axis’, but not movement on the ‘X’ axis of the horizontal plane.”

BLINK BLINK

~~:Oops…rant much Marina? You’re trying to make friends here… not talk over the top of them…:~~

Marina smiled guiltily, “Um… guess you’re not alone in the ‘info spill’ thing..” She raised her hand meekly, “Tangent Queen.. at your service…”

The coal-black eyes went to Bobby, hoping he could provide rapid save.

Message 10 of 22. [#35744]

Summary: Inkling replies to the point on 'nicknames', but omits some information in hopes of being tactful, and as well gets caught up in the tangential urge.

With: DRYAD, ICEMAN, INKLING

Where: Library - Xavier Mansion;

When: Early Morning, Jul 24, 2010;

Tags: DRYAD, ICEMAN

ABRIKOSKA: Anastasia Petroski had been in her room, in seclusion from everyone ever since the NYC incident, and even more so when Laser nearly killed Marina. The girl made her way down to the infirmary after she knew that Dead Girl was long gone for the night, every night. She would then return to her room using her Cat Stalk ability to get through the mansion virtually undetected. Then she had heard through the grapevine that Marina had woken up finally.

So, after much thought Ana decided to track down Marina, today was the big squad day, but due to Ana's uneasiness and social awkwardness, the Professor had said she would likely need some sessions to be fully integrated back into the student body. So, Ana had gotten a whiff of Marina and tracked her to the Library, Ana had stayed in the corners, picking out a book here and there, as she watched Marina for the duration of the time.

She also paid close attention to Iceman and the new girl flirting back and forth, she could smell it on the girl. Ana just watched the girl, Callie that was her name as she just stared at Marina. The purple girl was tall, nearly a foot taller than the kitten herself but still did not deserve to be gawked at. Ana moved stealthily amongst the rows of books as she watched everything transpiring before her, her cat-like eyes blinking from behind the rows her silver slitted eyes glared at Callie. Once on all fours Ana crept out into full view of everyone, much like the humanoid cat girl she was. She looked to Callie, her sweet Russian voice flowing off her tongue sharply as she spoke to the girl.

"Hummingbirds are so yummy, they taste like chicken… Good to see you in a more solid state Jello… "

Ana crawled to Marina and purred lightly, rubbing up against the black jeans. As she kept an eye on Callie. Ana's tail flapping all around the place, then wrapping it around one of Marina's legs as she sat down cat-like on the floor and stared at Callie.

"So, you new here?"

Where were Ana's manners, Bobby was here as well, and she had not said a word to him at all. "Hey Popsicle, how you doing?"

She had a few classes with Bobby in the past, but that had been before she became a recluse in her room. So he likely did not remember her.

Ana smiled and then spoke softly as she stretched out an arm and extended her hand towards Callie which the fur covered and formed more like a paw than a hand even though she did indeed have fingers.

Message 11 of 22. [#35753]

Summary: ABRIKOSKA having been in the library listening to the conversations finally joins in.

With: DRYAD, ICEMAN, INKLING, ABRIKOSKA

Where: Library - Xavier Mansion;

When: Early Morning, Jul 24, 2010;

Tags: DRYAD, ICEMAN, INKLING

INKLING: The soft, careful padding across the Library carpet behind her went without a perking of Marina’s attention. She was focused on Callie and Bobby at the moment. If she even noticed Ana’s approach from behind, Marina hadn’t shown it yet.

The lack of awareness on Marina’s part in this case was not intentional in the least. It was mainly for the fact that, ever since the events at the NYC Central Park Zoo… as well as the slug-fest those on the school-wide Xavier’s field trip had tried to assist limiting the wholesale damage from between the Hulk and Juggernaut… Ana had gone into a rather pronounced reclusiveness… hence Marina hadn’t expected Ana’s presence.

Marina didn’t blame her for it at all. The Lavender Lass herself had considered not stepping a foot from her own room after spotting that viral video on YouTube, marked with the oh-so-pleasant title ‘Purple Monster Mutant Attacks Lion’… oh yes… Lion-wrestling, to try to distract the beast from pouncing on Jubilee and Wolfsbane… that was just peachy … but hardly glamorous… Marina was well-aware that PLENTY of others had not been treated kindly by the general media reaction. MANY in fact, from Xavier’s were caught in the sight-line of people’s iPhone-captured videos that day… doing far greater feats than herself. And just SO cleverly edited out from the majority of details were the real good they had all done…. how many lives had been saved… and not from some training exercise in the DR… but in hard, honest reality. Callie may have even seen some of them from the school a few months previous, on CNN possibly, but unless she’d looked really close, she and the general public might have easily missed the bits of footage of a building being evacuated, and those that kept it from crushing those along the NYC street… or the fact of 95% of the possible heavy casualties being completely avoided, thanks to the actions of Marina’s classmates.

The Amethyst Amazon hadn’t considered that event cause for anything short of a serious case of PTSD… that Ana had found it perhaps ‘safer’ to keep on the periphery, at least the way Marina considered it, was a no-fault reaction, and completely understandable. She hadn’t forgotten her curvaceous feline friend by any stretch of the imagination… Ana just needed time was all. Marina presumed this condition was to still in effect even after her release from the dreaded containment tank, hence she hadn’t sought out Ana yet….

The sudden, familiar upcurl of the white furry appendage up Marina’s pants leg met with a soft shudder from the Lavender Lass. Marina’s lilac fingers slipped back, hoping this wasn’t just some hallucination… right… sleek fur, sliding through her fingers… soft, tufted ears…

BLINK BLINK

Marina looked down to see Ana curled close, and grinned widely, “Nice to see you too, Catnip…” she teased in a warm tone.

She cast a pair of coal-black eyes to Dryad, regarding the comment on hummingbirds, “She kids, Callie… about the birds. This is Ana…” The set of lilac digits ran through the white fur with an obvious affection. Marina didn't think Bobby would mind another in the friendly conversation… it was a public area after all… and 3 pretty girls in his midst were probably not squelching his ego…

Message 12 of 22. [#35755]

Summary: Inkling replies to Abrikoska after thinking about what might have kept Ana so reclusive.

With: DRYAD, ICEMAN, INKLING, ABRIKOSKA

Where: Library - Xavier Mansion;

When: Early Morning, Jul 24, 2010;

OOC: Just a little XPG history thrown in… use as you will [grins]…

Tags: DRYAD, ICEMAN, ABRIKOSKA

DRYAD: Dryad stared in confusion as a girl crawled her way over to Marina in as stealthy a manner as could be. ~What is she doing?~ Callie could not quite place it yet, though her expression seemed sharp. Angry even? Eventually the girl cradled into Marina, who received the girl like an old friend.

Callie had been grateful that Marina cleared up the bird eating, for the moment Abrikoska said that she could help but feel uncomfortable. How do you respond to someone who jokes about the murder of a living creature? Callie could fully understand why someone would eat an animal or plant ,and very well did not feel it her place, as much as it displeased her, to tell them how to go about such things. But one thing that upset Callie more than anything was anyone joking about the death of any sort of creature. It took her inner strength to not glare at Abrikoska, but she managed to not even flinch.

~Callie this is silly… you know she did not mean it maliciously… right?~ She reached her hand out to receive Abrikoska's, and smiled when her eyes caught the way her "paw-hand" looked. ~ Fascinating!~

"Thanks for clearing up the bird thing… that would have been kind of awkward otherwise. I'm Callie Betto by the way. I don't really have preference of nickname though, but soon I will join your group in this tradition. It sounds exciting!"

"You're fur… it's rather pretty… " The red head eventually broke her eyes from Abrikoska's appearance to look at Bobby. She was not sure how he was fairing, seeming somewhat shy in the first place and now being swarmed by all these people. Callie herself had not been hoping to interact with such a group. Especially so early in the morning! But it would have been rude otherwise to run off, and she did not want to seem rude in any way.

She restrained from asking Inkling any questions, hoping Bobby would say something. His silence was slightly unnerving, and she wanted nothing more than to make him feel comfortable. This had been her fault after all. If she had not approached him, these two would have probably never left their spots. "You alright Bobby? Too many people?" She figuring asking might clear some tension. It worked for Callie herself, when she got out what was unnerving her. It made her feel like the people around her could sympathize.

Message 13 of 22. [#35764]

Summary: Callie excepts ABRIKOSKA'S paw-hand, and struggles to not inquire more about aerodynamics from INKLING. DRYAD asks ICEMAN how he is. She hopes to solve the cause to his silence, and then find a way to make him feel more a part of the group.

With: DRYAD, ICEMAN, INKLING, ABRIKOSKA

Where: Library - Xavier Mansion;

When: Early Morning, Jul 24, 2010;

Tags: ABRIKOSKA, ICEMAN, INKLING

ABRIKOSKA: Ana purred at Marina calling her Catnip and those fingers running through her fur, it was just to die for it felt sssooooooooo gooooood. Ana blinked as she felt Callie shaking her paw, the kitten just smiled at the girl. She just watched as the girl's look of confusion slowly creeped away.

"Sorry, slightly territorial when a new scent comes into play, I might come off a little 'catty'. And as for eating birds and mice and such, no I do fall back on my more feline nature, with the hunt. But truth be told, I'm still very much a normal teen aged girl and I would never eat a bird or a rat."

Ana smiled at Callie when the girl commented on how soft her fur looked, "Thanks, it is soft, every one who pets me always says that too. You'd never believe how many joke I get, especially from the boys… "

Ana leaned up and looked up to the tall amazon above her. "Always a pleasure to see you to Marina… " Ana looked back to Callie, "You know to get Bobby's attention when he zones out like this try rubbing up against him, that always works when I want to get someones attention." Ana giggled lightly wondering if Callie would actually try it or not.

Message 14 of 22. [#35774]

Summary: Ana talks to Callie and Marina, and gives Callie a good suggestion on how to get Bobby's attention.

With: DRYAD, ICEMAN, INKLING, ABRIKOSKA

Where: Library - Xavier Mansion;

When: Early Morning, Jul 24, 2010;

Tags: DRYAD, ICEMAN, INKLING

James: Iceman posting in a little bit, fyi for all you people :)

Tags: ABRIKOSKA, ICEMAN, INKLING

[OOC] Message 15 of 22. [#35777]

With: DRYAD, ICEMAN, INKLING, ABRIKOSKA

Tags: ABRIKOSKA, ICEMAN, INKLING

ICEMAN: Bobby tried to avoid attention when Marina came in and Ana. They were not more freaks of nature as he was himself, but their mutations were, visible. He figured it was just influences from his home - His parents never accepted his mutation… It was cruel, but the shallowness stuck to him.

"Well, I… It was for an assignment half a year ago, and the other books? Shoot, I don't even remember." He said rubbing his head. "They just looked so nice on my bookshelf, so I thought I'd let them stay there… " He smiled at the arrived girls icluding Callie. She wasn't anything like Emma, but he guessed that she was a rose, starting to blossom. Emma… He hadn't talked to her for ages. He missed her, but wasn't gonna go up to her just pretending nothing had happened. He knew that she and Scott had ended their relationship weeks earlier. But… He didn't wanna push anything now.

He zoomed back to reality.

He remembered Ana, though she was different. More… Feline…

Ana couldn't keep her mouth shut for long, he knew that. Well if she could, he had yet to find a moment where she performed it. But that was ok, he liked girls talking - either as a subject to it, or listening in on it. To participate in it was… not for him.

Ana suggested what? It.. Wait! He wanted to say something but it was too late…

Message 16 of 22. [#35778]

Summary: ICEMAN 'catches up', talks about books, thinks of EPIPHANY, ponders over ABRIKOSKA but is too late to stop DRYAD

With: DRYAD, ICEMAN, INKLING, ABRIKOSKA

Where: Library - Xavier Mansion;

When: Early Morning, Jul 24, 2010;

OOC: Emma for thoughts. *Expect she could hear them if she was listening? :P Hint hint Kirby…

Tags: EPIPHANY, INKLING, DRYAD, ABRIKOSKA

DRYAD: Callie looked strangely at Abrikoska which she tried to figure out just how serious the girl was. ~Rub against Bobby? I'm not dumb… ~ She looked over at Iceman, who seemed to be looking at the books he was holding, and she couldn't help but wonder if maybe should take this social cue seriously. Callie was not the expert when it came to social interaction by a long shot.

Finally Callie made her decision, and made her way over several feet to where it seemed Bobby had moved to seclude himself from the group. Her guess was that she was right about there being too many people for him.

~Look… this may sound incredibly stupid to you Callie, but you had no friends back at home… and you do not want to look like your ignorant! ~ She frowned with worry before she took her shoulder to graze against Bobby. Callie tripped as she went to do so, and in the process pressed her torso against Bobby instead.

~Oh god, this is so stupid! What am I doing?! ~

Her gaze then fell upon Bobby's face, looking curiously for his reaction to show. All she could do was hope he wouldn't call her a harlot.

Bobby had no idea of what was going down, but something had motivated Ana to ask Callie to… Rub her body up against his body… in the library… at 7am in the morning. This was a crazy… CRAZY place to be a mutant. He'd been trying not to draw too much attention to himself, but that cover was blown by a long shot by now…

Well, what could he say? It was a really strange position…

"Ladies, ladies" he said almost giggling "There's enough ice for everyone" He gently pushed Callie off of him while thinking his next move. "If you didn't know better you'd think this was interestingly strange." he said as he picked up his books again.

"If anyone would be so kind as to help me with these books. I think they reorganized the entire library since last time I was here… "

Callie still held a look that showed she was quite dumbfounded.What did he mean "there's enough ice to go around"… Then it clicked in her head, as she snapped around to look at Ana. "Oh my god… I can't believe I fell for that… I just." She looked to her side, avoiding everyone's gaze. Something had overcome Callie as she began to reflect on what had happened.

Just meeting these people, not getting social cues and jokes, tripping, and now Iceman was making jokes about..well… yeah. Her frown melted away into a beaming smile, which then evolved into a fit of laughter. "Wow… I can't believe I fell for that!" She held onto her stomach, hoping her laughter wouldn't get too strong.

"Bobby! I am so sorry! I just… I'm… It is not quite often that I get the chance to socialize… and I tripped you see and well… " Her laughter grew more as she finally let the brunt of the ridiculous scene hit her. She wasn't too sure if they would laugh at her, or if this was some joke she was a part of, but Callie could NOT help but laugh at herself. She keeled over, tears coming from her eyes as she began to feel her stomach clench. It hurt, it hurt a lot, but she was in too good of a mood to stop laughing.

When was the last time she had laughed this hard? Callie remembered it had been a couple days before she started going to the institute, but knew that it was not quite like this. Sure she had given a strong laugh, but that was with her parents. She hadn't been able to interact with many people at her old school like this.

Bobby started laughing when Callie did. He was really baffled by her reaction. "Well, you say you're sorry" Bobby stopped laughing "I don't think I am… It was… new, I'll give you that" This girl had something incredible over her, for a unsocialized girl, she was very… he couldn't find the right word. Interesting? No, but close. She didn't curl up when she realized her… mistake. Bobby couldn't help but thinking about Callie rubbing her shoulder up against Bobby like she really meant it.

"If you want, you can always apologize later… " he smiled.

Message 17 of 22. [#35779]

Summary: DRYAD takes ABRIKOSKA's advice, and ICEMAN doesn't seem to complain.

With: DRYAD, ICEMAN, INKLING, ABRIKOSKA

Where: Library - Xavier Mansion;

When: Early Morning, Jul 24, 2010;

OOC: JP to catch up Iceman.

Tags: ABRIKOSKA, ICEMAN, INKLING

ABRIKOSKA: Ana watched in some what shock as Callie actually took her advice. She had been only teasing, and had only said because it was what she did being more of a Cat-Girl and everything. But here this girl did it, Ana's mouth dropped open as she watched Callie rub up against Bobby. She turned and buried her face in Marina's stomach not wanting to see. However moments later she heard Bobby joking about enough ice to break, she turned back around and giggled a little bit.

She watched as Callie quickly apologized then looked back to her, Ana just shrugged, "I didn't think you'd actually do it… "

She smiled sweetly as she watched Callie's demeanor change from apologetic to beaming and then belly laughing. Ana smiled as she heard Bobby's final reply to Callie about saying she could apologize to him later.

"Ohhhhhh sounds like a date to me, hmmmmmmm, go for it Callie… "

Ana leaned into Marina a little as she watched the flirting. "I mean seriously the three of us here and poor Bobby we will cause him to melt way too fast."

Ana giggled, "Now one on one I think you'll cause a nice slow simmer for the Popsicle here… "

Ana couldn't contain herself she just tipped over cracking up. "Bad… Bad Kitty… "

Message 18 of 22. [#35782]

Summary: ABRIKOSKA is at first shocked that DRYAD actually took her advice but then happy with the results.

With: DRYAD, ICEMAN, INKLING, ABRIKOSKA

Where: Library - Xavier Mansion;

When: Early Morning, Jul 24, 2010;

Tags: DRYAD, ICEMAN, INKLING

INKLING: Marina watched the active ‘rubbing’ suggestion play out. With Marina not fully following some subtleties in how ‘regular’ people acted, she’d drawn a conclusion and held it in her mind as an axiom for herself to adhere to… Sometimes, one just had to accept that the strangeness she’s observed in people was just them being playful. A situation didn’t need to be mentally dissected.. it simply… was… Marina found the laughing slightly contagious actually… she wasn’t exactly sure why… it was just causing a grin to spontaneously rise of it’s own accord on her lilac lips.

A shifting pass of her fingers ran across the back of Ana’s neck, cued on the Russian’s self-admonishment, and bent down to whisper in the white-tufted ear.

“We can work on your being ‘bad’ later…” she whispered smoothly, “..in private…”

Marina straightened while she took in the welcome outbreak of giggling between Dryad and Iceman in the near-background, and surveyed the books Bobby had eluded to needing ‘help’ with. This was something she was good at, thanks to her eidetic memory… ordering things back into proper arrangement, especially sequentially… and by this point, she practically ‘spoke’ the Dewey Decimel System.

“Now lessee here… Help with your books, eh?” the Lavender Lass commented, folding her hands together and mock-cracking her knuckles with a dramatic flourish in the air in front of her at arm’s length.

Both of her hands gently reformed, each having shifted in form to long, lavender tendrils, from the point of her elbow up… Then she reached down with one pseudopod… to the place Bobby had his books. The books were rapidly brought, one after another before her full, coal-black eyes, which settled but a fraction of a second upon the binding spine of each book, then were placed on the long library table in front of her… every last one of them… arranged according to their library code.

BLINK BLINK

“..Oh wait…” The Amethyst Amazon, bit her lip cautiously, adding “Those weren’t all Bobby’s books… were they?” She looked to the present lack of Callie’s stack of books as well, and tapped her lower lip with a tendril.

“Ooops…” she squeaked lightly, “Umm… I can fix it… hold on, guys… onnnnnnnnne…. sec…”

A flurry of lavender limbs quickly had the books re-ordered into correct, separate piles… one for Callie.. the other Bobby’s… and no mistakes for who’s books were who’s.

Marina smiled meekly at them, “Sorry… I get a little… umm… overzealous… sometimes.”

Message 19 of 22. [#35789]

Summary: Inkling takes in the contagious laughter, comments to Abrikoska in a whisper, and tries to help with the books… a bit… overzealously.

With: DRYAD, ICEMAN, INKLING, ABRIKOSKA

Where: Library - Xavier Mansion;

When: Early Morning, Jul 24, 2010;

Tags: DRYAD, ICEMAN, ABRIKOSKA

DRYAD: "My god… " Callie had already forgotten the event that had just taken place, finding something much more interesting. She ignored the new stack of books that had been laid by her, and rushed over to Inkling. "How did you do that? That was amazing… " Callie had been referring to the immaculate and efficient way she put away the books and then seemingly hit a rewind button to pull them all back. "Marina's memory seems to have an amazing potential, acquiring the ability to recall information and execute past actions to a fair degree… "

Physical mutations interested Callie more than other ones. The explanation for how to move fire with your mind would be something up to debate, but the mechanics for how it works seemed to be something more intuitive and likely to function from a section of the brain. It was possible to find how it worked. But when it came to a physical mutation, some of the mutations just seemed impossibly to work out.

~How can she do this? Make her arms move to fluidly… and what it this purple material she is made of? There is so much to learn… ~

Her eyes wondered around Marina's arms as she reached out a hand to touch her, but froze as her head searched for Inkling's permission. "I..uhh, would you mind if I touched your arm? While you did that?"

"I don't mean to be rude, I just think it's just so amazing how your body can do that… " She warmly gazed to Ana, and then back to Marina. "You abilities are just so… wonderful."

Suddenly, without any warning Callie began to feel… weird. Her sight began to go fuzzy, and eventually all she could see was black as her legs gave out.

Message 20 of 22. [#35832]

Summary: DRYAD asks INKLING if she could touch her arm while she morphs it, and decides that Inkling is a person who greatly interests her.

With: DRYAD, ICEMAN, INKLING, ABRIKOSKA

Where: Library - Xavier Mansion;

When: Early Morning, Jul 24, 2010;

OOC: She is not unconscious, she just blacked out for a second.

Tags: ABRIKOSKA, ICEMAN, INKLING

INKLING: Inkling was used to her own form, and the bit with the books qualified as within the range of ‘mundane’ uses for her tendrils… though some, like Tatyana, Cordelia, and indeed Ana, might attest to other, more ‘inventive’ applications.

Thus, Callie’s reaction was a little unexpected… until Marina considered how very ‘green’ Callie might be to the many and varied displays of the peoples’ abilities at this school. No doubt, she’d find out soon enough, Marina was hardly the most interesting (at least by her own perception), and the term ‘unique’ applied to just about everyone at Xavier’s.

“Touch… my arm?” the Lavender Lass bit her lip slightly…

Enter infimatessimally short-time-spanned mental segue for explanation… lessee… right about…. HERE… yeah, here looks good…

Another point of consideration for her was the awareness of another ‘problem’ she had, one far less ‘publically’ known, even among the student body at large. Case in point… what was clinically termed ‘Compulsive Fixation’, particularly combined with the facets of her eidetic memory. Marina liked helping people… it was just that sometimes, they didn’t need help… and Marina couldn’t stop thinking they did, so was compelled to act on providing that perceived ‘help’. Further… Marina had a penchant for recall… shapes, textures, patterns, faces, words written and spoken… anything she was personally exposed to, really. More specific still, was the occasional contact with bodies… In effect, the phrase ‘leaving an impression’ was in fact to be taken literally when applied to Marina. More than once, a slim amount of physical contact had gotten Marina… not just curious… but compelled, to find out more… the part of the body being ‘one piece’ set in her mind… and the rest of the ‘picture’ of the person’s body still calling to her attention…

Realization of this mixed condition was not lacking in Marina’s mind… hence, she’d become VERY careful as of late about not just ‘what’ she touched, but ‘whom’ and where.

..Right.. back to the rest of the world…

Marina gave a steady look to Dryad, answering sweetly, “Just something I do… It’s not taken as rude, hun…” she smiled gently, “I appreciate you asking first… but sure.” Marina drew the long, lavender pseudopod on her right side to Callie to survey, as she pulled her left hand back into ‘normal’ shape. Marina set something of a mental ‘block’ in place, a small mental signal to herself to not fixate on Dryad’s touch.

A distinct look of tenderness and warmth passed to Ana, to curb any possible twinge of jealousy that might crop up in the cat-girl… just in case. There was no need for it really, as Ana would find out later when she and Marina had their ‘talk’. But right here in the Library wasn’t the place for that discussion… that was for later.

As Marina looked back, for some odd reason, Callie was… either succumbing to gravity or getting started on her unreported experiments in deep-state spontaneous meditation…

BLINK BLINK

“WHOA!” Marina flipped the tendril under Callie’s closest armpit, and around her back under the other, to prevent her from being hurt from a standing drop. Marina lowered Callie at a slower pace to the carpeted Library floor, then stayed in the crouch in front of her.

“Umm… Callie? Not sure what that was about, but you okay, hun? Need some water?… smelling salts?… cheese danish?”

Message 21 of 22. [#35872]

Summary: Inkling, after some internal consideration, lets Dryad touch her arm, but finds Callie inexplicably called by the embrace of gravity, so tries to make it less of a ‘fall’ and more of a slow descent.

With: DRYAD, ICEMAN, INKLING, ABRIKOSKA

Where: Library - Xavier Mansion;

When: Early Morning, Jul 24, 2010;

OOC: I figured Dryad was not likely to be balanced on a table edge at the moment if she just *dropped*, so the carpet seemed the next logical destination.

Tags: DRYAD, ICEMAN, ABRIKOSKA

ABRIKOSKA: “We can work on your being ‘bad’ later…” Marina whispered smoothly to Anastasia, “..in private…”

Ana purred lightly at the thought, she knew just what Marina meant for the kitten and the thoughts she had were far from sweet and innocent. "Mmmmmmm sounds great to me."

Ana watched as Marina moved to help with the books, she watched as Marina started to organize them all. She smirked at Callie's question about touching Marina after the woman had put the books back and then removed them into the piles, one for Bobby and one for Callie. Ana watched as Callie began to fall, she was about to move when she noticed Marina had everything including Callie under control as she brought the beauty to the ground. Ana smiled softly at the thought of working on being bad later on. She moved carefully over to Marina and Callie.

"Hmmmm, catnip maybe??"

Ana smiled sweetly, "It always works for me… "

Ana just sat down on the floor and watched the scene before her, her tail moving too and fro, acting as normal, getting in most every ones way. It brushed against Marina, Callie and Bobby as Ana tilted her head just watching curiously as Callie sat in Marina's arms. She purred lightly, she was so happy to see Marina back, though she knew she should have visited her so much sooner..

Message 22 of 22. [#35876]

Summary: Ana suggests catnip to Marina for Callie, while her tail gets in every ones way.

With: DRYAD, ICEMAN, INKLING, ABRIKOSKA

Where: Library - Xavier Mansion;

When: Early Morning, Jul 24, 2010;

Tags: DRYAD, ICEMAN, INKLING

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