The following week had been relatively quiet. Kurt and Delaney Smith had left to enjoy the final two months of Del’s pregnancy. Their classes had been split up between Laura and Logan, much to the dismay of the students. Morgan and Crys hadn’t been fighting simply because Morgan was no longer at the school. Her estranged father had returned to claim custody of her. Joss had only remained at the school for a few hours after her departure. He had left without so much as a word. Emma had been trying to find him using Cerebra for days now. She was having absolutely no luck.
Crys led Arthur(and Locks) from
the concert room. She had a huge smile on her face. "You may be able to beat me at Mortal Kombat, but you ain't gonna beat me in Pac-Man, Artie. No freakin way."
Arthur laughed at her smiled "Yeah, I loose easily on pac-man. Still, I'm up for a challenge."
"That's pretty sad really, Artie...losing at Pac-man."
Crys chuckled as she started up the arcade game
"It's as if the little ghosts hunt me down, seriously they go at me from the different ends"
Arthur said, pouting playfully.
"That's kind of what they do, Artie."
Crys said with a sneer. She smiled and bumped him with her butt. "The trick is to stay a few steps ahead of them, then grab those big pellets. Then you get to eat the ghosts too."
Arthur poked his tongue out at her and bumped her back "Got any tips on how to eat then?"
"Really fast."
Crys said with a grin
"Really, cause I always went for slow and complex. Then again the lady knows what's good for her"
Arthur tried to hold off a laugh, the tentacle in the ribs helped of course but it was still hard.
"Hardy har har."
Crys said with a smile
Arthur grinned, he knew something that would make her blush. He leaned in close and whispered gently in her ear "Still, I guess just because I have lightening hands doesn't mean I'm any good at playing pac-man."
Crys blushed deeply and turned and thumped him on the shoulder. "Naughty!"
Arthur was smiling like that cat who had gotten the cream, then discovered there was entire well of it out back. He was very very happy. He liked having Crys back and he was glad that she was going out with him over Joss.
Crys grabbed his hand and pulled him over to the couch. "I've got a better idea." She pushed him onto the couch and gave him a kiss
Arthur let out a small surprised noise before kissing her back, wrapping his arms around her as he did.
Wrapping her arms around his waist,
Crys kissed him passionately
Arthur shook gently, holding her tighter as they kissed. He liked this, he liked it a lot.
Crys hopped up into his lap without thinking as they continued to kiss. She broke the kiss and looked at him with a grin. "Better than Pac-man?"
Arthur rested his head against her "Mmmmm... much better." He closed his eyes slowly, a wide smile on his lips.
Crys blushed deeply as she felt a hardening agreement coming from Arthur's lap.
Arthur blushed as well "Maybe... I should let you off my lap" he said slowly, trying to persuade himself that he wanted to let her off.
Crys shook her head, gently hitting Arthur int he face with her hair. "But your lap is so comfy!"
"Pbtthht"
Arthur blew the hair out of his face. He was sure it was getting uncomfortable now, specially since she was almost sitting directly on top of a slowly growing tent.
Crys smiled softly and wrapped her arms around Arthur's neck. "I'm comfy."
Arthur blushed brighter, it began to spread lower as well "Y-you sure?" he said nervously.
"Is there some reason I shouldn't be?"
Crys asked him curiously, wondering just how long he could put up with her little game. She could feel him growing beneath her
"I guess not..."
Arthur said "Guess you like it on there then. Hmmmmmmmmm?"
Crys blushed deeply as she felt him move closer to her. "I like it just fine, Artie."
Arthur blushed gently and leaned against her "Well I like you up there as well..."
Crys giggled and flicked Arthur's nose lightly
Arthur blushed violently and Locks began to wrap around Crys slowly, stroking the small of her back.
Crys laughed a little nervously as Locks began to wrap around her. She let out a quiet little moan as he stroked the small of her back
One of Locks' tentacles was shaking as he slowly caressed Crys' body as she sat on
Arthur. He ran his long thick tendrils over her body, only gently touching her.
Crys started to rotate her hips against him as Locks gently touched her
Arthur blushed madly, getting a bit nervous. Locks slipped one tentacle under her top and Arthur gently gripped the other side. "W-what do you want..?" he asked.
Crys froze as Locks slipped under her top. She stopped and looked at Arthur. She blushed deeply.
Arthur stared back and blush, Locks was gently stroking around her naval area "We wont do anything you don't want us to.."
Crys blushed deeply and let out a quiet sigh as Locks gently stroked around her belly button.
Arthur was blushing as well, and even Locks was nervous. Locks began to trace bigger and bigger circles around Crys' belly button and Arthur wrapped his arms around her back slowly.
Crys shivered and pushed away from him a little bit. She blushed madly and looked away
"Hi guys!"
Java said cheerfully, somehow hobbling and hovering at the same time with the aid of a cane. She suddenly understood what was going on and blushed, giggling. "Should I--should I come back later? Do you guys want some privacy?"
Arthur blushed and Locks pulled back quickly "No, no it's ok." He hoped that Crys didn't get off his lap, there was something quite obvious poking up out of his trousers. "How are you?" he asked nervously.
"I've been better,"
Java admitted with a sheepish smile. "I feel bad about punching a hole through the roof. Did they get that fixed yet? I've been totally knocked out for the past..well, however long ago it was."
"There was a hole in the roof?"
Crys asked her curiously, glad for her timing interruption.
"In the main hall yeah"
Arthur said sheepishly "There's been quite a lot of action between the hole in the roof and now I'm afraid Java. I'm not sure if I can tell you what it is either without the world imploding."
"Oh,"
Java said, a small fall in her voice. "Okay, well, I'll go ask someone who can explain it to me. I'll see you guys later, okay?" She waved and smiled, pushing off the ground and gliding carefully out.
"It's not that I don't want to, it's just time travel is..."
Arthur turned white, then pink "N-never mind, we don't want the world turning into custard do we?"
Crys looked at Arthur a little curiously. She still didn't understand the whole thing and he practically explained it to her
Arthur blushed brighter, he felt like he was digging himself into a hole. He hugged Crys gently and lent against her, wordlessly apologizing for what he had done before.
Crys hugged him back, smiling softly. "Do you want to play some Pac-man, Artie?"
Arthur nodded again and blushed brighter, letting her go so she could leave his lap. He felt bad for what he had been doing before...
Crys climbed off his lap, blushing madly. She stumbled a little as she tried to stand. She smiled softly and walked over to the arcade game, making sure to bump her butt with each step.
Arthur couldn't help staring as he followed Crys, his hands held in front of his to hide his embarrassment. Locks was knotted behind Arthur's head in a bundle of nerves, trying to contain himself.
Crys giggled when she got to the Pac-man machine. She turned to face him and provocatively wrapped her fingers around the joystick.
Arthur blushed brightly "Don't..." he whimpered "I don't think I can take anymore teasing."
Crys smirked and flicked him on the nose. "I knew you'd cave first." She stuck her tongue out and batted her eyelashes
"Cave?"
Arthur said gently "What are you talking about?" He stared into Crys' eyes, confused to what she was talking about.
"I was wondering which one of us would cave in first. With all that flirting, who'd back out of it."
Crys explained with a smirk
"Right... flirting... cave in"
Arthur mumbled, staring at the floor.
Crys smiled and gave him a kiss to stop his stuttering. "Ready for some Pacman?"
Arthur nodded slowly and stared harder at his feet "Yeah, ok" he mumbled. He really hadn't known they were messing around.
Crys looked at him curiously. "You ok, Artie?"
"I'm fine"
Arthur grinned at her "You going to start playing?"
"You could go first."
Crys offered, stepping aside a little bit. "I'll show you where you go wrong. Since you said you weren't ever any good at it."
Arthur started the game up, he progressed five levels before he started having trouble; they were all trailing after him and gaining fast. Luckily he caught a large yellow dot, turned around and devoured the ghosts. He managed to get two more levels before the ghosts blocked both sides of the passageway and killed him off for good.
Crys smiled and wrapped an arm around Arthur's. "For a guy who said he can't play, you sure lasted a while."
"That was luck"
Arthur chuckled, blushing lightly at the arm around him "Usually I last only four levels. Maybe this machine's easier..."
Crys smiled and kissed his cheek softly. "Or maybe you're better than you think."
Arthur blushed brightly and Locks gently stroked Crys' cheek "I'm going for the easier machine." He moved out the way, letting her get at it.
Crys smirked and bumped him gently with her butt. She wrapped her fingers around the joystick provocatively again
Arthur blushed gently and hugged her from behind, she felt his attraction to her again pressing against her back. He didn't know how to tease her so he thought this way was good.
Crys blushed deeply as she felt his attraction press into her back.
Arthur smiled and rested his head on her shoulder, pressing against her lightly. "Lets see how long you last" he whispered lightly in her ear.
Crys shivered and turned her head to face his. She grabbed a hold of his cheeks and kissed him passionately
Arthur let out a small moan and kissed Crys back, pressing against her and wrapping his arms around her slowly.
Crys wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself up to sit on the arcade game
Arthur moved the joystick out the way before it lived up to it's name. He gazed up at Crys happily, his eyes flashing over her and a small purr escaping his lips.
Crys moaned softly and wrapped her legs around his waist, purring in return
Arthur leaned forward and kissed Crys softly on the neck, nibbling gently at her soft flesh as Locks began to stroke her arms nervously. Locks was a bit worried about touching Crys affectionately now....
Crys shivered as Locks stroked her arms. The only reasons he had shoved him away before was because they were moving too fast. Right now it was rather slow progressing.
Arthur smiled lightly and kisses Crys softly on the lips, Locks crept up her arms until he lightly stroked her shoulders.
Crys moaned softly, locking her legs around his waist and his attraction
Arthur blushed brightly as her legs wrapped around him. Locks began to ripple across Crys' shoulders, giving her a gently rhythmic massage and Arthur began to kiss her chin, cheeks and lips softly.
"For the love of god, stop having sex on the arcade games!"
Casey ordered, having stepped in to grab a book she had forgotten. "Other people use those, you know." She glared at the two in scorn, her cloak of blood mercury rippling irritably.
"Meep!"
Crys exclaimed and nearly fell off the game
"We're not having sex"
Arthur said, his veiw never leaving Crys. "We're just kissing. No rules about where we kiss is there?"
Casey snorted. "Your mouth says just kissing, your hands and your hair tell a different story. And anyway, it's common courtesy. Or did your parents never teach you that?" She said scornfully. She grabbed her book and sat down on a couch, flipping it open.
"My parents spent more time yelling at each other to tell me anything"
Arthur mumbled morbidly before kissing Crys again. Locks tightened slightly out of embarrassment and curled away from Crys slightly.
Crys blushed deeply and slid down the arcade game
Arthur moved behind Crys and held her close against him, his obvious pleasure pressing against her back again. Maybe they should find a way to lock the door...
Casey cleared her throat, informing them that she was now occupying the recreation room and she'd have none of that business and there was nothing they could do about it. Her blood mercury made shells of people sitting in the other chairs, crowding the room shortly.
Crys blushed, all the blood rushing to her face. She looked around and broke away from Arthur. "I'm sorry..."
Arthur kissed her cheek "It's ok" he mumbled, turning quickly so Casey didn't notice the bulge that Crys had decided to cause.
Crys blushed deeply, looking over at Casey as she just sat there.
Arthur really, really wished people would stop interupting him and Crys. They weren't doing anything BAD really... just playing... according to Crys.
Casey breathed quietly, slowly and deliberately turning the pages to her book as if she was absolutely entranced by it--so entranced that it would be a
shame to make a small noise and break her from her illusion of peace. After a while, the blood mercury figures turned into rowdy midget pirates, their sketchy figures bounding quietly around the room as to not disturb their master.
Arthur watched them curiously, still pressed hard against the casing of the machine so he didn't get even more... exposed.
Crys looked at the metallic midget pirates curiously. They were so cool, but she really REALLY didn't want to disturb Casey by asking
Morgan and Joss came in. She was scratching her head nonchalantly.
Arthur looked around as he heard the door open, several minutes of VERY uncomfortable silence had made him want to see anyone. "CRYS!" he cried out happily but he didn't dare move.
Crys pressed a finger to her lips and sounded, "Shhhhhhhhh!" She really did not want to upset the woman known as Casey while she was reading. To be honest, she knew very little about her, only that she kept mostly everyone on edge and that weird metal stuff came out of her somehow. The glare she had given them earlier was enough to make Crys be quiet, and that was a very hard thing to accomplish...
The sketchy figures suddenly huddled around Morgan and Joss, inspecting them in their odd little way before trodding off resentfully.
Casey turned a page.
Morgan shook her head, this place was so unexpecting. "Hi-?"
Arthur ignored Crys' warning and with a strange walk to hide that Crys was still affecting him slightly he went over and hugged Morgan lightly. "Where you been?" he asked.
"Get the hell off me!"
Morgan pushed him away with a glare. A grin slowly grew on her face. "Nah I'm kidding- come here you!" she wrapped her arm around his neck and gave him a noogie, minding Locks. "I was sent home. But it's all good now."
Since Locks was Arthur's hair it was pretty hard to mind him, Arthur began to struggle and let out a small "ACK!" sound at Morgan's hyper speed noogie.
Joss stood back from the group. He smiled but didn't say anything.
Crys smiled and waved to Joss. She figured that he was off keeping tabs on Morgan since she left.
Morgan stretched a little. It sure was a long day for the two of them. She truly had no guilt for the actions that she had done previously.
Arthur blew a slightly twitching Locks out of his face "You two must be tired with running all over the place."
Casey glanced up at Morgan. She was different somehow now. She looked down at her book, pretending to read for a moment, and a midget pirate took out its looking-glass and peered Morgan over. Ah, that was it. Her eyes. She knew that look; there was no way to hide it from those who knew how to look for it. The midget pirate tucked its looking-glass away with a fiendish grin and made a cackling motion, emmitting no noise. It bounded away to play in utter silence with the other pirates.
Arthur just stared as the deminutive plunderer pranced past. Turning to Casey he just said "You are a very strange person you know that?"
"Not really, no. Just had a long week is all."
Morgan leaned to one side with her hand on her hip.
Casey paid him no mind and turned another page, calmly reading. The pirates turned into hundreds of tiny geckos that darted from nook to cranny through the whole room.
Joss was immensely creped out by the display. A foot stool stood only inches from where he was. Not wanting to draw attention to himself he calmly stepped up on it. He hunched slightly so not to seem taller than he actually was.
"So umm... what's all this about then?"
Morgan asked, looking at all the little figures.
Crys stared as the pirates transformed into little geckos. "So cool...." she whispered quietly. She really had no desire to disturb Casey's reading
"It's just... her" Locks pointed at Casey for
Arthur, Arthur didn't want to draw attention to himself.
Morgan, unlike the others, didn't mind bugging Casey in the slightest. She sped over and stopped in front of her, "Hey, what are these things made of?" she asked, gesturing to one of the figures.
Casey lifted a finger. One of the geckos darted over and sat on the tip of it. She looked up at Morgan and gave her what could pass as a friendly smile as the gecko melted into its blood mercury base. "It's my blood mercury," She explained. "It's got a mind like a particularly stupid dog, only with a manual override function." The blood mercury seeped down the walls and formed sketchy figures about three feet tall who stood in a line behind Morgan and saluted their master. They nodded their heads in acknowledgemen
t to Morgan before dissolving into butterflies, their metallic wings making whirring noises in the air as they flew to various places around the room. Casey gave Morgan a slight smile. "How was your trip?"
Arthur couldn't help feel that he and Casey had the same sort of mutation, except hers could leave her body. He gently toyed with one of Locks' tendrils, feeling him tense when Casey said about it being as smart as a dumb dog...
"Damn- that's pretty badass! Kinda reminds me of the villain from that one Terminator movie. The liquid metal dude?" Morgan's attention was recaught to Casey when she was addressed, "Hm? Oh- right...it's was alright. Well, kinda crappy really."
Crys looked at Morgan when she said it was crappy. "What happened?" She asked curiously.
"Nothing really. Everything that I expected." Morgan explained. "He was a complete ass and had no respect for me at all! I managed to convince him to let me come back. Blackmail really...but I'd rather not get into it."
"Okkkk then...and you dragged poor Joss along too?" Crys asked her curiously
"Excuuuse me?" Morgan asked, a little taken back by her comment. Her face turned sour.
"Well let's see. He disappeared when you left. Whatcha do, stuff him in your suitcase?" Crys asked her sharply.
"He come on his own will!" Morgan stepped closer, right in Crys face, testing her.
Crys stepped up tot he 'test' "Oh I'm so sure he did! Whatcha do flash him to get him to follow you??"
"At least I have something to show!" Morgan puffed her chest out and pushed her back with it.
"Just cuz I don't flaunt mine like some kind of whore, doesn't mean i ain't got any!" Crys shouted, puffing her own chest out and pushing Morgan with it
Arthur stood there in uncomfortable silence... he really needed to make some sort of distrac- "HEY!" He began to wrestle with Locks who was trying to pull his trousers down.
"HEY!" Joss came down off the stool. He actually for once seemed angry. "Morgan didn't do anything to make me follow her. And I don't appreciate you disrespecting her in such a way. I left because I was worried about her. I would have done the same for any of you." With that out of the way he addressed both of the ladies together. "And why do you two do this to each other? Someone gets miffed and accosts the other. Then you go back and forth till someone looses it. You two are very radiant beautiful women in your respectful rights. You don't have to keep reminding the entire school of the others faults. Faults of which NO ONE notices."
Morgan really didn't have anything personal against Crys, they just...fought all the time. Ever since they met really, there has been tension between the two. One might say that it was more sisterly then anything else. She crossed her arms and scoffed to the side and rolled her eyes.
Arthur had stopped fighting Locks who was no longer trying to take his trousers down, they no longer really needed a distraction. Anyway, Locks had dragged him over so he stood on his head right now, Locks wouldn't let him get back the right way.
Crys didn't really have anything against Morgan either for that matter. Just for some reason she really enjoyed fighting with her. She growled in Joss's direction and stormed over to Arthur and Locks. She grabbed a hold of Arthur's leg and gave it a tug. "Come on Artie. Let's go somewhere a little less crowded."
"Aww...she is running away." Morgan teased, smirking as she often did. "Guess I'm too much for her to handle." She shrugged her shoulders and grabbed her breasts, insulting Cry's cup size.
Locks crawled along, Arthur was moving around upside down as Crys pulled him along "Why is it only girls care about the size of their breasts?" he asked quizzicly.
"Why is it only guys care about the size of their penises?" Crys retorted as she dragged him back to crys and morgan's room
"I don't care" Arthur said confused "But apparently you do..." He was dragged along, Locks still calmly moving after Crys.
Morgan growled a little in her exhale, gritting her teeth. "Gah! That girl pisses me off so much!"
Casey couldn't help but chuckle silently as she went back to reading her book. The butterflies had settled on the walls and watched with anticipation as the two girls spat words at each other. It didn't amount to anything, almost to her dissapointment. "Blackmail," she muttered with a smirk. "I can relate to that."
"That's it." Joss said. He pointed at both Morgan and Crys "If you can't learn to live with each other like civil individuals then I don't have the time to associate with you. Ether of you." He turned around and left the room. Morgan had been his social anchor at the school. He left her behind. Still madly in love but more mad at both of their behavior at the moment.
"Wha-" Morgan cut herself off as he stormed away. She looked to the only person in the room, Casey. "Should I go after him? Or wait a little?"
"Give it a moment or two," Casey advised. "All y'all need a minute to cool down, anyway, even you. It's the reason he left in the first place, after all." She turned a page.
"Arthur didn't seem to care." Morgan grumbled, kicking the bottom of a table firmly. She was more so talking to herself then Casey, "What the hell is Joss's deal. Crys and I fight all the time. It's just the way things are!"
"Isn't Joss Amish?" Casey asked. "Different values. Different way of seeing society and social interactions between people." She knew Morgan was just working things out but she'd help out if she could.
Morgan sighed and tossed herself on the couch. She figured it was time to stop being mad and wise up to an apology. "I guess..." she frowned, "I suppose I really don't know that much about his heritage. All I know if that everything is wood."
"I'm sure we have a book on it in the library," Casey advised. "I'd be surprised if we didn't have several, actually." She looked up. "About your trip...if you ever need to talk to anyone about it, look me up, yeah?" She mentioned casually. "I'm good at keeping secrets."
"Urm...there isn't anything to hide." Morgan choked a little, "He wised up is all." She scratched the back of her head.
"Of course," Casey gave her a smile, but her eyes told a different story. After a moment, she looked down at her book again and licked her thumb, turning a page. "You should really look up some books on Amish tradition, though. If you don't mind reading, of course."
Morgan noticed her eyes and was glad she ended the conversation. "Ugh..." she smacked her forehead and sped off only to return a second later with three books about Amish culture. "So much beard...." she commented, looking at a picture of a few adult men.
Casey couldn't help but grin. "Not one for facial hair?" She asked, amused.
"Eh-" Morgan said with a sour face, "Let's just say that I hope bats can't do that." She skimmed the book, glancing over religion, hobbies and jobs. "Black clothes, wood, horses..."
"You're fine with fur all over but facial hair bothers you?" Casey asked, amused. She wanted to mention how whether or not bats could do that was irrelevant to Joss considering that he wasn't a bat, but an entirely new species, but didn't bother.
"Hey!" Morgan laughed, "I like the furry...not the bushy." she clarified. She zipped through the other books with ease, mainly glancing at the text. "I still want to get his ear pierced. They are too big to go to waste."
"Hmm," Casey grunted. "Don't be too cavalier with other people's ears, now," She grinned. "Start with your own accessories, yeah? What, you could do-you could do something with those wings of yours." She said casually. The butterflies stirred occasionally, but seemed pretty pleased where they were.
"Woah...." Morgan stared in awe at her own ankle wings. "I NEVER thought of that! I could dye the ends or something! I wonder how long kool-aid would last on feathers." She sat up and vanished, only to come back a second later with having the books returned, "You know- your pretty cool for a teacher."
"Ha! I'm not a teacher," Casey laughed. "As nice as you kids are outside of class, I'm sure you turn into regular horrors during school hours, and I'm too fond of corporal punishment to be a teacher in this day and age. No, Xavier gave me a payroll and calls me a school counsilor." She rolled her eyes and shrugged.
"Hmm...getting paid to pretend to listen to student's problems." Morgan rubbed her chin, "Seems like a sweet gig to me." She shivered a little, "Ehhww...no way I could do it. I'll admit it....I'm too greedy."
Casey shrugged. "Beats working retail," She admitted. "You mean too self-absorbed? Greed doesn't really factor into this unless you mean my paycheck. But Cueball's been kind to me in that respect." She set her book aside, dog-earing her page and folding her arms behind her head.
"Err....absorbed, right." Morgan adjusted, she never really was the "book smart-type". She slapped herself in the forehead, "Awe damn...still gotta make nice with Joss again."
"Yeah, probably," Casey sighed. She picked up her book again and reopened it to where she left off, assuming the conversation over.
"Thanks again!" Morgan saluted Casey sped off, out of the rec room. A small gust of wind his Casey as Morgan left.
Arthur dragged Crys into the room, Locks wrapped around her arm as well. They wanted to talk to her, ask her why she was being so silent lately.
"Hey! What's the big idea draggin me all over the place?" Crys demanded as she was dragged into the room
"Well you haven't been talking to anyone" Arthur said, giving Crys' hand a small squeeze and frowning at her "I wanted some privacy so i could make sure everything's ok."
Kari walked in with her two little twins walking alongside of her with their hands in hers. She hadn't realized that she had interrupted a private conversation. Moving over to a small poker table, she helped the twins up into their seats. Kari looked at the other students and smiled, "Hope you don't mind if we draw pictures in here?" She pulled out a stack of construction paper and markers from a supplies closet. Going to the table, she laid everything out for Jayden and Jaden.
"No, no" Arthur said as Locks scratched at his head in an embarrassed fashion "Oh course not."
"I'm fine." Crys said plainly. She smiled as she saw the little ones. "You saw how everyone was, didn't you? The teachers were so cold-hearted...not to mention how all those mutants were locked up..."
"I don't think the guards were much better than the teachers" Arthur admitted... but he wasn't sure that was a comfort "Crys... lets not be teachers here when we leave ok? I don't think I could ever do that."
Kari's large ears couldn't help but pick up what the students were talking about. She didn't want to intrude on their conversation- but she agreed with them. Why did Del and Tom need to murder all those people? No one can justify killing another. She was pulled out of her thoughts when she noticed Jayden chewing on a crayon. "Hey now, don't eat that."
"I know they were Genoshians...but still." Crys said quietly
"They're people who kidnapped, beat and probably killed to get what they want... none of them did anything to STOP this from happening..." Arthur closed his eyes for a moment, Locks covering his eyes with the cool solid mandibles. Arthur was getting a headache, and that was stinging Locks' mind as well.
"Does that not mean that they deserved what they got though? That the teachers were justified?" Crys asked in a confused voice. She was having difficulties piecing it all together. The teachers had killed so many of them, just to free the Relmans. They had released the other mutants as well, most of whom were probably still back there killing people
"No... nothing is justified in that place. But it's not condemning either... it's just one of those... things" Arthur sighed, Locks rubbing his eyes slowly as he thought "What is it called? 'Necessary evils'? It's not a place I'd like to ever visit though..."
"Why did we have to go along though?" Crys asked curiously. She turned to look at Kari, as if her, being a teacher, should know.
Kari was busy watching and coloring with her little ones. The twins scribbled spontaneously all around the page. Though they seemed to be quite purposeful at the same time.
"cause the bad guys came HERE" Arthur said, he knew that much "And kidnapped people. The teachers needed all of them together to get them out, but they couldn't leave us here unprotected."
"There were other teachers they could have left us with. Hell, they could have left us with the Fantastic Four, like they do with the babies." Cry pointed out with frustration
Arthur shrugged "I don't know, finding a safe place for the children I get... maybe it's just because if they got in trouble we'd be there? I mean... Mort and Amy there, nothing would stop them. Maybe they wanted back up and didn't know who else to bring?"
Kari did her best not to listen in on their conversation, but it was becoming difficult. She tried to ignore them and focus on the twins as they colored pictures for their Dad.
"So instead of actually deciding who to bring they just take us all? That was stupid, teachers aren't supposed to be stupid." Crys told him
"You saw them down there, half of them were..." Arthur paused, glanced at Kari and quietened slightly "were missing people... I don't think they were thinking straight. I'm not saying it's any better, but they're still people Crys."
"People who put those they are meant to protect into direct harm, Arthur. Why can't you see that?" Crys asked him in sheer frustration. The teachers were supposed to protect them, but instead they took them to the one place on Earth where mutants are far from protected
"Look, I don't know, ok?" Arthur said, shrugging slightly and looking desperately at Crys "I'm just saying that they must have a reason right? It's not like we just walked after them and expected them to look after us..." He bit his lip for a moment "We... we DID get told to follow them right?"
"I was following those in front of me. I don't know if we were told. It looked like a game of follow the leader if you ask me." Crys told him with a dramatic shrug
"We didn't just... follow them on did we?" arthur asked, groaning softly and rubbing his forehead "I mean it's not like would be thinking of us at all at that moment would they? And didn't they take us down to that place for us to hide?"
"I don't know." Crys told him, growing more and more agitated by the questions
Kari left her little ones and walked over to Crys and Arthur. She too was a bit ashamed at how the other teachers acted. "Achem-" she cleared her throat. "Did you two have questions?"
arthur had a feeling that he was the one who had questions, so he turned and said immediatley "Were we asked to come with you on that mission? Did we just wonder after you and put pressure on you to protect us?"
"Oh?" Kari blinked, dreading such a question. She wasn't the one in charge and hoped to not say anything she shouldn't. "I surely doubt that any of the teachers would purposely put the students in danger." Kari rubbed her arm. "I apologize for all the teachers when I say that you kids shouldn't have seen all of that." Even though she was probably the only one who didn't take a life, she felt responsible as well.
Arthur shook his head quickly, waving a hand at Kari "Don't appologise for all of them, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't all appologise... I can't judge the teachers on what they did, no one should."
"Still. The situation should have been treated better. It's too bad Wade was living in the bunker and ate all of the food." Kari paused, "What on Earth happened to him anyway?"
"I'm sure he's around. He said he wasn't goin anywhere, didn't he?" Crys offered with a shrug
Kari rolled her shoulders, "Anyway- I'm glad everything went well and everyone is safe. Hopefully something like that will never happen again."
"Hopefully" Arthur said, shrugging slightly and rubbing his head, Locks winding around his hand slowly and holding it "I think it spooked Locks..."
"It spooked all of us...." Crys said quietly, looking at her hands. She had been useless there. Her usual arsenal of video games were going to have to change if they were going to be put into situations like that. She clenched her fists slightly. She knew what she had to do
"Well like I said before, if you ever need to-" Kari began, but her skids laughter caught her ear and she looked over to see them doodling all over the table. "Boys! Boys boys!" she exclaimed, frantically running over to them. "Not the table!"
Arthur couldn't help but smile slightly at Kari as she dashed away for her children... The teachers were people. They were scared, they were angry, they were weapons who had been put in circumstances no one should. How could he blame them? Someone had to make these choices.
Crys leaned forward and kissed Arthur on the cheek. "Listen, Artie, I've...I've gotta go. I need to think on some stuff. I'll see you later though, ok?"
Arthur opened his mouth to speak, but simply nodded and sighed softly; he understood. He really should go think about this as well, especially why he was being so calm.
Crys turned and exited the rec room, heading up to her room. (Crys and Morgan's Room)
Kari formed a rag and scrubbed off the crayon from the table. "Now come on you two... this is for your Daddy. He isn't feeling too well."
Arthur opened his mouth, releasing a small sound of "ho-" before pausing and shuffling nervously; he wanted to know what happened to them, but all he saw was on the screens. He didn't know if he should ask how it was or not.
"No no no Jayden, don't eat that." Kari said only to find that they both looked up at her. She shook her head and sighed. Why the hell did she give them the same names?
Athur felt a tug, looking down and noticing Locks was trying to pull him over to the twins by his shirt. Dumbfounded he stumbled slightly until he was beside them at the table, smiling down at the work they'd done on the paper. Locks on the other hand as happily curling a small tendril around a crayon.
The twins stared at the moving hair in awe. Jaden reached out and grabbed the lock that was holding the crayon. "Ah- ah-...no tugging Arthur's hair." Kari waved her finger. She smiled at Arthur and asked, "He wants to color to?" She of course was referring to Locks.
"Heh" Arthur mumbled, feeling a bit embarressed by Locks' antics. "He's always liked to colour and draw" he admitted, another one of Locks' tendrils reaching out and curling around Jaden's arm as the baby gripped onto the tendril with the crayon.
Jaden brought his little chubby hand in and tried to but the hair in his mouth.
"Ah! Hey!" Kari tried to restrain him, but it was too late. "Erm...sorry about that."
"Don't worry" Arthur chuckled, Locks pulling his tendril free quickly and shaking it around to get the wetness off "He's covered by calcium so probably tastes like chalk anyway."
Kari sat Jaden back on his butt and handed him the crayon. They both went on coloring. "Again, about before... I apologize about what happened and what some of you might've seen."
"Don't appologise" arthur said simply "If those men lived and continued working like that, how many more would have been captured or hurt? Sometimes... people have to do things that others think are wrong."
"Uhm...right." Kari said, rubbing her arm. Did Arthur just justify Tom and Del's killings? She thought about it for a while but shook her head lightly. No, there were always options and other ways to right wrongs.
"People just find it surprising when it's those they didn't think could do it" Arthur continued on, more than likely talking to himself "I mean... No one was looking at that Deadpool guy, if Wolverine had been there I doubt anyone would have cared... But instead people concentrated on those who don't normally do it. Mixed restraint I guess... to have the power to do that all the time but never resorting to it."
"I feel that no matter what the reason...someone shouldn't kill another and steal their life away. No one has that right. Only in the most dire situation do I consider killing justifiable." Kari explained. "To ruthlessly murder based upon rage and hatred is wrong....only in defense is killing accepted. But even then...other solutions can be made."
"Could you have seen another way out of that situation?" Arthur asked, honestly and quizzicly "Another way of stopping all those people, then freeing all the slaves, while making sure the guards would stay down and not just get up again and start firing at people?" Arthur shrugged slightly and chuckled as Locks held up a drawing of a comb "Yeah yeah, very nice."
"Yes. It would've been difficult. But yes, I do think there was another way to go about that situation. Tom- er... Mr. Burd, I think, was driven on the fact that Lyra was captured but I don't feel that justifies hurting people like he did."
Arthur gave a slow nod at Kari "I... I don't know what happened beyond those doors... I couldn't actually see what was going on." He sighed and shook his head slowly "Maybe there's more to it than what it seemed like however."
"More then you would like to know." Karo cleared her throat and smiled, "Uhm, perhaps we should see how the other new students are doing?" She didn't like talking about these things.
Arthur found this rather entertaining however, but nodded in respect to Kari. "Perhaps you'd like to stay here and colour with your children?" he suggested, grinning as Locks handed Jaden his drawing of a comb "I'll go talk to them."
Kari smiled as the picture was passed to her son, "Why thank you Locks."
Locks scratched at his own head, clearly embarressed but proud of himself for sharing the drawing. "See you later miss" Arthur said to her, making his way towards the door.
Kari looked back at her boys and whipped some dribble from Jayden's chin. "Now- help me clean up you two." she said, gathering the crayons from the table.
Jayden was throwing the crayons into the bin while Jaden was more careful, moving his hands very gently.
"These looks lovely, boys." Kari said, folding their card of various scribbles. "Maybe we should go see if Daddy is awake yet. How's that sound?" she leaned in, "Do you two want to go see Daddy?"
The twins looked at their Mom and proceeded to clean up the crayons.
Del opened the door and stepped out of Arthur's way, having scented him as she and Will approached. "I brought the new dad." Del told Kari as she came in and took a seat.
Will chose his favorite wing-back chair by the fireplace and sat the "baby started kit" Del had given him by the chair. He smiled fondly at his nephews their mother cleaned them up.
"Really? You are going to raise him?" Kari perked up and had the brightest smile possible. "Congratulations Will!" She hopped out of her chair and gave him a hug. "This is wonderful! What's his name? Oh! We should have one of those....those...rain things....Oh! Baby shower!"
"I've settled on Junior for now." Will told her "Until I can think of something more permanent I was however considering naming him Beaufort, after my grandfather."
"It's certainly... uncommon." Del said with a smile.
"Baby shower. Next Sunday. I'll decorate." Kari mused with a chipper grin. She was completely happy for him. Poor William had practically remained single since his breakup with Isabelle those many years ago. Not to mention, he always lurked around the school by himself and it just seemed too lonely for Kari's liking. This was a lovely solution!
The twins managed to put all of the crayons away in the box. They got sidetracked however and ran over to the pool table, attempting to climb up it.
"I appreciate it Kari, but you don't have to." Will told her "The way things go around here something or someone will most likely attack."
Del laughed at that, he certainly was right.
Kari frowned, that most likely would happen. "Perhaps I won't decorate?" she offered. Perking up, she asked Will, "So- where is he?"
"He's with hank in the hospital." Will explained "He said he was going to run some more tests, make sure the lad will be ok."
"That's probably for the best." Del said "Cloning isn't an exact science, any number of things could have gone wrong in the process. But hank's smart, he'll do his best to fix any major malfunctions."
"Uhm...I hate to bring this up so early, but are you going to tell him about this whole, cloning thing? Or just keep it a secret?" Kari asked, personally curious.
"I'd not thought of that yet..." Will said and his expression changed to one of deep thought and after a moment he answered her "I suppose I will. I'm sure he's going to have questions about his mother eventually and I believe a lie would produce animosity later down the road. It would probably be best to be honest with him."
"i know Jayn's still out downstairs but what's Lyra think of all this?" Del asked
"I'm waiting till Jayn is healthy again before I clearly state my intentions." Will explained "But I don't foresee ether of them having an issue with it."
Kari was still very excited. "I hope all of our kids are friends when they get older." she said, imagining they would with a blissful expression.
"There's no doubt they will." Will said with a smile. "Waya will have to beat them off with a stick." he was smiling broadly now, his white teeth a stark contrast with the rest of his complexion.
"As long as they don't have to beat her off with one I'll be happy." Del was smiling now, remembering her own volatile youth and a few scratched up boys in her wake.
"That's true...poor Waya is the only girl so far." Kari looked around and leaned in to whisper. "You think Lyra and Tom are going to have kids anytime soon?"
"They bloody damn well had better get to it I say." Will said strongly "Her previous husband was a sod."
Kari giggled, "That's definitely not something I would expect an older brother to say about his sister."
"Lyra and Tom are meant for one another." Will said "And he's a man I approve of, I know he would treat her well."
Del was quiet all of a sudden, remembering their first semester here and how Callisto had abducted Tom.
"Well that's just wonderful." Kari smiled.
The twins had somehow managed to get on the top of the pool table. They were played with the balls, clicking them together loudly. Kari lifted her head to see that they had somehow gotten up on the table. "Goodness!" she jumped up and ran over. "How did you two get up here?"
They looked up at her, not really understanding what she was saying. Jayden gnawed on a ball.
"Makes me glad i had only one." Del whispered to Will.
Will nodded in agreement, seeing the twins plateful ancticts made him feel a bit less worried about being thrust into fatherhood.
Kari brought the twins down and shuffled them over to some toys. She proceeded to sit with Del and Will once more. "Heh...sorry. I don't know how they keep doing things like that. I can never catch them in the act either."
"Maybe your just lucky and they're among the 10% who exhibit their powers early?" Del wondered.
"Oh...I'm not so sure I would like that. They are only toddlers...." Kari trailed off, thinking of the possibilities. They definitely weren't very good...enough to make a Mom sweat.
"Adds a whole new meaning to terrible twos." Will remarked
Kari sighed, "Let's just hope they still will listen to me if they know whats good for them."
Will glanced at Del, unsure of whether or not Kari was joking.
"spare the rod." Was all Del said with a smile, believing that Kari would never mistreat her children but it was hard to raise a child these days without enforcing a little attitude adjustment now and then.
Kari smiled, "Kabobs? Like shish kabobs?" she asked, mishearing Del. "What a wonderful idea!" she clapped. "Perhaps we can welcome the new students with a nice dinner tonight?"
"Not a bad idea Kari." Del said mulling it over "It'll give them a chance to meet everyone."
"Oh! This is so exciting!" Kari clasped her hands together. "I can decorate!" She has always loved doing that. Kari was first asked to help decorate during her first first Halloween at Xavier's school. Ever since, she has always volunteered to decorate and has always done a splendid job.
"So how many where brought back with us?" Will asked "Other than the lad, I was a bit preoccupied to do a head count."
"Well there's the moth girl, the bird boy and a lizard girl." Del said counting them off on her fingers "Odd bunch if you ask me, makes me wonder if the Genocians hadn't specifically chosen animal based mutants for a reason."
"Goodness- that's a wonderful observation, Del. Maybe it's not just coincidence?" Kari pondered.
Amy walked in to see a handful of teachers sitting at a table. That never really seemed like a good sign to her. "Erm....sorry? But I sort of told the new guys to meet in here. We can go somewhere else though.."
Mort was having a lot of trouble not following Amy like a love sick puppy still, but he could justify this at least as the fact they would both want to meet the new guys when they returned. When he saw the teachers he paused, wondering if he'd run into something important that they should avoid; he let Amy do the talking, not wanting to pay attention to himself.
Iggy wheeled Tobias into the room and froze. Everything in this room was new and alien to her. Instictivly she began to back out slowly as she began to breath a bit faster.
Mort's head snapped around at the sound of wheels, actually snapped; he didn't always go by the restraints of simple turning circles. He made his way over to Iggy and Tobias' side, giving a slight nod and whispering "Hey, you alright?" He would have smiled in a disarming way, attempted to calm them down... but he was still a skeleton. He hated being reminded of that.
Iggy jumped a bit, not really noticable, as Mort spoke to her and pulled her from her panic. She looked at Mort and realized that he looked exactly like something out of one of her nightmares. When she realized that she was pulling Tobias back with her she quickly let go off the handles. She then did a mixture of speaking and mumbling before quickly leaving the room back into the hallway.
"Iggy?" Tobias asked as she left him sitting there. He couldn't turn his head around to see her.
"She... uhhh... ran" Mort said softly, looking after Iggy as she left. "Here.." he moved behind Tobias, pushing him forward until he was beside Amy. "Look after him a sec Amy, I need to go talk to one of the new ones..." he sighed, turning and heading out into the hallway where Iggy was.
Mort found Iggy sitting against the wall on the floor with her head resting on her knees and her arms wrapped around her legs keeping herself very compact. She glanced over and looked at Mort without moving her head.
Mort moved carefully, folding his legs up beneath him so he sat against the wall as well, a little bit away from Iggy so she could get some space. "Hey" Mort said softly "Are you alright?" It was a stupid question, but a starter at least.
"Panic." Iggy said still looking at the floor. "I...I panic sometimes. Got me in trouble a lot. Lots of lashes. Lots of time in a hole." she looked over at Mort with an expressionless face. "I dont like meeting new people. New people die. Cant learn names, cant get attached."
"Well you're a bit late with me" Mort pointed out, his own expressionless face staring right back at Iggy "I'm already dead. Whoop." He did a little twirling motion with his finger in the air as if in mock celebration "And we don't punish people for being frightened here, if they did I'd spend all my time in a shed. This is the place you come to to get better... and that can't happen if you run away." He took a fake breath, not wanting to make the girl spooked by his utter stillness "Anyway... I know it's a bit soon, but that's what will happen while you're here. You'll get better..."
"Better?" Iggy said as if the notion had never come to her mind. "The doctors their said the same thing. They never helped, only made it worse." she was silent for a bit before speaking again. "You may think I dwell on my past too much, compare everything to what I experienced there. But you have to understand that it is all I know and all I see. Even here I still see and smell and hear that place."
"Believe me" Mort said with a soft sigh "I know what it's like to dwell on the past, and I'm not saying this is going to happen over night. Even I sometimes get moments where I... break down." He thought back to his literal breaking down not too long ago "Just... try not to be scared alright? You can hate, be unfriendly, attack even... just... try not to be scared."
"Fear is what I feel the most. Dont know hate, or unfriendly and never attack. My powers are only good for work." Iggy said as she rested her chin back on her knees. "If this place really is better then the quarry then I guess my fear will leave, but it is still a part of me now."
"So-" Amy began, "How long until your all healed up?" It was nice to meet new people. Things had been so dreary lately, at least to her.
The little twins, Jayden and Jaden clumsily walked over to the new group of kids. They stopped at Tobias' wheelchair and leaned on it.
"The blue furry one downstairs said it'll just be a couple of weeks. Says I'm a fast healer, that I kinda have to be..having hollow bones and all." Tobias said, looking down at the little children crowding his chairs.
Moth had been fixated by a light fixture in her room and was only now arriving at the rec-room. She saw Iggy and Mort in the hall and immediately dropped to her knees next to him "You alright Igg?"
"That was Dr. McCoy." Del told Tobias "He's usually down there if you need anything." She had a list of questions she wanted to ask the kids but figured it was in bad taste at the moment. Especially considering she could inadvertently hear Iggy and Mort in the hall.
"So where are you all from?"Will asked "From before I mean."
Amy gave Tobias a smile, "Well that's good." She refrained from asking another question after Will spoke.
"I think im better now." Iggy said as Moth kneeled next to them. "Just had a small panic attack when I went into the room. Too much strange stuff and new faces to process at once."
Mort nodded and stood up slowly, still standing a bit back from Iggy to give her some breathing space "Ok... but if you feel like that again, just come find me, alright?"
"Dont worry about me." Iggy said as she took in a deep breath. "If I bothered you with every panic attack then you would never get any peace and quiet."
"Again, dead, peace and quiet isn't want I'm exactly short of at the moment" Mort sighed "I insist... if you need me at any point, just come and talk to me. No matter what the time, I don't really sleep anyway."
Iggy nodded. She had never had someone offer to help her when she has a breakdown, it was...strange. She would have to push past the fact that he reminded her of all the death she had seen in Genoshia and in her dreams.
"I won't push you, so I'll be inside if you need me" Mort said, nodding to them again before turning and heading back towards the rec room. It felt nice to actually help someone...
"Come on, up ya get." Moth told Iggy and placed her hand under her arm to help her up. she was glad Iggy was alright and made a mental note to try and keep a better eye on her. had it not been for that fancy lamp she wouldn't have missed Iggy's fit.
Iggy resisted at first just letting Moth pull her arm up without cooperating. Then with a sigh she slowly stood, her tore up and filthy clothing fell easily back into their usual place. She looked at the door to the room with a worried expression and decided to try and stall. "Why is it called a wreck room? Nothing is damaged?"
"Nah." Moth told her "We'd a recroom at the university in Queensland. It'll be just a bunch of couches and tele's and stuff. Right?" The last bit she asked mort, after all she'd not yet seen this recroom yet.
"Yeah, and some other stuff too, like air hockey table and a snooker table and all that" Mort said, nodding back at the two "Just... fun stuff. That's all." He knew saying "fun" to these two was like saying "cranberry stuffing" to a turkey; they wouldn't understand what was going on but they'd probably feel a faint hint of dread anyway, but he had to try to convince them this was a good place.
"Then why call it a wreck room if you dont wreck things in it?" Iggy asked severely confused by this whole school now.
"Recreation room, recreation, not wreck" Mort shook his head slightly and trying not to laugh "The video games can be used to blow stuff up if you really want to though."
"But not real stuff." Moth, quickly added "They're played on the tele, with radio controls. We'll show you, you'll like it."
Amy rubbed her arm and looked down at Tobias. "So what sort of things do you like to do? Do you have any hobbies?"
"Haven't really had much time for hobbies as of late." Tobias explained with a sigh, "And before Genoshia...before Genoshia I didn't have much of a life either. My mutation sort of made me a freak in appearance, so there wasn't a whole lot that I could really do outside of my own houses. If it wasn't bad enough that it made me look like a freak, it also pretty much crippled me at the same time..." He looked really sad, despite the fact that his face was pretty much stuck in a smile as his beak was growing. "Alot of pain and broken bones with a slow mutation like mine...probably could've been worse though. I was born with the hollow bones, which is apparently actually a disease so right away they didn't know I was a mutant."
"Even if you weren't the most social, I'm sure there were some things you liked to do." Amy asked, trying not to dwell on the bad memories that he was reminiscing. "Do you like astronomy?"
Iggy stared at them blankly as the spoke. She didn't understand anything they had said. Video games? Recreation? Tele? She had bad feelings about all of this.
"Lookin at the stars? Nah, not all that much. They're just a bunch of hot gas anyway." Tobias said with a little chuckle. "I guess I was kinda into books a bit, not too much though."
"Ok, we'll take you through it slowly" Mort reassured her, holding the door open with a foot and waiting for Iggy to come into the rec room with them.
"It's actually a lot more amazing then that." Amy defended her stargazing. "I doubt you've looked through a telescope like mine." She went with where he was taking the conversation, "Why kind of books?"
"Scifi stuff mostly, found it comforting I guess." Tobias explained
"Scifi and you don't want to use a telescope?" Amy teased a bit, looking down at the little twin boys as they played with a pool table ball. "These two are half alien, you know." she said, trying to spark excitement in the new guy.
Iggy peaked into the room for a few seconds before finally walking in with her arms crossed and her gaze on the floor. She wemt and assumed her previous position at the handles of Tobias's wheelchair.
"You trust me right?" Moth asked Iggy, tehy may not have had the same job in Genocia but moth recognized seeing her from time to time. "I'll make sure nothing happens to you."
Del had taken to regarding the newcomers. Her conversation with kari and Will had fallen short after their arrival and Del's curiosity about them had gotten the better of her.
Likewise Will was watching them too, especially after his questions had gone unanswered. he sort of felt as if he where watching a nature show, seeing three baby bears confused about being relocated without their mother.
Iggy caught the stares of the two and her breathing picked up. She looked back at the floor and squeezed her eyes shut as tight as she could. And forced herself to calm down. She had to push all her thoughts of their bad intentions from her mind and assure herself they were good people.
"Come on" Mort sighed softly, his hand reaching out slowly and taking hold of Iggy's, trying to comfort the girl "Come on... it's alright..."
"Half alien huh? Cool." Tobias said, looking back at Iggy. "You hear that, Iggy? Half alien."
"Half what?" Iggy said after Mort had helped her push back another attack. "What is an...alien?" she asked curiously. Sometimes it seemed like she was no more then four years when people spoke to her.
Mort honestly wondered if they'd done something to her memory in there... He squeezed Iggy's hand softly, at least he hoped softly, and said "A being from another planet. Outer space. They're nice, don't worry."
Kari got up and walked over to her twins. "Come on you two." She grabbed their hands and looked at the group of students. "Sorry if these two are pestering you." She noted the pool table ball in one of their hands. "How the-" she stopped and took it from him.
"Half human I guess." Tobias offered her. All that Amy said was they were half alien, so it was kind of a toss up as to what the other half was, though if it were two alien races why specify it that way.
"Kari's people are from the planet Aztrentose." Del said chancing the moment to speak, she hoped she didn't sent the girl shaking out in the hall again. "Kari crashed on Earth when she was about your age."
"we've bartered an alliance between her planet and ours." Will added "We're all quite good friends."
"See Igg, nothin' to worry 'bout." Moth said, her hand on Iggy's shoulder "These blokes are nothing like those wanks on Genocia."
Iggy chuckled, seemingly nervously, at all the information that was just given to her. Aliens and alliances with different planets and again she hadnt much of an idea of what they were talking about.
Kari smiled and waved awkwardly at the students, "Hi." She then let go of her son's hands and said, "Go get your pictures for Daddy." The two looked at one another and ran over to the table. Kari placed a hand on her hip and looked at the new students. She looked over at Del, wondering if she should announce their little 'kabob secret'.
As if understanding what Kari was thinking Del gave her a little squinty-eyed look that sort of said "not yet". She could smell that they'd just eaten and after all they where X-Men, anything could happen between now and dinner.
Mort watched Iggy intently, the girl seemed to be spacing out through the conversations and looking frightened at what she did hear "Are... you ok?" he asked softly. He knew the answer was no, but he was hoping a steady voice would give her something to come back to.
Tobias was itching to get out and move around, but the stupid oafs back in Genosha had really done a number on him. The doctor downstairs told him it would probably be a few weeks before he could get around on his own, but that didn't stop him from wanting to. He sighed and looked down. "This sucks..." he mumbled quietly
"I will be fine." was the answer that Iggy gave to Mort. It was an answer she had given many times to others at Genoshia, guard and slave worker alike, when she didnt want someone reporting her episodes. So it came very naturally to her here. "And you will be too." she said to Tobias's complaint.
Tobias looked over at her. "Doesn't make it suck any less though." He told her with a smile in his voice
"Hey- at least you can get out of the danger room sessions." Amy told Tobies, leaning on the back of his wheelchair with her elbows. "Plus there is usually a few months of rest before another big adventure."
"Danger Room?" Moth asked not liking the way it sounded and after all she'd told Iggy that things here would be safe and all right.
"It's a fully holographic hard light simulation." Del told Moth "We use it for training exercises. There are precautions to prevent people from getting hurt." though she could remember several occasions where someone ended up hurt after a simulation. Her own rather horrific demise on one occasion.
"Can also be used for other reasons as well" Mort said, trying to think of an up-side to this "Just for... like a small holiday when you can't leave, or just plain enjoyment."
"You mean like the Holodecks on StarTrek? That's crazy..." Tobias said, shaking his head lightly.
"That's a perfect way to explain it." Will told Tobias "Not that I bow at the alter of Roddenberry or anything."
"You'd have to be insane not to. Living in the world we live in with the giant robots and aliens and mutants. Roddenberry is a god dude." Tobias told him
Will chuckled at Tobias' kindheartedly and added "We've some spectacular technology on hand around here. I'll see what I can do to acquire some episodes for you while you recover.
"See how nice they are here." Moth whispered to Iggy "I think we're going to be fine."
Iggy smile at Moth, "I hope your right." She would leave the hoping to Moth and Tobias as she wouldnt waste her time. The only way this place could be worse then Genoshia, was if they killed her.
Amy smiled, pleased that the group seemed to like the school. It was nice having some new faces around here. She had too much of an unforgiving history with the ones currently enrolled.
Kari took her boys by the hands and looked at William and Del. "Well I'm off to see how Jayn is doing. Perhaps I'll see you two later?" she smiled before heading towards the door, then down to the hospital.
"That'd be nice." Tobias said then added, "Course, I'd need a tv first. Didn't think to pack one before going to that lovely little getaway."
"I don't think we're allowed them in the rooms" Mort said, scratching his head slightly "But I think, since you're a kinda... special case." His little pin prick eyes rolled over the wheel chair "We could bring one up."
"Special case? Is that what they call everybody in a wheelchair around here?" Tobias asked with an arched eyebrow
"Dunno, never really had anyone in a wheel chair hanging around" Mort said with a slight shrug "And it's just for a bit, like a movie or something."
Del exchanged a glance with Will and told the newbs "The former Headmaster was likewise confined. There's access ramps and handi-aid facilities all over the school. They're a little hard to find cause of the decor."
"Handi-aid facilities?" Tobias asked curiously. The word combo was rather confusing
"Though won't you be able to use crutches anytime soon?" Amy asked Tobias, glancing down to his legs.
"There are multiple elevators on every floor and every external exit has a ramp." Will told him.
"I wouldn't be able to even grip the crutches." Tobias pointed out, wiggling just his thumb and pointer finger. He was incapable of moving any other than those.
"Oh I see-" Amy leaned to one side, "I suppose that would be a problem, wouldn't it? Heh- sorry." she apologized, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Don't take this the wrong way or anything-" Del said looking at Tobias "But have you always been... Have you always looked like this or did you have another form before?" There was something about the young man that seemed a bit off. As if his mutation was more than just disfiguring.
"Well jeez ain't that a bit harsh?" Tobias asked sharply. "I wasn't born lookin like this if that's what you mean." He scowled at Del and rolled his large avian eyes. "I woke up one morning with gross pimply looking growths all over and then a few days later started sproutin nasty ass little feathers."
<Hr>
"Don't you think the lad's been threw enough for one day?" Will asked her "I thought we where going to save the briefing for tomorrow?"
"How long after you began exhibiting your mutation did the Genocian's take you?" Del said ignoring Will. She wasn't exactly concerned with hurting his feelings. No. If the Genocian's did something to him to stunt his transformation then fixing that was more important than his feelings.
Amy blinked quickly, curious to Del's persistence. She glanced down to Tobias to see what he would say.
Mort however was... sort of getting what Del was driving at. "I think... it's more important that we find out if the Genocian's did something to people's mutations first. I mean if I was slowed down during my mutation I might just have lost all my skin but not stayed alive."
"They didn't take me." Tobias told her sharply. "I found them by accident. I was transforming into something when they showed up and clamped me with one of those collars."
"So they stopped you from transforming?" Amy asked quickly.
"Hell if I know, maybe I was supposed to end up this way?" Tobias said sort of wishing it was someone else's turn to play 20 questions.
"I don't think so." Del said "No offense or anything but I've seen avian based mutants and your kind of... misshapen." Realizing how that sounded Del stood up and found a seat closer to Tobias "That didn't come out right. What I'm saying is that I think once your done recuperating, don't be surprised if you begin to change again. Speaking from experience it can be a difficult process and I don't want you to freak out. considering your current state I wouldn't be surprised if you'll be able to fly before the month is out."
"Yeah well, no offense or anything, but even if I don't fly that's fine. I've been a bit of a freak for a while now anyway. I wouldn't be surprised if this was how i was supposed to end up." Tobias said sharply, glaring at the woman who was evidently a teacher here
"Mutations have a funny way of surfacing." Del told him. "I mutated from the time I was 12 to..." She looked at Will almost as if he had the answer "Well I guess technically I still am. I turned into an Aztrentian slug beast a few weeks ago. That was a new one for me."
"Whatever that is." Tobias said with a roll of his eyes, he was getting real tired of being the center of attention. He got enough of that just being a bird boy, then they go and add the wheelchair on top of it
"You want to see?" Del asked bluntly.
"Perhaps here is not the right place." Will said speaking up "Remember the slime Delaney?"
"Giant alien space slug" Mort said quickly, explaining before Del decided to show off. Seeing that Todias was being annoyed at being the center of attention Mort turned to Del "So... what would you be able to do if he was only half mutated? Would you actually be able to help?"
Amy adjusted as she stood and watched. Seeing a hair blob on her head fall a bit, she lifted her hands and sculpted it back up like ice cream.
"I think so." Del told Mort and then added more securely "I'm almost positive. Even if his DNA had been tampered with we know people who can fix it. If not then I remember a few tricks from when I was a kid that can probably help."
"They didnt." Iggy said out of nowhere. If there was one thing she knew about it was altering gentic make-up. "I was there. When they got him. They havent altered him. I have been in their labs. He hasn't."
"Then the odds are in our favor." Del said and her attention turned to Iggy, she was quite sure Tobias was sick of her questions any way. "What about you?" She asked, blatantly. Tact hadn't ever really been one of Del's strong suites.
"I was not altered. I was taught." Iggy said looking at Del. "I am as I was when I was born. I believe."
Tobias breathed a sigh of relief as the questioning switched from him to Iggy. He wasn't exactly comfortable with Iggy being the center of attention either, but it made him feel better to not be it.
"Do you shed?" Del asked curiously. If the girl was confident nothing had ever really been done to her there wasn't much room for improvement.
"I shed!" Moth said eagerly. She'd been quiet for as long as she cared to. "I sometimes change colors and patterns an stuff. I shed once, sometimes twice a year. I'm due in a couple months! The last time I did it without breaking my carapace! Dad keeps it in storage, it looks just like me!"
"A full body carapace?" Del asked. That was a new one on her, the thought of seeing a translucent shell of what Moth used to look like was interesting and sort of creepy at the same time. The fact that her father had kept it attributed to that latter.
"Yep!" Moth said, probably the shortest answer she'd ever give.
Iggy's heart rate slowed as the attention was pulled away from her. She was still baffled by the fact that she had spoken up like that. It was very unlike her and made her wonder what was coming over her.
"Don't let Dr. mcCoy find out." del told moth "He'll most likely want to study it next time you shed."
Moth's eyes brightened "Really? You really think so?"
"Hank is going to like her." Will said with a smile. "Speaking of Hank I think I'll go check on Junior." With that he stood and waved a goodbye to all the new arrivals and headed for the hospital.
"How often does that happen?" Amy asked curiously. "Seems like it would be really itchy."
"Only once a year, sometimes twice." Moth told her "You'll get to see it in a few months, I can't wait. I'm so sick of my wings being brown, I hope the color changes. You'll notice when it begins to start cause my eyes will look cloudy and my skin will start to crack and stuff." Moth couldn't stop her mouth yet again and she continued to blather on. "My dad would document my changes all the time, he was planning on writing a book on how to cope with mutant children. Especially ones who where insect like like me."
"Hmm...interesting." Amy rubbed her chin. "Well we sure are a colorful class." she said, placing her hands on her hips. A skeleton, an acid girl, bird, moth, lizard... it just kept getting better and better.
"So" Mort said, breaking the silence for once; he really was getting better "What do you guys want to do now?" He had a feeling they'd want to go to sleep, but he just wanted to check first.
"I think there is being a small reception planned in the commissary." Del said, her keen senses already told her that they'd just eaten. "But if you guys would rather save the meet n' greet for tomorrow we can. It gives the party comity time to set up something proper."
"Will we be meeting all the teachers?" Mothasked. her eyes traveled over to Iggy, perhaps after a good night's sleep she'll feel better about meeting new people.
Amy leaned her butt up against the pool table as she listened and watched everyone. She hoped they would like it here, it was nice seeing new faces. There really hadn't been any new additions to their class in a long time.
"Probably." Del said "And a more extensive tour of the school and grounds."
"Seeing as we just ate not too long ago, wouldn't it be kind of stupid to have a reception just now? Here eat more, you ain't fattened up yet." Tobias pointed out with a roll of his eyes. "Real nice. I don't know about you guys, but I could go for a nap."
"Honestly I could too." Moth said with a bit of a yawn. "I've really not slept in three days."
"Then I'll tell everyone to wait till tomorrow." Del said getting up from her seat. "Tomorrow is Sunday so you don't have to worry about classes just yet." She left them after that, headding for the hospital to tell Kari the party plans where off till tomorrow.
Amy shrugged and pushed herself off of the pool table. "Well- so much for the rec room."
Iggy frowned inwardly as they spoke about this party. She would much rather have it cancelled completely instead of just postponed, but she knew she would be so lucky. She just hoped that she would be able to keep it all together.
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