Disclaimer: Still own jack besides Viktoria, so don't sue, or I'll just
counter sue you for wasting my time.
A/N: Sorry this chapter took so long to finish. School just started a week ago for me, so I've been busy (unfortunately) with that. Hope ya'll enjoy this one.
Chapter 8- The Jokes On You
"Like this?" Viktoria concentrated on the picture as the girl beside her became clearer, her short black hair bouncing softly in an invisible wind.
"Yes, just like that. Okay, she's starting to fade again, focus, focus... There you go, Viktoria! That's perfect!" Jean clapped her hands together in a gesture of triumph. She looked over at Viktoria; her eyes still shut tight, her brow furrowed in deep concentration. "You can open your eyes now, Viktoria."
Viktoria's eyes snapped open as she stared at the image of the blonde girl she had created. She looked from the picture on the table between her and Jean, to the standing likeness she had formed with her mind. "It looks just like the picture- Oh my god! I did it!" Viktoria jumped up and hugged Jean, shouting happily. "Thank you!"
"Your quite welcome, Viktoria," Jean replied with an inward smile. "Now, can you make her do something?" Viktoria shrugged. "I guess so- how's this?" They watched as the short, dark-haired image smiled brightly, then turned and headed back towards the door leading inside.
"What is she doing?" Jean started over, trying to take the panic out of her voice. Viktoria- where are you making her go?" Viktoria smirked at her stricken look.
"I wanna test her out. Just watch, Jean." They followed the image as it passed through the door and walked calmly into the kitchen, taking a seat next to Scott. Scott glanced up briefly from his papers, mumbled a hello, then looked back down, only to double take.
"Who are you?!"
The image smiled softly, her hands gesturing wildly in front of her. She pointed to her throat, then mouth, then clamped her fingers together tightly. "I'm sorry, I don't understand- can you talk? I don't know what your trying to say..." Then it hit him. Sign language. This girl couldn't talk!
"You can't talk, can you? Are you mute?" Scott asked gently. The image of the dark-haired girl nodded, making the same gesture. "Oh- um, well, I don't know sign language- god, I don't know if anyone does, but can you write it down? I mean, I can read," Scott stammered.
"And you're dating him?" Viktoria whispered to Jean. "I mean, I can read." Jean rolled her eyes at Viktoria's mocking, instead pressing her ear closer to the wall to listen. Viktoria covered her mouth to avoid laughing and ruining her concentration.
Scott tried to hand the girl a nearby pen, but it fell through the girl's hand. "Oh! I'm sorry-" The image smiled sadly, looking down at the pen on the ground. She began signing again, this time slower. "I'm sorry, I just don't understand. Maybe-"
**JEAN! ** Scott's mental shout nearly broke Viktoria's focus on the image as she braced herself against the wall. **Jean! I need some help. ** "No kidding," Viktoria muttered. She tapped Jean and pointed, motioning for them to go into the kitchen. Jean nodded as a smile slowly appeared from her face.
"You called, Cyke?" Viktoria took a seat next to the mute image at the table as Jean stood behind Scott, shaking her head in amusement. "Well, this girl's mute, and I don't understand sign language and she can't write or anything-" Scott's shoulders slumped in defeat.
"Ah, not a problem." Viktoria raised her hands, her delicate fingers moving quickly to form words the other girl 'spoke'. The motioned back and forth for a good minute or two before Scott asked, "So what'd she say?"
"Nothing much. She thinks you're pretty gullible. And that I am the most brilliant person she's ever met. I like her already."
"You understand sign language?" Scott asked.
"Of course I do. Who do you think taught her how to sign?" Viktoria smirked and waved at Scott as the image of the girl beside her did the same thing, exactly. Scott stared at the two, finally realizing what was going on.
"She's a hologram, isn't she?" Viktoria nodded enthusiastically. "Great, isn't she? You couldn't even TELL she wasn't real. Except for the pen thing. But isn't it cool? Jean taught me how to strengthen my mental images."
"So I see," Scott replied flatly. He rolled his eyes behind the ruby red shades, and pointed to the girl. "Who is she? Just someone you made up?"
"I can answer that." Jean sat down on the other side of Scott, smiling. "Viktoria made her from a picture of Jubilation Lee. An old picture, but still a pretty good job."
"They don't talk though," Viktoria answered, her chin in her hands. "Hence the mute-ness. And the pen going through the hand." Jean nodded. "In time I'm sure you'll be able to get them to talk. You are just starting out, afterall."
"Yeah. I guess. But with some more practice, I bet I'll have 'em talking, singing, shouting, the whole nine yards by- by summer!" Viktoria rubbed her hands in front of her, a cruel smile forming across her lips. "Y'know- this power might come in pretty handy..."
Scott and Jean exchanged a worried glance. "What do you mean- handy?" Scott asked.
"Hmm? Oh, nothing. I think I'm gonna go find out what Bobby's doing. Maybe play a little basketball or something. See ya'll later." Viktoria gave a quick wave and was out the door before either of them could object.
"Sometimes I worry about that girl," Scott said with a disapproving shake of his head. "What do you think she's up to?" Jean shrugged. "Who knows? She's a bundle of energy, that girl is. I feel sorry for Bobby though."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"And you're sure this'll work, chere?"
Viktoria tapped her foot impatiently. "Of course it will. Why shouldn't it? C'mon, Remy, you know how Bobby is. He can't resist hitting on a new girl. It's in his genes." Remy thought about it for a second, finally nodding his head. "Dat is true. Gambit has to get Bobby back for icing my shoes the other day anyway."
"He what?"
"Iced Gambit's shoes. I go to put my feet in my shoes, and inside, instead of a sole, there's dis layer of ice. It was even worse when it melted. Had to throw away my best pair of running shoes." Remy scowled, his red eyes flashing.
"I know how you feel. He made this sign out of ice and put it in front of my door. It melted too, and leaked all over the floor. Of course, who gets blamed? Not Bobby, his room's down the hall!" Viktoria shuddered at the memory of Ororo lecturing her on how the hallway was for everyone. "Like it's my fault Ororo slipped and fell... Besides, it's not like we're really DOING anything to him. He'll make a fool of himself. All we do is watch and laugh."
Viktoria closed her eyes, the image of Jubilation Lee still fresh in her mind. She heard Remy gasp as the image showed up beside her. Deciding to tweak the image slightly, making it appear a few years older, Viktoria directed it with her mind. She smiled as she opened her eyes, the dark- haired Chinese girl standing perfectly still, quietly awaiting Viktoria's mental commands.
Remy stuck a small mirror out, peering carefully around the corner. "Okay, he's over there by the pool table. Go let ya petite go do her thing."
The image of Jubilation strolled into the next room, her hips moving side to side, a huge smile plastered on her face. Viktoria concentrated as she stood beside Remy behind the adjacent wall, trying to make the image appear sexy. "Hmmm... Maybe I should make her skirt a little more- there we go. Much better."
The image stopped near the pool rack, now with an extremely short mini skirt, and fingered the cues with one hand. Bobby looked up from the table with an amused expression, momentarily abandoning his game with Logan to gape at the pretty girl. Jubilation turned and smiled, her attitude shouting 'flirt with me, stupid!'
Bobby was more than happy to oblige her silent command.
"Hey there, beautiful. You new at the Institute?" Bobby casually walked over to Viktoria's image, his normal shuffle now replaced by a confident swagger. Logan watched on with a disgusted look on his face. "I guess our game's over."
"You want to play? I could teach you if you don't know how-" Bobby was saying to the silent image as she nodded enthusiastically. "See, you take the pool stick and rest it on your, well, there's a lot of different ways to do it, but I rest it on my thumb. See? Then you push like OOAAFF!" The image giggled noiselessly as Bobby doubled over in pain.
Logan chuckled loudly as Bobby clutched his groin in pain, the offending pool stick lying on the ground beside him. "Real slick there, bub." Bobby looked up at him, tears rimming his eyes. "S-s-shut up," he managed to choke out. "This really- ouch- hurts."
Behind the wall, Viktoria and Remy were doubled over in unspoken laughter.
"Ya know ya had that coming." Logan shook his head in amusement, then straightened, his nose sniffing the air cautiously. "Ya two can come out from behind there now."
Viktoria and Remy exchanged a nervous glance. "You think he knows it's us?" Viktoria mouthed. Remy shrugged.
"C'mon Gumbo," Logan called. "You too, Blondie." Viktoria peeked around the wall, with Remy right behind her. "Were we really that loud?" Logan shook his head. "No, but I could still smell ya. 'Specially that cologne a' yours, Gumbo. Whew."
"Damn," Remy cursed under his breath. "We were just getting Bobby back. After all de pranks lately, he had dis comin' to him, no? 'Course, him hitting himself in the nuts with de pool stick was a bonus but."
"What do you mean, get me back?" Bobby looked from Viktoria to Remy, and then back again. Viktoria smirked and pointed to the image of Jubilation. "Well- I've been practicing with Jean, and I figured you'd make a great guinea pig. Check it out."
The image of Jubilation moved up beside Bobby, smiled curtly then disappeared into thin air. "Cool, huh?"
"No. Not really. Not really at all." Bobby crossed his arms across his chest and stomped out of the room. "So not cool, man! I'll get you back y'know!"
"I'd like to see you try, beautiful," Viktoria called back, her tone openly mocking. "I don't know if you should of done that, petite. Bobby is de pranking king." Viktoria glanced at Remy and shrugged.
"What could he possibly do? Freeze my underwear?"
A/N: Sorry this chapter took so long to finish. School just started a week ago for me, so I've been busy (unfortunately) with that. Hope ya'll enjoy this one.
Chapter 8- The Jokes On You
"Like this?" Viktoria concentrated on the picture as the girl beside her became clearer, her short black hair bouncing softly in an invisible wind.
"Yes, just like that. Okay, she's starting to fade again, focus, focus... There you go, Viktoria! That's perfect!" Jean clapped her hands together in a gesture of triumph. She looked over at Viktoria; her eyes still shut tight, her brow furrowed in deep concentration. "You can open your eyes now, Viktoria."
Viktoria's eyes snapped open as she stared at the image of the blonde girl she had created. She looked from the picture on the table between her and Jean, to the standing likeness she had formed with her mind. "It looks just like the picture- Oh my god! I did it!" Viktoria jumped up and hugged Jean, shouting happily. "Thank you!"
"Your quite welcome, Viktoria," Jean replied with an inward smile. "Now, can you make her do something?" Viktoria shrugged. "I guess so- how's this?" They watched as the short, dark-haired image smiled brightly, then turned and headed back towards the door leading inside.
"What is she doing?" Jean started over, trying to take the panic out of her voice. Viktoria- where are you making her go?" Viktoria smirked at her stricken look.
"I wanna test her out. Just watch, Jean." They followed the image as it passed through the door and walked calmly into the kitchen, taking a seat next to Scott. Scott glanced up briefly from his papers, mumbled a hello, then looked back down, only to double take.
"Who are you?!"
The image smiled softly, her hands gesturing wildly in front of her. She pointed to her throat, then mouth, then clamped her fingers together tightly. "I'm sorry, I don't understand- can you talk? I don't know what your trying to say..." Then it hit him. Sign language. This girl couldn't talk!
"You can't talk, can you? Are you mute?" Scott asked gently. The image of the dark-haired girl nodded, making the same gesture. "Oh- um, well, I don't know sign language- god, I don't know if anyone does, but can you write it down? I mean, I can read," Scott stammered.
"And you're dating him?" Viktoria whispered to Jean. "I mean, I can read." Jean rolled her eyes at Viktoria's mocking, instead pressing her ear closer to the wall to listen. Viktoria covered her mouth to avoid laughing and ruining her concentration.
Scott tried to hand the girl a nearby pen, but it fell through the girl's hand. "Oh! I'm sorry-" The image smiled sadly, looking down at the pen on the ground. She began signing again, this time slower. "I'm sorry, I just don't understand. Maybe-"
**JEAN! ** Scott's mental shout nearly broke Viktoria's focus on the image as she braced herself against the wall. **Jean! I need some help. ** "No kidding," Viktoria muttered. She tapped Jean and pointed, motioning for them to go into the kitchen. Jean nodded as a smile slowly appeared from her face.
"You called, Cyke?" Viktoria took a seat next to the mute image at the table as Jean stood behind Scott, shaking her head in amusement. "Well, this girl's mute, and I don't understand sign language and she can't write or anything-" Scott's shoulders slumped in defeat.
"Ah, not a problem." Viktoria raised her hands, her delicate fingers moving quickly to form words the other girl 'spoke'. The motioned back and forth for a good minute or two before Scott asked, "So what'd she say?"
"Nothing much. She thinks you're pretty gullible. And that I am the most brilliant person she's ever met. I like her already."
"You understand sign language?" Scott asked.
"Of course I do. Who do you think taught her how to sign?" Viktoria smirked and waved at Scott as the image of the girl beside her did the same thing, exactly. Scott stared at the two, finally realizing what was going on.
"She's a hologram, isn't she?" Viktoria nodded enthusiastically. "Great, isn't she? You couldn't even TELL she wasn't real. Except for the pen thing. But isn't it cool? Jean taught me how to strengthen my mental images."
"So I see," Scott replied flatly. He rolled his eyes behind the ruby red shades, and pointed to the girl. "Who is she? Just someone you made up?"
"I can answer that." Jean sat down on the other side of Scott, smiling. "Viktoria made her from a picture of Jubilation Lee. An old picture, but still a pretty good job."
"They don't talk though," Viktoria answered, her chin in her hands. "Hence the mute-ness. And the pen going through the hand." Jean nodded. "In time I'm sure you'll be able to get them to talk. You are just starting out, afterall."
"Yeah. I guess. But with some more practice, I bet I'll have 'em talking, singing, shouting, the whole nine yards by- by summer!" Viktoria rubbed her hands in front of her, a cruel smile forming across her lips. "Y'know- this power might come in pretty handy..."
Scott and Jean exchanged a worried glance. "What do you mean- handy?" Scott asked.
"Hmm? Oh, nothing. I think I'm gonna go find out what Bobby's doing. Maybe play a little basketball or something. See ya'll later." Viktoria gave a quick wave and was out the door before either of them could object.
"Sometimes I worry about that girl," Scott said with a disapproving shake of his head. "What do you think she's up to?" Jean shrugged. "Who knows? She's a bundle of energy, that girl is. I feel sorry for Bobby though."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"And you're sure this'll work, chere?"
Viktoria tapped her foot impatiently. "Of course it will. Why shouldn't it? C'mon, Remy, you know how Bobby is. He can't resist hitting on a new girl. It's in his genes." Remy thought about it for a second, finally nodding his head. "Dat is true. Gambit has to get Bobby back for icing my shoes the other day anyway."
"He what?"
"Iced Gambit's shoes. I go to put my feet in my shoes, and inside, instead of a sole, there's dis layer of ice. It was even worse when it melted. Had to throw away my best pair of running shoes." Remy scowled, his red eyes flashing.
"I know how you feel. He made this sign out of ice and put it in front of my door. It melted too, and leaked all over the floor. Of course, who gets blamed? Not Bobby, his room's down the hall!" Viktoria shuddered at the memory of Ororo lecturing her on how the hallway was for everyone. "Like it's my fault Ororo slipped and fell... Besides, it's not like we're really DOING anything to him. He'll make a fool of himself. All we do is watch and laugh."
Viktoria closed her eyes, the image of Jubilation Lee still fresh in her mind. She heard Remy gasp as the image showed up beside her. Deciding to tweak the image slightly, making it appear a few years older, Viktoria directed it with her mind. She smiled as she opened her eyes, the dark- haired Chinese girl standing perfectly still, quietly awaiting Viktoria's mental commands.
Remy stuck a small mirror out, peering carefully around the corner. "Okay, he's over there by the pool table. Go let ya petite go do her thing."
The image of Jubilation strolled into the next room, her hips moving side to side, a huge smile plastered on her face. Viktoria concentrated as she stood beside Remy behind the adjacent wall, trying to make the image appear sexy. "Hmmm... Maybe I should make her skirt a little more- there we go. Much better."
The image stopped near the pool rack, now with an extremely short mini skirt, and fingered the cues with one hand. Bobby looked up from the table with an amused expression, momentarily abandoning his game with Logan to gape at the pretty girl. Jubilation turned and smiled, her attitude shouting 'flirt with me, stupid!'
Bobby was more than happy to oblige her silent command.
"Hey there, beautiful. You new at the Institute?" Bobby casually walked over to Viktoria's image, his normal shuffle now replaced by a confident swagger. Logan watched on with a disgusted look on his face. "I guess our game's over."
"You want to play? I could teach you if you don't know how-" Bobby was saying to the silent image as she nodded enthusiastically. "See, you take the pool stick and rest it on your, well, there's a lot of different ways to do it, but I rest it on my thumb. See? Then you push like OOAAFF!" The image giggled noiselessly as Bobby doubled over in pain.
Logan chuckled loudly as Bobby clutched his groin in pain, the offending pool stick lying on the ground beside him. "Real slick there, bub." Bobby looked up at him, tears rimming his eyes. "S-s-shut up," he managed to choke out. "This really- ouch- hurts."
Behind the wall, Viktoria and Remy were doubled over in unspoken laughter.
"Ya know ya had that coming." Logan shook his head in amusement, then straightened, his nose sniffing the air cautiously. "Ya two can come out from behind there now."
Viktoria and Remy exchanged a nervous glance. "You think he knows it's us?" Viktoria mouthed. Remy shrugged.
"C'mon Gumbo," Logan called. "You too, Blondie." Viktoria peeked around the wall, with Remy right behind her. "Were we really that loud?" Logan shook his head. "No, but I could still smell ya. 'Specially that cologne a' yours, Gumbo. Whew."
"Damn," Remy cursed under his breath. "We were just getting Bobby back. After all de pranks lately, he had dis comin' to him, no? 'Course, him hitting himself in the nuts with de pool stick was a bonus but."
"What do you mean, get me back?" Bobby looked from Viktoria to Remy, and then back again. Viktoria smirked and pointed to the image of Jubilation. "Well- I've been practicing with Jean, and I figured you'd make a great guinea pig. Check it out."
The image of Jubilation moved up beside Bobby, smiled curtly then disappeared into thin air. "Cool, huh?"
"No. Not really. Not really at all." Bobby crossed his arms across his chest and stomped out of the room. "So not cool, man! I'll get you back y'know!"
"I'd like to see you try, beautiful," Viktoria called back, her tone openly mocking. "I don't know if you should of done that, petite. Bobby is de pranking king." Viktoria glanced at Remy and shrugged.
"What could he possibly do? Freeze my underwear?"