--Poe Note--
Rather, this is a note to Pruningshears- what the heck do you mean by ???? And, yeah, Shlomet's my Hebrew name- Hebrew for peaceful' (yeah, that REALLY describes me). Most call me Shloie. Weirdest nickname ever, huh?
Oh, and To Tell One Lie takes place somewhere in the middle of the second season, before the mutant war'- that's why Spyke, Jubilee, and Wolfsbane are still at the Institute, but BoomBoom and Avalanche are not (also why Scarlet Witch and Gambit etc. are nowhere to be found, they're in the third season).
Whatever, on with the story.
Wednesday, June 18 at 3:45:27 PM EXACTLY
Our silver Mountaineer pulled up to Xavier's school. Wait, let me rephrase that- his MANSION! The place was so enormous it was GI-normous. Immense, with wings and turrets and the whole bit gave it a castle appearance. Immediately after my dad stopped the car at the front door three people, none of which I recognized, came out to greet my family and me. Suddenly, one extremely large blue furball came lumbering over to our car, and until he came within three feet of me I thought he was Kurt on steroids.
Professor McCoy, he said, extending a hand and a smile. I work in the infirmary. Do you need some help with your suitcases?
Err, um, yeah, I mumbled, a little embarrassed. Exactly how many people live here?
Eighteen, plus you makes nineteen. Unless, of course, Jamie has a say abut it, Mr. McCoy said as he lifted a good half of what was in the trunk out. He then yelled over his shoulder, Jamie? Can you come and help too? Stop gawking!
One of the kids on the front steps raced down and tripped as he ran to the car, splitting himself into several equally sized Jamies. Each one grabbed something from the car, and immediately went inside the school. Now it was my turn to gawk. In less than two minutes, everything was inside the school.
I picked my handbag out from under my seat and went inside, only to hear the sound of a loud BAMF above my head. Looking up, I saw the guy I was waiting for hanging from the chandelier.
Nightcrawler! Heey, Kurt! I'm here! I yelled up.
Kurt jumped down just in time; my family and the professor entered the foyer the immediate moment after.
Everything's brought up for you, Sara, the Professor said, wheeling over to where we were standing. Now, before your family leaves, there is a ceremony we always do when a new mutant arrives. I need to make sure everything is ready, but in the meantime, Kurt, since you're here, could you show Sara her room? She's sharing with Miss Lee. And Lisa? Kevin? Michael? Could you follow me please?
Miss Lee? Oh, Jubilation Lee! Awesome! A room with Jubilee would be anything but boring. When the Professor turned his back to go into another room, Kurt gave me a wink.
I suggested that one- it vas either Jubilation or Jean vho you'd room vith, kurt whispered, as my family walked over to Mr. Xavier and left the foyer with him.
Where is everyone, by the way? Even Mr. McCoy seems to have disappeared.
All in their uniforms, dovnstairs, or changing into them, I presume. With my entirely quizzical look Kurt decided to explain further. Training uniforms! So we don't ruin our good clothes. You're going to be getting yours and picking a code name tonight. Any ideas?
I thought for a moment Nickname, nickname... That's IT!
Kurt, where the heck is my room?
He barreled down the hall at top speed and I could only sprint to catch up.
Here. Just knock first, just in case she is still in there.
I knocked on the door to no answer and pushed it open. Everything was in the room already, and I quickly ran over the duffel bag I brought and ran through it. Kurt leaned at the doorway, tail twitching, watching me.
Pick something that gives some kind uff meaning. Oh, and you have five minutes. I have to change.
Though I heard him the entire time, I was in no mood to concentrate- I was looking for something. At the bottom of the bag, tied up in a crumpled friendship knot, I found it, a huge good bye note form all of my friends. Scrawled on the outside in Jen's horrifyingly illegible handwriting were the words
SARA, DON'T YOU DARE OPEN THIS UNTIL YOU GET THERE OR WE'LL COME OVER THERE AND PERSONALLY GET RID OF YOU
Well, I was here now, wasn't I? I pulled it open, carefully, so not as to rip it on the deeply indented seams created from the elaborate (or at least to me) folding. I hadn't opened it before, but something from Jen, Catie, Steve, Dave, Anna, and Alexis was bound to give me some sort of clue as to a name that bore meaning.
The folded paper actually was seven folded papers containing our inside jokes- every one since fifth grade. My friends had actually kept track of them- dates and all. I scanned down the list- something had to be there.
Aaack! Attack of the black dots! No, too long of a story to explain.
Now presenting Clorox 2 I do not wish to be named after a Pokémon related incident, or thought to be named after a cleaning detergent, thankyouverymuch.
Meowth that's RI-IGHT! Oh, heck NO.
The Incredible Walking Dictionary! Do I really wish to be the laughingstock of the institute?
I continued to look down the list, with one reason or another for declining a phrase or word. The magical kitchen was just wrong, even if cooking was my specialty, the guy behind the counter is the killer had to do with Scream 3 and a cute guy at the concession stand, was already a trademarked soft drink, and sugar packets would probably scare my parents (especially since they knew exactly what had happened at Starbucks that evening).
Then, on the fifth page and the thirteenth quote down I finally found something useful. Though it had to do with a comic strip from seventh grade, it didn't really matter. I'd found exactly what I was looking for. A name. I continued to read down the list just for fun, waiting for Kurt. I heard a knock on the door halfway through reading the final page of the letter' and opened it to see him in one of the weirdest things I'd ever seen.
What are you, a circus performer?
Vell, I used to be- that's vere Nightcrawler comes from. My name in the Munich circus.
You never told me that.
I never told any one that- not even Amanda.
Wow. He actually trusts me with this?
Sara, come on- everyone else is in the dining room vaiting, Kurt said, trying to get back to business. Ve're already late. I'll port us there.
Without time to object, I smelled sulfur and saw the Xavier living room for the first time.
The Professor wheeled up to me and motioned for me to sit at the head of the enormous dining room table. Everyone else was seated around it, all in their various uniforms. Some were Spandex, but the majority, like Nightcrawler's, were made of a similar, but thicker, less form fitting material. Miss Orroro's was downright loose altogether, with a flowing skirt and cloak rather than the tighter outfits of everyone else. Looking down at my size 16 jeans, I wished my uniform would look more like hers.
A large box was passed down the table but stayed in the hands of the girl next to me, who had brown hair and pigtails.
We all wish to give you this box, but it is something we must barter for, she said in a Scottish accent. If you wish to have this box, we ask only for you name in return.
Going around the table, all eighteen other mutants made a simple introduction, each stating their name and code name, finally getting around to the girl next to me.
I'm fourteen year old Rahne Sinclair from Scotland- Wolfsbane will be fine. Rahne turned to me, expectantly. It was my turn.
Well, I'm fifteen and from New Jersey. According to my friends... I stopped, and pulled the creased papers out of my pocket, fidgeting around for the fifth page, thirteenth line. I stood up, I've been called many times by Catie Zimmeruski, and I quote, I paused for a moment, conjuring around me an Ille that looked and sounded exactly like my friend, Sara, the amazing virtual reality machine!' I said smiling, to the table's astonishment. I dropped the illusion and quickly added, But V/R is fine.
Sitting down, I smiled, as Rahne passed the box to me.
