Everyone unoccupied, including Jade and Erin, was clustered outside the
Institute's doors, waiting for the new arrival. "Never a dull moment," Erin
whispered. Wild speculation spread from student to student, some
ludicrous(I hear she's part bird, part hippo, part human), some
frightening(I hear it's a person who can manipulate souls). Finally,
Cyclops showed up on his motorcycle, with a young girl seated with him. Her
damp, lank blond hair extended down to her backbone, and her blue eyes were
blank and dull. She wore a beige turtleneck, and pants still damp with ice
water.
Haley gave a small smile to the students and turned to face Scott, but he had already returned to Jean.
"Hello, Haley," Professor Xavier smiled warmly. "Please follow me." Haley stepped gingerly after the Professor, avoiding the shocked stares of the students and entering the Institute. She followed the bald man and glanced anxiously at the many loitering students.
"Now, Haley," the professor asked as he led her into an isolated room. "It is customary to ask if you have any family members or friends who should be aware of your location?"
Haley laughed. "For a telepath, you're rather clueless, Professor."
"Now, Haley, I'm merely trying to prevent any need to read your mind," the professor cajoled.
"Ah'm sorry, sir. But no family. They don't exactly want me back."
"Haley, can you describe your powers to me? If you wish, I can read them telepathically," said Professor X.
"No, Ah'll tell." Haley sighed. "Ah have elemental powers. Snow, Wind, Water, Fire, Earth, Light, and Darkness. Ah can create shields that absorb and nullify, or that repel. Ah can give life.Ah can.k-k.Ah'm sorry, sir. I can't say it." The girl turned away.
The Professor's voice was warm and comforting. Haley knew he was vaguely probing her mind, but didn't have the strength to care. She shook her head, and brushed the tears out of her eyes. It was only a few moments before Haley was led upstairs, and brusquely greeted by a Jade Morgan none too happy in learning she had a roommate.
"Hey there," the black-haired girl said, eying Haley suspiciously.
"Um, hi," Haley replied.
"So, what's your deal?" Jade asked, clearly feeling some need for conversation.
"Me? Ah'd rather not talk about it right now. Ah'm rather tired," Haley yawned as if to emphasize her statement. Jade was tempted to snicker at the Georgian's accent, but managed some restraint. Haley couldn't fail to notice the mocking twinkle in her roommate's eyes. The two girls made their way to the separate beds, a clear tension present.
But in the morning, Jade was surprised to be left asleep until the late morning. "Did they run out of chipper young girls to wake me up?"
"Nope," replied Erin from the corner of the door. "The chipper young girls need their sleep on the weekends, too."
"Speaking of which, where's Georgian Janie?"
"'Georgian Janie?'" Erin cocked an eyebrow.
"Mmph," Jade grunted. "It's early, I can't think of anything witty." The two girls went down the stairs, dodging errant children and several flying icicles.
"Goddamnit, Bobby!" "What the hell?" "You're cheating!" There were squeals and screams everywhere, as all the mutant children enjoyed their day off.
"So, Jade?" Erin asked, after drawing the girl aside. "Would you like to have a little tour with Aaron and me?" Jade personally was thinking longingly of the quiet in her own room, but assented after the Brit wheedled her incessantly. They escaped to the quiet of the lawn when a slightly sweaty Aaron ran up to them. He pecked Erin on the cheek, who flushed and muttered something about testosterone. But as surprised as Jade was at the emotion displayed by Aaron, she was more shocked when Haley walked up to the three, grinning faintly and tugging on her skirt.
"Hiya," she smiled warmly.
"Uh, hi kid." Jade frowned in confusion, bringing Haley's smile down a couple watts.
"Ah'm no kid, Ah'm 17," Haley said coolly. Jade gave a polite smile, but quickly looked at her watch.
"Holy shit, is it really noon?" Jade exclaimed. The other students looked puzzled, but nodded consent. "Man, I definitely overslept."
"Why?" Erin asked, puzzled.
"I.um.got a." Jade's voice trailed off. "A.psych meeting."
"Psych meeting? Like with a shrink?" Haley smiled.
"You shouldn't talk, after all it was you who-"
Erin sharply stepped on Jade's toe to prevent from an obviously rude comment. _Honestly_, the Brit thought. _Some people have no tact_. Then another voice inside her commented. _Oh yes, and you are Miss Manners, are you not_? It was sad to have to argue within your own head, but Erin was used to it. Somehow there was a sarcastic voice within her that remained no matter what she did.
But while Erin's head was swimming with thoughts, Jade had summoned some ghosts to annoy Haley while Aaron had engaged in his usual pastime, talking to squirrels. Jade recalled her deceased comrades and strolled into the school, grinning. She came to a halt at a glossy sign that read _Dr. Ryder_. A laugh escaped her lips. _Alright, let me assume my confident, quasi-rebellious position_. Jade stood up, ran her fingers through her cropped black hair, and pushed open Dr. Ryder's door.
Inside, a slim young man awaited her. His curly hair was dark, and his smile revealed, frankly, some very nice teeth. "Hello, Jade," his voice was deep and soothing, the kind that has to be practiced for hours. "Would you like to have a seat?"
"Do I have a choice, Doctor?" She smirked. To her surprise, the Doc laughed.
"Well, Jade, choice is a very relative thing. But here, I am afraid you don't have much of a choice. Please, call me Alan." He caught her raised eyebrow. "Yes, could there be a more stereotypical 'shrink' name?" This brought a laugh out of the wary Jade.
Alan continued, flashing a polite smile. "Now Jade, our mighty leader tells me you have some amnesia in the case of your past? Care to elaborate?"
"Well." Jade became quiet, and focused on her black skirt. "It doesn't take a genius to realize I can't elaborate on what I can't remember."
Alan laughed again. "You're right, that was rude of me. Tell you what, have you ever been hypnotized?"
"Hypnotized? What are you, some sort of mutant magician?" Jade scoffed.
"Well, you're not far off. I'm gifted with the power to put people into a trance. And let me just say," Alan paused, "that my girlfriends slipping into dazes whenever I talked was not exactly reassuring." They both laughed, and Jade reluctantly accepted the chance to be hypnotized. Alan's warm voice became less human, and more like a blanket. Jade's eyes swam before her, attempting to focus, to make sense of the darkness overcoming her. Her eyes closed, and she was buried in warm snow.
Alan switched on the tape recorder with a soft click. He cleared his throat and turned to his patient. _Jesus_, he thought, _Xavier's leather fetish is clearly shared by all_. (A.N.: I am not implying Xavier's into bondage.icky.merely that everyone at the school wears black leather. Meanwhile.) Alan smiled. _Despite the goth look, or maybe because of it, she's really rather good looking. Pull it together, Alan!_ He jarred himself from his thoughts and began the questioning.
"Now, Jade, please tell me your first memory."
Her voice returned, dazed and empty. Like a record, she seemed to have every answer planned. "First memory? I'm 16. On the street. It's cold, and I'm hiding behind a dumpster in the city. I don't know why I'm here, but there's a man approaching me. What does he want? Get him away! Help me!" As she twitched in her trance, spirits centered around Jade. They gained pained, frightened expressions that quickly turned to anger. They swarmed around their mistress, protecting her from the harmful memory.
"Okay, calm down, Jade. No one is going to hurt you. Can you remember anything before that?" The girl's head tossed and turned. Her dark lips turned into a frown.
"No. Nothing. Everything's dark."
"Jade," Alan asked. "Please try. For me?"
"Okay," Jade sighed. "I can see a building. It's white and bare. The walls.the walls are soft. I can't even cut myself on them. God, why won't they let me go?" Jade wailed, and her hands were scratching at her face. The spirits grew violent, and Alan had to dodge his own flying diploma. He balked, and spoke loudly.
"Jade! Wake up!" Alan dodged another flying decoration in time to see Jade open her dark eyes and soothe the restless spirits around her.
"Did I say anything good?" Jade asked with expectation.
"Let's just say we'll be seeing a lot of each soon," Alan smiled, and to Jade's surprise, so did she.
Haley gave a small smile to the students and turned to face Scott, but he had already returned to Jean.
"Hello, Haley," Professor Xavier smiled warmly. "Please follow me." Haley stepped gingerly after the Professor, avoiding the shocked stares of the students and entering the Institute. She followed the bald man and glanced anxiously at the many loitering students.
"Now, Haley," the professor asked as he led her into an isolated room. "It is customary to ask if you have any family members or friends who should be aware of your location?"
Haley laughed. "For a telepath, you're rather clueless, Professor."
"Now, Haley, I'm merely trying to prevent any need to read your mind," the professor cajoled.
"Ah'm sorry, sir. But no family. They don't exactly want me back."
"Haley, can you describe your powers to me? If you wish, I can read them telepathically," said Professor X.
"No, Ah'll tell." Haley sighed. "Ah have elemental powers. Snow, Wind, Water, Fire, Earth, Light, and Darkness. Ah can create shields that absorb and nullify, or that repel. Ah can give life.Ah can.k-k.Ah'm sorry, sir. I can't say it." The girl turned away.
The Professor's voice was warm and comforting. Haley knew he was vaguely probing her mind, but didn't have the strength to care. She shook her head, and brushed the tears out of her eyes. It was only a few moments before Haley was led upstairs, and brusquely greeted by a Jade Morgan none too happy in learning she had a roommate.
"Hey there," the black-haired girl said, eying Haley suspiciously.
"Um, hi," Haley replied.
"So, what's your deal?" Jade asked, clearly feeling some need for conversation.
"Me? Ah'd rather not talk about it right now. Ah'm rather tired," Haley yawned as if to emphasize her statement. Jade was tempted to snicker at the Georgian's accent, but managed some restraint. Haley couldn't fail to notice the mocking twinkle in her roommate's eyes. The two girls made their way to the separate beds, a clear tension present.
But in the morning, Jade was surprised to be left asleep until the late morning. "Did they run out of chipper young girls to wake me up?"
"Nope," replied Erin from the corner of the door. "The chipper young girls need their sleep on the weekends, too."
"Speaking of which, where's Georgian Janie?"
"'Georgian Janie?'" Erin cocked an eyebrow.
"Mmph," Jade grunted. "It's early, I can't think of anything witty." The two girls went down the stairs, dodging errant children and several flying icicles.
"Goddamnit, Bobby!" "What the hell?" "You're cheating!" There were squeals and screams everywhere, as all the mutant children enjoyed their day off.
"So, Jade?" Erin asked, after drawing the girl aside. "Would you like to have a little tour with Aaron and me?" Jade personally was thinking longingly of the quiet in her own room, but assented after the Brit wheedled her incessantly. They escaped to the quiet of the lawn when a slightly sweaty Aaron ran up to them. He pecked Erin on the cheek, who flushed and muttered something about testosterone. But as surprised as Jade was at the emotion displayed by Aaron, she was more shocked when Haley walked up to the three, grinning faintly and tugging on her skirt.
"Hiya," she smiled warmly.
"Uh, hi kid." Jade frowned in confusion, bringing Haley's smile down a couple watts.
"Ah'm no kid, Ah'm 17," Haley said coolly. Jade gave a polite smile, but quickly looked at her watch.
"Holy shit, is it really noon?" Jade exclaimed. The other students looked puzzled, but nodded consent. "Man, I definitely overslept."
"Why?" Erin asked, puzzled.
"I.um.got a." Jade's voice trailed off. "A.psych meeting."
"Psych meeting? Like with a shrink?" Haley smiled.
"You shouldn't talk, after all it was you who-"
Erin sharply stepped on Jade's toe to prevent from an obviously rude comment. _Honestly_, the Brit thought. _Some people have no tact_. Then another voice inside her commented. _Oh yes, and you are Miss Manners, are you not_? It was sad to have to argue within your own head, but Erin was used to it. Somehow there was a sarcastic voice within her that remained no matter what she did.
But while Erin's head was swimming with thoughts, Jade had summoned some ghosts to annoy Haley while Aaron had engaged in his usual pastime, talking to squirrels. Jade recalled her deceased comrades and strolled into the school, grinning. She came to a halt at a glossy sign that read _Dr. Ryder_. A laugh escaped her lips. _Alright, let me assume my confident, quasi-rebellious position_. Jade stood up, ran her fingers through her cropped black hair, and pushed open Dr. Ryder's door.
Inside, a slim young man awaited her. His curly hair was dark, and his smile revealed, frankly, some very nice teeth. "Hello, Jade," his voice was deep and soothing, the kind that has to be practiced for hours. "Would you like to have a seat?"
"Do I have a choice, Doctor?" She smirked. To her surprise, the Doc laughed.
"Well, Jade, choice is a very relative thing. But here, I am afraid you don't have much of a choice. Please, call me Alan." He caught her raised eyebrow. "Yes, could there be a more stereotypical 'shrink' name?" This brought a laugh out of the wary Jade.
Alan continued, flashing a polite smile. "Now Jade, our mighty leader tells me you have some amnesia in the case of your past? Care to elaborate?"
"Well." Jade became quiet, and focused on her black skirt. "It doesn't take a genius to realize I can't elaborate on what I can't remember."
Alan laughed again. "You're right, that was rude of me. Tell you what, have you ever been hypnotized?"
"Hypnotized? What are you, some sort of mutant magician?" Jade scoffed.
"Well, you're not far off. I'm gifted with the power to put people into a trance. And let me just say," Alan paused, "that my girlfriends slipping into dazes whenever I talked was not exactly reassuring." They both laughed, and Jade reluctantly accepted the chance to be hypnotized. Alan's warm voice became less human, and more like a blanket. Jade's eyes swam before her, attempting to focus, to make sense of the darkness overcoming her. Her eyes closed, and she was buried in warm snow.
Alan switched on the tape recorder with a soft click. He cleared his throat and turned to his patient. _Jesus_, he thought, _Xavier's leather fetish is clearly shared by all_. (A.N.: I am not implying Xavier's into bondage.icky.merely that everyone at the school wears black leather. Meanwhile.) Alan smiled. _Despite the goth look, or maybe because of it, she's really rather good looking. Pull it together, Alan!_ He jarred himself from his thoughts and began the questioning.
"Now, Jade, please tell me your first memory."
Her voice returned, dazed and empty. Like a record, she seemed to have every answer planned. "First memory? I'm 16. On the street. It's cold, and I'm hiding behind a dumpster in the city. I don't know why I'm here, but there's a man approaching me. What does he want? Get him away! Help me!" As she twitched in her trance, spirits centered around Jade. They gained pained, frightened expressions that quickly turned to anger. They swarmed around their mistress, protecting her from the harmful memory.
"Okay, calm down, Jade. No one is going to hurt you. Can you remember anything before that?" The girl's head tossed and turned. Her dark lips turned into a frown.
"No. Nothing. Everything's dark."
"Jade," Alan asked. "Please try. For me?"
"Okay," Jade sighed. "I can see a building. It's white and bare. The walls.the walls are soft. I can't even cut myself on them. God, why won't they let me go?" Jade wailed, and her hands were scratching at her face. The spirits grew violent, and Alan had to dodge his own flying diploma. He balked, and spoke loudly.
"Jade! Wake up!" Alan dodged another flying decoration in time to see Jade open her dark eyes and soothe the restless spirits around her.
"Did I say anything good?" Jade asked with expectation.
"Let's just say we'll be seeing a lot of each soon," Alan smiled, and to Jade's surprise, so did she.
