Just a Girl – Code name.
When Marianne woke up later that day, she was feeling too subdued to object against her brother. She couldn't help but blame herself: she had lost control, and that had almost hurt her brother, the one who always wanted to give her what was best for her. Jean had shown her her room, to her surprise she didn't have to share. Later, Jean had explained that professor Xavier thought her powers were tied to her emotions and that extensive meditation would gain her control. To do that, she needed peace and quietness, something she would not have when sharing her room. Her brother had brought her clothes and personal items, as she had refused to leave the mansion, afraid that she might slip up again.
"So, what do we do now?" Jean flopped down onto the bed as Marianne put the last of her clothing in the closet.
"A room warming party, ofcourse! And girls only!" Kitty chirped, "I'll go like, get Amara and Rogue!" and she was gone.
"I don't think Rogue likes me all that much," Marianne turned to look at the redhead, remembering the glares and ignoring she had gotten from Rogue since she had woken up.
"She'll come around, don't worry. That's just Rogue," Jean smiled at the younger girl who was currently trying to make sure a poster staid attached to the wall.
"You know, if I had my powers under control, I could make an illusion that those posters stuck to the wall," Marianne glared as the posters fell down, again.
"I can help with that, I'll make sure the poster stays straight, you use the tape to stick it to the wall," Jean grinned broadly and used her TK to have the poster mentioned float to the wall as Marianne stuck it to the wall.
"Okay, like, Amara will be up in a minute, she's totally raiding the kitchen, but Rogue says she has to do homework. I don't think she wants to come," Kitty pouted. Marianne slumped ever so slightly, "And I heard professor Xavier say that we, like, don't have to train tonight! So we can make Marianne feel totally at home."
"Training? Please tell me it's in sports," Marianne looked at the brunette with wide eyes.
"No, combat training, fighting, that kind of thing," Jean informed her.
"O God... but I can't fight! I never landed a decent punch in my life! Devon tried to teach me self defense once, he gave up after I sprained my ankle and broke my arm!" Marianne began to panic.
"How did you do that?" a new voice joined in, Amara was standing in the door way.
"Devon tried to teach me how to dodge, I dodged wrong, fell really bad. It was really painfull," Marianne turned to look at the fire caster.
"I'm sure we can work something out with Logan, he's a very good instructor, I'm sure you'll pick up," Jean tried to calm her down.
"Yeah, right, I'll pick up, right? How am I supposed to pick up?! I don't fight! I have a sharp tongue and that is the only thing even remotely capable of hurting about me!" the panicked look on Marianne's face caused Kitty and Amara to break down in giggles, while Jean barely managed to keep a smile masked.
"Why don't we forget about that for now and just get comfortable?" Jean asked, gesturing to the pillows spread on the ground.
"Yeah, like, Marianne, tell us about yourself!" Kitty eagerly nodded and took a large, fluffy, dark purple pillow in possession. They sat in a circle, treats and drinks in the centre. Next to Kitty on her right was Marianne, followed by Jean and Amara sat between Jean and Kitty.
"Okay, uhm, well, you've all already met my older brother, he's very overprotective. My father works for a big software company and travels a lot, he's hardly ever home for long periods at a time. My mother died in a car crash when a drunken driver crashed into her, she died instantly. It was really hard for me to cope, I don't think I'll ever get over it. My mother's name was Sara, she was a real lady from England. We were like night and day. You see, my temper was quite feared, she was one of the few who managed to calm me down enough, quick enough. When we heard the news, I refused to eat and ended up in the hospital. Dad and Devon talked with me for days, and finally, I started to get better again. When I could go home, Devon had quit his job and moved back home to look after me. I had a lot of anger inside, the first weeks were hell for poor Devon. Things were finally getting a bit back on track when my powers manifested. Devon freaked out at first. Hell, I freaked out. He called dad to come back home, he took the first flight he could catch back. I ran away, thinking it would be better for them all if I just left, considering all anti-mutant sympathies, Devon found me, of course, after three days. Took me home, dad had some friend come over who taught me some meditating things and that gained me some control. So, after a while, we figured it would be better to just leave, and moved here. The rest of my story is familiar. I think I was pretty lucky, seeing as my family accepts me for who I am, that I was capable to love my mom the way I did," Marianne concluded her story.
"Wow, that's like, a serious story. Who's next?" Kitty looked around the circle, searching for the next one to tell their life's story.
~*A while later*~
"Kitty! There is no way I'm gonna do that!" Jean gasped, looking shocked at the brunette in front of her.
"Way, you choos dare, Jean, there is no way you weasle out of this one!" Marianne joined in, having loosened up a lot.
"Yeah, like go downstairs and give Scott a kiss!" Kitty squeeled in childish delight as Jean's face turned as red as her hair.
Finally, after a lot of pressuring, Jean went downstairs to the rec room, being trailed by Kitty, who would make sure that she did kiss Scott. After five minutes, Jean came running back into the room and burried her head in a pillow.
"Aw, that bad?" Marianne asked, sporting a huge grin on her face.
"No, that good..." Jean moaned pittifully, refusing to take her head out of the pillow.
"You, like, should have seen his face! It was sooo funny!" Kitty came into the room, phasing through the wall.
"I suggest we stop now, before someone," Marianne looked pointedly at Amara, who pretended to be innocent, "makes one of us streak down the hall. That would be bad, emphasise bad."
"I, like, totally agree with you on that. So, Marianne, picked a code name yet?" Kitty agreed, the tought of herself streaking down the hall, with the possibility of being caught, soon took the fun out of Truth or Dare.
"Code name? Do I have to have one?" Marianne looked at Kitty, not understanding the importance of having a code name.
"A code name is important. It has to do with your powers and it makes it harder for mutant haters to track you down. Mine is Magma, Kitty's is Shadowcat and Jean's... well... Jean, why don't you have a code name?" Amara explained the importance with an air of superiority.
"I couldn't think of one, besides, I like my own name," Jean shrugged.
"Hmm, code name... I create illusions. Help me guys!" Marianne flopped down on her stomache and observed the other three girls in her new room.
"Illusion?" Amara offered.
"Nah, Amara! That's, like, totally lame! It has to be a bit more interesting then Illusion!" Kitty rejected the name.
"Do I get a say in this?" Marianne asked the brunette.
"Sure, as long as you don't pick something lame," Kitty pulled out a blank piece of paper and began writing down names. Sometimes crossing them out, sometimes drawing an exclamation point behind it. The other three girls huddled over the page, discussing names, sometimes even arguing about them. After an hour, they came to an decision.
"Fantasy!" Kitty concluded the debating match, "I mean, you said 'fantasie' is Dutch for 'imagination', and 'fantasy' is really similar to it. You use your imagination in creating illusions and you like reading fantasy books. It sooooo fits!"
"I guess, so, Fantasy it is," Marianne nodded, happy they had finally agreed on a code name. She had doubted they would ever agree on one. She stiffled a yawn and eyed the clock.
"Yeah, you're right, Marianne. It's getting late, and I assume you all have school tomorrow, seeing as it is Wednesday tomorrow. Come on, up, get to bed before Miss Monroe decides to come and send us," Jean too saw the time and ushered Amara and Kitty out of the room.
"And guess who gets to clean up?" Marianne groaned, looking at the mess created in her room, "aw... o well, tomorrow. I'm too tired to do it now."
She shoved the pillows into her closet, put the small plastic stuff in the garbage can, stuffing the empty battles of coke under her desk and turned in for the night.
When Marianne woke up later that day, she was feeling too subdued to object against her brother. She couldn't help but blame herself: she had lost control, and that had almost hurt her brother, the one who always wanted to give her what was best for her. Jean had shown her her room, to her surprise she didn't have to share. Later, Jean had explained that professor Xavier thought her powers were tied to her emotions and that extensive meditation would gain her control. To do that, she needed peace and quietness, something she would not have when sharing her room. Her brother had brought her clothes and personal items, as she had refused to leave the mansion, afraid that she might slip up again.
"So, what do we do now?" Jean flopped down onto the bed as Marianne put the last of her clothing in the closet.
"A room warming party, ofcourse! And girls only!" Kitty chirped, "I'll go like, get Amara and Rogue!" and she was gone.
"I don't think Rogue likes me all that much," Marianne turned to look at the redhead, remembering the glares and ignoring she had gotten from Rogue since she had woken up.
"She'll come around, don't worry. That's just Rogue," Jean smiled at the younger girl who was currently trying to make sure a poster staid attached to the wall.
"You know, if I had my powers under control, I could make an illusion that those posters stuck to the wall," Marianne glared as the posters fell down, again.
"I can help with that, I'll make sure the poster stays straight, you use the tape to stick it to the wall," Jean grinned broadly and used her TK to have the poster mentioned float to the wall as Marianne stuck it to the wall.
"Okay, like, Amara will be up in a minute, she's totally raiding the kitchen, but Rogue says she has to do homework. I don't think she wants to come," Kitty pouted. Marianne slumped ever so slightly, "And I heard professor Xavier say that we, like, don't have to train tonight! So we can make Marianne feel totally at home."
"Training? Please tell me it's in sports," Marianne looked at the brunette with wide eyes.
"No, combat training, fighting, that kind of thing," Jean informed her.
"O God... but I can't fight! I never landed a decent punch in my life! Devon tried to teach me self defense once, he gave up after I sprained my ankle and broke my arm!" Marianne began to panic.
"How did you do that?" a new voice joined in, Amara was standing in the door way.
"Devon tried to teach me how to dodge, I dodged wrong, fell really bad. It was really painfull," Marianne turned to look at the fire caster.
"I'm sure we can work something out with Logan, he's a very good instructor, I'm sure you'll pick up," Jean tried to calm her down.
"Yeah, right, I'll pick up, right? How am I supposed to pick up?! I don't fight! I have a sharp tongue and that is the only thing even remotely capable of hurting about me!" the panicked look on Marianne's face caused Kitty and Amara to break down in giggles, while Jean barely managed to keep a smile masked.
"Why don't we forget about that for now and just get comfortable?" Jean asked, gesturing to the pillows spread on the ground.
"Yeah, like, Marianne, tell us about yourself!" Kitty eagerly nodded and took a large, fluffy, dark purple pillow in possession. They sat in a circle, treats and drinks in the centre. Next to Kitty on her right was Marianne, followed by Jean and Amara sat between Jean and Kitty.
"Okay, uhm, well, you've all already met my older brother, he's very overprotective. My father works for a big software company and travels a lot, he's hardly ever home for long periods at a time. My mother died in a car crash when a drunken driver crashed into her, she died instantly. It was really hard for me to cope, I don't think I'll ever get over it. My mother's name was Sara, she was a real lady from England. We were like night and day. You see, my temper was quite feared, she was one of the few who managed to calm me down enough, quick enough. When we heard the news, I refused to eat and ended up in the hospital. Dad and Devon talked with me for days, and finally, I started to get better again. When I could go home, Devon had quit his job and moved back home to look after me. I had a lot of anger inside, the first weeks were hell for poor Devon. Things were finally getting a bit back on track when my powers manifested. Devon freaked out at first. Hell, I freaked out. He called dad to come back home, he took the first flight he could catch back. I ran away, thinking it would be better for them all if I just left, considering all anti-mutant sympathies, Devon found me, of course, after three days. Took me home, dad had some friend come over who taught me some meditating things and that gained me some control. So, after a while, we figured it would be better to just leave, and moved here. The rest of my story is familiar. I think I was pretty lucky, seeing as my family accepts me for who I am, that I was capable to love my mom the way I did," Marianne concluded her story.
"Wow, that's like, a serious story. Who's next?" Kitty looked around the circle, searching for the next one to tell their life's story.
~*A while later*~
"Kitty! There is no way I'm gonna do that!" Jean gasped, looking shocked at the brunette in front of her.
"Way, you choos dare, Jean, there is no way you weasle out of this one!" Marianne joined in, having loosened up a lot.
"Yeah, like go downstairs and give Scott a kiss!" Kitty squeeled in childish delight as Jean's face turned as red as her hair.
Finally, after a lot of pressuring, Jean went downstairs to the rec room, being trailed by Kitty, who would make sure that she did kiss Scott. After five minutes, Jean came running back into the room and burried her head in a pillow.
"Aw, that bad?" Marianne asked, sporting a huge grin on her face.
"No, that good..." Jean moaned pittifully, refusing to take her head out of the pillow.
"You, like, should have seen his face! It was sooo funny!" Kitty came into the room, phasing through the wall.
"I suggest we stop now, before someone," Marianne looked pointedly at Amara, who pretended to be innocent, "makes one of us streak down the hall. That would be bad, emphasise bad."
"I, like, totally agree with you on that. So, Marianne, picked a code name yet?" Kitty agreed, the tought of herself streaking down the hall, with the possibility of being caught, soon took the fun out of Truth or Dare.
"Code name? Do I have to have one?" Marianne looked at Kitty, not understanding the importance of having a code name.
"A code name is important. It has to do with your powers and it makes it harder for mutant haters to track you down. Mine is Magma, Kitty's is Shadowcat and Jean's... well... Jean, why don't you have a code name?" Amara explained the importance with an air of superiority.
"I couldn't think of one, besides, I like my own name," Jean shrugged.
"Hmm, code name... I create illusions. Help me guys!" Marianne flopped down on her stomache and observed the other three girls in her new room.
"Illusion?" Amara offered.
"Nah, Amara! That's, like, totally lame! It has to be a bit more interesting then Illusion!" Kitty rejected the name.
"Do I get a say in this?" Marianne asked the brunette.
"Sure, as long as you don't pick something lame," Kitty pulled out a blank piece of paper and began writing down names. Sometimes crossing them out, sometimes drawing an exclamation point behind it. The other three girls huddled over the page, discussing names, sometimes even arguing about them. After an hour, they came to an decision.
"Fantasy!" Kitty concluded the debating match, "I mean, you said 'fantasie' is Dutch for 'imagination', and 'fantasy' is really similar to it. You use your imagination in creating illusions and you like reading fantasy books. It sooooo fits!"
"I guess, so, Fantasy it is," Marianne nodded, happy they had finally agreed on a code name. She had doubted they would ever agree on one. She stiffled a yawn and eyed the clock.
"Yeah, you're right, Marianne. It's getting late, and I assume you all have school tomorrow, seeing as it is Wednesday tomorrow. Come on, up, get to bed before Miss Monroe decides to come and send us," Jean too saw the time and ushered Amara and Kitty out of the room.
"And guess who gets to clean up?" Marianne groaned, looking at the mess created in her room, "aw... o well, tomorrow. I'm too tired to do it now."
She shoved the pillows into her closet, put the small plastic stuff in the garbage can, stuffing the empty battles of coke under her desk and turned in for the night.