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Post by emmafrost on Jun 2, 2005 10:47:47 GMT -5
He was nervous. The emotion radiated off him quite clearly and probably even Cat could sense it with her enhanced senses in her feline form. She would make him comfortable. Eventually.
Emma stood up and walked around him, as if she were appraising his physical appearance. As she stopped in front of him again, she put a perfectly manicured finger to her lips and said, “Hmmm, you need a haircut, your clothes are filthy and I don't even want to know how long it's been since you have had a decent meal. This isn't quite how I pictured your life to turn out after you left us, Jono.”<br> Then she switched to telepahy for only him to hear, < You have changed, Jono. Why did you come back? >
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Post by deeb on Jun 2, 2005 13:24:18 GMT -5
Jono chuckled mentally at her reply. He'd pretty much always needed a haircut and a new style of clothing in the White Queen's eyes. She'd never approved of his over-long bangs and dark, goth clothing. As for the last comment, he had to shake his head and reply to that. <About four years ago,> he reminded her dryly. <And I missed you, too.>
Suddenly, she switched to pure telepathy, startling him a bit. He couldn't help but wonder why. <You have changed, Jono. Why did you come back?>
Chamber looked down a moment, then met her gaze, restricting his reply to only her. <Because I shouldn't have bleedin' left in the first place,> he admitted, his hallow voice very quiet in her mind. <You were right, okay? I wasn't ready. I'm such a bloody great telepath that a blinkin' pop diva had me completely bollixed!>
He raked his fingers through his hair and began to pace back and forth a few steps, then paused and looked at her again. <I came here to ask for your help, Emma,> he tells her evenly. It wasn't pleading, it wasn't a demand, just a fact. <You're the only one who can teach me to use my powers better. So I won't get fooled again. If it'd been someone else, with different intentions, the results could have been a bloody catastrophe, instead of just some public humiliation on my part.>
He stood there, watching her, waiting for her answer. It was all he could do now.
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Post by Catseye on Jun 2, 2005 14:28:42 GMT -5
She looked at the man who had entered a little bit longer before making any movement at all. She knew him... but how? You'd think that a guy who looked like that would be easily remembered. She sighed and watched him some more, listening to the conversation which, for some reason, was done half telepathically. Suddenly, it hit her. Jono. He had been a student when she first arrived, and probably hadn't seen her since she really became comfortable in human form. He probably just remembered the dirty, akward little girl that had just discovered that she could stand up on two legs and not fall over without a tail for balance.
She jumped down onto the couch and morphed into human form, her head still cocked to the side, watching him. He looked almost the same, but still different somehow. Maybe it wasn't him after all. Only one way to find out. "Jono?"
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Post by emmafrost on Jun 2, 2005 14:31:50 GMT -5
Emma listened to him and she knew how hard it must have been for Jono to make this decision. It wasn't like they parted on horrible terms or anything, just disagreed. He had always been one of the few who had “got away” and failure was something that Emma didn't take to lightly.
He finally stopped pacing and looked at her. She considered giving him a hard time, matching wits with him had always been a favorite hobby of her but she was tired, Forge was late and she had already escorted one potential Hellion off the grounds. Instead, she walked over to him and reached up to move his hair out of his eyes.
< Welcome home, Jono. I have missed you as well and while I was able to keep up with you through the tabloids, it's nice to have you here again, > she said to him gently. If anyone outside the Hellions knew just how much she cared for them, it could be disastrous.
“I believe your old room is still empty. I never found a reason to remove the belongings you left behind. There are many new faces here but I believe you will find that things are pretty much the way they have always been.”
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Post by deeb on Jun 2, 2005 15:15:09 GMT -5
The purple cat jumped down onto the sofa and changed into a tall, rather lovely girl, with violet hair and eyes, a bit younger than he was. He startled a bit, he wasn't used to this sort of thing anymore. Especially when she wasn't wearing anything either. <Blimey,> he 'exclaimed' softly. She had her head cocked to one side, watching him, curiously. “Jono?” she asked simply, with some recognition..
Chamber wracked his brains, trying to recall this girl. How many girls could he know that had purple hair and eyes and could into cats? He seemed to vaguely remember a skinny little gel with same color hair, who had been unsure of herself, but that had been awhile ago. He had been very insular at the school, due to having to masquerade as a mute burn victim.
Emma distracted him, brushing his hair out of his dark eyes. < Welcome home, Jono. I have missed you as well and while I was able to keep up with you through the tabloids, it's nice to have you here again.> Her voice was warm and gentle in his mind. Then she continued out loud. “I believe your old room is still empty. I never found a reason to remove the belongings you left behind. There are many new faces here but I believe you will find that things are pretty much the way they have always been.”
A soft chuckle rattled through both the women in the room's minds. <You knew I'd be back, admit it,> he teased gently. <You've just got too much class to say 'I told you so'.> There was more a bit of admiration and respect in his 'voice'. The White Queen might be frosty on the exterior, on the inside, she did care a great deal about her students.
Jono turned his attention towards the girl on the sofa. He nodded to her, taking a step closer. He extended a hand, his dark eyes sweeping over her again. He was young and male and lonely. Who could blame him for admiring the view a bit more? <You obviously know me,> he greeted in a light, friendly tone. <But I'm going to have to admit my addled brains aren't coming up with your name, sunshine. Give a poor, half-frozen git a break and remember it to me again?>
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Post by Catseye on Jun 2, 2005 15:22:30 GMT -5
She reached out and shook his hand, smiling. "Sharon. Was new when left. Catseye."
One of the many things that she still hadn't fully grasped as a human was the fact that people couldn't just go around naked. Emma had tried to tell her all about it, but she just didn't see the point. Sure, she would dress up for dinners and the like, but given the nature of her powers, it was rather hard to keep clothes on at all times. In fact, the only clothes that she owned that could withstand the transformation were her Hellions uniforms. They weren't too comfortable, though, and she didn't like to wear them when she didn't have to.
She turned to Emma and blushed. "Sorry, fell asleep on couch. Finished dishes. Where go new boy?"
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Post by emmafrost on Jun 2, 2005 21:55:17 GMT -5
Sharon's lack of clothing didn't escape Emma's attention, nor did Jono's appreciation of it. It was about time someone noticed the young beauty that Sharon had grown into, even if it did take her being naked to get noticed. Walking into her bathroom, Emma retrieved her robe then put it casually around Sharon's shoulders. Gathering the girl's clothes, she handed them to Sharon and said, “Go get dressed then head off to bed. We have a busy day ahead of us and you will need your sleep.”
Then she thought about Sharon's question and simply said, “Jonathon was a risk that I wasn't willing to take. He has been sent away with no knowledge that he was ever here.”<br> As Sharon went to get dressed, Emma turned her attention back to Jono. “The same applies to you. We are going into New York City in the morning and I'd appreciate it if you would come with us. It will give you a chance to get to know the others before we start into your training again.” Walking to a cabinet, she opened the door and pulled out a key. Handing it to Jono she continued, “I believe you remember where your room is, correct?”
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Post by deeb on Jun 2, 2005 22:46:59 GMT -5
The girl introduced herself, shaking his hand and smiling. "Sharon. Was new when left. Catseye."
<Jonothon Starsmore,> he introduced himself, even though she seemed to already at least know his nickname. <But you're welcome to keeping calling me Jono. Chamber is the code name Mum saddled me with.>
Sharon asked Emma about another boy as the White Queen draped a bathrobe around her shoulders and told her to get dressed. <You should have learned from me, that name is trouble,> he joked, but didn't press for further details. If Emma had turned him away and erased his memory, he wasn't worth another thought. Her other words caught his attention.
He took the key Emma offered him, nodding. <Let me guess, you'll tell me later why we're going to New York?> he asked, tucking the key into one of the pockets of his duster. He didn't even consider telling her no. She'd taken him back with hardly a second thought and offered him a place amongst her students again. He knew that didn't come without responsibility and loyalty to her.
Besides, what else was he going to do? Stay here and pretend to be mute, watching Christmas shows on the tele with the students who's parents had abandoned them here for the holidays? No thanks. He'd rather be doing something useful.
He glanced off the direction Sharon had gone to change. <Night sunshine,> he 'called'to her. He nodded to Emma. <Good night to you too.> He wanted to say something wittier, but in truth, was too tired and jet-lagged for that. <See you both in the morning.>
[[ Exit Chamber to Chamber's Room]]
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Post by Catseye on Jun 3, 2005 3:52:26 GMT -5
Sharon had been confused at first when Emma put the robe on her, but then remembered. People wore clothes. She hurried off to the bathroom, smiling one last time at Jono before she did. When he said goodby to her, she called out, "Bye Jono."
For the longest time, she'd known him only as "fire mouth boy" but someone had told her his name once, and for some reason, she remembered it. She re-emerged from the bathroom, fully clothed, and walked up to Emma. "New boy is gone? Think maybe Cat scared him. When was outside, thought he was bad and growled at him."
She chewed on her lip, hoping that she wasn't the reason that he had been turned away. Still, Jono was back. That was good. She grinned. "Is good having old person back from before Cat."
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Post by emmafrost on Jun 3, 2005 9:13:16 GMT -5
Emma gave him a devious little smile and said, “Jono, it's simply just a holiday visit to the city.” She knew he wouldn't believe her but that was fine. Exhaustion was wearing on him like a blanket so she walked to her door and opened it. Growing a bit more serious, she added, “Sleep well. I'm looking forward to catching up on everything that has been happening with you.”<br> She wouldn't pry into his mind to find the answers. When he was ready to talk, she would be there to listen. Emma's students respected her and she repaid them with the same respect.
After he left, Cat came back out and was worried. “Ah, Cat, it was nothing you did, I promise. Jonathon just wasn't cut out to be one of us. Yes, he would have made a nice addition but I didn't appreciate his constant questioning of me and my ways. He wanted respect without having to give it. That doesn't work for me. So, he is gone, end of story.”<br> Opening the door to her apartment once again, she continued, “Having Jono home is a pleasant surprise. Certainly fitting for Christmas, wouldn't you agree?” She didn't' add that she only hoped he would be able to fit back into their routine after such a long absence. “Good night, my little Kitty Cat,” she said to Sharon.
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Post by Catseye on Jun 3, 2005 9:32:40 GMT -5
Sharon smiled. It was good to know that it wasn't her fault. Sometimes, she worried that she was too inhuman, that she drove people away because even when she looked like a person, she still acted like a cat a lot of the time. When she was in cat form, she liked to let herself go, and she knew that sometimes that could get scary.
"'Night, Teacher." She gave Emma a quick hug before turning and heading out the door and back to her room.
((Catseye heads to her bedroom))
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Post by forge on Jun 3, 2005 18:55:38 GMT -5
Forge knocked on the door to Emma's apartment, he wasnt one to just barge in, as it sounded like Emma already had company. Brushing the snow off his jacket he waited patiently for the door to open.
The fact that she had dismissed a new student tonight, was perhaps keeping her preoccupied. Forge wondered who it was that she had released, no one came to mind. It didnt matter seeing that she would eventually tell him.
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Post by emmafrost on Jun 3, 2005 20:09:34 GMT -5
Sharon had just left when Emma heard the knock at her door. Knowing it was Kerian, Emma telepathically called out, < Come on in, Kerian. >
She was standing at the small bar located behind the couch and was pouring another cup of tea. Her last one had grown cold during her visit with Jono. She smiled at him as he came in, looking quite cold. “Would you like a cup of tea?” she asked him.
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Post by forge on Jun 3, 2005 20:39:10 GMT -5
“Would you like a cup of tea?”
Forge knew better then to refuse Emma's kindness, it didnt occur often, but when it did he knew to act in kind. He hadn't gotten along with her this long by acting stupid.
"Thanks, Emma. So who is this you bounced out of here today? Anyone i know?", Forge said taking the warm tea in his hands, the chill seem to leave the moment he grasped it.
Sitting his cup down on a delicate glass coffee table, he soon followed suit planting himself in a rather plush recliner.
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Post by emmafrost on Jun 3, 2005 21:08:40 GMT -5
Emma took her own cup and sat on the couch near Forge. Answering his question, she said, “It was someone that Sabastian found trying to break into the school. He turned out to be a mutant and I tried to get him to stay but he was too belligerent and too much of a risk. So he's gone with no memory of ever being here.”<br> Taking a moment to sip the hot liquid, she continued, “We are going to New York to stay at the club tomorrow. I have been in contact with Charles Xavier and it appears that there are some things happening very quickly in Washington. Things that will not bode well for us mutants.” Handing Forge the copies of the emails she had printed out, she continued, “I want you to keep the kids in New York where they will blend in. Although I believe the school is perfectly safe, I am not going to chance it. The protection at the club is second to none. In the meantime, I'm going to be paying Congress a visit. You know my contacts there and how high they reach. I am determined to make sure this Act doesn't go through.”
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