Mind & Emotion

[Lana Kane]

These boots were made for walkin'--but that wasn't what they were gonna do. In fact she wasn't even currently walking, she was riding. With some guy she'd met and used her powers to make him willing to give her a ride out of town. He was going up to some school that his cousin was attending to drop off a package for them, and then going north. Which was good, cause Lana needed to put some distant between her and where she had been. Spending too long in a place increased her chances of getting caught.

He told her that she could wait in the car, but that wasn't happening. It had taken forever to get here and she was going to use the ladies before getting back into it. Some guy had answered, and shown her were it was. He was young and nerdy looking, and taller then her. Which wasn't impressive, she was only five one. It made her look even younger then she was.

After washing her hands, Lana walked out and tried to remember which way to go. "Shite!" She grumbled, only to hear a soft gasp. Turning she saw a little kid there, and apparently they were shocked by her choice of words. "Hey no I was . . . you know what ev. How I get back to the door, kid?" They kid turned and bolted, and Lana groaned. Time to get out of here before she got in trouble. But which way?

[x]

Adjusting to life in a wheelchair was hellish. His back constantly ached, his arms were consistently tired and sore from having to push himself everywhere, and he severely missed the days when he wasn’t left gasping for breath trying to keep up with everything.

And the paperwork. Charles was an academic; he knew paperwork was an occupational hazard and something he couldn’t avoid regardless of what slot of academia he fitted himself into. But the hoops he had to jump through just to get his fledgling academy accredited was just ridiculous.

Charles sighed and put the paperwork down, leaning back in his chair and running his hands over his face. He needed to find a mutant with super-masseuse capabilities. Or better yet, one capable of healing spinal damage.

He paused for a moment as an unfamiliar mind brushed against his periphery. Taking a moment to beat back any guilt from probing her mind a bit deeper—he needed to assure that the stranger was not a threat to the current student body, meager as it was—Charles immediately set to work. She was young, around twenty years old, and rather eager to head north. Oh, and she was a mutant, from the sounds of it, and had used her powers on a relative of one of the students—oh, dear. Well, she seemed to lack true malice towards the school, so Charles decided to take a chance.

The exit is directly down the hall to your left, Ms. Kane. And you needn’t use your powers on your ride from this point out; he will be more than happy to take you as far as you need to go so long as you ask politely.

[Lana Kane]

Lana had decided to try right, just as a voice in her hear told her to turn left--then called her by name. Jerking her head one way, then the other, Lana looked for the source. There was no one. The voice had called her by name, and then talked about her powers! Lana froze, her arms slightly extended from her body as she was trying to decide if she was going mad or if she was about to be attacked.

Closing her eyes, she used her powers to try and seek out the emotions near her. Were any hostel? No. "Who the hell are you?" She called out, no longer worried about unsettling any tikes running around. Someone was in her head! . . . . which meant she wasn't the only mutant around here. "Where they hell are you?" He wasn't even close! She could tell how close people were by their emotions most the time. Not well, but enough to know he wasn't directly near her!

[x]

Charles winced a bit as the strange girl resorted to shouting. She was going to cause an unnecessary ruckus if she wasn’t careful.

No need to shout, Ms. Kane. Nor is there any need for such language; after all, some of the children are quite young. My name is Charles Xavier; I am the headmaster of this school. And you’re quite right: you aren’t the only mutant here. As a matter of fact, the majority of people present on the grounds are mutants as well.

Perhaps he was being a bit too honest with her; after all, the last person whose life he’d learned about via his telepathy and trusted had left him bleeding out, paralyzed, on a beach in Cuba. But Charles was not the sort who was meant to hold grudges; he had to prove himself the better man and besides, he had much more to focus on that didn’t involve certain German mutants and too-sunny beaches.

As for where I am located, I am currently situation in my office. If you care to speak to me face to face, you most certainly are welcome to. Proceed down the hallway as I have already instructed you, though when you enter the main foyer, veer to your right and my office is located behind the second door to your left.

[Lana Kane]

"Right." She muttered, before turning to walk down the hall--"No left!" Turning she spun and ran down the hall way, her boots making thumping sounds as she did as he told her. As she got to where he ride was, he turned and grinned, calling out a 'are you ready to get out of here?' but Lana waved him back as she kept moving, and and used her powers to keep him willing, "Just sit and wait!"

Getting to the doors she pushed them opened and all but fell though them, as she hurried to find out who had been in her head. Coming face to face with him, left her . . . . surprised. He didn't look like a headmaster. He was younger then she'd thought. Walking slowly toward his desk, Lana used her powers to see what emotions she felt there, even the smaller ones. You could learn a lot about a person with the smaller emotions that they never displayed. "Yyyooouuu'rrreeee in charge here?" She asked in a disbelieving tone, while pointing casually at him. "You don't look like a grumpy old man who hates kids." Wasn't that was all headmasters were?

[x]

Charles sighed as he felt her use her powers once again; honestly, he was a sweet boy. There really wasn’t any need for her to manipulate him in such a way. He used the spare moments to tidy his desk up a bit; he never had been able to keep a clean space. Raven had been forever commenting on that back before the CIA and Cuba. Charles sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose as the door to his office opened.

There was a strong spike of surprise when she saw him; apparently he didn’t fit her idea as for what she’d expected him to look like. It was a blow to his already dwindling vanity.

"Yyyooouuu'rrreeee in charge here? You don’t look like a grumpy old man who hates kids.”

He laughed at that.

“No, Ms. Kane, I can assure you that I’m not quite that old yet. I estimate I’m only perhaps ten or so years older than you are,” he assured with a smile.

“Now, might I ask what exactly brought you here? You seemed rather surprised to find other mutants here, so I suppose you aren’t here for the school?”

[Lana Kane]

He laughed, but as she wasn't trying to funny Lana didn't join him. The few schools she'd gone to before running away had all been ones filled with hateful adults. Old, grumpy, and never really caring. Yet she was using her powers on this on--just to read him--and she could tell he was different. “No, Ms. Kane, I can assure you that I’m not quite that old yet. I estimate I’m only perhaps ten or so years older than you are,” How'd he known that? Bloody 'ell! Was he still in her head? Cause she could play that game too.

“Now, might I ask what exactly brought you here? You seemed rather surprised to find other mutants here, so I suppose you aren’t here for the school?” Walking forward, Lana took a seat in one of the chairs across from his desk, and fell into it, crossing her legs and tossing her hair back as she lifted her chin. Something about him thinking her a student.

"I'm a little old for school." He knew her age, he should know that. Lana pushed deeper with her powers, trying to see what emotions he might try to hide from the world. Things he might feel but not act on. Wanting to keep him amused too, she used her powers to make him feel like laughing, even though she was digging through his darker emotions. "I was trying ta catch a ride north. He had to stop here, so I did too." Her accent was thicker then she planned just then, but using her powers to dig often made her not think of every word that came out of her lips. "Whot is this place?"

[x]

“I’m a little old for school,” she responded, taking a seat across from his desk. “I was trying ta catch a ride north. He had to stop here, so I did, too.”

He could feel her in his head, trying to make him laugh while she rummaged around his darker emotions. While he hardly wanted to give the message that she shouldn’t use her powers, he was also very much aware of what his darker emotions would mean. And so, he slammed his mental shields into place, all but throwing her out of his mind.

Apologies, Ms. Kane, but I must ask you to refrain from attempting to access my darker emotions.

“Whot is this place?”

“It can be argued otherwise,” Charles answered with a smile. “After all, one never really stops learning, does one? And as for this place, officially it’s a school. While that is the primary purpose and a great deal of work goes into to maintaining that function, we also seek to be a safe haven for mutants.”

He shifted a bit in his chair, attempting to alleviate the dull ache in his back.

“Not all of the mutants here are here as students,” he continued. “Some are only passing through and asked for shelter. As long as I can assure that no harm will come to the children, they are welcome to stay for as long as they may need.”

[Lana Kane]

One moment she was just finding something good, something she wanted to explore with her powers, and the next she pushed out of his head. Apologies, Ms. Kane, but I must ask you to refrain from attempting to access my darker emotions. Reaching up she rubbed her temple while glaring at him. How did he do that? And more importantly, how did she get around it? "Could have just asked, mate" She grumbled while trying to fit a way around whatever he was doing to block her. She wasn't trying too hard, because apart of her was beginning to understand he was a bit stronger then her, and pissing him off might be a quick way to not getting out of here.

“And as for this place, officially it’s a school.” A school for mutants? That sounded vaguely familiar. Why did it sound familiar? “Not all of the mutants here are here as students,” A safe haven and a school? Oh shite! Lana sat up better and stopped trying to get around his block for a moment. Her eyes fell to the desk as if she was trying to imagine what was behind it. Would be be in a wheelchair?

Standing, Lana walked closer tot he desk and leaned over to look just enough, before standing back up straight and looking at his fave. "You Xavier?" She asked, one part surprised, and the rest she wasn't sure what she felt, but it wasn't good. Her eyes moved around the room, taking in where she was quite by mistake.

Would he hurt her because she was--or had been--with the Brotherhood? Back when she'd been 'Darklit' more then Lana. She hadn't stayed with them long (as she found out quickly her powers didn't belong in a battleground), but during the year she had heard of him. Magento's friend, Mystique's brother. He wasn't exactly against them but they'd always spoken as if he would stop them if he could. Staking a few steps backwards, Lana began inching toward the door, "Ya know, maybe I shouldn't be here."

[x]

He had to admit that she was persistent, given that she was still trying to get back into his head. She wasn’t a full-on telepath, he’d wager, but perhaps more of an empath? He wondered about the full extent of her powers, the amount of control she had over what her abilities. Certainly, she had enough control to con a nice boy into giving her a ride, and enough to rummage around in his own emotions, but was that the extent of what she could do, or had she merely scratched the surface?

The suspicion of who he was and where she was bleed out to him, and only grew stronger when she noticed his slight discomfort. He bit back a sigh when she got up and leaned over his desk, just enough to catch sight of the wheelchair. The surprise and a host of other emotions all muddled together hit him full force as she took in where exactly she’d ended up.

“You’re Xavier?”

He caught snatches of fear and concern, glimpses of her recent past—one of Erik’s, then, but apparently she’d learned that the Brotherhood was no place for an empath—and felt his heart clench at the flashes he got of Erik and Raven.

“Ya know, maybe I shouldn’t be here,” she said, inching towards the door.

“No, Ms. Kane, you are perfectly welcome here, regardless of your recent history.”

He didn’t agree with Erik’s views. For him, violent reaction was not only an undesirable option, but a completely impossible one. His telepathy ensured that he could never fully turn against the world, even if he desperately wanted to. As far as he was concerned, humans could be reasoned with. Progress could be made without excessive bloodshed and loss of life. However, for all of his disagreements with Erik’s path, he would not drive anyway anyone seeking sanctuary so long as they would not bring harm to his students. Despite her blatant manipulation of that nice young man and her immediate accessing of his emotions, Charles had yet to glean any sort of particularly malicious intent.

“Former Brotherhood member or not, so long as you refrain from doing the students any harm, you will always have a place here for as long as you may require.”

[Lana Kane]

“No, Ms. Kane, you are perfectly welcome here, regardless of your recent history.” Her history? So he was still in her head. While keeping her out of his. This was something she really needed to learn. “Former Brotherhood member or not, so long as you refrain from doing the students any harm, you will always have a place here for as long as you may require.” Bloody hell he really was like how the others said he was. She had thought they were making stuff up and telling tall tales. "You'd take in your enemies?" Though to be fair, she hadn't really been his enemy. She had only assumed because she was because of how it was 'them vs us' on the other side.

"Former being the key word, yeah. When he got locked up, I decided it was time ta find my own way," He being Magneto. She thought back to the one prison attempt the group had made, and the chaos of emotions she had felt. Being over whelmed, and seeing they would not succeed, Lana had left the group hanging, abandoning them in their fight. She was willing to bet they weren't thinking fondly of her right now. "Sort of laying low from them right now."

But that was beside the point. Taking a few steps forward she paused to think a second before deciding the best way to keep him from knowing her actions was to not think about them too much. So she walked back tot he desk and stood before it. "How you do that thing ta keep me out?" Other then Magneto with his helmet, no one kept her out before. . . . She didn't quite like it. Wanted a way around it.

[x]

“You’d take in your enemies?”

Charles sighed. He didn’t care for thinking of Erik and Raven—and all of the mutants they recruited to their Brotherhood—as enemies. There was a piece of him (a tiny, fragile thing that was such one stray breeze away from crumbling into dust) that still hoped they’d come back to the estate and help him guide and shape the rising generation of mutants.

“Former being the keyword, yeah,” Lana continued. “When he got locked up, I decided it was time ta find my own way. Sort of laying low from them right now.”

He repressed a wince at the off-hand mention of Erik. The so-called ‘magic bullet’ had been a devastating blow to weather. Kennedy had been a potential ally of the mutant cause, a good man who was so willing to help further civil rights for blacks, who Charles had been so sure would offer mutants the same sort of courtesy. The loss of such a good man would be one that would haunt the nation for generations to come. And it seemed, devastatingly so, that Erik was to blame for it all.

Still, if Lana wished to stay off the Brotherhood’s radar, there would be few places better for her than here. Lord knows anyone in the Brotherhood who had ever cared about him at all had left him and the boys stranded on a bloody beach with a broken submarine, a wrecked airplane, and at the mercy of two hostile navies. Charles had lost consciousness from shock and blood loss hardly twenty minutes after Erik and Raven left, and he didn’t wish to know how long exactly it had taken them to leave Cuba. He’d lost nearly a full year of his life to morphine and numerous surgeries, and he would still never be able to walk again. As much as it hurt, Erik and Raven had made it clear that Charles meant little to them in the grand scheme of things. Nothing left to do but take a deep breath and try to move forward.

“I am willing to take in any mutant who desires a safe haven. The only stipulation I have is that he or she refrain from harming the children.” And God help the poor sods who thought they could get away with attacking innocent children. “Erik and Raven may view the world in stark black-and-white, but I can’t help but see the shades of gray. And I can’t turn away a mutant in need without valid reason.”

“How do you do that thing ta keep me out?”

He chuckled a bit. “Years of practice, it would seem. One of the first things a telepath tends to hear when they reveal their mutation is something to the effect of ‘Stay out of my head.’ Or rather, that’s been my experience. Raven and Erik were both rather insistent in their own ways that I refrain from using my telepathy with regards to their own minds.”

Not that it needed to really be said; Charles had manners, after all. He tried rather hard not to intrude too deeply into another’s mind. Even he was capable of making mistakes. He especially made a great many mistakes.

“I’ve had years to develop my shielding techniques, Ms. Kane. Though, I can teach you how to construct your own, if you would be interested?”

[Lana Kane]

“The only stipulation I have is that he or she refrain from harming the children.” "I aint gonna hurt no kids, cross mi heart." He had said that a few times, so she was willing to bet he meant it, and was making sure in a non-violent way that she understood that. "You're in my head. You should be able to see that. I don't hurt people. It's why I left the others." Because they did hurt others. "I can feel what everyone around me is feeling. I can't turn it off. That makes hurting others a bit like self harm for me."

He called Magneto Erik, which told her a lot, and she wasn't sure who Raven was, but if Magneto was Erik then she was willing to be she could guess who Raven was. Mutant names. They all went by them in the brotherhood. She had known Magneto as Erik first, but she had not called him that long. She had been playing with his head when they meant, but then when he caught on he'd tried to assassinate her with her belt.

“Years of practice, it would seem. One of the first things a telepath tends to hear when they reveal their mutation is something to the effect of ‘Stay out of my head.’” Lana thought back and realized she had never demanded he stay out of her head. Should she? "Yeah, I get it. It's something I've heard a few times too. Thought I'm not really in their head. Just playing with their moods." “I’ve had years to develop my shielding techniques, Ms. Kane. Though, I can teach you how to construct your own, if you would be interested?” Years?! UGH! Years?!

Wait! Was he offering her to stay here? Lana's eyes traveled over the room once again. To go from the streets to this was . . . and step and half. "You offerin' ta let me stay here? . . . I aint got any money." So she couldn't pay him for her stay, but she wanted it. Wanting to know how to be stronger. "You teach me to get around shields?" Like a helmet? "Just ta be clear, I aint waning ta learn to hurt anyone, but when I left the Brotherhood, I sort of left them hanging. I rather know to protect my self, yea? You would do that?"

[x]

“I ain’t gonna hurt no kids,” Lana insisted, “cross mi heart. You’re in my head; you should be able to see that. I don’t hurt people. It’s why I left the others. I can feel what everyone around me is feeling. I can’t turn it off. That makes hurting others a bit like self-harm for me.”

So she was an empath. Likely a powerful one as well, if her abilities where strong enough to make work for the Brotherhood an impossibility for her. In many ways, her empathic abilities were very likely a great deal similar to his own telepathy. Charles wondered for a moment what she might become with a bit more training. Perhaps she’d benefit from learning how to shield herself a bit from the world around her; how good was her shielding, to begin with? It obviously had room for improvement given her descriptions. While the last thing he wanted was to equip her with the means to actively hurt others, he wouldn’t knock the necessity of being able to defend one’s self. If Lana’s abilities prevented her from being able to protect herself when she actually needed it, then improving her shielding abilities would be vital to her survival.

“Yeah, I get it. It’s something I’ve heard a few times, too. Though I’m not really in their head. Just playing with their moods.”

“While I am ‘in your head,’ Ms. Kane, I do try to refrain from doing more than skimming the surface,” he explained. “I will admit my recent history may have made me overly cautious, and I sincerely apologize if I’ve offered you any offense.”

“You offerin’ ta let me stay here?” Lana’s surprise was fairly obvious, as though she didn’t expect to be given such a chance. “...I ain’t got any money.”

“Well, as you will likely not be enrolling as an official student—though do correct me if you would rather be one—money wouldn’t be much of an issue. As I said, this school doubles as a safe haven. We’re not exactly hurting for money here, and I’m much more interested in ensuring that those like us have a safe place they can come to, regardless of their socioeconomic statuses.”

“You teach me to get around shields?” Like a helmet, her mind added, and Charles felt a sharp stab of sympathy. “Just ta be clear, I ain’t wanting ta learn to hurt anyone, but when I left the Brotherhood, I sort of left them hanging. I’d rather know to protect myself, yeah? You would do that?”

Charles nodded. “I would do my upmost to aid you in furthering your abilities. Personally, I’m very glad you’ve no desire to bring harm to others—I think we stand to get along swimmingly,” he added with a smile. “As for getting around shields, I will do my best to teach you both how to get through them and how to utilize them for your own protection. There are some shields not even I can get through, such as Erik’s helmet, or perhaps even Emma’s diamond form.”

Actually, he was certain he could break through Emma’s diamond form like cheap glass if he focused his power enough. But that led him down certain trails of though he had no desire to pursue, and so he tended not to think too deeply about it.

[Lana Kane]

“While I am ‘in your head,’ Ms. Kane, I do try to refrain from doing more than skimming the surface,” Skimming the surface. Her lips moved as she thought the words over in her head. This was the surface? He wasn't trying?! What happened when he tried? “I will admit my recent history may have made me overly cautious, and I sincerely apologize if I’ve offered you any offense.” Recent history. Looking down at the desk she wondered if he meant what happened to make him need the chair. Lana didn't know the whole story, Magneto and Mystique never spoke of it. The others had said some, but at the time she had not cared to hear the whole story about someone she didn't think she'd ever meet.


“--regardless of their socioeconomic statuses.” Their what? Clearly this is why Magneto and him where friends. They both talked so pretty. So far above her head. “I would do my upmost to aid you in furthering your abilities. Personally, I’m very glad you’ve no desire to bring harm to others—I think we stand to get along swimmingly,” Upmost. Swimmingly. As he kept talking, Lana walked back to the chair and sat down, crossing her legs and managing to do so almost graceful. She had learned to blend in and mimic others. Some of her time in the brotherhood had been spent mimicking Magneto. She could talk like one of the big boys!

“As for getting around shields, I will do my best to teach you both how to get through them and how to utilize them for your own protection. There are some shields not even I can get through, such as Erik’s helmet, or perhaps even Emma’s diamond form.” Not the helmet. Shite, that skill would have come in handy if he ever escaped. Still it didn't appear he was getting out any time soon, so why worry about it. "This sounds like a lovely opportunity for me to explore my powers and build a greater understanding of them." She answered, copying his accent almost perfectly. "I think it sounds just swimming!" Was that how that was used?

"Please do call me, Lana, as I plan to do my upmost to assure we become friends." Lana wasn't sure about the friends part, but it sounded pretty. She was still wary of what he could what from her. Magneto had saw her as a weapon of sorts sometimes, and tried to train her and push her into the fight more then she could with her powers. What did this one want? Everyone wanted something.

[x]

“This sounds like a lovely opportunity for me to explore my powers and build a greater understanding of them,” Lana responded, sitting with her legs crossed and mimicking his accent to near perfection. “I think it sounds just swimming! Please do call me Lana, as I plan to do my upmost to assure we become friends.”

Charles laughed a bit, thoroughly amused by her response; a part of her reminded him so very much of Raven, who used to mock him mercilessly whenever she decided that he was taking himself too seriously. Surprisingly, the resemblance didn’t drive a metaphorical dagger into his heart. Instead, he let himself relax a bit, loosening his shields just a hair, just enough so that she could use her abilities to get a read on his emotions but not enough for her to actually manipulate or rummage around them.

“That was a lovely impression, Lana, my dear,” he said with a smile. “I’ve heard many in my lifetime and yours was nearly to a tee. Is there any business you wish to finish before settling in here, or would you rather I show you to the dormitories and give you a chance to relax?”

He had to admit, Lana was beginning to grow on him; she was perhaps a bit rough around the edges, but she meant well and had a truly lovely mind. Given time and a bit of guidance, Charles had no doubt that she would be able to gain full mastery of her mutation and carve out a good life for herself wherever she so chose.

[Lana Kane]

It was rare someone called her out of her mimicking, and Lana had to fight her own smile at the headmaster calling her on her antics. Thankfully, no one had ever gotten annoyed as of yet with her. Which was good, because she wanted to fit in, and mimicking was one way she felt like she did. That and you never knew when you had to have this information handy! Her reply began with a teasing double meaning, before it ended with her jumping slightly when she recalled something important."I think I would love to see your dormitories--Oh shite!" She pushed from the chair, "One second!"

Lana had all but forgotten the man who she'd made give her a ride. Pushing past the doors, Lana went back to where he was waiting. "I've decided ta stay. You can go north alone." She told him, while he looked confused. 'What?' "I have a craving for education, so I will stay. Have a good day!" She waved at him and turned to walk away, sending him an amused feeling to cover the confused one. She made a few steps before turning and admitting, "Thank you," And then walking back to Charles.

When she walked back into the office she smiled sheepishly, knowing he'd know she used her powers. "I had to ditch the human before he caught on." She explained, not knowing how he felt about her using her powers this way. She was sure there would be rules, as even the Brotherhood had rules. "So, the dormitories, yeah?"

[x]

“I think I would love to see your dormitories—Oh shite!” Lana jumped from her chair and bolted to the door, shouting at him to wait a moment.

Charles afforded himself a moment of surprise, before recalling the human boy Lana had been manipulating into giving her a ride north. He sighed a bit and shook his head after she’d fled his office. They would have to have a discussion about that, but he would let it slide just this once. Instead, he reached out to the young man’s mind and did a wee bit of damage control before letting him go on his way. Oh, but she did thank him, which Charles would happily count as a small victory.

“I had to ditch the human before he caught on,” Lana said as she re-entered the room, possessing the good grace to act a bit sheepish of her actions. “So, the dormitories, yeah?”

“Now, Lana, he was a perfectly nice young man,” Charles said as he wheeled himself away from his desk. “In fact, you may encounter him again. His cousin is one of my students, correct?”

Charles made a point of keeping any family involved who obviously cared for their mutant child, especially if the child in question also wanted to keep in contact. He and a number of the older mutants may have had rather lackluster childhoods and home lives, all things considered, but that did not have to mean that the younger children couldn’t be luckier.

“And yes,” he confirmed, giving her a reassuring smile. “If you will so kind as to follow me, I will show you to where we currently house the older students. There are several rooms currently available, so you will be able to pick one. Now, if I may ask, what—other than shielding—are you most interested in learning with regards to your powers?”

The older students all had their own needs, some of which were obvious to them and others that were only revealed through time and training. A student with cryokinesis, for example, would require a different training focus than a student who could breathe underwater.

[Lana Kane]

“Now, Lana, he was a perfectly nice young man,” She grinned and shrugged, even chuckled lightly; clearly amused with herself. “In fact, you may encounter him again. His cousin is one of my students, correct?” If she was even still here, "Then I can just make him happy again?" She asked as more of a teasing suggestion, still unsure where he stood with her using her powers to control the humans aspect. Lana had the feeling that saying 'he was only a human' wouldn't be seen as something to get approval here.

Lana nodded as he told her to follow him, and fell into step beside him. Thanks to her lack of height she was about the same height as he was sitting. “Now, if I may ask, what—other than shielding—are you most interested in learning with regards to your powers?” What did she want to know? Huh. Hmm. "I met Magneto about a year before he got himself locked up." She began to explain, "I only really knew how ta control people, read people too. But when I panicked, or got scared I lost control. Made everyone feel it. Built up a few angry mobs back in the day." She said it with a joke, but that lost of control had nearly gotten her killed a few times. "I didn't even know I could get control til he showed me."

"Threw a knife at me head! Right 'ere!" She pointed to her face, as she told Xavier about her training with Erik. Magneto had though the best way to teach her control was scaring her to death until she managed to control the fear. "I though he was gonna kill me, but after a while I begin to get it."

And the point of the story, "So I don't really know what I want ta learn. I don't' know what else I can do. Have ya ever met anyone like me? Someone who is so screwed up we can't even turn our powers off? It's like . . . . Everyone's always there in a way. I have to stop and think, Is this me, or is this someone's else mood I'm getting? I have to dig myself out of everyone else." Which went back to her not liking to hurt others. Because their fear, their desperation to live--she felt it. The sadness, the panic, the fear . . . so much fear. Feeling death was the worst. It was why she could never be a weapon.

[x]

Charles gave her a semi-chastising look at her response to his comments. However, it was a conversation to have at a later date, when Lana was properly settled and much more comfortable in the school. He had to pick his battles, after all, and Lana using humans for her own ends wasn’t the absolute worst she could be doing.

“I only really knew how ta control people,” Lana explained as they made their way down the hallway, “read people, too. But when I panicked or got scared, I lost control. Made everyone feel it. Built up a few angry mobs back in the day.”

Her voice was light, joking, even, but Charles could sense the darker undercurrents. He remembered far too well when he used to lose control. There had been times when his nightmares had made half the county pass out, save for one of the maids who had a latent mutation that made her able to resist his telepathy. Not that she knew, of course, and Charles had never said a word of it to her.

“I didn’t even know I could get control ‘til he showed me,” she continued. “Threw a knife at me head! Right ‘ere,” Lana exclaimed, gesturing to her head.

Charles offered half a smile in weak amusement; Erik always had been one for more risky training. He still remembered teaching Sean how to fly. "Allow me." The telepath shivered a bit, recalling Erik’s grin and his confidence that Charles was thinking the same. He quickly cut that train of thought off; it wouldn’t do to get misty-eyed in front of a new student, and besides, what could would his mourning do? Erik and Raven hadn’t even bothered to get him to a hospital, leaving him to die on that beach, for all they knew.

“I thought he was gonna kill me, but after a while I begin to get it,” the empath finished, and Charles simply nodded in understanding.

"So I don't really know what I want ta learn. I don't' know what else I can do. Have ya ever met anyone like me? Someone who is so screwed up we can't even turn our powers off? It's like . . . . Everyone's always there in a way. I have to stop and think, Is this me, or is this someone's else mood I'm getting? I have to dig myself out of everyone else."

Oh god, it was almost like talking with a younger version of himself. I’m hungry, but I just had lunch; I’m tired, but it’s midday; I’m sad, but I don’t know why. Early childhood had been a nightmare, trying to separate his own thoughts and emotions from those around him. What made it worse was that he, much like Lana, was simply incapable of turning his abilities on and off like a tap. All attempts to do so never ended well.

“Firstly, Lana,” Charles said as they reached the elevator, his voice firm with conviction, “you are not ‘screwed up.’ Your abilities are not meant to be turned off any more than mine are; to try to shut them off would be akin to gouging our eyes out. It’s not so much a party trick as it is a sort of limb, an appendage, something that is inherently part of who you are and its removal would be detrimental to your health.”

It was something Charles had to remind himself of constantly. His telepathy was as much a part of him as Raven’s natural blue skin was a part of her. Unlike her, however, he couldn’t change it, couldn’t hide it, couldn’t choose to set his telepathy down for a moment. He always had to be vigilant, he couldn’t let his guard down, and he had to keep his shields up. No rest for the wicked, it seemed.

“Secondly, I understand your predicament quite well," he offered as he hit the button to summon the lift. "I had many of the same problems with my telepathy when I was a child, and even now there are moments when I lose track of whose thoughts are whose. It will take a great deal of work, but improving your shielding will certainly help lessen the frequency of such confusion.”