You Know How I Feel

[Erik Lehnsherr]

Erik did not fail to notice that she was replicating the way he spoke. Now whether it was in attempt to mock him, or just repeat him like a parrot, he was unsure. Her intentions were not clear, but regardless, he was not offended. "Isn't it the objective of every game to win?" He asked philosophically, but had a feeling they were not going to get into an in dept conversation about victory. So he let that subject pass when she asked him about the rook. "Surprisingly, you're actually right," he said teasingly, having a little fun at her expense and mocking her inexperience with chess and thus, the pieces involved in the game.

"There is also a Queen in the game," he added, for some reason, having a feeling that that particular piece would appeal to her. "She is the most powerful player on the board," he added, though that may be debatable, but it was a large assumption that she was. Something else he thought may interest her to know. "Once again, you are correct. It is a complex game with many rules and intricacies within it." Specific moves, special moves under certain circumstances . . . it was indeed a good game if one wished to develop their skills as a strategist. She asked why he had been looking at it so intently, and while he had his reasons for doing so, he was not about to divulge them to Lana. "Perhaps I was mentally playing the game," he said jokingly, taking a sip of his drink that had nearly spilled over.

[Lana Kane]

"Isn't it the objective of every game to win?" "Isn't that whot I just said?" Lana countered, missing Magneto's deep thinking, and rather assuming he was just funing her. "Surprisingly, you're actually right," Squaring her shoulders, Lana raised her chin in mock defiance, as if to boldly enjoy his words that she was right. "I have my moments."

"There is also a Queen in the game," "Really?" "She is the most powerful player on the board," "Course she is! She's the bloody queen! . . . Wait, bett'r then the king?" Cause that was cool. Women over powering the men! Maybe the game wasn't so dumb after all! She could see the appeal, not enough to learn it, but enough to enjoy the finer points.

"Perhaps I was mentally playing the game," That sounded boring! "You got nothing better ta do then sit there and try to beat yer self? Really?" Looking around she held out her hands, "You got all this and you rather think about a game?" Lana wasn't one to sit and think, as she was more active. "Which one is the queen? I will trade you the king and I will play with them and you can with the boys. . . . it will be boys vs girls checkers-chess-whatever."

"Hey where do I get one of them?" She pointed to his drink before standing and reaching for it, lifting it to her lips Lana took a rather large swallow before trying to couch it up and swallow at the same time--which left her gagging and burning! "BLOODY SHITE WHAT THE BLEEDING HELL WAS THAT!" She asked couching more and tears on her face from the effect it was having. "It's burning! It's like acid! Did you just bloody poison me?!"

[Erik Lehnsherr]

Erik was unsure which question to respond to first. Lana seemed rather . . . hyperactive. She was taking in the board, taking in her surroundings, and before he knew it, taking his drink. It was true that they had this entire estate, however Magneto did not bask in the glory of it. It was merely a temporary place of residence from the deceased. For he planned to have a proper headquarters soon. She seemed to be massacring the rules of chess, yet Magneto did not say anything. He let her make up whatever new game she was talking about, for she seemed to show more interest in that -- and a concept like checkers -- rather than the rules of the game this actually was for. Before he could answer anything more, she took a large sip of his drink. He had not expected her to take his glass and drink it so quickly after she asked where she could get one. Perhaps if she had waited, he could have warned her of its contents. And the sip she took almost made Magneto cringe, aware of what that was going to feel like. And the predicted intensity was accurate.

For she started yelling, and accusing him of poisoning her. Erik couldn't help but smile, and if he was more easily amused, he would have laughed. But instead, he just gave a bit of a smirk, slightly shaking his head as he calmly rose to his feet and walked over to the pitcher of water where he proceeded to fill up a glass, and pass it to Lana. "This will help soothe your throat a little," he told her. The burn was temporary, and the most painful part of it was over. "How could I poison you from my own glass?" He asked, bringing logic to her statement. Pointing out that she had taken his drink before he had been able to offer it to her. "Had you waited for the answer to your question, I would have warned you that it is scotch. And if you are not used to it, it can burn your throat." Which it clearly did. "It may be beneficial to exercise patience, Lana," he said, without judgment but rather, in a way that made him sound like he was giving her friendly advice. His words not only referring to this current situation, but in other regards as well.

[Lana Kane]

"This will help soothe your throat a little," Grabbing the water she drank it back, before glaring up at him as it did little to ease the burning she felt, and in fact only made the burning feeling spread in her belly. Slowly however, either from time or the water, the burning was fading. "How could I poison you from my own glass?" "I don't know! You gots some weird mutant pow'ers or some'ing!" He was lucky her powers hadn't tried to attack him! . . . . in fact she was surprised this hadn't.

"It may be beneficial to exercise patience, Lana," "What ev'!" She waved her had dismissing the idea, "I dind't attack you!" Lana was trying to find how why but the whole 'look inside yourself' thing was confusing because she didn't know how she'd just did it. "I was freaking out, and I though I might like drown or choke ta death, but I dind't attack you! With my powers!"

"That's the first time I've never not lost control!" Whatever he had done to her today was working! "Did you feel anything?"

[Erik Lehnsherr]

Erik continued to watch her and listen to her as she began to realize the fact that she had not attacked him despite her extreme state of fear. The revelation cause a small smile to spread on his lips as she questioned whether he had felt anything as further confirmation of her realization. "I did not," he assured her. "It seems you are learning to control your powers in the height of your fear," he told her. He believed in a more direct approach of teaching, and while his had not been planned for him, it had indeed provided a rather wonderful teachable moment. And he was quite proud of his latest pupil for it seemed she was a fast learner, whether she realized it or not.

He resumed his previous position, sitting next to her on the couch as he looked at her with a continued small smile on his lips. "Well done, Lana," he praised, gently placing a hand on hers. "For tonight proves that even under the most unexpected of perceived attacks, you have the capability of controlling your powers, despite your emotionally distressed state." And he was so very proud of her. For her gift was truly a remarkable one. Whether she stayed with the Brotherhood or not, he would always believe her gift to be nothing less than incredible.

[Lana Kane]

"I did not," She smiled, and squared her shoulder, clearly filled with an abundance of self pride. She'd learned to control it. Even if it was once, she had known to hold it in without the need to manually stop and think about it. She'd controlled it! "It seems you are learning to control your powers in the height of your fear," "Cause I got serious skills, old man!" She teased, biting her lip and doing a little dance with her shoulders.

"Well done, Lana," Maybe he did know a thing or two about controlling her powers. Maybe she ought to pay more attention rather then just show up and play along. She had assumed that it would take forever with him just throwing knives at her but LOOK! Clearly she was just good at this! "For tonight proves that even under the most unexpected of perceived attacks, you have the capability of controlling your powers, despite your emotionally distressed state." "I don't understand half of what you say." She muttered, and waved it off, "But if yer calling you trying to poison me not an attack then you're clearly too used to poisoning yourself."

[Erik Lehnsherr]

She spoke of how she had skills and how she did not understand most of what he said. Though he was no empath, he could clearly see that she was pleased with herself. Perhaps if this showed her that training helped, then she would stay longer and he could use that time to slowly convince her of what she could do to help others like her. Others who were struggling, living on the streets, fearful of capture and discovery. He pushed aside these thoughts for the time being, not wanting to cause any emotions that would cause her to question what he was thinking. Besides, it was not as if he had made any secret about his intentions. For they were first and foremost, to help her perfect her power so that she was an unstoppable force. What she would do with that, was her own decision.

"I said perceived threat," he explained to her when she had accused him of trying to poison and how he had referred to it as an attack. It was perceived as an attack by her. Even though it wasn't true, what was relevant was that she thought it was because that had caused her fear, and that was what now led to the discovery that her powers had remained in her control. "Next time you abruptly take my glass, perhaps you should pause to consider the content of it." Not because it would be poison, but to avoid another incident like what had just happened to occur. "You should get some rest, Lana," he encouraged. For it was late, and she had quite the day today.

[Lana Kane]

"I said perceived threat," She still wasn't sure what that word meant! "What ev." She brushed it off, "A threat is ah threat." She could see he might not be trying to kill her, but she wasn't going to back down and admit to being wrong. Let him deal with it. "Next time you abruptly take my glass, perhaps you should pause to consider the content of it." She could damn well bet there wasn't going to be a next time! Not even if her life depended on it. Well, maybe that. But nothing else short of it! "If I dumped it in the plant, I bet it would kill it!"

"You should get some rest, Lana," Ugh! How adult of him. Granted, she wasn't a kid either, but adults were always telling kids to go to bed. "I aint tired." She told him, trying not to sound like a put out kid. Her next words helped that a lot. "Where I'm from--" The streets "--You don't sleep a lot. You can't. At night more so. Besides, one of your friends up there is having bad dreams, while two of the others are in working the brass . . . . I came down here to get away from that."

"Why don't you go ta bed? I can stare at your checkers for you."

[Erik Lehnsherr]

She dismissed his words, though he was obviously not offended by it. It was rather good that they were not dwelling on trivialities. She then said that she wasn't tired and went on to explain that she had trouble sleeping at night. Implying that it was due to the dangers that lurked about on the streets in the dark hour. It was not something she had to worry about here, but he understood that she had formed a habit and it was not so easy to break out of such habits.

Especially as this was only her second day here. "Are you able to defend yourself in ways apart from utilizing your powers? You say it is difficult to control them in the state of fear, so do you have any other defense mechanisms to protect yourself with when faced with a threat?" He inquired. Magneto believed that mutants did not need more than their powers to protect themselves. While she had an excellent grasp on them, there was still that idea of fear she felt and that may cause a hindrance when faced directly with a threat, so did she have more physical ways of being able to eliminate them?

[Lana Kane]

Defend herself? Was he asking her if she could use something besides her powers to defend herself? Lana smiled, a bit boldly too. Yeah, she had some mad skills when it came to that. Tossing her head back, Lana explained; "Yeah, I got me a set of pipes. Someone comes up, I scream, and even without my powers people come to look. Then I just gots to make someone feel the need to step up and protect me." Clearly she was just teasing him, trying to write off what he said since she couldn't do it. Never admit defeat.

What need had she for fighting skills? She was assuming that was what he was asking her. If she could throw down with the boys. Truth was Lana couldn't. She never had the need and honestly, with her size, she knew better then to try. She was half the size of most normal people--you get someone tall and manly and she was doomed. "You got like ninja skills under all that tight control? . . . Cause you don't look the type. I mean, your fit and all, but you got like an i-rather-use-my-powers-then-beat-down air to ya." He seemed too controlled to be able to get down and dirty.

[Erik Lehnsherr]

She spoke of how she could scream. And he pondered for a moment whether there was any point in clarifying what he had meant, but she seemed to understand his question better than her initial statement suggested. For she then questioned -- a rhetorical question he assumed -- whether he had ninja skills. He gave a slight smile of amusement at the suggestion. "You are not wrong," he told her truthfully, not about to boast about having extremely developed physical combat skills. He never had to use him.

"I avoid physical combat if possible, however, I also value the importance in others being able to defend themselves in the midst of a fight should it arise and ones powers are unable to be used." Mystique for instance. She was working on her combat skills, aware that should she be caught in a situation where her powers may not get her out, then she would be able to find alternate ways to save herself. "Basic self defense tactics will be most useful," he further told her. Glancing at her for a moment, he rose to his feet and then held out his hand toward her. "Come. Allow me to show you an example," he calmly encouraged. It didn't seem like either of them were sleeping any time soon so why let this opportunity for a teachable moment pass them by.

[Lana Kane]

Why would her powers not be used? "Basic self defense tactics will be most useful," To the others! He had a giant red man, who could NOT look more like the devil if he wanted, he had . . . . others! Mutants who were tall and built stronger then her. Surely this lesson was for their benefit. Yet she could feel him, in her, feel that he was not teasing or joking. He honestly expected her to get up and fight him. Blood-dy-hell.

Taking his hand, she stood up and tried to read more of his emotions. The great part was, there was ALWAYS a flicker of something before anyone attacked. She'd at least not be taken off guard--she hoped. He might be faster, stronger, taller, smarter, meaner, and so many other things but she at least would know the second before he attacked. That was something right? "Come. Allow me to show you an example," "Sure, cause I can clearly take ya down." She said with a bit of scarasim, but was going willingly, and ready to see what he was about to do. Maybe this would be like last time, something that didn't make since until later?

[Erik Lehnsherr]

She seemed to reluctantly agree, and he wondered if she was just mouthing off to offer sarcastic words . . . or if there was a part of her that was genuinely curious as to what methods he would teach her. "It is not about taking me down," he told her. "It is about playing to the strengths your physicality offers." He didn't expect her to take him or anyone else down. It was about impairing the person in an unexpected attack until the person was able to gain the upper-hand, assess the situation, and then play to what would most likely be their mutant strengths. A combination of both was ideal.

"For instance, you are petite." That was neither an insult nor a compliment; it was a fact. "You must then play to strategically impacting your attacker, and moving quickly, for it will be more difficult for you to physically overpower your opponent." She would lack the body strength, for she did not look like she had a great deal of upper body strength. "But if you prefer to learn none of this, then by all means, tell me. I am not forcibly going to offer advice as to how to better protect yourself if you have no interest in it." If she did not want to learn, and make sarcastic comments throughout, then he was certain his time and energy could be put into something else rather than teaching an unwilling pupil.

[Lana Kane]

"It is not about taking me down," Then what was the point of this? "It is about playing to the strengths your physicality offers." "Not sure if you noticed this, but there anit one for someone like me." She mouthed off, rebelling because she didn't believe she could do it. He was only going to make her look like an idiot and she really didn't want that.

"For instance, you are petite." "Thanks, for the complement," She teased, choosing to take his words that way. "You must then play to strategically impacting your attacker, and moving quickly, for it will be more difficult for you to physically overpower your opponent." Oh bloody hell. Here they go. Ok, she could try. Rolling her shoulders Lana got ready to try--that was until he kept talking. "But if you prefer to learn none of this, then by all means, tell me. I am not forcibly going to offer advice as to how to better protect yourself if you have no interest in it."

"No used to get snippy, old man, I am here aren't I? I am gonna try!" She only hated to fail--especially before someone who sort of wanted to impress. "Just tell me what to do, and I'll do it."

[Erik Lehnsherr]

She seemed willing -- somewhat -- and positioned herself, stating that she was ready to do what he told her to. "The most effective places to hit a target are the nose, groin, and kneecaps. Especially the latter as it will limit their mobility and hinder their ability to run after you." And then once she had the upper hand, she could utilize her powers when she was not in such a panic. Since he had seen what happens when she is in fear, as their encounter in the cafe clearly demonstrated. "It does not take a great amount of pressure to break ones kneecap and in a fit of desperation, I don't doubt you will successfully be able to do so." She may be small, but size was irrelevant. As he had said, it was about playing to your strengths and she looked agile and able to move quickly.

"I will show you," he said as he approached her. He moved her so that her back was faced to him, and he put his arm around her neck, not tightly, but very loosely as it was just to show the position that she would most likely be grabbed in by her attacker. The significant height difference, forced him to lean down a little more. His hand then moved to one of her legs, gently taking hold of her shin and raised it in the position that she should be kicking his knee cap in -- though not actually doing it. "Use the heel of your foot," he advised. "That is where you will get the most strength and leverage from."