Reptile
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Post by Reptile on May 1, 2009 7:56:48 GMT -5
Constance felt small in front of this woman, even smaller than when she met others. She wished some day she could have the same effect on people, became the superior one. She had a lot to learn, to overcome, and the woman in front of her seemed to be a good model. A perfect model. Her hesitation about revealing her name was gone. "Constance Stonebay, or Reptile." She answered, wasn't sure if she could ask the woman's name, worried she would sound rude.
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Emma Frost
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Post by Emma Frost on May 1, 2009 10:53:15 GMT -5
Emma heard the girl's thought about gaining confidence and the sting of compassion struck her once again. This young one reminded her of the nervous wreck even she had been as a child before she had learn to manipulate the people around her and use the gifts she had, both the ones she had as any other human and the mutant powers that had developed later. Of course, she had not had the misfortune of looking like an overgrown reptilian. That certainly wouldn't make anyone feel better about themselves. Except for that, though, the girl wouldn't have looked bad. It was very... unique.
She nodded, saving the information in the back of her mind. She could not remember hearing that name mentioned, and judging from the girl's disposition, she was probably not much of a threat anyway. Of course a trained mutantess should know better than to judge people that easily, but if this so-called Reptile had any cruel intentions, Emma would know.
"When did you become the Reptile then, darling?" she asked. "What other powers do you have?" Realizing that Reptile would probably recognize her name if she heard it, she decided to swiftly keep the conversation going without mentioning herself.
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Reptile
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...don't.
Posts: 68
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Post by Reptile on May 1, 2009 13:21:12 GMT -5
The memories flashed back again. Constance sighed. "Fourteen. It's still developing though." The thought of becoming a complete reptilian often saddened her. No expressions, unable to talk (surprisingly she found that sad too)...a total freak. "I can do pretty much what reptilians can. Walking on walls, growing back limbs..." She paused. "...and poisonous fangs." Before she learned how to control the contraction of the fangs, her poison killed her parents. She would cry if her tear ducts were still functioning like a human's.
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Emma Frost
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Post by Emma Frost on May 1, 2009 14:13:58 GMT -5
Emma ran a finger through her golden-blonde hair, her eyebrows furrowing slightly. It was strange to her that anyone could loathe their mutant powers so, but she supposed transforming into a reptilian was one of the worse mutations one could have. She could sense that Constance was sad, but it would have to be that way. A person's history and life experiences were the only way they could learn.
"Have you had any proper training?" she asked, her silent tone coming dangerously close to revealing actual concern. "As I tell my students, a mistake is only a mistake if you let it be." She had to remind herself that this was a Brotherhood affiliated mutant, or she may actually have wanted to help. The years a young, shy Emma had fruitlessly sought after approval from her parents had been some of the worst she had experienced.
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Reptile
Junior Member
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Posts: 68
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Post by Reptile on May 1, 2009 17:33:16 GMT -5
Training, Constance repeated the word in her head. That was something she wished she had before it was too late. Her parents certainly didn't know anything about training a mutant, they had a hard time "protecting" her by keeping her in the basement. They meant good, just in their own way. There weren't too much to train either, controlling the poison was most of it. "I taught myself, mostly by studying reptiles." She answered. "Are you a teacher...ma'am?"
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Emma Frost
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Post by Emma Frost on May 1, 2009 17:53:07 GMT -5
Emma smiled a rather cold smile, but it was still a smile. So Magneto and his crew had not taken the time to train their guests. That could prove a disadvantage for them, as she was more than prepared to offer to take in more students at the Institute. Perhaps she shouldn't tell Constance that just yet, though. She had a feeling she would need to be strategic about this if she wanted to change the reptilian's point of view. "Yes, darling, I am," she answered quite simply, curious as to what the reaction would be. Did the stranger trust her at all? That would be foolish of her, but undoubtedly to Emma's advantage.
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Reptile
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Posts: 68
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Post by Reptile on May 1, 2009 18:11:27 GMT -5
A teacher, Constance hadn't seen one since fourteen. There weren't teachers in the Brotherhood, some mutants trained together but no one invited her to join. Not that she minded, solitude was her gold. Her thoughts came back to the word "teacher". She wondered what subject, but didn't know if it mattered. A teacher...photo in the Brotherhood...threat... The X-men. She was sure of it now. Constance looked up to stare at the woman, didn't know if she had picked up her thoughts. If the woman did pick up any of her previous thoughts, she hid it well.
Constance could feel her blood rushing in her veins as she waited for the woman's reaction. This was her first time face to face with an X-man.
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Emma Frost
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Post by Emma Frost on May 1, 2009 18:20:35 GMT -5
Emma frowned. Damn it, why did the girl have to figure it out? She refused to take any of the blame herself. In her mind, it certainly wasn't her fault she was easily recognizable, nor that she had made the mistake of mentioning the fact that she was a teacher when she knew Constance was already suspicious. Ah well. The game was on, then, and she had every intention of winning.
"Very clever," she commended, her smile lingering for a moment before it faded. "Yes, I am one of the X-Men, but what does that matter?" She wondered if the girl was going to attack her for a moment, but decided that it seemed unlikely. After all, no such intention had been shown just yet. "I could teach you, Constance," she continued thoughtfully. "Haven't you always wanted to have people look up to you, to be confident and proud of yourself?"
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Reptile
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...don't.
Posts: 68
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Post by Reptile on May 1, 2009 18:49:19 GMT -5
The offer was right on what Constance wanted. She was tempted to accept it, but felt like betraying the Brotherhood. Betrayal, she didn't like the sound of it. She thought about the people she met at the Brotherhood, hand full of people really, but she liked them. She didn't dare to use the word "love". nor "hate". She disliked the X-men, but only because the Brotherhood and the X-men were rivals to each other. It wasn't like she held a grudge against X-men.
So hard to make a decision. She thought, felt weak for her uncertainty. It was easier when the only thing she needed to believe in was the Brotherhood. Now that she met one of the X-men, the woman didn't seem too bad. She kind of wished the woman was harsh to her, at least it would give her a reason. It would have to do without one then.
She shook her head and looked into the woman's eyes. She talked, with her voice:"I'm sorry, ma'am, but I'll have to hold on to the Brotherhood a little longer."
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Emma Frost
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Post by Emma Frost on May 1, 2009 19:23:50 GMT -5
"What can they offer you that we can't?" Emma asked, speaking out loud now that the girl did as well. She smiled a smile as encouraging as she could muster. She wanted to convince this girl to join them, although the reason was not entirely clear to her. Perhaps it was the fact that she still needed the approval of the rest of the X-Men, as many still did not trust her entirely. If she convinced a youngling to leave the Brotherhood and join the X-Men instead, that would at least help her prove her very honest devotion.
"Look at me, darling," she said. "Do you think I managed to be who I am today without help?" Yes. Yes she had. It had only been due to her own determination, but she didn't feel the need to tell this girl that. The simple fact was that some people did well on their own, and Emma was one of them. Constance did not seem to be.
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Reptile
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Post by Reptile on May 1, 2009 21:10:06 GMT -5
Constance had to admit that she needed help, but she didn't want to just leave the Brotherhood. She needed time to think. She spent a year with them. The leader Magneto was distant to her, but although mutants came and go in that place, there were a few regulars she considered friend. "Give me some time to think." Constance replied. "I...I need to confirm some of my speculations...about things."
If the Brotherhood really has nothing for me, then...I'll join...you. She kept the last part in her head, didn't dare to say it out loud, as if the words themselves were betrayal.
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Emma Frost
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Post by Emma Frost on May 2, 2009 9:09:37 GMT -5
Emma arched her eyebrows. She did not like being turned down, and due to her vow of never asking for anything twice, this annoyed her greatly. Was a reptilian mutant really worth begging for? Doubtful. It was that lack of self-confidence and all those other things that even she had struggled with in her youth that made her more eager to help than she usually was, but if the girl didn't wish to join, that was not Emma's loss.
"I hope you think fast, darling," she replied silently. "My offer stands for a limited time. I'll be in the city for tonight. After that, I'll be at the Institute, and considering the amount of new arrivals these days, I can't guarantee I can help you." With those words, she turned away from the reptile girl and started to walk away. In her mind, she wondered how Constance would react, but she made no outward sign of anticipation.
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Reptile
Junior Member
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Posts: 68
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Post by Reptile on May 2, 2009 21:49:33 GMT -5
Constance would be lieing if she said she wasn't tempted. Now that she thought about it, this could be the only decision she had to make on her own that's important. Important to her. Did she want to leave the Brotherhood? No, she didn't think so. But did she want to change her life, even just a little? Yes. Maybe it was just her, but she didn't learn anything helpful, in the sense of control her powers, at the Brotherhood. There wasn't a system. It wasn't a school.
School. Just the thought of that word made her nervous. See, that's why you need help. She took a deep breath, and made up her mind. She wanted to change, that was why she will leave the Brotherhood, but it didn't mean she will forget the nice people she met.
"Wai...wait, ma'am." Constance followed the woman, but kept certain distance. "I...you are right. I want the offer."
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Emma Frost
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Post by Emma Frost on May 3, 2009 15:38:39 GMT -5
Emma heard the thoughts of the girl long before she spoke and a cool smile spread across the blonde woman's face as she kept walking, waiting to be directly addressed. As always, Emma would get her way. At the sound of Constance's voice, she turned her head, face now devoid of any emotion. The pride of once again being triumphant was something she would keep to herself.
"Lovely," she replied as she stopped, still looking over her shoulder at the reptile girl. There were no thoughts of spying or reporting to the Brotherhood about activities at the Institute that she could gather from Constance's mind, so she felt a bit more relaxed. Not much, but a bit. She turned to face her again, arms crossed over her chest and a strict look on her face. "My name is Emma Frost," she said, just to have cleared that up. "I can teach you quite a lot, darling, but you're going to have to come to Xavier's School if you wish to excel."
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Reptile
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Posts: 68
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Post by Reptile on May 3, 2009 16:40:08 GMT -5
Xavier's School, where the X-men were. Constance felt her mouth dry. She didn't think she can go back to the Brotherhood to get her stuff, worried she would change her mind. There weren't much to get, mostly books she read over and over again. The thought of leaving the few people she knew was upsetting, but she wanted to explore a different world. She didn't have a chance to do that yet, spending most of her life hiding since she was fourteen didn't help her in that department.
"Um...Ms. Frost...When can I go to the school?" She asked, hoped Ms. Frost would say now.
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