13259/Generation NeXt

Generation NeXt
Date of Scene:	11 May 2021
Location:	Lucas' Room (West Halls), Xavier's School
Synopsis:	Jeremy and Rosie vists Lucas to welcome the new kid.
Cast of Characters:	SpyderByte, Antigravity, Lucas Farmer

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SpyderByte has posed:
Classes are out for the day and most of the kids are currently socializing down in the rec room, the backyard, the massive pool, the gym, or even taking a trip to Salem to do a round of shopping. It's a warm day and the sun is still planning to burn for a few more hours. With the school year winding down, the students are less concerned with homework and more with play.

Not these two students though. Jeremy and Rosie. They aren't like most of the others with their fashionable styles and plans to party. Some students at the school fall through the cracks and then find each other. The young man has a lanky build to him, wearing a long black trench coat, a long sleeved black shirt that says: Skinny Puppy on the front with a depiction of some type of horrific alien baby on the front, and black pants with bondage straps and chains hanging off it. His long black hair is now past his shoulders, and he wears a choke collar around his throat.

He casts a look to the girl at his side, then reaches up to knock on the door with one hand, while the other is holding hers. He has a cell phone strapped to his arm and the screen is pulsing green with a black digital spider on the the front.

Antigravity has posed:
    The two could not be dressed any more differently; the girl was blonde and freckled with hazel eyes, her hair pulled back in a midling ponytail. Her jeans were clean and the regular light-color denim, and her pink plaid overshirt and pink T-shirt beneath were very plain, almost non-descript.

    She holds Jeremy's hand, but in her other hand she has a cloth shopping bag.

    "... should we be just bargin' in like this, Jer?"

Lucas Farmer has posed:
Would it be at the Farm or at the Xavier's school, a new arrival always excites the curiosity of the denizens. Not being a student proper, Lucas wasn't attending school. He wasn't attending anything, really. Not even work, which seemed a bit strange to him.

When the knock at the door brings him back to reality from the daydreaming he was lost in, the young man doesn't react with surprise. Nor concern, nor anything. At some point, all kinds of feelings seem to be disabled, when they are overwhelmed. This might be the case for Lucas, who, nonetheless, reaches for the door. An /unlocked/ door to boot.

He slowly opens the door, peering out to see who's knowking. The ragged clothing have been replaced with basic, tho confortable, jeans and a plaid shirt. "Hi?" Lucas says in a low voice.

SpyderByte has posed:
Tilting his head to one side slightly, Jeremy gives another squeeze of Rosie's hand as his thumb brushes along her knuckles gently. The chains jingle along at his hips as he moves. He gives her a small nod before he turns his unblinking gaze to the door as it opens.

He takes a few moments to study the other young man, giving him a slow glance over before he leans in to gently nudge Rosie on the shoulder with his. He doesn't move his lips, but his voice comes out of the phone strapped to his shoulder. It's digital and slightly masculine, just enough to show a vocal inflection. Gentle.

<< Hello Lucas. My name is Jeremy and this is Rosie. We are students here at Xavier's and wanted to welcome you. >>

Perhaps strategically, his 'shaking' hand is free while the other holds Rosie's. He lifts it up to offer it to him, a sightline of scars along his wrist and arm can be seen from the movement of fabric along his shirt.

Antigravity has posed:
    "Hiya!" Rosie gives a bright smile, and holds up the cloth shopping bag.

    "Heard you were new, an' Ah stopped by town earlier t'day and gotta couple things that Ah wish Ah had when Ah first got here-- hope you don't mind Ah amde a couple assumptions." Rosie states quietly, and she hands the cloth shopping bag to Lucas.

    Inside? A blue mesh sponge with 'undercarriage scrubber'. Body wash. Deoderant with a name something like EAGLEFANG or BEARROAR. A really comfortable looking plaid flannel shirt, and a stuffed animal, about two feet in length and filled with beans -- probably what's so weighty. It's a soft blue triceratops, with black eyes, in a sprawled out position.

Lucas Farmer has posed:
The offered hand is noticed, maybe looked at for just a bit longer than usual, before Lucas extends his in return to quickly shake Jeremy's hand. The gesture seems more mechanical than guenine, as if Lucas was merely following a set of rules he learned rather than really meaning it. The voice coming from the cellphone sounds strange, still not the strangest of things around for the newcommer.

Then the shopping bag is offered and Lucas takes it, quickly peering inside. There are many things inside, and opening it by the door doesn't seem practical. Quickly, the young man looks behind him, at the too large room, before opening the door to allow Jeremy and Rosie inside.

"Thanks," he says, not quite smiling. "You want to come in?"

SpyderByte has posed:
Giving a quick nod of his head, Jeremy gives Rosie's hand another squeeze before he lets go of it and steps through. His dark eyes sweep through the room for a moment carefully as he reaches out with his sixth sense to tickle any technology that may be lurking. The chains jingle and jangle along his pants as he moves in his usual slow and methodic manner. He still hasn't blinked yet, surely his eyes are dry. Oh, there he goes! He blinks. Slowly. Like a turtle.

He seems to be taking inventory of the room for a few moments, seeing what may be needed or missing for the moment. Slowly, he folds himself down to take a seat on the floor after flipping his trench coat back behind him. He folds his legs under him, then leans forward to place his hands over his knees.

<< How are you doing? Are you settling in okay? >>

Antigravity has posed:
    Rosie also comes in, though she's a little more calm and natural about things.

    Save that she decides to 'sit' by drawing her legs up and floating about a foot off the floor, wandering a little bit back and forth as she drifts a little bit, rubbing the back of her neck.

    "It's hard gettin' used ta all this, suddenly changin' in locales an' all. Ah was lucky that Mr. Sam wanted me to get on well with the other students."

Lucas Farmer has posed:
If Jeremy is looking, sensing for any technology in here, he'll be disapointed. Unless someone forgot something behind before vacating the room, it certainly isn't Lucas who would have brought any piece of technology in!

Lucas walks in with his /guests/, bag in hand, sitting down on the floor in front of Jeremy, placing the bag in front of him. For a moment, the young man seems to hesitate then, slowly, removes the items from the bag. Deodorants aren't given much interest, but the shirt seems to be considered like something very special - undoubtly, Rosie did pick the right color and size! It even brings a faint smile on Lucas' face. Now, the stuffed animal, placed on the floor, remains untouched, studied for a moment as if to ascertain what it's supposed to be.

"I'm doing fine," Lucas replies after a moment. Hard to say if he's really meaning it. "I slept well and was fed."

Only then does he notices that Rosie is /floating/ above the floor. No matter he was told that this is a school for gifted young students, old habits die hard, and seeing her using her powers triggers and automatic response - or panic - from Lucas.

"No, don't do that! If they see you...." His voice trails off, maybe realizing that it might be true after all, and this place is friendly to mutants.

SpyderByte has posed:
As he watches him take the items out of the bag, Jeremy is taking particular note to which items he is drawn to and which ones he may not be. He blows a strand of hair away from his face, then reaches up to tuck it back behind his ear.

<< That's good to hear. Everyone is really nice here. It's a great school for mutants like us. Everyone here is a mutant. You don't have to worry about being seen using your gifts. It's encouraged, as long as it doesn't cause much property damage. >>

He settles his hands together, slowly folding his fingers over each other until his palms settle together between his knees.

<< I am a technopath. I speak to networked based machines and I tell them exactly what to do. Rosie can manipulate gravity, both her own and other's. >>

He presses his lips together for a moment in thought before he glances up at the girl, then back towards him.

<< I know that this can be scary, or exciting, or both, but don't be afraid to reach out to anyone for help if you have questions. This is just a normal school for people like us. That's it. Making friends is easy too. Everyone is really cool. No one will try to hurt you, or upset you. That means a lot to me, because before Xavier's, I had a lot of pain. This place makes me feel safe. >>

Antigravity has posed:
    "... what? Ah'm supposed ta try an' hover without movin'. Specialized homework assignment ta non-violently utilize mah powers without capsizin' the science tables." Rosie points out, and then gives a small nod of agreement with Jeremy.

    "... yeah. Where I'm from I'd get in a lot of trouble -- an' my momma would probably get hurt for birthin' me -- if my church saw what I could do." she explains in her southern accent.

    "But here? Dr. McCoy thinks mah powers are fascinatin'. I get special homework to refine mah control of 'em. I have an extracurricular flyin' class 'cause they wanna make sure that I can control my flight and land without hurtin' no one. An' who knows? Maybe when I get older, I can do some good with my powers. Like... like save astronauts!"

Lucas Farmer has posed:
Lucas listens attentively to what Jeremy says, not showing any sign of agreement or disagrement - a poker face, taking what information is given and processing some at the moment, some later, when he'll be alone in this too large room. Then he raises his hand, pointing at the cellphone on Jeremy's shoulder.

"You don't speak with your mouth," he states, then pointing at the chains by his hips, "The chains. Were you chained?" It seems that the newly arrived young mutant isn't a talkative one. This might change once he's at ease in this new, strange, place.

It seems that Rosie's description of her gift and her class elicits much interest from Lucas, as he stares at her for a moment. Behind them, the door slowly, quietly, closes by itself.

"Where I come from," he says in a low voice, "You'd be chained, beated, yelled at and sold if they caught you." The whole is said matter of factly, as if it was just plain normal. "That's why I don't do it." Do what? As he speaks, the stuffed animal comes to life, first slowly, and then rising on his stuffed feet, swirling around, and somersaulting a few times. This demonstration only lasts a few seconds, before the animal slumps on the floor, inert.

SpyderByte has posed:
Giving a shake of his head, Jeremy opens his mouth, then slowly closes it as he rubs at his throat a bit with his fingers.

<< It's hard for me to speak. I have a bad stutter. It takes a long time for me to form words with my throat. So, I speak through my phone. It's easier and it's less embarrassing. I don't want people to feel bad for me. This is how I feel normal. >>

Giving a glance down at the chains, he fingers them a few times as they jingle, offering up a smile.

<< No, I was not chained. But I was abused by stronger men who did things to me. I wear these chains because they come with the pants. >>

He gives them a tug as the velco peels away, then wraps one around his knuckles as he holds it up.

<< And to defend myself if need be. I am not strong, or fast unfortunately. >>

As he reconnects the chain to his pants, he gives a smile over to Rosie, then watches him use his powers.

<< Telekinetic. That is a cool power. You move objects with your mind. >>

Antigravity has posed:
    "I know how that is. My church woulda had me killed, an' then killed my momma for birthin' me. They thought mutants could only be the children of fallen angels, so we had to be sent back to Hell where we belonged." Rosie explains, rubbing the back of her head.

    "You don't gotta defend yerself, Jer. It comes down to fightin', Ah've got yer back. An' everyone else's, too." Rosie states. The short, skinny girl looking rather resolute as she does so -- but she looks over to the door closing, her eyebrows rising up -- an then she watches as the dinosaur moves on its own accord!

    "OH! You're like Miss Jean!" she declares, putting one foot back on the floor to stop herself from drifting.

    "Ah can touch things an' make 'em even more massive or less massive, or affect their gravity in weird ways. Like, I can pick up a lil' dump truck an' spin it around in the air, but ah don't have fine control like you've got!"

Lucas Farmer has posed:
Abused? First Rosie explaining her situation and risks associated with using her powers in her family, then Jeremy saying older men abused him. Lucas lowers his head, as if hit by the cruelty of the world, which seems to be everywhere. For a moment, the young mutant remains still, silent. Memories coming back in a rush, flashes of cruelty, frustration, despair.

The stuffed dinosaur starts shaking on the floor. Discarded deodorants vibrate on the floor. Shopping bag starts floating above the carpeted surface. Any small object in the room seems to come to life at once, some falling from the surface they were placed on, some even starting to fly around. By now, the dinosaur is thrown against the ceiling, the beans withing ejected around the room.

And then, Lucas raises his head again, glancing around. Inhaling deeply, trying to calm down the emotions, chasing the memories away, never far enough for them to remain away for long. Slowly, all objects fall down from where they were, beans bouncing against the carpeted floor.

"You are lucky if you can control it," he says, looking at Rosie, then a Jeremy. "Sometimes, I can't." Like, right now.

SpyderByte has posed:
As he stares unblinkingly at Lucas throughout the emotional moment, he tilts his head to one side. He gives a glance to Rosie, then back towards him as he reaches out with a hand to place it over his for a gentle squeeze.

<< You will learn to control it here, and Xavier's will make it fun. Mutant powers are usually attuned to your emotions. Anger and pain can cause your powers to become erratic if you aren't focusing. You have a very strong power and you will only get stronger and better with it in time. Don't worry or try to rush it. >>

Sliding his hand away, he folds it once more over his lap, offering up a small smile to him, then blinks sloooowly again. He pushes himself up and starts to straighten the fallen objects up, placing them in perfectly symmetrical lines.

<< What do you like to do, Lucas? Do you have hobbies? Do you like to do anything fun? >>

Antigravity has posed:
    Rosie tenses as the room begins to shake around them. She sets both feet down on the ground, her eyes narrowing as she holds her hands up to try and catch items to stop anything from hitting Jeremy, and then, as Lucas raises his head, the items falling, along with the beads from inside the blue dinosaur, Rosie looks ashamed. She lets Jeremy do the talking now, as she gathers up some of the beads, and the deflated dinosaur.

    "I... can fix that. Y'know. Ah... I've got a broom in my room."

Lucas Farmer has posed:
"Something fun? Lucas repeats, trying to find someone fun he likes to do. Lucas' eyes follow Jeremy around, as he's replacing some objects. A grin appears on his face, as one specific object keeps pushing away from Jeremy's grasp. Is the new kid around playing tricks on Jeremy? "I like to annoy people a bit."

But the grin disappears when Lucas notices Rosie's reaction. "I'm sorry, Rosie" he says, "I didn't mean to scare you. Nothing ever hits those I care for." And indeed, there had been a few misses, but no objects hit Rosie or Jeremy. Now Lucas looks as deflated as the dinosaur! "No, I will clean it," he says, "They won't know it happened. Please."

SpyderByte has posed:
<< No one would care if you broke a few things, or poofed a stuffed dinosaur. >>

Jermey's digital voice comes out, modulating to try and sound more assuring.

<< You won't get in trouble here. Everyone here is understanding. Powers sometimes are funny like that. >>

He reaches for the item as it moves away, then scoots forward to try and grab it again. He gives a small giggle under his breath as he blows some hair away, then lunges forward to snatch it, but by then it's stopped moving.

<< I know this will take time for you to understand. My boyfriend Gray is like you also. He was hurt too, imprisoned by his own family and .. he has similiar pain to me. People hurt him. He has issues trusting people, always thinks there is a 'catch' if people are nice to you. It takes time to heal. >>

He glances over at him from behind his long black hair, puffing it away and to the side.

<< It took time for me also to realize no one is going to try and hurt me here. We're all just a bunch of messed up kids, but Xavier's cares about us. The teachers really do care. You are /safe/ here. I know it's hard to understand now, but I hope in time you'll understand. /No one/ is going to hurt you here. >>

Antigravity has posed:
    "Yeah. I mean, I gave Sam a bit of a run when he was trying to talk to me, an' then I kinda launched another teacher at a rock. And then I broke a big beaker and got raspberry icee syrup and gummy brain all over the science room floor after I broke three tiles in the gym ceiling, an' you know what?" Rosie states, listing off the things she's damaged with a certain sense of embarrassed pride.

    "I was forgiven. Every time, or handed a mop and the teachers helped me clean up, and then helped me better understand myself and my powers. Even Mr. Wagner completely forgave me for being too scared to shake his hand 'cause he's got physical mutations. The teachers here? They want us to do *well*.

Lucas Farmer has posed:
Part of a good recovering phase is, indeed, to create contacts with others, to get out of your own little self-pity corner. It seems to be slowly happening to Lucas, as he visibly looks more relaxed, a new reality slowly sinking in, pushing unpleasant past experience with new pleasant ones.

Fine, it's not the warmest of smiles, but Lucas is actually smiling at Rosie and Jeremy. "Science class? Yes, someone mentioned it. And other classes, I can't recall them all." He pauses, tilting his head, "How high can you go up, Rosie?" he asks her, obviously curious. Then turning to Jeremy, "I think I might like it here," he says, /willing/ to believe, to be convinced. "You two seem to be nice people. Maybe some day, we can go to a store, us three, and buy things?" Right, this might be one of Lucas' dreams!

SpyderByte has posed:
<< Sure, we can go to a store tomorrow if you want. I'll check out one of the cars and we can drive there. I can pay for it. I have money. >>

Jeremy says with a smile to the new boy as he straightens up.

<< I know they haven't talked to you yet, because I peeked at the files. I do that .. a lot. But, I know they will ask if you want to be a student here. When you do, they'll assign you a computer and a phone. I'll be in charge of setting up your security settings on it. None of it can be tracked or traced. You will also get your own email and a student portal to submit homework and look at your grades. If you need a tutor in computer science, math or biology, I can help you out. But the teachers are really good. >>

He leans over to bump his shoulder against Rosie's with a smile, then curls his arms around one of hers for a quick squeeze.

<< If you ever want to hang out, I'm two doors down from you on the left. Gray and I share a room. I'm friends with Shannon, Ted and Indira also. Ted is three doors to your right, and Shannon and Indi are down the hall in the girl's wing. >>

Lucas Farmer has posed:
So many names! How can he ever remember all of them? Then a frown appears on his face, seemingly troubled for a short time.

"I know what a cellphone and a computer are," he states, his eyes locking on Jeremy's. "But I never used any. It wasn't allowed, so... I can't use them." And then, his newly-found determination comes back to the surface, refusing to dwell on the past, as he gets to his feet, standing tall and proud. "I /will/ learn. I will learn everything that I want to!"

Antigravity has posed:
    "Ah, I don't know my upper limit, I don't always fly so high up 'cause I'm used to keepin' a low profile." Rosie explains, rubbing the back of her head. "But maybe I'll ask Mr. Sam to spot me in the back yard sometime and we can see how far up Ah can get before I lose control? Since it's gravity related, but Sam kinda just goes --"

    And Rosie makes an explosion sound, her hands spreading apart "An' then blasts off."

SpyderByte has posed:
<< I can help you learn too. You wlil have fun with a computer. You can see the entire world with one. >>

Jeremy gives him a grin as he slips his phone off his shoulder holster, then stares down at it as he thumbs the screen a few times. He gives Rosie another gentle bump of the shoulder.

<< I should go so I can tutor Gray. He's struggling in math. >>

He glances back to Lucas and smiles. << Thank you for letting us in your room and talking to you. I hope that we can all become good friends. >>