nightmare

        “fair amount, yeah,” he admits, cheeky smirk plastered across his face. “’course, you’re one of the few who won’t drive home after the fact. good, little citizen, aren’t you?” following the rules has never been his personal style, but it can be amusing to see it in others. a little ( or rather, a lot ) alcohol had never stopped him from driving home, even on the motorcycle. still… he can heal in the event of an accident. not everyone can. “hey, i pride myself on being the least predictable bastard in this city,” he jokes, fangs displayed in a grin. “but i s’pose we’ve all got our habits, don’t we?” a pause. “guessing this isn’t your usual, then?”

one of the good things about alyssa joking about the ground was that she didn’t expose too much about her mutant nature, especially since not that many non-mutant supported them. letting out a small chucklle, she quickly stood up from where she lay and stood beside the other. “that’s a secret i’ll never tell. xoxo, gossip girl.” she teased, blowing a kiss to the older woman.

“When you’re a mutant who looks like me with my mutation, you learn to use it to your advantage, doctor.” A high IQ and the ability to process data faster than any living person. What a treat. Hesitation. Forced facial cues. Stilted tone. The assessment was trepidation, a sort of uneasiness she only knows by people looking at her in some rinky-dink town that barely had any mutants in it. Why in the world she’s going to a mutant school is hardly her business, but it was at least a curiosity to be thought about. She isn’t commenting on that yet, but Jackie’ll make sure that she gets an objective look at the Institute. 

A new arrival. Packing up and moving to New York brings more questions than answers and with it, Jackie wishes that Vera had someone else to give her the grand tour so she could snoop around. “Extreme perception and intelligence is both a burden and a blessing. Looking like a nightmare is simply a bonus.” They walk together as she gives her the tour, talking about what the Institute does and showing her the facilities, even making it a glowing recommendation like Charles wanted it to be. “So, what brings you here, Doctor Martin?” Jackie looks at her from the corner of her eyes as they walk, the tone decidedly neutral. “Are you a mutant looking to us for help?”

the casual nature of it all is almost stunting to vera. it leads to an association of some sort, like this could never be real with her inability to process it. there was a part of vera who wished that her daughter wasn’t a mutant, not for her sake but for hers... the technicalities were more a blur when she had almost died at the hands of her daughter’s inability to control herself. that’s something she doesn’t want to admit. vera was someone who had a good reputation in her field but didn’t want to be known as not being about to control her own daughter.

from a young age, it was all about control for her. nothing particularly horrific had happened but she had seen her mother’s lack of control play out and she didn’t want that. she wasn’t to know that the lack of control spouted from the woman being an empath and not knowing how to deal with it. if anything, vera’s complicated emotions had made everything worse for her.

“so, do you always do this then.” she takes a breath. “be in the back of some random woman’s car, that she can’t drive because she’s over the limit because...” vera’s common sense had checked itself out but at least she was still a law abiding citizen. “you probably do.” the woman couldn’t help but laugh at herself. “still, sometimes being predictable is a good thing?”

i’ll be out of here in a sec. theodora’s eyes narrow at the woman in worry. the words make her brows furrow, unsure if she’s the one being spoken to, but she’s the only person closest to her. nevertheless, she walks toward her, eventually seeing how visibly faint she looks. “oh, my goodness,” theodora softly gasps, stooping down to meet her eyes, “are you alright? do you need some water? or… if you need to go to the medlab—” she shakes her head, waiting for her response.

Billie is a fan of popping in unannounced. Many hate it, of course, but it’s not like she’s trying to catch anyone out. Her ‘inspections’ are really just idle chit chat, asking if there’s anything that needs fixing or upgrading if the budget allows for it. One of her newest arrivals was a young family of three. Deciding that an apparently single mother is likely always a little harried, Billie let them settle in. Mostly. She could always offer some help.

The door opens and— Did you need something? Billie closes her mouth, as she was just about to say welcome in a cheery voice. Rude. Vera continues, assuming the girls were making too much noise. Maybe she’s simply stressed out, Billie reasons. She replaces her subtle look of shock with a smile.

“No, dear, nothing bad! No noise complaints. Let the girls have their fun!” Billie smiles, but decides to tone her usual enthusiastic welcome down a notch, even if being mildly professional always feels like an ill-fitting shoe, “I am actually just here to say welcome to Silverhouse! Have you settled in fine? Any problems with the apartment?”

her landlady is already knocking on her door, it can’t be good. as generous as the older woman is, the establishment doesn’t compare to what she has at home but she’s grateful for the last minute accommodation. she shouldn’t have been worried about keeping her assets at gome intact but she was. it was what she had worked for and crises could come but that was hers that she’d earned.

her parenting methods, however, could be called into question when her daughter needed help and she thought she could handle it... or moreso manage. that was her fault and now her entire family unit was in turmoil. she would be lucky if her kids didn’t ended up hating her more than she hated mathilde, her own mother. it wasn’t exactly hate but the woman had put her through a lot and despite vera’s best efforts, she was unable to help her.

a pale vera walked towards the exit of the xavier institute for the first time expecting a weight to be lifted from her shoulders, it was too bad that it felt heavier. she didn’t get far before she stopped to sit down, feeling faint from the revelations that had just occured. “i’ll be out of here in a sec.” she nodded. there was someone there but she didn’t look far enough to see who is was.

“Oh, new to the city?” He asked her, though it was obvious if she was still trying to get used to the store. “I can help you out, if you want that is.” 

“You’re in luck. I’m actually a member of the administration.” Jackie puts a hand on her hip, and takes a glance at her. Oh, what she wouldn’t give to have a telepath or a mnemokinetic to wipe strangers’ memories if they proved to be a problem; maybe a secondary mutation would sprout from her first, but that proved doubtful. She was nervous, maybe a little afraid. Talking to the administration meant Charles or a professor. Enrollment or sanctuary. Like Emmeline, but that argument was hashed and rehashed by her and the Professor over and over again.

She lets silence ring out for a moment before relenting; if she wanted to cause trouble, the woman was going to have enough on her plate with a pack of angry mutant adolescents that could do any number of things to her. Jackie beckons, opening the door to the entrance of the Institute. “Welcome to the Institute, miss. My name is Professor Jacqueline Rumley, Ph.D., self-defense instructor and professor of higher mathematics, calculus, physics, and abstract math. If you’ll follow me, please.”

there was an obvious hesitancy from the doctor to follow the other. she couldn’t know what she was walking into and the previous attitute within the first few moments of their interaction made her more wary. vera had to do this for her daughter and her famly but being on these grounds didn’t mean all her fear was suspended instantly. this trip had been put off for a long time, a form of burying her head in the sand and hoping things would settle. that decision lead to a lot of people being hurt either emotionally or physically.

vera was never great at passing off feigned smiles as genuine but as her corners of her lips rose , along with a furrowed brow, she was making an effort. the woman rarely tried to appease people and that was now showing. “professor rumley. that’s quite a list of subject material.” vera was still unsure of the situation but after a few seconds of not moving, she began to follow the other. she would have lead with admitting that she needed assistance, help, but that was a little too much for her to lead with. vera had seen first hand her mother being seemingly weak and was left to deal with it - vowing that she’d never become her.

The young mutant stepped back. Holding his hands up in defence, not intending to offend or make the woman feel uncomfortable at all. He was hoping more than anything that she wouldn’t make a scene. He didn’t need his boss catching on to the fact he was asking patrons some person questions, let alone the fact that he was doing it whilst sneaking drinks.

“I didn’t mean to- no stronger than any other bar…” he trailed off, looking away and then back at her with a worried look “No- I’m sorry. You should stay. I shouldn’t have asked, I really didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable, or like you shouldn’t be here…” It was probably rather odd, seeing such a large demonic looking man stress and worry so much. But Zach hated the thought of hurting people.

everything had got so strange and that was one of the reasons as to why vera held on so tightly for the known. either she was having a breakdown under her own standard of pressure or her eyes weren’t deceiving her. even with most recent events, vera did think it was the former.

“this is just not what i’m used to, it’s not. it’s really not...” the woman had caused a lot of issues for her family through her reluctance to seek out help and that guilt of not doing it sooner was beginning to manifest. vera couldn’t have known what to do but not listening was her biggest flaw.

“it’s not that. it’s just that...” the woman shook her head and took another drink. “bet you get this all the time in here. lonely spinsters drowning their sorrows..." she felt like a disaster. her romantic and familar relationships were a disaster and she felt no real push to start up work again even though she was paying for the upkeep on her expensive property back home. “it’s fine. i’ve just had too much.\2

“Oh, new to the city?” He asked her, though it was obvious if she was still trying to get used to the store. “I can help you out, if you want that is.” 

"why are all these questions so negative? i suppose it’s anger because it’s always been on me to make things happen or take responsibility. ringing me up after a near-death experience does not constitute to repairing bridges with your daughters. i’ve always worked really hard yet i’m the bad guy. i’ve tried my best but don’t you think i’ve had enough punishment?”

"destroyed my family? are you serious? it’s almost as if i haven’t pushed for my future to happen. my mother is another matter but if you’re insinuating for one second that i don’t love my children and that i’ve ruined it, you’re mistaken. i’ve had mistakes, i know that but how am i supposed to react? what’s more scary? the fact your own daughter could kill you by accident or the thought of an overbearing mother? things got out of hand and now the youngest blames the eldest for me nearly dying. so, i suppose if you’re talking about me love life, this is fine? wait... so i’m the bad guy for wanting a relationship to work from the fall out of a will-they-won’t they-will they ever marry saga? i messed up but being pulled in so many directions, it’s difficult not to.”

A hand lifted and rubbed at her browline as she walked into this floor’s breakroom. Her eyes were cast down, looking over the papers secured on the metal clipboard in her other hand. They were documents referring to the patient she’d just left; a young woman, who had presented with fatigue, select organ damage, and pain in her joints. Her original attending doctor had diagnosed it as fibromyalgia, combined with early onset arthritis. Thankfully, the woman had enough sense to get a second opinion– with one Dr. Crowe. Stevie had taken one look at her and her ability had told her she had Lupus, and tests had just come back proving her right. Hence why she pulled the original physician’s notes- in the hopes of figuring out why the correct tests hadn’t been ordered in the first place. 

She’d been so caught up in the documents that she hadn’t noticed anyone else in the room- much less anyone new- but at the slow, sudden greeting, she looked up. “Oh. Right, I’d heard they were bringing someone new on.” She started with a nod of her head, tucking the clipboard under her arm so that she could extend her hand towards Dr. Martin with a friendly, if tired, smile. “Dr. Stephanie Crowe. Nice to meet you Dr. Martin.” Stevie did her best to mimic the way Vera pronounced her name, though she was sure that she butcherer it. She’d never been very good with accents. “I take it that the Chief is showing you around? What do you take of our St. Luke’s so far?”

the quick move was probably an impulsive decision on vera’s part. trying to seek out the xavier institute’s help was a last resort and she was at that point. the woman probably didn’t need the stress of taking on a new work environment so quickly after a near-death experience and trying to consciously navigate the mutant world but her credit card expenses weren’t going to pay off themselves. a control freak by nature, vera had done nothing with her house and was even still paying people to upkeep it. that was what she had worked for and she couldn’t let go. as much as she would like to argue about it, she was slightly materialistic.

the first say seeing a new hospital was disorientating so she was lucky that it wasn’t her official first day. taking the other’s hand, a big grin bestows her face.

“doctor crowe, lovely to meet you.”