[h1][center]Collaboration with [@Almalthia], [@webboysurf], [@Chev], [@ViolentViolet] &[@Brioko Jobe][/center][/h1][hr]


[hider=Part 1]
Daniela’s mouth was practically watering at the smell of hot food as she entered the cafeteria. She had gone without a hot meal for quite a while. The last time she could remember having a hot meal was around a week and a half ago. She could smell...Pizza...Possibly cheeseburgers. The last time she had tasted either had been quite a while ago. She wiped a few tears away as she was overwhelmed for a moment by the smells and the fact that she may have finally found a place where she could let down her guard.

Matt walked in stomach growling.[color=orange][i] Soon...the food is right here you will be fed.[/i][/color] He took in the smells and turned to everyone [color=orange]“So is there a limit to what we can eat here or is it like smorgasbord time; because I can eat. Anyway Sparkles what’ll it be? Also Nik I can’t remember, where are you from again?”[/color]

Jasper had never been the most talkative of children, and that had followed her into her teen years. She merely listened while the others bickered for the most part. Uná’s snark hadn’t bothered her in the slightest, and neither had any of the outbursts from the other strange mutants. What she didn’t learn about them today she would dig for later, when she recharged and allowed her mind to wander. Thus, her hands shoved into her jacket pockets, the technopath followed along as the others began to move towards the cafeteria. The Dean caught her attention of course and she filed away the strange faces for later. A man taller than her seemed far more intimidating than he should, though she found the air of danger more fun than she did frightening. 

The cafeteria itself was a room she rarely tread upon. She had no real need to come here apart from pleasure eating, and even then she never found food truly amusing. There were far better things that she could be doing with her time. Like right now for example, she studied her companions in silent calculation with an easy smirk on her lips. Whatever she was thinking was hidden behind amusement at their bickering and confusion. She slipped past most of the group on arrival to plant herself not far from Daniela. Blue-grey eyes flicked over to the other girl, lips parted around a short chuckle. “Hey Sparks, you look like you’ve never seen a cafeteria before.” She greeted the girl who she hadn’t spoken to back in the Danger Room. She was new, a face she didn’t know, and someone who could likely overload her own internal battery. 

“Nice light show back there.”

Daniela was somewhat lost in the sight of the food and she snapped back to reality after a moment. “I have no idea.” She said. After a moment she realized that she apparently had a nickname. “The name is Daniela by the way. Daniela Steele.” She smiled at the two who had called her sparkles. “Never been called that by the way.” She sniffed the air and her head swiveled towards a plate of Meat lovers pizza. “I haven’t really had hot food in a while. When Uná found me I was eating the snacks in the snack shed.” She frowned after a moment of thinking. “That was actually the best food I had that week.” She smiled sheepishly after she heard Jasper comment on the lightshow she had put on back in the danger room. “Sorry about the light show...I...don’t really have control over it. The closest thing I can figure out is the more stressed out I get the harder it is to control it. I had no idea what was going on back in the danger room so I was kind of frustrated.” She looked towards the meat lovers pizza and seemed to be pulled in by it as she grabbed a plate. “Is there a limit on how many slices you can take?”

Snapping back to reality after the spine tingling staring contest Uná walked with Nik, Daniela, Matt, Jasper, Heidi and the new blonde girl to the cafeteria. She had no idea what was going on and it was starting to become really irritating. Naturally she gravitated toward Nik having let go of his hand, out of self preservation to not be [i]that girl[/i]. Sometimes life is hard. 

Upon reaching the cafeteria Uná was quickly inundated with the smell of pizza and while Matt asked where Nik was from; Uná looked around. Jasper started talking to Daniela and Uná smiled as she caught Matt’s smorgasbord comment.

[color=green]“I don’t know that there is a limit. I think I keep too busy to have really noticed. With Dance, Parkour, and trying to control my powers I’ve been almost non-stop on the go. I’m pretty sure Professor Pierce will find a way to work off extra weight, if he sees it.”[/color]


Matt whirled around at the mention of no limit on the food and started piling burgers and pizza on his plate he made sure to grab a piece of fruit. Talking while collecting his plate. [color=orange] “Sorry about the Sparkles thing but ummm Daniella Steele like the children's author mom had all the Max books for me when I was kid although I skipped the one about Granma and Granpa Winky title seemed a little weird for me; sorry if I’m babbling just haven’t had much chance to talk in a while.”[/color] Having grabbed his food he kept talking on the way to a table. [color=orange]”Anyway what is it like here? Are there limits on when or where we can use our abilities? Danielle I think we all probably have some issue controlling stuff I mean we are kinda still kids. We are sposed to have issues.”[/color] With that he sat down and started eating like a farmboy just in from the fields.

Nik seems sort of out of it as he enters into the cafeteria. His mind was still processing what the Hell Uná was talking about when everything hit him back at once. He managed to grab himself a couple hamburgers that he would eat without the bun and a salad, and his mind quickly processed all the questions at once. [color=red]”Uhh… well, I’m from Seattle. And there isn’t really a limit, it’s a take what you can eat sort of situation. As for powers… the rule seems to be try not to hurt other people with them. Though that rule seems to be sort of bendable depending on who is on the receiving end. Don’t even think I got a slap on the wrist when I helped fend of Isaac.”[/color] Nik talked as he disassembled his burgers quickly near the compost bin, keeping only the meat patties on his chicken cobb salad. He gave the newer people a small smile as he added, [color=red]”And this place is all about learning to use your powers. I’m sure you’ll get some Danger Room time soon enough. It’s a fun place to experiment. Still trying to learn how to rocket jump with my powers.”[/color] Nik sat down with the others and began digging into his food, being a bit more… delicate than he usually is.

Uná snagged a buffalo chicken wrap and a small cup of ranch. Moving with the others she deposited herself in a chair next to Nik at the table they all wandered to.[color=green] “What Nik meant to say was when he finished what Isaac started. He had it coming Nik.”[/color] Taking a big bite of her wrap so that she had an excuse not to respond for a moment. Sitting back she let Nik handle the pleasantries wondering when he’d decide that he’d had enough and pull her back into the conversation. Chewing she smirked at Nik raising an eyebrow.


Daniela looked up sharply from her plate at Nik’s comment about hurting people. For a brief moment she looked as tense as a human being could possibly be. Images of charred bodies flashed through her mind for a moment before she forced herself to bury the images again. She threw around seven slices of pizza on her plate with two burgers and sat down and quietly looked at her food for a moment. She didn’t speak for a moment. “Have any of you...ever hurt people?” She asked in a voice so quiet it could barely be heard.[/hider]

[hider=Part 2]Matt looked up at Daniella’s question. [color=orange]’Can’t say that have or even could...guess it depends on what you consider hurting people. So like for me I can...well I guess it's like a holodeck on Star Trek only with like… things and sometimes people. With an object I have some control like a vcr but with people it’s kinda different so if I touch someone skin to skin we both kinda get locked in a memory that I am unwillingly projecting and have no choice in the matter so definitely if you have something you don’t want seen the no hugging rule is in full effect. That’s why the gloves.”[/color] He paused only long enough to take another bite. [color=orange] “But I can see how some abilities have inherent dangers and require caution and control but know one gets there without some level of collateral damage. Sorry I have had a lot of time to read and Sun Tzu was actually interesting.”[/color] He went right back to eating as if nothing he had said was all that important. That was also the moment he realised he had nothing to drink and got up to go to the drinking fountain.

Uná’s gaze tracked over to Matt when he talked about his powers.[color=green][i] Interesting. I wonder what would happen if he touched my hand, made physical contact. Good idea or bad idea?[/i][/color] Daniela had just as much food as Matt did. Smirking she watched the two of them look like they were having an eating contest and just hadn’t told anyone else.

Reaching over Uná stole a large chunk of bacon from Nik’s salad. Smirking she popped it in her mouth and chewed. She gave him the look of “whatcha gonna do ‘bout it”.

Daniela quietly continued eating. On the one hand, eating actual hot food was awesome after what she had been eating for the last week. But Nik’s comment had somewhat killed her appetite. She knew that she was going to need some serious therapy at some point. There were times that she woke up screaming in a cold sweat and that usually led to unwanted attention. Should I tell them? She wondered to herself as she took another bite of pizza. I don’t want them to think I’m a killer but in a way, that’s what I am. She shook her head for a moment and then went back to her food before quietly speaking again. “I was in New York with my friends when my powers first showed. What about you all?” She asked in the same quiet tone.

Matt studied Daniela as he headed back to the table. [i] Ok...so somethings bothering her. Does she want to talk or just feel she has to? [/i] He took a deep breath and put on his biggest fake smile then in an awkward but jovial voice said. [color=orange] “I was in my room when it happened and saw things I'd rather forget. Trust me, memories can hold you down sometimes, but we find a way to deal with or ignore them until we are ready. I am excited to be here. I hope they have a fencing program or something like it. I think my dad said something about a history Professor that was sposed to be really good. Do you like history?” [/color] He hoped that eased Daniela a little something seemed to be troubling her and he was pretty sure he wasn’t equipped to deal with it right now.

It seemed to her that everyone was getting along rather well despite the rocky beginnings. Daniela asked about food limitations and then suddenly several of the group were piling food up onto their plates. Jasper couldn’t remember the last time she ate as much as they were about to, and watched with the same resting snark that had graced her features before. There was something up with Uná and Nik, though she supposed that was teenage hormones doing their job with the two of them. She’d never had that problem and she quite liked it that way; trusting and being close to people only resulted in pain after all. 

Jasper waited until the others managed to get their food before deciding whether or not she was going to eat. If she planned to stay mostly hidden from them,  she should eat - even if she didn’t need to. Most days she might have just stuck a fork in an outlet in the library when no one was looking, but today she was pseudo-trapped with a bunch of rather interesting mutants. Daniela asked if any of them had hurt someone and her gaze snapped over to her while the plate in her hands stilled. “I killed my brother.” Not necessarily a lie, but not the entire truth. Vague but dangerous enough to warn anyone listening away from her. 

The blackette went back into motion after that, her back to the group while she browsed across a row of food she couldn’t really taste. In the end she settled on a milkshake and several grilled cheese sandwiches, the few items a normal sized meal that she was unlikely to finish. The cheese was gooey and the bread was nice and golden-crisp, though she seemed largely unfazed by the delicious aroma. Jasper sat on the opposite end of the table, already putting physical distance between herself and the others, just as she kept the emotional distance there. 

“Struck by lightning.”

Still not a lie. Still not a truth.[/hider] 

[hider=Part 3]Nik sort of sat back during the conversation, doing his best to eat his food. As Uná ate off his plate, Nik simply scrunched up his nose and shook his head. The smile on his face lasted as he sort of just listened in on the conversation. He was stuck in his own world. Until Jasper’s words struck him to a halt. He turned his gaze towards Jasper for a moment, unsure how to respond. He had spoken to her earlier. And met her the night before. But just that statement… it sent chills down his spine. He realized that he truly didn’t know the people around him. He just wasn’t sure what to do with that knowledge. He just stared at his food for a moment, before just shaking his head. [color=red]”I just scared someone with mine. That’s all.”[/color]

Matt let his face drop and his tiredness show. [color=orange] ”You know; one thing my father always said about my abilities is that they only show a moment.”[/color] He said as he slowly took one glove off. [color=orange]”Often you see the events as they unfold and it only raises more questions.”[/color] 

Matt set his hand on the table and the room came to life with sounds and images. He removed the overlapping sounds and reduced the sharpness of the images making the projections seem ghostly and transparent. Pulling the images in reverse; he rewound events. People came and went setting food out, all backwards and at 4 times the speed in which they entered. Then paused the images 5 minutes before they had entered. [color=orange] ”I used to think this would show me the truth of a situation, but dad would always ask what happened before and after this? What were the cause and effect of the situation? Did the catalyst even start here? Now look at everyone’s face as they walk in.” [/color] 

He let the images move along their normal course still not projecting the audio. Wincing from a sudden headache and not hiding the pain of it he went on. [color=orange] “If we did not already know what had happened just prior to coming in this room all we would know is that some of us were troubled, some of us excited, or some of us were the cause.” [/color] The projected images seemed to flicker and fade slightly, although they were still there. Matt’s voice showed weariness, but he went on. [color=orange] “I have observed all of you during this conversation. Seems we are all scared. Both of ourselves and each other. Some want to reach out and help the others, but we are human; no different from those out there that would have us all locked up just for possessing abilities they don’t understand.” [/color] 

The images had continued to fade and were now barely visible. With a physical strain and a grunt from Matt the images became sharp and frozen just moments before he started talking. So that everyone looked doubled in their place. (unless they moved while he was talking) [color=orange] “I don’t know how or why but we need to trust each other to…” [/color] His hand fell from the table and he collapsed from exhaustion; leaving the words unfinished. The images gone as if they were never there.

Uná glanced over at Jasper at her statement. She blinked at how easily that came out of Jasper's mouth. Swallowing a bite of her wrap Uná decided to let it go.[color=green][i] Not touching that one. Why can't someone have a nice shiny happy past?[/i][/color] 

Uná scrunched up her nose back at Nik and grinned. Matt started talking.[color=green][i] Jeebus this kid is gonna eat us out of house and home.[/i][/color] She watched as he pulled off his glove and set his hand down on the table.

The sensation of a cool breeze brushed over Uná's skin. Raising an eyebrow she watched as Matt shifted the past around them in illusion.[color=green][i] Well that's pretty freaking awesome!!!![/i][/color] 

Grinning Uná struggled to pay close attention to what Matt was saying. She caught the gist of it glad that he was willing to bring them all together, or at least help. She was waiting for Matt to finish so she could have a reason to dance for joy when the illusion and the boy dropped. 

Gasping Uná reached over and froze.[color=green][i] No touching! No one knows what will happen if that happens.[/i][/color] Looking around she noticed that no one had an over shirt on.[color=green][i] Freaking LA. Nikki's gonna have to lose his shirt cause I'm not asking a girl for hers and all those napkins are dirty. I'm not touching a dirty napkin.[/i][/color]

[color=green]"Nikki dear...I need your shirt. Someone needs to put Matt’s glove back on without touching him. And well...the rest of us are girls."[/color] Uná looked around at the other girls.[color=green] "Not that I'll really enjoy this many females staring...unless you want me to take off my shirt?"[/color] She plucked at the thin racer-backed tank top she had on over her sports bra.

Daniela was deathly quiet for a moment. “I killed four people when my powers showed up.” She said in a very quiet voice. “One of them was one of my best friends. I-I was just so scared...I thought I was going to die and all of a sudden there was this light and I woke up and...and there were bodies all around me…” She forced back a sob and wiped the tears from her eyes. “I still see them, sometimes when I sleep I still see them.” She stared seemingly directly into the table as though she was staring directly through it. A moment later she looked around, startled as though she had been separated from her body for a few moments. “S-Sorry. Bad memories.” She said quietly. A moment later she looked over at Matt with concern evident on her face as he collapsed on the table after he seemed to try showing off his abilities. She was about to go over to him and help out when she heard Uná say something about...someone wanting her to take off her shirt?!

“Uhhh…” She muttered as a massive red blush appeared on her face briefly before she forced it away. She stole a look at Uná as the others looked over Matt. Uná wasn’t bad looking but she doubted she would ever have a shot with her. Not to mention she seemed to be involved with Nik. 

“Is there something I can do to help?” She asked quietly.

[/hider]


[hider=Part 4]
Nik sat in silent contemplation as things took a massive turn. Matt’s powers were remarkable… but something that he had surprisingly grown used to being around Uná. He gave a small smirk, mentally noting something about this being the ideal form of entertainment… until he heard something that he wasn’t sure how to process. He tilted his head slightly as his gaze fell towards Daniela. Concern was written across his face as he looked at the stranger he had introduced himself to so very recently. To be fair, he was lucky he hadn’t killed anyone when his powers emerged. He began to piece together her reluctance to be around people.

And then Matt hit the deck. Nik jumped a little as he wasn’t paying attention to him when it happened, and just sort of sat there confused for a moment. As Uná spoke, Nik’s eyes fell back on her. He was fine with taking his shirt off, and his hands began gravitating towards the neck of his own tank top. They only stopped when Uná’s final words penetrated his mind. Nik’s eyes followed her fingers as they had moved to her own shirt. For just a small moment, his mind raced like most men of his age. The sneaking thought of calling her bluff crept in, only for Nik to physically shake the thought out of his mind. [color=red]”Yo… I mean, no. No. It’s fine.”[/color]

Nik’s gaze turned towards the other female students in the cafeteria, and a sly smirk graced his lips. He had almost missed a few of her words. [i]Not that I’ll really enjoy this many females staring…[/i] He stood up and decided to be a bit more performative, slowly lifting the tank top up over his abs and eventually over his head. For the first time in a long time, probably emboldened by the stares of a couple girls at a table not too far away, Nik handed over the shirt to Uná and whispered in her ear, [color=red]”You can keep it.”[/color]

Uná's attention was taken up by Daniela and she looked up at the older girl but she'd seen the flare of heat in his eyes as she mentioned taking off her shirt.[color=green] "I'm sorry Dani. I-"[/color]

Catching Nik standing up and putting on a show of stripping Uná's mouth went dry as she watched fascinated. She blushed scarlet as she watched his shirt slowly rise. She could feel her heartbeat kick like she'd been running for miles and her stomach did feel like it grew wings.[color=green][i] OH. MY. GOD. Washboard abs… I've died and gone to heaven.[/i][/color]

As Nik leaned in putting his shirt in Uná's hands her eyes widened. His whispered response of telling her she could keep it made her stomach; which had grown several sets of wings by now, flutter and goosebumps raced across her skin as his breath slid over her.[color=green] "I…uh...yes please."[/color] Uná had no idea what she was saying at this point.

Of everyone, Jasper likely tried the hardest to be emotionless in the face of the spectacle. Her classic smirk dropped from her lips, only to be replaced by a flat line that was firmly pressed into place by the tightness of her jaw. Her teeth ground together inside her mouth, and it took every inch of her self control not to walk away. They were interesting, and would come with experiences that would only aid in her goals. Yet still some presumed far beyond their reach of wisdom, making assumptions based on little observation. This illusionist hadn’t a clue what she’d gone through, and likely had no idea what anyone else had without being told. She thought him a child to attempt to lecture the rest of them, and she put no stock in a word he spilled. 

She wasn’t scared; she wasn’t capable of fear anymore. Whatever had changed in her had taken that away from her. There was no desire to feel, and code written lacked empathy. Jasper was the computer, and refused to acknowledge that she had that programming still locked beneath layers of complications. Fear wouldn’t help her. Fear would only inspire more and more death, though she had no real inclination either way. Jasper watched as he collapsed mid sentence, blue-grey orbs following the movement of those around her. Some seemed concerned for the boy that hadn’t known anyone in the room. Others seemed as if they didn’t care. 

Jasper on the other hand, simply watched events unfold for several moments before standing from her seat. Her lunch was left largely uneaten, milkshake nearly done. Slim hands shoved into her jacket pockets and she stepped around the table, another glance over the now shirtless male, with Uná blushing beside him. 

“He’s in room 8. He’ll be fine with rest.”

She kept walking. 

Jerking at the sound of Jasper's voice Uná watched Jasper walk away out of the corner of her eye. Uná licked her dry lips and blinked like she was coming out of a trance. She looked down at her hands with Nik’s shirt in them and shivered. Picking up Matt’s glove she got it back on him awkwardly but managed not to touch him. She nodded to Nik as she tossed his shirt back at him.[color=green] "You heard the lady. Room 8. Let's get him to his room."[/color] 

Eventually they got Matt to his room. Depositing Matt in the bed was easily done and Uná took off his shoes for him, careful to leave his socks on. They moved out of his room and shut the door quietly.[color=green] "Well that was interesting. I have Dance in a little while. I want to see you after 10 where we meet in the mornings for our run. Be there or I'll come find you Nikki."[/color] Uná stretched up on her tip-toes and kissed him on the cheek and whispered.[color=green] "And bring that shirt. I remember you telling me I can keep it. You're just borrowing it right now."[/color] Waving Uná took off doing her usual Parkour stunts that she wasn’t supposed to do indoors. 

[/hider]