xp_logs | Ororo and Crystal | Wednesday afternoon

Crystal and the headmistress have a talk during a one-on-one powers class.

The sound of water hitting ground lessened and came to a stop. Crystal frowned, examining her handiwork. Good, but not good enough. After working with Ms. Munroe for several weeks, she had managed to learn how to stop causing water to form. To Crystal, this was essential knowledge, as she had had no desire to have to flee from an area in order to keep it from flooding. The problem was, she still couldn't make the water form where she wanted it to form. It just...was. Or wasn't.

"Good, Crystal," Ororo said, nodding her approval as she watched the girl's efforts. "You have been improving quite a bit - it stops much more quickly than it did when we began our lessons." She smiled warmly, the sun overhead shining brightly down on them both.

Crystal smiled at Ororo's words of praise, but she could not help feeling that she was undeserving of the "good" part. The rest was simply a description, a fact. When she had started the lessons, her control over this new aspect of her power had been nonexistant. However, it was simply a new part of her abilities, and Crystal was not a stranger to having powers and using them.

"Thank you, Ms. Munroe," Crystal said. She did not wish to appear to be contradicting her teacher, so she left out the word "but" that was dancing in her mind. "I still have much room for improvement, of course. I have been practicing as much as I can, and our time together has been of great benefit to me."

"Yes, I can tell you have been practicing, it is quite evident in your improvement. I know, however, that you must be impatient to master as much as you can, and perhaps it has not been happening as quickly as you would like?" There was a mischevious glint in the headmistress's eyes, though the rest of her __expression was perfectly serene and composed.

"Rome wasn't built in a day," Crystal replied seriously. "Even if I were to practice non-stop for the next month, it is highly unlikely that I would gain complete mastery over the full potential of my abilities." Non-stop practice was pretty close to what she had been doing, anyway. "Still, you are correct; I cannot help but wish that I could progress as a faster rate."

"That is understandable. To have something as important as your powers in a state where you cannot fully control them... can be a frustrating thing. There is no doubt you are far beyond most people of your age in terms of familiarity with your abilities, but I do not disagree that it would be nice to have more control. Especially when the lack of control is linked to your emotional state."

Ororo took a seat on the edge of the fountain, her hands folded calmly in her lap. "I had many of the same concerns when I was your age - the similarities are almost eerie, really. Although I was not as concerned with mastering control as you are... at least, not at first."

Crystal reflected upon what Ms. Munroe had just said. Crystal was still surprised at the way many students seemed to treat their powers. More than a few didn't seem to take them seriously, some considered them a curse, and others just didn't seem to feel that practice was necessary. Yes, Crystal was familiar with her powers and had great control, but this was due to her dedication to practice, practice, and even more practice.

"At what age did you start to be concerned with control?" Crystal asked curiously.

"When I was perhaps a year older than you," Ororo replied consideringly. "I did not come to Xavier's until late in my adolescence, and up until that point I had had great opportunity to use and practice my powers, but little inclination to control them. When I arrived here the Professor determined very quickly that my abilities were linked to my emotional state, and that I did not have a very good control on how they manifested." She smiled slightly, tipping her head to one side. "It is rather inconvenient to have gale-force winds ripping through the hallways all because one teenager is frustrated with her math homework."

Crystal giggled at the thought of her teacher accidentally sending heavy winds throughout the mansion because of her homework. "I have also caused indoor winds when I was upset," Crystal said, "but never because of homework."

"Well. Algebra can be very aggravating," Ororo replied. "We are lucky you do not find that to be true, however. Even if we have learned to secure the desks and tables by now." Chuckling, she remembered her even greater aggravation when Charles had decided that she would be the one to clean up the messes she made until she learned to control her emotions and her powers. That had certainly been motivation enough for her to begin learning.

"I am afraid that I cannot promise an easy path to control, Crystal. But if you have the determination to achieve it, it will happen, and probably sooner than you would expect. And I will do everything I can to help, you can be sure of that."

Crystal smiled. "I do have the proper determination, Ms. Munroe. You have seen how I have progressed in the short time I have been here, and you yourself just said how I am very familiar with my abilities."

"Indeed. I am confident that you will continue to improve your control and overcome any setbacks you might encounter. I am lucky to have such a dedicated student. Now, what do you say we try those exercises once more?"

Nodding, Crystal resumed her concentration on forming water, and a slight rain began to fall.