Kitty's making progress, and making people angry...

[x-kitten.livejournal.com]

Kitty asks Rogue for some help after classes, and miracle of miracles, she agrees. Course, she may regret it...



x_kitten (5:14:10 PM): *Kitty comes into the library soon after her last class is out, her bag slung over a shoulder, looking around for Rogue*

x_rogue (5:15:52 PM): *she's sitting at the back with laptop and books, nose in her work, headphones on*

x_kitten (5:16:39 PM): *catching sight of her, Kitty makes her way across the room, leaning down to tap on the table in Rogue's line of sight, drawing her attention.*

x_rogue (5:17:06 PM): *irritated look, pulls off the headphones* What did you need?

x_kitten (5:17:48 PM): *she drops her bag onto the far side of the table* My powers? You said you'd be willing to help if I hunted you down...

x_rogue (5:19:24 PM): Yep. *she closes her book* What is it?

x_kitten (5:21:36 PM): So, I've been working on phasing live things. I've got it under control, near as I can tell. As long as I don't let go the rats I've been working with stay phased, and I tried it with one of the barn cats no problem. Thing is, we haven't got any animals bigger than the cats and smaller than the horses. Dr. Essex seems to have concerns about me being able to phase something larger than I am, and while I'd rather try it on a horse than a person, I think Paige and Sam'd kill me if I hurt one of the horses. I figured, instead, I'd see if I could get a volunteer who's closer to my size? *she looks hopefully at Rogue*

x_rogue (5:23:32 PM): *slow blink* Kitty... you want to phase through someone who could... Kitty, are you insane? Would Essex be in on this?

x_kitten (5:24:05 PM): *she blinks back* No, no, no. Not through. With. I want to see if I can phase out and take you with me.
x_kitten (5:24:23 PM): We wouldn't try going through a wall yet, I wouldn't risk it, but...

x_rogue (5:24:37 PM): *she slumps back in her chair* Oh, at least you're not totally crazed.
x_rogue (5:25:00 PM): *she sets her laptop to shut down* Sure.

x_kitten (5:25:28 PM): No, not totally. Although I don't think there'd be a problem if I phased through you... Actually, I don't know what'd happen... *she gets one of those scary curious scientist looks, then shakes her head* Anyway, not today.
x_kitten (5:30:31 PM): I figured we'd just try something easy today. Um, I'd phase out holding you, and check that I'd gone, then we could see if you'd gone too...

x_rogue (5:31:25 PM): *getting up* Okay. Let's try this then. Where?

x_kitten (5:32:21 PM): Well, we could do it pretty much anywhere, but... *she glances around, and sees a few students working* but maybe we ought to go to one of the class rooms? They ought to be empty by now.

x_rogue (5:34:02 PM): That's a good idea. I'll just leave my stuff here. This won't take long, will it?

x_kitten (5:34:41 PM): No, it shouldn't. This is just a pair of preliminary tests.

x_rogue (5:36:17 PM): Well... *she shrugs* Let's go.

x_kitten (5:37:27 PM): *nodding, Kitty leads the way out of the library and down the hall to an empty class room. She glanced around, staring particularly at the projector screen and some of the chairs* This ought to be fine.
x_kitten (5:38:13 PM): *she makes her way into the room, pausing about half way between the screen and the teacher's desk*

x_rogue (5:40:56 PM): Shall we dance? *Em offers her hand and almost smiles, though her tone is a little sarcastic*

x_kitten (5:43:05 PM): *kitty ignores the sarcasm and takes her hand* Yes, let's. *Her smile is genuine before her eyes shutter closed. She takes a deep breath and then opens her eyes. It feels no diferent to Rogue, but she turns and swipes her free hand through the desk* Well, I'm out, and... *She squeezes Rogues hand* you still feel solid to me.

x_rogue (5:43:44 PM): Does that mean that I'm... *she looks down at herself*

x_kitten (5:44:25 PM): *Kitty nods* You ought to be. *her free hand gestures towards the screen* Swipe your hand through that. It's thin, so if something goes wrong there oughtn't be a big problem...

x_rogue (5:45:22 PM): *Em does as ordered... *

x_kitten (5:45:40 PM): *it goes through cleanly, She can't feel the screen at all*
x_kitten (5:46:07 PM): Yes... *Kitty's eyes are shining*

x_rogue (5:47:04 PM): Awesome job, Kitty. *this time she gets a real smile* You must have been working your little ass off. Good for you.

x_kitten (5:48:13 PM): *Kitty grins* Yeah, and this means I can do it through clothes too. Want to try it through the desk or a chair or something?

x_rogue (5:48:37 PM): Sure... *she takes a pass at the surface of the desk*

x_kitten (5:48:46 PM): *it goes through cleanly*

x_rogue (5:49:37 PM): Seems to work. *she nods* You going to tell Essex?

x_kitten (5:50:37 PM): Oh, eventually. Want to run a few more tests... *she lets go of Rogue's hand, and before she moves it away swipes the edges of her fingers through it*

x_rogue (5:54:20 PM): *Rogue jerks her hand back and pulls away so fast that she almost stumbles* Kitty, for fuck's sake, do NOT play with that! *she looks pale and furious* Don't... just don't, okay?

x_kitten (5:55:09 PM): *Kitty blinks, eyebrows raising* Nothing happened. I'm incoporeal, but I needed to make sure you were solid once I let go of you.

x_rogue (5:56:32 PM): Find a different way to do it, okay? *she regains her composure but is still visibly upset* I really don't need anyone new in my head, even sweet little you.

x_kitten (5:57:25 PM): *she bites at her lip, eyes looking big and guilless* Oh, I didn't even think... I'm sorry. *she hangs her head a little bit* I won't do it again.

x_rogue (5:59:52 PM): Don't pull that shit, Kitty. *she crosses her arms over her chest* It's not something to fuck around with. Don't mess with me trusting you. I think we're done here.

x_kitten (6:01:46 PM): *she tugs at a lock of hair that's fallen over her shoulder and glances at the ground* Yeah, sorry... I'm not ready to try anything more anyways.

x_rogue (6:02:17 PM): No, I don't think you are. I'll see you later. *she turns around and stalks out the door*

x_kitten (6:03:38 PM): *Kitty half frowns at Rogue's retreating back, and absentmindedly goes to lean against the desk, forgetting that she's still phased out and dropping backwards through the floor. She cries out* Shit!

x_rogue (6:04:28 PM): *Rogue turns back to assess the damage, looks to see if things are in one piece*

x_kitten (6:05:37 PM): *she's turned just in time to see the heels of Kitty's feet disappear through the floor*

x_rogue (6:07:08 PM): Damnit... *Rogue sets off for the stairs at a run*

x_kitten (6:08:42 PM): *Kitty waits until she knows she is clear of the cealing before flipping around in the air and phasing back in, landing on her feet on the ground like the cat she's nicknamed for. Sighing to herself she leans against a table, burring her face in her hands and muttering imprications against herself*

x_rogue (6:09:47 PM): *Rogue throws the lab door open* Kitty? Are you okay?

x_kitten (6:10:50 PM): *she looks up, startled* Um, yeah... *she shoves up, away from the table* I'm fine. Just did something stupid... *she's frowning*

x_rogue (6:11:35 PM): Fine. Just making sure. *she turns to go*

x_kitten (6:12:16 PM): Thanks... *Kitty's voice is small, unsure* Thanks for helping me... and I really am sorry.

x_rogue (6:13:00 PM): *Rogue stops in the door* I know. Just be careful, okay, Kitty. Not just with me, but... I could kill you and not be able to help it. I don't want to do that.

x_kitten (6:14:17 PM): I wouldn't have done it if I weren't sure... but I won't do it again, I promise.

x_rogue (6:17:21 PM): Kitty... you can't be sure. You can't ever be sure until you try, right? I know you're damn sure you're right, but there is no sure with mutations. There are no guarantees, just proof after the fact. *she's obviously frustrated* And if you're going to take chances and risk screwing up, pick someone less dangerous to do it with, someone who doesn't have to live with it the rest of their lives. I don't want you getting hurt, and I don't want to live with the consequences of a little girl who was too certain she was right.

x_kitten (6:20:50 PM): *kitty steps a few feet closer to the door* No, I can't be sure until I try, not absolutly. But I knew I could phase through people, I've done it - no harm, no foul. I needed to know if I could phase through you, because there may be other tactile induced mutations, and some of them are going to be people who like me a lot less than you do. I'd rather know in advance that it is or is not going to work when they attack me, or anyone I'm protecting. Because now that I can phase people out that's what I can do. I can _protect_ them!

x_rogue (6:22:15 PM): *her face goes hard* I'm glad for you, Kitty. I'm just sorry you're missing my point. I didn't give you permission to cross that line with me. You didn't give me a chance to do it. The ends don't justify the means here. I'll talk to you later.

x_kitten (6:23:24 PM): *Her jaw is set but she nods in farewell, not saying anything*

x_rogue (6:23:39 PM): *Rogue turns and walks off*