fandomhigh | How to Make Friends and Influence People [Tuesday, March 18, 2014]

Anakin had a pounding headache this morning that was only partially caused by hearing the words "Jamie Madrox" on the radio before he came to class. (The other half was a sensation that Obi-Wan was watching him just out of the corner of his eye and that was very annoying, Obi-Wan.)

So class was just a classroom today instead of an elaborate simulation. "It hasn't escaped your notice by now that something odd--even for our standards--is happening on the island," he began, sitting down to be on the same level as the students, "and half of the name of this class is 'influencing people', which indicates leadership skills. Which people do you think we should be trying to influence, and what should we be asking them to do? Nothing physically dangerous has happened to anyone: switching genders or personalities isn't exactly a jail-worthy offense and it's not their fault they woke up weird one morning." He gave them all a wry half smile. "I'm a fan of walking down and threatening Portalocity just because it's Tuesday, but I don't think this is their fault this time."

Beat.

"Probably. We could yell at a gnome anyway?"

Or maybe someone has a slightly more productive suggestion?

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"Well, I meant stay inside once it gets dangerous," Joker explained. "Assuming whatever's messing with us is going to get more overt. Right now... I've looked as much as I can online for ideas. There's got to be someone or something that we can..."

He shivered. "Ohhhhhh, crap. It's getting chilly in here. That settles it: we're in a horror movie."

Oh, no. Conceal, don't feel. Conceal, don't feel. There is no... no passion, only...

Mantras were so unhelpful when she was already out of sorts.

"Ignoring that I don't know what a horror movie is," Elsa soldiered on, trying to get her mind off of the fear before snowflakes could start to form in the air around them, "has anybody tried the library, yet? Maybe before we're all swapped out for people who people who have no idea this is all going on?"

"Okay, we are so doing a movie marathon sometime when, you know, the whole of existence isn't falling out from underneath us," Joker told her. "But. Yes, I've been looking at the library all weekend, and haven't found any... Ohhhhhhhhhhh, you probably mean, like, the physical library. Which... no. And who knows what they haven't gotten around to digitizing yet."

"Once again, I'm going to pretend I know what you just said," Elsa informed him, her expression a little more deadpan. At least confusing things he was saying were helping her get her mind off of the freaking out she was supposed to be doing. "But between the library, the book store, and the magic shop, there might be something? I can at least try to look to see if there are any magic books about people being swapped out for other people during my shift tomorrow. It might be a start."

When in doubt, reach for the books about magic. It was a long standing family tradition, really.

"Okay, so I will also need to introduce you to the extranet sometime. But, first things first. You check the magic shop, and I'll be in the library. Is the owner of the magic shop an actual witch and/or wizard, do you know? They might be able to help."

"She... has magic of her own," Elsa replied, hesitating a moment before answering, replying only when she reminded herself that the situation was dire and Rinoa hadn't exactly been shy about admitting as much. "She's a sorceress, of some sort. I could talk to her about this and see if there's anything at all that she can do..."

She wasn't going to bank on it, mind. Elsa was, whether she liked it or not, something of a sorceress in her own right, but all she could really do was make things cold.

Hey, making things cold might not help right now, but it was pretty useful in general. Just ask Bobby Drake!

"Good. Yes. Sorceress is good," Joker told her. "It sounds all powerful and stuff. She might be able to help. Hopefully."

He gave Elsa a worried look. "You're still yourself, right? If you go all getting crazy, too, you let me know."

"Right," Elsa replied, smiling wryly at him. "The first time I realize I'm not myself at all, you'll be the first person I talk to, Joker."

As if she'd remember if she did.

"I'm still me. Still slightly neurotic wallflower me. Belle of the ball, right?"

Joker nodded. "Okay. Good. Stay your normal pretty self and do not change."

How to Make Friends and Influence People [Tuesday, March 18, 2014]

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