Powers, Identity, and The World; Embracing the Real You - Friday, Period One

[furnaceface]

When the students filed in for class today, they would find themselves stepping into a typical classroom, desks neatly arranged, with two teachers standing at the front of the room. One of them had his arms crossed over his leather-wrapped chest and was looking over the students thoughtfully. The other was a girl in her early twenties, dressed in a simple blue sweater and dark jeans. She kept fidgeting with a necklace around her neck, specifically with the pendant, which appeared to be two rings.

It was the thoroughly leather-wrapped man who spoke first, because what better way to break the students into having a class about powers than by kicking off the first lesson with telepathy?

//So, as you lot might have gathered, today's class is about powers. And identity.// A beat. //And the world. Which is pretty much what it sounds like on the tin, if you get right down to it. Over the course of the semester, we'll be exploring the impact that having powers might have had on who you are, what the rest of the world might think of you, and how it all ties together. As you might have guessed, we'll be teaching from experience. Last I checked, there weren't exactly textbooks on this sort of thing.//

“If there were, we’d probably throw them out,” the dark-haired girl said. “We’re also going to be talking about who you are, as a person. The word ‘you’ includes your powers, because that’s who you are, but that isn’t all you are. You have interests, friends, wants, needs. You have a favorite color, pet peeves, a secret crush. You’re a complete being. Never forget that. What your powers are may be part of it, but they can only ever be part.”

//Today, we're going to… do that thing you've all got to be sick of by now,// Jono said, shrugging his shoulders. //But at the very least, once we get this out of the way, you won't have to do it for the rest of the semester unless you have other Friday classes. Introductions. I'm Jonothon Starsmore. I'll grudgingly answer to Professor Starsmore if you insist, but I much prefer Jono, or Jon. My power ought to be at least partway obvious by this point,// he tapped at the side of his head, //and I've got a good deal of experience with the world around me expecting me to be defined by what my mutant genetics allow me to do, because besides the telepathy, I'm a walking force of flaming destruction. But… besides all that? I was Prom King my graduating year, and I run the music shop in town. Wanted to be a musician growing up, actually. Still play the guitar from time to time.//

That was relevant to the introductions, yes. They would get to that part in a minute.

“My name’s Rinoa Heartilly, and you can just call me Rinoa,” the girl said, calmly. “I own the Magic Box. When I was seventeen years old, I became a Sorceress. No one here seems to know what that means, but I have nearly limitless arcane power at my fingertips. The difficulty is not getting lost in it, whenever it gets out.”

She lifted her shoulders. “But that’s not all I am. I also have a dog named Angelo, and she’s a trained rescue puppy. I own the Magic Box store downtown. I’ve been dating Squall, the grumpy guy who owns the comics shop, for years now, and he’s really taking his time proposing. I love reading. I’ve been restoring an ancient library, back home, and it’s really fascinating stuff.”

Rinoa looked around the room. “It’s your turn,” she said. “Like Jono said, we’re doing introductions. You can talk about what powers you have if you want, but you don’t have to. That’s not what we’re interested in, right now. What we want to know is, who are you? What’s something you love, and something you hate? What are your hobbies? What’s something interesting about you, the person you are outside of whatever powers you have?”

//In fact,// Jono added, //during the course of this semester, you are never, under any circumstances, going to be required to tell us about your powers. Which brings us to the rules for this class. We don't have many, and the ones we do have all boil down to your personal comfort, and to respect. Nothing anybody discusses in this room leaves this room, unless the person doing the sharing brings it up outside of the classroom themselves. It's nobody's bloody business what we can do, not until we decide it ought to be. Most of you, I'd wager, are already well aware of why.//

“If you’re ever asked a question you don’t want to answer,” Rinoa offered, “it’s simple. You say that you don’t have any powers and you must be in the wrong class. That’s it. It doesn’t matter if last week you were talking about your telekinesis abilities; this week, you don’t have powers and you’re in the wrong class. That’s the universal sign for ‘drop it, I don’t want to talk about it.’ And if you really are unpowered and did end up in the wrong class, you’re welcome to stay, so long as you have respect for everyone around you.”

//After introductions, we'd like to talk a bit about what you're hoping to get out of this class,// Jono added, nodding in agreement with what Rinoa said. //If it's a better understanding of people with powers because you're in the wrong class, excellent. Be respectful of your classmates. If it's a better idea of how to balance your identity with what the world expects you to be or fears you are, good, let us know. We'll do our best through the semester to accommodate. And with that… we're opening the floor.// He waved a hand at the class at large. //Whoever wants to kick this off, please, do.//

[OOC: Please hold for OCD! Open!]

Comments

Introductions

[furnaceface]

Name, and something about who you are. You're welcome to talk about your powers, or the experiences you've had because of them, of course, but that isn't what Rinoa and Jono are asking for, here.

Who are you?

Re: Introductions

[iceolatedqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'm Elsa," she said, stirring up her courage in order to speak to the room, even if her eyes remained resolutely on Rinoa. "I enjoy tea, arranging flowers, and studying geometry, and I have a puppy named Canute who was a gift from two of my closest friends just before Christmas. Recently, an older version of my little sister arrived on the island, and I... still don't quite know what to make of that. Mostly, I've been hiding from her."

...

That was too much, wasn't it? Wonderful. She was going to just duck her head and pretend she hadn't said anything, then. Good, good.

She suspected she was going to 'have no powers' and be 'in the wrong class' a lot, this semester.

Re: Introductions

[angelo_wings]

Rinoa had clapped her hands excitedly at one point of that introduction. "What kind of puppy?" she asked. "I'll bring Angelo to the store, so they can have a play date."

She cleared her throat and tried to remember she was a teacher, and ought to be more professional.

"Jono and I are very pro-pet," she explained. "There's something to be said for having a little bundle of fur that accepts you just as you are."

Angelo had even been key in pulling Rinoa back from the edge, a few times, but that was better left to another class.

"I've never had a sister," Rinoa explained, "but I know sometimes it can be complicated. Do you two not get along?"

Re: Introductions

[notacokeperson.livejournal.com]

"I'm Karina," she said, leaning back in her chair. Public speaking wasn't an issue with her, though being polite about it could be. "I write music, play the piano, dance, and act. One day I'm going to be a superstar actress and music idol."

She was already well on her way there, so this was less her being ridiculously over-confident and more a fact of life, as far as Karina was concerned.

"Coffee's okay, but the way to my heart lies in fruit smoothies," she continued, "and I like trashy reality TV," which was totally a self-aware dig at Hero TV, why yes, "and I'm an only child."

That was enough about her, right?

Re: Introductions

[furnaceface]

//Good to have you with us, Karina,// Jono said, giving her a friendly nod. //From what I've heard of your musical talents, it's a wonder you're not already most of the way to idolhood already.//

And was he surprised to see her in this class? No, not at all. Not that he was going to say or even insinuate that he'd suspected as much. He also suspected that she was going to be one of those 'in the wrong class' students, after all.

//Fruit smoothies, hm? If I'd known that, I would've attempted to bribe you with those back when I was still putting on shows at the Boards.//

He really had to start doing that again. Hm.

Re: Introductions

[angelo_wings]

"Have you given any concerts here?" Rinoa asked. "My mother was a famous singer, back home. I can't sing so well as she could, but I love playing the piano. Plus I got world-class lullabies as a kid."

Re: Introductions

[pasunereveuse.livejournal.com]

"I'm Celia," she offered, flicking her fingers in a delicate little wave. "Um, I like to read -- pretty much anything I can get my hands on, really -- and I'm from New York City, though it's 1885 there, now. I speak...three languages, working on reading a couple others, and I work for Rinoa, actually, at the Magic Box," she gave her a little nod, "and I love animals and would really like to get a pet, but I don't think my post-graduation plans support animal care, so I'll probably just keep enjoying other people's."

And, as an afterthought, she added, "And I'm an illusionist." She shrugged her shoulders, lightly -- it was bizarre, now, not to mention it. "I can manipulate nearly every aspect of the world around me, from color to size to stability."

Re: Introductions

[furnaceface]

//Celia,// Jono said, warmly. //It's good to have to aboard, luv. And if you'd like, I have a kitten who occasionally needs kitten-sitting. I can hit you up next time Joni needs a place to stay.//

Vicariously enjoy pet ownership through litter-scooping and chin-scritchies!

Re: Introductions

[angelo_wings]

"Hi, Celia," Rinoa said warmly. "Good to see you here. I can bring Angelo to the store, if you ever want to play with her."

At this rate, it was amazing Angelo didn't just live at the store. But then she couldn't snuggle Rinoa on cold nights, so.

"What's your favorite book genre?" she added. "I used to love romance novels, and I still do, but lately I've been reading a lot of cozy whodunits. Not the hardboiled kind, but the ones in some charming British village and everyone's really repressed."

Re: Introductions

[not_every_mage]

"I'm Anders," he said slowly. He wasn't sure where to start if not with being a mage. "I'm a sophomore, and I work in the Magic Box. I was born in the Anderfels and grew up in Ferelden, not that either of those places means anything to most people here. I love cats. A lot. My kitten is named Lachlan. Sometimes I try to draw or play the lute, just for fun. I've been seeing a wonderful man for a few months now."

He drew a long breath. he wasn't tempted by the I don't have any powers and I'm in the wrong class option, exactly, but with everyone's eyes on him -- "And I'm a mage, which at home means I'm supposed to spend my life in a tower doing whatever the Templars tell me to do."

There. Done.

Re: Introductions

[furnaceface]

Jono's brow knit just slightly as Anders mentioned the tower. Yeah, that hit a little close to home, there.

//In my world, it was superhuman registration,// he replied, sympathetically. //... Which I'm sure is a topic we'll touch on again in future classes. You play the lute? You know, I've never had the opportunity to try one, similar as they are to guitars. I might have to get my hands on one, one of these days.//

A beat.

//And the world can always use more cat people.//

Jono and Joni appreciated you and your pet preferences, Anders.

Re: Introductions

[angelo_wings]

"At this rate, Jono's going to think I bribed all my employees to show up," she teased, lightly. "Good to have you here. Were you named for the Anderfels, or is that a coincidence?"

She found names to be fascinating. It seemed a legitimate question.

"What's your boyfriend's name?" she asked. "Oooh, I shouldn't say boyfriend, if you guys aren't saying boyfriend yet. Some people get jumpy about terms. You know what I mean."

Some people treated relationships like they were dipping their toes into scalding water. Others favored the Rinoa approach: dive right in, damn the torpedos.

"I'm glad you're not in a tower," she added. "After I first manifested my powers, they tried to put me into a satellite. Some people -- are so afraid of what you might do, that they want to cage you just in case. It's like they forget you're a person, underneath those abilities."

Re: Introductions

[tigerundercover]

"I'm Raven," Raven said, then added "Darkholme" because she knew she wasn't the only Raven who spent time on the island, now. "I like fashion a lot. I'm always online these days, looking for new looks. And I've been getting into feminism -- I'm from 1955, so that's still pretty new to me. I have a big brother back home and a bunch of sibs here and I'm not actually related to any of them, so I kinda count them all the same. I want to be an activist when I grow up, but I'm not sure yet if I want to do that in 1955 or now."

She took a deep breath and shifted into Rita Hayworth, flashing a bright grin at the class. "And I'm a shapeshifter." She changed back and shrugged. "And proud."

Re: Introductions

[angelo_wings]

"You should be proud," Rinoa beamed. "That's wonderful! It looked effortless, too. Did you have to work at it, or does your body just know how to do it, like how you don't have to think about raising your arm?"

Okay, Rinoa was supposed to be emphasizing the non-powered aspects, but that had been impressive enough to distract her. And besides, she was happy this girl was proud of her abilities.

"We're going to have classes that talk about blending in and standing out," she added, "which you're going to find to be a snap. It's interesting being able to choose like that, I think. When I'm just trying to be me, I dress normally, but when I have to be somewhere as the Sorceress, I draw inspiration from Couture."

Something outlandish and unrealistic, that set her apart as otherworldly. Raven surely had seen plenty of looks like that, when she browsed fashion websites.

Re: Introductions

[furnaceface]

//Hello, Raven. Fashion, hm? I've been informed in no uncertain terms by a good many of my friends that I'm the place where fashion goes to die. Maybe you can give me some pointers, sometime.//

Just bear in mind that he was on fire, hm?

//Is there anything stopping you from giving activism a try now? Not saying you ought to run out and pick up a protest sign right away, of course. I'm just curious what options you're weighing.//

Re: Introductions

[hexentotchen.livejournal.com]

That was stupendous. Hanna had slowly been getting used to the idea of magic, and people who were different like she was -- Kira and Alana had each been different in their own ways. But this was much flashier. Raven was in her Monday class as well, but nothing like this had been mentioned!

Hanna just stared for a while, as Raven talked to the teachers, then realized she was staring, and tried to stop it.

Then she gave up, and asked, "How do you even do that?"

Re: Introductions

[spin_kick_snap]

"If you're into feminism, I have some really great resources for you," Kathy offered. "I mean, if you're interested. But it's something I'm really passionate about, too."

Re: Introductions

[nobloodymessiah.livejournal.com]

Eleanor sat for a long time, chewing her lower lip, before she decided to volunteer.

"I -- sometimes I don't know who I am, outside of the things that have shaped me," she said, haltingly. "It isn't just the powers. I was raised to be something specific, regardless of what I wanted, and so much of my life was directed towards that. I'm still trying to figure out who I am, and what I want to be."

Maybe this was a class in which it was okay to admit that. She had to hope so.

"I grew up in an underwater city," she said, because that was interesting, at least. "So I never tire of sunshine, or of the sky. Rain and snow are endlessly fascinating. I like reading, and I hate being stuck behind a locked door. I was recently adopted by my aunt -- nonbiological -- so my name changed from Eleanor Lamb to Eleanor Holloway."

Re: Introductions

[furnaceface]

//Holloway? Well, first and foremost, let me congratulate you,// Jono said, giving her one of those around-the-eyes smiles of his. //Grace is a wonderful woman, and it's good to see you've made your family official.//

Biology hardly mattered. Jono knew that as well as anyone.

//As for the first bit... hopefully we'll be able to help you find that balance. I can already tell you that you're a strong young lady with powerful convictions when you set your mind to it. That's huge on its own, though it might not seem that way when you feel lost. What sort of books do you enjoy?//

Re: Introductions

[angelo_wings]

"Squall's sister isn't biological, either," she said, with a smile. "That doesn't make them any less siblings. I hate being stuck behind locked doors, too. My dad couldn't deal with his grief, after losing Mom, and he didn't know how to deal with mine, either. I snuck out a lot."

Re: Introductions

[hexentotchen.livejournal.com]

"I am Hanna." Professor Starsmore was familiar, and Elsa was here. That was good. Hanna was nervous about this class, as much as she wanted it to-- help? Clarify things for her? Something. "I am a sophomore. I..." Who was she? "I like to read. And run. I want a dog." She swallowed hard. "I love music and dance. Especially Spanish dance, I saw some dancers in Spain, they were wonderful..." She moved her hands in the gestures they'd made, all twisting wrists and sinuous elbows. "I don't know how to talk about my abilities."

Which was literally true, because she didn't know how much she differed from others. Was she a freak? Or just a little strange? Was it because other children weren't raised to kill their mother's murderer? Or was it because of the tampering with her DNA?

"So. I am hoping to understand more in the future."

Re: Introductions

[thegc161kid.livejournal.com]

"I'm Alex," she said when it was her turn, "I'm a sophomore and I'm originally from Paradise Valley, California - it's 1997 there right now," she paused, "I like to wear hats, spend time with my best friend Ray when I'm home and I love watching horror films. I also like to run and I found out that I was good at cow milking through a club at my old school,"

There was another pause and finally she said, "I'm telekinetic, I can zap electricity from my fingers and I can morph into a puddle of liquid and travel long distances with that," it came out in more of a rush than she had intended and it had felt weird discussing her powers with anyone who weren't Annie and Ray but it actually felt like a relief telling someone else about her powers.

Re: Introductions

[spin_kick_snap]

"I'm Kathy and I guess I'm...still trying to figure out who I am?" It sounded stupid to say, since she didn't have the kind of childhood that Eleanor did to make that hard for her to have figure out already. "Back in LA, I was pretty much the shy, quiet, nerdy girl who sat in a corner and didn't have any friends. Here, I'm still pretty nerdy, but I'm getting less shy and less quiet and I've made some friends?"

Though still sometimes asked questions when she meant to make statements.

"I do gymnastics and yoga, I like playing video games on my laptop, and I'm a Tumblr SJW, and..." She paused for a moment before just blurting out, "...and sometimes I patrol Baltimore as a costumed vigilante."

And now she was going to sink down in her chair, worried she'd said too much.

Re: Introductions

[notamascot]

"I'm Kaylin Neya," she said, shifting a little uncomfortably in her seat. She wasn't even comfortable with what she could do, much less talking about it in a group, which was probably why the Hawklord had signed her up for this class. Knowing she didn't have to made her feel a little better, but still edgy. "I am a Hawk, which is kind of like the police force here. Or, well, I'll officially be one as soon as I turn 18. When I'm home and have time I help with the midwife's guild and at the Foundling Hall. ...And I like to bet."

Re: Introductions

[sarcastic-vamp.livejournal.com]

It hadn't taken long for Carmilla to realize this place was just as weird as Silas, even more so judging by this class. Still, it didn't make her want to proudly announce her vampire status. Too many decades of peasants and torches and stakes would do that to you.

"Carmilla," she said. "I'm pretty strong, I guess. And fast." She deliberately didn't give any personal details.