training is scary

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Training is scary. It was especially scary for Zoe, though she kept telling herself that it was completely necessary. There was no way that she'd ever have anything like a normal life if she couldn't get her power under control, and there was no way she'd get her power under control without the help of someone vastly more experienced than herself. That didn't make heading over to the training rooms any easier. Each step required nearly all the will that Zoe possessed.

It didn't help that her skin crawled, mostly because a lot more of it had been exposed, or, at least, a lot more than she'd exposed since her power. She still had gloves on her hands, and she still wore a long sleeved shirt, though it was a black workout shirt instead of her usual artsy, billowy options. The skin came mostly in the fact that a lot of her collar showed, and, despite her best efforts, a bit of her slim stomach showed before the sweatpants she wore. At least she didn't have to worry about tying her hair back, even if she still wasn't completely certain that her hair had the same properties as her skin.

But she was there now, nearly trembling already and looking around. Her fingers kept going to where her camera should be, before dropping. Nothing really worth capturing in film anyway. For that matter, there wasn't really much here. Had Zoe gone to the wrong room or something? she looked around, wondering where her trainer could possibly have gone. Surely he'd have gotten there early to set things up...?

[Nathan Matthews]

Running his hand through his mess of hair, Nathan pushed himself down the hall with a groggy expression. He had overslept, again. It wasn't all that weird, especially not since he had ended up reading up on far too much, far too late. And thus, it had affected his sleep. But it was whatever though. He wasn't that late, only a few minutes if you didn't count the fact that he was supposed to be half an hour early to set everything up and whatever.

Nathan loved being a trainer. What he didn't love was the students. Which was probably why he was known for being such a hard ass. He wasn't afraid of telling a student exactly what he thought of them and the verbal abuse complaints were piling up.

Ugh, such a large group of imbeciles.

Pushing himself through the door, Nathan grinned as he saw the student standing in the door, looking as anxious as she ever possibly could. Good. Those were always easier to crack. Though, it also meant she could have some freaky power. The silent ones were always the freaks, especially in bed. Tossing the thought away with a chuckle, Nathan clapped his hands together as if to get the girl's attention, ''All right boy scout, what do you have for me today? Pyrokinetic? Super strength? Endless orgasms? I tend to create those, mind you,'' he cackled and he pulled out a chair and sat down, his arms crossed over his chest.

''Dance monkey, dance,''

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

As expected, Nate's bombast completely overwhelmed poor Zoe. Her eyes widened and she stared up at him, not quite believing that this man would have been her trainer. He didn't look that much older than she, though Zoe was well aware that she'd developed her mutant ability a lot later than was technically the average. Still, there was just so.... so very much wrong with his statement that Zoe didn't even know where to begin.

And he was sitting in a chair, facing her. Zoe fidgeted, pulling at her gloves and looking around for a few moments. What was she supposed to be doing right now? Demonstrating her ability? How exactly was she supposed to do that without anyone or anything to touch? Zoe didn't think that she'd be able to stun a chair, and she wasn't sure that you would really be able to notice any difference.

"Um, uh," she tried, fidgeting again and sort of not really looking him in the eye. "I... did you want me to show you my ability?" which sounded horrible. She looked around again, before focusing back on him, "because I sort of need something alive...?"

[Nathan Matthews]

Oh right. She had a power she'd actually need a target to practice on. Fuck. Well, it couldn't be helped. Standing up with an impatient sigh, Nathan crossed his arms behind his neck and pursed his lips, ''All right then, sweetcakes. I'm alive, as far as I know,'' he said, gesturing for the girl to come closer.

''Let's start with a simple touch, without attempting to use your powers. Like, don't push it, just be yourself,'' he said dryly, a smile cackled over his lips as he prepared himself.

How bad could it be, really? She was such a tiny little creature, Nathan doubted there could be too much fight in her. She seemed so meek and frightened, what was the worst that could possibly happen? Like seriously, a small jolt? His fingers growing numb? Pfft, he was man! He could take that!

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

"You--you want me to---" stammered Zoe, staring at her teacher. He had read her file, hadn't he? With the bits about how she sent people into shock if she touched them for too long? How even the slightest touch from her could have all kinds of bad reactions for people? How traumatizing watching someone convulse under her touch actually was?

"It just sort of---" tried Zoe. She swallowed, shifting her feet and rubbing her arm nervously, "it just sort of comes out. I don't really have any control of it," and she wasn't entirely certain that she ever would. As far as Zoe could tell, her skin had simply become toxic to the touch. Even if she was able to somehow get control over it, the power would still control her life, under constant surveillance or something.

But it was an order, and maybe he thought he needed to feel it for himself. Zoe tugged the glove off her hand and walked up to her trainer. She swallowed hard and reached out, lightly touching her fingers to touch his arm. He'd feel the numbing sensation instantly, spreading fast throughout his body, growing stronger the longer her held. "Um, you should probably let me know when I need to let go..."