Panthera Leo

[Seiji Lockard]

Seiji would be going off for a week or so to go to a meeting of those who worked on all things mutant related. Of course it was a very hush hush meeting, but he had been invited due to all of his work and help for his fellow mutants. He was personally excited for the trip but he did still have a few things to look into before he would leave. Well, he didn't actually have to look into them, but he always felt bad for making people wait too long. Thankfully his teaching job was not starting official until the summer break would end so he could focus on his main job as a side-effect specialist for the school.

A side-effect specialist who had several appointments that he could have waited until he got back from his trip to get to, but he figured he could squeeze in as many as possible before then. He had already seen several students and a few staff before it was time to meet with a Miss Carmelita Volpez. She was a shifter, one they could only turn into cats, and apparently that of a lion. A very interesting and also dangerous animals to turn into if you risked losing control. She was an adult and her record didn't seem to have anything too crazy on it so he was not too worried.

He still made the call for the office to give her a call and let her know she could come down whenever she was free. While he waited, he moved to grab two rats, and two mice to feed his snakes. All of them were in his office since he had ended up spending most of his day there and it was that time of the week to feed them and they were all starting to complain. "One moment guys, you know I can’t just carry live rodents around the lab at once. To your tanks." Seiji gave the order as he first went to drop one of the rats into Sapphire's tanks since she was already in there and ready to let her poison take out her prey. He fed all of them live meals; just felt it was better for them.

((Tag:Carmelita Volpez))

[Carmelita Volpez]

She had gotten the call when she was at home, unpacking some of her things that still needed it and making sure Tia and Esmeralda stayed out of trouble. Tucking some of her hair behind her ear, she answered the phone to find out her appointment with the side-effect specialist at the school was able to take her that day if she was ready. Carmelita considered it for a few moments before agreeing and hanging up. She might as well get the appointment over with so that was one last time she had to worry about as she moved into her new home and school. So after a quick shower and change, she headed off for the campus and this her appointment.

She honestly didn't know what to expect from this specialist. She had to go to one as well back at Acton Vale, but Bellefonte wanted her to go through another one as well. She didn't mind it so much she supposed, but she didn't plan on mentioning some parts of her ability's influence. Such as how she longed to run free in the woods almost everyday in her lioness form, roaming the earth in that powerful body. No, the only one she had ever confessed far to was her brother, who had promised to keep it a secret until Carmelita admitted it. Other than that, she was fine.

She arrived a little bit early and headed towards a Mr. Seiji Lockard's office. She eventually came to it and knocked on the door. "Mr. Lockard? I'm here for an appointment." She said

[Seiji Lockard]

Seiji didn't honestly like to force anyone to come see or talk to him about their powers, because while he had a lot of skill and experience in his field, he was still not a doctor. As such, people probably didn't think he was all that qualified to help them. Maybe that was why he always had to go out of his way to reach out to people or the schools made people go to him. He could have gone to get his doctorate, but he really didn't like all that schooling they wanted him to do so he was just going to stick in his position and hope with more years on his belt people would come to trust him a bit more.

The school was already starting to put in a new rule of wanting everyone to be checked out from their physical health, mental health, and how their powers were doing. So they were already knocking out new staff to the school and then working their way through the other staff and then through the students. That was the plan anyways, but in the end, the ones that were eighteen years old and had a decent amount of control over their power didn't have to come to him if they didn't want to. Seiji was just happy that thus far everyone had been cooperate and the knock at the door allowed him to know that Carmelita was also going to be willing to work with him through this process.

"Yes, come in. Wait!" Seiji said, forgetting for a moment that he was feeding his snakes live meals and not everyone could handle a rat or mouse being slowly dying from poison, being crushed, and then swallowed whole depending on which snake was eating it. He was quick to give all of them their meals and then quickly covered up their tanks with table a white table cloth so that nothing would be seeing. Unfortunately those with good hearing would likely hear the sound of the little bones being crushed or just the general movement of the snakes eating their meals.

"Okay, you can come in now. Sorry for the wait." Seiji said, a small amount of panic in his voice as he tried to stand in front of the tanks, but there were four of them and of different sizes cause of the different sized snakes.

[Carmelita Volpez]

Carmelita didn't really know who or what to expect from this appointment. She had never met the Side-effects specialist, although she heard he was nice. When she heard him say to come in, she began to open the door. But then he just as quickly said "Wait!" Carmelita frowned slightly, but did as she was bid, her heightened sense of hearing picking up on the movement within the room and the sound of... hissing? Yes, hissing and crunching. She hd spent enough time in her lioness form to know what that sound was. It was the sound of a small critter being eaten. Instantly, her lioness was rearing its head, awake. Carmelita bit her lip and pushed the feral feeling back down until she heard the man saw she could come in this time.

Entering, Carmelita blinked at the man standing in front of the tanks. "Oh, it's fine." She said with a warm smile. The noises were coming from the tanks behind him. "I'm Carmelita Volpez, the new Physics teacher. You must be Seiji Lockard. It's a pleasure to meet you." She greeted, holding out her hand for him to shake. "And.... Do you have snakes by chance?" She decided to ask

[Seiji Lockard]

A lot of people didn't know what to expect went hey would go to meet Seiji. He had often heard people thought he would be older and look more like a scientist then someone who could have been a male model. He figured the latter was them just being nice, the way he dressed, and because he was pretty tall. Yet, the model life would not have been for him because he would not have been able to help people out like he did not. Plus while he thought he was at least decent to look at, he didn't think her was model worthy. He was just always mainly worried about people being afraid of his snakes or thinking he could not help them because he was only twenty-five years old.

Seiji smiled in his usual friendly and bright smile that he gave to everyone, because he was just that kind of guy that could not help but to be friendly to everyone he met. She assured him that it was fine as she came in. Seiji gestured for her to take a seat in one of the two chairs available on the other side of his desk. He loved this office, it was a place where he spent a lot of time or in the room that was connected which led into the labs. "Nice to meet you official in person Miss Volez, or Carmelita if you are alright with me calling you on a first name basis." Seiji said as he moved over to grab a seat at his desk.

Yes, they were both staff, but he had no problem calling someone by their last name because it was how you showed someone the proper respect. "That I am and thank you for making time to stop in, this should not take too long." Seiji assured her as he pulled up her file on his computer. He just needed to ask a few question, get a blood sample, and then she could go do whatever she needed to do. Her question had him blinking a few times as his eyes darted over to the tanks, where his snakes were still working on their meals. "Yes, I do; four of them. If you have a problem with snakes we can relocate." Seiji quickly assured her. He wanted her to be comfortable and to feel safe around him; it was part of his job to ensure she felt that way after all.

[Carmelita Volpez]

When Carmelita had learned she needed to meet with the side-effects specialist at Bellefonte, the only image she could get in her head was of her old one at Acton Vale. He had been a large portly man that was far older than Carmelita. Yet when he smiled it was comepletely disarming and his laugh was jolly. So when she entered, she flaws faintly surprised to see Seiji. He seemed so utterly different. Until he smiled that is. He had the same smile as her old specialist: one that conveyed warmth and genuine feeling. It made Carmelita smile in return and relax significantly. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.

Carmelite took a seat when Seiji gestured to the two available ones, crossing one leg over the other with her hands folded on her lap. "Likewise! And Carmelita's fine as long as I can call you Seiji." She said with a smile. The man seemed kind enough, even thanking her for coming in. She waved it off. "I was just unpacking some of my things into my new house. I'm thankful you took me in so quickly." She said. She had not expected for her appointment to be done so fast, but she didn't mind in the slightest.

She noted he looked a bit bewildered that she knew he had snakes. He probably didn't know about her heightened senses. They did come in handy sometimes. He mentioned he had four of them- which made Carmelita blink herself- before saying they could relocate. "Oh! Oh no it's fine." She assured him swiftly with a smile. "I have heightened senses and heard hissing was all. I was just curious. I have no problems with snakes." She did not mention she had heard them eating something. That was probably unnecessary

[Seiji Lockard]

Seiji's smile was full of warmth and genuine feelings because that was the kind of guy he had been for a very long time. At first when he was young he used to be very shy and soft spoken when he did talk, which came to an end when he gained his powers. Then he became withdrawn from people completely and rarely talked until that faithful day he was given Ghost. Then he tried to branch out and even with the bullying he soon came to a realization that had allowed him to deal with the loneliness and the kids teasing him.

He liked the feeling he got when he was able to help someone or something and through a series of events and years past he ended up where he was now. His only regret being that at times he did not feel like he was in the right place to make a big difference but he was giving it his all. "Of course, Carmelita." Seiji quickly assured her when she pointed out being able to call him by his first name so he could do the same for her. He was fine being called by his first name or whatever so long as he knew it was him they were referring to. "Well I'm happy to hear I didn't catch you at a time when you were too busy." Seiji responded.

He skillfully ignored comment that came from Sapphire; who was working on digesting her food and listening in on the conversation from her tank. As for why he acted the way he did, it was more so because he never really was sure just how heighten someone’s sense were in their human form. Seiji did know about almost every aspect of his ability, weather from it being collected or based on an assumption for having studies so many powers. "I was aware of your heightened sense, just always hard to tell how good they will be in someone’s human form. Fascinating you were able to pick that up...even if it is pretty loud...the hiss that is." Seiji said, his voice trailing off a little as he started to think and types a few things down.

"Oh good, then we shall remain here and get right to work. First I would like you to describe your power to me, it allows me to be aware of your understanding of your own ability and also if you had any recent developments in your power since you last visit with the specialist at your old school." Seiji explained as he pulled up two files. One with the information of her power already on it and the other where he was putting his side notes.

[Carmelita Volpez]

He really did seem nice, so Carmelita stayed relaxed and smiled when he confirmed that they could call each other by their first names. "I'm glad too. I would've felt bad if I had to move the appointment or be late from something." She replied honestly. She didn't like doing that to people, but sometimes she couldn't help it. Things happened and she could get busy occasionally. It was unfortunate when some things collided and overlapped, but such was fate she supposed.

Carmelita shrugged at the comment on her heightened senses. "I suppose mine is just higher then some of the others with similar abilities to mine." She mused. Although, she had a sneaking suspicion that it was due to her strong connection to her wilder side. Since she loved being a lioness so much, some of the natural feline ability in that form probably got carried over to her original human form more so than others. It would make sense, in all honesty. But she wasn't about to voice that to Seiji.

The blonde nodded as Seiji asked her to describe her power. Straight to business, it seemed. She did not mind that at all. "I have the ability of animal morphing, but it's limited to large felines only- tigers, panthers, lions. Things such as those. In my feline forms, I have the increased strength, agility, and senses that a feline would get. I essentially get all the perks of being a large cat but with the intelligence of a human. In human form, I retain some of the heightened senses and flexibility from my feline forms. To my knowledge, I have no had any recent developments in my ability since the last time I checked in at Acton Vale." She said

[Seiji Lockard]

"It would have been no trouble for me to schedule another time. I understand things get pretty busy, even for myself so have to be prepared to have a bit of wiggle room for this kind of thing." Seiji said with a nod and that same friendly smile staying on his face. This job was all about helping people so if that meant helping them by adjusting his scheduled a little bit in order to fit in a time that would work for them, he would do it. He didn't mind making such sacrifices when it came to helping others because he felt that in the long run it would all pay off.

Plus this was just a 'check in' sort of checkup so it would not take too long. It was not like she had a power that was killing her or others and she needed help with it as soon as possible. "That is to be expected. That is what makes mutants so interesting. There are a lot of us that have the same ability but small things that cause them to be slightly different from the rest. Then you have those rare outliers that rarely anyone has a power like them. That is why people in my field have to make medications tailored specifically to the person if we want the best result." Seiji informed her, proud of all the work he and the others in his field did.

It was hard work, but he still felt that it was well worth it at the end of the day. His fingers worked quick to type up everything she said, making side notes off to the side and checking what her record had on it already. It would have been a little easier to do this with one of his snakes, but he was still not sure just how okay the woman was with snakes so was not going to take the risk. By now all of them had their meals down and were trying to move out of their tanks just enough to start working the blanket out of the way of their view. "Alright, that all sounds pretty standard and what we have here. Now I would like to get a blood sample if you don't mind; along with a quick look at your eyes, ears, nose, and skin.” Seiji explained what they would be doing next. Well, what he was going to be doing to her next but making it seem like a team effort always sounded better.

“Oh, and have any of the side-effects that come along with your power been giving you any trouble lately?" Seiji asked once he recalled that was also something very important that he would need to note down. He was already getting out of his seat and going over to the cabinet where he kept his supplies for such test and checking of the body.

((Tag:Carmelita Volpez))

[Carmelita Volpez]

Carmelita smiled and nodded as he mentioned understanding someone having a busy schedule and about the unique traits. He certainly was turning out to be a gentleman, and Carmelita felt like she wouldn't mind coming to see him should anything get too out of hand with her ability. Although she doubted that it would come to that. As he typed down things into his computer, she could hear the snakes moving around. She really had nothing against snakes. They were deadly creatures, true, but beautiful in their own right. The same could be said about lionesses and panthers too; deadly yet beautiful in the danger.

"Alright." She said, agreeing to what he needed to test. She wasn't uncomfortable at all with the idea, especially since he seemed so kind already. She had done it in the past, she could do it again. When he mentioned the side effects thing, she shook her head. "No, no trouble really. The only time it really bothers me is when I have to pass a perfume section in the mall, but that's about it." She said, smirking lightly. It wasn't a lie, just not the whole truth.

[Seiji Lockard]

Seiji was pleased that she was so cooperative about all of this, making his job all the easier and her a pleasant person to be around. She didn't seem like much of a talker but he tended to assume that that his fault or at least the environments fault. She was right to business in telling him what he wanted to know and no small talk. Yet, that was what he had done so she probably could have simply just been catering to him. He didn't know but he could not help to wonder since he always tried to figure out the whole socializing between two people.

She told him everything he asked for, but he could not help wonder if there was a bit more to it than that as he pulled on his gloves and laid down the try on his desk. While she was talking he took a strand of loose hair and put it on a bag and set it on the try before getting ready to draw her blood for the sample he needed. "I can related, well my snakes can. They can smell the place long before I even see it and thus I can never get anywhere near the place or they fuss." Seiji informed her as he chuckled a little. She had not said anything about what he was going to do so he assumed that meant he had the go and worked on getting her arm ready.

"I actually have a friend who can shift into a Werejaguar, she was gone for a while and she likely might leave again but it's nice to have her back. She explained that because of her power she just feels the need to leave at times. I wish that was not the case, but unless she wants me to work on her not doing that, nothing I can do about it." Seiji informed her, figuring some personal talk would do some good. That and he just felt like having a conversation while he worked.

[Carmelita Volpez]

When Seiji had started talking all business, Carmelita had simply gone along. She would've been fine with small talk, but since he didn't seem to make any, she just went with the flow and answered his questions. But perhaps that was best, so she wouldn't have to talk too much about her side effects and possibly give away anything. She was an excellent liar, but she really didn't want to lie to this man. He just seemed to kind. So she was glad he just went on with it. She chuckled at his comment on the snakes sensing the dreaded perfume parlor. "Smart snakes." She mused with a slight smile.

When he started preparing her arm, she did not resist him at all, and kept her arm relaxed as she listened. She blinked at the mention of a werejaguar at the school. "Really? I'd love to meet her. I don't meet many other cat shifters actually." She admitted. "And if it's alright, can I ask where she went?" She inquired. Partially because she wondered if the woman was like Carmelita and enjoyed running free.

[Seiji Lockard]

"Too smart, but it's in part because of my connection to them. It causes them to develop personalities on a deeper level most commonly found in mammals or perhaps I could go as far to say similar to humans." Seiji informed her still smiling. The smile then quickly faded as it dawned on him that she probably didn't really care to hear all of this. He did have a habit of talking too much on a subject and he was just happy that he at least was getting better at catching himself before he went too far on discussing something. "Sorry, anyways. I'll be quick with all of this and sorry in advance for any discomfort." Seiji informed her as he focused on his task and getting to what he needed to do.

She at least had interest in the other topic he had sort of rambled on a little about. Okay, that was good so then they would still have something to talk about which would help the time pass by faster. Seiji just liked to talk or hear someone talking when he worked, it allowed him to sort of focus better. He was always the type that needed to be doing multiple things to be able to get anything done at a decent amount of time. "Yes, her name is Sorcha Adams and we actually do have a decent amount of cat shifters. Not many remain here or around long but we have a few." Seiji informed her, seeing no harm in telling her his friend’s name.

At her next question he gave a small nod, yet again not seeing any harm in answering her question. He highly doubted Sorcha would care if he told anyone and it was kind of known to the other staff that had been working for years that Sorcha had a habit of wondering off. "Into the wilderness. She just gets the urge from time to time. We talked about it the last time me and her were spending time with one another and I was giving her a checkup. It does make sense considering the nature of cats and the specific breed of cat she turns into." Seiji responded, finishing up the blood part and gave her a Band-Aid before he moved off to put it with the other samples he had on her.

[Carmelita Volpez]

Carmelita listened intently, intrigued by Seiji' connection with snakes. From the way he spoke about them, that must've been his ability: some sort of snake communication or other that let him connect to them. It was actually decently interesting to hear how the snakes apparently developed humanistic personalities. In a way, it was similar to what her lion form had done. Now it was almost as if she had the great cat lying around in the back of her mind, waiting to have it's say whenever it felt. "Oh, it's alright! It sounds pretty fascinating to be honest." She assured him with a smile before she nodded at the last bit about discomfort.

“I’ll have to meet her sometime, and maybe the others as well." Carmelita mused with a small chuckle. It would definitely be nice to meet a fellow cat shifter. And from what Seiji was describing, this Sorcha had similar-- if not the same-- kind of urges that Carmelita had. Seiji didn't seem all that bothered or worried about it though. From what he said, he just talked and checked in with the other woman from time to time. "That's certainly true. I have two cats at home, and sometimes I go a few days without actually seeing them. I can only tell they’re there because they’ll eat the food I set out.” Carmelita said

[Seiji Lockard]

Seiji's smile returned to his face a little when she assured him that it was alright and that she actually found it fascinating. "Really? Thank you...but if I ever do start to go on and on about something that you don't care for, please just tell me. I feel bad when I get carried away talking and I do not wish to bore or make anyone uncomfortable." Seiji pointed out to her. Sure he would feel a little bad that she did not care for a topic; thus making one less thing he could talk about, but he would feel worse if she just suffered through his ramblings. He didn't want to be a waste of anyone's time, he wanted to help them.

If all they wanted was him to do what he said he was going to do and shut up, then he would try to do just that alone. He just could not help wanting to make conversation here and there, since he didn't get out much, didn't have many friends, and the ones he did had a habit of disappearing on him. Perhaps it was his fault, something about them that made it hard for them to keep interacting with him. He didn't know but he tried to not think about it too much as he finished up the last few things he needed to do. "I wish you the best. Tell her I said hi if you do come across her." Seiji responded, not certain how long it would take Carmelita to track down Sorcha but he hoped she did so she could feel a little less alone with being a feline shifter.

She was then speaking of how it was true that cats had a habit of wondering off and how she owned two herself. He raised an eyebrow at that, finding it interesting that she got along with real life felines. "They never give you any trouble?" Seiji asked. It was true in some cases that animals grew closer to mutants that had a power that made them 'closer' to said animal but there were other cases where it had led to friction. Thankfully most cases were on the former so he really should not have been all that surprised. "If I were to ever own a cat, I would keep it an indoor one. Would be lonely to have a pet that just leaves you at any moment and then comes back when it feels like it." Seiji responded, sounding a little sad as he said it.

He was happy he had his snakes, they did wonder of but they typically told him and always came back. In the end, he sometimes really did feel like all he had was his snakes.