Doing My Best Mole Imitation

[Demi Smith]

Demi heard the apology, saw the smile, and nodded slightly. She still wasn't entirely convinced of what Olivia insisted. Though she supposed that if she blew stuff up when she was around it, she might not carry it around.

However: "If you don't practice it, you'll never get better. And if you constantly have it around, you'll be practicing it so much that it'll become second nature," she insisted. It was, more or less, how Demi had started with the whole dirt covering thing. Her Honers had been fairly specific about making sure to always be ready to use her power too though, but the first bit had been part of the intensive training she'd gotten in those two weeks her people had her before she'd ended up here.

"I knew an air type who went here. She was cool," Demi said speculatively, nodding a few times. "The fire types are kind of odd though. Like, almost all of them don't seem to like their power or something," She shrugged, pushing her way into the building that led to the training rooms. Demi paused only for a moment before shifting, heading in the right direction. "So are you better at, like, using water or directing it or is it all just explosions and junk?" Because the more specifics Demi knew, the better instruction she might be able to give. She guessed.

[Olivia Chance]

"I suppose it's true I could use practice. And...yeah I met Alex. Are all the fire manipulators like that? I mean, I can kind of understand. They can get burned possibly, and that hurts like crazy. Plus, fire is really unpredictable. Controlling it has to be a bitch, right?" She shrugged.

"Not that I'm doing any better. So far I've just been accidentally controlling it. I did once control a trickle of water across the school rooftop, but otherwise it's just flukes. I explode fountains, or suspend snow crystals in mid air around me while I'm relaxed. Which reminds me: when you use your elemental power, what do you feel? To me, being around water gives me a sense of peace. Like...a great kind of zen or whatever that I can't normally get other ways."

[Demi Smith]

"Who?" Demi asked, raising a brow. She hadn't heard of anyone named Alex, and she didn't even know if that was a girl name or a boy name. She could, however, comment on the latter part: "Well, yeah, but, like, so is water or wind if you don't know what you're doing. And earth won't do what you tell it if you don't, like, get it right."

Demi could recall that from lessons. She could feel the bits and pieces she'd picked up over the years rubbing against one another the further in she went. It had all been something she'd paid such close attention to, and she hadn't gotten to let as much of it out as she'd really wanted. She felt her steps increase, her pace quicker, more eager to get to the actual training thing.

Control, trickle, exploding... "I control my power through the Flow most times, so I feel it," Demi explained. "And, like, it does make me feel better. I think it's because we get sort of aligned with it. That's why, like, most element users end up getting personalities like our elements. It's all connected and junk."

Demi added a shrug, then paused. They'd reached the foyer for the training rooms, and she was looking the listing over, trying to figure which would be good. At least they could just head into whatever room they wanted; that was a plus.

[Olivia Chance]

"Alex Lawson. She's a pyrokinetic who is really nice but practically afraid of her own shadow, never mind her power. She scorched my donuts when I was in the cafeteria one time. Which normally would've been unpardonable, but she was so scared of what I might do I took pity on her and did nothing. And...yeah the other elements are dangerous, but people generally don't think of them as such. Fire can be so destructive. People hear fire and they don't usually think of the beauty. They think of firemen, saving people from burning buildings, forest fires. They're all bad things, and they're often the first things to occur to people." She shrugged.

"And...I thought I was the only one. I feel peaceful when I use my power. But powerful. A rush kind of. It's interesting to think of. Do you think maybe the people afraid of their powers, maybe the reason they can't connect as well is because they can't accept that part of themselves? Like, there are people who have taken tons of classes and can't seem to control their powers. I know I'm not really in a position to criticize, but I haven't really taken many power control classes at all, but I'm about on par with the ones who have. There has to be something to that, don't you think?"

[Demi Smith]

A pyrokinetic afraid of fire? That was almost funny, and Demi had to fight against laughing. A little bit still leaked, but she didn't see any reason to pretend like it didn't happen. Weird stuff happened some times, and it was kind of fun to hear about it. Though it was especially hilarious given a fire manipulator: they were usually such brazen buttheads.

And the explanation of how the power felt made sense too. Demi nodded. "Well, yeah. You all spend all this time hearing about how it's all weird and not part of you and not, like, the super awesome gift it actually is. So you have to, like," she gestured, "Force your body to actually do stuff. I've been looking forward to my power since, like, forever. If you people would stop being so stupid you wouldn't have as many problems."

Demi nodded, then jerked her head. "This way," she said, before confidently striding toward the "elemental" training room, which would have everything they needed in a nice little contained area.

[Olivia Chance]

"All of which would explain why I'm kind of in neutral territory. I didn't know I had them, but they did save me unexpectedly. They're the reason I'm safe now. So I'm thankful for them. All of these other people...all they want is to 'cure themselves'. But it has to do with DNA. If it was in us to begin with, are we sure it's something we want to cure? I mean, I understand the ones where it completely impedes their living. But the others? I don't see their excuse. It's a gift." She walked with Demi to the training room, a smile on her face.

"It's kind of nice to talk to someone who doesn't think of them as a curse."

[Demi Smith]

Demi had to let out another wry laugh at the mention of it being a curse. "That's because these people are idiots," she flicked her fingers. "They all think that we're worse or just weird or something. None of those idiots get it," she stepped forward, moving her arms, her whole body going into the motion as she entered the room. The dirt all around Demi started spiraling, as did the dust she'd collected. This was someone who'd been spending their entire lives putting themselves into their body and their skill, doing the one thing she knew best.

She turned, holding her arms wide in a stance. "Most people can't do stuff like this, because they're weaker than we are. We're better: that's what being us means," she flicked her hands, sending her dirt flying to both walls. Then Demi rolled up, looking the other girl in the eyes, her own almost harsh.

"There's water over there," she jerked her head toward a fountain on the wall. "So we'd better start with you showing me what you can do."

[Olivia Chance]

"No." Olivia heard Demi talk about how they were better.

"We are not better. We are the same. We just have different talents, but that doesn't make us any different. Elevating ourselves and putting ourselves on pedestals can only lead to trouble." She felt suddenly angry that someone would think that. Thinking you were better than someone? That was the kind of thinking that had led to her brother beating her up. It was the kind of thinking that had led her to be friendless her whole childhood. Her rage welled up. As it did, the drinking fountain on the wall collapsed inward and then spikes of ice shot through the metal.

"We aren't supposed to be separating ourselves from the rest of the human race because we are still part of the human race. We are in this school to keep us and the rest of the populace safe. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't be working towards being accepted as just another person. How are we ever supposed to help the world if we think we're better than it?"

[Demi Smith]

Demi rolled her eyes as Olivia argued her point. Well, at least she knew the school's lines pretty well. Demi wasn't in the mood to listen: it would ruin the whole training thing. Though it was tempting to use the burst of anger she felt and start just pummeling the living crap out of Olivia. especially as she heard the bits of anger in the voice.

Huh, that was odd, water turning into ice. Most water manips couldn't pull that off. Demi was already wandering over there, half-listening, more interested by far in what Olivia was pulling off. The last had her laughing and looking over, smirking. "By ruling them, obviously," she said, before breaking off a chunk of the ice. She flipped it, catching it a few times before nodding. "You only do stuff like this when you're getting all moody or do you actually have, like, control?'

Demi flipped the bit of ice again before catching it and flinging it toward the ground.

[Olivia Chance]

Olivia's anger was still burning. But the thing with her anger was it also had a thick layer of cold to it. Kind of like dry ice. Colder than cold. And the other girl wasn't listening to her. Only looking at...wait what was she looking at? Olivia turned around and that's when she saw the water fountain. Or what was left of it. She heard Demi's question.

"I certainly don't have control. You made me angry. I'm still angry, although it's more controlled now. When I lose control, my powers do that sort of thing. Although I've never frozen stuff before. Kind of an interesting development. Even if it's just because you were saying really bitchy things. Harmony is the best way to go about our powers, not forcing our wills on other humans. And I don't think that's just me saying that. My power, even though it can be destructive...I believe it's peaceful at its core."

[Demi Smith]

No control? Well, that sucked. Demi couldn't say she was all that surprised either. This didn't seem like something you'd do on purpose. It blocked one of the major sources of water and didn't even look like it could really hurt anyone.

Of course, Olivia kept talking, throwing out the word "bitchy" for some reason. Demi tried to recall where she'd heard that word, seeming to remember something about female dogs? Maybe some kind of derogatory slur? Though the last bit had her laughing. "Oh sure," she said, jerking her head toward the fountain, "that's totally not destructive at all. Get a grip: the only way your power is 'peaceful'," Demi raised her hand for air quotes, "is if you decide to be some kind of water dancer or something. And if you wanna be all peaceful or junk what do I care? You can rule your humans however you want."

Demi shrugged. She then rolled her hand forward, causing the earth and dirt on her to again extend. Soon she was holding a ball of it in her hand. "The main thing is learning to control it, really, or you're not gonna be good for anything. It's a part of you, just like your head or something." It was easy stuff, the sort that Demi learned before she really got the alphabet, even if she hadn't had her powers yet. She looked over at Olivia, half-expecting the girl to go all idiot and start huffing about again.

[Olivia Chance]

And...that was it.

"I'm done talking with you. I don't care if I never master my power. I don't need help from someone if they're someone like you. I don't want to be destructive because then I'd be no better than my asshole brother. I WILL find a way to use my power more peacefully. There are ways. Even if it just means being calm and zen while I'm using it. I don't want to rule humans. I want to live peacefully with them. To actually be safe among them instead of living in fear. I don't want them to feel what I've felt. Why would I?" She shook her head, the anger replaced by sadness. She'd really thought she might be able to make friends with this girl, but apparently not. She turned around and started walking.

[Demi Smith]

Demi let out a harsh laugh as the girl let loose with another spiel. She shook her head. "Whatever," she tossed the ball she'd gathered, letting the dirt and debris fall onto her, swirling into her person and spreading across her skin to form another layer. "If you don't want to live up to your full potential, that's fine by me."

Though Demi couldn't help but feel a little hurt again. This had felt so good, she'd been so close. But yet again she had someone who just didn't get it, who held the whole "being Inherited' Thing against her. They kept painting her as some kind of monster. Demi clenched her fists and stormed forward, quite purposefully checking her body against Olivia's as she headed out.

"Out of my way," she practically growled, looking over her shoulder and literally spitting, the glob filled with dirt, "moron."

[Olivia Chance]

Olivia felt the impact and froze. It reminded her of her brother and tears sprang to her eyes unbidded. Then she opened her eyes and there was a glob of spit hovering in the air between Demi and herself. It dropped, but not after making sure she knew her ability had protected her from the glob. She shook her head and looked at the other girl.

"You're the moron who refuses to understand. Just because we have powers doesn't mean we're better than them. Every war has been started by people who thought they were better than those they warred against. If we do not look at history, we are doomed to repeat it."

[Demi Smith]

Demi just smiled viciously up at Olivia. "Yeah, if it's war, then you're on the wrong side," she said savagely. She'd heard it all before, and she hated hearing it again. What happened to the girl who'd been so ready to learn? Who'd wanted to master her ability and herself? She'd cowered inside this weak little idiot who refused to see how things actually were. Mutants, no, the Inherited were just better than everyone else.

It was that simple.

Demi turned and walked away, her feet moving quickly. "Have fun sucking!" she called over her shoulder before turning forward. "'cuz you had a chance." And she stormed off, feeling those darker emotions roiling within her.