7/26 Instance: A Butterfly Flaps Her Wings

[Saint Kurt]

Father Wagner's Office

[Fr.Wagner] Kurt Wagner looked around his office with some dismay.

[Fr.Wagner] His enormous bookshelf was back in place. A small army of Jamie duplicates had come in earlier and righted it against the wall, but they hadn't seemed to keen on staying to help him clean the rest up.

[Fr.Wagner] Hopefully the bookcase wasn't going to explode or spray him with ink later.

[Fr.Wagner] But just about everything he owned was on the floor in random piles of wreckage.

[Fr.Wagner] He could get down on the floor, but he was afraid if he did that, then he wouldn't be able to get back up.

[Wanda] Walking a little nervously down the hall, Wanda stopped outside of Fr. Wagner's office door, which was closed and knocked quickly before she could change her mind.

[Fr.Wagner] He limped over to a magazine, gingerly bent down, picked it up with his left hand and carried to the shelves. There. One thing.

[Fr.Wagner] This was going to take forever.

[Fr.Wagner] "Come in!" he called to the tentative knock on the door.

[Wanda] Hearing that Fr. Wagner was in, Wanda opened the door and smiled as she saw the professor. Her attention was almost immediately distracted though by the state of his office. She'd known that he'd been in an accident of some kind, but she hadn't known that his office had exploded.

[Wanda] She blinked before gamely stepping the rest of the way in and letting the door close behind her.

[Fr.Wagner] "Oh, Wanda, excellent. I don't think you've visited my, er... office, have you?"

[Fr.Wagner] "It's a little messy, but I think we can find somewhere to sit. I was trying to organize my books."

[Fr.Wagner] Kurt gestured to the only upright chair in the office.



[Wanda] Wanda nodded, thinking 'a little messy' was some understatement. She moved over to the chair and sat as she'd been invited to.

[Wanda] Rubbing the palms of her hands slightly on her knees, she left them there and sat comfortably.

[Wanda] And looked up at Fr. Wagner, who looked terrible! An arm in a sling and a broken leg as well from the look of the cast that went from his knee to his ankle.

[Wanda] Calmly, she smiled politely at the professor again and waited for him to take a seat too - if he was going to - his injuries looked painful.

[Fr.Wagner] With some difficulty Kurt pulled himself up so he was sitting atop his desk. As unbelievable as it seemed it was actually easier to sit "up" on something than to "sit down" into something like a chair.

[Fr.Wagner] "I swear I used to be younger," he joked.

[Fr.Wagner] Then he smiled at Wanda, "All this can wait a bit. What's on your mind?"

[Wanda] As Fr. Wagner slowly arranged himself onto his desk Wanda wondered how she was going to bring up what she wanted to ask, or even if it was worth asking. But, of all the professors, Fr. Wagner seemed the most willing to talk honestly (she hoped)


[Wanda] (she hoped!) with the students.

[Wanda] She smiled a little at his joke about gtting older and then it was time for her to speak up.



[Wanda] But, of course it would be rude to just blurt something out.

[Wanda] "Isn't someone helping you clean all this up?" she glanced at his cast - it must be really hard to move around in that thing - "The Jamies maybe?"

[Fr.Wagner] Kurt laughed. "I had an all Jamie clean-up crew this morning. They did manage to get the bookcase back against the wall. I'm still waiting for it to explode. As for the books, I think a gentler approach is needed."

[Fr.Wagner] "So that pretty much leaves me. See, I got that magazine put away. Unless you wanted to help that is."

[Fr.Wagner] Kurt smiled. "How about it, we'll shelve books and you can tell me what's on your mind."

[Wanda] Wanda knew this had been a mistake, now Fr. Wagner was going to put her to work

[Wanda] but she could also see that he really wasn't in any condition to do this himself - really - people should be here helping him. And she wanted to help, it was just...

[Wanda] "If you're attached to your books and stuff, I don't think you want to let me near them."

[Wanda] "But, there has to be someone around who would help, there's a lot to clean up - and well, it must hard for you," she finished lamely - feeling bad about making excuses.

[Fr.Wagner] Kurt's face looked quizzical.

[Fr.Wagner] "All right Wanda," he said. "How about I begin cleaning up this train wreck and you can tell me why you might be so detremental to my books."

[Fr.Wagner] Kurt slowly lowered himself from the desk, hopped a few feet, and then even more gingerly, dropped to the floor next to one of the piles.

[Fr.Wagner] "I try to keep them at least arranged by language," he said, and began looking at their spines.

[Fr.Wagner] "So, Wanda, It will take me at least 20 minutes to get off the floor without teleporting." he smiled. "I'm all ears."



[Wanda] This hadn't been what she'd intended to talk about when she came in here - but then she hadn't been expecting to find things the way they were.

[Wanda] Had Fr. Wagner done this? It really wasn't her business to ask - but she was also beginning to doubt her earlier thoughts that the prof. had been in a car accident or something

[Wanda] "Well," she said, mentally berating herself for how quickly she'd let the topic switch away from her, "You know how my powers work, I make things happen, usually destructive things, and I wouldn't want to ruin your books."

[Wanda] "Things just happen without me meaning to do them."

[Fr.Wagner] Fr. Wagner nodded. "It can be easy to be afraid of our own powers, especially in the beginning while we're learning to use them. But, I don't see how a little more destruction in here will hurt."

[Fr.Wagner] Kurt handed Wanda a book, "Why don't we work on control, using your hands to do exactly what you want them to do and if you have a few mishaps," Fr. Wagner shrugged, "So what?"

[Wanda] Wanda sighed as she took the book, carefully, and settled down on the floor, amongst all the wreakage.

[Wanda] "I hope none of these are irreplaceable," she said.

[Fr.Wagner] Kurt waved his good hand airly. "If there's one thing the Vatican has, it's plenty of books. Let's just start by organizing them by language. I seem to have a good pile of German ones here."

[Fr.Wagner] "Now that we have a plan that requires almost no mental effort, we can talk. How are you liking school here Wanda?"

[Wanda] "Um, it's okay. Wanda started, gingerly, picking up books and checking the titles.

[Wanda] "Not at all what I expected, of course," she said, shooting him a look.

[Fr.Wagner] "I'll tell you a secret," Kurt said. "It's not what I expected either. But I make do."

[Fr.Wagner] "Now, who are you working with to try and gain some mastery over your powers. If you had control, you would have a very powerful gift you know."

[Fr.Wagner] "Think about it, about the difference in your mind between using them and NOT using them even as you do something as simple as rearranging books."

[Wanda] As Wanda placed a Latin volume in one pile and an Italian one in another she frowned at his words.
[Wanda] "You know, I didn't come here to learn how to use what I can do. I'd actually gotten very good at never using them at all before I came here." She set a book down in her lap, fingers gripped unmoving on the hardcover.

[Wanda] "I think, maybe, it was a mistake coming here because now they're a problem again. Or at least, now they're there again."

[Fr.Wagner] Kurt nodded in understanding as he started a second pile of German books. "There was a time when I took avoided my own abilities - did things to shut them off."

[Fr.Wagner] He looked at Wanda sadly, "But, when you hide from yourself, you turn of in the oddest places." He tried to smile, make it a joke. "Is that what you want to do, leave here, ignore your powers, try to be 'normal', while knowing inside you can do extraordinary things?"

[Wanda] "Well....yes. I know it's said a lot here, but I never asked for this and it just gets in the way. I have things I want to do with my life that don't involve spending part of it here..."

[Wanda] Wanda didn't usually complain out loud like that, but she'd been upset for awhile - as she went to place the book down suddenly there was a wild flapping of cover and pages - Wanda put her hands up to protect herself from the unexpected occurance. As the book settled back down again, as suddenly as

[Wanda] it had started up - she looked sheepishly over at the professor. "I'd rather not have to live with things like that happening."

[Fr.Wagner] Fr. Wagner was briefly distracted by Wanda's book attempting to take flight, and laughed. "If you could make them all fly up and roost on the shelves we have an easier afternoon indeed." he said.

[Fr.Wagner] "However, if you left the school, you wouldn't be alone. Not all of our students will return after the break."

[Fr.Wagner] "But what I fear you'll miss most is the chance to be part of a community. Professor Xavier may have made some very grave errors in what he explained to you in the beginning, but his true goal, to bring those of us who are different together. That is a good vision."

[Wanda] Wanda chewed on her lip. "I do know what that's like, to belong to a community set apart. I grew up in one. But, there are more communities I fit into than just a mutant one. And I'm not sure that I'd want to focus on the mutant side of me."

[Wanda] She paused as she heard Fr. Wagner's words, "Who's leaving!?"

[Wanda] "And no - Prof. Xavier was not honest about why we're all here, and a lot of the students here have been wondering if there isn't a lot more he isn't telling us."

[Fr.Wagner] "Well, You'll find out who soon enough.

[Fr.Wagner] Fr. Wagner said sadly. "I think everyone will miss her."

[Fr.Wagner] "But the good news is that there are no more surprises. Professor Xavier wanted more than just a learning institution, he wanted a place where mutants could become the leaders of the future mutant communities that will come to exist in society. It is a broad mission, Wanda, spanning decades..."

[Fr.Wagner] "Who knows if even half of it will come true. But what I know... I did try to live out there, alone. I tried to be normal... It didn't work. I'm willing to try this."

[Wanda] Frowning again, Wanda decided not to press the question of who was leaving. But then a thought struck her.

[Wanda] "It's not TJ, is it? Remy said said something in library a few days ago, about her being kicked out for not willing to be a part of this leadership idea."

[Fr.Wagner] For a moment Kurt was confused. "Ah, I think Remy might have misunderstood. I was telling TJ that if she didn't stay in my office with the 3 other students who were fighting so that they might find a way to work out their differences peacefully; that she should leave."

[Fr.Wagner] "It was a more limited offer, if you know what I mean. It is not my way to go around expelling people because they go against my ideas."

[Fr.Wagner] "I hope that's less confusing for you."

[Wanda] "Oh," Wanda said, "Yes it does. I was actually feeling okay about the academic part of this school. I've really been able to get caught up education wise. It was just, with Remy saying that, I was reminded about how much we don't know about this place."

[Wanda] "And that's really scary. And a lot of the students, really don't have many options. It's easy to take advantage of them."

[Wanda] The next book Wanda was holding suddenly and flameless;y disintegrated itself to a smoldering pile of ash that fell away to the floor.

[Fr.Wagner] Kurt watched the book disintegrate. "It's okay," he said.
[Fr.Wagner] "You're right though, it is easy to take advantage of some of these students and that puts an even greater burden on us not to. I doubt they'll get such an offer outside."

[Fr.Wagner] "Wanda, you've been a good student here. And what's better, you think about the important issues that affect us as a community of outsiders who didn't choose our fate. That's what this school is trying to do - give you choices for your future."

[Wanda] Wanda smiled apologetically anyway over the book - and listened a little guiltily to Wagner's words. "I am grateful for all the school has given me - all of us - so far.

[Wanda] And I don't mean to sound like I'm not." She sighed. Hey, it was worth a try, "Can you really promise me that this school is only trying to help us, and that Xavier, or anyone else, doesn't want anything from us?"

[Fr.Wagner] "We'll want your loyalty, and your pride in being in a school that you create with your own skills and special abilities. But if you are afraid that Xavier wishes to take something from you or force you to act against your will, well..."

[Fr.Wagner] "That will never happen as long as I'm here."

[Wanda] "Loyalty?" Wanda looked doubtful at that one. But, somehow, she believed him. (Not that she'd let her guard down about any of that stuff though.) "You are coming back after break, right?"

[Fr.Wagner] Kurt nodded. "Of course I am. That isn't to say I'm not looking forward to a return to Rome right now."

[Fr.Wagner] He held out his left hand, "Can you help me up?"

[Wanda] Wanda stood up and started to hold out her hand, "Are you sure you want to risk that?" she asked, eyebrows raised.

[Fr.Wagner] Kurt smiled and looked himself over. "It can't get any worse right?" he said. "I trust you."

[Wanda] "Eh," Wanda shook her head a little and grinned at him, "Well if you're sure." She reached out to help him up.

[Fr.Wagner] Gingerly, Kurt stood up to his full height. "See, if you did any damage I wouldn't even know about it."

[Fr.Wagner] He ran his fingers through his short hair. "I think I've had about enough of this today as well."

[Wanda] Fr. Wagner looked really tired. And Wanda was feeling a lot better about things after their talk. "Do you need help getting to your room? Something I can carry maybe?" She asked, looking around.

[Wanda] Well, maybe carrying something the professor needed wasn't the best of ideas.

[Fr.Wagner] "Well, I've been teleporting everywhere, but I'm kind of missing out on seeing the sites. I wouldn't mind an escort back to my quarters." Kurt said.

[Wanda] Oh, right! She'd forgotten he could teleport places. "Well, if you don't mind the walk.." she said, "I'd be glad to."

[Wanda] As they started moving towards the door, Wanda, feeling more relaxed about her powers, let her hand slip down at her side. Another one of Fr. Wagner's books exploded in a shower of a dozen or so butterflies.

[Slarti]

Very cool! It’s nice to see Wanda letting her guard down a bit and getting some of her questions answered. She’s got such neat, random powers!