click
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Sanity and happiness are an impossible combination. ~Mark Twain
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Post by click on May 24, 2009 1:54:18 GMT -5
Tyler had never been in Professor Xavier's office in his life. He hadn't even met the guy before, really. I mean, sure, he'd seen him around and he'd heard plenty about him, but they'd never talked. Tyler figured he'd be nice, like he figured everyone would be nice. He was even looking forward to talking to him finally, even if it was just because he was in trouble.
He'd been cutting classes and showing up late since he started at the school a month earlier. The school's rules meant little to him because his own rules and need for pleasure took precedence over everything else. His teachers had finally had enough, so, unable to reason with him themselves, they had sent him to the expert with troubled students: Xavier himself.
Tyler didn't look worried in the least as he knocked on the Professor's partially opened door and stuck his head inside. "Professor Xavier?"
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Post by Professor Charles Xavier on May 24, 2009 15:41:29 GMT -5
"Hello, Taylor," he said. Recently, he had been calling a lot of people by the wrong name. It was part of his partial amnesia. This was a common symptom of being a Changeling, although Professor Xavier vehemently denied the existence of Changelings. He blamed the forgetfulness on old age. He claimed that he may be developing Alzheimer's Syndrome. It still didn't explain why Jean and Scott displayed the same characteristics. They were nowhere near the age of senility.
"I have been waiting for you," he said. "Please take a seat." The wheels on Xavier's wheelchair squeaked as they moved. The professor made a mental note to oil his wheelchair.
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click
Full Member
Sanity and happiness are an impossible combination. ~Mark Twain
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Post by click on May 24, 2009 15:58:09 GMT -5
Tyler didn't mention the wrong name, just slipped inside and shut the door behind him. Even if the prospect didn't scare him (because, honestly, what did?), he knew that he was in a lot of trouble, and that usually warranted a closed-door conversation. He dropped down into one of the chairs across from the professor.
He hadn't exactly dressed up for the occasion. He wore tight-fitting pants with chains on them and a black t-shirt with a red robot on it. A tattoo of an hourglass was visible on his forearm, some lettering on his knuckles and a sliver of red--part of his dragon tattoo--peeked up over his collar. He smiled pleasantly at Xavier, unconcerned about lecture he was sure was to come. "Hi, Professor. It's nice to meet you."
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Post by Professor Charles Xavier on May 24, 2009 16:14:23 GMT -5
Professor Xavier didn't care much about the outfit. He wasn't one to judge on appearances. After all, he had seen all kinds of mutants and their choice of uniform. Tyler looked like something out of the Brady Bunch compared to them. At least he wasn't wearing a giant red mushroom hat and red leather like Xavier's stepbrother Cain was.
"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, although I prefer to meet you under more pleasant circumstances," he replied. "It has come to my attention that you have been frequently absent from your classes without any proper explanation. Now, I know you are a smart boy. What do you think of all this?" He wanted to gain Taylor's (Tyler's) trust. He could prove to be a very useful asset in the future.
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click
Full Member
Sanity and happiness are an impossible combination. ~Mark Twain
Posts: 103
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Post by click on May 24, 2009 16:32:02 GMT -5
Shrugging one shoulder, he leaned back in the chair. "Well, I think I haven't been showing up to class much," he laughed lightly. "I mean, that's pretty much all there is to it. I don't feel like going, so I don't go."
He was sure that once he explained his side of things, the Professor would understand his reasoning. What was the point in drudging through the boredom of classes when he could be doing something interesting? It's not like he'd ever catch up with the rest of the kids anyway. He was years behind in school.
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Post by Professor Charles Xavier on May 24, 2009 16:51:55 GMT -5
"You are not the first person to feel that way. Scholarly pursuits require focus, discipline, and hard work. Most people don't enjoy any of those things, especially when someone forces them to do so," he replied. He paused, looking at the boy. There was infinite opportunity in him, in any of the young mutants he taught. All they needed to do was apply themselves. "We as mutants have few choices. Many students in this academy work hard at their studies knowing that they will probably never be able to go to a decent university. Yet they choose to work hard. Why? Because they can. This is their way of rebellion. Humanity want us to fail. Humanity wants you to stay of class. Humanity wants you to do poorly in school. They want you to know nothing about literature, mathematics, and science so that they can mock you. Do you want to be what the humans expect or do you want to go with the status quo?"
He looked again at Taylor, studying his reaction. He didn't want to attempt to read his mind. He would rather wait and watch.
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click
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Sanity and happiness are an impossible combination. ~Mark Twain
Posts: 103
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Post by click on May 24, 2009 16:58:20 GMT -5
Tyler may have looked like a rebel, may have even acted like it, but his intentions were far from rebellious. Rebellion would require him to want the person he was rebelling against to feel badly, and he would never want that. He crossed his ankle over his knee casually. "I just want to have a good time," he said honestly, grinning as if they were talking about a party instead of his truancies. "I mean, why waste my time in class? It's boring."
Instant gratification was the name of the game, and Tyler was damn good at playing it. If it had given him any trouble so far, he didn't remember it. "I like the school and all, and I go to class sometimes, but, I mean, come on. If it's a nice day outside, I'm gonna go outside."
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Post by Professor Charles Xavier on May 24, 2009 17:08:23 GMT -5
He found this new information interesting. He doesn't like to be bored, he thought to himself.
"That is true. Like I said before, scholarly pursuit require focus, discipline, and hard work. The majority of people would rather not spend time exerting so much energy unless they chose to," he replied. "What if I made you a deal? I'll give you some very interesting things to do and in exchange you will continue to go to class. What do you say?"
He repressed a smile. He knew Taylor would be going to class, and in exchange, he would work for the professor. Xavier knew he would. He didn't need mind-reading powers to know that. Hook, line, and sinker.
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click
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Sanity and happiness are an impossible combination. ~Mark Twain
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Post by click on May 24, 2009 17:13:05 GMT -5
Tyler looked interested. What could Xavier possibly want him to do? He cocked his head to the side with a smirk. "What kind of things?" he asked curiously.
He was perfectly capable of promising to go to class, but keeping that promise was another thing entirely. Tyler wasn't exactly known for his stability. "Flake" was practically his middle name.
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Post by Professor Charles Xavier on May 24, 2009 17:25:14 GMT -5
In reality, Professor Xavier couldn't care less if the boy didn't go to class. There were more important things at hand than memorizing the Periodic Table of Elements at the moment. The deal was just a way to avoid randomly commanding Taylor to do what he asked. He didn't know whether the boy would actually start attending classes, but Professor Xavier planned to check up on the boy just to keep up appearances.
"Now I can trust you, right?" He attempted to scan the boy's mind. Hmm, his name is Tyler. I should find a better secretary, he thought to himself. His telepathy was weak, so he couldn't really get deep enough to tell. "I want you to infiltrate the Brotherhood. Tell them you want to join them. I can't trust my X-men with this. Magneto would never believe Wolverine or Scott would ever join them. But he would believe that a young teenage boy would want to switch sides."
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click
Full Member
Sanity and happiness are an impossible combination. ~Mark Twain
Posts: 103
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Post by click on May 24, 2009 17:35:03 GMT -5
Eyes going wide at the request, Tyler couldn't really believe that. Xavier wanted him to, what, be a spy? Actually, the idea sounded pretty exciting. Really exciting. He cracked into a grin and laughed. "Seriously?"
He didn't think about what that would mean, the consequences of pretending the join the Brotherhood, the danger. Tyler didn't think that far in advance. It made him a pretty easy kid to take advantage of. His tongue fidgetted with his lip ring. This could be a lot of fun.
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Post by Professor Charles Xavier on May 24, 2009 17:51:33 GMT -5
"I am always serious," replied Xavier.
Professor X knew this boy was exactly the type of mutant he needed, and the look on his face proved. He had been looking for a troublemaker, someone who was looking for a taste of adventure but wasn't going to throw bricks at buildings and set cats on fire. He didn't need another Pyro to leave him and join the Brotherhood. What he needed was a troubled boy whom he could sculpt into whatever he wanted. And Tyler fit the mold perfectly.
"You should go to the X Factor. It is a local club for mutants. You will probably encounter one of the members of the Brotherhood there. Don't be too eager to join. They are not stupid. Try to make it look like you are the one being persuaded."
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click
Full Member
Sanity and happiness are an impossible combination. ~Mark Twain
Posts: 103
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Post by click on May 24, 2009 17:57:15 GMT -5
"The X Factor, huh?" The place sounded familiar. He might have been there a time or two. Tyler nodded. "Alright. I can work with that," he agreed readily.
He was already going through it in his head. "And don't worry about me getting in with them. People love me," he assured Xavier with a grin. And he loved them right back. "So, what? I join up with them and still go to school here? Do I stay there?" His eyes went even wider with excitement. "Or do I play double agent?"
If Xavier knew more about the inner workings of Tyler, he might be concerned. Getting a person's loyalties mixed up was generally messy, moreso when that person had nothing against anyone and liked everyone equally.
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Post by Professor Charles Xavier on May 24, 2009 18:10:45 GMT -5
Professor X was willing to take the risk of mixed loyalties. This was an important mission that called for drastic action. He wished his powers were stronger so that he could read the boy's mind and see if he was planning on following his directions. But it was up to Tyler now. Professor Xavier was desperate, and this boy was his best chance.
"You will still attend school here. You need attend classes, and the Brotherhood will become suspicious if you are constantly coming back here without an explanation," replied Xavier. "You shall tell them that you are pretending to be an X-men to obtain information about Kavita Rao."
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click
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Sanity and happiness are an impossible combination. ~Mark Twain
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Post by click on May 24, 2009 18:15:49 GMT -5
Nodding obediently, Tyler repeated the name to remember it: "Kavita Rao. Got it." He pushed himself up out of the chair and flicked some hair off his face. "So I guess I'll go tonight," he decided. "The sooner the better."
And score for no more classes! There were many potential downsides to this whole situation, but Tyler was blind to all of them. He just hoped these Brotherhood guys knew how to have a better time than the X-Men did. He got the feeling that they did.
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