|
|
Post by DornKoon on Sept 7, 2024 21:28:33 GMT
Niels had gone around with an odd feeling most of the morning, from the moment he woke up there had been something poking at the back of his mind. His lesson with Miss Frost had left an impression, but had also caused him to get some new questions... more than he already had, which had still been a decent amount. His powers had also acted up a few times, as he touched the teapot, he got a flash of himself pouring tea, which did not seem that important... if not for the fact that there was a woman present, one he did not think he had ever seen before.
To clear his head, and get away from the rest of the students and staff, Niels did what he always did, went for a hike. Putting on his backpack, and making sure to bring his camera, he departed from the mansion, skipping the stepps two at a time. Niels going for forest walks were nothing uncommon, and it had become a regular thing. In fact, Professor Xavier had encouraged him to take them if he needed to find focus, his own kind of meditation. Today he was dressed in different shades of green, a shirt with floral print, green jeans, and hiking boots. Like always he was joined by several critters of the forest, birds jumping from tree to tree, and squirrels watching him from their holes.
Still, as he reached a place where the path forked, he momentarily was about to pick the regular path, one he walked many times before, when something gave him pause. The wind shifted, and he watched as the leaves moved in the wind. The feeling... something was pulling him down the other path. "How odd," he thought to himself, and after hestiating... he slowly began to walk down the path. He stepped over rocks, crossed a small creek, paused to take a picture of a passing moose who only gave him a curious glance before continuing on its way to... wherever a moose would go. The path split a few more times, and these times Niels did not stop, it was as if his feet knew where to walk.
|
|
|
|
Post by Countess on Sept 7, 2024 22:10:48 GMT
Theresa is no stranger to being in strange places because she must. It feels like there is a rope pulling her, all the pressure on the burns that cross her skin like a harness. This isn't new to her, she knows when fate must be met, much be dealt with, must be dealt.
Theresa takes a breath, despite the pain. It is les than it should be- she is following the thread that has been pulling her here. If she had resisted... her mind goes to the time she recently shared with Doctor Strange -she doesn't dare think of him as Stephen even in her thoughts- and how going too far away had hurt... so very much. She could handle it, certainly, but it doesn't make it... something she is willing to deal with if she doesn't have to.
So, she finds herself in to woods of upper New York. Doctor Strange had been kind enough to drop her off here, exactly where she needs to be. It had made the pain... abate. She thinks it was the light smoking that had made him willing to comply. Her own attempt at teleportation had only given her a rash. Sometimes, that is how the cars work.
"Hello," Theresa says, seeing the young man. She is just... in a weird clearing, looking almost like a statue. It is where he needs to be, and her too. "I sincerely do not mean to alarm you. I hope to help you. Do you believe in fate?"
Theresa hopes this works, though she looks so impassive. Niels has so much insight into her, as well as her intentions. Theresa is an open book to him, despite how cold she appears. This is something she is meant to do, and there is pain in store for her if she doesn't. There is no ill will she has for him, but understanding. She feels to him as a person with a duty, one she likes doing, most of the time. There is also the light physical pain of her burns, crossing along her body like ropes binding her tightly. It is constant.... so ignorable, to her.
|
|
|
|
Post by DornKoon on Sept 7, 2024 22:44:27 GMT
"Oh, hello," Niels said, returning the greeting as he stepped out into the clearing. A quick look at her emotions told him that she did not mean any harm, but he saw other things as well, like she felt she was supposed to be there, yet... had a deep longing; he'd never sensed it so firmly in a person before. It wasn't easy to feel if it was longing for a person or something else, but it was there. There was also... the pain; it was the kind of pain he was familiar with in those stuck with the chronic kind, always present until the point when it becomes a part of daily life. Part of him wanted to point it out, but he thought better of it, as just blurting that out would not only be rude but might cause her more discomfort if revealed.
"Help me?" There was a pause as the young mutant took that in. A finch landed on his shoulder, but he ignored it. From what he could tell, she might be the one in need of help. "I'm not sure, maybe? Going by what has happened today, I'm inclined to do so."
He took a few moments to examine her physical appearance before walking further into the clearing.
"I would ask if you're lost, Miss, but I sense that is not the case. I'm Cornelius, but only my mother called me that; everyone else calls me Niels." He hated being called Cornelius but would never dream of changing his name—no, his mother had loved it so much. Niels never figured out why, but it was what it was. "So, who do I have the pleasure of running into this fine day?" The air around the boy was... comforting, like a balm to the soul.
|
|
|
|
Post by Countess on Sept 7, 2024 22:58:49 GMT
Longing. What a terrible thing. She wants to belong, she wants to be real, she wants to be loved, she wants to love, she wants to have a place in this world that is more than observing. It is almost overwhelming, this feeling, like a divine punishment had been handed down to her to always feel this way. It is deep, fathomless, and bleak. The pain is almost secondary, like a reminder, to keep her in the present, keep her from sinking too deep and letting go entirely. The forever at odds with the now.
"I am not, I came here for you. I am meant to be be here," Theresa says, trying to put him at ease. "What would you like for me to call you?" she asks, respectful, but already knowing the answer.
"I am here to answer a question you have," Theresa answers. While he has an air of comfort, hers is of almost... otherworldliness. Reality bending. She feels like a dream. Something not of this place, not of this world, yet here they are.
|
|
|
|
Post by DornKoon on Sept 7, 2024 23:33:20 GMT
Niels, young as he was, still had felt his share of emotions. He had felt pain, happiness and sorrow. Yet, what he sensed from this woman was different, like an emotional wound that refused to heal. Just sensing it was enough for Niels to know that she was not any danger to him.
”Niels is fine” he replied with a slight smile. ”and I know you're meant to be here, at the same time I feel the opposite is also true.”
A question? Niels rubbed his neck, that sounded like a difficult thing to do, as one question.
”A question I have…” he said. He had a lot of those, but Niels had a feeling this was aimed at a special question. But… what one?! His mind raced as several questions crossed his mind.
”Who am I?” Niels asked… ”Might be to broad, I could narrow it down. If that helps”
|
|
|
|
Post by Countess on Sept 8, 2024 0:13:13 GMT
”Niels," Theresa tests, not truly knowing how it will feel on her tongue. It feels better than what she had before, a vague idea of someone she needed to meet. Names make all of this... so much easier for her. She takes a deep breath, then takes a seat where she is. It is a smooth motion, moving directly into a sort of kneel where she sits on the balls of her feet. Her knees are on the earthy ground, and while she does not emote it, he can feel her slight disgust in it. Theresa would much rather be somewhere else, but... this is where she is called to be. It could be far worse.
Cards are pulled from nowhere, and she starts to shuffle them idly. It seems to be a soothing thing for her. She is very far from her comfort zone.
"It is a good question. I can give you insight into your identity, into your past, into your present, and into your future. It is enough for now- but know... you will get an answer no matter what. You may not like what the cards have to say," Theresa offers him, thinking on it. She doesn't know who he is. Not really. There are swirls and vague notions, but all of it is... like background noise. She cannot quite touch it, cannot quite make sense.
"Shuffle the cards... Your dominant hand into your recessive hand... then spread them," Theresa says, motioning to the ground before them. When he does so, even though the ground is haphazard... it is like they are over a smooth surface. Perfectly placed.
"There are ten for you to pick."
|
|
|
|
Post by DornKoon on Sept 8, 2024 8:28:21 GMT
Niels listened before slowly sitting with Theresa on the ground, for once not bothered by the germs. Well, he would most likely be when he came back home, but that was Niels's future problem. At her warning, he only smiled, pushing a lock of hair away from his eyes before shaking his head.
"Isn't that just life?" He asked, crossing his legs, "There are many things we don't like; they are not going anywhere. We can have the courage to ask questions or bury our heads in the sand. I prefer the former, and Papa did raise no quitter, no sir."
Niels reached out to accept the deck. For a brief moment, his finger touched her hand, and there was a flash inside his mind. He saw a girl, and she looked and did not look like Theresa. It was odd and accompanied by a deep sense of loss, a feeling Niels was all too familiar with; sorrow, grief, and loss had been with him for a while now. Part of him wanted to help Theresa somehow, but he did not know what caused these feelings, so he decided to see where this was going and did some light digging.
He looked at the deck of cards, turning it over as he listened to Theresa's instructions. Niels started to shuffle, but inexperienced as he was, it did not go fast. He fumbled slightly with the cards a few times. He quickly lost count of how many times he shuffled, unsure what was enough. Finally, he spread them, finding it odd. How easy that part was as if he had done it back at the dining table at the mansion.
"Okay," Niels looked at the cards, slowly hovering his hand over them. At random, he began to collect cards. "I don't suppose you'd want a cup of tea? and some crumpets?" This might seem odd to ask in the middle of the forest, but if she agreed, he would produce a thermos with tea, two cups, a Tupperware with crumpets, and a small jar of raspberry jam from his backpack after he was done picking the cards.
And napkins, too; he was not a savage...
|
|
|
|
Post by Countess on Sept 8, 2024 21:53:08 GMT
"Wise, and foolish," Theresa murmurs. "Sometimes, knowledge itself is a burden. Ignorance is bliss, especially when asking such questions of identity," she says, watching him as he handles her cards. They spark with magic, her magic, warming up to him.
Theresa flinches at his touch, somewhat aware of what he had done. She sees herself reflected back at him. "Do not delve, Niels," she warns him, far more serious even though her expression has not changed. She is... afraid for him. Her time with Doctor Strange is fresh on her mind. No one understands that side of her... and it is overwhelming to them. "I am happy to answer you and your questions, but do not look behind doors that are better left closed. I am an open book, if you request it, but do not go looking by yourself," she says, willing to bear the pain that will come of not helping him if it means sparing him from her mind.
Just in case, she pulls a card of her own. The Emperor, reversed. She will cast a spell with it, if she needs to. Her heart sinks a little, remembering the last time she had cast a spell with this card. It had been a mistake, or at least... it feels like a mistake. That doesn't always make it so, even if it hurts. Sometimes, pain is followed by healing.
Though she does not smile, he can feel her happiness. "Tea would be lovely, thank you," she replies, her accent a bit more pronounced at the idea of something so homey. "It seems you are perhaps touched by the Sight, too," she murmurs, looking at the nice spread he has of his own. As he sets up their tea time, Theresa collects the cards. The deck at large is place back where it came from, and she flips over the first card.
"The Fool," Theresa says, placing the card in the center between them. The art is of Niels, standing on the roof of the X-Mansion. One foot dangles over the edge, as if he is about to take a step. In one hand is a rose, in the other a backpack. "This card is the heart of the matter. You are just starting your journey. The number for this card is 0- the number of unlimited potential. You are at the outset of your life, standing at the edge, and about to take your first step into the unknown. Even though you don’t know exactly where you are going, you are being called to commit yourself and follow your heart, no matter how crazy this leap of faith might seem to you. This is my card, too," Theresa says, nodding. Well- one of her cards, at least.
Theresa pulls the next card, and on it is Charles Xavier, sitting behind his desk, speaking with Scott and Jean. As she places the card, it shifts to a different image. A grave in the place of Charles, a blue woman and a woman with green hair kneeling at this grave. The name on it is Erik Lehnsherr. "This is what opposes you. There are many paths you can take, many beliefs you can have. Two man are emblematic of this, and both are opposed in all ways. Is there a middle ground? Is there a way forward where you decide your path?"
|
|
|
|
Post by DornKoon on Sept 9, 2024 9:18:03 GMT
"I'm sorry," said Niels, putting his hands together and making a mental note not to touch her again. Whatever he had seen must be personal to her, so he did not want to intrude. "I don't have control when it happens; it just sort of... does when I touch things, people, or enter a room. Sometimes, it's nothing more than just flashing images; other times, I replay things from the past. I can also hold an object and get a feeling of its make, who used it, owned it." He cleared his throat, running a hand through the curly hair. Someone versed in the spiritual realm could recognize these things as psychometry.
Niels was happy when he noticed that the idea of tea made her happy. So he quickly served her some from the thermos. "I was not sure why, but for some reason, I had a feeling I would need this blend today," he explained as he placed the cup so Theresa could reach it. He had noticed she was pulling an extra card but did not add it to the rest, so maybe she was doing a reading for herself. There had been a pang of pain when she looked at it... she was a complicated lady, alright.
The young mutant sat back down and intently listened as Theresa read about him. He was slightly shocked when the images on the cards showed him in the mansion, followed by Professor Xavier, Miss Grey, and Mr. Summers. He is curious looked from the card to Theresa. "The Fool" He repeated slowly, before nodding. "Yes, we both have this card; I feel that makes sense. Perhaps for different reasons, but maybe not too dissimilar."
Niels watched the card. How did it shift?
"I do feel a little guilty," Niels confessed, "When I came to the school, I found that my life is a rarity among mutants; my father would never push me away; he might not understand, but he is still... there. I do understand, or I try to understand those who lash out, having been pushed out and abandoned for the crime of being born, or looking different" Niels poured tea for himself, offering Theresa a crumpet. " Can I ask you something personal, Miss Theresa? It's okay if you say no, of course." He did mean that, sure; she said she was an open book, but he was raised to be polite, so asking was polite.
|
|
|
|
Post by Countess on Sept 12, 2024 23:33:27 GMT
"I understand. There is no apology demanded of you- only a warning from me. Not all doors are meant to be opened, and I will lock it if I must. My burdens are my own, just as yours are... yours. Sharing can be overwhelming for the uninitiated, no?" Theresa says, trying to soothe him in her way. "Your power is one that is not unheard of, psychometry. With time, and practice, you will get better control. If I could suggest gloves for now as you learn? It is satisfying to be able to turn it off, I am told," she says, knowing she cannot turn off the faucet in her own mind. In places like this, where there isn't so much noise in and out of her mind, it is more difficult to ignore it all.
"I am starting a new chapter of my life, meeting new people, finding a new home. The Fool is mine because of that- there is so much possibility, for good... and for bad," Theresa murmurs. "Be careful you are not so swept up in it all, that you forget yourself," she says, warning him in a way she wished she had been warned.
Theresa flips another card as she listens. This time, it is an image of Logan, Wolverine. "The Hermit, this is the root cause," she says, indicating to the card. He holds up a lantern, looking out into the darkness. "You seek answers, self discovery. This should come to you as no surprise, given your question, given our meeting. You seek your inner voice, but as the Hierophant before suggests... you are confused. There are so many paths, so many possibilities, all the more difficult when there is guilt weighing down upon you. But this is not the only guilt, the guilt of having things better. I sense it. A great pain- that you caused. How can you choose a path, when you know if you choose the wrong one... you can cause so much loss?"
Theresa lets that settle for a moment, then pulls the next card. On it is a young man riding a horse, sword aloft. It takes a moment, but Niels recognizes him. "Brad," Theresa says, and Niels can feel her grief for him, though she does not show it. "A grave mistake was made in your past. This is your weight, your burden, your warning. This is what holds you back, this is what drags you down, this is what you seek in the dark of every possibility," she says, taking a deep breath. She can see it, just as he had seen her as a child. So much lost that day. A life truly lived, and innocence.
"Ask me whatever you like," Theresa murmurs, a touch curious. She likes questions.
|
|
|
|
Post by DornKoon on Sept 15, 2024 20:48:14 GMT
"Yeah, suppose that's true," Niels said, nodding. "Gloves? It would be that simple? Sure, with the touching, but sometimes it happens just when I enter a room. But I'll try it, if anything it might help... at least if I accidentally touch someone."
Yeah, he could relate to that part. He was also in a new part of his life, meeting new people and learning who he was all over again. It was exciting but also frightening at the same time. She said that he might forget yourself, and from her tone and how her emotions reacted, she spoke from a place of experience. Regrets, and she did wish him not to make the same mistake... whatever that might have been.
"The Hermit," Niels looked at the image of Mr Logan; he'd always struck Niels as a hermit, so the visual itself was apt. But, as Theresa continued to speak, her words hit deep; he did not say anything as the next card was pulled, only looking at the image of Brad... " He said Mama must have offed herself... to get away from me." Niels looked to the side, watching the forest. "I just wanted him to feel what I felt; I did not mean to... break him." This was honest, and she was right to say that it was holding him back. What good could he have been if he had been so afraid of his powers?
Niels watched Theresa for a few seconds, trying to formulate the questions. He could sense it from her, had sensed it before he even saw her.
"Are you in pain?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Countess on Sept 16, 2024 0:20:13 GMT
"Yes, I am always in pain," Theresa responds, something resolute within her. She can feel them even now. Gently, she reaches up to the collar of her shirt, moving it to the side. Underneath are blistered burns, red and screaming. It is what it is- there has been nothing she can to do abate it, mundane nor magical. "I have everlasting burns, always have," she explains further, as if it could shed light on something that even she does not fully understand. Her thoughts stray to recently when Stephen had taken her further and further from Earth, and the burns had gotten worse... It was like a tether had pulled at her. "They remind me of my duty. If I had not come here, the would grow in intensity," she continues.
Theresa flips the next card, and the image is of Niels himself. His is on his knees head up to a stormy sky. On his breast is a heart, three large swords piecing it. "The Three of Swords, reversed. This is your goal. You seek a release of pain. You want to overcome your guilt, embrace optimism, and find forgiveness. This card is about letting go of the hurt, that you have or that you have caused, and moving on. Sometimes those feelings are intertwined, and what you look for is not external... but internal. Finding a way to forgive yourself for the act you committed against Brad... What he did, it did not deserve your reaction... yet here we are, and it is done," Theresa murmurs.
The next card is flipped. This card shows Scott sitting on a throne, a large goblet in his hand. "The King of Cups. This shows your future- and it is a bright one. Emotional intelligence and control. You will be powerful, but you will also be in control. It will take time and effort, but it is there within your grasp. It could also mean the attainment of a male mentor, or the need for one. Look for a paternal influence that is caring and understanding. They will be good listeners and are often sought out for their advice and support. They will even out the support you have with Ms. Frost."
|
|
|
|
Post by DornKoon on Sept 16, 2024 12:17:25 GMT
"I see," said Niels, nodding. He was shocked when Theresa revealed the burn, and he could well imagine how much it hurt. He could not imagine why someone like Miss Theresa deserved such pain, but the more she talked, the more the young mutant felt he gained more of an understanding. Sure, the empathy helped, but more so, he was mature enough to understand. "So, you came to see me because something drew you to me. And if you had ignored it, you would have been in more terrible pain." He was unsure if this was the pain he could help with. Still, it felt against his nature not to do something... "I'm sorry; you long to be elsewhere, yet you came to me."
"Yeah, it's true. Brad might have been a prick, but he did not deserve that." Niels did not hesitate to admit that; he knew his reaction was overkill. "Just because I have the power to influence other people's emotions doesn't mean I should. Yet, it is one thing to accept and very different to forgive. He'll be in a permanent state of grief, and there is nothing I can do about it. So, how do one forgive oneself?"
Niels watched as she revealed The King of Cups, taking the form of Mr Summers on a throne, which did not seem to fit him at all, even if it looked a little funny. Look for a paternal influence that is caring and understanding. Sure, he had his father, but thinking about it, there were many things he could never tell him, not because the father would not listen, but because he would not understand. Still, a bright future did not seem so bad, and if it meant he could gain control over his powers, then that would be a good thing.
"So, you think I should talk to Mr Summers?" He motioned to the man on the card before looking at Theresa again.
|
|
|
|
Post by Countess on Sept 17, 2024 23:39:27 GMT
Theresa starts to shake her head at his assumption- but she find it to be true. She does long to be somewhere else. A queer thing to feel, for she finally has a place she can call home and people she hopes to call family. "I belong somewhere now," she says instead of placating him. "I think I will always want to be there, over all other places," Theresa says, soaking in the feeling. It is novel and pleasant.
"What you choose to do with your gifts is your choice. I do not pass judgement one way or the other. There are many ways to release you from guilt... including the adoption of apathy. You could understand you were a child, and because of that you did not know any better. There is simple atonement- finding a way to make up for what you have done. Sometimes doing nothing and letting it be as a part of yourself is another way to forgive. We all make mistakes, some more costly than others. How you go about this is up to you," she says, taking a moment to let her words sink in with some of the tea. It feels good, like how she imagines a hug is.
"Mr. Summers is simply who the cards thinks is emblematic of The King of Cups," Theresa says. "You can always try," she adds, looking at the other cards.
"The next card is you," she says, flipping it, revealing Niels petting a lion. It is not a forceful scene, but a kind one. He has tamed the lion not with force, but kindness and calm. "Inner Strength," she says, breathing out the words. "You are courageous. You are loved. You have determination and resilience. You care so very deeply and gently. You have so, so much patience," she says, almost smiling. Despite the lion, this is someone with a gentle, though powerful, soul.
Theresa flips over the next card. It shows Niels again, and before him are seven cups, each one holding a possible future for him. Niels the Teacher, Niels the Commander, Niels the Hermit, Niels the Ordinary, Niels the Lost, Niels the Avenging, Niels the Beloved... As the card catches the light, it shifts, all new possibilities before him. "Your external influences- the sin of all Fools like us... choice. I have no answers as to which way you will go, only... you are so lucky to have the chance to have so much possibility."
|
|
|
|
Post by DornKoon on Sept 18, 2024 6:52:33 GMT
"That is nice," Niels said. "It is essential to belong somewhere; a place or person is the same shape, similar things. Sometimes, we must be away from those we long for because that reminds us of their importance. A perfect world would only be a prison in the long run; life loses its spark." He nibbled on a crumpet, finding it nice to have this stimulating conversation with someone.
"Those sound like convenient excuses; apathy would be like giving up, and I should have known better," He sighed, closing his eyes for a few moments, and then he nodded. "You're right, Miss Theresa; maybe the best thing I can do is accept that the guilt will always be part of me. Serve as a reminder that people will always make mistakes so that I might remember when someone else does the same." After all, if he would judge someone else, he would have to judge himself harshly or be a hypocrite.
Niels' cheeks lit up slightly when Theresa described him as courageous and loved, speaking of his determination and resilience. It was not how he saw himself, but at the same time, it was good to accept what others saw. "I try to be understanding, and most of the time, people act out to hide what they feel, so even if someone is angry, I try to remember that anger is there for a reason."
He watched the following card curiously as it shifted, showing the possible futures.
"I am," Niels said, his visage breaking into the most radiant smile. The effect on the world around him was instant, like a warm blanket being placed upon reality. The birds were singing, and nature seemed more colourful. It did tend to be happy when he was happy, not in the sense that it forced others to be happy, but that it provided comfort. "I am lucky to be me, to be here, to have my father, my friends, and teachers who believe in me. We can only be happy if we choose to be, and maybe you can too if you want to. Others have inspired me to see how they can smile despite hardships." There was a pause. "I also met you, Miss Theresa, a fellow fool, so maybe us being fools is a good thing."
|
|
