:Knowledge: is :Power: [Fun with Felix]

[ice]

Felix::

Felix was happy that her ‘student’ had decided to use the library for his special tutoring spot. She was more comfortable here then she was in her own skin. The books around her whispered happy thoughts and reminded her that she had nothing to be nervous about at all. This was just another student at Solstice who needed a wee bit of help on a few subjects. She wasn’t trying out for a musical (Les cieux non!) and she wasn’t giving a speech. Felix was doing what she did best: Academia.

Felix had claimed the back table for herself, piling her textbooks and spreading out a few thousand papers on the wooden surface. She had copied her notes on these papers so she could share them with her pupil. Felix figured he’d appreciate it. She was all done preparing and was currently waiting, skimming a biography life of Marie Curie written in Polish. Every now and then, she glanced at the door and then at a small note on her lap. On it, in blue ink, was written: Travis Grant, 4:00

She had never seen him in any of her classes, never glanced at him in the halls. She might have heard his name uttered on gossiping tongues in the ladies room once. Then again, Felix never actually listened to what the other girl’s had to say about guys, so she could be creating the scenario in her head. Felix was pretty much positive he was the same way. So this was going to be a new experience for both of them, and hopefully, a pleasant one. If it wasn’t, then Felix would regret ever entertaining this absurd idea of tutoring.

Well, it was all up to chance now.

[Sara]

Trey was still working out in the gymnasium when he realized that he was late for his tutoring session with Felix. He was in the middle of doing weights - he felt extremely out of shape, having slacked off working out ever since he'd arrived at Solstice. He'd absently checked his watch, and seen the time: 4:02. That was when he remembered. He'd wanted to shower, but he realized that would only make him later. As it was, the library was a good five minute walk from the gym. Nice, he goaded himself inwardly. Way to mess up on your first chance at proving you're different now. Your first chance at proving everyone wrong about you. Trey had never cared about these things before, and it was disconcerting. Actually caring what people thought of you left so much extra to worry about. Trey didn't like it.

He hadn't wanted to do the tutoring - really, when you thought about it, Trey was actually pretty smart. It was just his lack of effort. And he hadn't seen how tutoring would make much of a difference about that, but his math teacher had told him that Felix was offering tutoring to those who needed it. Trey had responded with his usual backtalk.. "So?" he'd said. He always liked to force people to be blunt. He hated people who beat around the bush rather than getting to the point. "So," the teacher had responded, talking as if to an addled old lady, or a mentally disabled kid, "You should take it." In fact, he'd insisted. At first, Trey had just decided to mess with his mind, as he did with teachers in most situations, and make him see the truth; that Trey was not the kind of guy to excel academically. But then, he'd decided it was the perfect chance to start working on this whole "fresh start" idea of his. To prove to himself it wasn't a total pile of crap.
So far, he wasn't convinced.

Ten minutes later, he walked into the quiet library. He'd had the quickest of showers, and then hurried over to the library. As he entered, he was out of breath, and swaggering somewhat, his usual exuberant self. He felt instantly self-conscious and out of place in the library's studious, practically silent, atmosphere. Trey was sure he could have heard a pin drop. He looked around, feeling a bit desperate. Get me out of here as soon as possible. said his inner self. He didn't pay attention to that, his eyes falling instead on a rather pretty girl with dark, shaggy hair, sitting at a table in a corner. The table was covered in a huge assortment of papers and textbooks, piled, stacked, and spread out all over the smooth surface. Trey spotted some study notes for an advanced biology course, and a biography written in - was that Polish? Refusing to be intimidated, even by this, he walked over, hoping he didn't draw the attention of too many quiet studiers or readers. "Hey," he whispered, pulling up a chair, and wincing as it scraped across the floor, emitting a loud squeak. "You must be Felix. I'm Trey... your student." He hoped she wouldn't mind the sarcasm in his voice as he said "student". They'd get along well enough, he hoped - as long as she had sense of humor enough to recognize the awkwardness of the situation. He wondered if she felt as uncomfortable as he did.

[ice]

Felix::[/color][/b]

The smell of guy shampoo and a scrape across the floor snapped Felix out of her reading fervor. She didn’t react to it physically, though her mind did, awakening itself to those around her for once. It was an alien feeling, but Felix figured that if she was going to be talking to someone for a couple of days, she should get used to it. Without looking up at Trey, as he talked to her in a deep, rough voice, she slipped a bookmark to hold her place and then closed the biography.

She sat up and pulled her seat forward before finally looking at the ‘student’—he was tall, brunette, with a strong jaw and baby blue eyes, a color that was too soft for the rest of him. Felix assumed that he worked out and liked to do sports, therefore an athlete. As horribly stereotypical as it was, Felix hadn’t been expecting anything different.

“Look who decided to show up,” she quipped, leaning forward with a quiet smirk. “But I forgive you. After all, ‘if you're there before it's over, you're on time.’ James J. Walker said that.” Felix quoted as she pulled a textbook from the pile and handed it to Trey. She didn’t want to waste time with too much idle chatter. If they just did what they were supposed to do, then there would be no awkwardness.

“Page 365.”

[Sara]

Trey settled himself in his chair, leaning back, as Felix looked up from her book, her dark eyes flashing over him once, quickly, before giving him a slightly amused glance from behind her nerdy but cute glasses.
"Look who decided to show up," she said teasingly, either oblivious to the akwardness he was feeling, or determined to ignore it. He didn't actually mind it - in fact, he kind of appreciated her effort - it made everything much easier to carry on the banter like they were already friends. "But I forgive you," she continued cheerfully, "After all, 'If you're there before it's over, you're on time.' James J. Walker said that." Trey just looked at her. He didn't even know who James J Walker was, let alone direct quotes from the guy. Quotes which Felix had apparently memorized.
Felix leaned forward, handing Trey a textbook. "Page 365," she said briskly.

He took the book from her, silently. He had to give it to her - she had surprised Trey Grant - not something done easily. But it was refreshing, how on-task she was - he admired it. If only he actually had any interest at all on the subject that she was so enthusiastic about. "He said that, did he?" said Trey, straightening in the hard wooden chair and ruffling through the pages of the book, finding 365. "If only the teachers went by that when they're giving us detentions for being late." Suddenly, he wondered if Felix ever actually had had detention for being late - or in fact, ever had detention at all. She was obviously really smart - was he right in assuming that she was punctual and perfect as well?
Well that was an interesting idea. Felix, the multi-lingual genius, with Trey, the academically unmotivated jock, studying together in the peaceful, hushed library, teasing each other like old friends - except with an uninvited akwarness hovering in the air, which they were both determined to ignore. If Trey's high school friends could see him now.

[ice]

Felix;;

“If only the teachers went by that when they're giving us detentions for being late.”

Felix snorted, a little amused by his comment. At least he didn’t stare at her too long like she was speaking a different language—though she had a tendency to do just that. Felix had to straighten out her brain before moving on, or else she would confuse this poor boy more with a few foreign words that didn’t belong. English, Felix. She reminded herself. No Spanish (her first choice of language actually) and no French. (Which was sometimes so pretty that she couldn’t resist.)

“That would be nice. But teachers have to enforce the rules or we’ll lose all respect in them and then they won’t be able to control us for long, will they?” Rhetorical question, she hoped he caught on to that. “Now. Math. The one subject everyone swears they won’t need later in life and half of the time they’re right.”

Felix herself wasn’t as good as math as other subjects—that didn’t mean she was bad, dear God no, she had almost a perfect average in that course as well. It just meant that she didn’t enjoy it but made the effort anyway because she was her mother’s daughter and McCormacys ‘tried their best—or else.’ Felix had always laughed off her mother’s silly threat. She knew that it was empty and melodramatic, but Felix wanted to make her mom proud of her. And good grades made her mom proud.

But truly, unless Trey wanted to go into a career involving mathematics or science, he wouldn’t need but the basics to function in every day life. And she had a feeling that his power would help him function as well. Felix didn’t know what his power was, though she was very curious…she almost wanted to ask him. Almost.

[Sara]

Felix snorted at his comment, giving him an odd look - almost appreciative. “That would be nice," she said, "But teachers have to enforce the rules or we’ll lose all respect in them and then they won’t be able to control us for long, will they? Now. Math. The one subject everyone swears they won’t need later in life and half of the time they’re right.”

Trey was surprised at her answer, and to be truthful, a bit disgusted. Although, he didn't know if he'd even expected anything different from this straight-A student, a favorite with the teachers - she could hardly be who she was if she didn't respect the teachers.

Personally, Trey didn't have much respect for the teachers at all. First of all, he'd always hung out with the kind of crowd who talked back to teachers, and pretty much terrified supply teachers out of ever coming back to the school, with whatever particular childish but hilarious prank they'd thought up that time. Secondly, and more importantly, Trey messed with teachers' minds on a regular basis, usually with disastrous or funny results. (depending on whose perspective you looked at the situation from; Trey's or the teacher's.)
"I don't know," he said. "I kind of find it hard to respect teachers anyways, considering I mess with their minds regularly. That's my power," he added, as explanation. He had chosen to ignore her comment about math. He had mathaphobia, if that was a word. His parents claimed it didn't exist, but Trey thought otherwise. Look at him now - trying to edge the math text book further away from him with his elbow as inconspicuously as possible, while casually awaiting her reaction to the news of his power.

[ice]

Felix::

She listened intently, her eyes fixed on his face as he talked. "I don't know," he said. "I kind of find it hard to respect teachers anyways, considering I mess with their minds regularly. That's my power," As soon as it was revealed, Felix had several different reactions to the news. One was surprise that he told her so easily, especially with a power like that. Didn’t he know he could have taken advantage of her over and over when she was still ignorant about what he was capable of? Or did he not think of the possibility? Certainly he was one to abuse his power (and this made her horrified) if he messed with teachers.

Another was curiosity. As soon as he was done, her dark eyes lighted with intense interest and she was filled with the yearning that drove her ambition: the need for more. Felix was never one to be satisfied with just the outline; she wanted hard details. “Mind manipulation? Is it concrete or subtler…?” What a nerd she was! But she couldn’t help it. She went on. “Can you use it on me?”

Many would wonder why the hell she even said that. But Felix wanted to see if he could use it on her. She was very aware that people in this academy messed with others mentally. And she had always been careful and protected herself as well as she could—so far she had been successful with the method she thought up. But would that work with Trey? She leaned forward, completely serious.

[Sara]

He shouldn't have told her. She knew it too - he could tell by the look on her face. But then again, Trey had never been one to hold back about himself. He was an honest person when you were actually talking to him, despite his mind games. He watched the emotions play across her rather pretty face - surprise, skepticism, horror, and an extreme curiosity.

“Mind manipulation? Is it concrete or subtler…?” she said, her dark eyes alight with interest, and with something more that Trey couldn't quite read. It made him feel like he was a specimen in a lab, which she was analyzing very carefully. It made him uncomfortable. But at the same time, she didn't seem detached or anything - just genuinely interested. “Can you use it on me?”

Trey was surprised by her last question. Because with him, that was never the issue. It wasn't whether or not he was capable of using it on someone - it was whether or not he would. Before he'd learned - or taught himself, to be more accurate - to control his power, the big question had been whether or not he had enough control to stop himself from using it. Now, it was just a matter of his own will - as bad and as flippant as it sounded, the big question was whether or not he felt like it, and whether it could be to his advantage. Like with the teachers. He never really saw teachers as people, really. It was kind of sad, but it was the way his mind worked. Felix, on the other hand, was definitely a person, and a very interesting one at that. That was why he hadn't even thought of using his power on her. The more he'd begun to control his power, the less he'd used it - he liked for people to get to know him, and he liked to see what they thought of him, without his uncanny influence over their minds. Messing with the minds of people he wanted to get to know made him feel like a phony. But now she was suggesting that he might not be able to do it on her. His curiosity was aroused. Why? he wondered. Does she have some sort of special protection? A shield? What's her power, anyways?

"Mostly subtle, I guess. It depends on the situation," he replied. "In any case, the people who I use it on don't notice any difference. They just get new ideas, that, though they don't realize it, are coming from me. I'm not using it on you, though. I haven't tried." He felt a little defensive saying this. Of course he hadn't used it on her! He only used it on teachers these days! (Mostly.) Although he wasn't sure the fact he used it only on teachers would exactly please her. She seemed to have a weird amount of respect for the teachers, uncommon in high school, especially when it came to the people Trey usually hung out with.
His curiosity, however, was not to be quenched. What made her think she could stop his power? Did she even think that? He didn't know. She puzzled him, and strangely enough, he liked it. He felt like he could see right through most people, but he liked someone who made him think.
He leaned forward, wondering if she'd be upset by what he was about to suggest. Thinking, as he did so, that this was the most interesting reaction to his power that he'd ever experienced.
"Do you want me to try it?"

[ice]

Felix;;

"Do you want me to try it?"

There was no hestitation in her eyes or her voice. "Si. Yes." Felix nodded eagerly and then sat up straighter in her chair. She couldn't defend herself from it; but she would do what she always did. When it came to people who could play with her mind, it was quite a simple solution, as weak as it was. Felix would begin to think in another language. Usually it was a more complicated, unheard of dialect of a certain tribe in eastern Africa, or possibly a variation on another language. People who tried to read her mind would not be able to understand it and so she was safe.

But if Trey was telling the truth, then she could possibly pick out the thought that wasn't hers. He would send it to her in english, wouldn't he? Who knows- it may or may not work. But Felix was willing to try. So she shifted gears and filled her mind with words only she could understand. This would make talking nearly impossible, but she didn't think she would have to talk while he did his little mind mojo thing on her.

So she folded her hands, stared into Trey's eyes with a challenging look, and waited.

[Sara]

"Si. Yes," was Felix's immediate response. Trey was surprised by her answer. He hadn't expected for her to be so... so eager. So unafraid. He almost felt like she was challenging him, although he was sure that was not the case. Instead, he thought about what he should try to focus into her mind. What thought? Should he try an idea that was new to her, that she would recognise instantly? Or should he try something completely inconsequential, subtle, as she said? He pondered for a minute, before settling on a completely innocent, random thought. Well, innocent and random to him - she might be horrified, because she hated the way he toyed with teachers' minds, as he knew. Finally, he decided against it. She was a smart girl. She'd see right through this fragile attempt. And there was something about the way she looked at him, expectantly, so sure of herself, that made him want to prove his power. He decided to settle instead on something more general. In fact, a feeling. Forget about Trey's power. Just relax. We have math work to do. The power is too strong for me. That was the thought he focused on, along with the more dominant general feeling - complete and utter peace. The peace of giving up. He had to have something specific underlying the feeling or else he wouldn't be able to successfully send the feeling. So he added the thought of math - he supposed that wouldn't stand out too much. He wondered if it would work. He thought she might be able to pick out the thought, but would she be able to resist the feeling that accompanied it? Not that he wanted to go back to math. But he wanted something akin to the way Felix's mind worked to be incorperated into the thought, and since she was so focused on schoolwork... the math thought would make it more realistic.

So now he focused more than ever before. He wanted it to come to her naturally, subtly, so that she wouldn't realise. He concentrated hard, staring at her intensely, probingly, almost as if he could see into her mind, and put his own thoughts and ideas there that way. In fact, that was almost exactly how his power worked. While he was putting the thought in someone's mind, he caught a glimpse of their own thoughts. And when he caught a glimpse of Felix's, he realised they weren't in English. He'd sent the thought just in time, for now, his concentration broke. What? was the only thought in his mind, for one.

[ice]

Felix;; [/size]

Felix watched him for a long time and she noticed certain things about him that she hadn't before. It was rare that she really looked at anyone-- her head was buried in books-- but now she saw him in detail. The way his brow furrowed, causing a crease above his nose. His eyelashes were longer then she would think a man's eyelashes would be. Almost like little golden-brown threads of silk. And undeneath his eyelashes were his eyes, of course, and at her first glance they had appeared simply blue. Now as she looked at him, she realized they had undertones of green. Like the ocean.

Curiousity suddenly gave way to peace as she leaned back into her chair and a thought popped into her mind. Forget about Trey's power. Just relax. We have math work to do. The power is too strong for me. It was tempting too. Felix liked his feeling. She rarely relaxed.

But her mind was sharp and bounced back as she realized that the thought was in English. It wasn't her thought. She wished it was her thought; she wished she could feel the way he made her feel at the moment. But it wasn't her. Felix bit her lip as if to quench the feeling and then rose above it, though she regretted it-- it actually made her head hurt to ignore it!

"Aye aye aye" She muttered as she pushed some hair away from her face. "Isso era mais duro resistir então pensei. Ihr Geschenk ist sehr mächtig." And as soon as those words were out, Felix realized that she was rambling in two different languages, neither of which Trey would understand. "Å... forbanner det ! Jeg taler i enda en dialekt. Jeg er trist!"

His power hadn't been completely unsuccessful. It had stressed her mind so much that now she had lost track of her English and languages at random were tumbling out of her mouth. She took a deep breath and paused for a minute before locating the words that she needed to use.

"Looks like resisting your power has some consequences for me," she said. "I'm sorry. I should have listened to you-- though your power is not too strong for me."
----

ooc;;

translations: Isso era mais duro resistir então pensei.- That was harder to resist then I thought (portuguese)
Ihr Geschenk ist sehr mächtig- Your gift is very powerful (German)
Å... forbanner det ! Jeg taler i enda en dialekt. Jeg er trist- ah... damn it! I'm speaking in another dialect. I'm so sorry. (Norwegian)

[Sara]

Trey smiled as he gently reached into Felix's mind with his own, searching it for a moment before finding the thought that was not hers and retrieving it. He had figured out her technique by then, and was impressed despite himself.
"So it worked, then?" he asked, leaning forward eagerly. "Your thinking in different languages? That's good thinking, I'll give you that one," he added with a relaxed, warm grin. He realized she didn't know about that brief second during which he'd seen into her mind. "I sometimes see into people's minds briefly after I... well, give them ideas, send them thoughts. I saw into yours, and it was all in another language - plus, you were speaking aloud in, like, Norwegian or something. I was pretty confused, monolingual idiot that I am." Was monolingual a word? Trey shook his head at himself and his sudden desire to appear smart, with all his big words. In truth, he was rather happy at how far the conversation had strayed from its original subject.
Looking toward Felix a bit anxiously, he hoped his attempt to invade her mind had not had any lasting effect... though for impatient Trey, a "lasting effect" could be defined as anything that lasted over a few minutes. He thought about what she'd said about his power not being strong enough for her. He was a bit insulted, but mostly he liked the challenge, the competition. He was a good sport, always willing to embrace a challenge, and Felix seemed like a fun person. He wondered where this would go next.

[ice]

Felix;;

Felix leaned back again, her mind still a muddle from the work she had just put it through. How hard it was, to resist his ability! If he threw it at her again, she wouldn't be able to do it. She would never admit this to him, oh no. She had pride! Lots and lots and lots of it, and it was all thanks to her mother and her saucy upbringing. And if there was one thing that wounded her pride, it was being weak, or letting someone take advantage of her. Of course any challenge motivated Felix to do more than she was capable of. That's why she was as smart as she was.

I was pretty confused, monolingual idiot that I am He joked. Or was he joking? Felix could sense a little insecurity behind his words. She realized that they had wasted a lot of time doing nothing but chatting away, as if they were friends! Not that that was bad... but they were from two different worlds-- hers was one of academia and his was one of physical attributes. He would want to keep girls around that were blonde, perky, fun and easygoing. She didn't know why that bothered her.

"Don't beat yourself up, estimado, remember, I have the unfair advantage here." Felix smiled. "Though I think we should do some math, with what little time we have left. Agreed?"

[Sara]

"Oh, I wasn't beating myself up," he said. "And an unfair advantage? Please. Just for your information, I despise pity." He spoke jokingly, but he was just trying to further put off the subject of math. The "shh-I-was-afraid-you-were-going-to-say-that" look he gave her confirmed his thoughts for her to see. He'd been in jest about the math thought he'd put in her mind, and thought of pointing it out to her, but he decided against it. So it was math. He'd survive. He'd have to get to it sometime, and now was a good a time as ever - probably better, actually, as he hated studying alone.

"Fine, fine," he said, going through the assortment of books on his side of the table, until he found the right one. English? Nope. Physics? Nope. Algebra? Okay, fine. Trey groaned inwardly, but began to page through the intimidatingly verbose table of contents.
"Which pages?" he asked. His voice contained a surprisingly low level of sulkiness. More determination to get the darn subject out of the way. Though it seemed that no matter how many math exercises he completed, the subject always seemed to come back to haunt him.

[ice]

Felix;;

Felix laughed. She couldn't help it. He was so... what was the word that she wanted? Adorable? The way he sulked, it reminded her, of well...

"Don't take this the wrong way, but you remind me so much of my mother's cats!" Felix giggled, shaking her head and then blowing some strands of hair away from her face. She didn't know if he would get mad at her for that, but it was true! Her mother, a crazy cat lady, had a cat that sulked just like this whenever he didn't get his way. (Which usually meant not getting fed first.) The thought made her smile wide and she tried to abandon it as she faced the textbook. Felix hated getting sidetracked but with him, it was happening more than she thought.

"Uhm yes, the page number. 365. I believe your math teacher told me you were having issues with logarithms... I use the log cycle, but of course, you have to be well versed in the property of logs... And she was off, her brain switching gears so fast that if he glanced into it now, he would be seeing numbers instead of letters.