Finding Who You Really Are (After Godstorm, open to Mansion folk)

[dolemeck]

The grounds were still rather wet and soggy from the storm. Thankfully, there was not a whole lot of damage to the Mansion, or the dorms. Dolemeck spent the majority of the storm locked in his room, playing some vinyls and sneaking a quick smoke when he could. Now that the storm passed, he could make his way out of the dorms and into the music room without fear of getting sucked into a mud puddle or something.

For the first time in a long time, the young Brit walked out of his bedroom. No wheelchair, no leg braces. He was walking with the use of his powers. He was dressed in a pair of doc martins, black leather pants, a matching leather trench, and a union jack shirt under his coat. His black hair had grown out some, going past his chin a bit, and his skin remain rather pale. He just seemed like a different person, now.

Comments

[dark_scion]

Fred was far from being an academic environmentalist, but just something..odd about the scent of the wind during the storm had convinced him that staying inside was preferable. Which didn't mean he was entirely satisfied. He still didn't have permission to use the X-Men's laboratory for his experiments into mutational stability, so that meant a lot of tense wandering inside the residence. While the storm had since passed, Fred had actually managed to focus his attention by mesmerizing the layout of the building. When it ended though, he was finally able to expand his exploration to the other buildings on campus and the rooms they contained. He had entered the music room, lost in his thoughts when he noticed the scent of someone inside.

"Pardon," he said, noticing Dolemeck finally, though he didn't sound embarrassed or nonplussed. "I will leave you to your activity."

[dolemeck]

"You are welcome to stay if you wish. It's a free country from what I hear." Dolemeck said with a weak smile. He picked up a guitar from a stand, taking a good look at it. He sighed, seeing how it was badly strung, and proceeded to re-string the instrument.

"someone was in a hurry, like there bum was on fire or something." He muttered, fixing the instrument, and then playing a few cords on it. "There we go, that sounds better."

[dark_scion]

"Very well." He didn't comment on whether he agreed or disagreed with whether or not the country was free. "I imagine the storm may have had an effect on their decision." He raised an eyebrow. "That is what it's supposed to sound like?"

[dolemeck]

"Well, when it's not plugged in." Dolemeck shrugged.

He took a cord from a nearby amp and plugged it into the guitar. The then used his powers to flip the switch on the amp and play. Despite hating his Father and his rock and roll life-style, Dolemeck did learn how to play various instruments from teachers and friends who were in the business.

[dark_scion]

Fred held back a hiss when the noise, at least that what Fred called it, began to ring. Though he was certain those with normal eardrums may appreciate the sound, his enhanced ones found it less than pleasant. Still, no need to alienate the student body. His stay at this place would be less vexing if he didn't antagonize the residents.

"I see." He resisted the urge to rub his ears.

[dolemeck]

"Sorry about that." Dolemeck smiled apologetically. He turned off the amp, and placed the guitar back on it's stand.

"You know, I have not seen you around much. I'm Dolemeck Night, pleasure to meet you."

[dark_scion]

Fred dismissed it with a wave of his hand. "Hardly the most unpleasant sensation I've experienced."

He thinks. "We spoke briefly during one of those confectionery sales, though you were less hirsute at the time." Fred thought about how to respond. "Friedrich McCoy. "Fred" is an acceptable abbreviation."

[dolemeck]

He ran a hand through his hair.

"Aye. Me hair grows in really quick and I have not been out to see a hair dresser in awhile." He gave a meek smile. "Nice to meet you, Fred."

His bright green eyes blinked for a moment before he decided to throw in another question.

"Do you always just wander about?"

[dark_scion]

"It has become a hobby. Studying the "lay of the land" as some call it. I find it prudent to know which pathways lead to which rooms and exits," Fred explained.

[dolemeck]

"You know, they gave us a map of the and during orientation." He rubbed the back of his head. Why did he always end up meeting the stranger students of this school. Then again, he was not quite normal, himself.

Dolemeck took a seat on a piano bench, trying to relax some. Using his powers to manipulate his legs into walking could be tiring at times.

"Most of the kids here have comic collecting, or music as a hobby. Never heard of wandering about as a hobby, before."

[dark_scion]

"I would prefer to be working in a lab, but I am not granted access to the school's facilities. Since I cannot do that I've studied the buildings to consider potential contingency plans," Fred elaborated.

[dolemeck]

"You mean the big labs?" He questioned. "Why not just use the regular old science lab in the school?"

He truly had no clue what sort of experiments a guy like Fred could conduct. What was the worst that could happen? A paper mache volcano explosion?

He then placed his hand over one side of his face and cursed. It was so odd. Dolemeck still felt like he had his eye, despite having lost it on the Purifier's attack on the mansion. He reached into his coat pocket and grabbed his eye patch.

"Sorry about that." He said with a smile as he put his eye patch on.

[dark_scion]

"It does not possess the resources I require." Fred noted the missing eye, but it didn't seem to phase him in any way. "Quite all right. I had to live for a time without my eyes. I emphasize with your situation."

[dolemeck]

That was an odd statement. He lived without eyes? But he had them now? This left Dolemeck looking dumbfounded for a few moments.

The Brit turned in the piano chair towards the piano. He started to play "The Scientist" by Cold Play, while he thought.

"That is quite, unique." He finally managed to say. "I would ask how that would be possible, but part of me is frightened by the answer. Better some things be left to mystery, aye?"

[dark_scion]

Fred had been prepared to answer when Dolemeck's reply silenced him.

"Very well. Typically as a scientist, solving mysteries is what I try to do."

[dolemeck]

"You look pretty young to be a scientist." He tried not to sound rude when he said that. Just a matter of fact observation. His fingers continued moving along the piano keys, continuing to play the melody he started.

"However, I have seen much stranger things. Perhaps you could one day solve the mystery of me spine."

[dark_scion]

Fred shrugged. "I wouldn't know. My true age is unknown to me." Fred raised an intrigued eyebrow. "What about your spine?"

[dolemeck]

"I was hit by a car a few years ago." Dolemeck spoke without missing a beat on the piano.

"My spine was broken, but did not sever, leaving me with little to no feeling or control in me legs. At one point, I was able to use leg braces to get about. Then I finally lost all control and feeling in me legs. The feeling now comes and goes, and I use me powers to get about. You know, so I do not have to be a bother with that chair and all."

[dark_scion]

"Hmm," Fred mused, his tone containing neither pity or contempt. "I would require x-rays and tissue samples from the afflicted area," he responded, nonplussed. "Though I suspect cloning healthy cells to replace the damaged ones could lead to gradual recuperation."

[dolemeck]

The piano music came to a sudden halt as Dolemeck's face showed his shock over such news.

"Wait... you could... what?" He was a bit wide eyed, now. "Are you saying that if I provide those items, I MIGHT be able to feel me legs and walk without aide, again?"

[dark_scion]

"It is not my intention to give a false sense of hope, but yes it is possible. I do not have the capability to create a full clone, but for individual cells and organs, those are well within my skill-set," he admitted guilelessly.

[dolemeck]

Dolemeck thought for a minute. Was he really that desperate to walk again? Enough that he would put himself in the hands of a guy who was coming off more as a mad scientist than a student at the school?

"Perhaps I will forget I even brought it up." He gave a somewhat nervous smile. "I think I am happy the way I am. Honest!"

[dark_scion]

"If you insist," Fred replied stoically. Inwardly he cursed. If the other man had agreed at least he'd be able to have access to a legitimate scientific endeavor with which to focus his attention. The students'lab Dolemeck spoke of was laughable in comparison to the true facilities this institute had. Curing the other man's spin could have engendered enough good will to finally gain access. Perhaps hope was not entirely lost. While not his intention when he mentioned it, he was being entirely truthful regarding his capability, Fred wasn't blind to the fact that the possibility of walking again was now in Dolemeck's head. In a building full of powerful telepaths, honest facts would go much further than guile, deception, and implied words. Perhaps he only had to wait.

[dolemeck]

The thought was definitely there. It was something that nagged inside of the young man. The look Fred gave him, told him he did not believe his lie.

"I do want to walk again." He spoke quietly, his fingers starting to play "Moonlight Sonata" on the piano.

"I am tired of my back being in constant pain. Tired of being told "You may not be able to walk, but one day you might fly", or that I should tell others to accommodate me... if I wish to take part in an activity. It is infuriating to be told "No, you cannot do that", when you know your body should be able to do so."

Perhaps making a deal with the devil would not be so bad... even if part of him was telling him how insane it was.

[dark_scion]

Fred nodded, a look of genuine empathy on his face as he sat down.

"To not have control of one's own body..I know that feeling all too well." Fred found himself opening up a bit. "I was literally created with an unstable genetic matrix by my..progenitor. Meant to demonstrate all potential mutations of the McCoy genome. The mutations are not within my power to control." He rolled up the right sleeve of his shirt, showing human-like skin bound tight around bone, akin to a lean predator. "That was mostly human-looking two days ago. A relatively benign symptom compared to most."

[dolemeck]

Dolemeck understood where Fred was coming from, and Fred knew where Dolemeck was coming from. It was such an odd thing to bond over, yet strangely comforting.

"Doctors have warned me that I may completely lose my ability to move freely on my own. Going back to being paralyzed from the neck down is NOT a life I desire. Being someone's burden..."

He frowned, continuing to play that haunting melody on the piano.

"My future could be a bleak one. So I have been trying to do as much as possible in such a short time frame. It has gotten me into so much trouble... and well, it does make me look careless and dumb at times."

[dark_scion]

"Your situation mirrors my own," Fred admitted. "More than anything I wish to learn enough about mutational stability so that I can stabilize my condition. Perhaps even safely aiding other mutants with unstable genomes someday."

[dolemeck]

"That is a very noble thing to do." Dolemeck admitted with some envy. "I doubt I could contribute anything back, should my condition be reversed. All I can do is make music and sew. Some talent I have, aye?"

[dark_scion]

Fred waved it off.

"I am hardly some altruist. In the end I want to benefit myself primarily before considering expansion." Fred raised an eyebrow. "From what I understand there are those who appreciate such talents. It would just be a matter of finding them."

[dolemeck]

"I would be living under my father's shadow. My whole life back under a microscope if I were to pursue music in any way. Clothing, I could easily get away with, though." He managed a small smile.

"Alright, I will provide you with anything you need. If you can help me, I am willing to do almost anything at this point. And if I could help you, well, all the better, aye?"

[dark_scion]

"You could always assume an alias," Fred said, only half-kidding. His eyes lit up upon hearing what Dolemeck said next.

"Excellent, though make certain you are honest with the facility's instructors. I do not want them thinking I am attempting to manipulate you on false promises."

[dolemeck]

"Like what?" He asked about the alias. "Hard to come up with something with a name like "Dolemeck Night, you know?"

He finally got up from the piano and walked over to Fred, offering his hand.

"I will be completely honest with the instructors. So we have a deal, aye? You help me, and I help you?"

[dark_scion]

Fred shurgged. "That is a query you'd have to answer yourself I'd imagine."

Fred glanced at Dolemeck's hand, slightly unfamiliar with the gesture. He extended his hand back.

"Agreed. For the foreseeable future I will make your recovery my top priority."