Stacking Stones

by **Gideon Rede** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 12:02 am

"Lying to a telepath outside of a confrontation is mostly about being able to shield your surface thoughts effectively," Gideon said, "Either through actual mental shields or by simply being able to dissemble."

"Lying to a skilled telepath like the Headmistress is about being very good at either of those things."

by **Haley Crusek** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 12:36 pm

"....so keep avoiding her. Got it," she smirked wearily.

"Well I guess I should take advantage of you while you're here..." She said after a moment's consideration. "I'm gonna try that meditation thing again. You're not helping.., you're just here doing your thing. And you're doing what any bad guy turned good would do if you see me in trouble and save me, not teaching me," she smirked as she sat down on the ground.

by **Gideon Rede** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 4:34 pm

Gideon chuckled softly.

"No harm will come to you while you're with me, youngling," Gideon said, "Why don't you think back on the Sea of Tranquility. Try to remember it as best you can and then I'll test the shield the image creates."

by **Haley Crusek** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 1:37 pm

"Okay," she said a bit hesitantly, drawing a deep breath and exhaling as she closed her eyes and focused on going back to that incredibly peaceful place.

by **Gideon Rede** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 5:02 pm

"Good," Gideon said, "Now fill in the details you can remember. The more detailed the image and emotions the stronger the shield will be."

by **Haley Crusek** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 9:37 pm

Haley's eyes fluttered slightly behind her lids as she focused on pulling as many details as possible into the forefront of her mind. It was a rather impressive recollection for someone as inexperienced as she.

by **Gideon Rede** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:41 pm

"Good job," Gideon said sincerely as he 'watched' the image unfold itself. "Now I want you to hold that image in your mind. No matter what happens."

That was when Gideon pushed gently against the telepathic shield that Haley had created.

by **Haley Crusek** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 7:03 pm

Now that she had a slight idea of what the hell she was doing, her shield proved surprisingly resilient--for a novice at least. Haley's eyes were squinted shut in concentration.

by **Gideon Rede** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 7:14 pm

"Good," Gideon said, "You show some talent for shields, Haley."

Gideon pushed again this time with more force to test Haley's resilience.

by **Haley Crusek** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 8:00 pm

Haley strained, wincing slightly at the exertion, and a small trickle of blood started to drip out of her nose, which snapped her back to reality.

"Sonofabitch," she grumbled, wiping her nose with the back of her hand.

by **Gideon Rede** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 8:12 pm

"You did well for your first attempt at holding a shield under a pressure," Gideon said, "As a small piece of advice I would consider investing in a handkerchief."

"Over time you'll find the places your shield is failing under pressure and be able to reinforce them. Either by adding further layers to the image or other defense mechanisms."

by **Haley Crusek** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 8:28 pm

"So...just think of that place and it'll like...block other people from getting in or my thoughts getting out?" she asked dubiously.

by **Gideon Rede** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 8:30 pm

"Any powerful image will do," Gideon said, "It is one of the simplest methods of shielding your mind from the outside."

by **Haley Crusek** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 9:09 pm

"Like...my grandma's kitchen? I just think of there and it makes me like...super happy. There's so many good memories and smells and tastes... So like...I could use something like that?"

by **Gideon Rede** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 9:17 pm

"Yes," Gideon said, "Something like that would make a powerful shield. It comes down to being able to recall it at will. Eventually making that shield and that image an integral part of your psyche."

"Meditation is a good for mental exercises as well as dealing with emotionally turbulent times. It helps you find ways to keep calm during those times, which makes you able to use your abilities both telepathic and non-telepathic more effectively."

by **Haley Crusek** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 9:26 pm

Haley nodded, lightbulbs clearly going off in her head. "God that almost like...makes sense..."

"So handkerchiefs, huh? Probably gonna get plenty of those nosebleeds?"

by **Gideon Rede** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 9:33 pm

"Nosebleeds and headaches," Gideon said, "As you get stronger they will happen less often."

by **Haley Crusek** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 9:36 pm

"I already get migraines all the freaking time." She grumbled.

by **Gideon Rede** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 9:38 pm

"Then you'll have more," Gideon said, "I wish I had more comforting words than that, Haley."

by **Haley Crusek** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 10:48 pm

Haley groaned. "Laaaaame."

by **Gideon Rede** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 11:01 pm

Gideon chuckled at Haley's thoughts on the matter.

"Invest in aspirin," Gideon smiled. "As you learn to control your emotions and focus your mind this mental training should also help with your telekinesis. I also suggest training your body along with your mind. I personally suggest the self defense class here, but you are old enough to make your own decisions on such things."

"I fear that I did not exactly have a lesson planned out for today..."

by **Haley Crusek** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 11:04 pm

"I have a bottle of Excedrin the size of a gallon of milk in my room," she smirked.

"The self defense class looks neat. It'd probably make some of the Danger Room things I've done easier."

by **Gideon Rede** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 11:10 pm

"Obstacle courses, eh?" Gideon asked. "We used to race each other through them. Not as easy when your only mutant ability is telepathy, but you'd be surprised what your body can do when you've put effort into it."

by **Haley Crusek** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 11:16 pm

"I...did some surprising stuff in there," she agreed. "I guess my TK is supposed to be pretty strong or something. There wasn't much left of parts of the course after I got pissed off because of how impossible it was."

by **Gideon Rede** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 11:22 pm

"Peoples powers do become unpredictable when they become...upset," Gideon said, "The obstacle courses are meant to be a test of your mind as well as your body. I used to leave frustrated quite often when I moved onto the more difficult courses, but I was never able to level the obstacle course before leaving. That would have been... satisfying when I was your age."

by **Haley Crusek** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 11:25 pm

"It was AWESOME," she grinned. " I even saved the video from the session onto my phone."

Haley whipped out her phone and showed a video of her getting repeatedly knocked off a platform before screaming and absolutely obliterating the obstacle in front of her, its parts mashed into a pancake on the far wall of the room.

by **Gideon Rede** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 11:36 pm

"Impressive," Gideon said as he watched, "Most impressive. You have considerable raw telekinetic power."

Gideon was quiet for a moment.

"But try not to revel in your lack of control. It should be a lesson not something you mark as an accomplishment. Blowing off steam in the danger room is one thing, but those kinds of slip ups outside of a controlled environment can have terrible consequences, eh."

by **Haley Crusek** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 11:42 pm

"....yeah...guess you're probably right." She said her excitement fading.

by **Gideon Rede** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 11:47 pm

"Don't look so dejected," Gideon smiled. "You've got a talent and that's not something most mutants can claim. Just remember that talent needs to be honed. One day you might be able to disassemble the whole obstacle course down to the last hard light bolt without destroying it. Something like that requires fine tuned control."

by **Haley Crusek** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 11:58 pm

"Seems so far away...I can't even imagine that. I woke up 3 feet above my covers on night after a bad dream and had to pull myself down and back under the damn covers

by **Gideon Rede** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 12:02 am

"We'll work on that," Gideon said, "It might seem far away, but you'll get there soon enough."

"I've found it useful to workout to the point of exhaustion. Then your body is too tired to do much other than recover, but the morning after for the first few weeks is...unpleasant."

by **Haley Crusek** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 12:12 am

"Maybe I should try that then..." She said thoughtfully. "I should probably work out more so I don't get fat here.

by **Gideon Rede** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 12:20 am

"Another benefit," Gideon smiled. "I can put something together for you if you'd like. I can teach you self defense, but the instructors here are first rate."

by **Haley Crusek** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 10:32 am

"That'd be cool...I'll probably still just take the self-defense class here, but if you wanted to make something fun for the Danger Room that'd be kick ass!"

by **Gideon Rede** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 6:10 pm

"I can't write you anything new," Gideon said, "The Headmistress stripped my danger room privileges, but my old programs should still be in the system if they aren't locked down. I'll give you a list of the ones you can use. Don't stray from the list though as many of the scenarios are...not suitable for somebody your age."

by **Haley Crusek** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 10:35 pm

"Do...I even want to ask?"

by **Gideon Rede** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 12:27 am

"It is likely that you'd want to know," Gideon said, "Primarily programs intended to replicate real life infiltration and direct combat with both human and super human enemies. The programs were designed to stay just barely within the limitations the faculty placed on programs. Like allowing the killing of enemies without failing the mission and that sort of thing."

by **Haley Crusek** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 12:41 pm

"Oh...wow...yeah. That...that'd be bad."

by **Gideon Rede** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 4:53 pm

"Depends on what you're trying to accomplish," Gideon shrugged. "However, not something I'd like you messing around with, eh.

All of this talk about the danger room reminds me how much I miss using the hockey simulation I wrote, eh."

by **Haley Crusek** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 4:58 pm

"With as...real...as the Danger Room seems like it could get...yeah. I'd say I wouldn't want to mess with any of that or my nightmares would get even worse than they already are." she replied.

"Probably gets cold enough here to play hockey outside or some shit doesn't it? I'm scared of winter. Don't know if my Texas blood is gonna handle it very well.

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