If Now's Not A Good Time...

[Laura Weston]

Not having been told differently, Laura had showed up for her "can I stay" appointment ahead of time. She'd made some effort to make herself presentable. She sat in the waiting area patiently, fiddling with her phone.

((Open))

[Samantha McManus]

"You can come in, Miss Weston."

[Laura Weston]

Laura startled and stood up, stowing her phone quickly, and making her way into Ms. McManus' office. "Headmistress," she said, smiling.

[Samantha McManus]

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting. How have your first few days been?"

[Laura Weston]

"No problem. I'm glad you could take time to see me. Things have been fairly quiet," Laura said, "Though I was made to understand that that was what was expected of me when I was dropped off here." She was obviously talking about whatever X-Corp employee had dumped her at the school.

[Samantha McManus]

"There were naturally some concerns about academic ethics in your file, but I rather think those won't be a concern if you can present openly as a mutant, aye?"

[Laura Weston]

She nodded, "There was some argument about applying that label to me in the first place. The dishonesty part, not the mutant part. But majority rules on college inquiry boards."

[Samantha McManus]

"So I trust that in a more receptive environment, we've no worries about that? I understand what it's like to be a shapeshifter Miss Weston. People are never quite sure they can trust what they see."

[Laura Weston]

"From an academic standpoint, you shouldn't be concerned. In the interest of honesty, I really can't make promises about practical jokes outside of academics. I'm not the malicious sort though and willing to own up to my own nonsense."

[Samantha McManus]

"Well then, considering Mister Stanton I think you'll fit right in."

[Laura Weston]

"The handler who dropped me off here threatened me with something about shapeshifting ethics, but she wasn't particularly clear. To be honest, I think she was tired of dealing with me. I can be a bit insufferable. Would you know anything about that? The ethics bit, not the insufferable part. I'm sure you'll figure that out in time..."

[Samantha McManus]

"We do tend to require ethics courses for some of the more... problematic types of mutations. Shapeshifting that allows perfect mimicry is one. Telepathy is another. You can imagine what I had to go through in my schooling."

[Laura Weston]

"Lots of don't do this, don't do that?" She ventured a guess.

[Samantha McManus]

"It's rather hard to count the sheer number of ways someone's trust could be violated."

[Laura Weston]

"I'm pretty certain I can imagine a few."

[Samantha McManus]

"And these days, I get to teach it."

[Laura Weston]

"I'll look forward to it then," she said. "And try not to get into too much trouble in the mean time."

[Samantha McManus]

"Any concerns? I realize this may be a bit of a departure for most people."

[Laura Weston]

"Just hoping I'll live up to expectations," she said.

[Samantha McManus]

"You're not begging to be on the teams, so you're already one up on a few students their first week."

[Laura Weston]

"Can't say that my ability would be all that useful for X-Men style shenanigans."

[Samantha McManus]

"You'd think that, wouldn't you?"

[Laura Weston]

"Maybe someone will prove me wrong," she said with a shrug. "Not planning on worrying about it."

[Samantha McManus]

"I didn't think my powers were very impressive when I first arrived either."

[Laura Weston]

"You can do other things though, right? Not just look like other people?"

[Samantha McManus]

"I couldn't even look like other people when my powers emerged. I didn't have much control."

"Still, being able to mimic other people is a rather significant ability."

[Laura Weston]

"Goodness knows I could get up to all sorts of mischief," she said, her voice melting into Sam's as her appearance did likewise. "But just because I look like you doesn't mean anything else."

[Samantha McManus]

"You act as if that's a trick that hasn't come in handy on missions," she said as her voice transitioned to Laura's, her appearance following flawlessly.

[Laura Weston]

"Didn't say it didn't have its uses, just said it wasn't useful for the general dust-up the X-Men create, that's all."

[Samantha McManus]

"It's not all punching people in the face," she said, still in Laura's form.

[Laura Weston]

"Well, then maybe there's a place for me there, but it's not like it's something I'm chasing at the moment."

[Samantha McManus]

"That's a healthy attitude," she said as she shifted back. "Too many think they can jump right to being a superhero."

[Laura Weston]

"I'm not even sure what I want to study yet," she said with a chuckle, returning to her own shape, flexing her wings involuntarily as they returned as well.

[Samantha McManus]

"It's obvious you do want to study though, and I think you'll find that goes far with our faculty."

[Laura Weston]

"Oh, I definitely do. That's probably what gave me away. A jock being too attentive in class," she grinned.

[Samantha McManus]

"Well now you can just be the purple-haired girl being attentive in class. I think Professor Sackville might just die of shock."

[Laura Weston]

"I'll try not to damage him too badly with my sharp desire for learning."