[CT] Six Degrees

[Fern Abbot]

Fern wasn't entirely sure why she had come. Being this close to so many mutants was asking for trouble. Though, her therapist had also told her she needed to overcome her fear. She was trying her best to stay positive of course, because really, what else could she possibly do? Wallow in self pity and hide away? Sure, it sounded preferably, but it wouldn't do her any good and she'd likely get yelled at for slacking off.

She could feel the close proximity prickle her skin like an itch. She hadn't had an instance since she had arrived and put her bag into her cabin, but she knew it was only a matter of time before she got another "episode". The thought alone made her sick to her stomach.

She didn't want this to happen - not here, not in front all these people. She had moved from England to get away from all that. She'd desperately wanted to be branded as someone else than the sick, fragile girl from Oxford.

The bile grew in her stomach, twisting and turning until all she could feel the corner of her eyes blackening. Heaving, she pressed her eyes shut, hands pressing against her stomach. "One, two, three," she breathed, "four," she pressed her lips shut. "pleasepleaseplease."

Tag: Aleu Kalani

[Aleu Kalani]

Aleu was so excited! The Bellefonte trips were not to be missed and she'd spent months planning exactly how she was going to spend her free time. The young girl had been one of the first off the buses, though half of that reason was from her hatres of being trapped indoors with so many people. Not that she didn't love people, but she found crowds overwhelming, especially when she was cut off from nature. She'd taken to carrying around a small pot holding her old strawberry plant as a comfort item and had spent the bus trip practicing making it grow.

With her bags safely dumped and the strawberry plant still in her hands, Aleu was flitting from place to place, excitedly exploring her new domain. There was nature everywhere! It was almost overwhelming. Clearly she wasn't the only one that thought so.

Out of the corner of her eye she spotted a young girl with her hands over her eyes. It didn't look like she was playing hide and seek with herself, so Aleu was automatically concerned. Tucking the pot under her arm, she hurried over and stopped before the young woman. With one hand she reached out and gently touched the girl's arm. She could hear her voice quietly but couldn't make sense of the jumbled words. Despite that, she felt worry bubbling in her chest. "Hey. Hey, are you ok?" Her eyes were wide with indecision. She wasn't so good with people, and she'd never known a plant to have a panic attack. What would she do, if she were in this mood?

Taking the strawberry plant, she shoved it towards Fern's hands. "Here, hold this," she instructed firmly. "It always helps calm me down."

[Fern Abbot]

Pressing her eyes shut, Fern could feel the crimson color of embarrassment and utter horror form on her face. She didn't wish for the attention. She didn't wish for people to take pity on her. It made her feel even more sick than what she did already. This was the sole reason the young brunette had moved away from England. She wanted to start anew and this surely wasn't the way how to. "yeah," she whispered, her voice raspy.

Eyes opened and she stared at the other girl. Her eyes dropped to the plant before confusion colored her eyes like a veil. She blinked once, two, three times before reaching a shaking hand out. Slowly, she could feel the nausea pull back, either because of the distraction or simply because the bout had passed. Either way, it worked.

Slowly, Fern leaned back up, unsteadily trying to get her feet properly planted on the ground. She stared at the plant still, mouth opening and closing. God, her mouth felt so dry. "...do you always carry this thing around?" she asked.