Focus and Friction (Open)

[Naomi Green]

Naomi nearly winced. Most of what Sokolov stated resonated quite strongly with what Naomi herself had spoken to Kessler not too long ago. Find the boundaries of your power and push against them, stretching as you could. Really, Naomi should have been able to figure that out on her own, and if she hadn't been quite so determined to prove Sokolov wrong or come off as superior, she might have been able to. Naomi's frustration showed in her movements as well, with the control wavering slightly, the objects dipping just slightly.

"I would like to push my power to its limit, and possibly beyond," explained Naomi. "We are given these gifts, for whatever reason, and only a fool would not take advantage of them. I am certainly not about to sit quietly by, knowing I can do wondrous things, and settle for something ordinary. Ordinary people accomplish very little."

Naomi paused, before lowering a hand. Her fingers were moving now, directing the various weights about. All mental, and her mind had locked upon the weights, pushing and pulling, moving and weaving them around one another. She jerked her hand up, closed her fist, and jerked down. The weights slammed into the floor, ringing loudly.

Naomi's head swiveled slightly, to Sokolov, to observe for just a moment. A slight nod, and Naomi's hand extended again. The weights leaped upward, as if they were loyal animals heeding their master's call. "Isn't it our extraordinary capabilities that have led us here? Do you have a gift, Ms. Sokolov? Perhaps something quite extraordinary."

She dragged that word out, somehow making it seem even longer than it actually was, heavier, almost.

[Yulia Sokolov]

Lia was quiet to say the least while Naomi spoke. There was something off here, something so wrong that Lia was not sure how to handle it or how to pick out the behavior exactly. She was no psychologist, far from it in fact. So how did she go about approaching this? She was a trainer, not a humanitarian, not a guidance counselor. Wondrous gifts, amazing abilities, yes that was true in many cases, but truly why push so far. Lia knew that answer, she knew it darn well but expressing it to this student would be difficult to say the least. She couldn’t exactly just come out with it.

“There are some things that are not worth developing further than they already are,” she said cryptically. She didn’t want to expand on this all too much, as her own ability stood as a prime example of this. That left her at an impasse. “And who do you call ordinary? I don’t think anyone here is set to judge what is ordinary and what is not.” Lia made a bit of a point with her voice on this statement.

Lia glanced over at the crash. If Naomi was moving to try this then she was going to have to try hold, Lia had been shot at, hit by a car, and hell she’d even had her leg nearly blown off. Some noisemaking wasn’t going to bother her all that much. She did look over though and then raised her eyebrows. “I do not remember instructing you to stop.” Still Lia gave no instruction for Naomi to start again. It seemed like this girl was getting close to an edge already.

For the first time Lia was starting to get the feeling of the girl as she was presented in some of her transfer files. Still she was not about to tell Naomi that she knew that. “You know well enough that I must, I work here as a trainer after all. As for something extraordinary, I would not call it that.” Something horrible, yes, something harmful, yes, something amazing, in a sickening way.

“Do you know what I do not like Naomi? Tattoos. I don’t think having such obvious and identifying marks on one’s body could ever do any good. Explain yours.” She pointed directly to Naomi’s arm.

[Naomi Green]

Naomi certainly agreed with her trainer's statement, though she was already suspecting that Sokolov was digging deeper than that. There was an edge there, a tint that hadn't quite come out as strongly before. Naomi recognized it, but she also recognized her tendency to read it in people who didn't have it before. She needed to move cautiously from here.

Making large displays of power and noise hardly fit in with that plan. Naomi held her hand steady, keeping the weights in position, more or less following the orders that had been given her. Orders. Not suggestions, but orders. Needed, in situations like this, and that was another lesson that all needed to learn. Besides, Sokolov certainly spoke with authority, and Naomi was willing to yield to that.

"Judging ordinariness is quite easy, actually. Those born without gifts, those who society has already deemed to be a member of the norm, those are whom I refer to," the ones who had failed, in Naomi's eyes. They'd ruled long enough. It was time to step aside and let their betters take command.

Hardly extraordinary. Naomi was tempted to show Sokolov how extraordinary she could be, but held back, remembering her position. Mustn't let her passion take control and guide her. The results would be unpleasant all around. Listen and try to keep the tongue still.

Too many instructions for Naomi, obviously. It certainly didn't help that Sokolov essentially did what Naomi hoped most would do.

"It's representative of a culture that was nearly destroyed by its own race," explained Naomi. "A group of people who were shoved into special living quarters because of their difference to society. There people could keep an eye on them, understand them, even research and perform experiments upon them. Surely you can understand not wishing to forget our past? My name is Naomi."

And she had a father named Reuben. Just because her family favored Hebrew names hardly meant Naomi was Jewish, but she so loved seeing people squirm at the hint.

[Yulia Sokolov]

Lia was now on edge about this girl, not that it showed. She knew better than to pry right in with questions. No, she was going in a specific direction here. Perhaps she had managed to seem too laid back, or too accepting of whatever Naomi’s training whims were. No, she was doing well here, and that was not the problem. Lia knew that she had control here, no question about it.

Lia kept a straight face as Naomi explained her particular system for judging who was ordinary and who was not. Lia had to resist getting angry at what she saw as such foolish and selfish blindness on the part of this girl. “You know Naomi, some of the most extraordinary people I have ever met were not metas.” Ben and Josh came to mind immediately, as well as Kiko. “What we can do actually matters very little in the long run of things. We all end up the same way, we all have to make livings. I certainly do not think meta or non-meta is an appropriate basis for judging anyone.”

The next bit from Naomi finally clicked it all into place for the trainer. Oh yes, that was what this was then? Lia could not help the knot that formed in her stomach. Still there were chances to explain this particular action of Naomi’s away, and Lia would try to do that if she could. Then she said something very telling, our past. It was just something about how she said it.

“You are Jewish then? And is this about the holocaust or something else…?” It could be about meta persecution. In which case, Lia was at a loss to understand this girl. After all she went to kosher, what could she have witnessed of that variety there? Lia had seen it though, she had seen absolute cruelty in many forms. Her blood began to boil a little despite her best judgment. She took a moment to calm herself down mentally.

[Naomi Green]

{oh dear lord, the crazy's about to come out}

"Perhaps that is true," admitted Naomi. "I'm certain, in fact, that it is. There have been several important and influential people who definitely haven't been metas or gifted in such respects. However, there time has passed; there is something new here, a new group of people better suited to guide things in the right direction. Surely this school and its staff, yourself included, wants the students to go out and influence the world? That is all I truly want."

Yes, to enter politics, by force if need be, and change things. There were far, far too many problems in the world, and Naomi knew exactly whom to blame for most of them. How could someone not see metas as superior to the normals in every conceivable aspect? Even the dimmest ones, such as the young man that Naomi had played foolish games with only so long ago, had unique gifts and capabilities that edged them over. The other men should realize this, should be willing to step aside and let the more capable fix their mistakes.

It was all too logical not to make sense, really.

"I'm British, mostly," said Naomi. "And more agnostic than anything. The numbers serve as a reminder, and a bit of a conversation partner."

Naomi paused, then shifted her hands, drawing the weights so they were in front of her trainer. "Weren't we here to train, Ms. Sokolov? Forgive my impudence, but I do wish to hone my abilities further."

[Yulia Sokolov]

Lia’s blood ran a little cold at what she was hearing from this particular student. She didn’t like it, not in the least, but how was she supposed to combat such a mentality. So Lia sid the most direct thing that she possibly could. “I do not wish that, not at all. This school wants its students to go out into the world and be good people, good citizens, and supportive community members, just like any school would. We are not special because we are metas, we are different because of it but it does not entitle us to any more or any less than any other person. I think that is the most important thing that any meta can know.” However she felt she should add a bit more, just for good measure.

“After all we don’t want to hurt anyone, we don’t want to cause any pain.” Lia herself knew that in the extreme now at the least. She was near mentally married to the idea, except for the fact that she was worried she could not carry that through. Perhaps it was just the years of military service that made her feel that way. Perhaps it would be different if it was just military service, but no, she had been deemed special, and special was the last thing she wanted to be in a place like that.

“Put the weights down Naomi,” Lia said evenly. “We do need to have some further discussion on those numbers. You see I am concerned that some students of Jewish heritage might be insulted by that. I am certain that any culture who has been through such difficulty might be sensitive to someone using representations of that for any other purpose.”

She’d start training her again once she was satisfied with how this girl’s mental facilities stood.

[Naomi Green]

"I certainly don't object to that. We do need to build a supportive community," replied Naomi. She nearly smiled. It was quite clear that she was getting under the trainer's skin, and she recognized the reactions all too well. As for the rest of what Lia said, the nonsense about us not being entitled, well, suffice to say that Naomi disagreed. Slightly.

No hurt, no pain, no ill effects. "I hardly wish that myself," said Naomi, more than half truthful. "It's merely a matter of achieving a goal. Progress rarely comes about until there is a will, a passion, significant change."

Naomi forced herself into silence after that. Couldn't tip the hand, not too much, not at this stage. She also followed orders, lowering her hand and gently setting the weights upon the floor. Further discussion; as though Naomi hadn't already heard several arguments, heard this exact argument before. There was some truth to it, she had to admit, and it certainly wasn't her intention to slight the Jewish community in the slightest. Quite the contrary.

"I have realized that myself," said Naomi. She wasn't looking at Lia, instead pausing to consider. "However, that is hardly my intent. I am attempting to honor them, to remember that memory. Believe me, I've considered this, and had this discussion before."

She paused, looking over at the weights. She'd felt the session had been productive, up until they'd started to talk about politics and beliefs instead of actual training and powers. Pity. Naomi could certainly use a trainer that actually trained and pushed her students.

"Truly, I would much rather focus on honing my power," she said, finally turning her head to look back at Lia. "May we continue again?"

[Yulia Sokolov]

Lia made a conscious choice not to react all that much and simply shrugged. “You are young yet, and you will learn that progress for the sake of progress is truly worthless. There is nothing here that needs to be fixed. I do not know what goal you could possibly find that needed achieving in regards to a certain group being in control. I know that there are certainly groups that should be kept from power, extremists and the like. However things here, they are not bad.” At least not from what Lia could tell, at least not compared to back in Russia. This just seemed silly and uninformed to her.

Still Lia was uneasy, though she knew better than to let it show. What did she do about this? How did she handle it? Well it seemed that the only thing she could do was lay down her rules, here and now.

“Naomi I will tell you this, having a symbol of the extreme pain of any community is not honoring them. Not a mark like that.” Lia straightened up. She wasn’t tall but she knew she could be imposing if she wanted. She didn’t want to be imposing, but she wanted to make sure hat she was absolutely clear.

“You do not know what true human suffering and pain is really like. I have seen people, meta and not, turned into monsters, I have seen the lowest and darkest parts of human nature. I have seen the same in meta nature, the same, no difference, absolutely not. You do not know what it is like to be made into something truly awful. I do, I know all of these things, and I have faced them. When one group tries to control another there is no way to avoid pain and destruction.” Lia closed Naomi’s file on the desk. This would have to be cut short.

“So on that note we are done for today. I think this time would be better suited for you to use to think about what you do have here. In addition, if you wish to continue training with me, you will cover up the tattoo for those sessions. Naomi, it was not a lie that I can get you to the point you want, but I will not do that if this sort of attitude persists. If you accept that then I will see you at the same time tomorrow. Is that clear?”

[Naomi Green]

Progress for the sake of progress, more lies spun by the machine. Naomi hardly wanted to move simply for the sake of moving. You only had to look around you to realize that things required moving. Perhaps the school was Paradise, though little Naomi saw indicated that, but even then, there was the outside world to consider. Naomi felt the protest well within her, but forced it down. She couldn't erupt in front of a trainer, especially one as intelligent as this one. Even if she was apparently brainwashed by the machinery of the wasted.

More lecturing about the mark. Did Sokolov truly think she was adding anything new? Telling Naomi anything she hadn't heard already? It was nearly laughable, and much easier to take than the propaganda spewed forth moments before.

More interesting by far was the next. The proclamation of suffering, spoken from experience. Lowest and darkest parts, mirrored in meta nature. Made into something truly... awful. Naomi's goals weren't taking her down that path. Things needed to be done in order to fix things. The world was wrong. It needed a new order, for those with power to be where they needed to be. Why waste time listening to the obsolete? It was like arguing that we should have stayed with horses and buggies simply because there were more of them than cars.

Done for now. Naomi shifted, her face remaining blank. Think; she was going to do that anyway. As for the tattoo: "Yes, Ms. Sokolov." Because now Naomi was intrigued. Oh, she was certain that Yulia Sokolov would push her, make her power expand and do what she wanted. That was certainly still a factor. But the brainwashing was too interesting, and while it might be playing with fire, Naomi fully intended to be as close to that as possible.

"I've seen gloves that cover the forearm. I'll buy a pair," she said. As for her "attitude," well, no promises. But Naomi could act. She knew how to behave in society. so she nodded now, accepting the terms.

Because she knew how to lie too.

[Yulia Sokolov]

{Officially wrapped!}