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[Ingrid Barnes]

Ingrid considered herself a rather intelligent woman. She'd been to college, read scholarly journals in her spare time, and kept up with the latest news. Ingrid had spent decades teaching high school and had a fair amount of knowledge on how to deal with teens. She felt that there existed few problems in life she couldn't overcome with thought and time.

There was one area however that evaded the usually sharp woman. Technology. Unlike most of the world, Ingrid had little luck with the helpful devices everyone else viewed as advanced. The first time she'd sent an email, her oldest son had actually treated her to dinner in celebration. So when a computer error found it's way onto the PC in Ingrid's classroom, she was panicked.

She'd just wanted to check her email, Renee had sent pictures of the grand kids, when her screen turned upside down. After checking to make sure her monitor was still in the right place, Ingrid began to press every button in sight in hopes to fix it. This proved a wrong course of action as a series of numbers and symbols flew across the screen faster then Ingrid could process. At this time Ingrid's notoriously short temper kicked in. She'd really like nothing more then to send a stream of sand through the screen, but her respect for property held her back. (Besides it wasn't to long ago a student had shattered her favorite Elvis record. Why would she put someone through that misery?) Instead she banged a few more buttons and was rewarded with a everything going blue. Ingrid twitched.

The enraged shriek that followed would drift through her open window down to the courtyard and would be the undisputed proof between a group of freshman that Hammel was indeed haunted.

[Dimitri Spade]

Dimitri liked visiting Ingrid. He liked how much wisdom she had to offer him, and how she loved teaching and how, even for her age, she could have so much energy about everything she did.

Carrying a hot coffee for Ingrid in one hand, and a orange-spice tea for himself in his other hand, on top of which was a plate with some biscotti on it. He knew she liked the almond-flavored ones, so he had gotten three of those, just in case it had been a bad day.

He was humming a tune that was deforming from one song to another, he walked down the hallways which branched out into classrooms. Carefully stepping as smoothly as he could she he wouldn't drop or spill part of his load onto the filthy floors. It was then that a familiar shriek echoed across the school, one that he probably could have heard from his own office. He startled, spilling a bit of Ingrid's coffee. Dimitri silently felt bad for any students that had enhanced senses-- that scream much have blown out their eardrums.

He walked a little further, entering his friend's classroom, sill carrying the drinks and the pastries, keeping himself calm as he put them on the table next to the computer. He glanced up at the screen and sighed.

"I brought you coffee and biscotti. I hope you're still in the mood." He looked back at the computer. "You know, you have my number on speed dial-- I can usually walk you through this kind of thing." He laughed a bit at her, falling on his knees next to her and his spidery hands fell over the keyboard, clicking up a storm until the screen restored and Ingrid's email inbox was up on the screen. Dimitri breathed again, standing up and pulling a chair to sit on. Behind his glasses, his eyes shone with laughter at his psammokinetic old teacher.

"By the way, good job scaring the new students. I swear that they will never enter into your dungeon without a friend to keep them safe, poor kids." he shook his head, making his red curls bounce just a bit. "So how're things, Ingrid?" he asked folding his harms as his blue eyes watched her.

[Ingrid Barnes]

Ingrid looked up from her angry failing at the computer when Dimitri entered the room. "Dimitri." The word came out as more of a plea than a greeting. She was slightly mollified by the appearance of coffee and lean over to it with grabby hands.

"I'm always in the mood for coffee." She replied, taking the mag and drinking deeply. She sighed, and reached for the biscotti-ah, Dimitri knew she loved almond- watching the boy set to work on the blasted contraption. Ingrid nibbled on the edge of one, sending Dimitri a withering look.

"I would have called eventually. Ah, Dimitri you're a godsend." She said, lighting up when the screen returned to normal. With a noise that was not a squeal, she stole the mouse back to finally get the pictures she wanted. Still looking at the younger man out of the corner of her eye, she went back to grumbling. Though the feeling was gone out of it. "I wouldn't have been able to do it myself anyway. These machines don't make sense."

"They'll get over it." She nodded as if it improved her point. Honestly, Ingrid felt a little bad now that the object of her anger was gone. She'd have to be a bit nicer to her classes this week to prove she wasn't a demon. Maybe she should put off that pop quiz? Her last words came out as an unsure pout. "I'm not nearly that frightening. Didn't scare you that bad, did I?"

"The same as always. Bickering with Richard, planing my son's wedding, annoying my- look at that. Aren't they precious?" She broke off mid sentence to stare at the picture of her grandchildren in their Halloween costumes. The twins were dressed as a devil and angel respectively. After a moment of admiration, Ingrid launched back into the conversation. She jovially smiled over-and up, he was still taller then her went sitting-at the man. "And you, Dimitri? Not that I don't adore your company, but what brings you to my aid this morning? "

[Dimitri Spade]

Dimitri laughed, thinking back to the days of the awkward kid who couldn't stop thinking and sketched on the desks when he ran out of notebook paper. He remembered her looking over at him and gently telling him in the most intimidating voice he'd heard that he had to wash the desks. He was terrified of her, but later in the year she became his favorite teacher.

He remembered when he had a breakdown and cried and screamed because of everything in his head. She had been there. She had helped him. Dimitri remembered flipping out about other things, and he came to her to speak.

She inspired him. She was his hero. He liked having dinner and coffee and wine with her. It was probably his favorite thing about everyday.

He looked back to the computer, where the twins were dressed in their respective costumes. "That's too cute." He grinned, then let it disappear from his face. He waved his hand, "Well, I haven't slept in a few days, and I don't know, I've grown fond of your company. I've also been lonely. I don't know, I'm frustrated with being crazy."

He took a drink of his tea and ran a hand through his red curls. "It's great the your son's getting married. How're the plans coming along?"

[Ingrid Barnes]

Despite the fact she liked the boy, Ingrid had never been to impressed with his need to write on desks. That would be why, after the fourth time catching Dimitri scribbling on the forbidden surface, Ingrid brought a sketch pad to class and left it on his usual desk. She had never mentioned it, though other students had grumbled, and it was one of the very few times Ingrid decided that a little preferential treatment was allowable. Because it was really for the desk's sake.

Ingrid knew it was completely unethical, but she did have favorites. She also thought any teacher who said they didn't was a dirty liar. She didn't let herself show a difference in treatment, but it was evident from the fact certain former students were joined in her cooking escapades or came over for guidance and old wisdom. Dimitri, obviously, was one of the favorite students. He was intelligent, respectful, as kind as they came, and there was something in his nature that called to the mother in her. Which is why in his youth, when she'd seen the boy in such distress, Ingrid had went to him. She was no expert on side effects like Clarisse or psychology like Sean, but Ingrid knew a hurting child when she saw one. And that was one thing she could never turn her back to.

She gave a smirk at his approval of her grand kids; her (spoiled) pride and joy. The smirk turned into more of a frown when she heard how Dimitri had been. Eyebrow arched, she responded in a concerned tone that. "Not sleeping again?"

"It does stroke my ego to hear you enjoy my company, but it worries me when you say these kinds of things." She smiled briefly then, with a sigh, patted his knee. She did love the boy like he was her own flesh and blood, the very Ingrid reaction to the 'strays' she adopted from this school. It pained her to see any of her children anything but happy.

"One: You are not crazy. If you are, I'm a thousand times more insane." It was a poor joke, since most of the population of Hammel already thought the old woman was half senile, but she smiled wryly none the less."Two: You're not alone. As long as I'm kicking, you've got me. Three: Tell me everything, sweetheart, looks like that mind has been whirling and I'm a responsive outlet."

Satisfied with herself, she leaned back into her chair. She didn't quite take her hand from Dimitri. "The plans would go along just fine if they'd set a date. I think they want a permanent engagement."

[Dimitri Spade]

Dimitri smiled weakly at Ingrid, who had just done what she was far too good at. She always had a no-nonsense way about her. It pulled him back down to earth more often than not. He took another drink of his tea and took a heavy breath in. Closing his eyes for a moment. Letting his guts compile into one easy little lump so they could be poured out easier onto her plate, and she could pick through them and figure out what was worthwhile to put in and then put them back so he could live and sleep and be a person again.

Her hand on his leg comforted him a lot, as Ingrid had become a definite mother-figure for him. She made him feel so much better, and he was glad that they often had these kinds of chats. His finger reached under the dark brown frames of his glasses, wiping at his sleepless blue eyes, then looked back up at Ingrid.

"First off, I've got this new kid in research. He isn't bad, but he's a little quiet and I'm afraid I've been scaring him with my super-brain talking. I don't think he thinks I'm too right in the head." He took another drink of his hot tea, the spicy drink feeling good on his exhausted voice. "And then there's this issue with my testing of powers. I've been second-guessing myself on how to test, who test and what to test for, and its been driving me insane. And my apartment is a disaster because I lost my notes for my tests this week and I tore up my apartment trying to find them and I still can't find them."

He sighed, pushing his glasses back up his face. "Anyway, I heard that you are doing the pig dissection this week. I think I was one of the ones that fainted. To think that I'm a doctor now is kinda hilarious. Are you worried about anything this year?"

[Ingrid Barnes]

"Ah, I'd heard a bit about a new face." She smiled. "I doubt he's scared, maybe intimidated by those smarts, but you're about as frightening as wet kitten." Easy for Ingrid to say, while another might be alarmed, she usually found a reason to laugh and love. "He'll come to like you once he gets used to having you around. If not, just send him my way and I'll fix it."

She mirrored him and gulped down some coffee. Taking a bite of her biscotti she waved it at him as she talked, using it to punctuate her points. "Second guessing is never a good thing. In my experience, your first instinct is the one to go with. And if you have a new worker, put him to use and ask his opinion if you're unsure."

"I suggest cleaning up your apartment and seeing if it turns up then." Ingrid replied, still twirling her biscotti. "If not, it'll turn up in the place you last expect it." That was how lost left socks turned up.

"Ah, I remember that." She grinned, leaning back into her chair with a laugh. "Gave me a scare, not many students pass out from it. Get sick, yes, but not pass out. The fact you do what you do now, just means you've gotten a stronger stomach."

Ingrid looked off thoughtfully, put effort in the question. "Well, I suppose I'm worried about the same things as always. Richard, my children, my family here. But I'm not worried in a some-might- or has-happened way. More that I just want to see all of you happy and settled." She nodded to herself, patting Dimitri with the hand she left on his leg in a distracted manner.

"Speaking of it, are you worried about something?" She asked, peering over her mug at him expectantly.

[Dimitri Spade]

Dimitri put on a fake pout at being called a wet kitten. He was very aware that his intimidation was probably the lowest in the entire school, but at the same time he looked at himself in the mirror and saw someone that could be dangerous. He knew if he ever snapped, it would probably be terrifying the the school. In his head he held all the weaknesses and all the shortcomings and all the downfalls of all the people that were powered. That's why he talked to Ingrid, who was down to earth and knew how to take him down there, too.

He rolled his eyes at his companion's dry comment about finding his notes. He was honestly terrified of cleaning his apartment. He didn't want to be in it with it in the sorry shape it was in now. He was afraid everything inside it would explode or eat him while he slept. Hey, it was possible.

Okay, maybe not. But he had sound reasoning behind the theory that it could. After all, he knew a kids who could pick up cars.

"It wasn't my stomach, Miss Barnes, it was the fact that I was supposed to cut up something that was an infant!" he half-shouted, half-laughed.

But his laugh faded as she asked him about his worry. His worry was never gone, but lately it had been even more evident, despite him trying to hide it. What's worse, he didn't even know how to word it so he didn't sound crazy.

He dropped his head, looking into his hands, intertwining them. "I... I feel sometimes like I'm hiding a darker side of me. I see plans and ideas and applied weaponry forming in the back of my head. I know how to kill so many people, and if ever I lost my sanity, or lost my body to a duel personality, I'm afraid that it would be impossible to stop myself from making these things."

And then his cheeks lit up and he buried his face in his hands. "And then there's this guy...." he mumbled behind his palms.

[Ingrid Barnes]

Ingrid laughed at Dimitri's raised voice, shaking her head. "Say what you will. It still managed to amuse me."

She felt the happy mood pass as quickly as it came, frowning as the smile slipped from Dimitri's face. The frown deepened when he looked away, staring down in a way that twisted Ingrid's old heart. His words didn't do much to help.

"Dimitri. Dimitri." She called affectionately, putting down her snack and leaning forward to place her hands on his shoulders. "You don't need to worry about these things. It won't happen. You're too strong to let it happen." She smiled tenderly, motherly. "And in the rare chance it does, I'll personally come and snap you out of it. But I know it's not going to come to that."

Ingrid hated seeing people in pain. Even more, she hated seeing her family in pain. She'd seen Dimitri grow from one of her students into a fantastic young man. He was practically like a son to her. And she just couldn't take anything less than perfect happiness for her boys. So when Dimitri came to her with his problems, she tried her best to ease his mind and make him smile again. Ingrid felt it was the least she could do for him.

Ingrid caught the blush before he tried to hide it, raising eye brow and letting her usual grin slip back into place. "What guy, dear? Did something happen?"

[Dimitri Spade]

Dimitri smiled weakly towards Ingrid, happy with her kindness and her support and words that made him feel better. Nonetheless, he had to get some things out still.

"Have you ever read any comics, Ingrid? I mean, you probably haven't, but I like them, and they help me with my problems. But lately I've been noticing some things. Have you noticed that it's almost like we're in a comic book? We are prosecuted and we are trying to get kids to understand and accept themselves. We're trying to make good people, but at the same time there are the meta-extremists who are trying to make us worse. The only reason I bring this up is because we all know of the group in town. They try to recruit our students, and they attack civilians. I know this sounds selfish, but when I read the comics, I also find stories of the scientists who are kidnapped and forced to build... things they don't want to. I think that's my greatest fear, to be responsible for so much death and destruction, but even worse, knowing it was in my mind the entire time. It's almost inevitable that we're going to have either witch hunts or we're going to have another civil rights movement. Maybe both, and I don't know which side would want the other dead more."

He sighed, then rolled his head back on his shoulders, looking up at the ceiling, breathing through his mouth gently. "And this guy.. nothing happened. At least nothing bad, but-" He sat up, looking straight into Ingrid's eyes, "You know Stephen, right? He comes to the lab twice a year for tests, you know, like all the staff, and every time I... I don't know... I can't talk to him about anything other then powers and complications and side effects, but I really want to..... you know?"

[Ingrid Barnes]

Ingrid didn't read many comic books, she preferred her stories to come without pictures, but her sons had collected them growing up and through their excited rants, she knew a bit about the general story lines. She knew where this parallel was going, what with all that had been going on recently, and couldn't say she quite liked it. "I understand." She sighed, rolling her shoulders tiredly. "We all worry about those things. I worry about those things. I won't say that those people won't try to do anything to you, I'm not at liberty to make that promise." She shook her head, looking deathly serious. "But you know, the people here would come for you. Hell, we'd try to our last breath to keep them from getting their hands on you in the first place. And I'd hunt down every last person involved and show them exactly how I feel about it."

"As for civil rights or witch hunts..." She sighed again, picking back up her coffee and swirling the cup. She stared into its contents like it held the meaning of life. "I don't doubt it will come to that. We've just got to work and hope that it ends well for everyone." Ingrid believed, eventually, things would settle and everyone could live harmoniously. But she also believed there would be years of anger and bloodshed before that day could come.

"Yes, I know him." She smiled, glad for the shift in mood. "He's a nice man." She drunk from her cup, thinking. "I suggest meeting him outside the lab, ask him for coffee or whatever you kids do these days. Maybe a change in venue will help you change the topic?"

[Dimitri Spade]

Dimitri had a fleeting thought of the kind and sharp-witted Ingrid Barnes making a mini-sandstorm around someone, their flesh tearing off and when the storm settled there was nothing but bits of muscle and tissue holding onto white bones. IT was scary. But what was scarier was the fact that the way she said that they would come for him, he didn't think such a scenario was too far-fetched.

He smirked a bit. Feeling a little better. "Thanks. I needed to hear that." He suddenly felt himself take a heavy breath and relaxed quite a bit. The older woman could do that for him a lot more often than most people could.

Dimitri felt his face heat up when she started talking about Stephen again. He couldn't help it. Dimitri was the type to remain silent until the other person would say something, anything about how they felt. Talking to Stephen wouldn't be easy, and asking if he wanted to have lunch or coffee would also be a lot harder than it should be for any man. He wasn't aggressive in his words or good at expressing how he felt. He was more likely to lie and stutter and be awkward.

"I don't know about that. Maybe sometime? I'm not good at talking to people. I would probably need alcohol or something first. Liquid courage, since I have none myself." He laughed halfheartedly, perhaps upset at himself, perhaps out of his almost complete-exhaustion. He sipped at his tea, now a little lukewarm, though it still tasted good to him. "I think he likes scotch... but I'm not sure about being in a bar. Maybe I can invite him somewhere without it being too formal." His mouth moved with his thoughts. Then he shook his head and was brought back to reality with Ingrid.

"Thanks. I don't mean to stress you out. Tell me, has everything been well with you? Outside of the electronics, I mean."

[Ingrid Barnes]

Ingrid might be old, but she still had fight in her. She'd rarely had to settle disagreements with violence or powers- not counting that man at the bar a few years ago, he got what was coming to him after saying what he did-but if it came to it, she would. Ingrid had trained for years honing her powers, and thanks to living with a former officer, had a mean punch. Anyone who messed with her 'strays' would never do so again.

"Of course." She lifted her mug to his gratitude, nodding lightly. "This is what I'm here for. To help my students. Even if it's easing fears. And even if they aren't my students anymore."

"Drinking before a date is disastrous. Alcohol just makes people act foolish." Ingrid advised, seriously hoping Dimitri wouldn't really do that. But more than that, she was weighing in her options. Didn't another of her 'boys' have his eye on Stephen? Ingrid sincerely this wouldn't turn out badly. "Drinking at the date is fine as long as he drinks too. But you want something more personal. Say you want to treat him to lunch, to make up for having to prod at him during the tests. It's friendly, intimate enough, but rather low pressure."

"Dear, I'm not stressed. I'd be more frantic if you didn't see me regularly and keep me updated." She smiled patting his knee again. "Everything's as well as expected. I'm old, but still have my mind. The student's still debate that my charm is really just me being some demonic force trying to disrupt their lives. My husband still works all the time. But me, I'm dandy."

"Ah, that reminds me. Richard's working late tomorrow. Would you like to stop in for dinner?"