Who says picnics are girly? [open]

[Clarisse Prideaux]

Clarissa was a little upset that her tarantulas-to-kittens strategy didn’t work this time. It tended to guilt people into at least looking directly at her tarantula. Adam didn’t seem phased in the least bit.

“Have you ever been bitten by a tarantula?” Clarisse asked skeptically. Few people knew anything about tarantulas; only that they were venomous. “The dosage of venom is takes to kill a bird or a lizard is nothing compared to what it takes to kill a human. It doesn’t even hurt.” Clarisse explained.

Slowly she reached over, so as not to startle ChiChi, and pinched Adam quickly with the tips of her nails. Sure it hurt, seeing as she’d pinched him, but she didn’t figure it was vicious or anything. “Like that. Less than a pinprick or a bee sting.”

Clarisse shook her head and smiled down at her pet, sighing slightly. “But no. ChiChi has never bitten me. I was bitten by a more aggressive species in the pet store, which is why I adopted my little darling instead.” She cooed, giggling and stroking one of ChiChi’s legs. The spider only twitched slightly, rising up on its eight legs before simply settling down against the blanket again.

“She wouldn’t attack anything that she didn’t think was food.” Clarisse finally added, nodding to him. Clearly this conversation was over. Adam still looked incredibly nervous. Laughing good naturedly, Clarisse patted his hand again and grinned at him. “You do not have to worry.”

Chewing the inside of her cheek thoughtfully, Clarisse tried to explain concisely what her plans were for Hammel. They were extensive! She liked to plan far into the future so that she could stay driven.

“For here? I enjoy my work with the children now as a specialist, but I hope to continue to research with Eli.” She folded her hands in her lap. “Sometimes I hope that someone else like Eli will come along at the school, someone to prove that Eli isn’t just an anomaly in the system.” Clarisse laughed, shaking her hair off her neck. “And then I remember that humans are not just some system, they are human--meta or otherwise—and I just get back to my work helping the students the best I can.” Clarisse explained, looking over to him.

“Someday I might be a teacher, if I can get my license and I ever learn how to control and eliminate my own side-effects. Right now though, that is not an option.”

[Adam Collier]

She pinched me! She actually pinched me! Adam couldn't believe it, it hadn't hurt or anything but he was shocked. Is that what a tarantula bite was supposed to feel like? It wasn't that bad, not that he would want to get bitten or anything but he would live if he did get bitten. Adam was glad that chichi had never bitten Clarisse, at least he could almost trust this one not to hurt her. Even if the bites are nearly harmless.

"Well that is a relief."

Adam smiled as she talked about what it was that she wanted to do here. She seemed to really care about the people here and people in general.

"I too have thought about teaching, but over the years have realized I can help the students more as a trainer and counselor. I work with any kids who power can be affected by emotions, which is a great many of them especially at their young ages. More often then not I end up seeing those students at some other time as a counselor helping them work through their issues. If I tried to teach on top of that it would be too much, and I can't give up either of them. I also tend to believe that if I were a teacher they would not respond as well to me."

Adam was a little confused at the mention of Clarisse's side effect, he had never thought of her power as having huge draw backs.

"How does your power, and its side effect, affect your teaching? Maybe I'm just not too clear on what your power and side effects there of are exactly."

[Clarisse Prideaux]

Clarisse was interested to hear that Adam worked primarily with those whose powers were fueled by emotions. While she wouldn’t say that was the exact case with her power, she wondered if Adam had anything to offer by way to controlling her side effects. She made a note to look further into pheromone manipulation later. It was rude to quiz Adam now.
Nodding in agreement, Clarisse added a bit to his argument. “Teenagers especially detest authority. Your being a teacher might diminish your credibility as a councilor.” She pointed out, humming softly. “Also there is the fact that it would seriously fill your schedule. You might never leave the school grounds!” She exclaimed with a shake a of her head. “No no. What you do now is wonderful, let others take care of the book-schooling.”

In an attempt to avoid being too ‘science-y’ with her explanation, Clarisse didn’t say much in regards to Adam’s inquisition to her abilities. “Due to the hormonal nature of my powers, my side effects are inversely proportional to the exercise of my ability.” Clarisse explained, tenting her fingers and pressing them gently against her lips, careful not to smear her lipstick. “The more adrenaline pumping, the more strength I have…the more strength I use, the harder I crash.” She added, letting out a disheartened sigh. “Unfortunately the school that I came from didn’t do so well on teaching me to control that aspect of my power.”

Looking to Adam and gesturing with a free hand out towards the lake, Clarisse continued. “That’s why I don’t want to teach. I fear that if I ever do have to use my abilities that my side effects will shut me down, and I won’t be there for the kids.”

[Adam Collier]

Adam was intrigued by Clarisse's power, and the problems she was having. Adam wanted to help but he wasn't sure what he could do exactly. Had she been the age of most students she would be put right into training. Now however training her would be very difficult, as someone got older they became stuck in their ways and breaking them of bad habits was difficult, training them to control their powers even harder.

"Well I must say I am rather appalled that any school would not fully train you in all aspects of power use. As silly as it sounds I think you need to enter into training, just as if you were a student. I would offer to train you myself though I am not sure how I can directly help. I can help in general, but someone who knows more about your power would be better. I am willing to learn though."

Adam understood Clarisse's hesitance to teach.

"Well as far as not wanting to teach for fear of not being there, I think teacher here feels the same way. I think you find some interesting things in the teachers lounge. Every person has their own way of helping to make their side effects less incapacitate them. Some drink tea, some take vitamins, some drink milk, etc. Maybe some of them can help you out. My own personal side effect does not actually disturb my life so I do nothing special."

[Clarisse Prideaux]

Clarisse’s eyes lit up with joy and she looked as if she might leap across the space between them and hug him senseless. “You would really offer to help me?” Clarisse asked, sounded as if she were on the verge of tears of joy. She wasn’t really, but it would really be nice to learn how to properly handle her own side effects. Right now she was so focused on the problems of others that she rarely took on her own. “That’s so wonderful of you.” Clarisse cooed in admiration.

Of course her training wasn’t exactly the best. The school she had attended in France wasn’t built to help her learn to be safe, it was there to help her learn to be a weapon. She would be great in a fight…whatever happened after was of no concern to the French officials. That was why Clarisse dedicated herself so intensely to her work at Hammel. There were children still there even after the effects of the powers were gone, and Clarisse wanted them to be safe and healthy.

Nodding with widened eyes, Clarisse let out a huff. “oh yes. Many of the teachers are my habitual patients. They want to make sure they are in the best condition for teaching.” She chuckled. “Those vitamins and milk are probably my methods.” She looked at him and tilted his head to the side. “The scent? “ She inquired in regard to his side effect. It was well known that the majority of pheromone manipulators had that certain smell about them. Clarisse always figured it was just an intensified version of the human pheromones, but had not researched it too in depth. “That side effect…it is believed it will be the first to be cured totally in meta-humans. Did you know that?” Clarisse offered, hoping to brighten his day a bit.

[Adam Collier]

Adam had meant what he said, he would help her in any way he could and when he couldn't help her anymore he would find someone would could.

"It is really no problem Clarisse. We should not be afraid of our powers or their side effects. We control them, they do not control us."

Adam didn't know much about the school Clarisse had attended as a child. But he could only imagine that it was nothing like Hammel. In all likely hood, it was more a kin to boot camp. Places like Hammel were rare. "Normal" humans tended not to see metas as human beings but as things, weapons eve, to be used for their purposes. The idea of being forced to use your power to harm others made Adam sick to his stomach.

Adam knew many teachers sought Clarisse's help, Adam however had never seen the need. The odor he emitted did not offend people, sure it made things awkward sometimes but he could deal with that. Adam wasn't sure how he felt about his or any side effect being "cured" as if it were a disease. But then for someone like Clarisse where their side effect disturbed their day to day life no longer having to would be a blessing.

"I find it interesting that my own side effect, one that does no actually harm and is very benign will be the first to be cured. Instead of some other side effect that actually causes pain or disturbs someone's life. I found over the year that while nothing can hide my sent, it is not one that offends people. Most people not in the know believe it is just a cologne I am wearing. However I will say this, when someone that does what it is smells it I can tell almost right away how they view me changes. There have been a few times where I wish I could mask it or do away with it. However those times are few and far between. I must therefore wonder who and how they decided to work on finding a cure for it rather then for a side effect such as yours."

[Clarisse Prideaux]

Truly, Adam was right. Taking a deep breath, still appearing on the verge of gracious tears, she laid her hand over her heart. “Thank you, Adam. That is a very wise way of putting things…I think you’ve really put it in perspective for me.” If only the trainer knew just how on-spot he was about Clarisse’s schooling. Weaponization at the hands of non-powered humans was an all too real possibility, one that Clarisse hoped to never encounter again.

Shrugging and stroking one of Chichi’s legs absently, Clarisse attempted to justify her field of study. “I believe it is because it is the easiest place to begin. Since your side effect isn’t life altering or endangering, it is less detrimental when the experiments fail, as they are bound to do.” She explained, laying her hands in her lap again. “It is best to start with small achievements. Hopefully the successes made in abolishing your side-effect will lead to similar results for others.”

She looked at him quizzically, knitting her eyebrows together. “People think differently of you because they know you’re a pheromone manipulator? That’s absurd!” she exclaimed, truly unable to understand why that would be such an issue. Anyone who spoke with Adam for half a second would know that he’d never abuse his power.

[Adam Collier]

Adam could understand Clarisse's point of view. It was after all very unlikely that they would kill a person by messing with their... smell.

"That does make sense, though I can't help but think they could be spending there time better. Science has never been something that I understand easily. I had to study a great deal to pass those classes as a student, so I will have to take your word for it."

Adam laughed a little at Clarisse's comment, of course people treated him differently.

"Sorry I didn't mean to laugh at you, it just seems a little funny. Yes of course many people treat me differently. 'Normal' humans more so then metas. AS I am sure you are well aware, 'normal' humans do not understand us and often respond in fear. So many react to me being a meta in general. That I can generally handle. It is when they process just what I can do that it can get scary. A person (meta or not) does not like to have their emotions played with. The very idea that someone can literally twist them around and make them feel what ever it is they want scares them. Immediately they will start thinking back to any interaction we may have had to see if I have messed with their emotions. I can assure you that in 99.9999% of time I have in no way changed their emotions. Metas generally respond better especially if they have themselves have been changed on the ethics of power usage. How ever there is often lingering doubt. Often they try and hide it, but they can't. It makes romantic relationships especially hard. I once had a girlfriend tell me she could never trust if what she felt was really her, or if it was me forcing her. She made it sound as if she thought I was raping her. Since then I have had to choose very carefully who I am with. One person regrets it a little too much and I am in a whole world of hurt."

Adam hadn't meant be such a downer, it was simply the truth, and why he was so very careful with his power.

[Clarisse Prideaux]

Clarisse jumped a little when Adam laugh at her so suddenly, her movement making ChiChi rear up slightly in Alarm. “Shhh…ma petite.” She cooed, running a soothing finger over the spider’s back. Eventually the tarantula simply settled down again and Clarisse listened with increasingly widening eyes to Adam’s mini-sob story.

It truly was sob worth, to Clarisse, who looked terribly sad when it was all said and done. Clarisse truly understood the power of prejudice, especially when it came to non powered humans. Her husband had harbored them deeply, and she was positive they had gotten her godson killed. “Yes…I understand the apprehension of non-powered humans to metas. I…I suppose I had forgotten that people can be so suspicious.” Clarisse said quietly, looking away for a moment and knotting her hands in her lap, her blood running hot for a moment. It really did make her furious that people could judge them just because their biology was different. “Its not fair.” She asserted, shaking her head vigorously.

Shocked, Clarisse’s head snapped back to regard Adam with a slack jaw. “She…She what?! That’s absurd! You’re a good man! You could never do something like that.” Clarisse said, laying a hand over her heart. She couldn’t believe the nerve of some people!

[Adam Collier]

Adam jumped a little when chichi reared up, it looked ready to attack. He was even more surprised when Clarisse soothed the animal.

Adam hoped against all hope that Clarisse wasn't feeling any pity for him. He didn't want that at all, it had just become a fact of life for him. He tried not to dwell on it very often.

When Clarisse got quite about non-powered humans being suspicious. He felt there was a story there but he couldn't be sure and he felt now was not a time to ask her about it.

Adam smiled when Clarisse called him a good man. He didn't always feel that he was, so when others called him such it made him feel great. He was touched she truly cared about him, and that made Adam feel like a million bucks.

"Thank you Clarisse. You're right it is something I could never do and people who know me know that. And it that particular case they back me up and no charges or anything were ever pressed. Though the whole experience taught me a lot. I never date someone that I am not friends with first. And I am completely honest with them at all times. Things tend to go a lot better when I follow those rules."

[Clarisse Prideaux]

Pity was not really the word. Solidarity covered it much better.

Clarisse had scarcely look at anyone romantically for five years or more, after a bit of a breakdown on a date some years ago. It wasn’t so much that Clarisse herself was afraid of the dating world, she was just cautious, the same way Adam had become. Granted, she wouldn’t say she was ever “completely honest” with people that she met in Pilot Ridge, still too suspicious to go that far

“It takes a lot of courage to be completely honest these days. Everyone has something to hide.” Clarisse replied cryptically, hoping that the conversation would soon shift again. She wasn’t sure if she could handle skirting so close to the subject of her late husband. While she was sure Adam would keep her secret, it would be a shame to ruin this beautiful day with such a grim tale.

[Adam Collier]

Adam thought for a second about what Clarisse had said. Yes, everyone had something to hide which would make being completely forthcoming and honest difficult. However Adam believed that one could keep things to themselves and still be honest. There was o need to spill every deep dark secret to a person you were just getting to know and starting to date.

"Well I would say that it is possible to keep some things to yourself and be still be honest. There are things we all keep close to the heart. It is when those things define so much of who you are I think you need to tell the person you are seeing the whole truth."

Adam could tell Clarisse was becoming uncomfortable. He guessed it had to do with someone in her past. He had heard rumors that she had been married, but she wore no ring now. Something must have happened something that still causes a great deal of pain for Clarisse. HE wanted to make her smile, she had a beautiful smile.

"So Clarisse." He tried to make his voice sound light and happy almost flirty. "You ever jumped out of a plane from 1500 feet up in the air?"

[Clarisse Prideaux]

“Interesting…” Clarisse murmured, looking at him with a distant gaze. Clarisse was an expert at knowing when to skirt a subject, and she could tell that Adam was being as enigmatic about something as she was. She decided to let it pass, never the one to press, and simply nodded. “Honesty is the best policy?” She said interrogatively, suggesting another way for Adam to say what he had already said.

She blinked blankly at him, taken aback but his sudden change in subject as well as his sudden change in mood. Or at least, apparent mood. Smile she did, her face breaking from its serious, sadly nostalgic expression into one of incredulous humor. What had he just said?! “Goodness, no!” She said amidst her laughter, waving her and as if to swat at him gently.

Clarisse steered far clear of any adrenaline-high activities, simply for her own safety and the safety of those around her. “why would I ever do something that crazy?” Clarisse asked, continuing to laugh quietly. Clarisse was pretty sure that she would break something if she jumped out of a plane…namely the parachute chord. Or the ground. One of those two. Probably both.

“Why, have you?” She asked skeptically, shaking her head.

[Adam Collier]

Adam cringed very slightly when he realized what he had been saying and advocating for was in fact very cliche. Cliche or not he still believed it.

Adam was slightly disappointed when Clarisse had reacted negatively to his favorite pass time. It the right precautions and her training went well there was no reason why she couldn't jump. She would look really cut in the jump suits and all the gear.

"It is not that crazy at all. I have done it many, many times even a night. It is actually really quite safe, as long as you pay attention to the class you take before hand. If you don't listen and learn its your own fault when you get hurt. I think it is something you could learn to love. Maybe after you do some more training? I've taken my sister. It was tough to get my jump master to allow it but she loved it. Sacred her a lot though. But her smile at the end made it worth it. She wants to go again but my Mom and Dad don't think it is a good idea they were pissed when they found out I took her the first time."

Adam smiled remembering Evelyn's face when she jumped out of the plane. For those few minutes she was just like anyone else jumping, it was freeing for her. Adam would do anything in the world to make his baby sister smile like that again.

[Clarisse Prideaux]

Clarisse’s eyes grew even wider as Adam recounted his exploits in the air. “At night?!” Clarisse said again, sounding more like an incredulous mother. It was almost as if her words should have been “My son did what?!” However, Clarisse wasn’t really all that averse to skydiving she was just…shocked! It seemed so wild! So freeing!

She shook her head. “Oh my, I ….I don’t know if I could!” She said humbly, shaking her head slightly. “I mean there would be the landing to consider.” Clarisse pointed out. She paused for a moment and looked over at Adam, tilting her head. His face was full of fervor for the sport. Nothing like the stony passion he held for honesty, but a boyish love of adventure that brought a charm into him. Clarisse smiled. “But you say you’ve done it plenty…and here you are sitting next to me. Alive and unharmed.” Clarisse said nodding slowly, thoughtfully looking out over the pond. “Hm, perhaps someday I’ll take you up on that offer, Mister Collier.” She said, giggling a bit to herself afterward. What was life without taking a few chances, right?

Looking back to Adam, Clarisse’s smile grew very tender. She loved to talk to people about their families. “You…have a sister? I didn’t know that.” Clarisse said gently, her eyes expressing a deep interest in knowing more. “Why were they upset that you took her skydiving? Is she very young?” Clarisse inquired, unsure as to why it wasn’t a problem for Adam to jump out of planes, but somehow it upset his parents to let his sister go.