Nicodemus and Rebecca
Nicodemus and Rebecca Yoder looked around as the approached the mansion. They had never seen a single building so big before in their entire lives. As they walked into the foyer, they're eyes widened.
"Nico," Rebecca whispered, "Those girls are wearing hardy any clothing!" She said, shocked. Nicodemus averted his eyes.
"Becky, we must try very hard to keep our innocence and our purity here. I do not know why Mother and Father sent us here, but they did. WE must study hard on how to control our gifts, so that we may return home to our family tthat needs us." Rebecca nodded.
"I will try hard, Nico. And they will not blemish me, I have a strong soul," they younger girl reassured her brother. Before long, they were approached by people who wanted to welcome them to the school
Nyx
Nyx walked up to the Amish students, her eyes a little wide in surprise. Amish didn't usually go outside their farming communities. She started speaking in the strange almost Dutch the Amish used to talk to themselves. "Good morning, did you have a long flight here? Welcome to Dr. Xavier's School for the Gifted. My name is Nyx, and I'm not actually a mutant but I live here with them as protection." She smiled at them, trying to make them more at home. "For them, not me. I can take care of myself, have been doing it quite succesively for the last coupla thousand years. But, listen to me go on so! Sweeties, you're welcome here. I think that's what needs to be said. May God bless your endavours and your learning here." Nyx inclined her head. She *liked* the Amish. They were good folk. "Welcome."
Nico and Becky
Becky looked up at the scantily clad catwoman. "You don't look so old. What are you?" She asked in in the odd amalgamation of Dutch and German.
"Becky, don't be so rude. Are you a friend to the plain people then? There are so many English here," Nico looked around sceptically. "Maybe we should not have come."
Llewyns and Nyx
"I'm a cat, sweetie. I am a friend, or I was...don't know how matters stand now. Been a while." Nyx looked sad for a moment. "And yeah, there's a lot of English around. You'll get used to them. Hey, I got used to humans, and believe me, humans are a lot more different to cats, then English to the people."
"Nissie!" Siobhan squealed and ran to the catwoman, Mary following more sedately behind her with the twins. Vortigern was very pale and leant on Mordred a lot but he was recovering from Cain's attack a few days ago. "We came for a visit!" Nyx swung Siobhan up into her arms, and Siobhan giggled.
"And aren't we glad to see you two! Vortigern, you should be in bed," Nyx scolded as she slipped back into English.
"That's what I told him," Mordred snarled. "But no. Mr hero here has to get up and walk around, and tear the goddamn stiches open!"
"I'm fine," Vortigern insisted.
"Of course you are! You only got a knife through the chest a few days ago, and a bullet in almost exactly the same place!" Mordred glared at his obstinate twin.
"Anyway, these are two new students. They're Amish, so cut down on the swears, Mordred."
"Hi! I'm Siobhan, and I'm six!" Siobhan said, glancing at the two before hiding her face in Nyx's shoulder again.
Becky
Becky smiled. "Hi Siobhan, I have a little sister your age, her name's Elizabeth. THere's 8 of us, altogether. Nathaniel's the oldest, he's twenty-four, and he's married. Then there's Sarah, she's nineteen. Nico here, is 17, I'm Becky, I'm fifteen. And then there's Elisha and Elijah, they're 12. Then there's Elizabeth, and the baby's name is Mary." She looked around. "I'm kind of scared to be here, truthfully. I've never met so many English before. We keep to ourselves, we do."
Llewyns
"My name's Mary as well," Mary said confidentally. "We're from Wales, and then England, and then America and New York. It's been interesting, to say the least."
"Amish? That sounds cool," Vortigern said.
"And I refuse to be labelled English. Stupid Sassenach."
"Mordred, you don't even know Gaelic," Vortigern pointed out. Mordred grinned.
"Doens't mean I can't dislike them."
"You're too weird, wolf," Mary said, shaking her head.
"Grrrr..." he growled at her. "So, what's your powers? Me and Vort are telepaths, I can teleport as well, and he can manipulate light. Nyx is magic."
Nico and Becky
Nico and Becky instictively backed up. "Magic? The reverend teaches that it's evil, and the Book says it as well." Becky said, now frightened. Nico put his sister behind him.
"I'm psychokinetic, and Becky can manipulate inorganic material." Nico frowned at Nyx, unsire of what was going on.
Nyx and Llewyns
"Oh, bunnies." Nyx looked disgusted, then slapped Mordred up the back of the head. "I am not evil. I'm not good either, but I'm definetely not evil. And you'll havta get used to magic, seeing as how it is amazingly prevalent."
"Hey, ow." Mordred rubbed the back of his head and glared at Nyx.
"I'm a cat. I don't get to look human by using science. Magick is me, I am magick. There's a vampire living here, he's got a soul so he's good. There's a girl who has some Will o' the Wisps. There's another girl who is made of mgaickal energy. I don't wanna shock you or anything, but there is magick, it knows you exist, and magick isn't evil! It's a tool, that's all." Nyx frowned and cuddled Siobhan closer to her.
"How can Mab be evil? She's pretty and she told me about stuff." Siobhan looked confused.
"Oh, dear me," Mary mumured as she saw Nyx's back go up straight. "Annoying a godling isn't wise," she advised the two Amish.
"No, I'm calm. I like the Amish, except for that vaguely annoying trait." Nyx shook her head. "They actually practise what they preach."
Becky and Nico
Nico held his sister close to him. "I am sorry if we have offended you, ma'am. It is only what we have been taught. This is all new and strange to us. This is the first time we've ever left our villiage before, we'vew never been away from family r friends before, and we've never encountered real magick."
Becky looked up from where she had buried her face in her big brother's shoulder.
"I am sorry, Miss. It's just, well, I've heard all the fairy stories that Oma likes to tell. But Father said that magic is witchcraft, and Witches are evil. I do not know much, This is my last year of school, and Nico was done at 16, as is the custom. We are not worldly, and do not know worldly things."
Nyx and Mary
"I'm not mad at you, not really." Nyx smiled. "You'll have a lot of things to get used to. Computers, people's clothes, oh, a ton of things."
"What's it like to be Amish, anyway?" Mary asked.
Becky
Becky thought about this for a while. "I don't know how to explain, because I've never not been Amish. Well, we live on the farm, and once you're 16, you don't go to school anymore, you stay home and work all day. Life in nothing but chores, and farm things. But we do have fun. SWomebody told me once, that there are some books, called, "The Little House on the Prarie" and that's a lot like being Amish. We aren't allowed to have eliectricity or anything. WE can ride in cars, but not own them. We can't use computers. WE can use telephone in case of emergency, but we can't own them. We can't show off our bodies, and girls can't show off their hair. I like it though, it's all I've ever known, and it's safe."
"And I'm to be married when I'm 18. Her name is Esther Elizabeth Johannsen. She is very pretty."
Llewyns
"I don't know what I'd do without my computer," Mary said thoughtfully.
"Mate, you're gonna be *married* when you're eighteen?" Mordred shook his had. "Now, that's gotta bite serious arse."
"Shut up, Mordred." Vortigern punched his brother on the arm.
"Shut up, yourself."
"Shut up, the two of you." Mary rolled her eyes. "Excuse them. They have problems."
"*We* have problems, Miss Wednesday Adams?" Vortigern said with a grin. Mary just looked at him calmly.
"Yes. You do."
Becky and Nico
Nico and Becky looked quite confused. "Who'se Wednesday Addams?" Becky asked, innocently.
"ANd, well, it's an arranged marriage, but I agree to it. Our fathers set up the coutship, but we got to choose if we agreed to it." Becky grinned.
"She even rode home in his buggy after church yesterday!" Becky exclaimed.
"Rebecca Yoder, bite your tongue." Becky looked ashamed, and Nico blushed.
"And how old are you two?" Nico awsked the twins.
Mordred and Vortigan
"We're seventeen. Twins," Vortigern explained. "Siobhan's six, and Mary's ten."
"So...I'm guessing that riding home in the buggy with her was a big deal?" Mordred eyes gleamed.
Nyx and Llewyns
Nyx reached out and twacked Mordred upside the back of the head again. "Ow! What?" He glared at her and Nyx rolled her eyes.
"It is. A very big deal. It's like going out for dinner and a movie. Big, big deal. Be nice, or I'll do something unpleasant."
"Like what?"
"Tell Logan you put your hand on my ass."
"You wouldn't dare! He'd bloody kill me!" Mordred's eyes went wide at her threat.
"Could and would, sweetie." Nyx blew a kiss at him. "Bite me." Siobhan wriggled and Nyx placed her carefully on the ground.
"Dru went to Europe, so's I can't play with her. Is Enrique around? I wanna play."
"Go ahead, sweetest. He's around here somewhere." Siobhan ran off to find Enrique. "Sweet kid. So, do you wanna come inside and look around? Get introduced to people besides these two? Mary and Siobhan only come up for visits, they live with the twin's mother and step- father."
Nico and Becky
"Um, okay," Nico said. "I don't actually think I properlyu introduced myself. I'm Nicodemus Yoder, or Nico, and this is Rebecca, or Becky. It's very good to meet you, MIss" And they followed the catwoman into the school.
Storm and Bobby
Storm and Bobby were walking together to the kitchen after class.
"It's not that hard really, you just have to get used to it..." Storm was trying to explain her last lesson to Bobby, who was having some problems with it.
They stopped short at the sight of the two new students.
"Hi there."
Nyx
"Storm, Bobby, these are our two nes students. Nicodemus Yoder, or Nico, and this is Rebecca, or Becky. They're Amish." Nyx made introductions.
Nico and Becky
"Hello, we are two new students here. My name is Nicodemus Yoder, and this is my sister, Rebecca." Nico held out his hand, as Becky smiled, figeting with her bonnet strings.
Storm and Bobby
"Hi." Bobby smiled warmly at the two new arrivals. "I'm Bobby."
"And I'm Storm. Nice to meet you two." Storm extended her hand to Becky, who was still fidgeting.
Becky
"Very nice to meet you ma'am." Becky said, shaking Storm's hand. "I'm sorry if I seem nervous, it's just, this is all so new, you know?"
Storm and Bobby
"Ah, don't worry about it. We've all been new here at some point or other, haven't we Bobby?" Storm smiled warmly at Becky.
"So you guys headed for the Professor's?" Bobby asked.
Nico
"Yes, we are," Nico said, "But Becky's nervous for more reasons than just being new. What she means is that everything is new. Electricity, being around so many English, being out of our town. We've never been away from our family before, not even for the night, and this, well, it's all rather frightening." Nico put his arm around his little sister and held her close.
Bobby and Storm
Bobby looked confused for a second before it sunk in his head what they were wearing. "Ahh."
"Come on, I'll take you there. I can meet you in the kitchens Bobby?"
"Sure." Bobby left cheerfully, still confused about Storm's lesson though.
"It's just this way. So how do you like everything so far? It can be scary at first, but I'm sure you'll get used to it." Storm led them through the mansion.
Becky
As they followed Storm, Nyx trailing behind, andf the twins gone off who-knows-where, BEcky tapped on Storm's shoulder.
"Thank you for not treatin us like freaks. I feel like everybody's staring at me. You have an accent, are you from far away?"
Storm
"No one should be treated like a freak. Besides, we're all a little different around here." Storm paused. "Yes, I'm originally from Egypt, then I spent some time in Kenya, but right now, my home is here. And hopefully, yours will be too."
Becky
"I don't know. I have to be here until I learn to control my power, and stop making rocks fly whenever I'm scared. And Nico is getting married when he's 18, so he may not be here long. This is scary to me." Rebecca replied.
Storm
"Well, everything will work out. The Professor always knows what to do. Speaking of which, here we are." Storm opened the door and let the two new students into his office. He turned around from the window.
"Professor, meet Nicodemus and Rebecca, these are two new students here. Nico, Becky, this is Professor Charles Xavier."
Nico
The Professor smiled. "Yes, I do believe we met when I came to visit you on your farm, and speak to your parents about you coming here. How are you doing, are you beginning to get a feel for the place yet?"
"Well, this is all new, sir, but we are trying to get settled in." Nico answered.
"Yes, good. Why don't I have Storm show you to your rooms, and then you can join the rest of the school in the cafeteria for supper." They nodded and left the room.
Storm
Storm nodded at Xavier and left the room. She led them down the corridor to the sleeping quarters.
"Nico, you'll be in here with Bobby and John." Storm indicated the room on her left and then continued doesn the hall a bit. "And Becky, you're in here with some of the other girls. Kitty, Rogue, Theresa. You'll be fine."
Storm then led them down to the cafeteria where Bobby was waiting patiently for Storm. He'd saved them all seats, so Storm led them over to where he was.
Becky and Nico
Becky took her tray and got her food, as Nico, John and the girls did the same. She, however, could not mask the look of shock on her face as everyone just dug into their food. She sat across from her brother, and the two held hands as Nico said the blessing out loud.
"Heavenly Father, we thank you for letting us be in a place where we can learn to control our gifts. We thank you for the opportunity to make new friends and find new paths. Please bless this food before us and make it a nourishment for our bodies, and please bless the hands that prepared it. Thank you fir the opportunity for fellowship with new people, and allow it to be nourishment for our spirits. In Christ's holy Name, Amen."
"Amen," Becky echoed, and they, too began to dig in.
Nyx, Logan, Vortigern and Mordred
Nyx made her own blessing over her food, mumuring words of Ancient Egyptian then biting her hand to release a droplet of blood. She ignored the stares. If she was gonnna go hunting later and expect any prey, she needed to do this. The blood disappeared with a hiss and a flash of white light and she started to eat calmly. "Logan, I'm going to go hunting later. I found rabbit trails up in the woods. Wanna come with? Pretty sure a demon's taken up residence in the woods too. Fyarl, I think which doesn't make sense but... Fyarl are stupid."
"Whatever, Nyx." Logan was eating slowly and methodically.
"I'm going to paint," Vortigern said as he toyed with his food. "So many people here fill me with ideas on my paintings. I need to get them down."
"I'm going to sleep. and do that history assignment." Mordred made a face.
Storm and Bobby
"I'm going to teach again." Storm put in before turning to Bobby who was still looking rather confused. She again began the task of trying to explain what she had just taught him and how he was meant to go about doing his homework.
Becky
"So, " Becky began, "What is it like here? Because I'm finding everything quite confusing. For example, what is a computer? I've hear people mention them, and I think some people in my school had them, but I've never seen one."
Nico
Nico looked up, startled. "You mean there are real, physical demons out there? I mean, I always thought that they were more spiritual, and not actual, existing sorts of things."
Bobby
"A computer's like this... electric box which can access all sorts of stuff." Bobby tried to explain. It was hard to explain these thigs, as he'd been around them all of his life and he realised now just how much he took for granted.
Becky and Nico
"Will you show me?" Becky asked him as she finished up her meal. She caught Nico's look. "Nico, I mean, what's the harm in learning about these things? I mean, this is a chance for me to learn things. And then, when I'm done here, I'm just going to go back to the farm and get married and have lots of children like I'm supposed to. Can't I have a little bit of adventure while I'm here?"
"Becky, we're supposed to be in the world, but not of t he world. Although I suppose it wouldn't hurt to much. We all get to have our fling, I suppose this will be yours."
Bobby
Bobby nodded, and took a sip of his soda. It wasn't cold enough so he blew into it, which also frosted the glass.
"Sure, whenever you're ready."
Becky and Nico
Becky looked at Nico, who sighed. "All right, you can go." He looked at Bobby, "Just don't show her anything on the internet that isn't appropriate. I mean it, okay?"
"Nico, I can take care of myself."
"I'm sorry Becky, I just worry about you, you're my little sister."
"I know Nico, but I won't become impure just by learning things, I promise you."
"okay, go, I know you want to." She squealed and hugged her brother, and then went off with Bobby, leaving Nico with the others.
Bobby
Bobby frowned. Why would he show anyone porn? That was just really really weird.
"Through here." He led her to the computer labs, deciding not to take her to the computer in his room. Because she might be exposed to John's porn. Both on the net and under his bed.
Bobby switched on the computer and connected it to the internet.
"You can basically look up anything you want."
Becky
"You mean, this box just shows you thing? How does the information come through?" Becky was astonished. She'd never seen anything like this before. Even electricity confused her.
Bobby
Bobby paused, uncertain of how to explain everything. Computer science wasn't exactly his forte.
"Um well... there's this... um... yeah. I don't know how to explain it. It just does. Maybe we can ask someone later, coz come to think of it, I'm kinda puzzled how it works too."
Becky
'It's all electrical, right? How does electricity work? It confuses me." Becky asked, flicking the light switch on and off.
Bobby
"Just another thing I'm used to and never questioned. It's like... there are power stations, and you can make electricity from water. I'm not very good at this. Should we go find someone else who can explain this?" Bobby shrugged.
Becky
"Maybe the Professor knows, I think he knows a lot of things." Becky saaid, as she moved the mouse around, amazed at how it worked.
Nyx
Nyx chuckled throatily. "Yeah, things that go bump in the night have actual physical existence. Where's Spike?" She looked around for the bleached blond vampire, spotted him, put her fingers to her mouth and whistled shrilly. "Oi! Bleached wonder! Get your cute ass over here!" Spike ambled over, mug of what Nyx could smell was blood in his hand.
"You called, pet?"
"These are two new students. They haven't exactly met demons before. This is Spike. He's a vampire with a soul, which means he's good now but was rather more fun when he was evil." Nyx made a pout face. Spike grinned. "Oh, c'mon. You know it's true. And don't call me pet."
"Why ever not, pet?"
"Grrrrr."
"You have a lovely growl going there pet. Maybe one day it will be remotely scary, pet."
"Well, *William*, shall we start on the time when me and Dru chained you to the ceiling?" Spike looked away, and Nyx grinned in triumph. "Don't mess with this kitty, she's got claws. It's a good story though."
"Don't you bloody dare."
"Where's Dawn? I'm sure she'd like to hear stories of you me and Dru. Which somehow mainly seem to revolve around you getting your ass kicked by me. Anyway, vamp out for the little kiddies."
"'M not a sodding sideshow."
"No, you're not. You're their first lesson in demons. Game face, please."
With an affronted sigh, Spike obligingly vamped out.
Becky and Nico
Becky screamed and hid behind Nico, who jumped back himself. "Jesus Christ, protect us please," he prayed. "He really is a demon!" Becky was shaking.
"Satan is here, in this school. Nico, I want to go home! It's scary here!" As a reflex, the statue in the hall flew across and slammed into Spike, sending him flying backwards.
Nyx
"BLOODY HELL!" Spike hit the wall with a crash. "What in the bloody blazes was that?!" Spike got back up to his feet, snarling.
"Satan isn't here though. Although, Spike! He called you Satan, do you feel proud?" Nyx called out.
"Yeah, sign me up for the pride march." Spike winced.
"Actually, I've met Satan. He's a lousy dresser and a bad kisser, but hey. Being the pinnacle of evil for a religion does have its perks. I'm the daughter of Bastet, so...you'll havta get used to this. I am the daughter of a Goddess of Egypt. I am a cat godling. I rule some parts of this earth as I go about my lonesome ways. He at least has a soul. I don't." Nyx grinned, flashing her sharp white teeth. "And home is probably just as full of demons as here is."
Nico and Becky
Nico wrapped his arms around his shaking sister, "Shh, Becca, I think it will be okay," he said in the soothing tones of the Dutch language she had learned first.
"So, you're not evil?" Becky asked, tentatively, "And he's not evil? BUt demons are the tools of the devil, and talk of other gods is blasphemy. The Bible says so." Becky sounded asconfused and afraid as she felt.
Nyx
"I'm not evil. He's no longer evil. And I met Jesus. Nice guy, less bigoted then his Father, that's for sure." Nyx's eyes went dark. "Wouldn't let me save him, either. And Jehovah is a bit of a conceited idiot, really. Just because he says there are no other gods, doesn't make the others go away just cos he says so." Nyx looked away and sighed. "Don't sweat it, sweeties. You're doing well. I shouldn't have asked Spike to vamp out at you. There are nicer aspects to magick around."
"Bloody hell, if they were gonna do that, I really would've appreciated it if you had!" Spike growled at Nyx, gameface sliding away. "Lucky the blasted ring didn't come off, otherwise I'd be on fire about now."
Bobby
"The Professor can probably explain anything to you. Or one of the girls. They usually pay attention in class."
Bobby smiled while watching her play around.
Becky
Becky looked down, slightly ashamed. "I'm sorry, sir. It's a defense mechanism, or so the professor says. When I get scared, inorganic things tend to fly around, usually rocks and stones. I didn't mean to hurt you, it's just, you scared me."
Nyx and Logan
"S'alright, pet. Vampires don't bruise easy."
"And thank the Eternal Mother for that small blessing," Nyx mumured, flashing Spike a wicked glance from under her lashes. Spike knew if vampires could bluch, he'd be blushing. "Anyway, I'm going hunting. Fyarl demon, Spike, wanna come with?"
"If you're going off campus I better stay here. Dawn an' that."
"Ok. Let's go, Logan. talk to y'all later, sweeties." Nyx and Logan headed off. Vortigern smiled at the new students.
"You'll get used to her. She's a bit outspoken, but she means well."
Becky
"What is the point of this?" she asked, opening up Minesweeper.
Bobby
Bobby frowned. "It's a game. I'm still no good at that game. But the aim is to click those boxes without getting a mine."
Becky and Nico
"All right. I'm going to learn about computers," Becky said, "Are you going to stay here, Nico?"
"I think I'm going to sit in my room and read for a while," he said, "For some reason, I feel like I'm in an 'Acts,' mood," he grinned at his sister, who caught the hidden joke and smiled back.
"All right then, I shall see you later," and she went to follow Bobby, as Nico headed back to the boy's bedroom.
Becky
"Okay. Let's go see the Professor, I want to know how all this stuff works. Like telephones, and microwaves, and toasters, and all that stuff." Becky frowned. "Father said it isn't good for women to know too many things, but then why do I always want to learn?"
Bobby
"It's normal to want to know about things. Come on." Bobby stood up, shut down the computer and led Becky to the Professor's office. He knocked gently on the door.
"Come in."
"Hi, sorry to interrupt you Professor, but Becky had a few questions."
Becky
The professor patiently listened as Becky bombarded him with questions about electricity, computers, televisions, movies, etc.. He tried hard to explain them as best he could, and when he was done, Becky felt much smarter, and much better about it all.