Jeanne and Laura, backdated to 12/19/17

[ax_finesse]

Jeanne manages, against all odds, to make a friend all on her own.

Jeanne was working up a sweat. Which was nice, since most of her typical fitness routines were so boring that she needed a setup where she could be reading three or four texts at a time and listening to something else simultaneously. She'd set the Danger Room to play an untranslated work of Emmanuel Kant, which she was translating in her mind (with some latency, given the nature of German). That was sufficient to keep her brain satisfied as she moved through the training simulation she'd come up with for herself.

She had brought her escrima sticks down with her, and she was pirouetting and cartwheeling through a field of inanimate targets, striking at pressure points as she went, never faltering. For anyone else, it would require complete and total focus. For Jeanne, it was literally just going through the motions. The practice was simply to keep her body in shape and to make sure that her muscles were still responding as they should.

First target: Kidney. Second target: Neck. Third target: throw, strike the Adam's apple. Cartwheel, recover stick on rebound. Fourth target: pirouette, reverse strike to kidney. Fifth target: quick step, turn, strike temple. Sixth target: pirouette, solar plexus.

Jeanne made a mental note that she would be well served by acquiring training partners so that she could participate in higher-difficulty training simulations. Or, she considered, talking with the Professor to see if she could gain special clearance for simply herself.

Laura hoisted her bag up higher on her shoulder as she made her was down to the Danger Room, drowning a little and sighing when she recognized the signs of it being used already. They needed to start a schedule, this was not the first time she had walked in on someone or someone had walked in on her and it was a little tiring. She walked up to the window and set her bag down, watching a the dark haired girl inside moved around expertly. Laura raised an eyebrow at the girl’s weapon of choice, but continued to watch in intrest as the girl moved well.

Very well. “Interesting.”

In the midst of the movements, Jeanne had made notice of a figure in the observation area, and glanced up to read the girl's lips. She finished a reverse-gripped strike to the back of a target's head before straightening and gesturing for the young woman to join her.

When she saw the girl invite her in, Laura could not help but be curious and she straightened as she moved into the room with the other. She watched the girl for a few seconds before offering a greeting. “Hello. You fight very well.”

"I do many things very well," Jeanne said, her tone matter-of-fact. She didn't cease her routine to talk; it wasn't like her to do only one thing at once. "It is one of the byproducts of my mutation. My name is Jeanne Foucault," she said, as she twisted to strike a target with a snap-kick to the back of the head.

“Jeanne.” Another Jeanne, so now Jeanne-Marie would have to go by both names out loud and in Laura’s head from now on. She watched the girl continue to move even though Laura was in the room talking to her and found it both interesting and a little irritating. “Your mutation allows you the ability ...? To learn things quickly?”

"Yes," Jeanne said, still going through her routine. "A gross oversimplification, but it does."

“Mmm.” Laura replied, then crossed her arms over her chest. Did the girl ever stop moving? “Would you like me to leave you alone? You seem intent on finishing your practice and I would not want to interfere.”

"Apologies," Jeanne said, ceasing her movements. "I find it effortless to devote myself to many tasks equally without a loss in performance," she said. "I often forget that others perceive that as being... indifferent."

Indifferent was not the word Laura would have called it, but she should not judge based on that. After all, her own tone and demeanor had people thinking she was certain things when she meant nothing by it. “It is fine. Are you new? I have not seen you around before.”

"I am," Jeanne replied, nodding. Idly, she tossed one of her escrima sticks over her shoulder, still listening to the recording of Emmanuel Kant over the speakers. The stick struck one of the targets in the forehead, and it bounced back, striking the floor and coming up to Jeanne's waiting hand which was now at her side. "I plan on spending a great deal of time in this place. It has a number of uses."

“It does.” Laura agreed, looking around at the plain wall that were so much more than what they seemed. She tapped her hand against her leg for a moment before deciding that it would not hurt to ask. “Would you like company in the room? Lately, I’ve been enjoying training with others. It seems to help me learn how to deal with different things.”

"Indeed. More people means we can run more advanced simulations," Jeanne said, nodding. "Your company would be appreciated." And, if she was a competent fighter, Jeanne could learn more by observing her, which was, of course, a perfect reason to accept the company.

She liked how this girl thought and nodded. “I will set up an advanced simulation if that is alright with you?”

"Of course," she said. She was curious as to what this other girl would have in mind for them.

With that Laura quickly moved to set up a simulation, with a level she had never tried with any of her partners yet though she had thought about it with Lil. She moved back into the room as the walls started to move and prepare, letting her claws come out as she waited.

—————————-

Laura gasped for air as she finished cutting down one of the last few robots that were attacking them, her claws running through it as if it were made of aluminum. She glanced over to see how Jeanne was fairing, wincing a little when sweat ran into her eyes.

Jeanne didn't have the raw power that Laura possessed, but everything had a weak point. It was through the exploitation of those weak points that had allowed Jeanne to fare so well. Using her escrima stick as a lever, she severed the last robot's neck, and looked over to her companion.

"You fight very well," Jeanne said, echoing Laura's earlier statement about herself.

“Thank you. I trained hard in order to.” She looked at the stick in Jeanne’s hand and nodded towards it. “What is that?”

"An escrima stick," Jeanne said. "I had them custom-made." She had no need to explain what they were used for, since Laura had seen plenty of that.

“You’re good with them.” Laura replied. “Did you have to train long to learn how to use them, or did you mutation help with that?”

Jeanne tapped the stick at her hip, thinking of how best to reply for only a moment. "Most individuals require time to commit movements to their muscle memory," Jeanne said. "I do not. I do a thing once, I remember, perfectly, how to do it, and my muscles can follow through those motions. These are by no means the only weapon with which I am proficient. These are simply my preferred combat option."

Laura tilted her head curiously. “What other weapons have you tried?”

"In practice, relatively few," Jeanne said. "I am proficient with several firearms in both practice and observation. The same applies to weapons. Unfortunately, I lacked an environment in which to practice, until now. These escrima sticks were the only melee weapons with which I was able to adequately train. Other than unarmed combat, of course."

Laura thought back to Wynonna and her power, which was a gun. “I believe they have a shooting range in Salem Center, otherwise if you wished, you could use the grounds for shooting. Though you would have to be careful. Where were you before that you could not train?”

"If they do, I doubt they would allow me to practice, as I am a minor," Jeanne pointed out. An unsupervised minor probably couldn't rent a firearm to use at a range. "Also, I do not own a firearm, which complicates measures somewhat. I am certain that I could pursue illegal means to procure a weapon, but the school would likely frown upon that. And before, my environment was rather busy, occupied with contests, training for other sports and activities, and conditioning exercises. As well as studies."

Laura gave a small nod as if she understood what it was like for a teenage girl to be busy with extracurricular activities. At least she understood being dedicated to studies somewhat. “Your parents must be proud.”

"My parents utilized my mutation in an opportunistic fashion," Jeanne replied. "I was branded a prodigy. I earned them a great deal of money in the form of grants, scholarships, and so forth." She shrugged.

“I am learning that those who use their children for their own gain are not very good parents.” Laura replied, not even able to call Rice a parent. That would be disgusting. “Did they bring you here?”

"No. I brought myself here," Jeanne said. "It is likely my parents do not know where I am."

“You ran away.” Laura stated bluntly, but gave an approving nod. “Good. Those wanting only to use you should not be given the opportunity anymore.”

"Agreed. However, my various sponsors for the activities in which I participated have been notified of my status as mutant. They have all, without exception, dropped me. My parents will receive no further funding due to my actions." That was how Jeanne wanted it.

Laura paused for a moment and looking at Jeanne in confusion. “You notified them? You are not worried about the backlash?”

She had seen the response to the three boys from this school who had come out as mutants, some positive while many others were terrifyingly negative.

"I am not," Jeanne said, frankly. "I have taken measures to assure that they do not know of my current location, of course," she said.

“I see. That is good then. We will not have to worry about the added threat of word getting out about us then.” Laura sighed, knowing that they were not going to have to deal with Jeanne’s sponsors telling everyone. “So, what will you do once you are finished at school?”

"I am... uncertain," Jeanne said, the lack of certainty apparently not bothering her. "I plan on seeing what opportunities this school affords me. Perhaps I will become an instructor. Perhaps I will do something else."

“You know more than I do about the future then. Congratulations.” She realized that even though she had not meant it that way, her comment sounded like sarcasm. “I mean that sincerely.”

Jeanne hadn't suspected it to be sarcasm, if only because Laura hadn't struck her as the sarcastic type at the moment. "I appreciate the sentiment. Though, I imagine that certain staff or faculty may be able to assist you with determining an outcome to your education here."

“I am sure they would love to assist, but it makes no difference if even I have no idea what I wish to be.” Laura replied, only having recently become used to the idea that she would not be a murderous weapon the rest of her life.

She took a few moments to consider Laura. She knew little of her history, but she knew far too much on how to fight for someone her age without a mutation that made her a natural, like Jeanne herself. "Perhaps we can help each other find purpose," Jeanne proposed.

Laura tilted her head slightly in curiosity, looking the other girl up and down again. “And how would you suggest we accomplish that?”

Jeanne continued to regard Laura in a fairly cool fashion, but tilted her head forward slightly for emphasis. "It would involve becoming friends," Jeanne said. "It is my understanding that friends help each other. As I continue my education well above the high school level it is becoming clear that I have a ... profound lack of creativity," Jeanne confessed. "I cannot promise any immediate results or even theories as to how we might find purpose in our lives. However, as we both search for the answer, it would be mutually beneficial for us to maintain a friendship."

“Friends?” That was a word she used far more frequently here than she had ever thought she would and gave Jeanne another once over. She was not like Ororo or Jeanne, nor Jubliee and Fatale. Jeanne seemed more like...herself, which was odd since unless she was a clone how could that be? She gave a small nod after considering and held out her hand for a shake. “I would like to become your friend.”

Jeanne nodded in return, and took Laura's hand in the offered shake. "Then friends we shall be," she said, though she had to be honest, she had little idea as to how to be anyone's friend. Perhaps Laura would be good practice, just as she had been with sparring. "Are you perhaps hungry after our exercise?" she asked. Eating meals together was a thing friends did, after all.

“I could eat.” Laura replied, giving a shake and pulled her hand away. “The cafeteria?”

"Sounds acceptable to me," Jeanne said, nodding and heading toward the door.

Laura headed out after her, making sure to shut the room down and wondering how this new friendship would go.