So how do I teenage?

While many of the other mutant students socialized and enjoyed the day, Cessily was not one of them. Which many who once knew her would have found out of character for her. Once upon a time, the red head been like many of the teenagers there, socializing and hanging out with friends, enjoying some gossip or preparing a routine for their next game. Pretty, confident, living a life, all quickly shattered in the blink of an eye.

Now, all Cessily could do was lean against a nearby wall, alone and seething with some jealousy. She was jealous of the mutants who could walk around and look normal, easily passing as normal humans and found herself strangely jealous of those who could be confident with their unusual appearances. Why? Why did she have to be one of the ones with such an obvious mutation, or a mutant at all for that matter? It felt unfair! Cessily’s jaw clenched slightly, missing the life she had before this...natural selection of nature had suddenly ruined everything!

So lost in thought was Cessily she had failed to notice Laura even approach her at first, not until she had spoken right next to her. Drawn from her thoughts of self-pity and self-loathing, the metal polymorph turned her attention to Laura, a seemingly new arrival but no one else really knew much about her. At least, Cessily didn’t know much. “Oh! Sorry, I didn’t even notice you until now.” She apologized, feeling embarrassed to have missed someone right there out of the corner of her eyes. “My name is Cessily Kincaid, although some have taken to calling me Mercury. Whichever you prefer I suppose.” Not that Cessily herself had exactly settled into the name yet, but refrained from expressing her personal hatred of herself for the time being, offering a smile towards Laura and holding out her hand to her.

Laura being so close didn’t seem to bother Cessily as it would with most. With the friends she had back in Oregon she was use to lack of personal space, her friends always crowding around and ready to share the latest gossip. Or just for the fact of having to work with others for a routine. So, she was quite unbothered and simply tried to be nice towards the mysterious girl, someone who had just arrived and with so little known about her.

“Yea....I guess it’s more accurate than anything else.” Though Cessily’s voice did not hide the disdain she felt for even mentioning the mutation. “But yea it’s a mutation, makes me capable of shaping and altering my body at will, a metal polymorph as I’ve been told.” She explained with disinterest, not so keen to go too deep into her mutation. “But, it’s nice to meet you as well Laura, hope you’re having a decent time here at Xavier’s.” Cessily spoke a little more kindly then, offering a genuine smile since she didn’t wish to dampen the mood with her reluctance. Besides, she probably projected enough of her anger and jealously enough before she had noticed her fellow student, no need to drag it into the conversation as well. For now.

But one thing that Laura spoke of did pique curiosity. Her creators...Her body language told her there was deeper meaning to it, like she didn’t want to fully explain the origin of her strange codename. “X-23 huh, unique codename.” But, Cessily figured maybe she could avoid upsetting Laura since she felt a sense it was better not to drag up the past for the girl. “What can you do Laura? Your mutation seems far more tame than mine from a glance.” Well, at least asking about mutation could be an ice breaker in this place. And just from a glance at the girl there was nothing obvious to indicate what her particular mutation was. Nor could she see tall tale signs of any abuse as Cessily’s mind immediately went to regarding the “creators” bit.

"Probably be far more useful for someone who wants to be a mutant." Cessily growled slightly without meaning to sound harsh in the moment. But, her mutation was a sore spot, more so talking about it at all. She hated her form! No matter how useful it really could be, something at the present Cessily herself was blind to. The red head probably could do so much, become so much, but she was far too caught up in her self-pity to see it for the moment. She wanted to be normal again, or at least look the part.

But, that was a giving.

Sighing, Cessily rubbed the back of her neck, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap like I did." She immediately apologized, in no way actually mad at Laura. She had made a remark and she had reacted without thinking, which was no fault of Laura's. But, luckily the girl kept speaking, allowing Cessily a moment to gather her emotions again as she listened, loosely crossing her arms over her chest as she took in everything the other girl spoke of.

Now, the red head wasn't much for keeping up with the news, not unless it was truly major, but she did recall something about mutants. How they were being taken and experimented upon, poked and prodded to see how their genetics worked or were triggered. Was Laura one such person? Such a thought made Cessily scowl in disgust, the fact anyone would put another human being, mutant or not, through such torture was unbelievable to her. But her thoughts quickly dissipated as she jumped back the moment Laura popped her claws. Now that was different.

"Whoa." Cessily was genuinely surprised and interested in Laura's mutation, catching the sight of her muscle and skin mending around the claws. "So you're like, what, a feral mutant or something? Animal like I guess?" Cessily questioned, as the heightened senses and claws gave off a rather animal-like vibe. "I don't know what was done to you Laura, but maybe you can make something positive out of the situation." She pointed out, raising her hand and forming two metal claws of her own from her malleable body. Well, maybe it wasn't all bad...The polymorph managed to offer an encouraging smile, "Maybe you can make the most of your new living situation, better than I can. Make what X-23 was meant to be into what you want her to be, not your creators."

Maybe Cessily could take her own advice if she really put her mind to it.