Effy and Melissa, backdate to Sept 20th
Sep. 20th, 2014 07:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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om_mainEffy and Mel meet, swapping mutation stats and flirty looks
It had been long and hard shift at Empire (suppliers were evil, delivery companies idiots), on returning home she had shifted to another form, changed into a bikini and headed down to the pool.
Swimming hadn't happened yet, it probably would but for now she was stretched out on a lounger enjoying the music, which was currently Doug Locke's #ThisCouldBeUs, and finishing a book for class the next day. Finally the tense nineteen year old was starting to relax a little.
Effy had decided that she was long overdue to tan. Although her pale skin made her a prime candidate for sunburn, it did not deter her in the slightest. Wearing a black bikini with a loose blue long sleeve over it, Effy made her way down to the pool and only hesitated for a couple of seconds when she realized there was already someone there.
Whatever, she could deal with others thoughts. She shrugged before walking down to a lounge chair and plopping into it.
Turning the music down a little to talk, Mel turned to the other girl. "Hi, one of the new students?"
"Yes," Effy answered, turning her head to observe the person asking her the question.
"I'm Melissa." There was only a small pause before adding "But sometimes Curtis. I'm a shapeshifter, see."
"Interesting," Effy responded with a curious eyebrow quirk. "I'm Effy."
"And English, right? Nice to get more company around here." Melissa sat up a little, smiling a little. "Been here long? I'm a bit behind on the journals." Laptop time mostly meant college work or burnt out brain dead watching netflix these days.
"English indeed...seems to be quite a few of us here," Effy replied with a smirk.
"We'll have enough for a rebellion soon as this rate!" Mel joked back, eyes glittering with humour.
"Wouldn't that be something," Effy commented. Then, she asked sarcastically, "You working on a tan then?"
"De-stressing." A small shrug and a smile. "College is a bitch."
Effy nodded because, well, she already knew that. Funny how that happened. This person was so interesting though. Their thoughts...seemed almost genderless.
"So, Eff, blame the tired brain for the lack of a original question, but what's your mutation? You know, if you're cool with sharing." Doug Locke had faded out into Bastille's Icarus which was even more of a current favourite than the last tune.
"Interesting favourite...Icarus," Effy replied instead, hoping that'd make it clear.
Melissa faltered for a moment before realising it meant Effy was like Ellie. Which meant telepath which meant shields were needed before anything Rudy related or connected slipped through and, shit, shit, shields NOW.
"I, um, yeah I just love the tune. Good beat, fun the dance to. It's a crowd pleaser, I'm starting a DJ business right now so...um, the shields aren't personal or anything. Things have happened no one else needs to know about, that's all."
Effy shrugged easily. "That actually works out nicer for me...I can't block people out."
Mel's shoulder's relaxed a little at that, pleased that no offence had been taken. "A student who's left now helped me to figure it out, we used to have mind conversations and stuff so I had to figure out how to block out the stuff I didn't want to say."
"Anyway, what's your favourite song then? Since you know one of mine?"
"Everyone dances to their own boom-boom," Effy responded with a smirk. After all, she didn't have a favorite song...any that she could dance to were just fine by her.
"True, true," Mel nodded with a small laugh.
"So...a shapeshifter?"
"Mmmhmm, a shapeshifter. Why, curious?" Plenty of people were after all.
"Well, it's hardly every day you hear that," Effy admitted with a small head tilt.
"Here it sort of is after a bit, but that's cool you're excited. I love it." Melissa grinned back widely. "I don't mind people being curious."
Effy nodded her head at that, readjusting her position on the lounger.
"What do you want to know?"
"Your thoughts are gender neutral," Effy stated instead.
Mel smiled a little, nodding whilst flicking a few colourful dreads over a shoulder. "Ellie said my thoughts were me, I liked that. Whatever I look like or whatever, I'm always me. But I'm less neutral, more fluid. The mutation helped me figure it out, never occurred to me before."
Effy observed Mel closely. It made sense really--if your gender and body kept changing, why should your thoughts? "Fluidity is a beautiful thing."
When Melissa's smile grew, it was with obvious relief. Whilst the school was generally pretty open minded and progressive, gender and sexuality could be things that set off extreme reactions especially in new students. "I like to think so."
"So you go by Curtis in other...forms?"
"Sometimes I go by Curtis in this form. Like I said, it's all fluid. Right now Melissa feels right so even if I shift, however I shift, Melissa still feels right for me at the moment. Does that make any sense? I'm still not used to explaining it really."
Nodding, Effy turned her gaze onto the water. "Makes sense to me."
"Cool." Well, that was a relief. Explaining your gender stuff when half the time you weren't so sure yourself? Yeah, not fun. "The shapeshifting's good for more than changing bodies though. Tattoos, piercings, hair, can change it all and change it back again. It's kinda cool."
"Your own personal stylist," Effy volunteered, returning her gaze to Melissa.
Mel nodded back and raised her arm to demonstrate. A intricate flower and vine tattoo started to appear from the tip of her middle finger, over her hand and then began to wind it's way up the arm, over the shoulder and across to the collar bone. Animated tattoos were a new party trick.
"Exactly, I love it."
"Sweet," Effy commented with a smirk, nodding towards the new tattoo.
"Tip of the iceberg."
"Oh? Well, let's see it then," Effy challenged.
"'It'? I can change to all sorts of bodies, all sorts of things about myself, only thing that I can't change is clothes." Mel told her. "But I can show a few things like..." A quick shift and the braids turned to curls, short and curvy with big boobs turned to long legged and slim with an equally cute smile.
"Very nice," Effy stated with approval highlighting her words.
"Thank you," Still the same London accent but the voice was noticeably different. Vocal chords had changed to some degree too. "Nice to show off to someone who it ain't old hat for, actually."
"So it's at your will then?" Effy asked, once again curious. Fuck it, these people were so much more complicated, and interesting, than the wankers back home.
"Yeah, these days so long as I don't suppress it then I have complete control. I love it."
"I'd imagine it was shaky to start," Effy commented lightly.
Mel nodded back "Bet yours was too."
"I just assumed I was mental," Effy shrugged. Still do.
"Understandable. Me too actually. Got drunk, woke up a girl." Mel laughed a little "Oddest hangover ever, right?"
"I'd imagine so," Effy chuckled.
"Thought I was tripping. That was, well, bout two or three years ago now?" The homework book was completely forgotten, music had moved onto some classic Ms Dynamite too. "How about you? How long you been reading?"
"Little over three years now," Effy admitted with a thoughtful look.
"Damn, three years with no shields? That had to be hard."
Effy shrugged. Yes, it hadn't been easy, but to be honest at this point she didn't exactly know what she'd do once everyone was shielded to her.
Assuming silence meant time to change the subject, Melissa asked instead "What do you make of being this side of the pond so far then?"
"It's alright...need to find a way to get fags," Effy admitted with a smirk.
"Ahhh right, well fraid I can't help you there much. I don't usually smoke cigs. But I could point you in the direction of a few who do."
"Yes, that's also a wonderful substitute," Effy commented with a shrug.
"Either way though, I'm a graduate so might look a bit sketch if I start handing shit out to students. There's a few people who should help you out though. Hitting the smoker's porch is a good place to start, I reckon." Mel moved her position to turn towards Effy, sipping from a can of coke whilst lounging contently.
"Just a bit...I'll have to check that out."
"Not hard to find it in this school, surprising really with a mind reading Head and all. Guess he chooses to let the harmless shit go maybe. Just stamps on the bigger stuff." Melissa muses thoughtfully.
"It is surprising really...but I suppose no muss to fuss," Effy shrugged. She wondered how much the headmaster looked into all of their heads.
And that was something Melissa tried not to wonder about too much if and where possible.
"Yeah I know, let's just be glad, yeah?" And got up, turning away from Effy to slip on a pair of boardshorts. The appeal of showing off powers to a new person was strong and Mel actually felt pretty comfort so far with Effy. It was a good way of testing limits. Reaching back the bikini top was unfastened and the body was already changing as it was removed. A very different body turned back to Effy with a slightly sheepish grin.
Effy looked appreciatively at the new form in front of her. "Still Mel?" She checked, figuring it was the polite thing to do now that her outwardly form was male.
"Yeah, thanks." A thankful smile for the question was flashed. "This is one of my current favourites, must admit."
"I can see why," Effy commented with a smirk.
Mel grinned even more and lowered back onto the recliner. Maybe in such a way to show off the tattooed torso because, hey, why not treat the audience when she was enjoying watching? And anything that nudged boundaries was good in the long run really.
"Do you change favorites often then?"
"I go through phases, like...I guess the only thing I can compare it to is clothes. How you go through phases of one skirt or shirt being favourite but then others are on a sort of cycle in the wardrobe, you know?"
"Mhmmm," Effy agreed, stretching out on her lounger. She had stolen a jumper of Tony's while he was in hospital and it was still her favorite article of clothing.
Mel watched her stretched with a small smirk though, yeah, there was a little caution. Since horrifically misjudging Caius's age that one time (blame the costumes maybe?), well it highlighted a need to be more careful right?
"So, Effy, what do you think of Xavier's itself then?"
"It's very...interesting," Effy answered finally with a shrug. After all, it was hard for her to know what she thought. "Both fantastical in one sense and more of the same in the other."
"Interesting's a good word for it. I'd say you get used to it, and on some level you do, but it's more fun not to. And all the new powers turning up, keeps you on your toes." Mel told her with a chuckle and a grin.
"I'd imagine so," she responded with a smirk. Oh the trouble they could get into...
"Mmmhmm," The grin turned to a smirk as Mel nodded back.
"Many stories then?" Effy asked, amused.
"I'd say," Dark brown eyes were glittering playfully. "Depends on what you like to hear, really."
"Oh, I generally hear them all," Effy commented with a tilt of the head, her playful tone still present.
"Unless someone's blocking you," Mel countered before letting the shield slip enough for one thought to be shared 'Some stories are my own but I gotta plenty I'm willing to share.'
"Well that wasn't really an option until now," Effy countered.
"Well, like I said, this place keeps you on your toes." Was pointed out. Carefully, oh so carefully, thoughts and memories were allowed past the shield to share with Effy. Parties most distinguishable by themes (Halloween, 1920s, Labyrinth ball, Mel's lake side 18th etc), training sessions that had gone good and bad with powers doing ridiculous and unlikely things, the time Bobby had slightly set one of the teachers on fire (well singed but still), students goofing off and pranking. Truth or dare games, downtime in the rec room. Fun stuff but nothing too personal, nothing about Jack or even Alice, hell not even that Pietro, not the intimate memoires anyway.
"Of all the things you choose to hide...Alice eh?"
Mel laughed a little again thought slightly self-consciously. Ok, bit rusty with the shields then. Well, it could have been worse. "A girl's gotta have her secrets, right? Nah, seriously, she's a good friend so I was just trying to be respectful to her." At least it hadn't been Jack.
Effy tilted her head and nodded. It was true, people ought to have secrets. She just wasn't used to people having them around her.
"You're not used to boundaries, are you?" Was realised quickly, smirk returning.
"Can't say they've ever stopped me before, no," Effy responded with a shrug and a playful smirk.
She was reminding Mel a little of Alisha, in completely good ways of course. And considering that particular weakness it was a comparison that made her very endearing to Mel. And led to the comment
"You are so one of the girls my mum used to warn me about, aren't you?" Mel was grinning as it was said which made it clear it was more compliment than accusation.
"I'm one of the girls all of the mums used to warn their children about...even if they didn't know it was me they were warning their children away from," Effy answered back truthfully.
"Just what this place needs." In fact it already had several students like it but there was nothing like stirring things up a bit to keep them all on their toes.
Effy chuckled. "Oh yes, I'd imagine we would only serve to...keep things more interesting."
"And have fun, of course." Mel winked playfully.
"Of course."
Feeling impressively relaxed around the new girl (progress, very pleasing), Mel was still grinning whilst nodding towards the pool. "So, fancy a dip?"
Effy shrugged and then, instead of answering verbally, shrugged out of the flimsy t-shirt she had been wearing over her swimwear. So what if it was mostly cold out--they were British. Effy then took a running leap into the pool.
Once her head emerged, make up running slightly, she called out, "Care to join?"
Mel was already at the edge, having suggested the venture to begin with, so followed suit by diving in with a leap too, close enough to splash Effy.
Effy simply shook off the extra water Mel had splashed her with and smirked, maintaining her place in the pool.
Resurfacing with a grin and a "Hey," Mel was wearing original face, Curtis face, because it seemed right to show it.
"Hey," Effy responded back, head tilted curiously. This face...this face seemed a bit familiar. "This face get much wear?"
"It's my original one." And there was that look most the English recruits had when they saw it. Might as well fill in that niggling blan for Effy, right? "Curtis Donovan."
"Ah...Olympic athlete prospect turned delinquent...I remember," Effy commented with a smirk.
"'The Shame Of Britain'" Mel quoted a headline back as confirmation with a nod. "Which would be why I'm not going to join the ranks of 'ou't mutants, can you imagine what the press would say?" A very unimpressed face was pulled before adding "The drugs were my ex-girlfriend's not mine. When I got a drugs rap I'd never done any in my life, there's some irony." Now though, well if you've got the record why not live up to it? A thought that wasn't shielded because it was hardly personal.
Effy nodded in response to the thought, because it was only fitting really. "Ironic indeed."
"I didn't mention it coz, well, a sports scandal from like 3 years ago? Who's gonna be that eogistical to expect to be remembered for that, right?" Mel explained modestly whilst treading water.
"Face like that's hard to forget," Effy responded with a shrug.
"Is that a complement or an insult?"
"Which would you prefer?"
"The former, funnily enough," Was smirked back.
"Well, than I'll be happy to comply," Effy responded with her own smirk, flicking back a strand of her hair.
"How obliging of you!"
It had been long and hard shift at Empire (suppliers were evil, delivery companies idiots), on returning home she had shifted to another form, changed into a bikini and headed down to the pool.
Swimming hadn't happened yet, it probably would but for now she was stretched out on a lounger enjoying the music, which was currently Doug Locke's #ThisCouldBeUs, and finishing a book for class the next day. Finally the tense nineteen year old was starting to relax a little.
Effy had decided that she was long overdue to tan. Although her pale skin made her a prime candidate for sunburn, it did not deter her in the slightest. Wearing a black bikini with a loose blue long sleeve over it, Effy made her way down to the pool and only hesitated for a couple of seconds when she realized there was already someone there.
Whatever, she could deal with others thoughts. She shrugged before walking down to a lounge chair and plopping into it.
Turning the music down a little to talk, Mel turned to the other girl. "Hi, one of the new students?"
"Yes," Effy answered, turning her head to observe the person asking her the question.
"I'm Melissa." There was only a small pause before adding "But sometimes Curtis. I'm a shapeshifter, see."
"Interesting," Effy responded with a curious eyebrow quirk. "I'm Effy."
"And English, right? Nice to get more company around here." Melissa sat up a little, smiling a little. "Been here long? I'm a bit behind on the journals." Laptop time mostly meant college work or burnt out brain dead watching netflix these days.
"English indeed...seems to be quite a few of us here," Effy replied with a smirk.
"We'll have enough for a rebellion soon as this rate!" Mel joked back, eyes glittering with humour.
"Wouldn't that be something," Effy commented. Then, she asked sarcastically, "You working on a tan then?"
"De-stressing." A small shrug and a smile. "College is a bitch."
Effy nodded because, well, she already knew that. Funny how that happened. This person was so interesting though. Their thoughts...seemed almost genderless.
"So, Eff, blame the tired brain for the lack of a original question, but what's your mutation? You know, if you're cool with sharing." Doug Locke had faded out into Bastille's Icarus which was even more of a current favourite than the last tune.
"Interesting favourite...Icarus," Effy replied instead, hoping that'd make it clear.
Melissa faltered for a moment before realising it meant Effy was like Ellie. Which meant telepath which meant shields were needed before anything Rudy related or connected slipped through and, shit, shit, shields NOW.
"I, um, yeah I just love the tune. Good beat, fun the dance to. It's a crowd pleaser, I'm starting a DJ business right now so...um, the shields aren't personal or anything. Things have happened no one else needs to know about, that's all."
Effy shrugged easily. "That actually works out nicer for me...I can't block people out."
Mel's shoulder's relaxed a little at that, pleased that no offence had been taken. "A student who's left now helped me to figure it out, we used to have mind conversations and stuff so I had to figure out how to block out the stuff I didn't want to say."
"Anyway, what's your favourite song then? Since you know one of mine?"
"Everyone dances to their own boom-boom," Effy responded with a smirk. After all, she didn't have a favorite song...any that she could dance to were just fine by her.
"True, true," Mel nodded with a small laugh.
"So...a shapeshifter?"
"Mmmhmm, a shapeshifter. Why, curious?" Plenty of people were after all.
"Well, it's hardly every day you hear that," Effy admitted with a small head tilt.
"Here it sort of is after a bit, but that's cool you're excited. I love it." Melissa grinned back widely. "I don't mind people being curious."
Effy nodded her head at that, readjusting her position on the lounger.
"What do you want to know?"
"Your thoughts are gender neutral," Effy stated instead.
Mel smiled a little, nodding whilst flicking a few colourful dreads over a shoulder. "Ellie said my thoughts were me, I liked that. Whatever I look like or whatever, I'm always me. But I'm less neutral, more fluid. The mutation helped me figure it out, never occurred to me before."
Effy observed Mel closely. It made sense really--if your gender and body kept changing, why should your thoughts? "Fluidity is a beautiful thing."
When Melissa's smile grew, it was with obvious relief. Whilst the school was generally pretty open minded and progressive, gender and sexuality could be things that set off extreme reactions especially in new students. "I like to think so."
"So you go by Curtis in other...forms?"
"Sometimes I go by Curtis in this form. Like I said, it's all fluid. Right now Melissa feels right so even if I shift, however I shift, Melissa still feels right for me at the moment. Does that make any sense? I'm still not used to explaining it really."
Nodding, Effy turned her gaze onto the water. "Makes sense to me."
"Cool." Well, that was a relief. Explaining your gender stuff when half the time you weren't so sure yourself? Yeah, not fun. "The shapeshifting's good for more than changing bodies though. Tattoos, piercings, hair, can change it all and change it back again. It's kinda cool."
"Your own personal stylist," Effy volunteered, returning her gaze to Melissa.
Mel nodded back and raised her arm to demonstrate. A intricate flower and vine tattoo started to appear from the tip of her middle finger, over her hand and then began to wind it's way up the arm, over the shoulder and across to the collar bone. Animated tattoos were a new party trick.
"Exactly, I love it."
"Sweet," Effy commented with a smirk, nodding towards the new tattoo.
"Tip of the iceberg."
"Oh? Well, let's see it then," Effy challenged.
"'It'? I can change to all sorts of bodies, all sorts of things about myself, only thing that I can't change is clothes." Mel told her. "But I can show a few things like..." A quick shift and the braids turned to curls, short and curvy with big boobs turned to long legged and slim with an equally cute smile.
"Very nice," Effy stated with approval highlighting her words.
"Thank you," Still the same London accent but the voice was noticeably different. Vocal chords had changed to some degree too. "Nice to show off to someone who it ain't old hat for, actually."
"So it's at your will then?" Effy asked, once again curious. Fuck it, these people were so much more complicated, and interesting, than the wankers back home.
"Yeah, these days so long as I don't suppress it then I have complete control. I love it."
"I'd imagine it was shaky to start," Effy commented lightly.
Mel nodded back "Bet yours was too."
"I just assumed I was mental," Effy shrugged. Still do.
"Understandable. Me too actually. Got drunk, woke up a girl." Mel laughed a little "Oddest hangover ever, right?"
"I'd imagine so," Effy chuckled.
"Thought I was tripping. That was, well, bout two or three years ago now?" The homework book was completely forgotten, music had moved onto some classic Ms Dynamite too. "How about you? How long you been reading?"
"Little over three years now," Effy admitted with a thoughtful look.
"Damn, three years with no shields? That had to be hard."
Effy shrugged. Yes, it hadn't been easy, but to be honest at this point she didn't exactly know what she'd do once everyone was shielded to her.
Assuming silence meant time to change the subject, Melissa asked instead "What do you make of being this side of the pond so far then?"
"It's alright...need to find a way to get fags," Effy admitted with a smirk.
"Ahhh right, well fraid I can't help you there much. I don't usually smoke cigs. But I could point you in the direction of a few who do."
"Yes, that's also a wonderful substitute," Effy commented with a shrug.
"Either way though, I'm a graduate so might look a bit sketch if I start handing shit out to students. There's a few people who should help you out though. Hitting the smoker's porch is a good place to start, I reckon." Mel moved her position to turn towards Effy, sipping from a can of coke whilst lounging contently.
"Just a bit...I'll have to check that out."
"Not hard to find it in this school, surprising really with a mind reading Head and all. Guess he chooses to let the harmless shit go maybe. Just stamps on the bigger stuff." Melissa muses thoughtfully.
"It is surprising really...but I suppose no muss to fuss," Effy shrugged. She wondered how much the headmaster looked into all of their heads.
And that was something Melissa tried not to wonder about too much if and where possible.
"Yeah I know, let's just be glad, yeah?" And got up, turning away from Effy to slip on a pair of boardshorts. The appeal of showing off powers to a new person was strong and Mel actually felt pretty comfort so far with Effy. It was a good way of testing limits. Reaching back the bikini top was unfastened and the body was already changing as it was removed. A very different body turned back to Effy with a slightly sheepish grin.
Effy looked appreciatively at the new form in front of her. "Still Mel?" She checked, figuring it was the polite thing to do now that her outwardly form was male.
"Yeah, thanks." A thankful smile for the question was flashed. "This is one of my current favourites, must admit."
"I can see why," Effy commented with a smirk.
Mel grinned even more and lowered back onto the recliner. Maybe in such a way to show off the tattooed torso because, hey, why not treat the audience when she was enjoying watching? And anything that nudged boundaries was good in the long run really.
"Do you change favorites often then?"
"I go through phases, like...I guess the only thing I can compare it to is clothes. How you go through phases of one skirt or shirt being favourite but then others are on a sort of cycle in the wardrobe, you know?"
"Mhmmm," Effy agreed, stretching out on her lounger. She had stolen a jumper of Tony's while he was in hospital and it was still her favorite article of clothing.
Mel watched her stretched with a small smirk though, yeah, there was a little caution. Since horrifically misjudging Caius's age that one time (blame the costumes maybe?), well it highlighted a need to be more careful right?
"So, Effy, what do you think of Xavier's itself then?"
"It's very...interesting," Effy answered finally with a shrug. After all, it was hard for her to know what she thought. "Both fantastical in one sense and more of the same in the other."
"Interesting's a good word for it. I'd say you get used to it, and on some level you do, but it's more fun not to. And all the new powers turning up, keeps you on your toes." Mel told her with a chuckle and a grin.
"I'd imagine so," she responded with a smirk. Oh the trouble they could get into...
"Mmmhmm," The grin turned to a smirk as Mel nodded back.
"Many stories then?" Effy asked, amused.
"I'd say," Dark brown eyes were glittering playfully. "Depends on what you like to hear, really."
"Oh, I generally hear them all," Effy commented with a tilt of the head, her playful tone still present.
"Unless someone's blocking you," Mel countered before letting the shield slip enough for one thought to be shared 'Some stories are my own but I gotta plenty I'm willing to share.'
"Well that wasn't really an option until now," Effy countered.
"Well, like I said, this place keeps you on your toes." Was pointed out. Carefully, oh so carefully, thoughts and memories were allowed past the shield to share with Effy. Parties most distinguishable by themes (Halloween, 1920s, Labyrinth ball, Mel's lake side 18th etc), training sessions that had gone good and bad with powers doing ridiculous and unlikely things, the time Bobby had slightly set one of the teachers on fire (well singed but still), students goofing off and pranking. Truth or dare games, downtime in the rec room. Fun stuff but nothing too personal, nothing about Jack or even Alice, hell not even that Pietro, not the intimate memoires anyway.
"Of all the things you choose to hide...Alice eh?"
Mel laughed a little again thought slightly self-consciously. Ok, bit rusty with the shields then. Well, it could have been worse. "A girl's gotta have her secrets, right? Nah, seriously, she's a good friend so I was just trying to be respectful to her." At least it hadn't been Jack.
Effy tilted her head and nodded. It was true, people ought to have secrets. She just wasn't used to people having them around her.
"You're not used to boundaries, are you?" Was realised quickly, smirk returning.
"Can't say they've ever stopped me before, no," Effy responded with a shrug and a playful smirk.
She was reminding Mel a little of Alisha, in completely good ways of course. And considering that particular weakness it was a comparison that made her very endearing to Mel. And led to the comment
"You are so one of the girls my mum used to warn me about, aren't you?" Mel was grinning as it was said which made it clear it was more compliment than accusation.
"I'm one of the girls all of the mums used to warn their children about...even if they didn't know it was me they were warning their children away from," Effy answered back truthfully.
"Just what this place needs." In fact it already had several students like it but there was nothing like stirring things up a bit to keep them all on their toes.
Effy chuckled. "Oh yes, I'd imagine we would only serve to...keep things more interesting."
"And have fun, of course." Mel winked playfully.
"Of course."
Feeling impressively relaxed around the new girl (progress, very pleasing), Mel was still grinning whilst nodding towards the pool. "So, fancy a dip?"
Effy shrugged and then, instead of answering verbally, shrugged out of the flimsy t-shirt she had been wearing over her swimwear. So what if it was mostly cold out--they were British. Effy then took a running leap into the pool.
Once her head emerged, make up running slightly, she called out, "Care to join?"
Mel was already at the edge, having suggested the venture to begin with, so followed suit by diving in with a leap too, close enough to splash Effy.
Effy simply shook off the extra water Mel had splashed her with and smirked, maintaining her place in the pool.
Resurfacing with a grin and a "Hey," Mel was wearing original face, Curtis face, because it seemed right to show it.
"Hey," Effy responded back, head tilted curiously. This face...this face seemed a bit familiar. "This face get much wear?"
"It's my original one." And there was that look most the English recruits had when they saw it. Might as well fill in that niggling blan for Effy, right? "Curtis Donovan."
"Ah...Olympic athlete prospect turned delinquent...I remember," Effy commented with a smirk.
"'The Shame Of Britain'" Mel quoted a headline back as confirmation with a nod. "Which would be why I'm not going to join the ranks of 'ou't mutants, can you imagine what the press would say?" A very unimpressed face was pulled before adding "The drugs were my ex-girlfriend's not mine. When I got a drugs rap I'd never done any in my life, there's some irony." Now though, well if you've got the record why not live up to it? A thought that wasn't shielded because it was hardly personal.
Effy nodded in response to the thought, because it was only fitting really. "Ironic indeed."
"I didn't mention it coz, well, a sports scandal from like 3 years ago? Who's gonna be that eogistical to expect to be remembered for that, right?" Mel explained modestly whilst treading water.
"Face like that's hard to forget," Effy responded with a shrug.
"Is that a complement or an insult?"
"Which would you prefer?"
"The former, funnily enough," Was smirked back.
"Well, than I'll be happy to comply," Effy responded with her own smirk, flicking back a strand of her hair.
"How obliging of you!"
