Tester needed!

[Lily]

Warner left to pay for Vincent's drink, and then came back to the table. BUt he didn't sit down. He had a large grin on his face. "All set! Want to head back to the Institute? I have a feeling my sister just remembered that she was supposed to show me around.." he smiled and held out his hand.

She looked at him skeptically, but took his hand and stood up. "Okay... but first I need to go pay for my drink." she said, smiling. She enjoyed Warner's company. He was nice, and he seemed to understand her. BUt she felt as if he were more of an older brother than anything else.

She walked up to the counter and smiled at the waiter. She laid down a five to cover the drink, and gave it to him.

[[ARGH it's so short compared to yourssss]]

[Lana and Warner.]

Warner let her go, but when she walked to the counter and laid down the five the waiter gave a her a curious look, "Miss! Is this a tip??" She hadn't said anything after putting down the money. "Lily, I already paid for it.." Warner said with a chuckle. He walked next to her and put his arm around her, "Please, you've been so kind to welcome me I only find it fair that I do you a small favor such as this one.." He took the five and put it in her pocket before walking her out and winking to the waiter. The waiter nodded, knowing the tip he had received earlier was generous as it was.

[]

[Lily]

"Lily, I already paid for it.." He laughed, and put his arm around her.. "Please, you've been so kind to welcome me I only find it fair that I do you a small favor such as this one.." He took the five from the waiter and slipped it into her pocket before leading her out of the cafe. It happened so fast, she scarcely knew what had taken place.

She looked up at him and sighed. "I suposse I'll let you......" she said softly, a small smile on her face. Though the Miss Manners inside of her yelled at her angrily. She slipped her arm around his waist and nonchalantly slipped the bill into his pocket. He'd find it later.

"So what now then? Back to the Common Room and your sister? You are going to leave me and just go galavanting around campus..." she playfully pouted. She really didn't see anything wrong with Lana showing her older brother around campus, but she wanted to say something to distract Warner, lest he should've seen her slip the bill into his pocket. Sure, his chivalry was extremely kind, but he was new, and Lily felt bad for letting him pay for her drink.

She smiled up at him, wayyyy up at him. They had a good six inches of a height difference. Warner made her feel safe. It was odd in a way..... Her feelings differed with Warner, than that of her and James. It was as if he was an older sibling. "You are like.... Like the big brother I never had.." she thought aloud. She hoped that she hadn't lead him on or anything. She didn't want him to feel sad, if he liked her, and she had just said she felt for him as a sibling.... But she herself had just realized it. The only thing she wondered, was how Lana might take this newfound epiphany of hers. It was doubtful that she would be willing to share her older sibling. Though of course they differed, seeming as Lana was a blood relative, and Lily only felt as if Warner was her older sibling.....

[Lana and Warner.]

"I suppose I'll let you..." Lily replied with a half-humored smile. Warner grinned back and as Lily continued, he didn't notice the money being slipped into his pocket, "So what now then? Back to the Common Room and your sister? You are going to leave me and just go gallivanting around campus..." Warner grinned, but shook his head as they walked back the way they came. "Well, we'll go back to the common room and you can come with me and my sister, but I don't know if she'll actually be taking me around campus today. I believe she planned to show me to my room and catch up, but it looks like we'll being doing more than that now.." he explained, thinking about how they would be talking about how he was a mutant now. Warner wasn't sure if he was excited or not yet, it was all sinking in so quickly.

Continuing to trod back to the institute, arm around her shoulders, Warner didn't have to wonder what Lily thought of him. She said it for herself, "You are like -- like the big brother I never had.." Warner smiled with a devious hint, "Then I ought to give you the proper brotherly treatment!" He roped his arm gently around her neck to keep her from moving and used the other to noogie her dark brown hair. Laughing he couldn't help himself as he starting tickling her. However, as it continued he started to think of Lana. He missed her so much, these days like before she was a mutant.. but now he was one too.. His hands fell to his sides as he slowed though his face still held a soft grin, not showing the bit of pain that had welled in him.

[Lily]

"Well, we'll go back to the common room and you can come with me and my sister, but I don't know if she'll actually be taking me around campus today. I believe she planned to show me to my room and catch up, but it looks like we'll being doing more than that now.."

Lily laughed softly. "If you'd like, I can always let you have some alone time with Lana.... I'm sure you've got quite a bit of catching up to do...." she said, the non-imposing Miss Manners inside of her was screaming. "I'd hate to impose..." she said aloud.

"Then I ought to give you the proper brotherly treatment!" He smiled deviously, and grabbed her head with one arm, the other giving her a noogie. He then began to tickle her mercilessly. She laughed uncontrollably as she tried to squirm out of his arms.... Though he was way too tough for her. "Stopp...stopp..... Maybe I should rethink this!" she joked.

But he had stopped...... He had a grin on her lips, but the happiness didn't touch his eyes. She immeadiately walked back to him. "What's wrong???" she asked, her jvibrant eyes showing concern. She could tell he had thought something that made him upset... something he didn't like. She gently grabbed his hands, trying her best to make whatever was wrong, right.

[Lana and Warner.]

"If you'd like, I can always let you have some alone time with Lana.... I'm sure you've got quite a bit of catching up to do.. I'd hate to impose..." Warner nodded in agreement, "Yeah, that's cool."

As he tickled her she sounded almost in pain while speaking through her laughter, "Stopp...stopp.....Maybe I should rethink this!" He couldn't help laughing out loud, knowing she wouldn't change her mind no matter how much he tickled her.

"What's wrong???" she asked as the laughter faded from her voice. Warner tried to shake off the thoughts but they wouldn't leave. They were like repressed memories that came back with a vengeance. He sighed as his expression began to show when he was truly feeling. "I was just," he paused wondering if he should even tell her, "I was just thinking about Lana." Warner was a terrible liar he just couldn't bring himself to do it. He sighed and resumed a smile, "Come on, we better get back."

[Lily]

"I was just, I was just thinking about Lana." he said, a sad expression coming over his face. Lily sighed. She knew that he wasn't telling her the whole truth.. She didn't know how, but she knew he wasn't. Besides, she was the queen at lying. After all those years of a tormented past.. one got used to lying. But she just looked at him, like a concerned sister. Her fingers still laced with his, his hands almost twice the size of hers. Her bright blue eyes stared curiously into his, wanting desperately to ask him to tell the truth, but the polite Lily inside of her wouldn't allow it. It was his business, and however much they may have seemed like siblings, the fact of the matter was that they weren't, and Lily didn't have the right to ask that.

He let out a small, somewhat sad sounding sigh, and then smiled. Though it looked somewhat forced... another thing Lily knew all too well. "Come on, we better get back." He said. Lily let go of his left hand, but held onto his right as they continued their way up to the school. She hated the fact that something was bugging him.... Because for some odd reason, if it was bugging him, it was bugging her. She searched throughout her mind for something that could've troubled him so much... There were only a few ideas that came to mind.. The fact that she didn't want him to pay for her drink... The fact that he had practically ditched Lana to hang out with Lily..... The fact that he had just found out he was a mutant.....

Her thoughts stopped, as they focused in on her last point. Maybe that was it.. Maybe he was afraid that everyone would hate him.... Maybe he didn't like being one of those "freaks". Some other mutants may take that to heart, but not Lily. When she found out she was a mutant, she was forced into a terrible bout of depression.... followed by several other things that she refuses to remember. Maybe he was scared.....

They were about half way up the road to the school, when Lily finnally gained enough courage, and enough power to overcome her polite side. She looked up at Warner, a concerned look strewn throughout her expression. She didn't smile, but didn't frown. "Warner..." she spoke softly. "Are you afraid?" There was a short pause, and she considered stopping there, but she was afraid that he wouldn't know what she meant. "Afraid about being a mutant, that is?" She finished, clarifying herself so that there was hopefully no confusion in her question. She just had to find out what was wrong.... She hadn't the smallest clue as to why.. She just did.

[Lana and Warner.]

As they paced down the sidewalk, the school's campus came into view. Being male, Warner didn't realize how emotionally concerned Lily was being even though her hand seemed to be sweating profusely into his own. He had just figured she was nervous, until she spoke:

"Warner..." she began delicately, "Are you afraid?"

He stopped in place and her feet continued so when she stopped herself she was two steps ahead of him. He looked at her with a bewildered confusion while their hands hung like a bridge connecting them. He didn't understand so she clarified quickly, "Afraid about being a mutant, that is?" Warner's surprise faded while his head sunk. He understood now.. but he had been thinking about Lana and Lily so much he hadn't had time to think about his powers yet. Finally stopped, his mind began to calm and become still like untouched waters. "No... To be honest. I've wanted this my whole life. To be like -- her," he thought she would know who he was talking about as he paused, "And this power, it'll be perfect for helping her too. She never wanted to have powers.. and she fears that when she does try to use them--" He stopped himself, not knowing if Lana would want him to tell Lily why she didn't use her powers. He sighed heavily before continuing.

"I can stop her powers now. She'll be happy."

As he returned his gaze to Lily, they held a wild passion. A fire that had long died was now rekindled and Warner felt as powerful as ever. He may not be able to throw fireballs or kill with a touch, but he could take the power from those who could.

[Lily]

Lily knew that she had confused him as he stopped. She hadn't noticed though, and had walked forward, the strength of his hand holding onto hers almost giving her whiplash as she was tugged back to where he stood. She realized that same look of pain, and immeadiately regreted ever speaking up.

"No... To be honest. I've wanted this my whole life. To be like -- her, And this power, it'll be perfect for helping her too. She never wanted to have powers.. and she fears that when she does try to use them--"

Lily looked at him calmly. Though he seemed to enjoy it... She slightly peered through the facade, almost positive that his powers scared him at least a bit. But he was a guy, since when did guys ever show their emotions on their sleeves?! That would just be too easy.

The way he had stopped when he talked about Lana made her realize that there was something more to Lana than just her cheery attitude. She now realized that she hadn't once seen Lana use her powers... She hadn't the slightest clue what they were. But obviously they were dangerous, because Warner had said she was afraid of them. "Well.... I suposse that is alright..." she said softly, unsure of what to say. But somehow she felt connected with Lana.... For it seemed that Warner's powers seemed to help them both. Lily enjoyed Warner's company.. He was nice, funny, and caring. But not only that, his powers gave her a sense of freedom from her own bondage... Here she was, holding his hand freely, her gloves tucked into her bag.. She never thought it to be possible... "I know your powers are very helpful to me, also.... If it helps any." she admitted softly, her bare hand still holding tightly to his.

"I can stop her powers now. She'll be happy."

Lily nodded. She knew the feeling. "I suposse she would be.. if she hates her powers as you say she does.."

Lily's bright blue eyes scanned over Warner until they met his own gaze. It was intriguing... As if his eyes held something more than just happiness. He looked excited..... As if he could make a difference in the world... As if he were Superman.

[Lana and Warner.]

Lily seemed confused at how to reply at first, and Warner understood. The situation had become quite awkward, but it was also like a release. Warner could finally focus on something inside of him instead of all the things he was experiencing around him.

"I know your powers are very helpful to me, also.... If it helps any."

Warner smiled, "Yeah, I'm so glad I can help. I'm sure plenty of people overlook your kindness when your power is death." It was almost painful to say. He felt bad for actually saying it and pitying her when it wasn't deserved. Lily's power was a gift, but mostly a curse. Her life would be forever filled with pain and an unquenchable desire for connection.. touch. He sighed before continuing, "Lily, I'll always be here when you need a real hand to hold or just someone to touch.. I know it's hard to live without it.. I've heard people go insane without it. I don't want that to happen to you.. ever."

"I suposse she would be.. if she hates her powers as you say she does.." Warner's grin widened. "You know the feeling, I'm sure. Her powers aren't like yours.. but she hates to use them," he paused again but decided to continue this time, "because she doesn't want to hurt others. Kind of like your's, but if she learned to control it, I think she could do some real good."

[Lily]

"Yeah, I'm so glad I can help. I'm sure plenty of people overlook your kindness when your power is death." He said, a small, but somehow sorrowful smile on his lips. She shrugged. "They don't overlook it.. They don't even see it. Most people at school don't even try and get to know me. I'm forever labeled as the freak who might go psycho and touch everyone... Killing them instantly.." she said, shrugging again. She was used to it.... After six years of living like that, one's heart hardened to it.

"Lily, I'll always be here when you need a real hand to hold or just someone to touch.. I know it's hard to live without it.. I've heard people go insane without it. I don't want that to happen to you.. ever."

She smiled and hugged him, though it was rather hard because of his heighth... "Thanks Warner.. That means alot. And I don't think I'll be going insane any time soon... No need to worry....... I have you to thank for that... You, George, and James..." she said, smiling brightly. "I really want you to meet James..... I mean, as a big brother. it's your job to approve, right? Though I'm pretty sure George would scare you..." she laughed softly and laced her fingers with his as they continued walking, almost to the school now.

"You know the feeling, I'm sure. Her powers aren't like yours.. but she hates to use them," he said, a large grin on his face. He paused for a moment, probaby considering whether or not to tell Lily what he hadn't said earlier.. But he must've thought Lily trustworthy... For he continued this time. "because she doesn't want to hurt others. Kind of like your's, but if she learned to control it, I think she could do some real good."

Lily nodded. She did understand. "For alot of us, our powers do scare us.. So much so that we become afraid of them, and don't use them. I'm sure Lana could harness her powers... She should ask Miss Frend for help. Miss Frend's powers make it able for students with dangerous powers to practice without hurting anyone.... She's really nice too." she advised, still smiling.

[Lana and Warner.]

"I really want you to meet James..... I mean, as a big brother. it's your job to approve, right? Though I'm pretty sure George would scare you..."

Warner grinned almost maliciously, as if he were about to take on one of his easy wrestling matches. "Oh yeah. I'd like to meet this -- James," he spoke jokingly but it seemed convincing enough. Knowing the way he acted with his own sister.. this kid wouldn't stand a chance. Warner's judgement was through and always completed in the most formal and impersonal way possible. This was only the matter with males though, girls always seemed to bring out his softer side.

"For alot of us, our powers do scare us.. So much so that we become afraid of them, and don't use them. I'm sure Lana could harness her powers... She should ask Miss Frend for help. Miss Frend's powers make it able for students with dangerous powers to practice without hurting anyone.... She's really nice too."

Warner huffed a laugh, "It will take more than just a teacher to get her to use them.. She needs someone like her. Someone with the same powers to convince her to use them. Along with some other really close friends though.." He thought for a moment. Maybe there was someone here with the same abilities. "It would have to be a girl.. and an adult most likely.."

[Lily]

"Oh yeah. I'd like to meet this -- James," He said, sounding rather convincing. She laughed softly.

"Well.... We are going to the Phantom of the Opera tomorrow night... So you better be fast..." she joked, laughing softly. She tugged on his hand a little bit, he was rather slow. "Come on slow poke.. You are so slowwww..." she said energetically as they continued to walk to the school.

Warner laughed. "It will take more than just a teacher to get her to use them.. She needs someone like her. Someone with the same powers to convince her to use them. Along with some other really close friends though.. It would have to be a girl.. and an adult most likely.."

Lily shrugged. "Well I would help if I could... But I'm not really the prying type, So I dunno what Lana's power is.... If I did I might know someone with the same powers.... But I dunno." she smiled softly.

[Lana and Warner.]

"Come on slow poke.. You are so slowwww..." Warner grinned and walked slower on purpose before finally giving in and returning to her pace. Lily continued, "Well I would help if I could... But I'm not really the prying type, So I dunno what Lana's power is.... If I did I might know someone with the same powers.... But I dunno."

Warner gave her a confused look but didn't halt this time, "You... don't know her power?" He was the one being stupid this time, of course she didn't! Unless she had seen Lana get angry, which she probably rarely did nowadays. Her disposition had changed drastically since he had watched her leave for the school. She was now back to the way she had been as a child: light-hearted, social, and exuberant to it's limits. "She is a telepath and a telekinetic. I think that's what the others said.." he replied finally, remembering what he had hear while eavesdropping on the conversation between his parents and those that had come to claim his only sibling.

[Lily]

"You... don't know her power?" He said with a confused look, but kept walking. She laughed softly. "No... She doesn't really tell anyone about it.. or use it in public or anything.... So I dunno what it is" She said with a small, sad smile. Lana must really hate her powers alot if she didn't use them......

"She is a telepath and a telekinetic. I think that's what the others said.." He said after they had walked a bit... But he must not have seen it first hand or anything.. cause he didn't say anything else about it. "Oh...... I know a guy like that.... His name is Atticus.. He has a french accent, and is very nice and polite..." she said, remembering when Atticus had shared his crepes with her.