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Telekinetic. The old lady with the cane and the wits was a telekinetic. Gemma couldn't help but be fascinated by the display of powers. Seventy-something years with one of the most potent mutant abilities, what could she be capable of?...

>> "Dreadful. I did not know they started stealing their souls this young. You're nice enough. Would you mind telling me, what you need these...for while we walk?”

She did physically assault a... oh never mind.

"They are for the school" she admitted, keeping her distance so the box could hover along with them "I'm a guidance counselor. I'm picking up forms for the students."

That was not half of it, but that was enough for one answer. She knew enough about the lady by now to know she would keep asking anyway...

>>“That is very sweet of you, these bones to rattle quite a bit. You may call me Granny.”

Gemma smirked. She was used to kids calling her Mama, the young ones out of love, the teenagers mockingly. She suspected it beat being called 'granny'.
And she did not feel like a feeble old lady at all.

>>“You, lad, are already talking to two of us. Now get your backside moving before I come over there and do it myself.”

The clerk blinked, then muttered again and continued rusting the papers. Gemma watched, slightly amused.

>>“Now Girl, why would my power stop working around you?”

Then, she blinked.
Oh. So Granny was a mutant. How interesting. She had rarely ever met mutants this... old. They were fewer, and usually better at hiding. Much stronger though, too, with years of practice.

"I am afraid that's me" she said with a smile "My aura blocks mutant abilites." she glanced at the clerk "As long as I am close enough."

The man put a stack of papers on the desk.

"There you go Ma'am." he muttered, then turned to Granny "Anything else I can help you with?"

Gemma was NOT having the best day of her life.

Sure, she had had adventures, and helped kids, and met interesting new people with interesting new powers all the time, but most of her work, the less exciting kind, was paperwork and running errands for half a hundred kids, and trying to keep Mansion life organized.
Right now, one point on her endless to-do list was to go to the university and pick up several pounds of forms and flyers. Not the best time, but the only time she had, and one cannot think too much ahead when it comes to kids and career choices.

Unfortunately enough, people were not being helpful.

"It is called Xavier's Sister School for Gifted Youngsters, but for the conversation's sake I'll give you that one, yes that is the 'mutant school' you referred to" she said, clearly annoyed, as one suit-and-tie man half her age wrinkled his nose at her "I am sorry, I was not aware mutants fall under different regulations, haven't this country been over that issue before?..."

Every once in a while, you just run into someone really passionately stupid, even at the best places.

"Miss I have to warn you, using superhuman abilites to influence the judgement..."

"Do I look like I am using abilities?" Gemma demanded, losing her patience.

"As a recent research project at our genetics department pointed out there are many mutant variations that do not require any visual component, including but not limited to mind control."

"Well you should not have any reason to be afraid of that" Gemma frowned, hands on her hips "Now do I get those forms, or do I need to call the police?..."

Please make me call them. I dare you. Your faculty would love to hear you mutant-hated on someone who is not a mutant. Wouldn't that be lovely.

"I'll see what I can do" the guy retreated behind his desk with the speed of a sloth on tranquilizers. Gemma huffed and sat, smoothing down her summer dress.

It's all cool. I'm cool. It's all part of the job.

>>. “You mentioned something about a shower. And clean clothes... Does the Mansion have summer classes?”

Victory.

Gemma smiled, and allowed herself to finally enjoy the taste of whatever she was eating. It was sweet.

"That, and your room" she nodded "We have some summer classes, and if you need to catch up on anything, that can be arranged too."

The boy (a grown-up boy, mind you, is still a boy) was blushing, that was cute. Returning to the safety of the mansion was not the worst thing that could happenen to stray cats. Or tigers.

"Is there anything else you need?" she asked, finishing her meal "Or maybe something you want?"

Caleb was laughing. If at her, or at the situation, or just to piss her off, Gemma could not tell. But she had to admit, it was kind of annoying.

>>“You, are so. Cute.”

"So are you" she nodded to him with an appreciating smile "If you were hoping for a more severe punishment, you'll have to take that up with Sam. I only do the annoying talking part."

She returned to her food for a while, giving time to Caleb and herself to think. She looked up after a while.

"You are not a kid." she stated the fact. he was not, not by age, not by thinking "Don't try to make me think you are. The only thing I ask is that you accept me for an adult too. Or we can keep playing cat and mouse."

That was kind of fun too.

>>“Anywhere, huh? What, as in a job? A home? A caring social circle? Is this the part in our ‘talk’ where you try to reform me from my alley cat ways?”

The grinning was over. Gemma was starting to be more serious now. The boy was getting closer to what she had in mind. She was not sure who was leading whom, but they seemed to be going in the right direction none the less. Maybe he wanted to go that way.

"No, not really" she shook her head "I'm trying to find a place for your alley cat ways. I can cancel your powers for a while, but I cannot make you something you are not."

Food arrived. Gemma didn't even remember what she ordered, but it looked good. Smelled good too.

"That does not mean I approve of police lobsters, mind you." she gave him a look "But I think you should probably have a say in being reformed. Works better that way."