Phlegmatic Ophidians (Open)

[Toni Craft]

[[Quote is taken from Matthew Reilly's Temple. Read his books. He's violent, but he's a violent genius.']]

“The rotor blades of the chopper sliced through Anistaze's neck like a chainsaw through butter, removing his head from his body in a smooth, frictionless cut.”

“Ah, today’s literature is truly an intellectual marvel, eh Hector?” Toni asks, giving her pet snake a little scratch on the head. Hector responds by flicking his tongue out and nuzzling even closer to the warm spot along the side of her neck.

Her Matthew Reilly novel in hand, Toni is snuggled up comfortably on the common room’s plush leather sofa, listening to the giggles of the students outside and the frequent screams from those inside. Apparently not too many people at the mansion were fans of snakes. Especially when they would plop themselves down on the chesterfield and would be surprised when the long, thick, scaly animal would lean out in there direction curiously. Aside from the few ear-splitting shrieks, Toni has managed to be left alone in relative quiet. “Someone gets an extra pinky tonight for that!” The skinny tongue dances across her cheek in a happy response.

So school had restarted and so far she’s scarred two of the newbies for life. Danielle Moonstar had left a ringing in Toni’s ear for a good three minutes and the adorable Doug Ramsey had simply stiffened before bolting out of reach of Hector’s curious approach. It wouldn’t be too hard to do similarly evil things to the other students.

But that planning would come later. For now it was the weekend and thus her time to relax. And there was no better way for the infamous Toni to relax than with the world’s most violent book and her loyal pet snake curled around her neck as the echoes of terrified reptile-induced screams flowed around the room.

“Life is good.”

[Jack Russell]

(Going ahead and assuming Jackie-pants will be in the institute.)

Approximately, there are 1,300 windows in the Xavier Institute.

Nearly all of these windows are big. Very big. Naturally, sun comes through the windows from sunrise to sunset. There's no avoiding the windows. They're everywhere.

Adjusting to daywalking is harder than Jack had thought, and each time he found himself turning a corner, sunlight bore across his freckled arms and made him itch, even after he'd used a little sunscreen as a precautionary measure. It was more than likely a reflexive action than anything else. Since he was with Michael he'd never had to worry about the awkward schedule of waking up alone in the night when it was dark and more appropriate for both his skin and his eyes.

And yet, his new and old-found collegues had suggested that it might be a good idea to keep to the school schedule. Wary that it was the deciding factor on his return, Jack had agreed, and then spent most of the morning keeping to the wall like his shadow. Due to the fact that most people didn't mind a little sun through the window, Jack had to make do with an old studio with the previous night. Despite it, Jack had been in far worse places.

Still, Jack is almost fascinated with the difference between the night and day, pondering the yin and yang of it as he wanders the halls. Most of the layout is still the same, but most of the faces are not. Even as he stands and watches a group of teenagers run by one of those damned windows, only one of them stands out as someone he's met before. Rewarded with the glare of the sun as the kids continued on to romp in the yard, Jack retreats into the nearest room.

"Woah.."

The exclamation leaves him before he can shut his mouth. He pulls back a little to study the pair on the sofa, revealing a tell-tale smudge of sunscreen on his bicep. "Uh.. sorry. Your snake is.. um.. big." Jack is hardly afraid of snakes--like he is with virtually any other creature--but he hadn't expected to see one lounging about the shoulders of one of his fellow professors.

Awkwardly, he edges into the room, more wont to get away from the sun than to avoid people he doesn't really know.

[Toni Craft]

Just as she’s getting into the climax of the novel, Toni feels her pet snake tense slightly. A few moments later, she can hear the footsteps of an approaching person. Preparing herself for another potential scream or recoil, she grins.

"Woah.." And there it is, though not as loud or as panicked as she had hoped. Still, Toni’s proud of the fear her boa constrictor can produce and strokes his glossy scales affectionately while she continues to read. "Uh.. sorry. Your snake is.. um.. big." The voice is vaguely familiar, though she can’t quite place it.

“That he is my little squeamish but oddly attractive sounding compadre.” She’s about to add another comment about how enticing his voice sounds when Hector stiffens, opens his mouth a crack, and releases a loud hiss unlike anything she’s ever heard. “Eh?”

She turns her head to look at her discontent serpent and notices that his large predator eyes are focused sharply on the figure behind her. Toni rotates in her seat to see the cause of her snake’s sudden warning hiss and is met by the sight of an awkward, blond man who’s busily shifting away from the sunbeams.

Hector stops his long hiss to take a breath, but quickly resumes in a quieter tone.

“Dude! You totally are not makin’ my wee little buddy here happy! Did you have illegitimate sex with a snake in your past life or something?” Finally becoming annoyed by her pet’s defensive noise, Toni strokes him reassuringly, coaxing him to relax against her shoulders. Hector reluctantly backs down but remains tense and ready to attack. “What ever you did, Hector here doesn’t like it, and you’re not gonna get much sympathy from me if he bites you.” She warns, pointing an accusing finger at him.

She takes an instant, no longer distracted by her startled snake, to observe the man’s face and figure out where she’s seen him before. “Hey! You’re that other science prof, right? The one that booted it out of here after you went totally Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde apeshit or something? Wher’you been?”

[Jack Russell]

That he is my little squeamish but oddly attractive sounding compadre. Jack blinks steadily, confused by the response. Unsure whether or not to add his own response, he casually crosses the room to take a seat in an arm chair. Sudden chills roll down his back as the snake he'd regarded only moments earlier releases a loud hiss at his presence, and Jack deducts with reason that his presence is more than unwelcome. He draws back a little defensively, pausing in his mid-venture to the armchair as the woman on the sofa turns around to look at him. Dude! You totally are not makin’ my wee little buddy here happy! Did you have illegitimate sex with a snake in your past life or something? He starts at the accusation,"What..? I.. no..", not pausing to think that the question was rhetorical.

Uncomfortable being put on the spot, he retreats to the armchair hesitantly, keeping an intent gaze on the snake from the corner of his eye. What ever you did, Hector here doesn’t like it, and you’re not gonna get much sympathy from me if he bites you. Jack swallows a little in response, more worried about what the snake would look like if he chose to respond with his own defense than what the snake would do to him. "Uh.. well.. animals don't really like me that much... sorry. I didn't mean to.. upset him or anything."

He shifts a little in the armchair and tugs on the face of his watch, feeling the red-haired woman's eyes rove over him, studying his face. Hey! You’re that other science prof, right? The one that booted it out of here after you went totally Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde apeshit or something? Wher’you been? A muscle in Jack's jaw tightens in slight alarm, and he raises his eyebrows a little, almost nervously starting to tug on a loose thread of the cover on the armchair.

"Well uh.. I um.. took the Cure," he admits,"then.. I had some problems. So.. I came back." The idea of returning to the comfortable darkness of his room seems like a good idea at this point, but he's unsure of how the snake would react if he should happen to walk by it again, so he keeps his seat.

[Toni Craft]

"What..? I.. no.." Toni scoffs lightly and calmly rubs her thumb over her snake’s head, trying to settle his defensiveness.

“The first rule to nasty, illegitimate animal sex is always; deny, deny, deny. ‘No your honour, I did not wrap that snake around my winky.’ Yeah, sounds totally fool proof, who’d ever guess you actually did it?” She lifts the hefty serpent off her shoulders and lays him on her lap, where he proceeds to curl into a large knot all the while staring at the newcomer.

"Uh.. well.. animals don't really like me that much... sorry. I didn't mean to.. upset him or anything."

“That’s okay. Lots of animals don’t like me too. Like that horse that I tried to go out for a ride on. I’m pretty sure he wasn’t too happy after I broke his back, and I’m really sure he wasn’t too keen for me after they had to put that bullet in his brain.” Such an event never actually happened, but since he hadn’t been too scared by the overly annoyed Hector, Toni had to find other ways to traumatize the newbies, even if this newbie was actually an oldie. His fidgeting was a good sign that she’d at least made him uncomfortable.


"Well uh.. I um.. took the Cure, then.. I had some problems. So.. I came back."

“I keep telling people that the stuff does nothin’ good. I mean seriously, you do realize that stuff was the brain juice from some kid right? You had brain goo injected into your arm. Ewww! But I digest…. The stuff didn’t work out, eh? Big fuckin’ surprise. We’ve got a whole club of cure flunkees here. You can join if you want, then you can mope about your horrible disfigurements together. Though I don’t know if you’ll fit in with the ugly crowd, cause I must say, darlin’, you are one damn fine hunk of a little man.” Toni winks and grins, petting Hector mindlessly as she places her abandoned book on the table.

[Jack Russell]

The first rule to nasty, illegitimate animal sex is always; deny, deny, deny. ‘No your honour, I did not wrap that snake around my winky. Jack blinks and stares, slightly weirded out by her explanation. Yeah, sounds totally fool proof, who’d ever guess you actually did it? "Well.. uh.." he lets the subject drop and says nothing more, not wanting to provoke anything else from her that had to do with odd snake sex fetishes or the subject of.. winkies.

She continues on despite his relative silence. That’s okay. Lots of animals don’t like me too. Like that horse that I tried to go out for a ride on. I’m pretty sure he wasn’t too happy after I broke his back, and I’m really sure he wasn’t too keen for me after they had to put that bullet in his brain. Basic curiosity wants Jack to ask how in the world she managed to break a horse's back, but the unawareness of what this woman might say next forces him to shut up. I keep telling people that the stuff does nothin’ good. I mean seriously, you do realize that stuff was the brain juice from some kid right? Again, Jack sits and blinks. He'd never even questioned the actual origin of the Cure. You had brain goo injected into your arm. Ewww! But I digest…. The stuff didn’t work out, eh? Big fuckin’ surprise. We’ve got a whole club of cure flunkees here. You can join if you want, then you can mope about your horrible disfigurements together. Though I don’t know if you’ll fit in with the ugly crowd, cause I must say, darlin’, you are one damn fine hunk of a little man.

From the silence and her grin, Jack figures she's done, though he opens his mouth to prod at the awkward silence, he suddenly shuts it again, confused. "I uh.... thank-you..?"

The complete open nature of the woman is.. altogether a little disturbing and Jack can find little to match her wit. His simple idea of an introduction seems almost wimpy compared to the imaginative train of snakes, horses, and brain juice. "So.. um...," he tries the silence again,"..you.. teach science here?" He hadn't really spent much time with his fellow faculty members before his absence, still strict on nightwalking then to keep from getting burned and later classes, although she did appear familiar. Jack had always been terrible with names, but he never forgot a face, although if he'd had a conversation before with this woman he would have certainly never forgotten it..

[Toni Craft]

"I uh.... thank-you..?"

“You’re quite welcome my delicious man meat morsel. But if you really wat to thank me, then come by my room tonight after lights out.” Toni winks again. “I’ll leave the door unlocked.” That was a little daring, even for her, but she was on a roll. Why would she stop such a good thing?

"So.. um...you... teach science here?" Toni nods and unleashes one of her ‘damn skippy’ grins upon him.

“Yessir! The only true science their is; chemistry! No offense to your chosen field of science, even though it is not nearly as good as mine since mine makes things like toilets and dishwashers go boom! I’d love to see what your sissy science can do.” She sticks her tongue out at him, genuinely challenging him to a verbal battle of the sciences.

[Jack Russell]

You’re quite welcome my delicious man meat morsel. Really. This just getting a little weird, even for Jack. From his perspective--and he could be wrong--it seriously sounds like she wants to eat him. Not that he hadn't been appealed by the idea of eating nibbling on chewing on someone--well, never mind. Even so, Jack can't help but lean back a tiny bit in his chair. But if you really want to thank me, then come by my room tonight after lights out. I’ll leave the door unlocked.

Yessir! The only true science their is; chemistry! No offense to your chosen field of science, even though it is not nearly as good as mine since mine makes things like toilets and dishwashers go boom! I’d love to see what your sissy science can do. She sticks her tongue out at at him, and he tilts his head curiously to one side. Apparently he's being taunted for his day job in science. "Erm.. well.. I teach environmental science. You know.. different biomes, conservation.. that kind of thing. And uh.. I have survival tactic sessions in the danger room.. but I don't think that's really a.. science." In all technicalities, his survival tactics sessions are a science of not dying, although it's nigh impossible for anyone to really die in the danger room besides simulated beings. Regardless, most people tend to forget those sorts of things when placed in a stressful situation, even though before he'd left he'd never managed to get his students past basic directional skills.

"But um... chemistry is fun, I guess." He adds, remembering that Toni apparently liked blowing things up, and the last thing he wants is to end up with anything of his imploded.

[Toni Craft]

"Erm.. well.. I teach environmental science. You know.. different biomes, conservation.. that kind of thing.”

“It’s all about erasing our stupid little footprints on the planet. Well I got news for you, bub, I’m gonna make my footprint bigger than a whale on the wrong type of steroids. I don’t buy into all that global warming bull. I hate to burst your little bubble, but it’s just some colossal scare tactic put in place so some rich dudes can make some money.” She points at him, almost as if she’s accusing him of being one of so-called rich global warming profiteers. Hector, bothered by her constant fidgeting as she uses her arms to emphasize her words, lifts his head from his knotted body to look at her curiously. “What?” She asks, looking down at the snake, who flicks his tongue out at her and goes back to watching the stranger.

“And uh.. I have survival tactic sessions in the danger room.. but I don't think that's really a.. science."

“Hmmm...did you get one of those fancy X suits? You know, the skin tight leather ones that you can barely breathe in? Cause if you didn’t, then I have no interest in takin’ that course. X-Men courses are only worth while if there are gorgeous men--like yourself--bundled up in those purdy black suits.”

"But um... chemistry is fun, I guess." Toni nods vigorously, earning another irritated look and tongue flip from her pet.

“No guessin’ about it, darlin! Chem’s the awesomest thing ever!” So far her plan to scare the newbie hadn’t been going well and they were actually starting to have a conversation. It was time to change that. “Wanna hold Hector?” Toni asks, grinning while extending the snake out to him, much to the serpent’s surprise and discontent.

[Jack Russell]

It’s all about erasing our stupid little footprints on the planet. Well I got news for you, bub, I’m gonna make my footprint bigger than a whale on the wrong type of steroids. I don’t buy into all that global warming bull. I hate to burst your little bubble, but it’s just some colossal scare tactic put in place so some rich dudes can make some money. "Um..," Jack fidges a little more and blinks as his degree is more or less walked all over. His own conservation efforts are keyed toward preserving nature and conserving valuable resources, figuring it's a life lesson all people should know in case disaster should strike, but obviously not to some. The boa in the woamn's lap looks up at her in the silence,What? and Jack takes this time to lean down and fidget with the shoelace on his shoe that has come untied.

Hmmm...did you get one of those fancy X suits? Jack, looks up from tying and retying his shoelace. "Er.. no.. I don't really need one to--" You know, the skin tight leather ones that you can barely breathe in? Cause if you didn’t, then I have no interest in takin’ that course. X-Men courses are only worth while if there are gorgeous men--like yourself--bundled up in those purdy black suits

No guessin’ about it, darlin! Chem’s the awesomest thing ever! --Wanna hold Hector? Sitting back up straight, Jack apprehensively eyes the boa she holds out to him. It's been in his experience that animals don't particularly like the scent of him. Wolves don't mind him, really, so long as he leaves them alone, but smaller animals tend to be wary of him. "I uh.. it's okay.. I'm good. I don't think he.. likes me, really."

[Toni Craft]

"I uh.. it's okay.. I'm good. I don't think he.. likes me, really." Hector, alarmed at his owners sudden movement to force him upon the stranger, gives her a startled look before glaring at newcomer again.

“Nah, come on, Hector loves everyone! The hissing just means a different type of love.” What she fails to mention is that the hissing implies that the snake would love to strangle him.

Toni stands up with Hector in her arms and steps closer to poor nervous man. The snake recoils slightly and looks back and forth between Toni and the man whom he’s being forced upon. As she steps closer, he lets out another loud hiss. “Awww Hector, you wuss. Shut up.”

Toni leans down and places the upset snake in the lap of the uncomfortable blonde. Hector, having been corned into an undesirable situation, instantly kicks into defensive mode and hisses while rearing back to snap at him, despite his obvious lack of teeth.

[Jack Russell]

Jack stiffens in slight alarm as she approaches with the boa which in turn starts to hiss louder. Nah, come on, Hector loves everyone! The hissing just means a different type of love. That's a tougher love than I want to have! he frantically comments in his head, not daring to move now, gripping the sides of the arms of the chair so he won't feel the impulse to strike out at the creature. Surely since this snake is her pet she would not want it to be hurt, and he certainly doesn't want to have to react in a way that would injure him. Awww Hector, you wuss. Shut up.

Then she drops the snake in his lap.

Jack doesn't dare move a muscle, fighting the urge to bite the boa before it can bite him. But Hector, clearly really pissed off that he is being put in the lap of a stranger, and technically a predator, nonetheless, hisses again in warning before rearing back and lunging forward to snap at his face. Oh shi-- Without pausing to think about anything else, Jack thrusts his hand forward to catch Hector's head in his hand alarmingly quickly, securing the reptile's skull in his grasp just inches before his face. "Easy! I'm not gonna hurt you..!" he manages out, as though attempting to reason with Hector is going to fix the situation.

His captive, unimpressed, hisses at him again, and Jack replies with an instinctive low, guttural growl, attempting to ward off his attacker.

[Toni Craft]

Toni’s a little surprised at her snake’s actions, as he’s never been agressive toward anyone before. Unfortunately just when she realizes that Hector does plan on causing some bodily harm, it’s too late. The serpent coils back and tenses, then springs forward at the face of the very alarmed man.

She’s in mid curse and reaching for the snake before he latches himself onto a nose or something. She knows from watching him hunt mice that the snap is meant to stun, and then takes the opportunity to wrap himself around and begin to squeeze the air from his prey. Her hand is still several inches away when Hector launches himself and she winces.

"Easy! I'm not gonna hurt you..!" Toni gives him a shocked look.

“Holy flying peanut butter scones! You caught him!” She announces with a bit of a laugh. “You’re like the fuckin’ Road Runner you’re so fast!” Hector, upset that he’s been immobilized, releases another hostile hiss, but is swiftly drowned out by the low, animalistic growl emanating from the fellow professor’s throat.

Hector, devoid of any ears, doesn’t hear the growl, but he can feel the rumbling in his captors hands. With a flick of the tongue he is also able to smell the overwhelming stench of aggressiveness in the air. Realizing that there was no way he’d be able to survive attacking the man, Hector relaxes in the grip. He’s very happy when his owner picks him up again and cradles him against her body.

“That’s was cool...and really sexy! What other tricks can you do?” Toni asks, excitedly grinning from ear to ear.

[Jack Russell]

Holy flying peanut butter scones! You caught him! You’re like the fuckin’ Road Runner you’re so fast! Jack's heart races in his ears on an adrenaline high, the buzz from his moment of instinct starting to ebb away. Hector relaxes in his grip after he growls, and Jack blinks, releasing his hold on the boa's head. Picking up her scaly friend, the woman grins at him. That’s was cool...and really sexy! What other tricks can you do? Jack apprehensively scratches the side of his neck in response, arching his brows a little as she questions what else he might have up his sleeve.

"Well uh.. nothing special really," Jack says with a shrug, starting to relax again and rising from his chair, but still eyeing Hector. "Nothing that would make your friend here very happy," he points out, stepping aside, unsure of just how the snake would respond to an entirely different sort of threat. "But um.. this isn't what I really look like if you catch my drift.." She probably doesn't, and instead of just babbling he could just show her. "I mean.. I could show you..," he adds"..if you want, that is.. er.." He stops suddenly, clearing his throat and fidgets with the clasp his watch. "I uh...I'll just.. shut up now."

Despite what the snake might have to say about it, he loosens the strap of his watch, mainly using it as a distraction to keep his mind off Hector, shifting his focus. In his mind's eye, he focuses on a full moon, the structure of his body giving a slow ripple.

His body begins to stretche length and width-wise, growing out and up--muscles twisting taut and inflating with volume over his bones. Jack's face becomes unrecognizable within half a second, contorting to let his upper and lower jaw jut forward to harbor a snout which sprouts dark fur, pushing through every pore until his skin can't be seen, his clothes and the watch absorbing right into his body, as though feeding the change. The delicate shells of his ears have migrated to the top of his head, twisting and changing along the way until they're pointed and rightly furry with the rest of his body.

A crunch announces the finish of the change, his spine firmly snapping back into place. The change in his form complete, clearly eagerly more comfortable in this shape, the newly-made Jack rolls his broad shoulders back, an acquired and incredibly bushy tail giving a slow wag behind him, as if to ask for approval.

[Toni Craft]

"Well uh.. nothing special really,"

“Pffft. Nothing special? Dude, you just caught a snake doin’ about 300 miles an hour! Give yourself a little more credit, man!” Toni grins even wider and drapes Hector over her shoulders again. The snake quickly curls himself loosely around her neck and places his head back next to her ear, where he’s sure that he’s at least relatively safe.

"But um.. this isn't what I really look like if you catch my drift.." She cocks her head.

“What? You mean you’re really a woman? Alien? Mufasa? Oh! I know! You’re really a short little pot bellied pig! Those things are adorable...and tasty! They go good with a little honey garlic sauce.” If snakes were capable of rolling eyes, then Hector would have given the biggest eyeroll in the history of legless reptiles. But he can’t, so instead he flicks his tongue against her ear, hoping his owner would get the point.

"I mean.. I could show you...if you want, that is…er...I uh...I'll just...shut up now." Toni’s about to start off on another ramble, but she shuts her mouth when she notices the weird contorting his body is undergoing.

“Holy guacamole spitting sea cucumbers!” She takes a few steps back to give the transforming werewolf/human thingy some room. Hector, growing agitated again, considers letting out another hiss in Toni’s defense, but chooses to hide his head in her hair instead.

By the end of the change there’s a rather large werewolf sitting in the middle of the rec room wagging his tail. Toni looks him up and down a few times then grins wider than ever. She turns and plops the timid Hector down on the sofa, but doesn’t even pay attention when the reptile finds the cracks between the cushions and quickly disappears beneath them.

She crosses her arms, amused by the transformation. Suddenly, a little puzzled, she steps forward and, without fear, pokes him in the chest. Unsatisfied, she pokes him again, then pulls some of the fur apart to look beneath it. “Dude, you were wearing clothes before. I’m gonna be mighty annoyed if you can do this whole wolfy thing without getting naked.”