video ; 7th transformation

[permutates]

Did you know we have an ice rink?

[ Because there is one! And Raven pans the camera around to see: yes, ice, places to sit around the ice, everything.

When she refocuses it on her, it's apparent that she looks slightly different from usual. She has dark hair, for one. And, for another, her skin is a subtle shade of green. ]

I didn't!

It's in the annexe.

Someone come skate with me.

Comments

[permutates]

[ She's wearing leggings and a sweater; both are nice, but not her favorites, and not that expensive. ]

...Sure.

[ She brings herself to a halt just out of Jean's way, in case Jean can't maneuver as well as Raven can. ]

[fireincarnate]

[Jean cocks her head slightly, brow furrowing. Then she lifts a hand.

For a moment, Raven's outfit seems to blur and shift. Then she's wearing an outfit not unlike Jean's, though the colours haven't changed.]

[permutates]

[ It feels so strange on her skin; it seems there's movement, but her skin can't identify any direction or quality to it, making the little fake hairs and pores prickle. She sticks halfway between amazement and regret that she let Jean do that, because now it seems very clear that Jean has a lot of power, the same sort of awareness of Raven's body that Charles would have of Raven's mind, if he tried. She hates that. She is a mouse to other mutants. She's a bug jumping from spiderweb to spiderweb.

But she takes a breath and focuses on the amazement, and - it is nice. ]

I love it.

[ She skates off backwards and in a wide arc, and on impulse throws in a couple of dance gestures, extended and made graceful by the ice-movement. ]

[fireincarnate]

[She can sense the uneasiness, the bitter tang of resentment, and her arm draws back, crosses round her waist.

But Raven smiles anyway, and that means something.]

I'm glad. [The words are softly sincere. It feels nice, to do something faint and fanciful, something harmlessly benevolent.]

It looks good on you.

[permutates]

I can make anything look good on me. [ A little grin. ]

[fireincarnate]

I don't doubt it. [The words are lighter, now, but no less sincere.

She holds out a hand.] You willing to teach me how not to fall on my butt?

[permutates]

[ She takes it, to hold Jean steady. ]

All right, what you do is you point each skate just a little bit outwards and push your foot along it. And then you do it with the other foot. And then just keep going - like taking steps.

[fireincarnate]

Okay.

[Jean lets her power fade as she takes Raven's hand. Her brow furrows as they move, tongue poking out of her lips.

It's nice, to feel challenged.

Once they've gone a few feet, she glances up at Raven with a smile.]

So far, so good.