Emma watched and listened in on all the action, not butting in on any of the mental talk, just letting them get a feel for what worked at first. Once they had that slightly down, she'd get them to pick up the pace. No reason this should be routine and relaxing.

picword: White Queen

Kurt aimed low on tackling Kitty and therefore passed harmlessly through her legs to tumble onto another square. Righting himself on the ground, he grinned up at the other two on the chess board. "We'll get you one of these times, Miss Pryde," he added with a proper villainous tone.

picword: tackle

Calvin is still playing it somewhat cautious so as not to run into Kurt - since his teleportation isn't quite as precise.

Not as precise yet, he reminds himself fully. Emma can pick up the thoughts on just how determined he is to master these powers - along with definite signs she's on the right track to encouraging him.

He coordinates another jump with Kurt, once he's ready.

picword: Hand Out Effect

Annamarie grins at her brother's showmanship, but stays focused on relaying the coordinates. She's really getting the hang of Kurt's, while she's still a little wobbly on Calvin's.

And as she's staring at him to run the numbers, she tries to rein in a thought that it's definitely nice that it's Kurt who's her brother and not Cal. Annamarie will definitely work on not broadcasting that one to Kitty and Miss Frost.

Kitty had never pushed her powers this much before. Never really used them this much before. She was starting to get... tired, in some way she couldn't quite describe.

picword: Skeptical

There's what's projected over telepathic lines, and there's what's available to be heard without those. And Emma's listening in on all of them. Picking up Calvin's determination, Annamarie's attempt to reign in that thought, and Kitty's fatigue.

The first on that list was positive, good, the boy was determined and motivated. That was easier to work with. The second was relevant, but not directly, and not now. Knowing the relationships and opinions her students had of each other, that was useful. But again, not something that she'd reveal she knew, not until it'd be worth it. Kitty's fatigue though...that was perfect. The girl had barely touched her powers, and they had so much potential. It wasn't just about getting her used to them, it was to reach her limits and push past them.

Just a tad faster now, Kurt darling. Change from where you approach her, and switch up who does it. She's getting used to it being you, predictability is only useful to us when it comes to Annamarie.

picword: Emma interested

Kurt nodded to Emma's points and out of habit look to Calvin to talk to him. You need to tag Kitty now, Kurt explained to him. I'll bamf close to distract and then you go for it. A one-two hit, alright? For a moment, he thought Kitty looked a little pale, but it could just a part of having pink skin. He bamfed away to start the maneuver with Calvin.

picword: BAMF

Calvin signals his agreement via telepathy, and takes a deep breath. Precision time - or something like it. He waits for Kurt's count, letting him teleport first, then following after to try and tag Kitty before she can phase.

picword: Face

Kitty's a little too slow this time, and Calvin's tag takes her directly.

"Aawww... dangit!"

picword: Oh wow!

Annamarie was just a little behind as well. "Sorry," she tells Kitty sheepishly.

Emma sighs inwardly to herself with some annoyance. While it's Kurt specifically that brings up the thought, she projects it to everyone because it's something they need to get down. When communicating telepathically, you do Not need to look at who you're communicating with. It's pointless, a waste, and needlessly obvious. You are all certainly better than that.

But otherwise the boys had decent strategy and took direction well. But good, keeping them on their toes. She sends that thought at just the boys, light praise but it's praise enough.

Keep up girls, you cannot have them thinking they have the upper hand for long.

picword: Evaluating something

Calvin smiles at the praise. It doesn't need to be much - it works wonders. Keeping the suggestion in mind, he's looking towards Kitty when he telepathically suggests to Kurt,

Double jump? Pop in one place, rapidly teleport again to the real targets?

picword: Smiling

Kurt knew he was caught doing the looking-and-talking thing and flicked his tail contritely. But they tagged Kitty! Point to them!

Like skipping rocks on a pond. If you are sure you are used enough to teleporting to do it, he agreed and looked at Kitty too, grinning widely as a bonus tactic. I can feint again, they'd expect me to tag Kitty this round.

picword: cutey!

Emma can definitely see the thoughts forming on Calvin's end. Is used enough to teleporting to do this? Is he good enough to pull it off? He has no idea. Which may be part of the difference between him and some of the other students.

I'll never know til I try. he responds without hesitation.

Kurt is the better teleporter, no question. Calvin, on the other hand, has no problems pushing himself and testing anything and everything he can do with these powers.

picword: Lighting Up

The numbers are a little iffy.

Kitty, Annamarie broadcast. Appearance afternext is likeliest, but they'll be fast! ... even chance Cal'll be coming at your just a teensy little bit off balance, but I'm guessing trying to knock him isn't part of this lesson
It was the sort of thing Momma had encouraged, though.
So best just stick to the whole ghostdodge thing

Too bad she could barely figure out how to turn unsolid, let alone only partially unsolid. A good smack to one or the other would be pretty therapeutic right now.

But if she could go from one to the other quickly enough...

She'd be able to phase, this time, now that she had a breath. But she'd follow it with an elbow.

picword: Grumpy

Last time, the bit of unpredictability due to his lack of skill with teleportation worked in their favor. This time, less so. Calvin hits the first jump, popping in, trying to draw attention, then pops out, reappearing - just above Kurt.

Which is where Kurt's reflexes save him. On his own, it might make for a nasty collision - but with his schoolmate's quick reflex, he's able to react - which he does by phasing, passing through him on landing, well off Cal's intended mark... right in time for a solid elbow to go flying through where his nose is - suddenly very glad he's phased out.

"Whoa... good reflexes, Kitty."

picword: BW Pondering

She didn't correct the assumption that some attempted retribution wasn't part of the lesson. It wasn't the point of today's lesson, but it was part of what she wanted them to learn eventually. You did not let people walk all over you in life, there was a time and place for getting back at them, and it needed to be done. So Kitty's attempted elbow got a slight smile out of Emma.

But Calvin's phasing...hmmm, good that he could switch powersets at short notice, and using Kurt's quick reflexes to react in time, there was a lot of potential when it came to combining powers there. Good intent, she added telepathically to all of them. Never take things lying down. Pick your moment carefully and return the favour. Always return the favour, she thought to herself, remembering those she'd had to do that for so far.

Well this had been informative so far. Kurt and Calvin had good heads for strategy, Annamarie could be fast and accurate with her predictions, and Kitty was slowly gaining more control over her powers. Plus the fact that the girls had considered (and tried) not being the ones on the defensive was perfect, and the right attitude she wanted.

picword: Emma Frost (bitches)

Kurt had braced for a collision and felt nothing, but he passed through. "Woah! Close one!" he said instead, the near-hit making him forget the no-talk rule. Still, that was pretty cool maneuvering. Emma started to correct and instruct and Kurt crouched to brush off the grass. So now Kitty was going to try to tag them back, meaning they'd be quicker on the escape. Calvin did well, but he didn't have the practice at precision that Kurt could use. This time, let me try. I'll pop in on one side, then reappear on the other side to tag. Like tapping on someone's shoulder from the other side.

picword: focused

All luck - if I hadn't been borrowing your reflexes, that would have been messy. Calvin admits between the two of them... still grinning. Sure, he's making some mistakes, and mastering powers is taking tons of time, but its fun and the pretty boss lady seems happy with his potential. He's already looking forward to finding ways to use powers in concert. He may never match lifelong users in finesse, but he has versatility on his side. Besides, teleporting and phasing are awesome.

You've got it. I'm going to try a triple jump. Not anywhere too near her, just trying to draw attention off you... and I want to see if I can do it.

picword: Smiling

Too much information. Annamarie has to focus.

Cal A1, Kurt D5, Cal F1, Kurt E4, Cal B5/C5 I think they're trying to confuse you.

Kitty fought the urge to nod or look at Annamarie. It's working!, she thought, quickly.

Deep breaths, concentrate. Go intangible when the time was right.

picword: Yeah...about that

(We broke the code. Everyone evacuate to here! http://www.scribbld.com/users/coldestfrost/677.html )

picword: Thinks little of you