Players:
Summary: Cale stumbles across Skyer, and the conversation gets personal and serious.
Date: April 18, 2013
Log Title: A Serious Talk
Rating: PG-13
Xavier Mansion - Observation Deck
Glass windows surround the circular room giving a full view of the school grounds. Two telescopes sit in front of the window for students to looks at the stars. A few comfortable chairs and couches with a few tables are placed up here for students to relax. There's a door off to one of the sides that leads up to the attic above here.
Skyler is a hard person to find. Not because he tends to make himself scarce… just the opposite in fact…. but because you never going to know what he looks like from one day to the next. Tonight he can be found up in the Observation Deck, sitting in one of the couches. He's currently the form of an older gentleman, hair and beard silvered with age, but still with a youthful sparkle in the eyes. As always the diamond tattoo on his forehead helps identify him as the shapeshifter.
Skyler is shortly joined by one Kaylee, who perches at the edge with her arms on the window sill before looking over at him. It takes her a minute - old guys shouldn't really /be/ hanging around Xavier's, but then she notices the tattoo and well… "Hey Skyler," she mumbles, seeming slightly down as she looks up at what can be seen of the night sky.
Skyler looks up from the book he was reading and gives the teen a personable smile. "Hey, there, Kaylee. How're you doing?" It looks like he knows the answer already, but it's always polite to ask.
"I dunno it's… why're you an old person, anyway? That seems like it'd suck," Kaylee pauses, shaking her head. "Anyway. I was just thinking. About that. Kaylee. I mean," she rubs the back of her neck. "Yeah…" she trails off. "I've been going by that name for a while now, haven't I? I mean, this whole girl thing…" she trails off. "It's just, it doesn't feel for real, you know? I dunno how to say it."
Skyler shrugs at the teen's first question. "With age comes experience and respect. It has its advantages," he says offhandedly. He folds the book closed, careful to mark it's place with a bookmark and sets it in his lap. "Not really," he admits. "Why doesn't it feel real? From what it sounds like you've been having pretty good success with people adjusting, and you do pass for a girl remarkably well."
"Well, I don't… just want to pass for one, you know? I want to be one," Kaylee shakes her head. "I dunno. It's difficult to explain. But just dressing like a girl doesn't actually make me one. Plus there's like, Logan, who just calls me a boy no matter what. Even though I yelled at him. He just doesn't give a fuck about it, I guess. But it'd be easier if… I dunno."
Skyler looks at Kaylee thoughtful for a moment before answering. "Well, I'm not an expert on this, but I did date somebody who was in the same boat as you, and I did a bit of research on it to find out more about her… and myself, actually." He crosses his legs and leans back in the chair as he continues to speak, "As I understand it human sexuality is… well… complicated to say the least. It's not as binary as we're taught to believe it is as we grow up. Believe me, I know. I've been just about everything on one end of the spectrum to the other. But there are several different things that contribute to your sexual identity…. and your physical gender is just one."
Skyler pauses for a moment while looking out at the stars as he starts to tick things off on his fingers, "Firstly there's the physical gender you were born with. There's the gender you identify as. There's the gender you're primarily attracted to, and the gender you primarily express yourself as. All of these things are independent of each other, and none of them are just one or the other. So just because you are, physically, a boy, it doesn't make you any less of a girl than somebody who was born with girl parts.""
"I know that but…" Kaylee trails off, "That doesn't change how people see me, I guess. I mean. Like, if I wanted to go swimming, for instance. Or just whatever. And they still keep me in the boy's dorms. So I mean, people may treat me like a girl most of the time, but they know I'm not actually one. I mean, physically. And. I dunno. You can talk about identities and whatnot all you want, but nobody wants to be with someone like me. I mean, not even gay guys… I dunno. I've been reading a little about ways to take it farther online and stuff… it's just…" she pauses for a moment, suddenly staring at Skyler. "Okay, I guess I take that back… but still…"
Skyler quirks an eyebrow in amusement when he's suddenly stared at, and tries to hide a smile behind steepled fingers. "Nobody? Don't sell yourself short. I felt the same way you did when I was your age. I mean, who would want to date somebody where you could, quite literally wake up to a stranger in your bed? Or, worse, yourself." With a chuckle he leans forward. "Listen. There are many, many things under your control in your situation. How people react to you when they find out you're transgender is not one of them, no matter how far you take it, whatever you mean by that."
"Yeah, I guess so…" Kaylee trails off. "Still I mean, no matter how much I dress it up, this isn't really the body that I want to have… I guess a lot of people don't have the bodies that they'd like though…" At least she's not fat, right? "I've just been reading about ways to change that, you know like, hormone therapies and surguries and stuff… Though…" she trails off, shrugging. "It seems like a big step. That's what I meant by taking it farther."
"Ah." Skyler says, with a thoughtful nod. He contemplates the girl for a few moments before speaking. "Well, it is a big step. Especially the surgery. Anything that permanent and invasive needs to be carefully considered before committing to it, but at your age, from what I've read, hormone therapy will help a lot. If I remember correctly, before you can start, you'll need to get a letter of recommendation from a therapist… which means starting therapy. Since you're a minor you'll also need your parent's, or your legal guardian's consent as well."
"Well, the school has legal guardianship… since my parents aren't alive anymore, or anything. And they'd need to sign off on my getting therapy, right? That's the thing… I don't even really know who to turn to. I mean, I feel like I can talk to you about it but… you're not a therapist, at least, I don't think," Kaylee smiles faintly. "So, I guess then… what would my next step be?"
Skyler shakes his head. "No, I'm not even close to being a licensed therapist. I've thought about it, and might end up going to college to do it, but… I've got a few of my own issues to deal with first before I do," he says with a wry chuckle. "Well, if the school is your legal guardian, then you'd need to talk to Emma about seeing a therapist, since she's the headmistress."
"Hmm… Emma… she can be kinda scary," Kaylee laughs nervously, "But I guess I've gotta do what I've gotta do… besides, she can read minds, right? So maybe that'll make things easier…" the lizard mutant trails off, eyes still trailing over the sky. "Yeah. Tomorrow. Tomorrow I'll do it," she nods, turning to leave old-man Skyler alone in the observation deck again. "Thanks a lot. I dunno what I'd do without you around, actually… even if we don't talk much."
Skyler chuckles and nods. "Yeah. She really can, and I'm always around if you need somebody to talk to." A pause for thought before adding, "Before you talk to her, I would go on the internet and see if you can find the names of a couple of therapists that specialize in gender identity issues. Or, are at least familiar and comfortable with the topic. Not all of them are, and Emma will be… I don't want to say impressed…. but appreciative of the legwork."
"Right!" Kaylee nods - not someone to want to piss off, that Emma. "I'll let you know how it goes," she smiles, then turns towards to the elevator and heads out.
