She knew she could back out of this, thought the beautiful white haired woman as she looked out of the car window. She wasn't doing it to prove anything to anyone except herself afterall. But Ororo also believed she needed to do this.
It all started a few months back when she had failed a recruitment mission for an orphan living on the streets that was detected by cerebro when his mutation activated. She was usually quite good at those recruitments given her own past on the streets. But this was the third such that she had failed in the last year. It wasn't a huge deal as the Institute usually made multiple attempts before giving up. Each of those cases had been convinced by someone else.
Probably nothing would have come of it except she had brought the topic up in conversation with her friend Yukio. She'd pointed out that her experience on the streets was a long time ago and the image she portrayed now was of a priveleged and well educated wealthy woman.
Ororo hadn't wanted to believe it, but taking a good look at her life she was forced to realize that she had gotten soft lately. She lived in a mansion, slept in a soft bed every night, wore designer clothes and wanted for nothing. It had been a long time since she to worry about where her next meal was going to come from or do something she detested just to survive.
It probably wouldn't have changed anything except the young mutant that Storm had been sent to recruit this time died in a Freinds of Humanity riot. Intellectually she knew it wasn't her fault, but part of her couldn't help but think that if she had been successful the child would have been safe at the Institute. And also believe that she could have been successful if she still had that rough edge from living on the streets.
So wtih that in mind she had come up with this excercise to help her reaquire her edge. For the next three months she would live on the streets. Surviving on off what she could steal, beg, or trade for and she wouldn't have anything to trade but her body. Part of her cringed at the idea of selling herself, but she forcefully reminded herself that it wouldn't be the first time.
She'd talked Yukio into helping her by being her safety contact. If she didn't contact her every three days then Yukio would come looking for her. Yukio would also be the one to drop her off. Afterall it wouldn't be much of living on the streets if she just checked into a hotel. Yukio and her would be going on a few trips into New York City over the next week. During one of these trips Yukio would drive her into the city to a random destination that Yukio picked and then take Ororo's purse, cell phone, and any jewelry. She would be put out in whatever she was wearing without any other resources and expected to survive for three months in the urban jungle.
The moment of truth had come. Which was why she was having last minute thoughts as Yukio parked the car and asked for her purse. She steeled her determination and calmly handed over the purse, her phone, and then took off her watch, a bracelet, a necklace, and her earrings and handed them over. She was just in the nice blouse and skirt outfit with heels that she had picked for their day out.
Her thoughts already racing ahead to what she needed to do to survive. 'First things first' as she again examined her clothes, 'I am going to have to secure some more appropriate clothing. No way I'll be able to fit in looking like this. I'll have to pick pocket a few people and then hit a second hand store for something to fit in better. Should I do something with my hair?'
She opened the door and started to step out, she briefly hesitated a moment to turn her head and address Yukio, "Thanks for everything you have done for me and remember if I don't contact you in three days come find me." That said she steps out of the car to begin her survival exercise.
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