She shrugged. “There’s careful, and then there’s hermit. Either way. I figured it was only polite to let the telepath know there’s an empath in his area.” She looked down at her hands and added, “In case I /really/ lose it one day.”
He chuckled with good nature. The professor was able to tease himself now and again. “Come along, dear. Certainly Weschester isn’t so far off of the radar?” The stranger mentioned her gifts and he nodded, impressed. “An empath, hm? Remarkable. I’ve only met a handful over the years. Quite the extraordinary gift you have, love.” He quirked an eyebrow. “Lose it?”
“I’m not able to get out of the city much these days,” she confessed. “It can be — overwhelming. I’m not as in control as I’d like to be, and there’s — ” She hated having to say this. She wanted the professor to like her, but responsibility insisted she warn him properly. She sighed. “My body doesn’t cope with external emotions well. Either the extra energy is routed through my muscles — convulsions — or I have to use it up another way. I divert it into fire.” She held out a hand, and a little tongue of flame appeared, dancing and twisting in her palm.