11401/A Past Meeting

A Past Meeting
Date of Scene:	28 April 2020
Location:	Jean's Office - Xavier's School
Synopsis:	A backdated scene in which Jean meets Alice, a new student.
Cast of Characters:	Red, Phoenix

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Red has posed:
it's been a few days since Kitty had pretty much sleepwalked into the shop Alice works at on the 27th of March. And she had returned to offer some possible scholarship for X-gene carriers... if ony Alice could qualify and meet the requirements. Only one or two crucial details Kitty micht have missed: like that the whole of Xavier's students were X-gene carriers... and that the X-men were based in the cellar there.

At least Alice was invited for some interview after she had given the paper part to Kitty a few days earlier, so she took a bus up to Westchester, and ended up waiting in front of Jean's office...

Phoenix has posed:
Sometimes, even the Headmistress had to step away. They were rare, but some missions required her special touch. So it was that other senior members of the staff stepped in to make sure people got here who needed it. Jean had caught up once she'd gotten back and thankfully things weren't too crazy, and there was a new student potential!

At present, she was in her office preparing to meet with Alice. She's sporting a deep blue set of crisp wide-legged pants and a half jacket over a sharp white blouse. Professional, but still able to actually walk on her lunch break. When she took them. She's just moving aside the enrollment paperwork that she's been reading over while the last seconds tick down, her face still and quiet as she mentally rehearses the questions she means to ask. When the time comes, she rises up from her desk and walks to the door, opening it and looking to the waiting young woman with a dawning, bright, and warm smile.

"Hello, Alice. I'm Headmistress Jean Grey. Please, come in and have a seat, I've been looking forward to meeting you."

Red has posed:
When Alice enters, she wears jeans, boots, a nice blouse and has a backpack with her, the later containing some papers and something to read for the trip. "Hello miss Grey. Kitty, I mean, miss Pryde, was the one that was so bold to try to enroll me, but if you really have an open spot and I really qualify for college flasses... Sorry, I am a little through the wind. I mean, I never would have dreamed that I might study... let alone in an expensive prestigious school like Xaviers..."

Phoenix has posed:
"We try to be welcoming to any who have need of us." Says Jean as she gestures to the padded chair in front of her desk on her way to resuming her own seat. "Ms. Pryde and I have known each other a long time and I trust her judgement. This isn't anything truly formal, I just wanted a chance to get to meet you, learn a bit about you, and of course answer any questions you have. I guess you could call me nosey. For good reason, but I like to know who's here. It's not just my job to protect and look after everyone under this roof. Everyone here is apart of my family, and I hope others come to feel that way too.

"She'll wait until Alice is settled in and comfortable before leaning back to look less formal herself. It's then she'll say, "I'd like to learn more about you, if that's alright. Where you come from, your family, what brought you here. If there's anything you're not comfortable talking about, that's fine. I know there are some things no one likes to share, especially to a stranger."

Red has posed:
Alice takes some moments to sort herself in the chair, brushing her red hair back. "Well, I grew up in Brunswick, born there, went to school there and all. I mean, my mom's an empath, my dad's a rather green mechanic... you know X-gene carriers all the line. Not the most uncommon thing in M-town, actually, rather common. Though when I looked for scholarships last, there was not a single public one that put X-gene carrier on the list of demanded things. I mean, some third of my class would qualify that part! I mean, the part that did not get killed or driven out by the Sentinels and Friends of Humanity. Lucky me that I ain't having something obvious as my X-gene, but Dad's not like that. well, I told yea, he's green. Like, his skin's green and he can eat sunlight."

Phoenix has posed:
There's a subtle shift in Jean's expressions at mention of old enemies, a sadness hardened by bitterness and probably no small share of horrible memories. "Our abilities can be a wonderful gift, but some are burdened by not being able to wear them without fear, while others have the choice of concealing themselves. It breaks my heart, but that's the great vision we hope to accomplish here." It's there that some hope leaks back into her voice, and while the sadness remains there's a spark of fierce pride. "That, one day, we don't have to hide or live in cities of our own just to survive, but can be acknowledged as free to live as any other. To show that we are not monsters, not beings of violence and hate, but those same friends and family who are willing to stand alongside our neighbors and look them equally in the eye. Sadly, history shows us how long and difficult that fight can be."

There's a light thump on the surface of her desk from the side of her hand she hadn't noticed she balled up. "But, I daresay your mother and I could probably share some notes. Empathy is among my oldest talents and source of trouble. What about you? What are you able to do?"

Red has posed:
Alice blinks a moment as Jean mentions 'our', tilting the head as she repeats the word. "Our?" she asks as ig she might have misheard, then nodding at the mention of her mom. "Oh... well, she might, might not. I got no idea how she works, but she always says it's borderline cheating to know what someone wants to hear and tailoring the offers pretty precisely... eh, yea, she's in sales. Wait, you wanna say that you do stuff like that too? Do I need to recount film titles in my head to keep people out or something?"

Phoenix has posed:
This time, the professionalism fades into a laugh that's easy-going, light, and bright. "Yeah, yeah, that's the eternal struggle alright. It's a fine balance between wanting to do the right thing out of empathy, and the right thing out of morality." Jean holds up her hands in a placating gesture as she says, "I try and stay on the side of morality. As much as I may want to help people, I also don't want them to fear me, and poking in their skull is a surefire way to end up on the latter end. So no, I'm not fishing in your noggin. I prefer this, sitting and talking. Empathy, telepathy, telekinesis, other things; you could call me a good psychic grab bag, but I've been at this since I was a kid. It sounds like you have some questions of your own, so shoot. What would you like to know about this school? I'm not sure what you've been told already."

Red has posed:
"Actually pretty much nothing? I mean, I know Xaviers is one of those extremely expensive schools with all the bells and whistles and extremely strict vetting... waitaminute. Let me count these straight. I've seen Kitty, Shannon, Ororo Munro and you all at this school and all are X-gene carriers. Oh, and this Rogue-girl had her party over in Salem. That's like a higher ratio of X-gene carriers thatn Public schools in Brunswick!" Alice notes, carefully eying Jean.

Phoenix has posed:
Jean Grey crosses her arms over her chest as she leans back and listens, her eyes a'twinkle as she reaches up a slim finger to tap on her chin. "Mm, a world safe for all mutants. That's the dream, but, we have to start somewhere. There needs to be a place young mutants can find sanctuary, to be among those who wouln't fear or judge them, in order to learn about who they are and what they can do so we, in turn, can walk confidently in the world knowing we are there to keep it safe, not to do it harm."

She unfolds her arms then in a sweeping gesture to the office around them. "So, welcome to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, founded by Charles Xavier himself, my own mentor. And... yes, there's air quotes around the gifted part, but ssh. That's our secret. Still, that bit isn't a joke. I'm sure you can understand why we keep ourselves veiled as just another elite boarding school, and that's something we take with the utmost seriousness. So outside of these walls, it's important to remember that secrecy keeps us safe until the world is ready for us."

Red has posed:
Alice hmms a little, then nods, face going rather earnest. "And you send out a bunch of ragtag sleepwalker-hunters for recruiting?" Ok, that was a little mean towards kitty, but she starts giggling sme moment later. "I mean, would she not have gone there, I would have never known! So, uhm, you have any questions I really really need to answer?"

Phoenix has posed:
There's a laugh from Jean as she lets her arms down with a slow shake of her head. "It's not our usual M.O., but in this case I suppose it worked out for the best. Things happen for a reason, right? Your's isn't the weirdest intro story to the school, but I'll let everyone else tell you their own stories. We all came here for different reasons, but that's why we're able to help one another."

At Alice's question regarding questions, the Headmistress responds, "No, I have your information, but I just wanted a chance to get to meet you and talk. If you're interested in attending, then I can get you set up in the system and show you to your room. Later, I'll have one of the older students give you the tour. The other important part I do need to bring up before then, though, is who else you may see around. I trust you're at least passingly familiar with the X-Men team?"

Red has posed:
"A runin with the sleepwalking student council while working isn't the weirdest? Now you made me curious." Alice notes, stretching some. "You got everythign and all? I mean, Movies tell that with the papers questions are crafted to throw us off track and all. To learn more and stuff, right? I'd need some days to pack and put in my 2 week notice and all. you know, stuff you're supposed to do when leaving town."

"X-men? Passingly. I think some of them hang out in Brunswick at times? Never can say I met one knowingly though."

Phoenix has posed:
"We generally try and keep a lower profile when not working." Jeans remarks, using We like it was no big thing. "The school here is the home of the X-Men. Some may be your teachers or guest lecturers, but most are off tending to their own business a fair share of the time. The base of operations is in the lower levels of the school, so some are off limits to students. Others, like the Danger Room, you'll come to learn about through your lessons. It's another reason we're so secretive. The world does not need to know a superhuman group is working out of a school."

Red has posed:
"Eh, my workplace has a policy: Don't tell us you do wear our costumes to do illegal vigilante work. Don't hint you do so. We can't help someone doing something illegal. But if we don't know, we're not responsible. So just don't tell us, ok?" Alice muses, shrugging some. "So if I don't know they're X-men, I can't see they're X-men and so there are no X-men to tell about, right? The 3 wise: don't hear, don't see, don't tell."

Phoenix has posed:
Jean Grey chuckles at the quiet rule, even if it sounds ever so slightly bittersweet. "It's a common philosophy. I hate how mutants have to hide, but I understand why. The world needs to adjust one step at a time. The X-Men are held to high standards, but they do have off work lives to tend to. Anyway, that's beyond what we need to chat about. I just needed to let you know that, as its information that cannot escape this school. It's imperative for the safety of everyone as well as the continued functions of this school. But also, just so you don't see a need to panic if you hear some alarms or see a jet appear from under the basketball court. You know, typical school things." She adds calmly with a mirthful sparkle to her eyes.

Red has posed:
"I guess... that's how things are. Though I really hoped to kick off a class action against the Governement and Trask for making inhumane weapons and that such should be banned, but justicia is really really slow...