11910/More Equal Footing

More Equal Footing
Date of Scene:	04 August 2020
Location:	Kitchen - Xavier's School
Synopsis:	It's not student and teacher anymore. James was always the eldest of her 'kids.'
Cast of Characters:	Warpath, Emma Frost

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Warpath has posed:
     The more things change, the more they stay the same. When Emma knew him before he was a loner and him sitting in solitude in the kitchen indicates he still is. Teaching may suit hom as he does teach classes and he doesn't have trouble with the students. That could have something to do with respect, fear, or both.

Emma Frost has posed:
Rumor over the past couple of days has spread like wildfire that Emma Frost is coming back to the staff. In point of fact, she's been tasked to an X-team! The kids in the know let it slip yesterday. And although Emma has reached out mentally simply to assure herself that his mental state is all right, the woman has not intruded on him as yet. So when she comes into the kitchen dressed in what he knows as her 'teacher' attire -- white slacks, white blazer over a white shell, heels, her blonde hair loose -- it is perhaps not as big a shock as it could be. The smile that quirks the corners of her lips upward is a soft one as she notes his presence. "Good morning, James," she greets quietly. She knows she can't startle him, he'd have picked up on her arrival by his own methods well before she stepped in.

Warpath has posed:
Dress code. He's still bad at it. A nice pair of blue jeans and an Xavier Institute polo. The usual combat boots. He really doesn't change much.

     He had heard that Emma was returning, even picked up her scent a time or two and noticed the gentle probe. His gaze turns towards you, pretty much eye level sitting,"Good morning. It's good to have you back."

Emma Frost has posed:
The subtle tension in her shoulders relaxes, and the blonde moves toward the coffee machine to help herself. "It's really good to see you." Her blue eyes take in his casual dress, but it's the demeanor that has more of her attention. He's... *comfortable* with himself. It isn't always the case, and it looks good on him to her. "I was planning to seek you out to say hello today, now that I'm over the shock of being asked to take the position," she comments mildly.

Warpath has posed:
     A hint of a smile touches his features and her tells you,"It is good to see you too Emma. I'm glad you'll be here." He lets the tension pass and he tells you,"Sometimes we disagree, but you know one who seeks harm you does so at extreme peril. That never changed. Never will."

Emma Frost has posed:
Leaning a hip on the counter, she studies him over the top of her coffee cup. "Disagreements can be healthy," Emma replies softly. "They make one reevaluate their thought processes." It's as close as she's come in a long time to admitting that his opinions mattered. That his dismay over some of her choices mattered. "Are you doing well?" she asks, and then observes softly, "You look good. Although you could use a slight trim." She nods to his hair, which has grown longer still in the time she's been gone. She used to do it for him, and the offer to do so again is ... perhaps an olive branch? A way to ask if they are okay without having to ask. No one touches a warrior's hair except his family.

Warpath has posed:
     He looks up a moment and then back to you,"It could use some attention." he agrees. There is no hesitance when he asks,"You think you will have time soon?"

     They are as good as they can be. He looks across the table and indicates the chair,"Join me if you like. Get ready

Warpath has posed:
     "Get ready for your first day walking the halls." There is enough to eat yhere for three people, but if she can cut his hair and sit at the table then she can eart with him too.

Emma Frost has posed:
The soft smile widens and Emma nods. "I can do that," she agrees. She brings her coffee and retrieves a muffin from a box of them on the counter before coming over to sit next to him. There is a light touch on his shoulder, affectionate in a low-key fashion, as she joins him. "I haveto admit there are certain faces I'm not so much looking forward to seeing. The... shall we call it 'incredulity' of certain members of the household is already notable." There's a roll of her eyes -- it's not like it won't be obvious who the problem spots will be.

Warpath has posed:

     "If it is a melting pot Xavier dreamed of he's found it." The touch gets a smile, affection reciprocated. His thoughts roll a little and he admits,"I could do without Creed around these kids. Not my call."

     He con

Emma Frost has posed:
"Mmmmm," Emma replies with a sound he knows well. There are things happening that she is distinctly Less Than Pleased by. "Summers didn't like my answer when he asked me what he should do about *that*," she observes calmly. "But he continued to think I should teach Ethics around here, so...." There's genuine amusement in her blue eyes over that one.

Warpath has posed:
     A shake of his head and he muses,"He probably wouldn't care for my thoughts either." he admits. It is nice to be a little more relaxed. He is far more at ease with her than most of the others in this place,"You have ethics." he replies,"Maybe not the same as they expect, but you have your own way." Even a gentle tease.

Emma Frost has posed:
Quirking a blonde brow at him, Emma agrees easily. "My ethics are pretty solid. They are learning that pragmatism has its place." At least, that's how she's choosing to frame it. "You know they've learned *something* when Jean Grey and I actually agree on a thing." And hell didn't freeze over?! There was no lightning over the school, smiting someone?! That half-smirk she offers before sipping her coffee is wholly satisfaction.

Warpath has posed:
     "They is a lack of pragmatism in here for certain." he agrees and takes another bite of his breakfast, turning the plate towards you a little if you want some,"Jean is...different than when first I met her." he agrees softly.

     He's not going too indepth,"Regardless. Are you staying here in the mansion or are you going to be somewhere else." he asks. Might as well see where things are there,"There are some good kids here." he adds oddly,"Most of them. They need another perspective in life that isn't so sunshine and roses."

Emma Frost has posed:
"Well, they're going to get that. I'll be here two to three days a week, most likely. I still have the apartment in Manhattan so I can deal with the business as well." Emma pauses and then admits, "I may have to appoint someone to it in time, once I find my feet here. But we shall see." She looks at him. "Are you enjoying your work here? Is it what you were hoping?"

Warpath has posed:
     "Good." he comments softly,"They need it." Now he has an idea when he'll get a chance to see her or not,"The work here is good all things considered. I like being able to work with the kids and help them get a better grasp of what history is and how it happened. I get a chance to teach them how to protect themselves in the Danger Room. It wouldn't have been something I would have considered before, but it seems to suit me."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma's nod is slow. "Summers has sworn he's not building a new child team... but they do have their newest New Mutants in training," she offers quietly. "One of the boys... he's not like the others. I know they're not specifically your charges, but ... I would like it if you kept an eye on him, James." She looks up at him. It bothers her, this idea that the kids will likely find themselves once more out there in a war that no one seems able to stop. "Jeremy Statton?" He probably already knows the autistic student.

Warpath has posed:
     "I know who he is." he replies considering her words and the one in question,"I haven't interacted with him a great deal as he shuts down around people a lot. I have a tendency to make people uncomfortable anyway so." He shrugs finally and agrees,"I'll keep an eye on him."

     "I have been working with one student who I see potential in. I worry she is too passive, but I am working on it. Shannon Lance. I don't want to scar the girl, but I worry about her." he explains,"So if you could keep an eye out for her for me."

Emma Frost has posed:
Having the grace to look ashamed, Emma nods. "I have some bridges to mend with that one, but yes... I'll keep an eye. I ... did not make the best impression on her, I'm afraid. Treated her roughly." He's one of the few people she would open up on this level to. "I have a little work ahead of me."

Warpath has posed:
     "We all make mistakes Emma." he replies with a hint of a smile,"Even you." he adds teasingly,"I would appreciate it if you did. She's a fairly forgiving person so maybe you won't have to work at it too hard." Resting his arms on the table for now, apparently done with breakfast,"I remeber a few times some of the Hellions would have said the same thing and most of them learned in the end that you were trying to make them better." Not that she ever did him that way, but some of the others sure.

     They really are in similar places in life suddenly. Most of the Hellions wouldn't ever be so honest, but the two of them have always been able to see past that sort of thing. Working together might change their standings a bit more.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma studies him quietly and murmurs, "You've always been a strong personality, James. This place has been good for you." In ways that the Massachusetts Academy perhaps wasn't. Maybe because it let him put some old angers to rest. "We shall see if it works out that way," she adds with a small smile. "I have a feeling I'm going to be around a while this time."

Warpath has posed:
     A moment of thought and he nods finally,"It has been better than I give it credit sometimes." The admission might be a little surprising to even him,"I hope you are here for a while. Do you need anything to help get you settled in here?" The anger thing still present, but not so obvious. She could probably sense that if she reached in a little bit.

Emma Frost has posed:
"I think for the moment, I'm all right," Emma tells him with a smile. "I appreciate it, though." She tips her head, studying him as if seeking the answer to something in his expression, but she doesn't simply pry whatever it is from him. She tells him quietly, "I can cut your hair this evening, if you'd like. Maybe you can tell me what happened this week." She wasn't here, but something has him on the edge of anger in a way that tells her something went on. And it's recent. So she guesses a little.