12101/EN GARDE! Kurt Teaches Pointy Stuff

EN GARDE! Kurt Teaches Pointy Stuff
Date of Scene:	01 September 2020
Location:	Backyard - Xavier's School
Synopsis:	Kurt offers to teach Jeremy how to fence with Jean in attendance.
Cast of Characters:	Nightcrawler, SpyderByte, Phoenix

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Nightcrawler has posed:
    Kurt Wagner, the Amazing Nightcrawler! Gymnast, flirt, fantastic teacher of the martial arts!

    Okay, maybe not the latter all the time, especially since he's partially retired from teaching, but if you ask nicely, he has no problem breaking out the fencing foils and giving a lesson if needed.

    So he's clad in a white fencing body suit, a mask under his arm, another set sized down for someone who's going to flail in his general direction.

    Kurt also has six foils available. In case any one else wants to give it a try.

SpyderByte has posed:
This is one of those days that Jeremy has found himself dragged out to get fresh air and to do something else that doesn't involve a keyboard or a phone. The young goth is dressed in his normal black clothing complete with a few chains that hang off his legs that jingle and jangle.

There is a bit of a twitch about him as he doesn't know what to do with his hands. He left his phone inside his room so that he can focus on the new activity as opposed to fiddling with it. After some time, he finally shoves his hands into his pockets with a pained expression upon his face. "G-G-Good aaaafff-t-t-errr nnnnoon." He stammers out to the fuzzy elf as his eyes glanc edown towards the foils, then back to him as he blows some black hair away from his face.

Phoenix has posed:
Someone who is not retired and probably getting sick and tired of counting the supply of pencils and notepads makes her way out of the mansion proper and into the yard. Jean heard there was sports afoot, and so she grabbed herself a coffee to get through the later end of the day and came out to investigate.

"Uh oh. I see kebabs are on the menu for dinner." She teases Kurt as she comes down the stairs and out into the yard. "Good afternoon, Jeremy. Private lessons?"

Nightcrawler has posed:
    "Ah! Good afternoon Jean, how are you?" Kurt inquires as he gives a grin to the redhead, and gives a sweeping bow and wave of his foil -- another fencing foil in his tail. He gives a bright, toothy grin, turning to Jeremy a moment. "Hrm. I do not think it will be kebabs today." he explains, and motions to Jeremy.

    "And good afternoon, Jeremy. Are you ready for a fencing lesson?" he inquires, giving a toss of the other fencing helmbet to the lad.

SpyderByte has posed:
As the helmet is launched at him, Jeremy has to tug his hands out of his pockets quickly. As the helmet bounces off his hands and chest, he lets out a soft sigh and bends over to pick it up. He stares at it, then starts to dust it off a bit.

"Yes."

He says simply. One word answer. He furrows his brows and puts the mask on, shifting it about left to right to make sure it's on correctly. It takes him a moment before he peels it back off, then removes his glasses so that he can tuck them off to the side. Blear.

Phoenix has posed:
"I'm well, Kurt. Looks like you're doing as good as always. You make life look too easy." Jean remarks as she goes to find herself a likely spot. In work pants, she does not sit herself on the ground but instead floats down one of the many chairs from the back patio so she can recline on that.

"I think I remember enough of how this works, but I've probably lost a lot of it. Lack of practice. Jeremy, I can hold anything you need so it's out of the way."

Nightcrawler has posed:
    "Ah, I live in the lap of luxury, I am surrounded by friends, I teach -- I am content with life." Kurt lies, but he is grinning through it all as he gives a smile.

    "You may wish to take the Headmistress up on the offer, Jeremy. I would feel awful if something got damaged. As you can see -- I have nothign on me --"

    "Hey, I just met you! And this is CRAZY -- but here's my number so call me maaaybe--" errupts from inside Kurt's suit, and he gives a slight scowl. "One of these days, I will figure out how to change that to something more appropriate." he grumbles softly -- but noticably does not don a helmet himself.

    "Will you be able to see all right without the glasses?"

SpyderByte has posed:
"I-I-I only haaafffe my g-g-glasses." Jeremy says as he puts them on the back porch next to one of the posts so it's out of the way of feet. He looks down at his black clothing, then over to Kurt's white apparel. He lets out a soft breath and puts his mask back on, then leans over to pick up one of the foils.

Giving it a slow swing about in his left hand to feel the weight slowly, he gives a furrow of his brows behind the mask. "I c-c-can ssss-sssee." He rolls the S's like a snake off the tip of his tongue, sighign to himself afterwards.

Once he steps in front of Kurt, he gives a glance over to Jean, offering her a smile, even though she can't see it behind his helmet. In his imagination he assumes she can.

Phoenix has posed:
"Fondness for the vintage tracks, Kurt? At least it wasn't the Kidz Bop version." Jean says with a pro poker smile on her face. What dark secrets lurk on the all power Phoenix's hidden playlists?

By the soft smile she passes towards Jeremy, maybe she does see it - in some way. A trickle of positive emotions she detected, perhaps. She leans back in her chair to sip her coffee and watch. "Deep breaths, Jeremy. Kurt's an excellent teacher."

Nightcrawler has posed:
    Kurt gives a small smile, and a nod. "I want to make sure. My goal, after all, is to teach. So! In this lesson, we are going to cover stances, and perhaps a little lesson on sparring." he gives a smile, and he begins "Now, fencing is about keeping your center straight, and hitting the other person with the pointy end of your foil. Foils were created to try and get through thin rings in armor and strike at soft places -- ribs, chest, your guts -- you can do an awful lot of damage with a rapier -- if you know what you are doing." the Blue Elf gives a brief instruction, and then turns to Jean, and sticks his tongue out.

    "Someone put it on my phone, and I have not figured out how to remove it."

SpyderByte has posed:
<< I removed it >> Comes Jeremy's voice from Kurt's phone almost immediately after. << I replaced it with the default dialtone and then left you a note in your messages app on how to change it in the future. >>

The young technopath just stares blinkingly at Kurt from behind his mask, shifting the foil back and forth between his hands as if to try and find a dominant grasp.

Taking in a deep breath, he lets it out slowly, then immediately regrets it as he gets a humid puff right back into his face. Oof. Sweaty. He gives another firm nod of his head towards Kurt as he listens to the lesson being set up.

Phoenix has posed:
"Aw, don't help him cheat!" Jean calls over to Jeremy with a laugh, but it's already done. Her grin remains wide and amused even as she tries to smother it into her mug. Is she muttering 'no fun' in there? She does shoot Kurt a playful wink before letting him get on with his job.

She remains quiet from that point so she doesn't disrupt the lesson, and in fact looks to actively be paying attention and maybe even taking some mental notes.

Nightcrawler has posed:
    "You are now my favorite student in fencing." Kurt replies to Jeremy with a toothy grin, and he gives a grin, and wriggles his hands. "However, I'll have to find a stylus. These are very strong hands for gripping, but I tend to -- what was the phrase? 'Fat-Finger' everything on the phone." he explains, and he bends his legs a little, arching up onto his two-toed balls of his feet. "Now, the first thing you should do before any sort of atheltic practice is to stretch. You do not want to cramp -- it is not enjoyable, and in a fight it can cost you a match!" he replies, showing Jeremy how to stretch out for training. Of course, Kurt's already warmed up, and flexible. His tail waves behind him a little bit.

SpyderByte has posed:
<< Sorry, Miss Grey. >>

If a phone can sound apologetic, the voice that comes out can. It's almost sad and tinged with worry. Putting the sword down on the ground and taking the mask off, he pushes his black hair away from his face, trying to keep it out of his eyes.

As Kurt shows him how to stretch, he robotically moves through each session. He is clumsy in his motions, rigid and hardly flexible. His muscles are most likely clogged with Hot Pockets and atrophied from sitting on a computer day in and day out. He winces at times, but he doesn't appear to be the giving up type.

At least not in front of Jean Grey.

Phoenix has posed:
Jean Grey gives a little shake of her head towards Jeremy's apologies, her green eyes bright with amusement. She doesn't seem bothered at all. Then she's gesturing him back to go focus on the training. The stretching is given the tiniest of guilty looks, like she'd been laxed in it herself, though the guilt doesn't stop her from finishing the last of her coffee and then setting the mug down beside her.

"We do try and do similar while we're traveling to missions. Sometimes you don't get much of an opportunity, but a little is better than none. It's actually why our suits tend to be close fitted. The compression helps support your muscles on long haul and strenuous work."

Nightcrawler has posed:
    "Ah, that is true, we sometimes do not get the chance, but I have perfected the in-seat stretches on flights. Warming up the calves. Stretching your back." Kurt gives a grin to Jean, and he draws his tail around, a moment, reaching to correct Jeremy's stance, and then he pauses.

    "... is it all right if correct you a little? Or would you rather me explain the stances?" he asks gently. "... I do not want you to feel unsecure around anyone in the school."

SpyderByte has posed:
<< It's easy to feel insecure around everyone in the school. I do not look like most of you. You know ... cool. >>

Obviously Jeremy thinks Kurt and Jean are 'cool'. Who wouldn't? They're superheroes and X-Men. << But if you need to correct me, I'm fine with it. >>

The thin lips of Jeremy press together for a moment in thought as he straightens himself upwards, letting his arms dangle back and forth at his sides a bit.

<< Am I going to go on missions too one day? >>

Phoenix has posed:
"Looking like you can handle yourself may help make an impression in a fight," Jean says towards Jeremy. "But it only holds up so long as you can proven yourself. Appearances can be deceiving."

She glances towards Kurt briefly as Jeremy mentions missions and then tilts her head the other way. "You may someday. Formally. The New Mutants aren't intended to be that kind of team, but I heard that didn't stop a one of you from diving into a bank robbery. Or facing Victor Creed when he caught you all unaware. Missions are more than firefights. Everything the group of you undertake together, for the good of yourselves and the team, is a mission on its own."

Nightcrawler has posed:
    Kurt looks to Jean at the question of missions for Jeremy, and Kurt very gently adjusts Jeremy's stretching stances. Jer might feel the muscles pull a little differently, a push up at his elbow here. An adjustment at his ankle with a tail, and he gives a slight smile as he circles around the lad, his tail sweeping about the demonic fencer.

    "And it depends, if you stay on. If you want to. If you can handle it; it is... a heavy burden in some cases. They wear on you like a lead blanket." he explains quietly, "... at least, in my experience. I pray that by the time you are old enough to make such a decision, there will be no need of it." he gives a toothy smile.

    "Feeling stretched?"

SpyderByte has posed:
<< Technically I sat in the cafe and coordinated the foiling of the bankrobbery while eating nachos. I knew that my friends could handle them. Have you made a decision yet if you are going to allow Xiomara to join the New Mutants? Her shield powers will be beneficial in a combat situation. It would take the stress off of Ted when he is front lining with his strength, or at least protect Adam when he is diving in with his bear form. >>

Jeremy gives a slow blink of his eyes as he stares upwards and to the side for a moment as Kurt is adjusting him. He's stiff as he is moved about, like an awkwardly created wooden doll. If his hands move towards his hips, he'll flinch visibly with a jolt of fear passing through him, one that would get picked up easily by Jean.

<< I am stretched. >> The young technopath confirms.

Phoenix has posed:
"Coordinating is one part of the great machine that's a team." Jean says from her chair as she crosses one leg over the other. "And while I don't disagree with your assessment of her - there's a reason she was nudged towards the New Mutants - that choice isn't entirely mine. She needs time to be able to accept herself in her new role and open herself up. When she's settled in and we know that the concerns that landed her here aren't likely to be an issue, then Sam and Hank can make that decision. Similar to what was said of you when you got here - first, she needs friends, both to accept them and make them. A team is only as good as what binds it together."

She pauses only briefly at the flood of fear before continuing in that same calm voice, "Trust. Companionship. Family. When you have those, you have a team. Give her time."

Nightcrawler has posed:
    Kurt, notably, stays to the extremities. Hands. Wrists. Ankles. He'll guide gently, before he's satisfied, noting the tensing when he gets close, and he frowns a moment to the tensing, but lets it pass. The teacher gives a nod, and then he wraps his toes around the foil that Jeremy had placed on the ground, swinging it up to his own hands, and offering it back to the younger fencer.

    "Xiomara has an interesting powerset, that is true -- but I agree with Jean. Time is needed to cement those who would be in a team. After all, you will be watching each other's backs. And there is nothing wrong with being the coordinator -- especially when you can have eyes everywhere at once. That--" he gives a very toothy grin "is a very handy skill when dealing with the chaos that can accompany us."