123/How To Be A Teacher

How To Be A Teacher
Date of Scene:	24 April 2017
Location:	Xavier's Schook, Westchester, New York
Synopsis:	Summary needed.
Cast of Characters:	Deadzone, Storm

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Deadzone has posed:
Tatum paces in the home ec classroom. It's Sunday and there isn't any class, but she is using this oppertunity to practice. This world has Alison Blair as a music teacher, so rather then double up, Chuck assigned her to this, assuring her that Tate could handle it and had the knowlege.

"Good morning, class," she says while pacing. "I'm Tatum... no, I should probably use my last name. I'm Ms. O'Neal and I will be your new Home Ec teacher. What qualifications do I have, you may ask? good question. I kinda wish I could give you an answer. No no no.... don`t say that. They won`t have any confidence in you at all.`

Storm has posed:
Ororo Munroe raps on the door and opens it, gazing over at you. "Ms. O'Neal," she muses. "How is our new home economics teacher doing?" asks the mythology and worlds religion teacher, eyebrow raised. "You sound uncertain." She stays in the doorway, wearing a nice white sundress.

Deadzone has posed:
When Tate looks up and sees Ororo, a tumultuos mix of emotions crosses her face. She smiles brightly and then there is a moment of sadness and confusion. This whole alternate reality thing is starting to makes sense to her, but only somewhat. She nods her head in welcome. "It's going. Slowly. I was the music teacher back at my home. So... it's not the teaching. It's teaching cooking and cleaning and sewing and driving. I mean, yeah I know how, but I never really thought I knew it well enough to teach it."

She offers Ororo her lesson plan. "Four days a week. Two on cooking, two on sewing. Budgetting will be touched in the cooking section and cleaning skills, like folding laundry and ironing, will be touched on in the sewing. And for the 16 year olds, 2 hours a week driving."

Storm has posed:
Ororo Munroe nods. "Oh right - I forgot you're from an alternate universe... I never could ask - how similar is this from the world you knew? Did I exist there?" she asks as she nods. "Your lesson plan sounds good. But I didn't realize drivers' ed was part of home ec. Well, as long as Logan's not teaching the kids how to drive. He drives like a maniac. Or Ghost Rider. Who actually is a maniac."

Deadzone has posed:
Tate chuckles. She is getting asked this a lot by folks. "Yes, you were our leader there. Scott was... " She can't finish that sentence. "Ummm... Anyway, you were wonderful. You taught me everything I know about gardening. You would come to my farm and give me pointers, tell me what to grow and where to plant it. This place, it's similar enough that I keep forgetting I'm not home, so I treat people like I would there, but that's not fair to you guys, so... I'm trying to keep my other-home to myself and just focus on this one."

Tate imagines Logan teachind driver's ed. "It's not usually a part of home ec, but my take on home ec is more... basic survival skills. How to adult 101."

Storm has posed:
Ororo Munroe smiles. "I like it. Also, if you do make a garden, I'd be more than happy to give you tips about it - and bless it to ensure its success." She smiles. "Just look at my greenhouse." She hmmmmmms. "So... do you need anybody to bounce lesson plans off of?" she asks. "Maybe I could paly student so you get an idea?"

Deadzone has posed:
Tate nods eagerly about the gardening. "I know I don't look it, but I love getting my hands in the dirt. It feels good. Like you're actually getting in touch with something bigger then yourself. Might see if I can't get the students to learn how to grow something basic too. Like maybe a tomato plant. Those are great for apartment living."

Tatum sits down and thinks about the idea of having someone play student. "I think it just boils down to me having to have faith that Chuck sees something I don't see. I mean, sure, I was cooking since I was 8, but I never took a class. Same with sewing. I just learned from books and stuff, because I had to. It was either repair or sew my own clothes or go to school in nothing. I just... I never thought I was good enough to teach this stuff. If I was teaching music, I'd be fine."

Storm has posed:
Ororo Munroe nods. "Well... maybe you could do a bit of research. It boils down to this - can you teach what you know to a student?" she asks. "And... I know exactly what you mean about gardening being a link to something bigger... of course, I literally _am_ linked to the Earth so..." She trails off. "By the way, what was your mutant power again? Xavier didn't specify."

Deadzone has posed:
"Yeah. I've been thinking of starting them at the beginning. I know it sucks, cause that's the reason I never took home ec in school either, I was already way passed things like omelettes and sewing buttons on, but I get it now. It's that whole learn to crawl before you walk before you run thing. If there are students that are passed that level, then I'm thinking of doing what they did in college and testing them out and just advancing them to the next level." When asked about her power, Tatum smiles sheepishly. "I... I turn people off. I have a deadzone around me. I've learned to sorta pull it in tight, so it really only affects people if I touch them, but I can make the field bigger too, if I have to. Actually, keeping it pulled in tight like this, it always makes my skin feel a little itchy, but I guess that is better then turning people off around me when they didn't consent to that."

Storm has posed:
Ororo Munroe raises an eyeborw. "You can... turn off powers?" she asks, eyebrow raised. "That is... interesting. Can come in handy if there's someone whose powers are negatively affecting them... or you can disable someone with powers using them for evil..." She ponders. "What's your range of effect? And... you can relax here - there's nobody here. I should probably find out what it's like if I'm in your aura..." She suonds uncertain, though it's hard to tell iwth the usually impassive Storm.

Deadzone has posed:
Tatum nods her head slowly to answer the question. "I used to... on Thursdays, I would hold a movie night for the kids that wanted it. Pop in a movie for the big screen and then fill the room with my zone. Some kids loved it. Those that didn't weren't forced to come. Heck, even some of the teachers showed up."

Thinking about what Hank told her about her powers, Tate tries to repeat what he told her. My field has a resting range of about a ten feet. Sorta enough to fill a bedroom. If I shrink it, I can get it to almost just to touch. Can't get it that close though. About an inch or two. And if I push it, I can reach out with it, but it's not a bubble then. It's like a fat line. You know, like in a word search?"

When Ororo asks to feel it, Tate is reminded that these folks have never felt her, don't have the years with her that she became accustomed to. So, she relaxes and lets her zone go, visibly relaxing. "It's like holding yer stomach in when taking a selfie in your bikini. Feels so good to just let it go."

Storm has posed:
Ororo Munroe feels... a strange sensation as that null zone washes over her. "The song of the Earth is muted," she muses. "Like... I put in earplugs." She blinks. "I feel..." She frowns. "I feel a bit cold. That's strange. I haven't felt cold in years." She ponders. "You do look more at ease however."

Deadzone has posed:
Tate nods her head. "I am. But I get it. We get told that we're bad or freaky for our abilities, but when you've grown enough to accept them as a part of you, having them taken away is like having a part of who you *are* taken away. No one wants that. So, I keep it to myself unless asked to let it go. Or things like Thursday movie night."

Looking over her class list for the next day to see her students. "I'm guessing Charlotte is going to be a pretty motivated student. I doubt she can get clothes off the rack."

Storm has posed:
Ororo Munroe nods. "Indeed," she muses as she walks by you. "I wouldn't want to try to fly in your nullzone..." she muses as she starts flipping through your wallet idly, wondering how long it'd take you to notice. "But my other skills seem unhindered." She then blinks. "That's a strange-looking credit card... never seen that logo before..." she muses, studying a card that's not from this world.

Deadzone has posed:
It's the mention of a credit card that causes her to look over her shoulder and see her wallet in Ororo's hands. There is the shock of the fact that she didn't even feel that and then, instead of the anger that is normal, Tate just smiles and laughs! "I totally forgot about that! Your other was always trying to put that life behind her. And yeah, unless your sneaky fingers are that way cause of a genetic mutation, then I do nothing to it. So, your skills you've learned are fine."

Rising to her feet, she looks over the card. "Ah that. It's not actually a credit card. It's my union card with the Philharmonic. Or was. The union had a credit union too. They really take good care of their people. You.. well, your other and Hank's other, you're the ones that talked me into auditioning for the Philharmonic. You said my music was too important to give up, because it was such a rare gift and I'd be depriving so many of it, just because I thought I'd be more useful as a social worker."

Storm has posed:
Ororo Munroe smiles. "I have found them useful. It's much easier to open a door by picking it then blasting it with lightning, and a lot more subtle." She hands it back to you. "I'd love to hear your music sometime." She ponders as she starts walking away from you, then just over ten feet, sighs happily. "You know... there are advantages to your aura," she muses as she returns into it. "For one... you might notice why I'm always so calm. I have to be. If my emotions shift, so do the weather. In here... maybe not so much."

Deadzone has posed:
Tate nods her head. "When I first manifested, I hated it. I thought it was the most stupid and useless power anyone could have. How could it help anyone. But then people like Hank... and Scott and Anne-Marie. Sometimes, it's nice to just not have to worry and be in control. I mean, i know we teach control, but it's nice when it's an option. Not mandatory." Her tone of voice when she talks about the members of the X-Men is clearly one of respect and fondness. Yes, even for Scott. Tatum may not be of this world, but she clearly thinks of this place and the people in it as family.

"Well, I might start my Thursday night movie night tradition here too. I know this place isn't the same, but it's not that different either. And since Hank says this is my home now... well, might as well just start making myself comfortable."

Storm has posed:
Ororo Munroe nods. "Just make sure you put clearly what will happen when one attends... we don't want any surprises..." She smiles softly. "I think it's a great idea." She ponders. "Do you think you're qualified to be home ec teacher?" she asks. "Just... curious. I am the world religion teacher - or mythology because..." She blushes faintly, but hard to tell with her dark skin, "for I thought I was a deity for a while."

Deadzone has posed:
Tate considers the notice for the folks. "I will make sure that everyone knows what is going to happen. I want it to be something that is welcomed and wanted, not dreaded." She then considers the question about her skills as a teacher. "To be honest, I thought Chuck was nuts for wanting me here, but he's right. I was doing the cooking, cleaning and seweing since I was 8. Not cause I wanted to, but because I had to. I mean, sure, I grew to like it, and I'm good at it, but ... I think basic home ec is something everyone needs to know. To survive as an adult. And I know how to do it. I know how to budget. How to use food stamps. How to make something healthy and tasty enough that my mother was still willing to eat it when the voices in her head got too loud. So... do I think I`m qualified? I'm 21. I don't think I'm qualified to do much, to be honest. But I trust Chuck. He says I can do it. And I'm not going to prove him wrong. So, qualified or not, I'm going to do the best damn job I can. Cause he believes in me." She chuckles then and shakes her head. "How sappy is that, right?"

Storm has posed:
Ororo Munroe studies you intently. "As sappy as me teaching religion because I was one?" she asks, smiling faintly. "I think you'll do well. You seem to be well-motivated. I almost wish I could've known you as long as you've known me."

Deadzone has posed:
Lifting a single shoulder in a shrug, Tate smiles. "Well, you'll get to know me. I'm not going anywhere. Yer family. Once an X-Man, always an X-Man." She looks over her paperwork again and lets out a slow sigh. "I just hope that teaching cooking and cleaning comes as easy as music."

Storm has posed:
Ororo Munroe shrugs. "It'll be fine. As I said, you can practice on me if you want. I'm not really sure how to cook American food... the cooking I learned involved freshly-killed game over an open fire. I can do very good gazelle roast."

Deadzone has posed:
Tatum says, "I can honestly say I have never had gazelle roast. First class is going to be just telling them how the classes will be run. Then, for cooking, I'm going to start them with scrambled eggs. Talk about the importance of good ingredients. For sewing, it's going to be learning buttons and the basic mending stitch for patches on jeans and stuff."