12847/The Gravity of the Situation

The Gravity of the Situation
Date of Scene:	15 March 2021
Location:	Perry County, Alabama
Synopsis:	Ororo Munroe (Storm) and Sam Guthrie (Cannonball) show up to get a young mutant out of a bad situation; there's flears, hogs and dogs. It's not good.
Cast of Characters:	Antigravity, Cannonball, Storm

---

Antigravity has posed:
    The road was dirt and in bad repair. It lead to the old McGowan farm. Driving along, there's a burned-out farmhouse -- looks to be old. A hog barn looms near a mud field, where a shack of a house was standing. There's an old Ford truck, and an orange dirtbike in the lean-to on the side. Faded blue floral windows cover a bay window, and another window at the front is boarded up.

    The mailbox at the front is dirty and rusted, and has just the numbers of the property. There's the squealing of some pigs, and a big black hog grunts as it crosses in front of the house, rooting around in what might have been a flowerbed at one point.

    Inside, there's sounds coming from a radio, where some pastor was making a freverent request of The Lord to strike down sinners and monsters.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie rented a different car than the night before, and with the image inducer makes himself look like a elder balding man in a suit complete with the leather patches on the elbows. He looks over to Ororo. "We will need to go with the whole scholarship bit, either put in by one of her teachers at school, or from some information she put in online. Something that is a bit of a surprise but possible.

Storm has posed:
Ororo was.. well her. Sans the white hair. She's yet to wash the temporary dye job from her locks, which were an off colored black of course, much more fitting for what they've come to do. It wouldn't do well to see a young woman with stark white hair and sapphire eyes to match, so the coloring could explain away the fact that Ororo could have some sort of weird German ancestry in her family. Or cajun.

Her style of dress was muted, nothing too fanciful or overtly business. Casual, white striped shirt underneath. Grey mom pants and shoes, pearl earrings and a blazer that buttons in the middle, collar unflipped. Totally casual. But -smart-.

"Scholarship seems much better. No one can resist the allure of having everything paid for." Clipboard was taken from the middle of the seat, which was shoved into a leather bound, hand held case and zipped halfway to show they mean business.

"And if the mother doesn't approve?"

Antigravity has posed:
    The blue curtain moves slightly, as if someone was peering out, and out of the small home comes a woman maybe in her late sixties, with graying hair. She's wearing an egg apron and has thick glasses on.

    "-- El-LY-jah!" she calls out, "You're shirking your duties you darn mutt!" she shrills, and immediately there's a barking sound, as from around the building comes some sort of cur, barking at the 300-pound-pig, and encouraging it to shove off as the lady eyeballs the people, and she spits off to the side grumpily.

    "Y'all kin tell the bank they'll have this property over mah dead body!" she calls out in warning to the duo.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie will softly say "We can come to that as we need to, hopefully we will not have to come up with something for that. Sam will step out of the car, and offers a smile, and puts on a bit a deeper voice and says "I assure you we are not from the bank ma'am. We are looking for the McGowans." He looks to Ororo "The GPS says this is the address." He looks back tot he elder lady and asks "Is this." And he says the actual adress.

Storm has posed:
Hope indeed, the area already looked rough and the older lady's claim made Ororo feel that they're up against a hard one to convince. As Sam steps out of the car, she does as well, a brilliant and kind smile plastered to her face that doesn't reach her eyes quite yet. For now, she lets Old-Man Sam do the talking, keeping by the car door just in case they need to make a get away from the dog and pig.

Antigravity has posed:
    "Well y'all found it." the woman states with a curmudgeonly look, turning from Sam to Ororo as her lips purse.

    "Speak your business, then." she states, her gaze fixing on Ororo for a moment, looking her up and down with mixed apprehension.

    "... you here for the girl? Sonovabitch. They actually called." she mutters, and she leans back into the house.

    Then she looks to the two of them.

    "You two lawyers then?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie 's brow raises seems he has missed something but he will look to the woman "We are here to speak to Rosemary McGowan's mother, but I believe we maybe here about something different than your thinking. The lady here represents a school, that Miss McGowan has impressed, and would like to talk to about attending."

Storm has posed:
Lawyers?

The smile upon Ororo's face disappears slowly as the conversation wanes on. So much so that she's taken an interest briefly by looking elsewhere, and back to the two. Her approach was not sudden, but she does move from her spot near the car, taking care to mind her surroundings with a hand outstretched and once again, a smile.

"Our apologies. Please.." Ororo offers up in a full blown American accent. "..I'm Ororo Munroe, one of the professors at St. Lawrence University in New York. Perhaps Mrs. McGowan is in? Or her father? We would like to speak to the family about a -wonderful- opportunity for their daughter.."

Antigravity has posed:
    "Well. I'm her grandmother." she states, crossing her arms, and she heaves a sigh,

    "An' 'her father' hasn't been here since he got the mother in a way."

    And she turns back, and shuffles towards the kitchen. "Well. Come in. Least Ah can do is give y'all coffee."

    The door's left open. The carpet inside is some form of avocado green, and smells like mud and dust and cheap ciggarettes. The stain of yellow is on the walls inside, giving everything a greasy tinge. There's a dubiously 'clean' couch and an easy chair, with a cheap TV leaned against the wall. The kitchen is faded yellow, decorated with daisy wallpaper. At least the hard seats are clean.

    "SALLY! There's people here 'bout the girl!" she calls out, as she sets up a cheap coffee maker.

    The blonde waitress that Sam encountered last night, still wearing last night's makeup comes out, wearing an oversized t-shirt and a pair of leggings.

    "They lawyers or they from the state?" she questions with a yawn.

    "An' I gotta *work* Ma. Girl's done skipped school t'day an' is probably out somewheres in the back forty doin' god-knows-what." she mutters.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie wonders if maybe he should have gotten Rosie's school records. Well learn a bit new each day. Sam will nod in greeting, but lets Oror do the talking for sure now that Sal is here not taking a chance of being recognized if he can help it.

Storm has posed:
First step. Invitation. Ororo looks back towards Sam to give him a slight wink as she follows the grandmother inside. She keeps her leather bound case against her side, her eyes taking in the decor of the home, the smell not something that she hasn't smelled before, yet brings up a very distant memory. One that she represses for this moment.

She clears her throat as she remains standing, not being offered a seat just yet. The daughter, or.. mother comes down the stairs, which as Ororo tilting her head a little, and clearing her throat.

"Sorry, not a lawyer nor from the state." Child services, Ororo would assume. "I'm Professor Munroe, I hail from Lawrence County, New York with an interest in your daughter.." Though, seeing as the young lady is not present, she continues. "..since she's not present as of yet, would we be able to talk?"

Antigravity has posed:
    The mom pauses, looking at Ororo, and then at the older Sam, and she gives a huff, 'Ah am hardly dressed.' she murmurs, and she reaches to shake Ororo's hand.

    "So... you're from a school then?" Sal asks, blinking. She seems a bit more awake with that news.

    "What kinda school? THe girl's a dishwasher. She ain't that smart." she states, sinking down into a chair.

Storm has posed:
Ororo's hand shook; and she releases the grip without a clear and present wipe as most would do. No, she takes the woman in, it was nothing she hadn't seen before and it almost makes her feel.. well, at home.

"Yes." Ororo confirms. "St. Lawrence University." She looks for a place to sit, taking up one of the hard chairs with a cross of a leg and lean forward as one would when teaching.

"It's actually a private college, one of the smaller universities on the list. One of the top forty in the US that's nearly on par with Ivy League." She smiles at that, then shrugs. "While we do appreciate the hard work your daughter is doing, we do believe that we could possibly enhance her knowledge in any subject that she chooses and is passionate about."

'Ro checks on Elder Sam with a glance, then continues. "Even at such a young age, it's clear that you've provided her with a solid work ethic which would benefit her studies."

Antigravity has posed:
    And that's when the back door opens, and a winded, slip of a girl steps in. Her blonde hair was down and was all over the place. She had grass and sticks in her hair, and a gash on her forehead that was covered with a couple of band-aids. Her blue eyes go wide when she sees Sal, Rosemary, and two strangers at the table, and she stammers a minute.

    "Look, if this is about that Trosky boy, Ah can explain everythin'. Those lockers ain't as strong as you think they are." she states warily, and she breathes out.

    "Told you, Sal, devil's in that child. Oughta bring her down to the Pastor."

    "Ma, you can't bring her down to the pastor. Lookit them. They wanna bring her to college ain' she's just sixteen." Sal points out, and then leans over, patting herself down, and then turns and reaches for a jacket.

    "How much fundin' she got? 'Nough to go ta school but not to stay there?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks over to them and says in his depend voice. "I believe with a couple scholarships, she qualifies, she would be able to get room and board, as well, as he books and classes. The uniform for the school is part of room and board. If she wants spending cash, she maybe able to apply to some of the student chores, some students work on. Usually kitchen, janitorial that type of stuff."

Storm has posed:
Ororo adds on to the Elder Sam's words. "We also have a meal plan that'll be covered by tuition as well, mostly for low income students to make use of. But, not to worry, the meal plan is just an allotment a month that goes towards food -only-, so your daughter wouldn't have to suffer with pre-made packaged foods that taste like cardboard."

Antigravity has posed:
    Rosemary gives a suspicious look to the two, and sets coffee down in front of everyone at the table before she sits down. There's only four chairs, but it doesn't look like Rosie has an issue standing -- or sitting on the counter, where she hops up to watch.

    "So basically as long as her grades are kept up she's... good?" Sally questions, frowning, then looking to Rosie.

    "Weren't you failin'?"

    "Yeah, while I was out coverin' extra shifts. Came back and made it up. Mostly." the girl replies, sipping coffee from a cracked mug.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks to the woman, and says "We take into effect that a student at times has moments of troubles. From her test results, we believe if she is given the chance with a more personal connection with her teachers, she would excel. Our classes average half the number of students to teacher ratio than public schools.

Antigravity has posed:
    "All right, well... lemmie see the paperowrk." Sally states, looking to her wrist, finding it naked, and then she squints and looks at the microwave clock.

    "When's she gotta be ready by? Fall semester?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie will let Ororo give the paperwork "Well, she can go as soon as you and she is ready. If she wants to wait till fall it is possible, but honestly, I would suggest sooner. If she could start soon, she could use the rest of this semester to find her feet and figure out how things are done in the school, so in the fall, she just has to worry about her studies, not the whole getting adjusted to a new enviroment as well.

Storm has posed:
Ororo opens her leather 'clutch', retrieving the paperwork that was fashioned by a very lovely self-proclaimed computer geek and graphic artist. The emblem and logo all appear the same as the real universities, even a letter from the Dean of Students and Diversity Director who seemingly vouch for the schools 'realness'. There were other papers as well, same logos, but detailing the tuition costs, stipulations, and how much is awarded to the young Rosie. Everything should seem in order, at least.

"I've also included a brochure of the school if you'd like to take a look.." Ororo gestures towards the papers. "But my colleague is correct, starting now and getting her foot in the door, applying for student jobs will help her out in the long run."

Antigravity has posed:
    The short blonde girl sipping coffee watches with interest as the paperwork's brought out.

    Fleas leap onto Sam's feet.

    "Well... ain't never heard of your s chool, but..." she trails off, and she turns it over a moment, then looks up to Rosie.

    "... I don't care what Tommy said. You ain't dyin' here." she states, and she turns back to the paperwork, and begins to thumb through it. "Where do Ah sign. Ah'll take care a talkin' to Tommy 'bout hirin' a new dishwasher."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie offers a smile, and does not seem to worried about the fleas keeping himself from scratching his legs. "An education there will help her do pretty much anythign she wants to in life."

Storm has posed:
"Third page." Ororo says confidently.

Keeping herself upright and legs crossed, she finally takes a good look at Rosie, then towards the house as well. It would be nice to slide the family a little bit of money so that their worries were eased.

"Mind if I ask a question?" Ororo starts, really not waiting for a yes or a no. "You spoke of lawyers, what has happened?"

Antigravity has posed:
    "Oh, you know how some kids are. One 'a the football players was sweet on her an' wouldn't take no for an answer. Someone musta shoved him real hard 'cause the locker bent an' he broke a shoulder blade." Sally replies as she reads and signs. "They're blamin' Rosie. She's a hundred pounds soakin' wet. She's not gonna push aroun' a two-sixty football player. They jus' don't like her 'cause she's quiet."

    Rosie's closely examining her coffee. She traces a finger over the crack in the coffee mug.

    "An' with what, all those cars gettin' crushed up at Red's and /alien/ talk an' everythin', they were gunna start up a lawsuit sayin' she pushed him an' get her tested for some sorta gene."

    "An' then we'd have to take her to the Pastor, so she can be cleansed. 'Cause that's what those muties are. They're devils, sent ta implant humanity and re-seed their dark legacy." the grandmother states, and she gives a nod, as if that were final. "The Joneses more or less exorcized their girl. She was all right, in the end."

    "... Julie was taken away by the state for neglect. They were tryin' to starve the demon out." Rosie states quietly. "'Cause the Pastor said that they can enter you via your mouth."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie frowns a bit and looks over to Ororo a moment, seems there maybe someone else locally they have to look into "Well, I am sure if they try to give you any problems, you can forward them to our lawyers and they will put the fear of litigation in them.

Storm has posed:
"Boys." Ororo chuckled quietly, but added nothing after that. She does keep an eye on Rosie for a time, waiting to see a reaction, if anything out of the young girl. Grace under pressure, it seems.

"When shall we be expecting young Rosie?" The dark woman asks, waiting for the hand-off of the paperwork, all just to keep the subject away from hating mutants.

Antigravity has posed:
    A couple more stress cracks appear on that mug that Rosie is holding. She's trying to keep things under control, even if her attention wavers.

    But when the subject of when she'd be expected?

    "Ah can go today if you got room. Ain't got much." Rosie replies. "Ah got my school ID an' all my paperwork, s'long as I can take my guitar should be good." she speaks up suddenly.

    The grandmother narrows her eyes a moment, and she points at Rosie.

    "I'll pray for you."

    And then she exits the room, pushing back from her chair to the point where it nearly gets knocked down, and she goes back down the dark hallway Sally came out of.

    "... an' people wonder why he left." Sally mutters under her breath crossly, and signs off on the paperwork.

    "... look, she's been stayin' home 'cause 'a school. If she goes, once she's settled in Ah'm sure she'll do all right."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods, and says "We have room in the car, and can get another ticket on the plane with ease. He looks over to Rosie, and says "You should probably get your stuff, anything bulky or over sized we need to make room for?"

Storm has posed:
Ororo stands, then holds her hand upright.

"No worries. She can gather her things, I'll go make room in the trunk of the car." The dark woman smiles and immediately turns to head outside, leaving Elder Sam to collect the paperwork. As soon as she hits the open air, she lets out a deep breath, one that causes the blue in her eyes to fade to pure white and back again, eyes squeezing shut to pinch the bridge of her nose and concentrate.

"Stay.. neutral.." She mutters, hoping to not incite a weather change with her sudden supression of emotion.

Antigravity has posed:
    Rosie gives a smile, and a loose, one-armed hug to her mom, and then ducks back.

    There was only two bedrooms in the shack, down a narrow hallway. She pauses at one door, raising her hand to knock -- and then draws her hand back down as she turns to go into the other room.

    "... are you all right, miss?" Sal asks drawing up a bit, and then slightly offended "... if it was the smokin', I could have opened a window." in a mutter.

    "... now... there... is a slight chance that she's... y'know... a lil' broken. Her dad skipped town an' this is the only home she's ever known." Sal states, and she taps her fingers on the table, and then goes to retrieve the cracked mug Rosie was using.

    It collapses in on itself with a SNAP.

    "Oh! Well, Tommy's not gonna miss this one none --" Sal mutters, picking up the ceramic pieces. "She musta applied to the school at school. Or maybe one of her teachers recommended her? AH mean, we don't got signal out here, let 'lone internet."

    And it honestly does not take long for Rosie to 'pack'. She's got a white trash bag, her bookbag, and a guitar case.

    "Ah... Ah promise. I'll run things through the drier once we get there, ta stop the fleas."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie will make a stop along the way. He will need new shoes himself perhaps. He nods his head a bit and says "I believe it is just reminds her a bit of home, when ever we get to help someone who we believe it will help alot, she gets choked up, and tries not to show it." He says as if he is sharing something he maybe should not. He willwait while Sal is throwing away the shards to lean down towards Rosie "Going to bring your bike?" He asks softly so only she hears him.

Storm has posed:
One more inhale, then exhale. Time to get at least a little space going for the girl. She rounds her way to the drivers side of the car, opening the door to pop the trunk. Thankfully, most of the drive there, there was no need for a wardrobe change.

Rearranging the trunk was all well and good, making enough room to safely place the guitar so that it lies flat, leaving the lid of the trunk up as she leans against it with her arms crossed over her chest.

Antigravity has posed:
    Rosie stands, looking to Sal's back. It's clear that they're not a particularly touchy or close family.

    And she turns, walking to the door where Ororo is standing and she pauses, looking to the older man when he mentions her dirtbike, and she looks at the car. "Don't think it's gonna fit." she states, and she gives a small smile. "'Sides. Now it's another vehicle so ma can get around on her own." she states, and she goes to lay the white trashbag with her clothes down, and then the guitar. Her backpack she keeps on her back, and she brings her fingers to her lips and gives a sharp whistle.

    The dog comes back around trotting over, and she leans over.

    "Eli, you're the man 'a th' house now. Look after my ma and gram." she whispers to the mutt, who seems largely disinterested, but gives a bark before going back to chase pigs.

    And then, Rosie, fleabitten, bruised, with her cut up face, looks to Ororo and the older guy, and she whispers: "... Sam sent you, right?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie smirks a bit and nods his head to this. He will look to Sal. "Your daughter will be well cared for, and we will make sure she takes time to let you know how she is doing." He will head over towards the car, taking the time to knock any fleas off his legs he can before getting into the car.

Storm has posed:
Ororo moves away from the trunk so that Rosie could get situated. Still keeping her arms crossed about her chest, she begins to idly sway, a little impatient to leave but in no overt rush. Even if the dog wasn't too mindful of Rosie's departure, there was almost an offer to bring him with, the backseat would have just been the girl and a bookbag and nothing to hold.

"Sam? Oh.." Ororo gestures to the older man. "..yes. He's right there." And without thinking anything of it, Ororo moves to the passenger seat to hop right in, clicking up her seatbelt and all.

Antigravity has posed:
    Rosie decides not to question things, and she slips in behind Ororo, settnig her bookbag on the car floor behind the gentleman, and she takes a breath.

    Sal leans against the doorway. There's no sign of the grandmother.

    "... this is real, right? Ah didn't fall off and hit my head extra hard an' this is me bein' mostly dead? 'Cause I dunno about him, but you miss bein' an angel o' th' Lord I would believe."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie will wait till they are half a mile or more away from the school, and then lets the image drop with a tap of his watch "Yes, it is me, could not come up to your ma, and tell her I was a teacher for a fancy school for smart kids after telling her Ah delivered horses last night, you know what Ah mean?"