12903/Saturday Teatime

Saturday Teatime
Date of Scene:	27 March 2021
Location:	Kitchen - Xavier's School
Synopsis:	Tea and cookies turns into talk of ghosts, faith, and team-building. Plans for a ghost-hunt to St. Margaret's in Bushwick are suggested. Facility-approved trouble, maybe?
Cast of Characters:	Nightingale, Nightcrawler, Faraday, SpyderByte

---

Nightingale has posed:
     Saturdays were a quiet, lazy day, for the most part at the school. Some students were off in their dorms, others were in the rec room watching movies or playing games, and some were taking advantage of the improving weather to organize games of basketball or run around the backyard.

     One, at least, was in her usual haunt, pulling out a sheet of cookies to deposit on a cooling rack, while a kettle whistled merrily on the stove. Shannon smiles, more inclined to enjoy the simple joys of home and hearth that early afternoon. She's in light blue jeans, a cream cotton poet's blouse, and her floofy Old English Sheepdog slippers, dancing about the kitchen to some New Orleans jazz as she starts putting together what looks like a light glaze for the cookies.

     Life was good.

Nightcrawler has posed:
A lazy and a quiet day is something that has appeal to Kurt, today. Last night, after returning from church, there had been sword-fighting practice with Dani. And it was partway through that when things had sort of sunk in. It had been an interesting night. He'd returned to his room after the practice, showered, and then fallen into bed, though sleep had been fitful about visiting him.

He'd spent the morning in the library, hunting around for books that might provide some enlightenment about the events of the night before. He hadn't settled on any, though, and had been lured out of the library by the tantalizing aroma of cookies. He's wearing a pair of black jeans and a grey t-shirt, and he quietly peeks into the doorway of the kitchen, his nose wiggling a little bit. His ears perk up a bit, and his tail lightly swishes behind him. "Cookies?"

Nightingale has posed:
     If you bake it, they will come. It seems that the smell of almond pillow cookies, even now being drizzled with a delicate orange glaze, has drawn a wild Kurt out of hiding! Shannon just laughs and shakes her head. "Guess it's good I'm making enough for a double batch, then, Herr Wagner. Your sweet tooth is the stuff of legend."

     As she finishes glazing the cookies, she turns to pull the kettle off the burner, and shut it off. Also on the counter is what looks like a mahogany box, about a foot and a half square, and a few inches deep. It's towards this that she nods, and smiles. "My mother gave me that tea chest for Christmas. If you'd like, you're welcome to pick some, since the kettle's ready."

Nightcrawler has posed:
Breakfast had been a thing that had happened early. There's a swish and a flick of his tail, and then Kurt moves to step within the kitchen, peeking towards the cookies that she's working on. "My reputation precedes me, it seems," Kurt comments, a flicker of amusement to his voice and a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "A double batch is often a good idea. I think I'm not the only one who likes them," he says, giving a small nod to her.

He glances towards the kettle when she pulls it from the burner, and he tilts his head a touch to one side before turning his glowing yellow gaze towards the tea chest. "It is pretty," he says softly, stepping over towards it. Carefully, he lifts the lid of it in order to see the assortment of teas that are held within. "It's always a good day for tea," he says, glancing towards her before looking back to the teas. It's only after looking at each of them that he makes a selection of the jasmine tea, plucking one of the wrapped bags out and offering it to her. "This one, please," he requests.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon nods, getting two mugs from one of the myriad cabinets in the kitchen. For her own part, she opts for some chamomile tea, unwrapping both bags and setting the little pouches held within in their crockery cups, and pouring out some steaming water. The comforting aromas of jasmine and chamomile soon waft through the kitchen on wisps of steam, both mugs set down on the counter.

     "Been keeping out of trouble since having your stitches out?" Now there was a loaded question. At least she had the sense to keep her hands busy, working on prepping a couple more cookie sheets full of those little almond pillows for baking. She can't help a little laugh, just shaking her head. "Ironic, that question coming from me, for all the trouble I've given the doctors here."

Nightcrawler has posed:
There's a smile that tugs at the corners of his lips as he watches her make her own choice of tea, and he watches as she gets the teabags settled into the crockery mugs. As she fills the mugs with the hot water, his gaze happens to stray towards the cookies once again. Perhaps considering snitching one. Most likely considering snitching one. They smell good!

The question that she poses draws him to tilt his head a touch to one side as his glowing yellow gaze turns back to her. Then he lifts his right hand to rub his fingers over the back of his neck, his tail swishing a bit. "Ah... well... does trying count?" he asks a bit sheepishly, raising an eyebrow slightly. The very way he asks it, and the fact that he asks it, is more than enough indication that he's been in some sort of trouble. "Things happen, sometimes. I'm fairly sure that the doctors understand that, by now," Kurt comments, quirking a bit of a smile. "I probably have a couple of bruises from Dani, from practicing sword fighting with her last night after getting back from church."

Nightingale has posed:
     Surely this was a look that many a teacher had worn upon their faces in Shannon's almost two years at the school now, when she had gotten herself into yet another scrape, and tried to explain why she wound up in the medbay. It's that classic look where first one eyebrow, then the other, creeps slowly up its wearer's face, arms crossed in front of their chest. It's a gaze held for several seconds, with one's foot tapping expectantly.

     Otherwise known as the classic 'hogwash' look.

     "Trying, huh? Gawd, that sounds familiar... do I even want to know? How did church go, by the way?" She finally rolls her eyes and chuckles a little, muttering softly as she turns to put the new pans of cookies in the oven. "This has got to be payback for all my foul-ups the past couple years..."

Faraday has posed:
Word is Indira's been dealing with some family things which has kept her presence at the school minimal outside of class hours. That seems to be changing, though the girl still seems to keep herself busy enough to not be a common face. Today, she's at school and looks to just be coming in from a quick lunchtime run. She's got on black athletic pants that are dark mesh along the sides, and a fitted tank top in a royal purple with neon orange piping. She's pulling a hair tie free of her hair as she walks in, using her fingers to loosen up her hair once it's released from confinement.

"Yo." She greets as she scoops a glass free of the cabinet and heads for the fridge to fill it with water. "What's up, guys?"

SpyderByte has posed:
Heading after Indira is Jeremy. The gothic technopath is moving with his usual sluggish pace. He looks tired, eyes dark. He shambles towards the fridge to open it up, peeking inside to find an energy drink or five to start piling into his trench coat pockets. He takes one out and puts it against his face, sighing in relief at the cold can.

Giving a glance towards the others, he cracks the tab open with a hiss and takes a long drink from it, then eases himself back against the counter to rest his weight.

Nightcrawler has posed:
It's an expression that Kurt may well have worn at some point in time, that one that he's earned from Shannon in this moment. He glances over towards her, then softly clears his throat and tries his best to look innocent. "Ja, I have been trying," he says, giving a small nod to her. And he's quiet a moment, his tail lightly swishing behind him. "Ah, well... I wasn't hurt and I don't need stitches," he offers, tilting his head a touch to one side and watching her. "Church was... not as peaceful as it might have been. There was... a man? a ghost? a thing of both, perhaps, I do not know. He was in the church when we arrived. He took one look at me and then said, 'vade retro Satana'," he says softly, his brow furrowing slightly.

And then, well... then he gives in to the urge to thief a cookie and take a bite of it, falling quiet as he chews on the deliciously warm cookie. One of his eyebrows quirks up as he looks towards the door as others enter, and he gives a nod towards them. "Cookies, and tea," he says, quirking a smile. His gaze turns, with a bit of concern, towards Jeremy, and he tilts his head a little bit to one side. "Are you feeling all right?"

Nightingale has posed:
     Dark circles under the eyes? Check. Pilfering multiple energy drinks? Check. Knowing Jeremy's propensity to work till all hours? Also, check. "Might want to take some cookies with you too, Jer," she suggests, trying not to crack too much of a smile. "Energy drinks do not a decent meal make. You doing okay?"

     Indi's presence earns a smile from the winged healer-in-training, and she lifts her chin in something of an up-nod. "Heya, Indi! Just having some tea and cookies if you want to join in. Don't know if these'd be okay for you, they have egg whites in them? But there's tea in that chest on the counter, if you like." The oven door's closed, the timer set, and oven mitts hung back in their usual place. "How've family matters been going? Don't see a lot of you around these days."

     And then, her gaze turns back to Kurt. She's struck to silence as she listens to his tale, brows lofting yet again as she hears of the events of that night. "Get away, Satan," she utters the rough translation, shaking her head. "Good god. You're anything -but- Satan. What happened then?"

Faraday has posed:
"You really need to ventilate your room more." Indira says towards Jeremy as he passes her en route to the fridge. She leans herself against the counter as she chugs down half the glass of water in a few goes. "Fresh air'll do you good, at least until allergy season kicks in. Then it'll kill you." She adds on with a grin that's too cheerful.

"I'm good, Shan, but thanks. I'll just add to what I wore off." Responds Indi with a thump of her free hand against her midsection. The words from Kurt bring a dismissive snort from the girl and a roll of her eyes. "Pah, if he wants to hide from a blue devil, then I'll introduce him to Kali. Then he'll have someone to fret about."

SpyderByte has posed:
Taking a long slug of his drink, Jeremy gives a bit of a shiver as the acidid taste hits him and clears his head. He ambles over to the cookies and takes a few, then wraps them in a napkin so he can tuck them into his long coat.

<< I am fine. Was working late in the city. >>

He tilts his head over towards Indi for a moment, then shrugs his shoulders upwards. His lips give a small crack upwards, briefly.

<< Then open my windows next time. >>

As he takes a few more sips of his drink, he slips a cookie out to take a bite from him. << Yum. >>

Nightcrawler has posed:
There's a look down to the cookie held in his hand, and then he looks to Shannon and gives a small nod. "They are very good," Kurt says, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He eats the rest of the cookie then, but manages to refrain from stealing another one. For now. And he gives a nod, to her rough translation of the words. "Along those lines, ja," he says softly. Then he gives a brief chuckle. "I told him that I was German, not Satan. I told him about the words he'd said. I recited the rest of the passage, in English," he says, lifting one of his shoulders in a brief shrug. "He called me the Devil's spawn, a blasphemer, told me not to speak of God. He said that I was a creature from the recesses of hell and he would send me back there," he adds, giving a small shake of his head, his ears tilting back a little bit.

"I look how I look, meine dame. It is not the first time that I have been accused similarly," Kurt says, a smile finding the corners of his lips. It's something that he lives with. His glowing yellow gaze turns to Indira, and he quirks a smile at her words. "That would be interesting to see, perhaps," he says.

His attention shifts back to Jeremy, and he raises an eyebrow slightly before giving a small nod. "Rest is important," he says softly, perhaps giving a gentle verbal nudge. He chuckles softly, at the comment about the window, then lifts a hand to tussle his hair a bit.

Nightingale has posed:
     "But you're here... so I'm guessing that this... ghost? Spirit? He, it whatever... it was dealt with successfully? I'd be curious to know how." Shannon smiles somewhat, raising her cup of tea to take a slow sip. "You're none of those things he called you. You're anything but."

     Glancing over at Jeremy, she nods. "I've got to agree with Indi. Open your windows once in a while. It gets boiling hot in there with all that hardware you run, and it can't be any good for the computers, either." She does smile lightly at his apparent approval of her baking, nodding once. "Thank you. Glad you like them. Never tried that recipe before, so I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out." She nudges a few more cookies his way with a little smile

     Looking at Indi, she gives a light 'oof'. "Yeah, Kali's not someone you wanna screw around with, if any of the stories I've read are true. Don't think this spirit Herr Wagner ran into would care to tangle with some of the Greek gods, either." Is that a smirk on her face? Naaah, it has to be a trick of the light. "Facility-approved trouble, huh? Ha. Good luck with that. But yeah, you're right, now that we're most of us here again, we oughta pester some of the teachers, see what kind of training runs we can do. You, me, Jer, Ted, get back into the swing of things."

Faraday has posed:
Indira turns a bland eye on Jeremy, raised eyebrow and all. "What do I look like, your maid? I ain't coming to your door every morning yelling 'housekeeping' and barge in to open your windows for you. Unless you wanna pay me. Let's be real, I'm up that early so it's not like it's hard, but it's the principle of the thing."

"Family's doing good." She says over to Shannon as she rattles the ice in her glass. "Parents just needed some help handling things with their business and around the house, but things are all wrapped up. And I see you got my email earlier, about getting the New Mutants together for some "facility-approved trouble". I'm game whenever anyone else is."

She may flash Kurt a very quick grin there. Good, clean, wholesome team fun. Really. "Well, his loss then. I'm all for giving someone the chance to educate themselves to a better mindset, but only they can choose to do it. Ain't my place to hound someone."

SpyderByte has posed:
As he listens to the conversation between bites of his cookie, Jeremy glances over to Kurt curiously as he tilts his head. He crams the rest of his cookie into his mouth, then takes another chug of his energy drink.

<< My computers are liquid cooled with top of the line fans. >>

As he presses the can to the side of his head gently, half lidding his eyes a bit.

<< What is this about ghosts? Ghosts do not think Mister Wagner is attractive? >>

There is a slow blink of his eyes as he looks over towards Kurt.

<< I think you're handsome. >>

The soft female voice of SIRI has only the hint of vocal inflection behind it. When he gets teamed up though by the two girls, he scuffs his foot against the ground.

<< Fine. I'll open my windows. >>

Nightcrawler has posed:
There's a soft chuckle from him, and he quirks a bit of a grin as he looks to Indira. "Getting into trouble is easy. Getting into trouble that's an approved variety is the harder part," he comments, giving a nod to her. Then he tilts his head slightly to one side. "That is a true thing. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink," he says with a smile.

"Part man, part ghost. I'm not sure exactly what he is," Kurt says, his brow furrowing a little bit. "I'm not sure what to call him. I told him that I was nothing he accused me of being. He had some ghostly horse, and a halberd... though the halberd became a very large sword, later. There were other words, but... I did what I do, in church. I went to the altar, I knelt, and I prayed, aloud, to God. And when the man attacked, he missed... the weapon struck the floor, and I knelt still where I was," he says, giving a small nod to Shannon. "Ah, nein, he was not vanquished. There were more words, and at the end of it all he said, 'sic erunt' before he vanished," he adds, then lifts one of his shoulders in a faint shrug.

He reaches out to pluck a cookie before taking a bite of it, and one of his eyebrows quirks up a touch. "I think I would rather not mess about with gods of any variety," he comments. That's a power that he would rather not tangle with, if he has a choice in the matter. Then his gaze turns to Jeremy, and he raises an eyebrow slightly. "This particular man-ghost was of the belief that I was demonspawn who ought be sent back to Hell. I couldn't say if all ghosts feel that way about me or not," he comments, lightly swishing his tail behind him. And there's a bit of colour that comes to his cheeks beneath his natural colouring and thus hidden by it, at the unexpected compliment that he's paid, and he inclines his head respectfully. "Vielen Dank, mein guter Herr, es ist sehr nett von Ihnen, dies zu sagen," he says quite softly.

Nightingale has posed:
     The last phrase Kurt relays from the conclusion of that evening's adventure has Shannon's brows furrowing. "You would pick Latin, not one of my stronger ones." She is silent for several moments, running through several possible ideas for meanings through her head. "So it will be? Let it be so? Something like that? I've got no clue there." Her expression softens a bit, and she nods. "It sounds as if your faith was armor enough. You lucked out."

     The remarks about trouble get something of a very sheepish, very damning sort of grin from Shannon, and she rubs the back of her neck a bit, coughing lightly. But beyond that, she says nothing on the matter of trouble. "Eh, you might be surprised by some gods, but I guess to each their own. Just glad that this ghost being didn't send you on your way. You'd really be missed around here."

Faraday has posed:
"Hmm, that's one hell of an encounter. And in a church, no less. Pun entirely intended." Indira remarks with a faint and uncertain shrug. "Ghosts are well above me. I don't know crap outside of movies and video games, neither of which are probably accurate. Guess it makes sense they'd be a bit stuck in old ways and beliefs. They definitely do have a lot of content about that aspect, so it can't be all wrong I guess. A ghost horse sounds pretty awesome, though. I kind of want one. I just don't want to be dead to get one."

She refills her water glass for a second go. Her eyes track each of them before she coughs lightly and grins into her glass. "...anyone up for a church ghost hunt?"

SpyderByte has posed:
<< Bitte. Ich denke du bist sehr kuschelig. >>

Siri's voice comes out with a thick German accent this time as Jeremy takes another large bite of his cookie. He glances to his watch, then back up to the three.

<< Back to work. >>

He says as he starts to shuffle back towards the door. He reaches out with a fingre to touch Indi on the arm as he goes. Bzzt The hair on his arm stands up for a moment with the quick touch.

<< Good bye. Thank you for cookies. >>

He swiped a few more that was nudged to him as he heads out into the main area with a jingle jangle of chains.

Nightcrawler has posed:
"Ja, something like that. I had to look it up, this morning," Kurt admits, a little smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He doesn't speak Latin fluently but knows a few phrases. It's now made it to his list of things to learn. "It was not my choice of language. It was his," he adds, a thoughtful tone to his voice. He isn't sure that he would call it luck, but... he's still alive. Whether it be luck or because of his faith or because God stayed the man-ghost's hand to prevent the attempt from being successful.

Kurt raises an eyebrow slightly as he studies Shannon for a moment. And then he tilts his head a bit to one side. "What trouble have you been getting into, meine dame?" he asks, curious. And then he gives a nod to her. "I'm grateful to have not been killed as well. Each day is a gift," he says softly, a touch solemnly.

"Ja, I was surprised that it happened as well, but... from some of what he said, I think he believes that he does God's work, to destroy evil. But the perception of good and evil that he has is not entirely accurate. Perhaps my faith gave him pause," he says. "It was St. Margaret's where it happened. You are welcome to come with me to church, to see if he might be encountered again," he offers. His glowing gaze turns to Jeremy, and he tilts his head a touch to one side, his ears perking up a touch. Kuschelig. He... wasn't expecting that. A bit of colour returns to his cheeks at that, hidden by the colour of his skin, and he inclines his head towards the younger man. "Danke," he says quite softly. "Don't work too hard, and be sure to rest enough," he says, giving a small nod. And he watches the younger man depart before thieving another cookie for himself.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon grins a little sheepishly at Kurt, shrugging, ruffling her wings ever so slightly. "Just a few small adventures here and there, Herr Wagner," she demurs. "Nothing -too- bad, nothing that landed me on the news. Except for that one song I did under Andrea's label, but I wouldn't call that trouble. But yeah, if you want to know about the other stuff sometime, I'll tell you."

     She grins between Indi and Kurt at the mention of a ghost hunt at the church. "You know, that's an interesting thought. If this ghost freaked out seeing you, Herr Wagner, I wonder what he or it would do at seeing either me or Mr. Worthington. I mean, in the end, he did eventually listen to reason, right? You were able to talk him down or you wouldn't be here. So as long as we don't go in there behaving like jerks, we might stand a chance at finding out what this is really all about."

     Nodding to Jeremy as he leaves, she smiles a bit. "You're welcome. Glad you liked the cookies." And, as he shuffles out the door... "...and for heaven's sake, DON'T FORGET TO OPEN YOUR WINDOWS!"