14731/Another Mystery..

Another Mystery..
Date of Scene:	26 February 2023
Location:	Main Foyer - Xavier's School
Synopsis:	Jean expresses her concerns for missing kids. Logan offers advice.
Cast of Characters:	Phoenix, Wolverine

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Phoenix has posed:\<br\>Now that the long weekend is over, school is back in full swing and it's busier than ever. Not all staff have returned just yet, which means more work for Jean as she wanders the halls to her office. She passes a group of teens, racing each other through the halls and wags a finger at them. "Hey, no running though the halls!" she's not as strict as Scott but hanging out with him makes her a bit more serious..And she still seems on edge despite a patrol coming up pretty clear. Must be something else. Or maybe she's just tired. She sighs, rubbing her temples, leaning against a nearby wall . Sometimes its hard to filter out all the voices..

Wolverine has posed:\<br\> Logan's in the kitchen trying to enjoy a cup of coffee. People are whirlwinds in this place grabbing snacks and drinks. He's tyring not to growl or groan. This is closer than the teacher's longue, but a little less quiet. Taking another sip, he musters himself up and starts to step in the hallway. He's either going to go to what counts as a teacher longue or his room. Whatever holds a bigger appeal.

Phoenix has posed:\<br\>Jean Grey straightens up from the wall, adjusting those mental walls that must always come up. Right, it's been a long day and a cup of coffee would do her good. Still she seems to be a bit out of sorts as she heads down the hall, not really watching where she's going, and accidentally bumps into Logan, spilling her armful of documents.

Wolverine has posed:\<br\> "Careful darlin', never know who yer gonna run into 'round these parts," he winks and leans down to help. Logan knows the skeleton makes him -fairly- solid. He helps gather up that paper work for the redhead before handing it back. "Where's the fire?" he ask thinking something important has Jean so distracted.

Phoenix has posed:\<br\>Jean Grey smiles faintly and nods as she picks up the remaining papers, "Thanks, Logan. I guess I've been a bit frazzled since returning to school..Scott has been understandably busy as head master, kids have been an extra handful...And now it seems that three of my charges have been missing for a couple days now. I think I need some warm, camomile tea to calm down.." she glances dian the hall towards the teacher's lounge. "Which way are you headed?"

Wolverine has posed:\<br\> "Yer better than ya know at the job, darlin'. Stop doubtin' yerself," he says to her very firmly. But he understands those concerns. Some students are missing. It's hard to say if they've left the school, if parents pulled them away, or something else is going on. He tries not to worry too much because one of the telpaths will figure out the answers. Chuck usually did. Logan figures Jean, or another, would do the same in his wake. \<br\>\<br\> "I was goin' to the teacher's longue or my room. Dependin' how busy the halls were," he admits. The rush of students can be daunting. And he tries not to growl at them. Yes, it parts them, but Logan hates the fear some students carry toward him.

Phoenix has posed:\<br\>Jean Grey smiles and nods, continuing down the hall, "I do my best, I guess it always takes a bit to get back into things after a long, extended week long weekend Afterall.." she shrugs, ticking the powers away in a folder, "Well, I called the parents about their absences, and they were as surprised as me. Thought they were in school.."\<br\>\<br\>She sighs, continuing further down the hall, pausing at the entrance to the teacher lounge. "Tell you all about it after I get some coffee in me.mFirst day back is always the roughest.." she smiles tiredly, "But I suppose someone like you never gets tired.."

Wolverine has posed:\<br\> "I get tired darlin' i just don't show it often," Logan retorts as he is moving with her. "Think the kids can't be exhaustin' fer everyone? Yer nuts," he gives a toothy grin as he is honestly amused by this. "Even Hank gets pushed to his limits and he loves his job from sun up to sun down," he thinks Hank is the teacher that loves his job the most.

Phoenix has posed:\<br\>Jean Grey arches a bemused brow at him, opening the door, letting him enter first, "Really..Even The unstoppable Logan has his limits? I find that hard to believe.." she smirks, stepping in after him, making a beeline for the coffee maker. Really, nothing is better than a good strong cup of coffee..With a bit of milk and sugar of course. She can't stand to drink it straight."You want some too?"

Wolverine has posed:\<br\> Logan bites his tongue and says nothing. He'll eventually say, "Wouldn't you like to know?" he teases and looking back to her. "Age before beauty, red?" He knows Logan will always have -age- compared to his colleagues. Sipping at his cup, he'll down it and hand her the empty mug. "Little bit a sugar, only need the other junk if it's a bad day," he says. Besides he prefers real creme over anything powdered.

Phoenix has posed:\<br\>Jean Grey chuckles a bit ar that, loosening up already as she pours him another cup, bringing her own cup with her as she joins him, "Oh, I'm sure you're just full of secrets, aren't you.." she gives him a long look as she says that, clearly curious, maybe more than curious judging by that sweet smile of hers..And then she takes a long sip of creamy coffee and sighs. "Yeah, so the parents were surprised they weren't at school..Said the last they saw them they were hiking in the Westchester county woods..Given recent rumours, I'm a little worried, Logan.."

Wolverine has posed:\<br\> Logan smirks at the curiousity, but knows that whatever curiousity lives and dies in secret. Taking his cup he'll take a small sip of the drink. "So we gotta go lookin' fer em'. Any leads?" he asks seriously, knowing the time for flirtation and curiousity is over. Then he takes another drink from his cup. Those ocean blue eyes focused on Jean as he hopes for more details about those students.

Phoenix has posed:\<br\>Jean Grey shakes her head, "After rumours of an unidentified flying object orbiting over Westchester, I've been hesitant to leave the Institute. I need to watch over the kids here at least until the others return. It's not safe, and I need to find Kit and question him too..All I know is that they set out for a hike, three kids, about two days ago. And there was a winter storm coming in at that time.. They May have got lost, but..I'm more concerned about them encountering something..Else..Out there, honestly.."

Wolverine has posed:\<br\> "We can't get 'Ro to fend off the storm?" Logan asks as he thinks of ways to keep those kids safe. Three of them out there. "We should get another set of aerial eyes out there," Logan knows he will be boots on the ground when it comes to the kids. Then he looks at her. "Lost because of what?" Logan isn't sure if Jean means nature or threat that would pull those children away.

Phoenix has posed:\<br\>Jean Grey hmms, "Don't think she's back yet, haven't had any luck contacting her at any rate.." she sighs, taking another sip of coffee. "My nerves are frazzled and I was hoping to return refreshed..Not a good start.." she smiles faintly, tiredly at him, "Would appreciate if you could use your tracking skills to find them. Bring Warren or Rogue with you, they can cover the skies, but no one is better at finding people than you, Logan..And if we're facing an alien threat.." she shivers at the thought, burying her face in more coffee. Gotta focus, can't lose it now..

Wolverine has posed:\<br\> "Well, tell Scott to take ya to a better place than an amish town," he syas thinking Scott didn't take her some place actually relaxing. Shaking his head he pushes past those thoughts. "I haven't seen either of em' 'round yet. I'll keep mye yes open," and then he looks at her. "Wouldn't be our first alien threat," he's not as scared. However, they do bring the most variants to the table. At least if the threat is Earth bound they can look up information on them.

Phoenix has posed:\<br\>Jean Grey smirks, shaking her head, "Oh no, it was good..It was relaxing..I know he's a busy man, but.." she sighs, shaking her head, "I can handle all sorts of threats. I pretty much died and came back from the dead Afterall...But, when someone is threatening my students..That is unforgivable. Usually it's just aimed at the Xmen, but now.." she sighs, looking no less alert as she reaches for another cup of coffee.\<br\>\<br\>"Three kids, Jenny, Mary and Todd..Barely 12..Their powers are fairly weak. That's far too young to be raving the wilderness and who knows what else. I promised their parents I would protect them but so far I have not been much help.." she seems stressed, torn..Her hands shaking a bit. Attacks against herself or the Xmen she can handle, but against defenceless kids?

Wolverine has posed:\<br\> "Yer a person. Still need to unwind. Why do you think I wind up in some bars," it does help him unwind. Usually. Fights can happen at others. "Yer right 'bout that," then he sips at his coffee cup. Just letting her say waht she need. Also, these are the details he need. \<br\>\<br\> "Yer sayin' it's too soon for em' to use their powers to help out. Get em' outta hot water," he says just making sure everyone is on the same page. "Could be enemies. Could be nature. Whose got a good set of eyes fer seein'?" he asks, wondering if someone could mayb esee in the darkness or heat patterns.

Phoenix has posed:\<br\>Jean Grey nods, staring at her cup of coffee. "That's right, they're too young, too inexperienced for the big bad world. I should have seen it coming, should have stopped them.." but of course she couldn't be there watching them all the time, "They were particularly rebellious, always pushing the rules. Even though they weren't ready for the real world.."\<br\>\<br\>She shakes head, taking another long sip of coffee and nods, "Right, Warren cuts the bill well for eagle eyes, keep him in the sky while you take the ground. No two else I trust more for this mission.."

Wolverine has posed:\<br\> "There's always gonna be kids that fall through the cracks on somethin'. It's just up to use to save em'. Bring em' home," he gives a nod to Jean. Logan's just trying to assuage her fears. Knowing that she probably feels pressure, anxiety and a general dread over the situation itself, all of the possibilities, and future ramnifications if something bad -did- happen. \<br\>\<br\> "Sounds like a good plan," he gives a nod. It's the only plan they got, but it's a good mixture. "Maybe get some kinda tool from Hank," he says thinking there may be some kind of sonar device or soemthing that may be able to help find them.

Phoenix has posed:\<br\>Jean Grey arches a brow at that, smiling a bit. "Device from Hank..? I suppose he might have something in mind, but nothing beats your senses honestly.." she sighs, mentally exhausted by all of this, taking on the burden of those kids on herself. "I..should have trained them better, should have been more strict with them..Something..." she reaches out suddenly to grab his hands as if seeking comfort, "Please, bring them back safely.."

Wolverine has posed:\<br\> "But I can't see or sense past rocks. Thinkin' if they're in a cave or somethin'. I'm thinkin' if they fell under ground. I ain't gonna be able to semll em', but maybe something Hank has could help us," it'l Logan being a realist. If there is some form of mine shaft, hole, anythign remoately clsoe ti, the student could fall. And so, he's trying to think ahead. If they do have an issue lik that, they can at least be prepared with something to help them.

Phoenix has posed:\<br\>Jean Grey nods, climbing to her feet. "Right, I'm sure Beast will think of something useful. Between the three of you I'm sure you'll find them..I shouldn't be worried then.." she smiles, finishing the last of coffee. "Well, the first day back to school from a long break was a bit jarring.,I'm sure tomorrow will be better, right?"