3098/Autumn Morning

Autumn Morning
Date of Scene:	08 November 2017
Location:	Xavier's School, Westchester, New York
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Cindy Larsen, Shadowcat

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Cindy Larsen has posed:
    In the hours before classes, Cindy is out in the yard by herself. There are a few other students roaming about, but Cindy isn't with any of them. She's got a basketball out on the court, and is currently practicing her layups. She's not very good, making only one out of every four or five attempts, but she's persistent! The leopardess is plenty athletic, based on her slender and fit appearance, but she just doesn't play a lot of basketball!

Shadowcat has posed:
Although they've never met, Kitty is a known figure out on the grounds. She runs every morning, and sometimes she's out there with a sword down by the lake where she's not likely to be disturbed. This morning was one of those -- she walks up through the yard, the weapon sheathed on her back, and takes note of the students walking around. She offers a nod or a smile here or there. She pauses as she approaches the basketball hoop and grins a little at the young woman's lack of aim. "I never could hit that thing," she comments after the third failed basket that she sees. "I swear it moves on you."

Cindy Larsen has posed:
    Cindy blushes a little when Kitty approaches her, and her tail gives a flick behind her. She grins bashfully, her feline ears angling back to hide the redness that appears in them. "Yeah, it doesn't seem to be that easy," she says, "I'm a lot better at volleyball, but I'm trying to expand on that." She tucks the ball under her arm, her breathing a little labored from the running about she's been doing. She offers a hand to Kitty. "You're Kitty, right? I've seen you around. My name is Cindy, it's nice to meet you," the leopardess says. Kitty might have seen her about now and again, but Cindy keeps to herself, and is quick to disappear to quiet, secluded places once she's out of classes for the day.

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty takes the proffered hand. "Yep, that's me," she replies with a smile. "It's really nice to meet you too... you keep kind of a low profile around here." Tilting her head, she asks easily, "How are you liking the school so far?"

Cindy Larsen has posed:
    Cindy nods her head, her tail giving another sway behind her. "Yeah, I, uh. I have a hard time around people, because of the, um." She gestures at herself. "I mean, it's hard to fit in when you've got some kind of power, but when you look so... different like I do, even here I can feel kind of like an outsider." She sighs a bit and shakes her head, then comes up with a brighter smile for Kitty. "I like the school though. There's a lot to read in the library, and the teachers are... mostly pretty nice. You graduated a couple years back, didn't you?"

Shadowcat has posed:
Nodding, Kitty shifts her balance so that she's standing comfortably. "Yeah... actually just got back from university. But I lived here from the time I was about 13." She pauses and then admits, "Fitting in anywhere can be hard, but yeah... you guys who can't hide it have it a lot worse. Do the kids treat you well enough?" One would think the kids at this school especially would be kind.

Cindy Larsen has posed:
    Cindy nods her head. "Yeah. I mean, nobody's given me any trouble for the way I look. I can tell I make some of them uncomfortable, though. And, I mean, I get it. The first time I saw myself in the mirror kinda freaked me out, too." A small grin flashes across her face. "But nobody goes out of their way to point it out, or make me feel bad about myself. I know it's a lot better here than it would be if I had stayed with my parents. For a girl like me... Well, it's pretty dangerous out there. And I don't have any super powers to defend myself with, unless you want to count the big, sad kitty eyes I can give people."

Shadowcat has posed:
Quirking a brow, Kitty replies, "And a pretty damn solid set of claws, one would think?" Shaking her head, Kitty remarks quietly, "When I first met Kurt, I was afraid of him. It didn't take very long to realize that he was the kindest person I was ever likely to meet. The other kids might be uncomfortable at first -- in part because if they're honest with themselves, they're grateful not to have to deal with the challenges that you face out there. Which, of course, makes them feel guilty. So then they don't really know *what* to say." She smiles at the girl. "For what it's worth to you, here at the school it doesn't tend to last very long. It's a small population and every one of us are freaks."

Cindy Larsen has posed:
    Cindy grins a little broader. "That and a nasty set of fangs, too, but to be honest I don't like to bite people. Nobody really tastes -good-, after all." Her tail gives another swish behind her, and the leopardess giggles softly. "Yeah, I guess it's better to own it and be who I am." She rolls her shoulders in a shrug. "I'll get there in time. I'm just goin' at my own pace. Who knows what will come about, over the next couple years that I'm here. Heck, I haven't even thought about what I want to do after I'm done with my schooling here... It's not like I can just stay here forever."

Shadowcat has posed:
"Well.... not entirely true," Kitty tells her with a smile. "If you wanted to be a teacher, you would most likely be welcome. I think it's always been the Professor's hope to make this a safe space for all of us." She shrugs. "But you have time. And after all... I don't go to school here anymore, but here I am."

Cindy Larsen has posed:
    That does bring another smile to the leopard-girl's face. "Yeah, that's a good point," she says. Cindy thinks about it a moment, and then asks, "So, what are you doing, now that you're back? I imagine you had any number of opportunities after finishing university... Or are you just on break from it?" Cindy looks around a second, and then gestures to a bench, by way of silent invitation. If they're going to be chatting they may as well be comfortable after all.

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty smiles and heads toward the bench, sitting down in a lithe movement. The sword on her back seems not to be in her way at all. "No, I'm done with it." She looks a little uncomfortable and glosses over why a 19-year-old is already done with university. "I'm actually working for STAR Labs, doing research and computer stuff," she goes on. "The professor always said we had a home here, and since I came here so young... this really is my home. So... since I can live here and be nearby to do the costumed gig more easily while still holding down a job? It just seems easiest."

Cindy Larsen has posed:
    Cindy settles down on the bench, setting the ball beside her and smoothing down her skirt a bit. "Oh yeah? I'm afraid I don't know much about STAR Labs," she admits, with another shy smile and a hand idly scratching at the back of her neck. "There's so many of those kinds of big companies to keep track of these days, it all sort of gets lost in a fog for me." The leopardess shifts a little on the bench, crossing her legs as she turns a bit, to face Kitty a little more. Her tail curls in close, and Cindy pulls it into her lap, idly stroking a hand along the furred limb. "Are you happy doing it though?" she asks, "I mean, working for them. I, uh, I know a lot of people around here do the whole 'costume gig', too, but... I think wearing a costume would be kind of pointless on my part, don't you think?" She grins a little. "I can't exactly put on a pair of glasses and fool anybody into thinking I'm normal."

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty shrugs slightly. "I'm only just really getting started," she admits. "So I don't know yet -- I think I'm going to be pretty happy there, though. It's interesting work, and I'm kind of hoping to research things that can help people." She grins a bit. "Yeah, I'd say a mask wouldn't work well for you or Kurt or some others." She rubs the back of her neck. "I really hope you enjoy the school, Cindy. It's a great place. Although I admit that I'm biased."

Cindy Larsen has posed:
    Cindy nods her head and just smiles at Kitty. "Well, it helps to have people like you around," she says, "I know I keep to myself a lot, but..." She just sort of trails off with a shrug of her shoulders. "It gets lonely sometimes," she finally says.

Shadowcat has posed:
"Yeah.... I can imagine." Kitty is sincerely sympathetic. "When I first came here, everyone else was a lot older than me. The rest of the students didn't start coming in until a year or so later, really. And don't get me wrong -- they were all great. But they were all a good bit older than me. At least, back then they were. Now it's not such a big deal."

Cindy Larsen has posed:
    Cindy nods her head, and she smiles a little. "Yeah, I think that's part of what it is for me, too... I feel like I'm a lot younger than most everyone else here, or at least... everybody I talk to. I think the other students my age have a lot of the same problems... It's a lot to get used to, after all." There's a soft sigh from the leopard-girl, and she leans her head on a hand, elbow propped against the back of the bench. It's rough being a teenager!

Shadowcat has posed:
Chuckling, Kitty nods. "Listen... I'm going to head up and catch a shower. But I'm around if you need anything, okay? And I know it's hard sometimes, but ... reach out to the other kids too. Because you're right. They are all feeling the same things you are. It *is* a huge change -- most people here in the States have never really thought about boarding school, and you're dealing with powers on top of the idea of boarding school. But it doesn't take too long, if you let people in."

Cindy Larsen has posed:
    Cindy straightens up, grinning a little. "Thanks, Kitty, that's nice to know," she says, "Classes are about to start, too, so I should really go get my things. I, um..." She bites her lower lip, the expression only made more cute by the fang that peeks over it. Then, she throws her arms around Kitty in a hug, giving her a firm, brief squeeze around the shoulders. "Thanks for the talk," she says, before hopping to her feet. "Enjoy your... Um, shower," she says a bit awkwardly, as she had started to say it without thinking. She gives Kitty a nervous grin and then picks up the ball. "I'll see you around," she says, wiggling her fingers in a wave.

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty erks and gets hugged! And then she laughs and briefly returns the hug. "Sure thing." She stands and heads for the house, her head awhirl with thoughts... it's the second time that a student has reacted powerfully to what Kitty considers just your basic reassurance for them. It bothers her to think that the kids are feeling lost, with no help. Perhaps something needs to be said...