3864/Whatever happened to whatsisface

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Whatever happened to whatsisface
Date of Scene: 12 February 2018
Location: Xavier's School, Westchester, New York
Synopsis: Batman brings two of his proteges along to Xavier's School, checking on a young boy he had brought there previously.
Cast of Characters: Batman, Red Robin, Batgirl (Cain), Phoenix, Professor X




Batman has posed:
    Gotham demands dedication of its protectors. It is a city that is by nature chaotic, having come into its prominence through the fickle whim of fate and maintaining it throughout the course of history by the nature of the grit and determination of its people. So when the Bat crew works together, in many ways every night is an adventure and filled with possibility, but control is important... and that can manifest itself in routine.
    Routine that they train at set times, depending on tasks at hand. Routine in that they have briefings and debriefings. Routine in that they tend to end the night in the same manner often, with the Batman calling the end of matters and allowing the team to retire. Yet routine is made to be broken.
    This night, as the team had been gathering in the Batcave, just before each of them had departed to their efforts of the night. The Batman had swept past, walking along the gantry way with his footsteps echoing in the depths of the dark dwelling. "Batgirl, Robin." He pauses long enough to look over his shoulder towards them. "You're with me."
    It's then that the Batwing rose up on its launch pad, the extension arms twisting it to the ready position as the large cupola slid back providing them entry. Once they were in the computer spun up as the engines kicked in, the shoulder straps and harnesses tightening automatically. There was a burst of energy and the press of gravity as the vehicle leapt up into the night sky even as the computer calculated the course to Xavier's School for the Gifted.

Red Robin has posed:
    Everything hurts. He is pretty sure his hair hurts. It just hurts. Not a dull ache, but a deep sort of 'i got my butt kicked' sort of vibe. A certain martial arts instructor wanted to make certain his student was actually learning and adjusting, so he found out. Thankfully, Tim has learned a few new things, and moreover, Dragon's more mellow personality challenges Tim. The last time he hurt like this, he was Shiva's student. He's very quietly, very proud to have heard a quiet, but challenging, 'very good, keep improving'.

    Usually, Tim will defer to Batgirl, and let her ride up front. Today, not so much. He is ashamed about it, but as he sits there, he quietly relishes being called by his old codename. It takes him a couple of minute, but in the stoic quiet of the vehicle, his tone is gentle. "Red Robin. I'm not Robin anymore." There is no anger or recrimination to it. There is a gentle rebuke in it though, it would hurt Damian. "Make sure not to do that in front of the real Robin. I messed that up enough myself."

    He fidgets with his mask, and works his shoulders a little. He knows that the other two can read him like a book, but he tries to be stoic. It's been a couple of months now, and Tim's starting to show the extra training. A little leaner, a little harder, a little more cut and muscular. The teen wonder is slowly aging out of the moniker. As they fly, Red Robin plucks up a tablet, and starts reading up on something for college. Work. Work. Work. He casually removes a bit of orange fuzz off his pant leg with a small frown.

Batgirl (Cain) has posed:
    At the change of routine, Batgirl glanced sharply at Robin then followed behind their mentor. She managed to keep the surprise hidden behind her mask but it was there for those able to read such things in her physical movements. This was not the norm. This was so far beyond the norm, she was actually confused. Yet, she would never question. Perhaps that is why Batman accepted her as one of the group. Though she was intelligent with a mind of her own, she was also a good soldier in his war.
    Slipping into one of the rear seats, she couldn't care less which one it is. The fact they are going somewhere has her mind running a mile a minute. Not somewhere in Gotham. They wouldn't nead the 'Wing for that. She just had no idea where they might go. The controls weren't in her line of sight even if she did understand how to read the destination.
    For her part, she sits quietly and watches out the front, tracking each movement made by Batman and committing it to memory. Even if she didn't know what it was for. Yet.

Phoenix has posed:
When the little communicator device went off inside of Jean's purse she at first... didn't even remember she had it, so she was presented with one of those 'What the hell is that?' moments.

When she pulled it out of the leather bag and turned it around, she certainly remembered what it was and who had given it to her.

It wasn't long there-after that Miss Grey was on the roof of the school's central castle-like tower with the gurney that Batman had given them sitting beside her (Why keep Batman toys? Their weird, he can have them back!).

Some students had seen Jean using her 'mind' to telekinetically carry the gurney up here... but she'd denied them the chance to follow her and see what she was up to. Sure some of the kids had found out Batman had visited that night and it'd been the talk of the school for about a week, but the last thing they needed was an army of kids up here greeting The Bat when he arrives.

The Xavier School's castle tower is lit up by light sconces at night that are positioned around the stone tower ledges. The lighting is rather ample, though there's certainly some dark shadows playing across the winter chilled stonework up here still.

Jean stands in a leather jacket with her arms crossed over her stomach and her fire-red hair gently blowing in the cold breezes, her eyes looking around at the horizon of Westchester at night.

Batman has posed:
    The jet roared through the night, quickly leaving Gotham behind even as to those outside the vehicle seems to fade against the darkness of the sky. It's engine shunts down, becoming a low throb of steady pulses from the ramjet-like engines, even as it begins to level off and lower its nose once the course is set.
    A moment later and then Batman's voice reaches them, either from the man himself in the front seat of the cockpit, or from the headsets that they might choose to wear. "Our destination is a school in upstate New York. It is a school that provides sanctuary for powered children and teens. I've had dealings with them before. Your role here is to observe. Danger should be minimal." But nothing is ever truly safe.
    The jet cuts across the sky, then begins its descent, the travel-time relatively short considering the distance that's been covered. The HUD picks out the illuminated castle tower, marking out the silhouette of the lone figure there tracking and then cycling through facial recognition.
    The jet throttles down, its engines perhaps finally being heard by those below as it shifts into hover and the silhouette becomes more obvious though still mostly mirroring the sky above in its stealth mode. "Go." Batman says and then the lower hatch doors open beneath their seats, allowing them to make their descent.
    For a moment above it looks like a great creature of darkness flares its wings as the man drops down, and then lands silently in front of Jean.
    "Ms. Grey."

Red Robin has posed:
    "The mutant school? Cool." Another bit of fluff removed, and there. Red Robin nods his head as they begin to descend, the tablet gets put aside. He adjusts his belt and the hang of his hooded cape. As Batman drops, so does Red Robin. His own cape flares, dark and brightr in a dichotomy. He has to somersault once and then land in a three-point position. Not to look cool or to show off, but because there is not as much cloth, and he falls a little faster. He has momentum to ablate. Behind his white-out mask his blue eyes narrow. Oof. that muscle was a little more sore than he realized.

    Like a good soldier, he does not show the pain. He does flash a sign to batgirl though. He's weak on the left. He stands, and nothing shows on his face.

    "Wow. Nice place." He quips as he looks about. "Quiet. Smells clean." Red Robin tilts his head to the side and frowns a little at something.

    He remains still though, looking about as much as he can without being rude and overly paranoid. He is simply alert and far from his chosen environment.

Batgirl (Cain) has posed:
    As third figure joins the other two. A slim woman wearing the batstyle costuming only there is no portion of her face uncovered. Instead, a piece of the black material has been sewn into the cowl over the normally open lower face portion, the stitches obvious and almost haphazard. It gives a grimness to the image she cuts. She lands silently with her mentor and Red Robin, immediately looking around the rooftop for anything that might be a threat.
    Her purpose here is to protect and observe. She doesn't have to be told, although he did give them an idea on the flight over. This is what she does typically. Hidden behind the lenses of the cowl, she looks over Jean Grey and reads her body language then dismisses her as a threat.
    So much for body language telling her everything.

Phoenix has posed:
Jean wouldn't look like much of a threat at all, to nearly anyone who didn't know her. She was fine with that.

When the trio of Gothamite heroes arrives... Jean doesn't flinch though, she doesn't show any signs of surprise by their sudden arrival either, which might be somewhat of a red flag that she could be more than her outward appearance was letting on.

"I see you're not as isolated as they say you are." Jean Grey says to the leader, to the Batman, after her green eyes in the dark look over the other two that Batman has brought with him.
Jean motions to the gurney then. "I wasn't sure if you wanted this returned or not, but I wanted to make sure that the option of it was at least here and... on the table, so to speak."

A faint upturn of her red hued lips was shown then and then redhead nodded once more. "You're here in regards to Thomas though, I presume, and not a medical bed." She strengthens her smile for a second or two. "He's fine, better than fine, actually... he's made friends here."

Professor X has posed:
From behind Jean there is a light buzzing noise it sounds quite mechanical though it is just a light noise. From behin her a man appears sitting on a chair wearing quite a professional suit though over his legs is a nice blanket as it is a bit cold for him outside right now. The bald head shimmers though the look on his face is just warm with a smile that reaches his eyes, and very calm demeanor about him. "Well.. If this is the way we are now dressing students maybe I should not stay away for so long next time." and he chuckles a bit with his joke.

He hovers past her to the three capped crusaders, and he holds out a bowl to the younger one of the group.. "Mint? It is peperment from Sweeden" he leans in and fake whispers.. "It's the good stuff.. feel free to take a couple." and looks at Batman with a nod as he knew the boy wouldn't without his guardians approval. After he takes one or not he would offer Cass one as well before turning around to head back to stand next to Jean. He looks up at her and smiles.. He adds in a low voice.. "So it looks like it has been busy here, I don't mean to interfere.. I am just here to help if you need it." taking a mint out unwrapping it, and eating it before he floats in his chair behind her quietly to see exactly what is going on. Though he does scan the school real quickly for this one named Thomas to check if he was here, and where just incase this was a distraction.

Batman has posed:
    The dark figure gives a nod, "This is Red Robin, and Batgirl." He gestures to the side each in time to make the needed introductions. His brow furrows as he lifts a hand as if to wave off the gurney as he shakes his head. "No, thank you. Keep it if you wish." But he keeps his irisless gaze level on her, even as his surface thoughts match his words. "That was one part of why I wished to make contact again."
    He steps to the side, turning his attention briefly upon the school itself. Then he looks back, "How were you able to cope with his..."
    But those words falter even as the telepaths can hear the silent completion to them in his thoughts, 'his mutation.' Batman looks to Charles and then gives a nod, "Professor Xavier. I was wishing to check on what has passed for Thomas Abernathy."

Red Robin has posed:
    Initially moving to secure the gurney like a good little henchbird, but then the cool chair shows up. Tim immediately feels some compassion for the older man being trapped in the chair. Not pity, or sympathy, but genuine human compassion and empathy. A part of his vaguely emasculated by the offer of the mint; he isn't a boy anymore. But he instead takes the opportunity to take a couple of pieces, and almost whisper to the older man, "Cool chair, and thank you. I would ask you how you knew butâ¦" there is this odd sensation that behind the mask Tim is winking at the older man. His lips quirk into a faint, sort of crooked playful grin. The Batman makes sure they read up on everyone.

    "It's a pleasure to meet you, Doctor Xavier." Red robin says a little more loud. He doesn't go after the gurney, He stows the candy in his belt though. Yes, he has a little pouch right there. Bat pez dispenser? Check. "I have not met a graduate of here, but I had friends on the Titans that new folks from here. You should be proud of your students, they were universally highly regarded."

    It is the Robin's job to pour on the charm, and the humor, and all that. It's his job to soften the psychological blow of the Batman's premise. Red Robin is still doing that job when he must, and he looks over the place again, having derived new insights into it just from meeting the headmaster for a moment. His smile is a little brighter as he looks about and pays attention. 

Batgirl (Cain) has posed:
    As the Professor arrives, Batgirl tenses the slightest bit at her position on Red Robin's left side. He might be able to see it from his angle. Then she relaxes again upon reading the man in the chair. Again, no physical threat so he is not someone to worry about. As he approaches, she watches with that blank, spooky mask, expression unreadable. The mint is looked at then she glances to Batman before turning back and giving a single negative shake of the head. Her version of a 'no thank you.'
    Were her mind to be touched, she doesn't think like normal people. There are no words or images really. Everything for her is movement, motion, tiny details that most people cannot pick up. The very nuances are a beautiful sympathy that plays through her mind, giving her a distinct view of the world.
    She never speaks a word, leaving that to her teammates.

Phoenix has posed:
Its true that Jean doesn't use her mind powers to invade the minds of those around her unless they give her reason too... this is why she doesn't know the true identities of any of the Gothamits visiting the school here tonight, as tempting as it was to get in there and dig that information out... Jean Grey had morals and she believed-in and followed them.

But what can't hide from her, is Charles Xavier's presence, he was just too large of a presence in the natural ambience of being able to read the lives of others around you with your mind. So when he arrives, she's aware of it, but thats not to say she's not surprised a least a little.

"Professor." Jean says, showing him a smile as he makes it all the way up to the peak of the school in that chair of his. "I would've helped you if I'd known you'd intended on coming up here for this..." But she doesn't push that subject, instead she observes him as he offers the candy.

Jean's eyes go back to Batman. "We deal with troubled cases on a daily basis here. Most mutations can be controlled if you work with the individual and help learn with them. This is what we've been doing with young Thomas. We've been on a discovery mission with him, about his mutation, as we do with all other students in similar situations as him."

Jean exhales softly then. "Its generally an unending process though, and it can have setbacks along the way. For instance, I wouldn't say that Thomas is safe enough to leave here yet without risking another... incident."

Professor X has posed:
Professor looks over at Batman, and smiles.. "You have a very calm mind though the defenses are not necesarry. I do not dip into peoples minds without reason, or permission. Perhaps you should join our ethics class sometime I think you might find it enlightening." then turns with a nod to Tim. "Most things can be read non-verbly anyway for example his face showed the pitty that most give when they first see me in this. Though you have trained him well." he holds up a hand. "Do not fear it is alright, it shows empathy to a situation there is no harm in it." Turning he looks at Cass for a long moment.. But then turns to look at Batman again.. "Your wording is different though, what has passed for Thomas. Do you view him differently now then you would of before.." he chuckles a bit to himself, and holds a hand up again.. "For another time.. I am sorry "

Finally he turns to Jean and puts a hand on her arm.. "You worry too much about me Jean, I wished to surprise you call it a old mans mischievousness." giving her a wink before falling silent of course removing his hand as it was just to represent care for his past student worrying about him. He does speak up a bit to add to her last comment with more then a question. "It looks like you were prepaired to take him.. Might I ask if he was well enough to leave would you want to remove him?"

Batman has posed:
    Arms folding over his broad chest, Batman gives a single solemn nod in answer to Jean's words about the student that was delivered into their care. For a moment his brow furrows subtly behind the mask, but then he looks between the two educators and lifts fingertips from his bicep as he murmurs, "I've done what I can to clear any possible connections between him and what happened. But it is possible that others might come looking for him." He seems not inclined to elaborate, but the faint images of a handful of government agents might flicker through his mind, intense figures in their suits and with a single name connected to it that might come to the fore. // Gyrich. //
    But then the Professor suggests him attending the ethics class, and for a brief moment that causes the Bat to come up short. His thoughts are indeed controlled, calculating, but there is a swirl of intensity there that flares slightly as he answers not just the class suggestion but the question about taking Thomas away simply with, "No."
    Yet he shakes his head and then shifts the topic slightly as he motions towards his compatriots. "In the future, during a crisis, I may be unavailable. These two may serve in my stead."

Red Robin has posed:
    Red Robin doesn't ever disagree with the Batman in public. He just shrugs. "One who has a mutation, is a mutant. No parents? You are an orphan. One who cannot walk is disabled. There is an invective for a disabled person- Cripple. The problem is mutant is the technical term and also a slur. I mean, you call it a school for Gifted Youngsters, not emergenging mutants." Nerd Robin just lays it out there like so much cream cheese on a bagel. "He's Batman, and he's a hardcase. He's just not the sort to throw incendiary words at allies. There is no hate in what we do, and when you do what we do, sometimes friends are difficult to find. You don't risk spitting in the face of your host, doctor." Red Robin says it simply and respectfully. Tim actually relies on the man's read of him when he says that. He's shown empathy, so he can say the truth, he hopes, and have it be understood.

    "No one chooses the circumstances of their life. I'd be taller, if I could." Red Robin says succinctly. He continues. "I've dealt some with metahumanity as a member of the Titans, but I'm not an expert on Mutancy. A reading list on ways to deal with emergent mutants beyond the 'keep them calm' would be the best thing you could write in your spare time, Doctor Xavier." he keeps it light, keeps it moving, and then is silent, hopefully smoothing it over.

Batgirl (Cain) has posed:
    Half of the converstion is lost on Cassandra. She hasn't dealt with a lot of costumed types other than their own crew. Even fighting them, she is only doing with backup for now. With her abilities, she is more succeptible to not understanding those who are particularly twisted such as the Joker. While she can read a tendon tightening to pull a trigger, the mad are harder to get a bead on and thus she always has someone at her side.
    As she hears the words from Batman, she manages to not react in surprise. Behind her lenses, she flicks a glance in his direction but she doesn't move a muscle. Instead she remains still as a statue now, cape shifting in the breeze.
    For those that might pick it up, there is a burst of pride in the young woman before her usual strange mind returns to the forefront.

Phoenix has posed:
A smile is shown to Charles from the woman who holds the highest position the school, other than his own. "You get around far better than a lot of people within this school do, some of the kids are late to class on a daily basis and their bedrooms are literally above their classrooms... How they manage that is beyond me." She gives a slight grin before she regards Batman again.

"Should anyone come here looking for Mister Abernathy, then they'll be greeted pleasantly... unless they deserve otherwise. We're not going to turn him over to someone who'll harm his safety, let alone the potential safety of anyone around the young man."

A nod was given to Batman's companions. "I'm happy to work with either of you, should we have anything that warrants our working together. And..." She looks to Red Robin specifically. "There are non-mutants here as well. Some of our teacher's are not even mutants and some of our students 'gifts' come from other sources beyond the X-gene. We want to help as many people as we can here, no matter where the source of their 'gifts' come from."

Jean's right hand extends outward and from that tin of mints that Charles had brought up with him, two of the mints float up into the air and gently tumble over each other as they glide across the space... into Jean's hand. She quietly lifts one up and pops it between her lips.

Professor X has posed:
The professor mearly nods to Batman, "That is good to hear.. Well maybe not about the class of course." and he chuckles a bit with a shrug, "I can hardly get my students in there so I had little hope for a random capped stranger." though he turns and looks at Tim again this time he has a patient look on him as he listens to the young mans words. He chuckles a bit after he is done and shakes his head.. "I think you have it wrong, cripple as you say was in the past the same as disabled the meaning behind it was two fold which added confusion. The co-meaning of the word.. I believe severly damaged machine is the reason they changed it. As many took it insulting." he gives a small shrug, "It is us that give powers over words, not words that hold power over us.. Mutant is the same... Though if I called this a school for mutants our secret would not last very long now would it?" and he chckles again a bit.

He sighs, and looks at Cass.. "I know you are a very serious one, but it is okay to speak up if you wish to add something I would say not to be afraid, but I have no doubt fear has not entered your mind since you have landed on this roof." and gives her a bit of a smile. He knew people like her in his long travels, though he doubted she would ever change to put the offer out there so she knew he would listen was the best he could do.

Turning back one last time to Tim he adds. "I think you are wrong about the hate.. to hate is human it is what you choose to do with it that makes the man, or woman." he smiles and nods to Cass. "Emotions are not a weakness.. But here I go ranting on again.. I am sorry Jean you are right to stay on track. I am glad it is you they came to meet here or they might be stuck up here all night."

Batman has posed:
    At Jean's words, Batman gives a single nod, though he does tilt his head slightly in Tim's direction. No words offered, not right now, perhaps for later. Instead he looks back towards the two mutants and gives a single nod. The way the man's mind works, it's this methodical steady thing, yet seeming to run down several lanes at once, gauging matters, their surroundings, their word choice. It all seems to focus on judgement, and control. His eyes narrow but the nod he gives is offered in acceptance as he takes her word for the protection offered to Thomas Abernathy.
    "If my people need to establish contact without me, they'll mention this meeting." He looks between the two teachers and gives a nod, "And you have the means to contact me." He says with a steady rumble in his voice, perhaps referring to the black data device he gave to Jean, perhaps to something else.
    But it's then that he turns, cape flaring for a moment as he starts to step away. "Thank you." Then he turns his head to the side, speaking over his shoulder, "For Thomas."

Red Robin has posed:
    "I would love to discuss emotion with you sometime, Professor. That would be brilliant, but i have to go. I hope to meet you both again under better circumstances." There is no outward sign of the pain or stiffness he feels as he turns.

    Keeping Batgirl on his left means he'll be getting in the backseat, but he is fine with that. He doesn't complain as he moves to reboard the technological marvel.

Batgirl (Cain) has posed:
    Cassandra still never says a word, despite the assurances from Charles. It's like she doesn't hear him. Or she just doesn't care. Difficult to read with that expressionless mask on her face and her mind such a weird blend of movement and emotions. There is a moment of shock as Jean floats those mints to her hand.
    As Batman moves, she is turning and bringing her hand to her utility belt. The grapple gun is lifted and fired, hitting that precise spot on the bottom of the Batwing so that it will retract the line and pull her back up into her seat. Although she makes sure to aim at the front this time, keeping her on the side of Red Robin to cover. Not going to be necessary but it is what they do, make up for each other's weaknesses and combine their strengths.
    A moment later and she is ascending to the craft, cape flaring behind her.

Phoenix has posed:
Jean watches the trio of Batfamily Crusaders in Capes as they ascend back into the night sky. "Any time." She says in response to Batman, even though he was long from ear-shot range for the response to make it to him.

Once they were gone she turned back to the gurney and to the professor in his wheeled chair. Thankfully the school's elevator comes all the way up to this level!

Jean moves toward the Professor first to help him back into the school. "Its good that you've come back, the children have been asking countless questions." She says with a smile as she moves behind his chair. "You know that they're rather fond of you... And I think Hank has been getting a short and shorter fuse on his temper in answering all their inquiries."

Professor X has posed:
Charles watches them go in quiet before he looks up at Jean.. "I am glad to be back I have missed the school to be honest." he doesn't dispute her pushing the chair as she has not in a while, and it was nice to be pushed again. "Poor Hank, he has the mind for great things, but the paitence for children not so much." and he chuckles a bit to himself.. "I do hope he hasn't lost too much hair over this.. He sheeads like crazy when he is stressed." and smiles to himself.

As they are leaving he does stop just a moment looking at where the trio went.. "You know.. I was thinking about a cape.. I think I might look good in a cape." and laughs as he is pushed back into the elevaor so they can retur to the school.