4193/A Whole New World

A Whole New World
Date of Scene:	02 April 2018
Location:	Xavier's School, Westchester, New York
Synopsis:	T'challa visits Xavier's School for a tour and to visit with his old friend, Ororo.
Cast of Characters:	Storm, Black Panther

---

Storm has posed:
After their recent meeting, Ororo and T'challa had been keeping in touch through messages and phone calls. It wasn't a simple process. He was often tied up with the affairs of state, being king of his own country. She was busy with the school and her teammates. Mostly it was a text which was responded to a few hours later. Other times, they were able to chat for a bit before one of their lives interrupted their moment. Eventually, they were able to arrange for him to come visit the place that had stolen her away from Africa. The place where she had become part of a family again, after spending so many years as a orphan.

On the appointed evening, Ororo was waiting for his arrival. She was just inside but it seemed like every three minutes, she was peeking outside to see if his vehicle had arrived yet.

Black Panther has posed:
As the car pulls up three women get out. The one who is driving is very clearly Okoye, for you can just see the way the other women around her automatically take a deferential stance. Still though, he walks over to her, putting a hand to her shoulder and he whispers something. IT is clearly something she doesn't like and if you can lipread in Wakandan she says a few words one probably shouldn't say to the King but he holds up a hand. Whatever he says back is quiet and smooth but seems to be some sort of message that she accepts, albeit reluctantly. And so it is that T'Challa walks up to the door of the school by himself while the three women move to stand out in front of the walkway that leads to it. It's entirely possible that the school just became one of the better defened places in New York (as if it wasn't already).

https://imgur.com/r/findfashion/bSH82
He taps at the door, waiting to be lte in flashing his million dollar smile, the rain pouring down a bit, wetting his shoulders and the top of his head, but he doesn't seem to care about that too much, doesn't seem bothered.

Storm has posed:
At the knock, Ororo moves to the door and pulls it open. She gives him a bright smile which fades a bit as she eyes the wetness on his shoulders. A hint of a sparkle enters her blue eyes. "You always did like the rain," she murmurs although she realizes that he has left the Dora outside. With a thought, her eyes shift to solid white and there is but a moment as the stormclouds part then skitter off. It leaves the evening damp but at least the warriors will not be getting drenched while awaiting his return. She catches Okoye's eye and gives her a brief nod of acknowledgement as her eyes return to their usual cat-like blue irises. "Please, come in."

She steps back, motioning him inside as she does so. She's dressed casually. A white camisole top with a flowing white skirt. There are a few beads around her neck, a Wakandan design, and some silver bangle bracelets on her right arm. It gives a faint bohemian feel to her. Her hair is down, falling around her shoulders in a loose cascade. "You look very handsome this evening."

Black Panther has posed:
Okoye doens't nod. She looks. And you can see the quiet storm. You know a storm in a person well. You likely also know that if he so much as catches his toe on a step and gets a hangnail she is going to hold you personally responsible. Still though, he does brush the rain off his shoulder, smiling as he enters and looks back behind him. "Well now that is no fun." Which may or may not surprise any students that may be going around the halls or not. "And you look majestic," he says, taking your hand as you would expect and lifting it up to press a kiss to your knuckles, which may or may not surprise some of the students.

"I see that you are not lacking for any jewelry from back home." His home. Or does he phrase it that way on purpose, reminding you not only of where you are but of the place you could be. Could have been? No, he would nto rub something like that in...at least the old him would not have. "Perhaps I do not look terrible though. You look ready for a walk outside," he says, teasingly, since with the rain fall, white would have been a very bad idea. "So this is the school you speak so highly of?"

Storm has posed:
Of course, should she choose, not a single drop would ever touch Ororo. The perk of controlling the weather is never having to worry about how her fashion being ruined by a rain storm. She gives a nod at his question, motioning to the foyer they stand in with the grand staircase leading upstairs. There are not a lot of students about but a few are taking glances at the striking pair by the door. A couple even seem to recognized the Wakandan king before they scurry off to their original destinations. "This is Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, as you likely saw by the sign at the gate. It is a school for mutants and other children with special abilities that make it more difficult for them to attend a regular school." She motions to the room on the right and starts that way, beginning the grand tour. "Most of the teachers are also gifted, although not all. We have a few humans in the mix, as teachers and assistants."

Black Panther has posed:
"That is good. It would be a shame if I wanted to teach a history class and I could not because I do not fall into your category of gifted youngsters." Which of course he wasn't. He didn't inherit his 'gifts' until he became King. It is not to say he is not without his skills but still. He smiles as he walks into step with you, his hands behind his back, his smile wide, his gaze out for the different kids as he watches to see who may walk by, who may have a special skill on display, or just what book they may be reading in English or History.

"This is quite a lot of real estate and grounds. This Professor Xavier must be a kind man to have donated all of it to such a cause." His head turns back to you quickly though, "And what do you teach? What are your specialties?'

Storm has posed:
"You would meet the gifted qualifications. Not all who have gifts here are mutants. There are aliens and metahumans, as well," Ororo points out as she guildes him through the bottom floor. A young many walks by--well by his height and build it can be assumed he's male--with see through skin. Another young woman with insect like wings goes zipping past, flying to somewhere as quickly as she can go. They don't get a second glance from the teacher as she shows T'challa the library next.

At his question about the subject she teaches, she has to smile a bit. "It seems that a former goddess is believed to have knowledge of Mythology, thus that is the subject I teach."

Black Panther has posed:
"Former?" He looks at you and grins quietly, "Tell me who called you this? I will slay them a thousand times for slighting you in such a way," he says. And yes, he's laying it on perhaps a little thick but you can also hear the banter in his tone. To be honest, how many women can refer to themselves as a goddess? Diva, plenty, sure. He smiles though as the one goes flying by and he turns to ths die to allow room, though she seems an able enough pilot all on her own without needing him to adjust any.

"What would I teach then? P.E.?" He is entertained at the thought as he continues to look around. "I imagine that you spend at least a little bit of time teaching them of Bast?" He says the name reverently, his hand sliding out to take yours as he does, following you to the library. "What don't you have that you could use?"

Storm has posed:
One of those perfect white brows lifts and she can't help but giggle a it at his banter. "I am still a goddess, but of a different type. I do not have villagers praying to me so they can have rain for their crops any longer." Ororo gives him a bright smile. "But in the terms of this country, I am still a goddess to some." Apparently to him still, despite the many years since their youth together. She twines her fingers with his as they stop in the library for a few minutes. It is well appointed with a line of computers to one side along with the many shelves of books.

"What do we need? Understanding and acceptance. Still people are not willing to accept those who are no less human, but simply have gifts that make them different. Unfortunately, I do not believe that can be handed to us on a platter." She gives him an appraising look. "Physical education is already taken. Perhaps Political Science?"

Black Panther has posed:
"You would be amazed what could be handed to a person if they only thought to ask," he says with a smile though it is a bit...enigmatic. But that's T'Challa. He seems to have his own ideas at times on how things work, his brain running at just a different level than some which can make him seem aloof at moments, and at others like he's reading off a fortune cookie and yet that's because what he speaks or believes in is not always tangible. "You would think, yes? But I think we all know that I am still the student. There is plenty for me to learn still before I start to teach others and the first will be my son or daughter. Then I can see who else to teach. But that wasn't exactly what I meant. I was asking...is there something I can do to help the school?"

Storm has posed:
Ororo considers for a long moment, considering the possiblities. In truth, the school does have most everything they could want provided to them. The Professor has deep pockets and it shows by the very poshness of the mansion itself. "I will consult with the Professor or Jean. Jean is our vice principal and maintains the school with the Professor is away on business." He is a well known mutant rights activist and that often has him away in D.C. or other places. "I am certain they will have ideas of something. Perhaps, something from Wakanda that can offer enrichment with education," she muses.

Black Panther has posed:
He is clearly impressed as he looks around, his fingertips moving over the woods, looking at some of the books, seeing the students with tablets and such and he slides away from you for a moment and finds one to sit next to. He chats for a few, asking the very studious young girl to let him see what she's working on. And when he sees it he asks about it. She happens to be working on an engineering of a type, a bit of a combination of computer aided design only the computer doesn't do as much as it could - it limits what it does so that the student has to do more of the work. As they talk he points to an area or two and asks a few questions and the girl seems to get into telling him about what she was designing. As he points to a thing or two, she is clearly excited cuase he asks questiosn that lead her to see things in her design without actually making them obvious or telling her. He has fun after a bit and smiles, standing up and coming back over towards you. "What about the outside? How far back does this go? I saw as we were driving in, there seem to be plenty of woods."

Storm has posed:
As he works with the student, Ororo watches in silence. He always had that natural charisma, that ability to put people at ease despite the nature of his birth. Though he was royalty, he always took time with people that many might consider well beneath his station. It was his nature. She'd admired that trait from the beginning. His interest got the girl excited to share her passion for the subject then he was able to guide her to new discoveries. When he came back over, Ororo could only smile. "It is a shame you are a King. You would have been a fine instructor."

At the question about the grounds, she leads the way to the back door and out. There is a patio area, a large pool, lots of landscaping. But then a distance away the forest begins. "The Professore has acres upon acres. We needed privacy, for obvious reasons." She doesn't mention the not obvious ones. The X-Men did not advertise that they were a part of this school. The clouds are still gone and the stars are bright in the night sky above them. Not to the extent they were in the wilds of Africa but it is not like the city where the stars are mostly invisible.

Black Panther has posed:
He stands out back with you, to the patio area, just looking out. The night, stars showing, fresh air. He takes a deep breath and smiles. He hasn't taken your hand again yet. Instead he is happy to just be next to you, looking about. His breath is relaxes, his tone quiet and he says to himself, "I see why I could not lure you back," he says. "All those years...how many people you've seen...and here you actually have a chance to help them before the world gets their grips into them and makes them forget all about who they are." He looks to you, and smiles, that little smirk, the turn up at the corner of his mouth. "Mythology..." he says. "I'd say it's closer to science and history than people want to admit."

Storm has posed:
That earns a soft laugh from Ororo. "They feel that my tales of Bast are stories. Legends from a world where science could not explain such things. Yet they do not allow themselves to see that all mythology is based in fact. Some exist as they are portrayed, such as Bast. Others are legends but what started those tales? What created the myth? As someone who has met Olympian gods and seen Norse deities on the television, I think that there are many who are foolish to not believe in the stories."

Black Panther has posed:
"Not foolish...uneducated. Naive." His voice is quiet, but forgiving. "It is hard to see beyond what you have known. The leap of faith is not so easily taken. If it were, we probably would not have to have a school like this just for you and your students hmm?" He squeezes your hand though as he says, "I am planning to stay here for a bit. It is not hard for me to get back to Wakanda if I need to. And there are things here that seem to require my attention - things that are in the making. Groups who seem to have agendas. Some who seek to help. I'm thinking I need to get to know these groups and see who has at their heart the right intention...and who have their own." Of course, by right that is in hi sown judgemental way which could be hypocritical if someone truly wanted to call him out on it. On the flipside, the help you know he could bring to anyone if he chose to.

Storm has posed:
"There are many worthy groups," Ororo says as she considers the information he is sharing. "The Justice League, the Avengers. I an unsure of SHIELD as they may have their own agenda as is so common with the government here." She is careful to specify. He never seemed to have an agenda. His father, perhaps he had his own but it was generally the protection of their country. Having not been around him, she wasn't sure what stance T'challa took on such things. Yet. Knowing he would be around in the US for more time meant perhaps they could continue to renew their friendship.

"The X-Men prefer to remain out of most things unless mutants are involved. We still seek to find the killer of the President but thus far, the prime suspect continues to elude us."

Black Panther has posed:
He nods quietly, "Governments...who can trust them right?" He grins a little bit as he looks over to you but as you mention the President his hand comes up, both do, crossing over his chest as he bows his head quietly. "I did not meet him, as I dealt more with your Ambassadors than the President but no one should have done to him what he did," he offers, sincerely, taking a moment to stay quiet. He doesn't speak for a few moments in fact, looking out. "The Avengers are...a bit flashy. Make no mistake they would be an effective group but some of them seem to like...a bit more attention than I would want to draw." He looks over to you then and nods, "Who decides for the X-Men? Is it just your Professor? Or shall we talk about that another time. I didn't want to get too deep into business tonight. I simply wanted to see a very special old friend and what mattered so very much to her."

Storm has posed:
"That is probably a conversation for another time. The X-Men are left to our field leader moreso than the Professor. If you would like to meet with him, or the others, I will arrange it." Ororo isn't sure how that might go. But she's more than willing to open some doors for her old friend.

She strolls out onto the grass as the breeze blows, sending her skirt fluttering around her legs. For many, it might seem cold. She knows he is dressed warmly enough. She'd be surprised if he didn't have vibranium body armor beneath that stylish jacket. Okoye likely insisted. But for her, heat and cold were not a danger. "I am glad you came, T'challa. This school is a good place. We do work that I am proud of. I am honored to have shared it with you."

Black Panther has posed:
He nods quietly. "Another time," he says in complete agreement. He doesn't have it under. No, the nanosuit is in the necklace he wears, ready to come out if he says the right word or touches it in the right place. It would also come out if his body metrics dropped to a degree that made it seem like he was injured or in danger but he doesn't actually know that bit. His designers can be a bit...protective. He walks out though with you and he says, "So. Then." He clears his throat, as if he has some sort of major proclamation. "Dinner. I would like to steal you from the school one night and take you out for some of our own time if that's possible. And if you are interested. I mean, if that's alright with you?"

Storm has posed:
That comes as a surprise. Perhaps it shouldn't. There is still affection between the two of them. History and friendship. The communication and the way he has swooped back into her life so quickly. She should have read the signs but she didn't want to presume. He was a King. She was a street rat turned teacher. It was a very differnt sort of situation from normal so perhaps that is why dinner never occured to her. Of course, it could be just innocent. She mustn't read more into it.

"I would enjoy having dinner with you," she admits with another of those smiles. "Although as difficult as this visit was to schedule, I fear it may be months before we actually get to eat," she teases.