7528/I Miss The Rain Down in Africa

I Miss The Rain Down in Africa
Date of Scene:	18 May 2019
Location:	Ororo's Attic - Xavier's School
Synopsis:	Ororo entertains two more late-nighters in the Mansion
Cast of Characters:	Storm, Rift, Phoenix

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Storm has posed:
Ororo's door is always open when she's in the mansion, at all hours. Even as midnight approaches. There are children feeling homesick, adults dealing with the stress of the job, friends needing confidantes and trouble teenagers bickering about life and relationships and their place in the world.

Ororo makes room for them all, and the last group-- Kitty, Doug, and Sam-- have all left recently. The white-haired woman moves with the grace of a queen to tidy up the service of tea and cookies in her humble attic space. The wide open windows and doors expose the rain and thunder of a surly Nor'easter, though the cold doesn't seem to penetrate the candle-lit folds of Ororo's personal space. The air is charged with the sort of frisson that many find uncomfortable or intimidating, but to Ororo she's happily in her element among the elements. The last of the musical instruments are put away and she moves to rest a shoulder against the doors to her balcony. Bare feet wriggle inches away from raindrops on the stonework, and the idle gusts of wind tug fitfully at the lightweight blouse she wears with the slit-cut sleeves that expose the darker hue of her arms to the light. Holding saucer and cup in her hands, Ororo sips her tea and watches the treetops whipped back and forth by the wind on the edge of the property.

Rift has posed:
Rift sighs softly as she was pacing back and forth. She couldn't sleep. She sighs softly as she stares up at the ceiling of her dorm room. And with a quick gesture she tears a portal open on her ceiling. A ruby-red glow would appear as a portal starts to opem, parallel to the ground - and a sudden YELP as it closes again. The portal re-opens, now vertically-aligned, as Rift floats out of it, staring up at the sky, sighing softly, with that eerie glow that she has when using her powers. Though she appears to be wearing just a nightgown, it doesn't seem like she's bothered by the chilly air. "I'm gonna have to change my bed - didn't think it was raining this hard," she mutters, then she gets blown a few feet away. "Fine," she mutters as she lands on the roof, still gazing out - not back toward the mansion - then she sees the glow of lights as she turns to look.

Phoenix has posed:
Jean heard of Ororo's return, and finally been blessed by some time to herself, so she took that time to go and greet an old friend. With the door kept open, there's no need for knocking, and Jean smiles at Ororo as she makes her way up to the attic and walks past the threshold, "Ororo, now it's starting to truly feel like home again...how was your vacation?"

She peers a moment out the window before teasing, "not of your own making, is it?"

Storm has posed:
Ororo turns in the second before Jean gets there. That subtle awareness of Ororo's extends to people coming to her door, and she smiles warmly at Jean when the redhead arrives. "Jean, I was hoping you would be able to see me," she says, and sets the cup and saucer aside. She crosses the room and offers Jean a squeeze of both hands and a polite air-kiss near her cheek. Her richly accented voice is as warm as the room and fills the old wood with its timbre. "Please come and join me. I brought you something from Cairo," she tells Jean, and moves to her neatly stacked suitcases near the entryway. She extracts a book wrapped in cloth and offers it to Jean. "It is a book of cultural practices from the University of Cairo," she explains. "A friend of mine wrote her thesis on the tribes of the Serengeti. You might find it a good addition for your library."

"Would you care for something warm to drink?" Ororo offers, moving back over to her little coffee serviette and kneeling on the pillows next to it. She transfers hot water to a kettle to get it steaming again. "I have some teas and chai. Or if you want, some hot chocolate. I think I even have marshmallows," she says, looking around with a moment of distraction. Her eyes flicker up to the rooftop visible through the window, and her head tilts. "One of the children is on the roof," she announces. "I think it's that one who loves gymnastics-- Kitora?" she hazards. "So many new faces," Ororo sighs.

Rift has posed:
Rift turns to look as she sees both Jean Grey and Ororo Munroe looking in her direction. She blinks as she kicks off, floating down - wobbly - the wind is picking up again - and lands outside the door as she cracks it open a bit. "May I come in? It's... a bit breezy out here. Easy to be blown around when I use my flight - I don't weigh a whole lot and this wind is getting fierce." She slips inside before getting full permission and closes the door. "I can leave if you'd prefer?" she asks, still glowing. "Sorry to bother, Ms. Munroe and Ms. Grey. Just couldn't sleep."

Phoenix has posed:
Jean brightens as she shares in Ororo's greeting, while adding a demanding embrace to the routine, "you shouldn't have, she mock chides, the excitment on her visage proves she more than appreciates the gesture. "Oooh, that sounds fascinating, and from a vouched source? I'll dive into this one, thank you, Ororo." She was just about to mention how Ororo was the biggest gift herself, when she winds up distracted by the offering, "I would have gone with the chai, but hot chocolate and marshmallows? Count me in for that!"

"Indeed, new faces all the time, and some are good at trying the patience of the faculty," she winks at Ororo, before approaching the window, looking preplexed at Rift's words, "don't be silly come on in, the real question is what were you doing out on the roof, especially if you're already aware of the dangers of the weather? I was about to lecture you, but what should I do when you already know the risk and still took it?" She looks aside at Ororo, "any advice with this one, Ororo?"

Storm has posed:
Ororo looks up from Jean to Kitora, back again. "I would bring her in out of the rain, first," she tells Jean, eyes dancing as Jean does just that. "And then I will offer her something warm to drink. At this point, being cold and wet is probably punishment enough."

Ororo reaches into a little refridgerator for some cold milk and heavy cream to quickly heat up in her little induction kettle. It's brought to a frothing boil in short order, and Ororo prepares a cup for both Jean and Kitoro. "And so we are clear-- this is not *my* doing," she says, eyes dancing. "It is a good, natural New England storm. But Asili knows I love the sound of thunder, so perhaps She is welcoming me home," Ororo allows.

Cocoa WITH marshmallows is distrbuted and Ororo moves back to her little sitting area, settling on the pillows again. She cradles her teacup in her hand and sips with the saucer held carefully under the delicate porcelain. "It sounds as if you need more practice with the flying, Miss Alua," Storm tells Kitora with an earnest politeness. "Adverse weather is a very real threat when you are travelling."

Rift has posed:
Rift nods. "Well... it's the METHOD of my flight that is the issue. I thought I could compensate." She shrugs. "But you know how a feather will blow away easily in a wind - but if you had a metal sculpture of a feather, it wouldn't? It's the same idea. When I'm flying, I basically am weightless. So - I never really thought that high winds would bother me."

She takes the cup of cocoa. She sips. "The cold doesn't bother me while my aura's up," she states as she releases her powers - now looking like a normal red-headed (and red-eyed) girl who finally shivers a bit. "Hmmmmph - look at me. Wanting to be an X-Man one day and struggling with wind." She shakes her head. "I just wanted to get some fresh air. Had a lot on my mind. It was my cousin's birthday today - but I don't know where he is. I haven't seen him in so many years I almost forgot."

Phoenix has posed:
"Naturally," Jean smirks at Ororo as Rift joins them inside for a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows. "I missed having you around, 'Ro," Jean says with a warm smile to Ororo's considerate assessment. It was usually Jean's default reaction to most anything, until that fateful space mission. There has been occasional anomalies sense, although Ororo may have missed out on them while she was vacationing. Either way, Jean says no more infront of Kitora.

"Thank you," she says softly when handed her cup, curling her fingers around it to warm up, taking in the sweet scent, and turning to look at Kitora, "I would think it best to be out and about in a weather such as this when you have someone to guide you. I would think being weightless makes you prone to being carried by the wind, is that not the case?"

Storm has posed:
"I missed being here," Ororo assurs Jean. "The Serengeti is beautiful this time of year, but it is not my home anymore. Not like the Institute is. But I needed to pay my respects and visit old friends, and bless the babies and the crops for the year. And then, I had to help dig the ditches for the new irrigation field." She flexes her arms a little. "It is a good workout, using a shovel," she says, without a trace of ire.

"Miss Alua, I think you and I should spend some time reviewing basics of flight," Ororo suggests in a kindly tone. "Perhaps tomorrow, after you've had some rest." She eyes the girl's clothes. "And a change of warm clothing might do you well. I do not want you to catch a chill and get sick," she admonishes her.

Rift has posed:
Rift nods. "Yes, Ms. Munroe. I guess I shouldn't have let go of my power, but I thought it was polite." She shivers. "I'll be fine. I'll go take a warm shower before going back to bed." She nods. "A flying lesson would be delightful. I look forward to it. Hopefully it will work well." She smiles. "Well - I should get going to bed." As she says this, she starts that eerie glow again and her shivering immediately stops.

Phoenix has posed:
"I missed having you here," Jean says warmly, taking a sip, and adding, "just like I missed your hot chocolate." She looks quite impressed at the mention of working the irrigation fields, laughing, "you put us all to shame, Ororo," she quiets down at the exchange between Rift and Ororo, and offers, "let me walk you to the dorms, Kitora," with the cup still in hand, she quips to Ororo, "I'm keeping this for now...I'll bring it back tomorrow. Thanks for the hot chocolate, and the lovely alignment of methods, goodnight Ororo, and welcome back."