8751/Eating More Crow

Eating More Crow
Date of Scene:	12 August 2019
Location:	Teacher's Lounge, Second Floor, Xavier's School
Synopsis:	Emma Frost has a visit from Elixir, who asks for her help. Elixir is surprised to find he and Emma Frost think a lot alike. Emma Frost has some advice for Elixir.
Cast of Characters:	Elixir, Emma Frost

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Elixir has posed:
Josh walked along the hallway toward the teacher's lounge at Xavier's and worries the inside of his cheek. Aside from the occasional bit of training or things like the mission to save the mutant caravan, he did not see Emma Frost much. They had left things at something of an awkward peace, at least from his point of view.

But walking down the hall to go see her now, he could not help but remembering her warnings that exactly this would happen. Well, should have listened. And given where he was at about the school as a whole... Maybe he should really have listened.

Josh runs a hand through his hair and lets himself into the teacher's lounge to find Emma. Josh has just finished some added training with the X-Men, he is now dressed in dark blue New York Health Department scrubs with his ID tags on when he comes in. Looking oddly gold coloured and shiny now.

"Uh, Ms. Frost?" Josh calls when he comes and looks around.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma has an interesting talent in how she deals with the people around her. Now, perhaps that's no surprise as a telepath, but here at Xaviers, that isn't precisely as large as an advantage as it is elsewhere in the world. Rather, there's something else in the nature of the woman that allows her to be accepted and even flourish, in a sense, among people who once counted her - with ample reason - as an enemy. In no way is this strange distinction more evident that her casual ease around the school. Working on prepping courses for the following semester, she's been around a fair bit of late, and seems totally at home in the lounge. She's just speaking with some other student when Josh arrives. "Don't worry, you'll be fine, dear," she tells the young woman, who leaves smiling.

Emma Frost, economics teacher is one thing. Emma Frost, unofficial student counselor is... a whole different matter!

"Oh, hello there, Joshua. Come in, come in. Mmm, back from work, are you? Want some coffee? I am going to make myself another cup." This is a particular concession on her part toward the 'school teacher' persona: it isn't quite appropriate to sit around sipping wine in front of the students, generally! In any event, she gestures toward one of the couches before turning to saunter over to the counter.

Elixir has posed:
"Just about to go," Josh says. He nods to the young woman. Josh himself is unsettled and frankly, a little off-balance to any telepath who desires to check. He is piecing back together his view of the world. And his strength has changed significantly. "Ah, thanks, coffee would be great. Um, black."

Josh looks about to go get the coffee for the two of them, and if anything Emma doing it makes him a little more uneasy. But he takes a seat on the couch and waits politely. He does not bother trying in vain not to look Emma's way when she walks toward the coffee maker. Past experience told him she would know he did or wanted to anyway. Then he turns his attention to the window and rubs his hands together while he waits.

Emma Frost has posed:
Of course, she wouldn't be Emma Frost if she didn't expect the best in every area of her life, including caffination: "They really ought to invest in some better equipment. I suppose an espresso machine is a little much to ask for, but a French press doesn't even take up much space." Still, despite this casual complaint, she goes ahead and sets the machine going, and turns to lean against the counter in the meanwhile, setting her hands on the edges. Whatever she senses from the young man, she gives no indication, her expression rather open and perhaps a little expectant. Clearly he's coming to talk, but one hardly needs to be a psychic to figure that much out. She gives him a moment, before she allows herself to 'bite.'

"So what's the matter, dear?" The question is posed innocently, as she might put it forward to any student who came in wanting to talk.

Elixir has posed:
Josh shifts in his seat as he waits. His attention snaps around to Emma when she speaks though. He might have coloured a little if gold coloured skin showed such things. Emma Frost was more than enough to set most young men back on their heels.

"Ah, I wanted to ask a favour... Which I know is like, well, I know how it sounds," Josh says and rubs the back of his neck and clears his throat. "Since I didn't really take your help before.

But, I...," Josh takes a breath and takes the plunge. "I Need some help with learning a few things quickly... And I don't really want to go to the Professor about it."

Certainly Charles had trained various X-Men quickly in any number of things for missions, transferring knowledge or putting people through months of learning in a matter of seconds.

Emma Frost has posed:
"Oh my, how does it sound?" Emma echoes back, having just a little fun it seems, with the slightest shadow of a smile on her lips. "I'll give you one piece of advice right off, dear, and that is that it's never a good strategy to start off a meeting by undermining yourself. Confidence is important in negotiation, in... well everything."

"But I am a teacher and that means I'm here to help guide all of you into the future, yes?" The woman drops the intentionally suggestive drawl here to sound a bit more, well, normal and teacher-ly. She glances back to check the machine, and then turns again to find another cup from the cupboard above. For a few moments, she stands with her back to him, prouring, before again turning about and striding over with the two steaming cups held, one-per hand. "Here we are."

After handing it over, she moves to sit down beside him, careful with the cup. White stains so easily!

"Well, that sort of thing is possible, yes, although the specifics depends a great deal on what you want to learn. Pure, encyclopedic style knowledge is easy. It's just raw data. More comprehensive skills can involve broader neurological systems or specialized portions of the brain." She waves a free hand. "But I suppose it isn't the details you're curious about. What sort of knowledge this that you're looking for, and I suppose I should wonder... why not ask the good Professor, or Jean? Something you don't want them to know you know?"

Elixir has posed:
Josh smiles gamely at the correction, then purses his lips and nods. He is the supplicant here and knows. Not good for negotiations indeed.

Thanks," he says to Emma when she hands him his coffee. Her choice of seating positions makes him shift just a little.

Josh looks over at his previous mentor and benefactor. "I don't really trust them," Josh says with a frown. "It's not even something sketchy, I just... don't trust them. Or want them to know that from digging around in my head."

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma seems to take this in consideration a moment, taking the opportunity to lean back comfortably in her own seat and sip at the coffee. "I should point out the obvious, in that if any one of us really wants to go digging around in there... there's really nothing to stop us. Not for most people, at any rate. And I've never really trusted that Xavier doesn't keep a far closer eye on everyone than he admits." She gives a little shrug. "Nor should the kind of procedure you're talking about really require a lot of rummaging about. But I understand. There's some... vulnerability that comes with opening up."

One finger taps lightly at the lip of her cup.

"What sort of knowledge? The other obvious caveat is that the whole thing requires someone with whatever knowledge you're looking for in the first place," she points out, whether it's really necessary or not. "So you'd have to have someone you're willing to trust in that regard. But beyond those little facts, there's nothing too difficult about any of it, in principle."

Elixir has posed:
"Yeah, it wouldn't surprise me if he did keep close tabs on us," Josh admits with a bit of a grimace. His feelings are beyond simple distrust. There is a real distaste. "Not that any telepaths would ever read someone's mind without permission. That would be unethical."

Josh's thoughts turn to Samantha, a young woman a couple years younger than him that he dated at Xaviers. She is a telepath and spoke often about consent and permission. And read his thoughts anyway.

"Ah, I can get someone for the first thing; I need to learn Spanish. I'll have to dig around a bit... The second is a lot about medicine, biology and genetics. It really helps what I do... And I think I can do a lot more than understand. Which is kinda freaky," Josh says. A genuine concern. "And I barely have time to sleep much less do all my course work for pre-med," he admits. "Which I know the Professor or Jean or whoever would just give me some speech about hard work or whatever. But dying kids in Pediatrics don't have time for me to build character."

Emma Frost has posed:
"That's the nature of power," Emma is quick to point out. "One can agree not to abuse it, but that is always a rather one-sided deal, an act of benevolence on the part of the powerful, a willing concession more than an enforceable contract... and one that is easily withdrawn." Again, she makes a sort of breezy swish with her free hand through the air, as if representative of how easily such morals are thrown aside. "We define the 'good guys' and 'bad guys' in relation to this, but it's still all rather relative, isn't it? No one ever minds if I scramble some sleazeball's mind to jelly or pluck the dastardly plans from his skull."

For all the ethical discussion, however, his actual request seems to strike her as fairly mundane. "Oh, is that all?" She smiles. "I speak a number of languages but it would be better to have a native speaker, absolutely. Language is located in the frontal cortex, so its far more... mechanical? Than one imagines. Far more than just memorizing vocabulary. The medical knowledge, well, that's a very broad topic." While she doesn't touch on the hypothetical 'hard work' complaint, she instead wonders: "Why do you need any of that for helping dying children, though? If we're talking about power, after all."

Elixir has posed:
Josh looks thoughtful for a moment. He looks around and sees a small potted plant by the coffee maker that looks like it could have used a bit more care and attention. He sets his mug down on the coffee table and fetches the plant.

"When I first got my powers, I didn't know what the hell I was doing," Josh says. He waves a hand that glows with a golden aura. The plant greens and blossoms. "And like, that caused some problems. Cause some things need to be healed carefully, and all that."

Josh focuses for a moment. The gold aura around his hand flickers and turns black. The plant withers and dies. It takes a bit longer for him to work back to the gold again.

"Then I realized, I'm not really healing. I'm like, molding life. And the more I know, the more carefully I can do it," Josh explains. The plant comes back to life but the leaves have a different shape and the flowers are blue instead of orange.

"I think I can change whatever I want. And it's easier when I know what I'm doing, it doesn't make me so tired, so I can do more," Josh explains. He tilts his head and looks at the plant for a moment.

"I used to havr to touch things. But I feel them now," he muses. Then he looks back to Emma. The plant's leaves turn pure white and the glow fades. "I can feel the genes. I know what they are cause I've been studying. But I could do a lot more if I knew more. More carefully."

Emma Frost has posed:
While Emma will certainly watch the whole demonstration with interest, it seems that she catches onto the gist of what he's trying to explain much more quickly. "Ah yes. I was just having a conversation like this the other day, in fact. I suppose I didn't really know the how of what you did, but in that context, it makes sense. And I agree. Where knowledge serves to improve our powers... Well, there's a reason my company is doing a fair bit of neuroscience research." It hardly seems like she needs any convincing of the rest.

"Of course, mundane knowledge can be dreadfully... well, mundane. So much of what we do already excedes anything present science is capable of. In your case..." And here she finally seems to consider the plant with more care, particularly in its final transformation. "It would seem like genetics would be the truly important part, while most of what would be required for a medical degree - all of the anatomy and procedure - would still be rather useless to you, outside whatever middling value it would have in achieving civillian accreditation." She shrugs at that point, as if it is neither here nor there. "At any rate, you'd want a proper expert in that field at least. For the rest, I imagine almost any doctor would do, as so much of that would be for show."

Elixir has posed:
Josh nods while he listens to Emma, finding himself quite in line with how she thinks. He tilts his head and considers Emma for a moment.

"That's what I was thinking," Josh says finally. "There're hoops I gotta jump through to do what I want because it's their world. But I was /dead/ two days ago. Stabbed through the head dead for hours. And now I'm not. And I can make other dead things alive again," Josh says and gestures to the plant.

"Sitting around reading textbooks isn't the best use of my time..."

Josh considers for a moment, looking at the plant. "I know some people I could convince to help, from work and the Avengers Medical staff. I'd ask Dr. McCoy... But I don't think he's go for it. He's a lot like the Professor."

"I'm stoked you can do it, and get it. I didn't know how what you'd think," Josh says. He looks back to Emma with a bit of wry smile. "So I guess the real question is, how do I get you to want to?"

Emma Frost has posed:
"On that, we agree. There is no sense pretending we are any less than we are, especially when it comes to things that are already well... so far beneath us. You wasting the years it takes normal med students studying to learn something just to play pretend sounds particularly inane." Indeed, of the last, Emma's tone is almost mocking, deriding. As for any revelation of his expanding powers and their scope, she hides any surprise, but instead speaks to reinforce an earlier point: "Power is a gift. And you are truly gifted, of that there is little doubt.

When it comes around to Hank, however, she's quick to shake her head. "Anyone from the core teaching staff here is a poor idea. The original generation of them, well- they're indebted to Xavier, and that makes it hard for any of them to ever see any kind of flaw. If its necessary, I am sure I could find a top-rank geneticist in the private sector, but still, it is no doubt better if you find someone you trust personally, if at all possible."

And then there's the final question, to which her answer may be more surprising. "Joshua, dear, didn't I say I am here to help? The fact that you trust me enough to ask, particularly in some of their stead, well... that's already quite flattering." Then, setting the coffee cup aside, she holds up both her hands. "And I'm not out to seduce, manipulate anyone into my clutches any more. Some of that, well... none of us are perfect, hmm? Not even me."

"But most of the students are happy here, that much is obvious to me. And if it ever changes? Well, I'll -still- be happy to help."

Elixir has posed:
Josh smiles a bit at Emma's unabashed opinion, expressed in terms he would probably not dare to.

"I'm really grateful you're willing to help," Josh says, genuinely if still a bit uncertain.

"I'll track down the people I need, between the hospital and the Avengers medical staff, I actually know some really good people. Who want to see what I can do... And hopefully not try to lock me in a lab somewhere," he adds.

Josh exhales. "Is it hard to stick around here?" Josh asks Emma. "I mean... I'm okay with the child soldier thing... Or how they get them before they're old enough to even think for themselves and then act so surprised when hey, they want to be New Mutants or X-Men. It's like the Church of Human Potential and the Reavers... Except we're the good guys of course," Josh says dryly. He makes a face. "I've been staying on the team because I think some of what they're doing is good, even if I don't like the school. But if I ever did decide I was done... It's nice to know there's be someone I can still talk to."

Emma Frost has posed:
"Frowning very much on anyone putting us in labs I think is something that even Xavier and I can see fully eye to eye on," Emma points out, with a suitable air of cool menace. But it's not a point she lingers on. Nor does she verbally add Magneto to the list, even though he'd certainly also qualify!

Talking school philosophy, of course, proves a much more complicated topic. "Everything I said about power earlier, as much as its ultimately our choice and no one else's how to use it, the other side of that coin is that, at least in most cases, no single one of us is so powerful we can afford to ignore the world around us. So there's always going to be a process of picking sides, of tribes, factions - that's the history of human nature, back to its very earliest."

"And given the way the world views us, we'd be fools not to learn to defend ourselves, to organize and pursue our interests. I can hardly claim superiority over Xavier in that regard - I taught my students the same things, and... on track record alone, he's done the better job." This is one of those few moments where Emma gives a hint of some emmotion that is not well curated and controlled, a brief flash of regret. "But teaching the how and the why or what for... are somewhat different matters. I would hope that no one here ever feels stifled in how they're allowed to think, or limits their vision of their own future based on some model here. It's why I have my company, and why you should learn everything you can about what you can do, discover just how far you can take it. It's good to have friends, but you should never defer your own potential on their behalf."

Elixir has posed:
Josh looks thoughtful while Emma speaks. He catches that one look but does not know the enigma of a woman well enough to say anything.

"I need to pick my team, make my own plays," Josh nods slowly. "And keep my head up. Cause if I'm not calling the next play, someone else will."

"Thanks, Ms. Frost," Josh says, appreciatively. "I should have come to you sooner. I owe you, for the learning thing and just... For this. If it's cool, I like, won't be such a stranger. I'm starting to get my shit together... I was stupid last year, but I'm learning."

Emma Frost has posed:
"That's a good way to put it, yes," Emma agrees. Now, she smoothly rises, picking up the two surely empty by now cups as she goes. "And good advice for life in general. Someone is always going to be in control, after all." Taking the cups back across to the little kitchenette area, although she just leaves them some others. Making coffee is one thing, cleaning up? She definitely is used to having people for that!

Leaving the topic of any favors owed uncommented on, even if it is certainly something that she will remember, the woman continues on in her somewhat breezy fashion. "Of course I'll be very happy to see you around. I'm glad you've taken this kind of interest and initiative... It's a good side to you." The young man is rewarded with a smile for that, something she knows has a value all its own. "Let me know when you've found whoever you'd like to use. The actual process shouldn't be terribly difficult."

Elixir has posed:
Josh rises and smiles, really smiles, for the first time. He may not realize it, but he wants to please, and to please this woman he respects but does not understand specifically. Much more so than the Professor or Jean.

"Thanks, Ms. Frost," he says with a grin. "I uh, won't use up more of your time," the young mutant says and runs a hand through his hair. "I'll be in touch soon."

Josh glances at the plant on the coffee table with its white as snow leaves and pale blue flowers. "Looks better like that," he says with a grin. "Have a good night, Ms. Frost." And with that he makes his way out of the staff lounge. Outside, Josh smiles more freely, feeling relieved, pleased and encouraged.