9228/Sharks in a Kitchen

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Sharks in a Kitchen
Date of Scene: 17 September 2019
Location: Kitchen - Xavier's School
Synopsis: A terrifying friendship is forged, with some assistance of chocolate ice cream.
Cast of Characters: X-23, Samuel Morgan




X-23 has posed:
After having a suggestion to meet, Laura's decided the best place to do so is the kitchen. Food seems to have pleasant effects on many people. So the girl is there, waiting, dressed in black skinny jeans, black t-shirt, and black sneakers. Monochromatic is the order of the day. She's gone so far as to set out two glasses of juice. One for her, and one for the guest she's invited.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    When the invitation comes, it reminds Sam very much of those times when he was 'invited' to the base commander's office, or 'requested' to go see the sergeant of the guard in the Scorpion Pit. It even feels the same, with a member of staff escorting him from his room to the kitchen. The place of the meeting might mean several things, and he won't know which assumption is correct until he walks through the door.

    He's dressed in grey, except for cheap black sneakers. Most of it is clearly the kind of clothing issued to a prisoner, except for the Xavier hoodie that might be intended to disguise the origin of the rest. Juice is a good sign... especially in a place with so many knives around. Walking five paces into the kitchen proper, Sam comes to attention, looking just over Laura's right shoulder. "Reporting as requested, ma'am."

X-23 has posed:
    THAT gets an interested look from the girl, as she hears the reply. "At ease." THIS is a framework she knows, somewhat. While it wasn't her personal one, she grew up around enough guards to know basic military speak. "You are Sam. I am Laura." Not one for long wordiness, it would seem.

"Miss Grey tells me we should speak. Do you know why?"

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    The response is immediate. Arms fold behind his back, right wrist clasped in left hand, as Sam's right foot lift, his weight is shifted to that side and the foot comes crashing back down... parade rest, as befitting what may turn out to be a carpet parade. "No ma'am, but I can speculate."

X-23 has posed:
    "I am not your superior." Laura clarifies. "Please speculate. I have limited information so far." Her senses are giving Sam the once-over. And the twice-over, and maybe even the three-times-over. Committing his appearance to memory is only a basic. Checking his scent, and watching the way he moves will both tell her more than an ordinary person might be able to learn.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    It's hard not to notice that Sam's eyes have taken a quick scan around the room before even coming to attention, that he's looking over Laura's shoulder at a large pot behind her, checking his own 'six' in the reflection. He might stand at ease, but he's clearly not. "Miss Grey called me to talk about how I came to be here. I told her part of that story. She mentioned we should meet. I therefore surmise that we share similar pasts or similar difficulties. Or that we are both, similarly, considered to be dangerous to the other students."

X-23 has posed:
    "Both are true in my case." Laura agrees, matter-of-factly. "I assume you were raised in a military environment. And taught how to fight." He's already displayed more tactical awareness than most other students at the school. "It will be most efficient if I know what details you are willing to give." She both notes his checking and approves of it.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "HYDRA operational and subterfuge training." Sam begins, feeling none of the reservation he felt around Alek the day before... and yet he's practically certain that this young woman is far more like him than the friendly technopath. "Combat trained for hand to hand, knives and pistols. Secondary training in logistical and operational planning."

X-23 has posed:
    That actually gets a curl of Laura's lips in a faint smile. Given her lack of general emotional response, Sam likely has no idea how rare that is. "Good. Except for the HYDRA part. Defected?" she asks, watching him, and more, smelling. Looking for pheromonal tells from emotion.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "... That was the plan. Plan didn't work." The slight hesitation was preceded by a significant spike in Sam's heart rate, although it's rapidly coming back down. "SHIELD stopped me from bleeding out, didn't know what to do with me and just hung onto me for a few years. I've been told the deprogramming was likely successful."

X-23 has posed:
    Laura nods. "Abilities?" He wouldn't be here at Xavier's, given his background, unless he had them. Almost experimentally, she changes her stance slightly. It's closer to combat readiness, but it's also not something an amateur would notice. A slight tensing in the muscles, one foot a bit more forward, one a bit back. Just the slightest hints of it, to see how he reacts.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    A slight shuffle of his right foot, letting the left lead so his shoulder comes back ever so slightly. No overt response that an amateur would notice, but Sam's preparing for imminent violence, even if his expression remains utterly impassive. "They call me a technopath. My father called it cyberpathy. He was not good with english names."

X-23 has posed:
    Another smile, as she relaxes her stance again. "That is fine. Socialization?" She asks, and then clarifies "I assume you do not have experience with what most students would call "normal" social situations." She certainly doesn't. And if Jean wants her involved, it's likely he doesn't.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    Sam, for his part, does not relax at all. His heart rate has gone up again, and isn't coming down. It's as if he doesn't believe that the threat has ended. "Minimal. Just the team, the base personnel and the tutors. I can fake it most of the time." And now, for the first time, he looks directly at Laura. "I'm not aware of all my triggers."

X-23 has posed:
    "Then it is best that you keep contact minimal, and supervised." Laura seems to approve of the conversation. "I am also called X-23. I am a result of the Weapon X project." HYDRA likely has some info on the project, just as the Facility trained her with some basic info on HYDRA. "I was raised from birth as a living weapon. My combat training and capabilities exceed the vast majority of the school. But I had no social training. If Miss Grey wishes and you agree, I will shadow you. Our similar backgrounds may let me offer advice in social situations. And if you /are/ triggered, I am one of the best people at the school to deal with it."

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "I've heard of the project." Sam admits. There is, at this point, no reason in keeping anything back. Aside from Alek, Laura is probably the one person who will understand him best. "I was made for project Nightingale. It failed, most of the team is dead. And no offense to the rest of the staff, but you may be the only one I've seen so far who may be capable of stopping me." That, that right there, is high praise. "I also appreciate you not asking the obvious question outright."

X-23 has posed:
    "I trust Miss Grey's judgement completely." Laura says, simply. "And...you are likely correct." It's not hubris. It's fact. Laura knows she can outfight almost anyone at the school. "The instructors will likely want you to attend combat training with the other students. It will be laughably remedial. If you wish to spar, I will spar with you." She offers. "And I will do my best to offer what social insights I have learned." A pause, and then she adds "Ice cream is a good food for social bonding."

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "I haven't found a gym worthy of that name in the school." And now, after all this, Sam starts to relax. Even going so far as to move from the parade rest position, and stand normally. "Then we should have some ice cream, I think." Can't fault the logic.

    "I'd appreciate an opportunity to get some serious practice in, I haven't thrown a punch in over three days."

X-23 has posed:
    Laura nods, and opens the freezer, taking out a container of chocolate ice cream. "Then we will have ice cream. And then we will train. It will be pleasant to have an actual challenge." Laura states. The beginning of a beautiful (and terrifying) friendship.