9260/A Week of Freedom

A Week of Freedom
Date of Scene:	19 September 2019
Location:	Kitchen - Xavier's School
Synopsis:	Samuel and Shannon celebrate his first week at the school with some lasagna. Many friends join in, and Samuel is shown he is not alone.
Cast of Characters:	Nightingale, Samuel Morgan, Cannonball, Moonstar, Cypher, Shadowcat, Isotope, Pixie

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Nightingale has posed:
     It had been a week of many firsts for the newest of the students at Xaviers. There had been a lot of new friends made, new experiences, and maybe--just maybe--the first real hint of hope in a lifetime that has so far been all too short. One of those new friends was in the kitchen, her arms sheathed in oven mitts up to her elbows, and pulling a large, deep pan out of the oven, to set on a trivet on the counter to cool. Shannon hums a little as she closes the oven and shuts it off, smiling. Oh yes, this was going to be so good!

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    Being requested to go somewhere when the routine doesn't need you to be there is always fraught with anxiety. With a few recent exceptions, Sam has never been called somewhere for something good, and last time he was asked to go into the kitchen he met perhaps the most dangerous being on the entire campus. So it's a bit of a surprise when he can smell cooking in the hallway before he enters, knocking just once and then marching in, coming to attention in the exact same spot as when he met Laura. "Samuel Morgan, reporting as ordered... Oh, hi." Yup. Come to attention first, check who asked you to come in after. Now he's standing there, unsure if he should relax or stay at attention until dismissed...

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon chuckles softly, not quite sure just what he's been through to be treating her like she's some drill instructor, but shrugging, she goes along with it for a moment. "At ease. It's just me." She peers into the hallway, to make sure there's a staffer nearby; sure enough, just outside the door, there they were, keeping a discreet eye on the entire encounter. "This recipe always makes way too much, and I had no idea how long it's been since you've had a decent piece of lasagna. Want to join me for some?"

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "About four months, but you'd have to stretch the definition of decent." Sam replies in an instant, relaxing from the rigid posture and becoming nearly himself again. Nearly. Many knives about, after all. "Just after I'd gone back on relaxed regime. So I'd very much like some, thank you."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon grins and gets two plates and forks, cutting a sizeable piece of lasagna for both. There's cheese, cheese, and--you guessed it--more cheese, little strings of it stretching out between the lasagna and the pan as she serves out. "We're definitely going to need to add on an extra mile on our morning run for this, but it'll be soooo worth it!" Giggling softly, she tilts her head as she peers over at Samuel. "It's been about how long since you've been here? A week now? I'd say that's worth celebrating."

Samuel Morgan has posed:
Samuel finds himself a seat at the kitchen island, contemplating the lasagna with all evidence of relish. "Mile and a half, but I'm sure it's worth it." Picking up the knife and fork, handling the knife with extra care, he helps himself to a mouthful, closing his eyes for a moment. "Just about a week, yeah. So, is this a prize for making it a full seven days?"

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon laughs. "That, and well... hey, what can I say, I like spoiling my friends a little bit, just because I can." Turning towards the fridge, she hums a little bit to herself, opening the door. "Want a soda or something to go with that?" For herself, she gets a bottle of root beer--and it's not diet. A laugh escapes her and shakes her head. "Yeah, add on another half mile for this, too."

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "I'll have a sealed bottle of water, please." Because yes, Sam is now eating something he hasn't seen someone else eat first, clearly trusting Shannon enough not to poison him, but there are some lines he's not yet ready to cross. "I'm... happy you want to consider me a friend."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon nods, and just smiles warmly, reaching in for a bottle of water. It is, of course, sealed, but she lets Samuel check it for himself. She sets it down by his plate on the counter, and climbs onto her own stool. "Why wouldn't I?" She takes a bite of the lasagna herself, looking as if she's in heaven.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    As before, Sam checks the seal by running his fingers around the cap before cracking it, cutlery laid perfectly perpendicular in the lower quadrant of his plate while he does. It's an oddly cultured gesture, one that would look more at home at a fancy dinner than sit down meal of lasagna in the kitchen. "Friends are hard to come by."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon smiles faintly, a hint of shadows in her eyes as she contemplates this. "Yeah they are. The ones you think are true, can sometimes leave you in the dust when the going gets rough." Silence reigns for a moment, but for the light clinking of her fork on the plate as she tucks into her piece of lasagna, her brows furrowing in thought. "But sometimes, that's not such a bad thing. It just leaves room for true friends, ones that'll back you up 110% no matter what. People that you can trust with your heart and your life, and vice versa."

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "Some friendships are based on duplicity. They never last, not longer than the reason for the friendship at any rate." Yeah, Sam's full of happy little facts like that. But for someone who was literally raised to lie to people, it's hard to see the good in humanity. "This is good lasagna. Where'd you learn how to cook like this?"

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon giggles, her eyes twinkling merrily. "It was a matter of survival. My dad's a mortician, and death doesn't care about dinner plans. My mom... bless her, she can pretty much burn water. That left me to learn how to cook. Besides, being homeschooled, it was the perfect chance to pick up a little bit of science. Oh trust me, I made plenty of mistakes--and still do!" She tilts her head, listening to that little nugget of wisdom. "Doesn't sound like much of a friendship, then, if that's the case."

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "It doesn't, does it?" And it seems that Sam is leaving it at that, having practically inhaled the lasagna without ever making it look like he was actually hungry. "And don't knock the ability to burn water, that's harder than you think."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon's eyes go wide as she sees just how fast that lasagna disappeared. "Holy crow... I have never seen anybody put away lasagna that fast before! Sheesh, did you forget to eat today or something?" She peers over at him with concern, brows furrowed, and forgetting about her own meal at the moment.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    For a moment, there is a look of guilt, of being caught at something that Sam was sure he'd been hiding perfectly... and then, when the last of the lasagna is gone, he puts his cutlery down again, side by side on the lower right quadrant of his plate, and contemplates his answer while looking at his bottle of water. "The... When I... Breakfast was too loud, this morning. Same at lunch, everyone just talking away, it was just... too much."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon raises her eyebrows and nods, understanding. "Social stuff can be a real pain, can't it? Most times, like meals and everything, it's not too bad. To an extent, I can sometimes tolerate parties, but that takes a lot. I like it like this sometimes, just really talk to people and get to know them. No noise, no bull, just getting to know someone and learn to be their friend." She nibbles on her lasagna a bit. "If you haven't eaten much, then maybe another piece would be okay?"

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "Thank you, but no. We have to leave some for the others." Even now, Sam is still a team player, while understanding very well what Shannon is saying. "It's strange, y'know? I was supposed to go to parties, host parties, mix with high society... all when I was older, of course, but still. This morning I couldn't even deal with a dozen teenagers having cereal."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon nods, and smiles ruefully, nudging her plate towards the center of the island counter, where both of them can reach it. "I know how that feels. I shadowed Josh Foley to a big charity function for the Salem Center hospital and well, it was pretty overwhelming. I was really glad for some quiet when I got back here." She grins a bit sheepishly. She and Sam-bean seem to be enjoying what appears to be some very fresh lasagna, chatting companionably at the center island counter. "So I kind of know a little bit of how it is."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie comes walking in from the back yard. Sam is in a pair of old jeans and one of his old lila t-shirts. He is carrying a basket full of different veggies. He looks over to the two "Hey there." And walks over to set the veggies next to the sink and wash his hands.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    Sam the Younger, also Bean, appreciates the gesture and helps himself to just a little bit more lasagna from Shannon's plate. "Something to work on for both of us then." And then Sam enters, and other Sam's eyes flash to the large pot over Shannon's shoulder to check the reflection of whoever is at the door, only relaxing when he identifies Cannonball. He's surprised to note that, when he looks down, he has already instinctively reversed his grip on the knife. "Oh."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon grins and waves at Sam the elder, waving at him. "Hey you... looks like you've been pretty busy! Want to join us for some lasagna? Celebrating one week of Techno's new life here." The lasagna pan has had two decent-size chunks taken out of it already. "Besides... -someone- forgot to eat...."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks over and notices the knife, but does not bring it up. He smiles and says "Might in a minute, but I think I might start with a salad. he washes the veddgies that he is going to use before starting to work on his salad "So, how are you two today?

Samuel Morgan has posed:
Samuel puts the knife down. Carefully. He's not going to mention it if nobody else is, for which he's currently immensely relieved. Relieved and grateful. "It's pretty good. Best I've eaten, that's for sure."

Nightingale has posed:
If Shannon saw anything, she certainly isn't saying a word about it, nor giving any outward hint that she saw something amiss. She does, however, blush at the compliment to her cooking, actually bringing her wings around in front of her face. "Thanks... but like I said, cooking was a matter of survival. So I figured, might as well get good at it."

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "See, here's the thing..." Techno-Sam begins, leaning back a bit in his seat, actually smiling now. "When we get forced to do something because of survival, or necessity, there's two ways to respond. One is to get just good enough at something to survive. Another is to embrace it, and to make it part of you, growing out of the opportunity. That takes dedication, and that's something to be proud of."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie smiles and says "See it must be a Sam things words of Wisdom all over the place." He grins a bit over at the two and joins them with his salad, and says "Most things she does turn out great."

Nightingale has posed:
Now the tips of Shannon's ears are turning red, and she ducks her head. For all she's come out of her shell since her brief time at the school, she apparently still does not take compliments very well. "Just don't ask me to make parsley mousse with chive sauce. That. Is. Awful." She rolls her eyes and giggles. "I still haven't lived that cooking flop down at home."

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    Sam looks at Sam, with a nod. "Must be, and I haven't seen Shannon do anything that hasn't turned out great." He also suspects that other Sam does the same thing for the same reason, which means there are some questions that need to be asked at some point. "Cooking flop? It can't be worse than my last attempt at boiling an egg. The kitchen actually caught fire."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie hmms and says "Ok, Shannon, might draft you into TAing a classs next year maybe can get Remy to teach it. Probably a few folks here who could use some home ec classes. A lot of us do stay around after graduation, but not all. Heck, some of the ones who are out and about might even pop back in for some hints.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon raises her eyebrows, lowering her wings so she can peer at both gentlemen over the leading edge. "You're kidding, right? Excuse the pun, but most of the time I wing it. Not exactly the greatest person to have be a TA." Still, by the tilts of her head, and her slightly distant gaze for the moment, the gears in her head are turning. Scary.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "I can't speak for Cannonball, but I'm being entirely serious." Bean comments, crossing his arms with a smile. "At some point I'm going to have to learn to cook, and that kitchen had better be fireproof for the first few attempts."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie says, "Ah can cook somewhat but Ah sorta had to help back home, with as many of us as there was, mom put us al to work at different things."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon seems to consider this, her wings lowering bit by bit till her face is completely uncovered. "Well... okay, maybe I could try teaching you a few things. Wouldn't start you out on the stove, but maybe a few of the steps leading up to it. And don't let Cannonball here fool you. Holy hell, he is -good-!"

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "All things start at the beginning." And that probably means that Sam knows he has a lot to learn, and is willing to learn it. "I don't want to run a restaurant, just... you know, not accidentally poison myself. It's either learn how to cook or eat MRE's for the rest of my life. Ever had those? Three lies for the price of one."

Moonstar has posed:
Hearing voices in the kitchen, Dani decides to take a peak, and see who was there. Wearing a white shirt with "Keane Hopes and Fears" written on it, well worn blue jeans, knee high brown leather boots that look comfy, and her headband of course, with two ponytails trailing down her back. Looking around the corner, she looks around, and spies who was there. Safe to enter!

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie is sitting at the island counter with the other two. They are eating lasagna, he is munching a salad. "There are a few dishes Ah learned to cook, and keeping it down to just a few dishes, Ah do ok. Ma's chicken Ah had to learn to do right if Ah wanted a taste of home, and following ma's recipe was easy to get good chicken out of it. he looks over and seeing Dani "Hey Chief."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon glances up at the doorway and smiles, wiggling a wing at Dani, and raising a forkful of lasagna in salute. "Hey there! Come on in and grab a plate, the lasagna's nice and fresh!" She glances at Samuel to gauge how he's reacting to the presence of someone entirely new to him.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
Samuel turns in his seat, after spotting Dani's reflection in the pot behind Shannon. There's a smile on his face that doesn't quite reach his eyes, pushing his plate away from him and then keeping his hands in view of both Sam and Shannon, resting them seemingly casually on the counter top in front of him. "Hi, don't believe we've met."

Cypher has posed:
"You know," Doug says, "Nobody in *our* class liked to cook. I mean, I'm good at a lot of things, but I tried making spaghetti once and the sauce was so bad even Lockheed wouldn't eat it--" Doug says, from the doorway. "How exactly DID we eat because I don't remember Xavier and Magneto hiring a cook back then." He's leaning against the doorway, with his arms crossed.

Moonstar has posed:
Smiling at Sam G, Dani says, "Hi Sam. I see everyone is having something to eat." Her tummy grumbles. "Well now, it seems I am hungry as well. Only had an apple today, so maybe that's why." With a slight wave to Shannon, "That sounds good. Is it vegetarian lasagna? Or regular?" Heading over to the fridge, she looks inside, and gets an intense look of concentration on her face. It is a tough decision...what to drink...

Grabbing a bottle of something with strawberries and kiwi on the label, Dani closes the fridge, and turns to face Samuel. "Right. I don't think we have met. I'm Dani. Nice to meet you." She smiles over at Doug as he continues, and tosses him a wink, supporting his story. "The good old days..."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon smiles a little bit sheepishly at Dani. "Regular lasagna, not vegetarian. Sorry about that. That's one thing I'm actually not quite sure how to make." She giggles softly, getting up to get Dani a plate with a piece of lasagna on it; if she doesn't eat it, no doubt someone else will! "You sure the apple was for you or Brightwind? He's gotten really spoiled, you know."

Sam-bean gets a chuckle and a grin from her, and she shakes her head. "Only once. Didn't taste too bad, but the thing must've had enough salt in it to last two lifetimes. You'll be better off learning how to cook, if only for your own health. We can always start with basic kitchen tool skills and work up from there."

To Doug, she wiggles her wing, and calls out, "Hey you... come on in, pull up a stool and have some lasagna with us! We're celebrating Samuel's first week with us. And there's more lasagna than we can eat alone!"

"Hey, don't knock a taste of home there," she calls out to Sam. "That chicken is seriously good stuff, and I -still- have to learn how to make it from you!"

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    It's probably just a throwaway comment, possibly even the set up to a joke, but for Sam the Younger, it's a sudden red flag. Magneto. Here. His mind reels back to yesterday's morning run, and Shannon's assurance that things would make sense in future, that he would be told things that would make everything make sense. And here he is, all of a sudden surrounded by people, outnumbered four to one, and being casually told that Magneto used to walk around freely in this place. This place with the training facilities in the basement.

    Still smiling, Sam-Bean casually picks up his plate and cutlery, and walks around the kitchen island to the sink. "One week, and nobody died. Apparently seven days is worth lasagna." When he puts the cutlery down in the sink, he does not put away the knife...

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks over and says "Dani here was one of the students when Ah first came along, and has recently came back from being away a bit. Dani, this is Sam, Sam is our newest student here at the school just started as Shannon said last week, but is doing pretty good getting accustomed to the way of things and did pretty well in his first danger room session.

Moonstar has posed:
"Oh, that is fine then. Either one is okay, I think. I'll try it!" Dani takes the plate, with a "Thanks!" She grabs a fork, and shakes her head. "Oh, the apple was for me. He's got his fair share too!" A small laugh and a bite of the lasagna. "It's good! Thank you!" Looking sideways at Samuel, Dani munches slowly, but doesn't comment.

"That was so long ago Sam! I was away, and hope I'm back to stay." Dani looks over at CB. Then at the other Sam. "Wow, that is going to be hard. Nice to meet you Sam #2." Looking back at Sam G, another smile. "Lots of new faces."

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty Pryde walks up behind Doug. "Cereal, Doug. Lots, and lots of cereal," she says in a warm voice, and a grin. The aforementioned burnt spaghetti sauce-refusing dragon is riding shotgun on her shoulder. "Speaking of, I was thinking I might grab myself a bowl of Cap'n Crunch. Or is there something already made?" Kitty asks, peering over Doug's shoulder towards the kitchen.

She glances down at Doug's arm, giving it a little nudge. "How's the arm doing?" she asks him in a voice quiet enough to make it a little more private of a question.

Kitty's wearing jeans, with a tank top and then a Cubs jersey that hangs open. The jersey is number 23, and has the name Sandberg on the back. She's been hanging around the rec room during Cubs games when she's around, of late.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon is not blind to the fact that Sam #2 has not put away his knife, and she coughs a little bit, shaking her head ever so slightly. She does smile to Kitty and Sam #1 briefly, with a quick 'help me out here' look to both. And yes, there is something already made on the counter--a still-warm pan of lasagna, filling the room with all sorts of savory smells. "Cereal or lasagna. Or whatever."

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "There's some pretty epic lasagna." Sam-Bean comments as he washes his plate, looking at Kitty via a reflection on a nearby surface. "Courtesy of master chef Shannon, you should try it, it's amazing." That makes five versus one, his odds aren't improving.

    "Pleasure to meet you too, I'm sure. And don't believe Kanonenkugel, we just did a basic obstacle run. Should have seen the mud on me afterwards."

Cypher has posed:
"I'm afraid this time I have to decline." Doug says, "Because today is absolutely not a cheat day which means it's salmon and brown rice for this guy, who has no powers that jack up his metabolism. So I watch my carb intake." Doug says, before he hops up to sit on the counter. "But freeze me some and I will absolutely have it *on* cheat day, which is tomorrow." He looks over at Samuel, and says, "It was -- a long time ago, in the metaphorical sense. Professor Xavier and the X-Men were... gone, for a little while, and there was nobody to look after us. Magneto did it as a favor to him. He wouldn't be welcome here so casually now. Not the way he's behaving. Though really, in a way, as I understand it I was the last straw."

He extends his techno-organic hand out for the knife. "Please?" He asks, his eyebrows going up.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks over and says "Ah think the local Big Belly Burger should be paying for a scholarship here as well, as much as burgers, and fries were on the menu." He jokes a bit at the others. He will look over to Doug, and says "Some fresh veg in the fridge just brought them in, might not be cool yet, but pretty good salad mix. He will add in "You know Doug, and this is Kitty and Lockheed, Kitty this is Sam, our new student here.

Moonstar has posed:
Looking towards Doug, and now Kitty, Dani pushes her fork into her lasagna, puts it in her mouth, and chews. In between bites, a kind of, "Oh, hey Kitty" comes out, but it was garbled a bit. Hopefully it sounds like that to everyone? At least the food didn't go everywhere. Grabbing her fruit drink, she takes a swig, and swallows. Looking at Doug and seeing the nudge Kitty gives him, Dani takes that as private, so looks elsewhere.

"Shannon's lasagna is pretty good if you are hungry, Kitty. Sam's right." Dani nods at Samuel and her voice is clearer now. Then, she watches Doug holding out his hand, and sees his arm. Not a twinkle of emotion passes across it, as she hides her feelings. For now.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "Charles Xavier knows the X-men?" It's as much a question as it is an exclamation for Sam-Bean, looking at himself in the reflection of the sink. "Of course he does... Xavier, X-men... brilliant deductive reasoning there." With a sigh, he hands the knife over to Doug, handle first. Seems he even took the trouble to clean it. "I take it eventually someone was going to tell me that?"

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty Pryde moves further into the room. The mouth-full greeting from Dani garners a chuckle and smile from Kitty. "Hey Dani, looks interesting, though I admit I've never had much of a taste for it, though appreciate the work that went into making it." Says the hopeless cook. "The cheese just never really appealed to me much."

Kitty turns her attention to Samuel, as does the small purple dragon on her shoulder. Lockheed peers over at Samuel, and down at the knife, his head tilting to the side as he picks up on it sooner than Kitty does. "Hello Samuel. Saw something on you come through. I'm one of the guidance counselors. Though part-time. I have a job in the city." Kitty lets out a small sigh. "And the commute has been much worse of late," she says.

She glances between Doug and Samuel-Bean. "Eric... Magneto... was a friend of the Professor's. They differ on a number of things. But, for all that we've fought, we've also cooperated too. Sometimes life is like that," Kitty says. Her fingers unconsciously go to her necklace, toying with the Star of David hanging from it which figured prominently in her own past with the man.

Nightingale has posed:
     "Oh, for pity's sake...!!!" Those huge, feathered wings come up to hide Shannon's face again, mostly, though she peeks over the edge at everyone. "It's just a pan of freaking lasagna, for god's sake. Nothing major." She turns her attention towards getting Doug a piece of lasagna, putting it in a small plastic container to freeze for tomorrow, with his name on it. "Yeah, Sam... remember when I said there were things I wasn't sure how much I was at liberty to say? You're starting to hear some of it. Magneto... from what very little I've seen, would appear to be someone of very deep feeling, and a fairly complex individual. On one hand are some of the stories no doubt floating around about him. On the other, I saw someone who was the first one to honor a fallen young man during a Sentinel attack. It's difficult to know what to make of someone like that sometimes."

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "And I'm very much in need of guidance and, so I've been told, quite a bit of counseling. Pleasure to meet you." Sam the Younger is nothing if not polite, even when he's just been caught in quite the compromising situation. "I kind of wished I had made a better first impression."

    Doug, Shannon, Sam, Dani, they each get a look in turn, and then Sam leans against the sink while watching the room, happy now that his back is no longer to a door. "Let's say that for the moment I'm happy to listen to what you all have to say, before I make up my mind. Most of you have earned that much courtesy, at least."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks over and says "Well, now that some of the school info has been let out of the bag." He smirks a bit at Doug "Yes, the school has connections with the x-men, and if you wish to one day be part of the team it is a possibility, but it is not a requirement. As Ah said, we are here to help people learn how to use their abilities and find their place in the world. If that is one day to be an X-man cool if it is to go out and do something different with your abilities cool or finding a place somewhere in the middle also good. When we came to the school our original goals was just teaching us how to use our abilities and finding our place in society. Heroing was to be off limits, well we did not listen to well on that part. Now it is more a choice left up to the student, we want you to find your place, and yes your case is a bit of a special one cause of your background. You will be watched a bit more, but also offered more aid in adjusting if your willing to talk about it and take it. Part of our goal with you will not be only to help you find where you fit in, but also to make sure it is Sam's choice of where to fit in, not one that others have forced on you.

Cypher has posed:
Doug furrows his brow. "As for the X-Men, that's complicated. They have assisted Professor Xavier in a number of ways... and helped him develop the powers training regimens we use. They would occasionally step in and look after us... it was repayment of a favor they owed him." This is all one hundred percent true, if a creative use of language.

He curls his fingers around the knife. "He is -- he can be -- very forceful. Domineering. He's used to being obeyed and he's good at eliciting obedience. If you -- or any of us -- were in danger, we'd have no fiercer defender. But..." Doug rolls his eyes, "Some of his past girlfriends aside, he no longer considers himself, or any of us as the same species as Homo Sapiens, and he believes we are the superior life form. He'll behave accordingly, and you can't ever forget it."

Isotope has posed:
     Clack, clack, clack, clack. Brian started to approach the kitchen, hankering for a snack.

  The young man was wearing his containment suit, metal gauntlets and boots with a black UM material underneath. He holds out his arm while he walks, his right hand trying to manipulate something on the gauntlet. "I gotta get this damn thing fixed..." He says, motioning like he is about to punch at the device. "Hey everyone." He bids, not really noticing who was gathered. He was trying to quench his thirst after all.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    For a few seconds, Sam's eyes are tracking someone through the hallway wall, just before Brian enters. At this point, while his subconscious is still processing the odds against him, most of his mental faculties are processing the information he's getting from Doug and the other Sam.

    "I'll spare you the opinions I've heard on the matter, I'm sure you've heard them all." It's getting harder to focus, the room getting crowded despite the space he has near him. "I don't know what I think about all this just now, it's... Something I'm going to have to consider." And finally, he looks over to Brian, as if irritated by something. "Can I help you with that? It's shrieking like a banshee, and my head already hurts."

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty Pryde watches Doug take the knife. "We can definitely talk, Samuel. Or do you prefer Sam?" she asks him. Kitty gets a bowl from the cabinet, though she keeps glancing over, not pulling her attention away just yet even as she gets the cereal and fills the bowl.

"This is a pretty secure place. There's a lot of well-trained teachers," Kitty says. She hesitates before mentioning any incidents they have had. They aren't non-existent, at that. "I hope you find it's a place you can relax and... well, a lot of our students find out who they are, here. I know that I did. I hope you can find the kind of comfort, and family, that I have," she tells him. Kitty looks around the room, smiling to a number of her friends meaningfully. "Hey Brian," she says as the student arrives. As if case in point. "There's some lasagna," she points out to him as Kitty gets the milk from the fridge.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon nods slowly. "Defender... yes. He made my job a whole lot easier during that fight. Between him and Lorna, very little debris from those three Sentinels even came near the protesters. No casualties, and only one fatality." She chuckles, and smiles a bit sheepishly to Sam #2. "Honestly, if I were ever to actually talk to him... not sure what I'd say. And Cannonball's right. Just like I said to you, too. Whatever you do here, it will always be -your- choice." She grins a bit at Sam #1, and actually laughs a bit. "Heroing isn't exactly off-limits, and even if it was supposed to be... I can't think of a one of us here who wouldn't want to make a stand, given half a chance."

The clinking and clanking has her turning about to see who's coming through the door. Is it...? Yes, it is. She nods, and smiles a bit at Brian, wiggling a wing at him in lieu of a wave. "Hey there... plenty of lasagna left if you want it. Grab a plate and pull up a stool if you like."

Cypher has posed:
"Hmmm." Doug says, before he sets the knife aside. "It all just seemed easier back in the day. Even the kids seem to have it harder now." He looks over at Samuel, and then says, "If you're feeling crowded, it's OK to say so. We'll make space for you. Remember, the battlefield has changed - suffering in silence will negatively impact your ability to optimally achieve your mission goals." He looks up at Brian, and says, "Do you need some troubleshooting? It's what I'm for." He offers his black and gold hand.

Isotope has posed:
     Brian reaches out to grab a cup and is pouring OJ into a glass, meanwhile his interest is piqued when multiple mentions of lasagna are conveyed to him. "You've made a terrible mistake." He says, squinting his eyes, feigning anger. "Offering lasagna to an Italian. Gimme some'a that!" He says with a grin on his face, before he looks to Samuel and Doug. "Oh, yeah, the image inducer is acting up. I -wanted- to go out later, but not all glow-wormy." He picks up a plate and sets it down to serve himself before he removes the gauntlet from the suit and holds it up for people to look at whilst inhaling lasagna as if it is going out of style.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie will sit back for a few moments, watching the others. He wants to see how well the younger ones interact, but also wanting to watch Doug's interactions with them. He does move to wash his plate offering his seat to Brian to have.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    Sam-Bean gives Doug a look that is difficult to read, except probably for the man himself. It tries to convey, in a single glance, that Sam is grateful for the intervention, acknowledges the advice and the way in which it was delivered, while at the same time slightly irritated that his usually guarded body language is clearly such an open book to someone. It makes him feel vulnerable.

    "It's lasagna good enough to serve to Italians, Shannon made it so you know it's going to be great." As Cannonball comes up to the sink to wash his plate, Sam moves out of the way and closer to the gauntlet that's being presented. He can feel the circuitry, the intent of the device, and its cry for help that's seemingly going unheeded by everyone else around. Mentally the technopath soothes the gauntlet and starts to figure out what's wrong, how he can help it.

    All of that is happening in his own mind space. In the actual world, he just seems to be staring at the thing. "I can probably fix that."

Nightingale has posed:
     Yep. Shy Shannon has returned, full force. Her wings have become a cocooon within which she hides, her face and even her ears gone beet red. "It's. Not. That. Good." Suddenly, doing the dishes seems very interesting, indeed, and she throws herself into cleaning up after the meal. She does, however, glance briefly over her shoulder at Sam-bean; remembering his particular gift, she keeps an eye on things, just to see what will happen.

Cypher has posed:
Doug gives the smaller Sam a shrug. "I'm the Mutant Master of Language, buddy. It's what I do. Well... I also play dumb. A lot. But in this case, I felt like it served you better if I said something." He shrugs his shoulders, and scoots back on where he's sitting on the counter, observing, quietly, right hand on his chin.

Isotope has posed:
     "I will be the judge of this meal, thank you!" Brian offers, trying the lasagna and his eyebrows raise in surprise. "Not bad, but on my Nona's honor, not as good as hers. But pretty damn good!"

  Brian was pretty placated right now, getting his suit fixed and ingesting food. "So, uhh, new guy, what is going on with it?"

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "You're right, and thank you." Sam-Bean, sometimes known as Techno to his friends, mentions to Doug as he continues to look at the gauntlet, sitting down next to Shannon. "I get crowded quickly... for me it's not just everyone in here, it's also your phones, your technology, the fire alarm, the clock on the oven..."

    Leaning forward, Sam frowns at the gauntlet and then smiles, head tilted to the side. "PDC 4 isn't being created by PPC bus 1, despite being in a zero state already, which requires PPC 4 and PDC 4 to be at a voltage not zero, so the chip reached an unreachable state. I'm just telling it that it's wrong, and ..." *blip* "... That should have fixed it. Long term you want to replace the soldering on that chip, it's gotten a bit corroded."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie will move over yo sit a bit distant from the others still in chat range but giving people room to eat and work on the gauntlet if need be "So your always sensing the tech around, out of curiousity do you hear a phone when it is off?

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon smiles a little bit at Brian and inclines her head. "Thanks. Coming from someone who looks to be a connisseur of the cuisine, that's high praise." She peers at Sam-bean-Techno, and just looks very, -very- confused, listening to all the tech talk coming from him. "Greek makes more sense to me than that." She chuckles lightly, and shakes her head. "That is a pretty amazing gift you have there."

Pixie has posed:
Megan Gwynn yawns and stretches as she heads to the kitchen for some dinner. She's been studying extra hard in classes and now she's pretty exhausted and in need of a recharge. The scent of fresh lasagna is a great lure for a hungry fairy, and she flutters around the kitchen, looking for the source of that heavenly smell. "Mmmmm...."

Moonstar has posed:
Dani Moonstar leans back against the counter after putting her now empty plate in the sink. Wiping the tomato sauce off her lips with a paper towel, she picks up her strawberry-kiwi fruit drink, and finishes that off with a mournful expression. Putting the bottle in the recycling, Dani turns, and shakes her head. "Tasty Shannon, thank you for cooking." Looking over at Brian and Megan, Dani waves. "Evening. Great to see you." With a final nod to the Sams, Shannon and Doug, Dani yawns, and says, "Big day tomorrow. Night everyone! Sweet dreams." Then, Dani heads towards the exit towards her room.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "Should be good, if you want to give that a try. When you're done eating, of course, can't let that lasagna go to waste." It seems like Sam is a lot more cheerful now, but then the shrieking in the background has finally stopped. Sometimes being able to hear tech is more of a curse than a blessing.

    "If the battery is still in, yeah. It's not off, just not displaying or processing. Powering it on a is matter of the right signal sent to the voltage controller chipset." That might not be reassuring, but at least it's an honest answer. "I kind of knew about most of the tech in the basement before you took me down there."

Cypher has posed:
"Hm. I would've figured it out eventually," Doug says, "But that's pretty keen. I'm better with software than I am with hardware, Kitty always had me beat there." Doug gives Samuel an amused look. "I'm curious." He holds his arm out, "What do you get off of this?" He asks. "It's living circuitry, a synthesis of technology and living matter."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon smiles to Dani and waves, lowering her wings a bit. "You're welcome... don't be a stranger, okay? Don't get to see enough of you around here." To Megan, she smiles and waves, pointing to the pan of lasagna on the trivet on the island counter, and steps back to let the vultures feed! Meanwhile, she's rather enjoying this display of Sam-bean's gift, tilting her head as she looks on, curious to see what will happen next. She does lean over to Sam #1 and whispers something.

Isotope has posed:
     Brian accepts back the gauntlet, attaching it back to the contacts on his arm. "Hey, thanks. I'll have someone look at the solder on it...it's kind of bespoke to me, and keeps me from destroying stuff when I don't want to." He continues to fit the gauntlet to his arm. "And when the inducer works..." He connects it and activated the inducer, where there was once metal and unstable molecules now shows to be a normal sixteen year old with an Xavier's School tee shirt with a nice pair of jeans. "Bam, instant camouflage. Keeps people from asking about all this stuff." Some people saw the things they wore to help their power as a burden, Brian sees it as a blessing.

Pixie has posed:
Megan Gwynn?s eyes widen at the sight of foood..She doesn?t remember the last time she ate real food..."Ooooooop it looks sooo lush!" she quips as she makes a beeline for the food, scooping it hungrily on a p,ate. "You made it yourself? Smells great!" she peers around. "Sooo what's the special occasion?" she does notice the gauntlet that seems to be a hot topic, brows arched curiously. "Ooh, cool gadget, didja make it?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks over to Samuel, and rest "You know the newest class is filling out and seems we have picked up some good folks. Once we have your abilities more understood, you will probably be working with some of the others in the room here with team training.

Moonstar has posed:
Heading out the doorway, and up the stairs, Dani takes one last second to look back into the room, and smiles. Shaking her head, she is happy to be home. It was nice to have friends, and be back in a safe place. Well, safer than Asgard or Hel. The sounds of her footfalls were drowned out by the chatting in the kitchen as they fade upstairs in the Mansion.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "The same I got the last few times I saw you, Doug." Sam smiles, nodding towards the arm. "It's a beautiful bit of technology. And very friendly too." He mentally returns the greeting he's getting from the arm, and his smile grows just a bit wider. "Never seen anything like it. But I'll be honest, I'm not sure if I can fix it if you ever break it."

    Brian gets a nod as well. "My pleasure. I'd be happy to fix it properly, as soon as I can get access to the right tools." Or, more aptly, get trusted enough to be around tools, which is not a given at the moment, and he tactfully phrases his comment to skirt that issue entirely.

    Then he looks over his shoulder at Sam the Elder. "Then it's high time we get to know each other."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon smiles at Megan. "Megan, this is Samuel. Samuel, Megan. We were celebrating his first week here. It's a perfect excuse for good food and good company. Though I've got to work on not confusing the two Sam's!" She giggles a little and shakes her head. "Call for one, you might get a two-fer. Brian gets a bit of a smile from her, though she does wrinkle her nose slightly. "Those things are a... necessity sometimes. But I'm not fond of them at all. Hopefully a day will come when we don't have to hide who and what we are."

Cypher has posed:
    "Oh, I imagine it will fix itself. I just might have to consume a substantial amount of food for it to process. Either that, or it'll just borrow whatever organic material is nearby--"

Doug shrugs his shoulders, and says, "It's... the byproduct of close contact with an extremely advanced alien life-form. I was completely fused with him, several times, and I think he may have left me with -- the seed of this -- for his own reasons. Maybe."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks over and says "If I had to guess, I would think either one it was something he was hoping would protect you, or was part of what he was doing when he did not understand you were gone." Sam will tell the other "At least thats what makes the most sense to me."

Isotope has posed:
     Brian looks from Cannonball to Samuel once training is mentioned. He remains silent on the subject though.

  Mentions of not having to hide are understood, though he likes being able to blend in. "The roster is looking good at least. Like a proper team, or potential for it."

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "A team for what? Football?"

    Before an answer can be given, Sam smiles at Doug again. "Well, must be nice to have a partner like that. Does it talk to you at all?"

Nightingale has posed:
"Not exactly, Techno." Shannon glances over to Sam #1 and shrugs, ruffling her wings a little bit. "It's another one of those things I'm not sure how much to talk about myself. Something I'm still learning about, too." She settles back to watch and see how the revelation is taken, relaxed but keeping her eyes wide open.

Cypher has posed:
    "Not as such." Doug says. "Honestly the one thing I've noted is that you kids are so *well behaved*." He rubs the back of his neck. "Where's the sneaking out? Where's the getting into trouble? Where's the partying?" He looks over at Sam, "Were we the terrors, man? It didn't feel like it from the inside, at the time, but these kids are SAINTS."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks to the other and says "For some who have that hope it is training for possibly doing the hero thing as a team, but it is also team building in general as well, as preparing for if something goes wrong while your out and about. Team in general is called the New Mutants. Like with us." He motions to Doug and himself. "We fought aliens a few times, chased down Warlock when he was having a shape changing contest, occasionally dealing with mutants who were either wanting to exploit us, or hurt others. Even before Doug joined up with us, we faught a sentinel, found a lost civilization in the brazilian rain forest. Then with Doug we ended up Asguard amonst other things

Cypher has posed:
"...Ruined Wimbledon." Doug says, his hand over his eyes. "Asgard was fun, I'd like to go back."

Isotope has posed:
     Brian turns his head to Doug and wags his eyebrows. "We don't get caught, old timer." Brian does enjoy going out and having fun. "Do you hear this, Shannon? Saints. That's Saint Brian of Metropolis, to you." He says with a big smile on his face.

  "Speaking of, Sam, I want to ask you something sometime."

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "Misconduct is punished." Sam replies almost automatically, and certainly before he seems to be aware of what he said. He clears his throat for a moment, looks around and then plunges on.

    "Sounds like there's never a dull moment. Heroes huh? Sounds like something I'd like to have a shot at."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon rolls her eyes and laughs, just shaking her head. "Saint Brian, my ass. Fine, if you're a saint, then I'm up for a halo, too. So just you bear that in mind, mister. Who's got the wings and halo thing happening here, hmmm?"

To Sam-bean, she just nods, and smiles a bit, canting her head slightly to the left. "Never a dull moment... that is an understatement. I've done more living in my couple months here, than most will ever do in a lifetime. And already, I think even the newer ones of us have made a difference. It's not an easy thing to do. There's some rough patches, some good times, times when you think your heart will break and stop beating, and others when it feels as if you could fly. But not for one moment, would I trade any of it... because all of us are reaching out, and making a difference. Together. But it is ALWAYS your choice, and yours alone."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods, and says "Would to, but from Dani and Thor it does not sound like that is going to happen any time soon. New Asgard is a pretty good place though Ah have to admit." He tells Doug. He looks over to Brian and says "Whats on your mind Brian?'

Pixie has posed:
Megan Gwynn smiles at Sam, "Nice to meet you, I think I've seen you around before. How you liking school here so far?" for the most part, she is pretty distracted munching down food hungrily. "Mmm, Shannon, this is sooooo goood!"

Isotope has posed:
     "Saint Shannon, patron saint of Epicurean delights. Sounds fitting." Brian had finished his plate, very pleased, picking it up and taking it to the sink.

  Brian's emerald eyes look up from rinsing to Sam Guthrie. "Concerning things on the team...and stepping up to help lead." Big step there, but after things the past couple weeks, Brian had been thinking of things and what he should do to help.

Cypher has posed:
"See, that's another thing you have learned which you must unlearn, which is that punishment is to be avoided. Some of the best times I've ever had were when we were being punished for the dumb-ass things we used to do." Doug hops down from the counter. "Almost a shame we're adults now and expected to regulate our own behavior." Doug says, before he walks over to the fridge, opens it, and takes out a slice of pie left over from dinner earlier. Isn't today not his cheat day? He walks over to Sam, and stands next to him, before he takes some of the key lime filling on his finger and tastes it. "S'good."

He takes another taste of it.

Then he says, "Hey Sam, what's that--"

Then he reaches up to smoosh the plate down on top of Sam's head, working his wrist to grind it into his hair a little bit.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon bursts out giggling as she sees the pie smashed down on Cannonball's face. Giggling becomes gales of laughter, filling the room with sounds of mirth. "Pulling a Mrs. Doubtfire there, Sam?" Her eyes twinkle with amusement, and she takes several steps back, to avoid sweet retaliation.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    As the shenanigans unfold near and next to him, Sam nods to Megan with a smile that seems mostly genuine. "Sam Morgan, pleasure to meet you. And I'm absolutely loving this place, much better than where I used to go." Yup. Factually correct. Then he turns to the food fight, reaches out almost casually, and scoops some of the pie off of Other Sam's face, tasting it. "Not bad."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie watches Doug. The man looks over to him, and is deadpanned the whole time, as he might be expecting something. As the pie is brought down on his head he closes his eyes and sighs. Be brings his hand up to scoop some of the whip cream off, and flicks it at Doug. "Yes we are most definetly the adults and responsible ones here." He looks over to Doug and says "Ah did officially get ungrounded by Erik by the way."

Cypher has posed:
"Only took four years." Doug says, with a roll of his eyes. "What'd you do to earn the pardon? I think if I were to ever seriously set foot in Genosha he'd have a very nice room set aside for me, and immediately send me to it."

Isotope has posed:
     Brian's eyes flare quickly as pie meets head. "Ohshi-" He says, jumping back from any debris that may fly his way.

  His hands raise trying to protect his suit from getting sticky things on it. Once the initial shock wears off, Brian starts laughing, gently at first then onto a howl. "That was...awesome."

Cypher has posed:
"What's more awesome is how I'm going to look Sammy in the eye, like thus," Doug says, "And clap him on the shoulder thus," He puts his left hand on Sam's shoulder.

"...Berto did it." Then he breaks down into a fit of giggles. "You kids have GOT to give yourselves the freedom to be idiots! It's so liberating!" He leans one elbow against the counter, then collapses to the floor, laughing.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks over and says "Illyana and I went to Genosha, and helped some people when the Black sleep was going around, we found a way to wake people could not do it on mass, but helped some there and the mother of one of the students here." He will shake his head a bit a little pie flying and will walk over to the sink to wash the pie off, he is smiling a bit as he shakes his head.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    You'd expect a smile, you'd expect a laugh, a grin, something from Sam-Bean. But he sits there, after his one attempt at jocularity, and the look he gives Doug is suddenly... cold. Worse than just cold, it's almost murderous. Slowly, hands on the counter top, he stands, and keeps standing like that for ten seconds, taking deep breaths.

    After that is done, he walks around the counter, face set like thunder, and then looks down at Doug, still on the floor in a fit of laughter. "That. That kind of irresponsibility.... that is how people get killed on a mission."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon smiles oh-so-innocently, opening the freezer and rummaging around. Her hand is curled around something as she closes the door, to make her way over to older Sam's general vicinity. The innocent smile remains as she raises her right hand as if to wipe away some of the pie from his head....

...only to drop something small, and very -cold- down the back of his shirt. It's difficult for her not to giggle as she turns back towards the island counter....

...only to see younger Sam look like all Hell is about to break loose. She's quick to make her way over there beside him, keeping her empty hands in plain sight. The right one, though, is a little bit wet, glistening with meltoff from the ice cube. "Techno? Take a deep breath... what is it?" She's doing her best to keep her voice calm and even, an anchor for younger Sam to reach out for if he so chooses--and is able.

Cypher has posed:
Doug's eyes flash open, and suddenly he stops laughing. He lies there on the floor, staring up at Samuel, and he props himself up on one elbow. "...Well, being responsible already got me killed once, kid. As they say, six of one, a half-dozen of the other." He gets to his feet, and brushes himself off, before he says, "...I'd be dead either way. As for this moment of jocularity?" He looks down at Samuel and says, "...There isn't any good explanation for it. It doesn't need one. It justifies itself. I hope you can laugh someday, Bean. I really, really hope you can. It's like summer breaking out in the middle of winter, for me, some days."

Isotope has posed:
     Almost immediately Brian stops his laughter and gets serious. "Correct, in the field. But this isn't the field and we are in a school." He says matter of factly, not angered, just very calmly.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie will get the pie out of his head just to get the ice cube down his shirt, he is standing up pulling his shirt out of his pants, and turns looking around, and "As Brian said being an idiot here, is normally ok, and if you mean blaming a buddy I knew he was kidding "It is ok Sam, it is all ok."

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    In reply, Sam reaches down and lifts up his shirt, exposing the small marks on his chest that could only have come from lead flying at high velocity. "One inch further to the side and I'd have been dead too. And for me there would not have been any coming back." He drops the shirt, expression still set hard, the edge of his vision starting to grey out. "That one was because the guy who was supposed to watch my right was having a joke on the radio and took his eyes off the corner for one second. I've seen people die because the person they count on to watch their back got distracted for one moment. One. Single. Moment."

    Shannon's presence is noted, and Bean leans sideways, against the counter, suddenly dizzy. "School, field, kitchen... it makes no difference. You're either serious, or you're dead. A joke is a joke... I can get a joke..." He turns again, to look at Doug, at Brian, and Sam. "Never tell me to be an idiot. That gets people killed." Blink. Slow blink. The floor comes up suddenly and Sam sits down with a thump, eyes looking at some point about a thousand yards away. "Gets 'em killed..."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon furrows her brows slightly. "Techno? If it's okay, may I hug you?" She stays next to him, but makes no move to be any closer, or to touch him, keeping her hands plainly visible on the counter. "This is something I struggle with, too, finding a balance between taking things seriously enough to not get shot or killed, and worrying myself half to death. Do you have any idea how many times Cannonball's talked to me about that over the past couple weeks alone? It's a little embarrassing." She steps back slightly, inching the lower leg of her jeans on the left side; on her calf, there is the faintest hint of a mark not too dissimilar to the ones Sam-bean pointed out on himself. "That happened just last week. It healed in about two days. But the point remains that I can see a little of where you're coming from." She smiles a little bit. "Discipline is good. Yes, it keeps you alive. But so does being able to relax. That can also keep you alive. Both are valuable."

Isotope has posed:
     Brian watches the scene unfold, but once Samuel starts to act dizzy, he gets concerned. He doesn't say anything however, just observing the situation once Shannon starts to help as well.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie will walk over seeing Shannon is talking with Sam, he will help Doug up, and tells him, he will handle it." He looks to Sam, and says "Doug did not know he was coming back when he took the shot either. One of our friends, don't think you have met her yet, did not see the guy with the gun. Doug jumped in front of the shot so she would not be hit. He did not think about it just acted on instint. We have seen a lot and while around here we will be goofy and stupid at times, when it is serious time, we all watch out for one another. Even the ones who may sound a bit goofy all the time are watching out for one anothers back. Doug's death did teach us the seriousness in all this, but the goofiness also taught us to be family. Any of us would have taken that hit to protect any of the others. Doug just wants you guys to have what we had.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    For a few moments Bean just sits there, looking at nothing, probably seeing nothing, mostly likely not hearing anything either. Not until he blinks again, and his hands curl into fists. Then he leans back, head hitting the side of the counter with a crash that he doesn't seem to be aware of, and his knuckles turn white from the effort of clenching his fingers tight. "We were just having lasagna. It was good lasagna. And it was just a joke, just a joke, just a stupid joke."

    Teeth clenched, he gives a raspy exhale and looks at Shannon, to Sam, to Shannon, before his face turns into something more human, something less like a grimace. "It's in my head, I want it out of my head, why is it in my head?" Then, Other Sam gets a look that's almost pleading. "I don't understand the world you live in."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon winces as she sees Sam-bean's head crash against the side of the counter. Her first instinct is to reach out to him and help him--but she stops herself. "Sam... please, let me help you? If you need healing, my gift requires physical contact to work." Though she looks worried, she still keeps her voice even, watching for any sign of injury.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie will look at Sam, and says "And that my friend is the biggest reason you are here. We want to teach you how to live in this world. You have a decent understanding of your powers, and your combat trained, but hopefully we can help you learn to live here, and be able to be happy. The people here know what you have been through in different levels. The students more what you have told them or what has been gossiped around, but we are here to help you, and when you fall, or have an issue, we are here to give you a hand up, and help you find your feet again. We all make mistakes and we help one another. We are all here to help one another and just be there when we need one another.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "Some hero I make. Can't even be around people without shouting at them. Just a stupid joke..." Slowly coming back to the present, Sam looks up at both Shannon and Sam The Greater, trying to look both in the eyes at the same time. "I'm gonna fall a lot. Just... need a hand up." And that hand comes up, not aimed at any single one of them, just.. there. In general.

Nightingale has posed:
"And you think I make a good hero? Oh, please... I have next to zero combat training, you've seen my fitness--even though that part's improving--and half the time it feels like I'm flying blind out there. Sometimes I'm terrified that's going to get someone killed. But you know what? I go out there anyways. Someone very wise reminded me that if you don't find a way to keep going, how many more out there will die without the help you could be out there to give?" Shannon smiles somewhat, peering at Sam the younger. "I was also reminded that yeah, the mistakes we make are a bit bigger than just tripping over your own feet, but we have each other to get back on our feet again, learn from it, and move forward. We all fall a lot. Doesn't matter how far up the chain of command you are. We're all mortal, and we all fall. But we all pick each other up again." She also holds her hand up, near Sam's but not quite touching him yet, letting him make the next move if it's wanted. "I've also been reminded by more than one very wise soul here that there is more to being a hero than just going out there and kicking ass."

Cypher has posed:
Doug shakes his head, and says, "If you think I'm judging you, or blaming you... or if anyone is, that's not happening." He shrugs his shoulders and holds his arms out. "You're damaged goods. We know. We all are. Being Charlie Brown's christmas tree doesn't make you unworthy, kid! It just means... you need a little love. We all do, really. You don't have to cheer up, or buck up, or feel better, or do anything... because you're not doing anything wrong."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie will smile a bit as the others say what is needed. He looks to the other man and says "When you come here, your family, sometimes family is a pain in the ass, but family is there for one another.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
Samuel reaches for that hand and pulls himself up. Just like they pulled each other over the wall in the danger room, this obstacle needed two people. "I wouldn't know, Mister Guthrie. I never had any. But I'd like to have one, thank you." And then he looks over to Shannon, from Shannon to Doug, and back to Shannon. "Thank you."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon smiles. "You had one from the moment you walked through those doors, maybe even a bit before." She does glance at the side of Sam-bean's head, to make sure no visible sign of injury is showing. "With your permission, may I touch that part of your head, where you hit the counter?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks tot he other man and says "Well ya got one now, and we are here for ya. So if your ever worried about something or need to know something will do our best to tell you what we know or can.

Cypher has posed:
"Just..." Doug says, "Do your best. No one expects any more from you than that." He puts his hand over his mouth. "When's your birthday?"

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    Reaching back, Bean only now seems to realise he hit his head, and shakes his head at Shannon with a friendly smile. "It's just a bump, don't worry about it."

    Then he turns fully towards Doug and takes a deep breath. "November, the eleventh, but... I owe you an apology. My reaction was entirely inappropriate. I'm sorry, it won't happen again."

Nightingale has posed:
"Given what you've told me about what you've been through, I'd guess your reaction was entirely appropriate." Shannon smiles gently and nods. "Ask the sun not to rise. You'll have more success with that than getting me to not worry about someone I care about. Just keep an eye on things though? You know the routine with a bump on the head." When she hears about a birthday, she just grins wide, cracking her knuckles. "By any chance, have you ever had a chance to figure out what your favorite kind of cake is?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie chuckles a bit and says "I think he needs to be served many many types of cake so he can decide. It is the best atic

Cypher has posed:
Doug tilts his head, and then says, "Well Shannon... this time, you're taking the day off from the kitchen. I think on the 11th Im going to introduce Bean here to his new friend Cookiepuss." He smirks, the corner of his mouth turning up.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "I'm not familiar with... ehmm..." Something in Doug's statement makes Sam decide that this time, he's not going to ask. Let it be a surprise. He owes the man that much. Luckily he has an answer for Shannon. "Coffee cream, actually, with chocolate frosting. Might be a German thing."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon grins, seeming to mull this over for a moment. "Fat chance, Doug. Food's a universal thing, it's how I show people I care. And who or what is Cookiepuss?" To Sam the younger, she grins a bit wider. "The one to ask about that might be Kurt. He's got a real zest for life that too many times, people lose. I heard through the grapevine that his drama class got approved... can't wait for the first one." She laughs a bit, and tilts her head. "I've heard him in German a few times, and he was introducing me to some regional cuisine last week right after I got shot. So... if there's anyone to ask, I'd start there." To Sam the elder, she grins wide, and nods sagely. "Well, even though he's expressed a favorite, I might still make several kinds, then everyone benefits from the epicurean experimentation."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks to Doug "Road trip for cake?" is the simple question he asks his friend.

Cypher has posed:
Doug looks up. "Everyone loves Cookiepuss!" He says, "They just don't know it yet." He glances back to Sam the Elder and says, "...If I can spare the time. I'm sure we can find some Carvel cakes in New York." He glances back to Shannon, and says, "Even you have to take they day off sometimes, Swanmay."

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    Sam is obscurely grateful that he's not the only one that doesn't understand Cookiepuss. But one thing does get his attention. "Drama class? As in acting? Where do I sign up?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie smiles and says "Kurt will be glad to have more people there. And as Shannon said, he is German, so might be a good class for you.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon grins wide and nods. "Next time I run into Kurt, I'll let him know he has another student interested in the class. Think he'll love that to pieces." It's quite plain that this has brightened her mood considerably, clapping her hands together and giggling with sheer delight. To Doug, she just shakes her head and laughs. "You'll have to be a little more persuasive than th... Carvel...?!"

Cypher has posed:
"You just haven't met Cookiepuss yet. Nobody can say no to him. He makes every day brighter." Doug says, with a faint grin. "We'll figure out something to make your first birthday memorable." He taps his chin, and then says, "I wonder if--" He thinks. "...We might be able to... hm. You said you have a hard time when you're surrounded by a lot of electronics."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie says, "So, no Chucky Cheese, is going to be out, I know what your thinking" He says to Doug grinning "Maybe putput?""

Samuel Morgan has posed:
"It all depends." As so many things do, of course. But Bean tries to be more descriptive, remembering that aside from one other person he's met, nobody can sense the same things he can. "Some days it's a problem, other days it's not. It's like being in a room with a lot of people constantly talking in the background, distracting but not really a problem... until there's other things that annoy you, and then suddenly all that murmur is just too much. It's kind of like that. And some electronics are just... easier to deal with than others. I mean, the oven's pretty mellow, but the fire alarm takes itself so seriously."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon giggles. "So when are you going to introduce us to this Cookiepuss, Doug? Huh? Are we talking about a... road trip??" She smiles at Sam the Younger, tilting her head slightly. "I wonder what you'd make of an electric piano, then."

Cypher has posed:
"No, I think we could pull it off. We'd just have to... create a controlled environment. I can do it." Doug says. Then he shakes his head. "You can find them in the city."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks over and says "We probably should actually take Sam into the city sometime, and maybe to an arcade or something, get him used to being around stuff like that.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    Sam in the City? He hadn't been there in years... "That sounds like it could be an amazingly bad idea. We should try it." Yeah, loosening up is going to take some time, but there's the first effort. "But it's been a long day, so with your permission I'd..." No, scratch that. He holds up a hand to correct himself.

    "I'm going to bed. Thank you all for ... you know why. Thank you. And good night."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon smiles and nods to Sam the younger. "Sleep well. See you bright and early to work off some of this lasagna!" She chuckles, and shakes her head as he leaves, waiting till he's out of earshot. "He's a real nice person under all that. Wonder if he realizes that himself."