9726/The Return of The Mentor

The Return of The Mentor
Date of Scene:	23 October 2019
Location:	Jean's Room (North Halls), Xavier's School
Synopsis:	Professor Xavier returns from his Shi'ar excrusions and meets with his prized students in the form of Jean and Scott, as they discussed the order of things.
Cast of Characters:	Phoenix, Cyclops, Professor X

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Phoenix has posed:
Late in the evening, thankfully most of the daily hustle and bustle died down, and for once nobody set the computer lab on fire or something crazy like that. Foregoing all manner of offical dress for comfy yoga pants and an oversized Dazzler shirt she wouldn't dare to wear out of her room, Jean is about ready to unwind when she hears a knock on the door. As is her habit, she does a very brief mind-peek ahead of asking who is it, which leads her to gasp and stand up straight.

A moment's delay, and she hurries to open the door. Needless to say, she looks stunned, before eventually quipping, "good to know you avoided death in some pointless space war, Professor...welcome home, we somehow didn't destroy it while you were gone."

A moment later, and she looks up at Scott with a sheepish smile, "Scott. Do come in."

Cyclops has posed:
"The destruction is hidden behind new coats of paint," Scott deadpans from behind Charles, where he's resting both hands on the back handles of the wheelchair. It's a position Scott hasn't been in for quite a number of months, but he fell into it with an ease from many years of being a companion and helper to their treasured headmaster and teacher.

"Jean," Scott adds, returning her greeting with a smooth nodded incline of head, his own expression reserved, but with some warmth under it: he's in a hallway, soon to be room, with two of his favorite people.

Professor X has posed:
"Well, I spoke to one of the newer students who put a hole in the wall," Charles answers as he wheels into the room, "So, it wasn't for lack of trying."

There is a brief moment of that old, stern Professor Xavier who reigned over the school and its small, original class like a benevolent king. But it fades, features instead creased by a grandfatherly smile that creases the corners of his eyes. He glances back over his shoulder at Scott in position behind the chair, lost for a moment in a brief deluge of nostalgia.

"The Majestrix sends her warmest regards," he says of the Shi'ar, "Though she understands where my heart is and why I had to return. The two new students I met made it clear my trust wasn't misplaced."

An earnest look crosses his face, the smile genuine and kindly: "I have never been prouder of you both."

Phoenix has posed:
Jean manages to choke a bit of a giggle as Scott manages to find the wherewithall to joke even now. Which was the last thing on her order of things to do, but she is grateful for it, as it does lighten the atmosphere. The return of her mentor and in many way savior, isn't an everyday occasion for her.

"About that...I apologize for all the hardships we ever gave you, I had no idea how impossible it is to act as Headmaster in such a school. It's been taking most of my time, and it took me a while to not feel like I don't belong in the office."

Jean furrows her brow at the mention of the students Charles already spoke to, "oh, so you went to the students before coming to us? That little trust?" Jean feigns sounding heart, but she's so happy to see Xavier again, that it doesn't quite do a good job of selling. "What did they say? I hope they didn't mention the new torture chamber in the basement," and unlike Scott and his perfected deadpan, Jean just cracks up at her own attempt at a joke.

But she does regain control fast enough, though she still stiffles a giggle or two, as she levels her gaze at the Professor. A glance is snuck at Scott at the huge compliment they recieve, but she's quick to deflect with remarking on an earlier comment, "very kind of the Majestrix, wish I could repay the thought, but she's a bit out of range."

Cyclops has posed:
Scott brings Xavier inside, pushing the chair, and turns to close the door behind him, moving along to assume the third point location in the conversation triangle: such that Charles doesn't need to crane his neck around to address him. Scott's dressed casually: blue jeans, black low sneakers, a worn-in royal blue zipper hoodie, frayed in places from use from its owner. And red glasses, of course.

Scott's response to Charles' statement of their performance is one of humility: Scott is abruptly looking downwards, one hand moving to rub the back of his neck, the other slid into one of the pockets of his zipper hoodie.

"We've done... I hope that we've done, enough with the school to earn your pride, as you entrusted us with its care," Scott answers, firmly but quietly, as if a little unsure about if his tone will come as perfectly as he'd like it to. He moves a brief extension of hand to try to touch Jean's bicep, a subtle attempt to offer to share his own calm with her. It's okay.

Professor X has posed:
"I wouldn't characterise it as a lack of trust, Jean. I simply wanted to ... see the School in its natural state under your leadership. How better to do it than a quick jaunt around the grounds? Nothing earth-shattering, I swear."

The Professor lifts both his hands before himself in mock surrender, still smiling, "I wouldn't dream of getting down to business without consulting with you."

The talk of the 'old days' garners a faint chuckle from him, "Difficulties or not, if this new generation of students turn out to be a fraction of the adults you've grown into, I'll call it a job very, very well done." He seems to have no shortage of praise for his two star pupils, now turned mentors in their own right.

"I am, however, sorry I didn't let you know I was returning. It was mostly my own curiosity. As I said, I wanted to see the School as it is - and I'm very impressed with what I've seen. I've half a mind to take off on another holiday, seeing the place in such good hands."

Phoenix has posed:
"You honor us, Professor," Jean says with a slightly intoxicated seeming smile, unable to not feel unworthy of such praise. "Like Scott said, we did the best we could, and hoped it was enough...a lot has happened while you were gone."

But in order to avoid shadowing the joyous occasion with some troubling input, Jean changes the subject quickly, "would you like me to announce you as the acting Headmaster once more? We have some students who don't have a notion of you beyond legend. Or do you want to take a bit to unpack before we deal with formalities? It is, of course, ever your school, no matter who is assigned what title..."

Cyclops has posed:
Scott falls quiet, into his observant, dutiful role, settling both hands now in pockets, observant of the exchange between Jean and the Professor about the alignment of the school itself, and the leadership there. After all, it has always felt as if they were filling in.

Stepping back, Scott leans a little onto the arm of Jean's couch, though it's hardly a sign of him actually relaxing; the man has full focus on the conversation in his overly watchful way.

Professor X has posed:
"I wouldn't want to unseat you without due respect paid to all you've done," Charles closes his eyes, shaking his head as he does, "I won't lie and say I didn't come here without the intention of returning to the helm - so to speak. But there's a lot to catch up on, as you've said, not to mention names to learn. Why don't we call this a transitional period? Then we can see about handing over the reins with a little more ceremony. A chance to celebrate the pair of you."

The Professor was never one for 'mischief', but the smile on his face is almost impish as he turns his gaze to Scott. Well aware of just where the young man stood on ceremony and the spotlight, though he says nothing of it save to purse his lips and hold back a broader grin.

"If that's to be our road, though, I will need astute navigators to guide us," he continues with the sailing metaphors, "And after what I've seen, I can think of no two better than you. If I asked, would you help shoulder the burden in as assistant headmistress and headmaster?"

He asks as though it were a question, despite knowing well enough that there is only one answer.

Phoenix has posed:
Jean does keep looking at Scott every now and again, as if to make it clear she's not trying to phase him out of the conversation, by brinigng attention to the matter of acting Headmaster. A role she's been fulfilling since the Professor left. She nods at Xavier's way of phrasing, managing to both make clear what is to come, while at the same time removing all doubt about the job Scott and herself have been doing. Albeit the wording of 'pair' brings a bit of a faint flush to her cheeks.

Having a life wheel in the form of a question to answer tossed her way, Jean makes a full grab for it and pretends she didn't hear that bit suggesting she and Scott were somehow a pair. Why would anyone think that? They were just...ah, the question! "It would be an honor, Professor, so we'll leave thing as they are and just announce your return. Would you like me to do it? Or would you speak on your own behalf?" Jean muses, having become so accustomed to taking care of things, it just occured to her while offering that Charles is more than capable enough to introduce his return, and himself to the newer students.

Cyclops has posed:
Much as Charles predicted, Scott is uncomfortable with the speech about spotlight, he angles his head down more, looking at the shoelaces of his left sneaker. Alas, they are tied perfectly and neatly, there is no distraction to be had there. Much at the same time, he flushes a small amount; the red glasses will entirely hide the side-eye cast over to Jean as Charles refers to them as a pair, but does little for the blush.

Still, Scott is reserved and his facial mask is otherwise in place; to those unfamiliar with him he'd appear unruffled. A pity both of these people are, in fact, familiar with him. He's composed and direct when he answers, though.

"I am happy in my administrative role as it is," Scott says immediately. But he would never object to helping: "But whatever assistance I can grant to bring you back to a comfortable position here, professor, I'm glad to help." Even if he's working an insane amount already within the X-Men, Scott will dig in and make anything happen, without complaint. Maybe without sleep.

Professor X has posed:
"The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about," Charles answers, "Though I think I'd be happy for you to make the announcement. After all, returning as I am I don't want the student body to think I'm immediately falling into my own role. It would be confusing, I suspect, to be made to pay deference to a man you've only ever heard about second-hand."

When Scott speaks, Xavier nods his head and steeps his fingers before his chest - both elbows resting on the padded arms of his wheelchair, "I'll take all the help you have to offer, Scott."

<<But I'll trust,>> his thoughts ring out within Jean's head suddenly, the only outward indication the slightest glance by the Professor in her direction, <<that you'll remind him that there is a time to let his hair down. As much as he can.>>

"We seem to have a concord, then," he clasps both hands before himself, still smiling, "Jean will announce my arrival, and we'll make it a slow transition to give me time to meet everyone. I don't want to change course, so I'll have to learn how it is you've been running things."

Phoenix has posed:
"Spectacular," Jean sounds pleased enough, before she reaches to tug mindlessly at her oversized Dazzler shirt, "but if you don't mind, I was on my way to bed, is it okay if I make the announcement tomorrow, Professor?" She of course could be nudged to do anything promptly, but for her to make the request at all, she must truly be more tired than she lets on. <<I'll do my best. But sometimes you have to let Scott be Scott. We work well off each other, he pulls me this way, I pull him that. You didn't give me time to the two of us at random, did you?>>

For her part, Jean gives no tells when she's holding a concurrent telepathic conversation during a physical one, force of habit. "For now, I'll bid you good night, but I am very happy you're back with us, and in one piece!"

Cyclops has posed:
The workaholic in the form of Scott Summers returns Xavier's acceptance of his help with a smile. A real smile: a mix of agreement and relief. If Xavier wants the workaholic to work, boy, Scott's ready to perform.

The telepathic communication goes over his head entirely, and there's no shred of suspicion about it from the young man. "There should be little time to learn: we've followed your example," Scott provides. His smile remains, so even Jean gets some of it.

"Rest well, Jean," Scott says, giving her a smooth, brief nod. Then, back to the professor. "Are you hungry at all from your trip?" Scott aims to the professor as he negotiates the door and extraction of the Professor from Jean's quarters.