Owner	Pose
Tatum O'Neal	The middle of September, the weather is starting to get a little crisper, the air has that scent to it that fall is just around the corner. Tatum is taking advantage of the last of the summer weather to just lounge by the pool. She rests on one of the lounge chairs in her bikini, the only time anyone ever gets to see her tattoos. Some of the students are splashing and laughing in the pool
Tabitha Smith	"Since I'm here with teachers, does this count as extra credit?" Tabitha asks, sitting down on a chaise. "I bet this'll be my last tan of the year. Now I'm gonna be all ghosty come December." she sighs. "Oh, well." She's in a two-piece, pink with large white dots. She has her blonde hair down, an oversized pair of sunglasses down on her face.
Psylocke	Betsy comes out of the mansion wearing a black two-piece. She has a towel slung over her arm. Her other hand is occupied by a red plastic cup. She sets her towel on one of the loungers then continues her walk to the edge of the pool. She sits on the edge, submerging her feet, water coming up to just above half calf level. She takes a sip of her drink before glancing around at the students splashing and enjoying themselves while they can before summer disappears. She swirls her feet absently in the water as she watches then glances to the side of the pool at the various sun worshippers. "Could always take some trips to more temperate locations during the winter," she suggests.
Penance	Monet emerges from the shelter of the Institute, wearing a lightweight short robe in white and with a towel and some sundries under her arm. Large glasses, trendy and modern, cover her face, and she's -- yep, she's wearing a pair of designer heels. She strides over to the line of lounging chairs and finds one she likes, then sets her things on the low table next to it and shrugs out of her robe. Her black and tan two-piece swimsuit looks like it was recently featured in Sports Illustrated; stylish and mostly impractical for playing in the water. Carefully, she steps out of her heels and puts them under the chaise, then settles into the recliner and stretches languidly out under the sunshine.
Tatum O'Neal	Tate's own bikini is... black! Who would have guessed? While it initially appears to have white dots on it, closer inspection shows that the dots are alternating skulls and roses. Though she has spent a lot of time around the pool all summer, she still manages to stay pretty pale. Must be using a sunblock. She looks over to Tabitha and shakes her head with a grin. "Sadly no, but if you really want extra credit, I could put you to work helping to cook breakfast or dinner for the student body." The Home Ec teacher waves to the English teacher, mostly recognizing her from staff meetings. They haven't even been on missions together. Mind you, ninjas with psychic powers are usually more useful in combat situations then guerilla trained negapsychics. She waggles her fingers to the other teacher at the pool, glad she isn't the only adult around. Monet's arrival gets and arch of a brow. Curious, but willing to just let the information slowly trickle to her through observation instead of conversation, Tatum appears to mostly ignore the wealthy aristocrat.
Tabitha Smith	r    Speaking of sunblock, Boomer has a bottle of the stuff and squirts plenty in her hand to begin applying. A little extra on her nose and she's done. She wrinkles that nose at Tatum. "Don't you have somethin' easier, teach?" She shrugs, though. "I kinda like cookin', though. I made some borsh... bo... beet soup one day. The tigger thought it was good."     Monet's appearance also gather's Tabby's attention. She just stares from behind her sunglasses. Then Monet does her little ritual. "This isn't Monaco, Pogo. You can dress down."
Psylocke	At Monet's arrival, Betsy arches a brow briefly but then dismisses the situation. Youth and money. Always an interesting combination. She may have been like that if her life had taken a different path in her youth. She glances over at Tatum and offers a brief smile to her fellow teacher. They've never really spoken but she is familiar. Everytime she meant to introduce herself, there was something that dragged her away. Of late, she hasn't been at the mansion much outside of teaching her classes. There have been some more pressing matters with a certain organization she no longer is a part of rearing their ninja heads.
Tatum O'Neal	Chuckling as Tabitha asks for something easier, she reaches down into the carry-all she brought with her. She pulls out a pair of lollipops, large and round, like a little three dimensional skull. "If you help me with the meals one day a week, I'll teach you how to make your own lollies," she tells the girl who seems to love her sweets almost as much as Tate does. Getting to know Tatum is harder for the psychics in the mansion. Her power's aura of negation keeps anyone from touching her mind, leaving her as a sort of empty space where a person's mind should be. The lounge chair she is in might as well be empty as far as any psychics are concerned. "Looking forward to the school year, Ms Braddock?"
Penance	Monet settles into her seat and almost doesnt' seem like she heard Tabby's jab, resting her forearms on the arms of the lounge chair. "Eef I did my shopping at Wal-mart, also, darling, then yes-- I would agree," Monet says, with a lazy indifference and keeping her face turned skywards. She sits propped up enough to watch people frolicking and playing, and examines the little assembly with an unreadable expression. Tatum is of course a null, which baffles and confuses Monet's sensibilities, but Psylocke would almost certainly sense a tendril of psychic inquiry sniffing at the corners of her mind for stray thoughts.
Psylocke	That tentative touch at Betsy's mind is noticed. Instead of blocking it immediately, the violet haired woman taps into a recent memory and focuses on it in all its graphic glory. There is an immediate vision of battle with multiple Hand ninjas. The scene is violent and quite graphic. Then it is gone as quickly as it appeared, blocked behind a solid mental wall to keep Monet out. The mental block is strong and to try and get through will be noticed and no doubt merit a less polite response. Betsy doesn't even look her direction. Instead, she turns her attention back to Tatum with a soft smile. "Yes and no," she says with a British accent so at odds with her Japanese form. "It's been nice having some time off, to just indulge in outside pursuits. Yet it is a pleasure to meet new students and begin classes as well."
Tatum O'Neal	Giving Monet a sidelong glance, Tatum's jaw tightens just a moment when she mentions Wal-Mart. She closes her eyes, inhaling slowly and keeping her aura at the tightest she can, about 2 inches above her skin. She dreams of the day she can rein in her power that she can touch someone without removing their power, but that day may never come. It's taken her 4 years of regular training iwth her power to bring it in this close to her skin. Tatum nods her head to Betsy. "It's harder on you then myself. I teach an elective. It's only mandatory for the freshmen. You, on the other hand, every student needs to take it every year. I don't think I could do that."
Tabitha Smith	"You _really_ need to get over yourself, lady." Boom-Boom says, then spreads out on her chaise. "Nothing wrong with Wal-Mart except they're crap to their employees. I mean, that's not good."
Penance	Monet starts a little in surprise at the figurative hand slapping at her fingers. She looks around wildly, her gaze landing on Psylocke for no apparent reason whatsoever. Chastised, she settles herself back into the chaise, though she looks a lot less restful than she did moments before. Maybe a little surly at how easily Betsy reprimanded her, too. "No, I think /you/ need me to get over it," Monet informs Tabitha in her urbane Monagasque accent. "Walmart is good for my corporate holdings, but I would not think to buy my clothing from them. But, as they say, some do what we must, others... do what they can." She reachs for her water bottle, uncaps it, and takes a sip.
Psylocke	"It's not so bad," Betsy says with a shrug. "Keeps me busy which is for the best. What's the phrase about idle hands? I can never remember it." She lifts her cup and finishes off the contents, setting it a little further back from the edge of the pool. With a little shifting of her hips, she lets herself drop into the water. Briefly, she ducks her head under, then comes up and smooths her hair back from her face. She folds her arms on the edge of the pool. "I would think your own subject is much more difficult. Between the heat and knives, you're flirting with disaster. The most dangerous thing that will happen in my class is a paper cut.
Tatum O'Neal	Even though she is trying her best to ignore Monet, Tate just can't help but have her attention drawn to her time and again. "You know, it's kind of funny. This school is filled with wealthy people. Even nobility! And yet you are the only person among them that acts... like you do. Makes me wonder about your self esteem. Maybe you should have a sit down with the Professor, discuss your problems with low self esteem with him." She pops the lollipop into her mouth then and reaches for her glasses. Her tattoos are both very visible in her bikini. Feline like claw marks on her ribs on the right side and what looks like a bite mark of a large fanged creature on her left shoulder, half on the front and half on the back of the shoulder.
Tabitha Smith	Boomer sits up again, lifting her sunglasses. "I think you need some new shoes." she says around the skull lollipop she was given a minute before and had popped in her mouth. A small glowing ball of plasma appears in her hand. She tosses it, meaning for it to land under Monet's lounge. "You got three seconds to run. two..."
Penance	Monet looks at the ball of plasma as it arcs and rolls towards her, blinking behind her glasses. She stiffens, but only a little, and makes an imperious shoo-ing gesture at it. Some unseen force smacks the sphere away towards the pool, and it vanishes into the lapping waves. "I think that you need some manners. Zees are Ferragamos, and cost more than your car," she chides Tabitha. "Jealousy is always ugly, but petty jealousy-- it is ugly as zat pimple on your nose," she sniffs.
Psylocke	As the plasmoid moves to the pool, a shadow at the very edge just opens up and the time bomb disappears into the darkness. If it isn't negated by Tabitha, at least it'll explode somewhere it cannot damage or endanger a student in the pool. There is the flare of a red tattoo over Betsy's left eye at the precise moment that happens. It's gone an instant later. Putting her hands on the edge of the pool, she pulls herself up and climbs out. She moves in the direction of the seats occupied by the students. "Discussion is fine. Powers used to destroy property and potentially endanger students by tossing that danger in the pool? That is not allowed," she says to the pair. Since they are equally guilty in her mind. "Keep it in check, ladies."
Tatum O'Neal	Normally, Tate would stop Boom-Boom from blowing something up. But she can't see everything all the time and stop every student from using their powers poorly. As Tabitha and Monet start to argue, Tate's face takes on a grumpy air. She's going to have to be all adult and intervene. "Tabitha, please refrain from damaging propery that does not belong to you. Ms. St. Croix, I do not know if you are a guest, a teacher or a student, but we come from all walks of life at this school. Not everyone has had your advantages. Perhaps flaunting your wealth amongst the student body isn't the best way to gain friends. Some may take it as a slap in the face to their own lack of wealth." Her tone of voice has a sternness to it that broaches no arguement, her fingers thrumming on the arm of her lounge chair. "Do recall ladies, that I'm in charge of detention. And that means no powers. Unless I decide to put you in the training room."
Tabitha Smith	Boomer looks confused as the bomb doesn't explode, but she shrugs. "Musta been a dud."     She looks at Monet. "I... I don't HAVE a car!" is all she can say. She stamps a foot. "You're _impossible_!" and she snatches up her towel and flips her sunglasses down again, angrily. "I do _not_ have a pimple on my nose!" she exclaims and begins to stomp out.
Penance	Monet looks a bit taken aback at the reprimand, but Tabitha and Psylocke both turning those stern glowers on her checks her automatic protest. She settles her jaw, a line of muscle flexing, and nods once, shortly. "Oui, I understand," she mutters, in her cultured Monagasque accent. She looks at Boomer as the plasma-hurling mutant gets ready to leave, and something like regret flickers on her face at the angry response to her words-- but just as clearly, Monet does not have the humility to reach out and check Tabitha's departure from poolside.
Psylocke	Nothing else is said by Betsy as she settles on her own lounge chair, pulling the towel up before she sits and quickly working on drying off the worst of the water. She is keeping an eye on things while she works on her hair. She leaves it in the capable hands of Tatum although Tabitha's move to leave the poolside may keep there from being a need. It's just unfortunate it had to come to that point at all.
Tatum O'Neal	Tatum likes Tabitha. Mostly because she sees a lot of herself in the student. The temper, the sweet tooth, the loyalty to her friends. She doesn't stop Tabby from going away if that is what she needs to do. If she weren't a teacher and had to be all non-biased, she'd give Tabitha a bunch of her homemade lollipops as a way of making her feel better. As it is though, Tabby will go lollipop-less. The fight that nearly happened didn't and Tatum leans back in her lounge and pretends to close her eyes and relax, neither of which is actually happening.
Penance	Monet pretty clearly lacks the social werewithal to go out and fix what she'd just done. She shifts on the chaise, her eyes not looking at anyone from behind her sunglasses. Her tart shot at Tabitha had apparently gone a little too far, and with the rebuke from the two teachers, Monet appears to be feeling a little humilitated herself for having broken some unknown rule in this strange place. She watches Tabi storming off a little distance, then exhales through her nose and launches into the air in flight. She swoops rapidly towards Tabitha and intercepts her, hovering six inches off the ground. "Come," she says, a little more sharply than perhaps she meant. "Zees are only words. It is too nice of a day for to be ruined, oui?" she inquires of the woman. "Zees is a large pool. There is room enough for all of us."
Tabitha Smith	Tabitha takes the skull lolipop out of her mouth and points it at Monet. "It's not your words. Words I can take and give back twice as good. No, it's your stupid shoes and your stupid robe and your stupid STUPIDNESS." and she sighs. "Look, you make fun of me all you want, but I'm tellin' you not to give Lexi Nemo... oh, sorry..." she says, her voice filling with sarcasm. "... you wouldn't remember her name. The purpley girl? Don't mess with her anymore, got it? Or you _will_ regret it. I promise you that, babycakes."
Tatum O'Neal	Sometimes Tate wishes her power would let psychics in. Then she could have a conversation, teacher to teacher with Betsy, without the students getting involved. Instead, she has to hope that Betsy understands the arched brow and heavy sigh as she sits and ignores the students. They have to learn to deal with their own fights like adults. She can't intervene before it's her time to, no matter how much she may want to.
Penance	Monet hikes a brow at Tabi's bold threat. "Lexi," she says, slowly, as if memorizing the words. "...oui. I will leave your girlfriend alone, then," she says, resigning herself to taking the higher road. This time, anyway. She blinks at Tabitha twice, searching for something else to say, but nothing relevant comes to mind. So with a clearing of her throat, Monet floats up and over Tabitha's head and flies back to her seat, settling into the chaise lounge and setting about pinning up her wealth of black hair atop her head.
Tatum O'Neal	With Tabitha having left, Tatum takes it upon herself to try and fix what she can of what happened. "Ms. St. Croix? Are you staying here as a guest or a student? Either way, perhaps I should get you a copy of the student body rules. Even if you yourself aren't a student, by knowing the rules they themselves have to follow, you are less likely to offend others.|
Psylocke	At the raised eyebrow from Tatum, Betsy gives a brief nod. They both are in agreement that they only step in when it is totally necessary. The students have to learn to cope with problems on their own, as long as things don't get out of hand. Finishing up with her hair, she realizes she left her empty cup by the pool. She rises and goes to pick it up. When she returns to her lounger a moment later, she glances over to Monet and gives a brief nod before settling back to relax. Then Monet will hear the voice in her head, the same as the one that Betsy uses outwardly. <<Well handled. If you wish to work on your psychic abilities in the future, feel free to come by my office.>> An olive branch offered for a job well done in Monet's attempt at making amends with Tabitha.
Penance	Monet turns to look at Tate when she's addressed, twisting at the hip as she gets her hair tied and pinned up so it can't get wet. "I am... it is complex," she says, finally, pursing her lips a little. She rests her hands on her lap, half kneeling, half sitting sideways on the lounge chair. "Zee Professor, he knew my father. We corresponded some weeks ago and he invited me to come here to ... develop some of my talents," she explains. "But I am not here for a scholastic education. Just ... " she twists, uncertainty on her face. "It seemed prudent to be in the company of... others like us." Mutants. And the posh aristocrat seems unwilling to say the word out loud. She starts a little at the psychic voice, looking to Betsy. <<She is somewhat thin skinned. I thought she would fight, not quit. I did not realize...>> she trails off, conveying her frustration and uncertainty with the accomodations here. <<Yes. Some training would be most welcome,>> she confirms for Psylocke.
Tatum O'Neal	Tatum nods her head when Monet explains. "I first came here when I was 19. I had already graduated high school and was in my second year at Juilliard when my x-gene woke up. So, like you, I was here as a guest, but also sort of here as a student. I'll make sure you get the handbook. While you aren't beholden to all the rules, as I said, knowing what the others have to follow might help you." Lifting a knee, Tatum sits up, wrapping her hands around it. "THere are all sorts of people here that will be more then willing to help you. Sadly, my power is not really conducive to helping you use your powers, or I would offer."
Psylocke	"My own story is a bit mroe convoluted," Betsy offers outloud as she turns sideways on her lounger. "But suffice it to say, my own background is a bit more like your own. I was born into a wealthy family. I even am titled due to my bloodline. Had all the best things. My abilities as a telepath came about and I rebelled against the world. I had to learn to control them but also when was appropriate for using them. So perhaps I can help you with both of those things. Finding your niche here and using those particular abilities. I'm not sure if you have others or if I would be able to do anything to train those." She leaves that open ended so Monet can offer or maintain her privacy.
Penance	Monet's posture towards the two women thaws noticeably-- Tatum, expressing some common ground with regards to placement, and then when Betsy explains her blue-blooded pedigree, Monet's stance becomes positively relaxed, though it's still immaculately poised. "My father is the Ambassador of Monaco," Monet explains. "And my mother is-- was," she amends, with a swallow, "cousin to the King of Jordon. Our family is closely related to the monarchies in most of the Arab nations." She takes a microsecond to regain her composure. "The... control, is why I am here. There are, as you can imagine, few in Europe able to tutor the proper use of our talents."
Tatum O'Neal	When Monet thaws, so does Tate. She's not a bad sort, really. She just doesn't tend to like wealthy people that flaunt their wealth. It brings out the old Tate in her, the angry resentful one that had a huge chip on her shoulder. She offers a soft smile to the aristocratic woman. "Just remember, as wealthy as you are, you are now a mutant. And sadly, there are going to be people that despise you for that and that alone. We are family, of a sort, bonded by our shared life as outcasts of society."
Psylocke	"There are very few there. Perhaps Moira but she would likely refer you to the Professor as well. He really is the best in the field of helping mutants come to terms with their abilities," Betsy says as she gets to her feet. "There are a hanful in Englahd. But not nearly enough." She picks up her empty cup as well. "If you ladies will excuse me, I'm going to need to head off. Hopefully, I can catch up with you both again soon." With that she gives a brief wave, a faint smile then she heads for the door and disappears back inside.