Owner	Pose
Rikki	The Afternoon sun shines through the abandoned apartment window, stirring the singlular inhabitant from her slumber. She is not awake more then a minute before her stomach begins growling wildly. "Oh come on. I just woke up. I ate a whole pizza last night! I shouldn't be hungry!!!" She frowns as her stomach continues to sing the song of its people. She sighs and gets dressed. She has a little money but, She is trying to save it in case anyone tries to kick her out of the Apartment. Quietly she moves her way to Central park. Everything feels funny as usual to her. The world just seems to move slowly for her and its still unsettling. She is being careful not to move too fast. The last thing she wants it to attract the weird lightning again.
Jean Grey	Jean was out shopping for Christmas gifts for students who were stuck at the school over the holiday, some just had no where else to be while others just couldn't make it home this year. So she was adament about providing these students with all the gifts they'd written down on their wishlists... One of the gifts was a very specific type of hat that the 12 year old kid had seen in Central Park at a small shop there-in-- "It was a hat with King Kong on one side of the Empire State Building with The Hulk on the other side of it and they were about to punch each other.." Jean said to the overweight man behind the counter who stared at the redhead with a disinterested tiredness to his overall demeanor. He--out of no where--produced the very same hat up from behind his counter. "Ya mean this one, lady?" He said to her in a thick New York accent. Jean's green eyes lit up and a smile shot across her red lips. "Yes!" She said, reaching out for the hat. "Oh my god, you're a life saver!" "Yeah, tell my wife that." He said in a disgrunted fashion. "Twelve fifty for the hat." Jean went then, to dig around inside of her black leather purse that was more like a small backpack, it was hanging from her left shoulder. She produced the three Five Dollar Bills and handed them over to him.
Rikki	Rikki looks around the park. "Okay here we go. Step one. Find a mark. Step two, hide." She states to herself. She hatses having to do this. But who is going to hire her? She's under age and may as well be considered a freak. How she wished her parents were here. Her eyes move around the park, searching for someone who might not be paying attention. Thats when her eyes fall on the Redhead woman. Quietly she starts moving. She isn't running. She's just walking, Trying her best to not move too quick. This is for 2 reasons. The first, so she doesn't draw more attention to herself. The Second, Because she's already nervous enough without any flashy responses to her speed. Quietly she gets close and then... *BUMP!* "OH gosh I'm so sorry. Didn't see you there.* She starts moving away... She snagged something. Don't know what yet though.
Jean Grey	Jean was in the process of accepting her change back from the Vendor and getting the Hat wrapped up in a bag that would conceal it nicely... that when the *bump* came to her she didn't seem to really think about it much at first, she looked over at the young girl and offered the teen a slight smile and a nod. "Its alright, busy day." Jean said on a simple surface level response... See Jean had trained herself to stop reading surface level thoguhts off of people. One, because people often thought about very undesirable things on the surface level of their thoughts and two... because it was invasivce and morally wrong of her to do it without cause or reason. So when Jean started to turn around and put the change back into that little black leather backpack on her hip she was kind of lost in her own world until it occured to her that something felt 'off' about that 'bump' she'd just experienced. The redhead turns in the direction that Rikki had moved and she started to follow behind her... while reaching out with her mind to just briefly try to look inside the girl's thoughts... Just to check real quick.
Rikki	Rikki moves towards a few bushes to hide. She's trying to go as fast as she can without setting off her powers. When Jean actually starts following her and actually scans the girls mind a little. There are 3 things she'd notice. The first is a boat load of hunger. The second is how anxious she is. Third is fear and boy is there plenty of that to go around. The real oddity about it is just how fast those thoughts are moving. It would be very difficult to really stick to one specific thought. As she moves, the girl glances back and notices she's being followed. She accelerates a little. Instantly lightning crackles off her. She sees it and lets out a little scream as in less then a second she is out of sight, hidden in the bushes. Her mind, however could still be read clearly and she is terrified.
Jean Grey	Jean hadn't at all hidden that she was following the girl because she knew if she was spotted by her it might make the Surface Thoughts on Rikki's mind give a little more information that may yield interesting results... But it turns out the interesting results more-so came in the physical reaction that Rikki had to seeing Jean walking about twenty feet behind her. The crackling lightning is visibly witnessed, the strange speed that the girl's mind moves in, let alone the way she vanished into the flora.. Jean stopped walking and she stood there to the side of the concreate pathway next to the grassy yard and stared where she'd last seen Rikki. <<I'm not here to frighten you.>> Jean placed these words into Rikki's mind, her voice was calming and soothing to most minds. <<I can help you, if you need it. Come out and speak to me.>> The imagery of who 'me' in this scenario was was clearly placed inside Rikki's mind as well, the redhead she'd had on her tail.
Rikki	Rikki is freaking out. The lightning scared the crap out of her again. She doesn't hear the person following her anymore. Did she get away? That answer is quickly given to her. As the voice begins to echo in her mind she winces. "WAAAAA! What is happening to me!" The idea that she's hearing a voice in her head that isn't her own is really freaky. Then there is the image of the mark! What is she supposed to do? Stay hidden? No. She's been hiding away for a long time. She needs to do something. Quietly she stands, stepping out of the bush and returning the purse to Jean.
Jean Grey	Jean had lost her entire bag to that skillful little sneak thief, so one part of her was rather impressed by that talent, but... another part was eager to get her bag back of course! Jean smiled softly though when the girl stepped back out of the bushes in the park and she raised her right hand up to gently wave it in Rikki's direction. When she'd draw close enough, that same hand would extend outward toward the teenage girl. "Hello." Jean would say then. "I'm Jean Grey. I work at a school not far from here... are you... hungry? I can buy you something to eat."
Rikki	Rikki blinks a few times. "A school? You're a Teacher? And you can get into my mind?!" She shutters. "I guess the dog eating the homework isn't going to fly..." She comments quietly. "I am really hungry." She's nervous... scared is definitely the key word. "I eat a lot but It never seems like enough." She comments before she looks down at the ground. "I'm sorry I took your purse. I just needed to get money together to go get something to eat." Its clear she's not eating enough. Physically she looks almost Anorexic.
Charles Xavier	If there is another telepath nearby, the telepathy breed is far too subtle to be noticed, for now. But the activity from Jean draws that second telepath's interest more keenly, and in a soft mental touch to Jean, he lets her know that he is coming over from the other side of the vendors where he had been doing his own bits of shopping. In addition, he sends that Jean has his support of the direction that she's headed with the teen. Indeed, after a time, the wheelchair bound Charles Xavier comes around from the side, a coffee in hand as well as a small recent purchase in his lap, neatly packaged, relaxed: an image of calm. Others in the park, had they been looking over at all to a girl ducking out of bushes, will move on with their lives. Charles Xavier is pretty distinct in appearance, and reputation, to those that pay attention to such things.
Jean Grey	Jean was aware of Charles coming closer and she glanced over at him as he drew nearer, the afternoon sunlight was bright and it was offering some warmth in the otherwise cool air of the December day. When Rikki approached and offered her bag back she accepted it and showed a faint smile and verbalized a quiet. "Thank you." To her. "There's plenty of food vendors around here... I'll buy you anything you want." She'd say to Rikki before grinning softly at the girl. "And yes, I'm never to happy when I hear false excuses for incomplete homework." At Charles' arrival though, Jean would motion to him with her hand. "This is Professor Charles Xavier, he's the founder and headmaster at the school."
Rikki	Rikki looks at Jean and then she looks over at the guy in the wheel chair. "Ummm hi." She seems really nervous. "Sorry I got so scared. Lightning freaks me out." She frowns over that. "Could I get a bunch of cheese burgers? Like 10 of them at least? And fries and lots of tea. Tea is so yummy!" She blushes. "Sorry. When everything happened I just got really hungry."
Charles Xavier	"I'm rather fond of a particularly creative excuse, really," Professor Xavier admits as an 'aside' to Jean with an amused light to his eyes, before smiling to Rikki. He isn't here to gang up on her: and two adults can cause something like that, he's well aware. So he is subdued, friendly. "Ten's a tall order. I think I can only manage one burger today - I'll donate my four others to the cause," Charles offers. "Will you tell us more about what happened, when you got so hungry originally?" he asks, conversational, in interest. If he could pick it from her mind, he doesn't appear to: he asks.
Jean Grey	Jean showed a small smile to Charles' comment on creative excuses but her eyes were drawn back to Rikki when the young teenager spoke of her rather exceptional hunger. "My.. I'd say that qualifies as very hungry." She'd say then to the girl, giving Charles an aside glance. <<Reminds me of Kaydin. I believe she's tapping into the same kind of speed power that he uses.>> She'd telepath only to Charles. Jean would look back to Rikki then and motion her to follow. "Come along then, I'll buy you as much as you need to fill you up." She'd offer with a soft smile."
Rikki	Rikki looks at Charles, "To be fair, I ate a whole pizza last night and I'm still hungry." She frowns and takes a deep breath. "I can tell about it. Its a really bad memory. I wish I could forget. She looks at Jean and nods, "Thank you Miss. You're very kind." She winces a little." She looks around. "I don't really know whats good though. I only arrived here a few weeks ago."
Charles Xavier	<<Meeting such a peer could assist her confidence a great deal, I'd suspect,>> Xavier answers mentally to Jean only, with a sense of agreement. He looks at Rikki a long moment, and passes along gentle dismay to Jean, as well as a bit more: <<She is alone, her family is gone. Her safety concerns me.>> "You don't need to talk about it if you don't want to, but I'd like to hear, if you can manage," Xavier adjusts, gently, as Rikki explains it is painful. "But, most importantly, I must first ask ...What do you like on your burgers?" he questions instead.
Jean Grey	Jean would lead the trio of them to the closest 'Shake Shack' that sold all manner of burgers and a wide variety of milkshakes too. She'd take her place in line with them and then sort through her money to get it all ready for paying. <<I can't imagine dealing with such a power myself.>> She'd return to Charles. At Rikki, Jean would smile warmly and when their time in line came she'd motion to the Vendor behind the counter waiting for the order. "Whatever you want, just let him know." She'd say then to Rikki.
Rikki	Rikki takes a deep breath. "It was my 16th Birthday. My mom and dad took me out to dinner. A storm kicked up. A really bad on. It knocked a powerline down. It landed on the suv. My mom and dad got out safely and I followed. Once we were all out, We hugged. As we were hugging, A bolt of lightning hit behind us and sent us all into the suv. I woke up a few days later to find out mom and dad were gone. I survived. The doctors said I healed way faster then they expected. I apparently had third degree burns and I don't even have a scar." She follows along toward the Snack Shack. "Oh umm. Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Pickles, Mayo."
Charles Xavier	"That is a painful birthday to carry with you," Charles says, thoughtful and empathetic. "or to attempt to leave behind," he says, a bit more perceptively. Mentally, he answers Jean: <<I think many of us do have a good idea of what it is like. It is not so different: not at all.>> "Just ten, or can you manage more? Order what you'd like," Charles encourages Rikki as well, when the vendor waits for the order.
Jean Grey	Jean would order fifteen in totality and she'd get a tea for each of them, large for Rikki as she assumed that her thirst was as strong as her hunger. She'd then turn to the others and motion them to one of the tables on the outdoor eating area here in the park... it was at least a nice enough day for eating outside to still be a thing. "They'll be done shortly." She'd say to Rikki with a small smile. "So you're... living on your own now?" She'd ask the teenager then as they'd move to have a seat.
Rikki	Rikki nods slowly to Jean, "I just went out for a run and... I seen all this lightning and when I stopped running I was here. I've been trying to get by. I've burned through most of my parents insurance money. Whatever happened to me caused me to need to eat a lot." She sighs and rubs the back of her head while waiting. "I Hate that my parents are gone. All I want is to be with my parents again. I know that isn't possible.
Charles Xavier	Charles heads out to the outdoor table, moving a chair out of the way just a little so that his own can occupy the end of the table more easily. He moves the parcel from earlier out of his lap to a corner of the table, and focuses on Rikki, listening to her explanations. "Well, I'm glad that your path led you to us, Rikki," Charles offers gently, even though she didn't exactly introduce herself to him. "If you do want our help."
Jean Grey	Short after the trio sat themselves a server would come with the first set of five burgers and brought a large bowl of french fires as well. Jean thanked the server and she looked from Charles to Rikki. "Your parents are with you in everything you do. They raised you and have instilled their values and personalities into you as a result. I know that is a far cry from a true comfort of having them physically here... But... I believe its possible that we ran into each other for a reason here today." A moment later and Jean would pull a small leather book from her jacket and she'd flip it open then remove a blue card with gold lettering on it and the X logo of the school. She'd offer it then to Rikki. "I want you to consider coming to join us at our campus. You'll find that we have a whole host of students who are enduring the same hardships as you... You can find comfort in their support." Jean showed a smile to Charles then. "And we can try hard to keep up with this ravenous apetite of yours as well." Jean looked back to Rikki then. "It won't cost you a dime either... which I know, sounds a bit overwhelming nad too good to be true, but just having you have a place to find -yourself- at is all we really need as payment."
Rikki	Rikki looks at the card curiously. Already she's devouring the first burger like she's not eaten in months. "Ummmm Okay? I guess that would be good. I mean its better then being alone and stuff. Plus I don't like stealing. I just did it to eat you know?" % She finishes the first burger and begins eatiing the second one. "mmmmmm Yum" She looks betwen the professor and Jean, "What types of things can I study there?"
Jean Grey	Jean sipped at her clear plastic cup of tea through the small red straw that she'd placed into and she leaned back in the metal chair around the outdoor table. She glanced between the Professor and Rikki and she smiled. "All the basics you'd find in any highschool level classes and we're now opening up higher, collegiate, courses as well. So if you like it with us, you're capable of hanging out with us for a long time." She flashed a soft smile. Jean leaned forward and picked up a couple of french fries between her thumb and forefinger and took a bite off of their tips. She, on contrast, was a very light eater. "We have others at our school who, I believe, are experience the same kind of enhanced speed that you're living with now. They can help you find out the intricacies of it, learn to utilize it and grow comfortable with it. They'll be eager to help do just that, I'm sure of it, since they came to our school for the same kind of assistance."
Rikki	Rikki frowns, "That is cool I guess. I just don't know much about it. Its really weird and then there is the lightning. Its really scarry when I am just trying t run. It doesn't hurt I don't think. Not me anyway. She finishes off the first burger and moves onto another one. "So umm.. I guess this woill be interesting. I dunno how I'm going to pay for it but Ut would be worth it I think.
Charles Xavier	"We have some scholarships available: That said, we will need your maximum effort with classes, attendance and growth with your mind -- as well as working with your new abilities and needs, in a safer environment than out here," Charles clarifies. "Do you think you can do that?" he asks, with a smile.
Jean Grey	Jean would smile softly and nod her head gently once. "Our school is specifically geared at young people who are all experiencing similar onsets of power that they can't quite explain or fully understand on their own. Myself included, and the Professor." She looked to Charles. "Have all dealt with this our entire lives." Jean was quite young looking, somewhere in her mid twenties most likely. At what Charles said she'd nod her head softly and look back to the young Rikki. "We ultimately just want you to be setup to have an exceptional life, and be sturdy and stable enough to pass on what you've learned to others who are in the same position that you are in now. To create a chain of helping hands, bringing people out of the stages of fear and misunderstanding."
Rikki	Rikki nods slowly, "I can do that. I mean. I wasn't a terrible student at my old school. My grades weren't great. I mean... Its not because I was lazy. I just got bored with all that stuff. I would like something like that." She hmms softly. "Its just kinda hard. I mean, I left everything behind and now I'm trying to rebuild." Two burgers are down without even the slightest sign of stopping. Crazy high Metabolisms at their finest.
Charles Xavier	"Well, you'll be able to form new friendships with other students like yourself at the school, when you're ready," Charles Xavier clarifies. "And if you're bored with classes... do definitely mention it," he chuckles softly. "Our objective is to challenge you, and broaden what you know." Charles sort of started on his burger, pacing himself, maybe.
Jean Grey	Jean was about to speak again when the server approached with another plate, commenting on the fact that three people now had been delivered 2/3rd's of their order. When they went back for the rest, Jean smiled between Charles and Rikki but settled her green eyes again on Rikki. "And should you just feel that this all sounds a little too... 'creepy culty' and don't want to participate, that is... obviously your choice. But please, let us set you up with people here in the city who can help care for you and give you a safe place to rest your head at night. If nothing else, we can help you that much as well." It is quite true that Charles and Jean had contacts here in the city that were 'Gifted Youngsters' supporters also, those that couldn't make thier way to the School for one reason or another.
Rikki	Rikki takes a deep breath as she thinks of what to say. Then with a smile, "I think I want to go back to school. It doesn't matter what I do, I need to graduate and stuff right? Who knows, maybe this... whatever it is can be used to help others. I mean... Its technically already helped me. I should be dead. But I'm not." She shrugs. Grabbing her third burger she starts in on it and just enjoys it. "This place has really good burgers."
Charles Xavier	"You can give us a try, at the very least," Charles offers, with a spread of his hands, and a nod. "There's no signing your soul over," he teases lightly. And agrees with the burger assessment -- he's mostly now done with his, in his somewhat refined, slower way of eating, to cause little mess.
Jean Grey	Jean would smile then at the young one's decision and she'd look to the Professor for a moment as well, inner pride in knowing that she was sure this would turn into another positive addition to the campus. "We can pay for you to have an Uber to the school and let you look around, meet with other emmbers of the student body and the faculty. If you decide its not for you then we'll do the same to make sure you can get back to where you want to go." Jean didn't offer to drive her to the school themselves, becasue that would seem overly creepy to pick a teenage girl up in the park and offer her a ride to some place she wasn't familar with.
Rikki	Rikki frowns, "If I do this I'm all in. I don't have anything to come back to. Its just me." She shrugs and looks at the rest of her burgers. Nope. Not stopping or getting overwhelmed. She takes down number 4 without a second thought. "Thank you for this chance." She states and smiles.