Owner	Pose
Charles Xavier	There is a strange... 'sensation' at the street level this evening, down by a row of very low income housing, much of it in bad repair. It is perhaps 11pm, the night is cold. And the passerby seem to mostly have their heads in their own business as usual: or maybe even moreso than usual. And that is the sensation: that nobody is 'looking' at anything tonight. There is a small child, bundled in green fleece over-large coat, seated on some cement steps by a building. She is speaking very quietly to a somewhat out-of-place looking gentleman in a sleek modern wheelchair. He is similarly bundled up, as the night is quite cold. The child laughs suddenly and spins away from him off onto the sidewalk, and starts to gather up slow in her mismatched mittens. There's a soft glow of little lights around her, as if magical glowbugs were attracted to her laughter, and causing the warm show to flare and reflect off of snow and the slick, wet surfaces of the street. A few people walking by entirely ignore -- or don't even see it. The man in the wheelchair does, though, and encourages her to continue.
Maya Caldwell	Maya Caldwell slowly shuffles along the sidewalk, huddled up in a pair of thick blankets. Her eyes and nose are exposed through a small gap at her face, but it's impossible to pick out details in the low evening light. She slows to a stop as she spots the girl a few dozen feet away, dancing and playing in the snow for the old man in the wheelchair. The woman stays silent for the moment, and just watches the strange light overtaking the girl.
Charles Xavier	The girl spins again and laughs loudly, throwing her gloved hands up and a little shower of twinkles bursts from her head and neck, to lightly flutter upwards and then wink out in a spiral. The man claps his hands for her quietly, eyes moving past her to the huddled Maya. His expression is mild, thoughtful: or perhaps curious, taking her in, before the girl calls to Charles, to get his attention back fully on her: "Wait!" eagerly-- and then squats, slowly trying to scoop snow in her hands. The Professor nods to the girl, and waits, as she grunts and works to gather the snow up.
Maya Caldwell	Maya Caldwell chews on her lower lip nervously beneath her blankets, then slowly turns around to look past the nearby apartments, before looking over to the man in the wheelchair. Finally, she decides to move around the girl, and approaches the man in the wheelchair, though still keeps a respectable distance. "I-Isn't that...dangerous?" she hisses out quietly, voice already naturally wispy and weak. "This isn't e-exactly...a nice part o-of Metropolis..."
Charles Xavier	"It usually is, yes," Charles says, gently, with a saddened look to Maya. The little girl pauses in gathering her snow, but Charles indicates for her to go ahead with a smile and gesture of hand. She peers at Maya but continues with her snow. "I've asked Felicia to show me, though... and I'll protect her for now," he says, simply. He's unassuming, but has a reserved confidence. A few people walk by, talking about their holiday plans, entirely ignoring all three of them. Charles gives Maya a thoughtful softened smile. Felicia calls, "ALMOST..." still making her snowball.
Maya Caldwell	Maya Caldwell chews on her lower lip for another few seconds and goes back to eyeing the girl cautiously. "Wouldn't it...still be a-a good idea to...do this somewhere else...?" She clears her throat, then, "A week ago, there was...uh, something going on at the apartments here. Big, um..." The blankets shuffle a bit, as if the woman wants to gesticulate, but, of course, can't, as bundled up as she is. "Big...uh, dark bubble o-of...of some kind. I don't know. But, ah...I mean, there's...people that...hurt...um, th-those kinds of people. Especially here."
Charles Xavier	Charles puts his full attention on Maya, and nods slowly. He seems to .. think about it, in a very focused way. Charles considers, and smiles once more, perhaps adjusting for Maya's comfort. "Tonight is safe. But, you are right. It is... rather cold. So, somewhere warmer as well, yes: soon. But Felicia needs to stay here with her family.... but I did mention sandwiches." "YES YOU DID," agrees the girl, who returns with her snowball. "I like pizza more, but. Jerry said it was fine." It's covered in her little fluttering lights, like a strange ornament. "Jerry did, indeed. Share with your brother, all right?" Charles reminds her, starting to move his chair towards the sidewalk. There's a car parked there, too nice to not be his. "Yeeees sir," Felicia says in dismay. Her lights get brighter, though.
Maya Caldwell	Maya Caldwell stiffens up slightly at the mention of food, but says nothing. Her attention turns toward the bespeckled snowball, and she smiles beneath her blankets. "Th-That's very pretty," she says aloud to the young girl. "You know, you, ah...y-you have a real gift. Be proud of it, okay?" She stares down at the young girl and nods firmly.
Charles Xavier	"I'm happy to share, if you'd like something to eat, as well," Charles offers to Maya, as if it just occurred to him. He gives her a warm smile. "Would you mind helping me to unload them, though?" he asks Maya regretfully, gesturing to the car door. If she does choose to help, there is a box there, and about six wrapped sandwiches, and some other things: bottled apple juice, and so on. Clearly brought for a small family. "It is my sparkle," Felicia chimes at Maya, cheeks turning bright red from the compliment. "Thank you," she says, in an afterthought, perhaps remembering to be polite.
Maya Caldwell	Maya Caldwell lifts her head and turns to Xavier at the offer. "Wh-...No, no, I...I couldn't, uh...I mean, I can help unload them, sure, but, ah..." She gulps, then opts to leave the sentence hanging. After shuffling her blankets around for a moment, a thin, pale hand pokes out and opens the car door. Her other hand pokes out, and then she just sighs and decides to drop the blankets entirely off on the sidewalk to more easily carry the box. "Don't even know why I bother with those, it's winter," she mumbles to herself. Beneath the blankets, the woman's wearing a pair of faded jeans and a loose tank top, nothing more, not even shoes. She should be freezing--and she looks the part, but she's not even shivering.
Charles Xavier	Charles watches Maya thoughtfully but without judgement. He doesn't push her, but gestures that he can accept the box into his lap once she's lifted it free. It doesn't weigh much anyway. "What do you think, Felicia?" Charles asks the child instead. "Yes, eat with me," the girl shines at Maya, as she reaches into the box to pull a sandwich out and rips at the plastic some with her teeth, slightly feral. Charles is mostly attending to Maya now, observing her movement, and there's a gentle, brief telepathic brush... extremely subtle... just to check on her wellbeing, and if she is hungry or cold. "I'm Charles Xavier," Charles introduces himself quietly to her. "I run a school for gifted children and young adults. I help where I can... if help is wanted," he provides. His name is relatively well known: mutant politics.
Maya Caldwell	Maya Caldwell doesn't seem to notice the psychic invasion of privacy. She's not starving, but could still certainly use a bite to eat. And she -is- cold, with her body itself well below freezing, yet she seems completely comfortable, despite it. Maya sets the box gently in Xavier's lap, then turns to Felicia. "I, ah...Well, if you're sure..." She turns back to Xavier as he mentions himself. She blinks. "Oh! Ah, s-sorry! I, uh, I've heard of you before, I just didn't...put two and two together. Um...S-Sorry, I'm...uh, Sarah." Maya bows her head, suddenly a lot more respectful.
Charles Xavier	"Hi Sarah," Charles says, relaxed, and not asking for any more than she's willing to give. "No need to apologize, please." A pause, looking at Felicia. "I think she's sure," Charles says in amusement, while Felicia looks up, blinks, shrugs, and eats her tuna-fish, after grabbing a second one. "I think we mostly have turkey left," Charles observes of the box.
Maya Caldwell	Maya Caldwell nods her head and hesitantly grabs for a sandwich. She unwraps it from the foil and hesitantly takes a bite, before wincing. A few seconds later, she gulps it down and culs it in her hands to cool it off. "Sorry. Er, m-most of what I eat is...frozen."
Charles Xavier	"It needs to be frozen?" Charles asks, thoughtful, interested in the odd apology. He gestures a little bit with a hand near the box, as if to fan away apologies she keeps offering, not minding. "Please, do what is best for you," he suggests. Felicia asks from a mouthful of food, squinting at Maya, "So you eat like-- snow cones and cold Hot Pockets?"
Maya Caldwell	Maya Caldwell looks down to Felicia and awkwardly nods. "I-I guess? Frozen burritos, uh, H-Hot Pockets, yeah. Or I just...f-freeze it myself." She lifts her head and glances around briefly, before taking another bite of the sandwich. She gulps, then, "It's been a long time since I-I could eat them hot..." She sighs. "Kinda...wish I could try it just once, t-...to, uh, try it again. Even if it'd burn."
Charles Xavier	"Hmmmm. Curious. Perhaps if we meet again, I may be able to help you with it," Xavier considers, with a quiet regret, as if dismayed he may be unable to help her at the moment. "I do know... at least one other gifted individual with cold related abilities... should you wish for a contact to discuss how he handles that, though," Charles Xavier offers, clearly hopeful to be able to help her network. "I don't like my tongue burned!" Felicia says to Maya, shaking her head and chewing more.
Maya Caldwell	Maya Caldwell seems to hesitate...before slowly nodding, her long, black hair bouncing and swaying with the movements. "Yeah, I'd...I-I'd like that." She looks down to her cold sandwich, then speaks up again. "You, uh...That...school y-you said you ran. By, um, 'gifted', you...m-mean, people...like us, right?" Her tone is fragile, as if she's choosing her words very carefully.
Charles Xavier	Mentally, he gently sends a telepathic thought. There is clear intent to clarify that it is him doing it: <<That is what I mean, yes.>> It comes with a relaxed emotion, that there is nothing to fear here. Friendliness. "We teach those that need help understanding their gifts and growing as people. Yes." Xavier fishes in the interior of his coat and comes up with a small card. A mansion extension information contact.
Maya Caldwell	Maya Caldwell jitters at the sudden telepathic thought and looks down to Xavier. She looks down at the card as he pulls it out and slowly takes it. Just being near her as she grabs for it is enough to chill his hand. "Uh...r-right. I mean, I'm not sure I c-could...afford tuition, but...um, thanks, I'll...I'll consider it." She holds the card close to her chest and nods.
Charles Xavier	Charles doesn't react to the cold much, though he does note it. He doesn't draw attention to it though -- it's fine. "That's what scholarships are for. And we do have some... adult college aged students as well," he says, gentle. "But... it is also a lifeline. Should you need it, or someone to talk to." He hands out several more things from the box to Felicia. "Get those to your brother, now," he reminds her, and she nods, hugging them into her jacket. "Bye," Felicia says to Maya brightly.
Maya Caldwell	Maya Caldwell briefly looks over to Xavier, before lowering her head sheepishly. She jods at his words...then suddenly lifts her head up and glances between Felicia and Xavier at their broef converstion. "Wait, sh-...I-I thought she was yours? Ah, w-would you...mind if I at least...er, made sure she got home safe?"
Charles Xavier	"No, she and her brother live here with their uncle," Charles supplies, sighing. "For now. They have invitation, but they have some more thinking to do about what is best for them," he says, turning his head. "You are welcome to, yes, though it is just across there," Charles says, nodding his head down towards the end of the block. "Carry apple juice for me?" Felicia begs Maya.
Maya Caldwell	Maya Caldwell stutters out a wispy, but firm, "I-I'd like to." Her attention snaps down to Felicia, and she smiles a bit. "Ah, s-sure. It'll be nice and cold, too." She takes the apple juice and follows Felicia back home, only pulling her eyes away from their surroundings long enough to glance back at Xavier over her shoulder.