Owner	Pose
Lorna Dane	It was raining in a small downpour that evening in the Mansion. Thunder rumbling in the not too distance, and Lorna entered through the front down, an umbrella soaked and closed floating about her as she directed it to the umbrella holder by the door. She huffed an annoyed breath, pushing green locks back from her face in an irritated fashion. She'd been caught in the rain coming back from a business meeting in NYC and was as such, later than she wanted to be. Her shoes were soaked, as were part of her dress pants, and she bent to collect her kicked off high heels as she made to set them aside rather than track in more water into the Mansion's freshly cleaned carpets and stairs. It would seem some students had either been rather enterprising or given an alternative to detention.
Charles Xavier	As ever, things are a bustle in the foyer of Xavier's School, whether rain or shine. Students flutter about from room to room, chattering loudly as they venture between evening classes and extracurricular activities. Theirs is a life so guarded at the moment, one might imagine they've no awarenss of the chaos and dangers escalating in the world beyond the mansion's walls. That is, in a way, how the founder intended their youths to be.     Charles Xavier, now technically a man in retirement with so much of his authority spread out amongst the children he trained, is a bastion of peace but for the student who occasionally pauses to greet him. Each is met with a smile and an attentive ear, only for him to return to the book he's reading after they're gone. To Kill a Mockingbird. Really going back to one of the classics, there. His hoverchair holds him in silence as he flips the pages, the lamp next to him a lone source of light next to a dark window blurred by the storm.
Roberto Da Costa	That summer storm has delayed Roberto's plan to return to New York for lunch. Which means he had to go to the kitchen and forage. Just like the old times. Perhaps he should have brought his car to the mansion instead of leaving it in Salem, but he prefers as few people as possible to know he is again hanging out at Xavier's. Public mutant and all. On the other hand, he had a chance to hang out with old friends. And now to see Lorna as she arrives. "Still raining, Lorna? Man, one would say in 2027 the weather forecast would be more accurate. Maybe someone annoyed Storm."
Lorna Dane	Lorna huffed a breath of irritation as she plucked up her high heels and started forward, only to spot Roberto as he made a comment about the rain. "Yeah, of course it's still raining. Why else would I be mostly damp?" She drawled her voice dry as she plodded passed Roberto and spotted the Professor on her way toward the stairs that led to her room. She changed direction, approaching the older mutant with a fond smile. "Hey Professor, it's been a while." She half shrugged, holding herself back from offering a friendly embrace given how she was already damo.
Charles Xavier	"Commentary like that may well annoy Storm. Take care," Xavier says to Roberto from his perhaps unseen corner. He sounds mostly amused, emphasis upon the mostly. At the same time, there's Lorna. "Ms. Dane. It seems this is an evening for birds to return to the nest, hm?" The professor gently closes the book he'd been reading, looking between the two with an appreciative smile. "Well, I can at least take comfort in the fact that you both look well. It does me good in troubled times to see our alumni still thriving."     Charles queries, "What brings the two of you back to the School?" He could just know the answer to that, one might say, so it's to the master telepath's credit that he bothers to actually inquire. An engaging soul, as ever.
Roberto Da Costa	It was a rhetorical question, but Roberto is not going to argue the point. If only because he realizes the professor is there just about the same time Lorna does. It has been a long while since he saw Xavier in person. He nods at the old man, smiling faintly. "I stand corrected, Professor. But perhaps someone annoyed Thor," as for the question, he shrugs briefly. "I needed to check some data and talk with Doug," both of which he could have done from New York. But any excuse is good to visit the school, he tried to do so a couple times every week.
Lorna Dane	Lorna paused a reasonable distance from the Professor, much of her irritation shoved aside, or at least ignored for the time being as she found time to greet her old mentor and teacher. A certain fondness remained for the Professor, even if she didn't actively spend as much time in the Mansion these days. "I was in New York for a business meeting, rather an attempted business meeting. I was given the run around again regarding trade deals and sanctions. The typical, noncommittal, 'We'd love to talk to you more in the future' stuff I'm always getting." She heaved a sigh, and shrugged, trying to lighten just how much those meeting drained her. How badly they annoyed her and allowed her anger and resentment to boil beneath the surface of diplomacy. Few people wanted to trade openly with Genosha. Those that did frequently weren't the ones that Lorna wanted to work with. But such was her lot in life when her father was actively threatening a good portion of the planet's countries. "How are you doing Professor?"
Charles Xavier	Professor Xavier smiles faintly as he places the book aside, leaving it upon the same stand at the lamp. "There was a time - well, many times over many years - when people resisted funding this School. Fought against its existence, what's more. Persistence is everything, Ms. Dane, and a bit of the stars crossing in your favor. Give your time to those eager to provide you with theirs, and you may well find an equitable partner in trade." On that thought, he inclines his head toward Roberto. "It occurs that we do have something of a businessman in our midst. Perhaps the two of you might work together on the endeavor?"     He is, for the moment, clearly avoiding the fact that Magneto's proving an obstacle to world stability. Personally awkward topic, and not just for Lorna.     "I'm well, thank you," the professor continues. "One would like to say that I'm enjoying retirement, but I can't help but confess to missing the demands a bit." Xavier considerately inquires, "And the both of you?"
Roberto Da Costa	"I would love to be able to help the mutants of Genosha," replies Roberto with a sigh. "But Da Costa International will do no business in autocratic nations anymore. And Magneto has appointed himself King of Genosha. Should democratic reforms happen..." but yeah. Who can convince Magneto to relinquish any kind of power. Besides the two other mutants in the room, that is. "Personally I am well, Professor," adds Roberto, grinning. "I miss the school and the adventuring, so I help when I can in small tasks. But my main responsibility nowadays is my corporation."
Lorna Dane	Lorna folded her arms as she listened to the Professor try to gentle the sting of being once more rejected in the business world. She was new to it all, and her short temper and family ties did not bode well for her ability to continue in this vein forever. Still, she'd been trying //peaceful// ways to help Genosha and mutants in the wider world. And had been met with failure continuously. Though as the Professor continued onto mention Roberto, she snorted and rolled her eyes. Roberto filled in the gaps and she gestured toward the other mutant. "Yeah, I offered to help fund his business here in Mutant Town and tried to work with him. He clearly wants nothing to do with Genosha." She muttered, green eyes narrowing faintly that gave way just how much she'd taken that part personally. Much more so than other businesses refusing to work with her or Genosha at large. "I'm just peachy, Professor." She was not in fact, in anyway, shape or form, peachy. She was barely holding onto the fingernail's hold she had on her emotions and mental state. Magneto, the Sentinels, being named //heir// to Genosha at large.. and many, many, more things weighed heavily on her mind. Lorna wasn't doing well in the least. But she'd be damned before she said.
Charles Xavier	Xavier looks between Lorna and Roberto before coming to a simple solution. "Perhaps negotiations are in order? Compromise. I've had to accept compromise many a time over the years in order to secure the future. You two might give some thought to reassessing whether all's lost in a potential agreement," he gently urges. "It's important to remember, on all sides, that one man's choices musn't define the future for a majority of innocents caught up in the matter."     He opens his mouth for a moment at Lorna's claim of well-being, and then closes it. Not many thoughts silence the first on the Professor's mind, but something has this time around. There's a certain resignation in his tone as he wonders aloud, "I remember when Erik and I were young. Things were so much simpler." Talk about simplfying the past, indeed. "Where has my old friend gone, I wonder? Perhaps it's time we have a reunion so that I can find the answer."     That was all spoken, but he was obviously as much planning and thinking as speaking. Charles has finally decided to directly intervene, perhaps. Oh, but one wouldn't hear that from Xavier, who's back to smiling at the pair. "I'll let the two of you discuss business, then, or feud over it. I think conscience will speak to which is the better choice," he says as he rests a hand upon his hoverchair's controls. "Take care, would you? We've many trials to deal with, but as always, we persevere. It's the strength of this school's graduates."
Roberto Da Costa	Roberto arches an eyebrow to Xavier's suggestion. Compromise? It took a lot of effort to pull Da Costa International of all the dirty (and very lucrative) dealings it had with a number of African tyrannies. And of course companies like Roxxon quickly filled the gap. Ah, his shareholders weren't happy at all. "Look, I like Lorna. And if I have to admit I do admire a few things about Magneto," he says. "And Black Panther is one of my heroes. And Wakanda is a monarchy too. I can't... I have to draw the line, we all should. I honestly think this is how people like me should use their power to try to make the world a better place."
Lorna Dane	Lorna huffed her breath, "There's nothing to compromise on my end, Professor. It's all on him. I'd love to help mutants here in Mutant Town and work out something beneficial for Genosha. But he's not interested. Which is why I have to work with men like Lex Luthor if my people are going to have //any// outside business contracts at all." She muttered, her expression twisting with irritation. Which was replaced with out and out disbelief as the Professor spoke of her father and the past. It was never a good sign when either of the two father figures in her life spoke of their past. It always led to //something// dramatic. Still, it was the fastest way to wipe the irritation from her expression and she blinked repeatedly at the Professor as he excused himself and departed. Lorna cast a glance at Roberto at the Professor's departure, still standing there damp and holding onto her high heels.
Charles Xavier	Xavier moves his hoverchair forward to depart, only to pause for a moment. "I've always had a vision for how I might best help the world, and fulfilling it would've been as simple as changing a memory here, an opinion there. Instead, we chose the longer, more difficult path to success. I encourage you both to consider walking down that path together. The end is dark now, unseen, but you'll ultimately arrive at a better place if you simply keep moving forward." He glances sidelong at Roberto as he adds, "Not that I don't understand your positions and admire the strength of your convictions. It's just that occasionally, we do have to relent on some things so that the majority might suffer less for it."     "If you'll excuse me, I have something to attend to," Xavier says as he resumes moving his hoverchair forward, the simple seat gliding silently toward the deeper halls of the mansion. "Take care, and make yourselves comfortable until the weather clears."
Roberto Da Costa	Right. Awkward. "Lets go somewhere more comfortable where you can dry off," offers Roberto. "I have no idea how to help Genosha without compromising my principles and having my shareholders yelling at me to return to Libya, Bangalia and worse places. But we can brainstorm, perhaps ask Ms. Frost for advice. She is... devious." Also, the Hellfire Club is full of underhanded businessmen, some of which might be semi-trustworthy. "My father admired Lex Luthor. But that is not something that could be considered very good."
Lorna Dane	Lorna sighed, and nodded to the Professor, offering him a soft goodbye, some of her steam fading as Roberto offered to move things to a more diplomatic ground. One where she wasn't chilled, wet, and bare footed. She glanced back at Roberto once and nodded, gesturing for the stairwell. "Lets go on up to the staff dorms then?" She offered her voice considerably mollified. "My father can't stand Luthor, but he supports mutants and mutant labor rights, so he agreed to a business deal with the man." She pursed her lips together, "And he's the only business I've managed to secure in Genosha. Miss Frost as only offered more.. back deal sorts of funding too. The kind with multiple layers of off shore banks and fronts to hide where the money is going or coming from." She grimaced faintly. "I honestly just want to help the mutants in Mutant Town and wanted to support your plans there. But I get it.. I can't be publicly anywhere near it. The harder I fight to help Genosha the more isolated I've become rather than bringing anything of use to Genosha.."
Roberto Da Costa	"Your support is a dangerous thing now," admits Roberto, walking with Lorna towards the staff dorms. "Because of Magneto. And because Genosha is seen as a mutant nation despite the open doors immigration policies. It is seen as a separation, not an integration. However the X-Corporation is going to allow superhumans to work and operate under codenames and keep their real or even public identities secret," that was in part thanks to Cyclops input. "And I still want as many people from the school helping as possible, taking control of departments and other important positions. So I think there is a place for you."