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Dramatis Personae Rictor, Xavier
In Absentia	2015-07-03 Part of the Buzzkill TP
Location <XS> Headmaster's Office - B1
Quietly elegant, the headmaster's office is as old-fashioned as the headmaster himself. The large wooden desk is the centerpiece of the room, the guest's chair a high-backed dark wood one. The walls are painted in rich dark colours, a sole impressionist painting hanging on the wall. The hardwood floors are polished, the floor kept carefully neat and tidy, the room perpetually immaculately organized. Rictor's journey as a lecturer here at Xavier's School has been a smooth one thus far. He's done a good job of over-preparing for his first round of classes and with the term underway he can happily say his bunch of students are going to make it a breeze. That opinion may, and probably will, change in the coming weeks, but for now Rictor remains contented. His journey with the X-Men, however, has been met with a big question mark, as he's still unsure what his role in the team is. Today, he seeks to partly define that role in his talk with Xavier, a man who mentored him in his youth and who he is eager to sit down with again at this juncture. As is typical of the feeling one gets the moment before reconnecting with an old friend, Rictor feels a special type of anxiety in his gut as he pushes open the door to the Headmaster's Office this bright and sunny afternoon. It is early in the term, but that does not mean that there isn't grading to be done. Professor Xavier is ensconced at his desk, a small pile of papers on his desk and a fine tea pot sitting to one side, a light curl of steam drifting from the spout. There are two tea cups and two saucers sitting out beside the pot, neither touched at this point. The usual sugar and milk are present as well as a small plate of watercress sandwiches. Xavier himself is distracted by the paper he is reading when Rictor walks in, taking an extra moment to finish the unfortunately long and run on sentence before he looks up, a small smile pulling a his lip as he visually recognizes the mind he tracked in. He is dressed impeccably in a starched white collar under a dove gray vest and jacket. He pulls back from his desk and straightens up, the small wrinkle of concentration evaporating as he refocuses. "Julio. Good to see you. Come in. Would you like some tea?" Rictor is also dressed nicely for the occasion, in dark-toned business casual with a slim leather computer bag hanging at his side. He crosses the length of the room leisure and nods at the offer of tea, which would be welcome. "It's nice to see you as well, Professor," he says, leaning in and extending his arm in offer of a handshake. Once introductions are through, he hovers by a chair across from Xavier's desk until asked to take a seat. "Thank you for taking the time. Now that classes are under way and things are a bit settled for me, I thought we could talk about something that's been on my mind for a little while now." "Ah, so you are settling in well?" There's still a bit of a question as Charles Xavier takes Julio's hand and squeezes it while they shake. He releases him after a moment and moves the pile of paper out of the way, before staring to pour the tea. "Please," he nods to the seat though his attention is occupied by the preparation of the tea. It's a simple enough matter for the telepath to know how the younger man prefers his tea and pours it black for himself, the citrus notes of Earl Grey filling the air as the liquid splashes gently into the cups. "Very well, let us get directly to the point." He offers one cup on a saucer as he makes eye contact with his newest teacher. Easy enough to handle, Rictor also takes his tea black. "Yes, it's good to be back," he tells Xavier, lowering himself into the seat and placing his bag on his lap. "Things are more familiar than I had expected them to be. It's been a comfortable transition." His smile is warm as he reaches out for his tea. "Thank you." Settling back a bit into his seat, Rictor lifts the saucer and brings it to his lips, testing the heat and the taste of the tea. Finding both satisfactory, he lowers the saucer and says, "The point actually has a bit to do with beverages like this. It's come to my attention that there's been a manipulation of caffeine effects on Manhattan and that it's possible a mutant may be involved." He pauses a moment to read Xavier's face, which would be difficult for anyone to do from what he remembers. "Why I bring it up is that it seems to be causing people a lot of concern, and I understand that being called back to be part your X-Men team involves me helping to mitigate mutant concerns of that sort." Xavier's expression is attentive and interested, taking in what Rictor has to present with the seriousness it requires. He raises the cup to his lips and inhales deeply, his lips parted to taste, but he revels in the aroma first. His companion finishes speaking before he can drink, so the cup lowers instead and he takes a half second to compose his reply. "Are you asking for permission to investigate?" "Not exactly," Rictor says, shifting his weight slightly. The psychic in the room probably doesn't need to use his powers to notice that Rictor is a little uncomfortable with the exchange. "I'm asking for guidance. I do feel the situation calls for some action, and I'm willing to do my part, but this is all new to me, Professor. The X-Men is still a vague concept for me and I'm not even sure of all the resources I have." He pauses to collect himself and drink some more tea. "I suppose I shouldn't have been too quick to say I've settled in well, just yet." Charles bows his head and takes a sip of the tea, leaning forward to set the cup and saucer down once he is finished. "You are in a position of being familiar with your surroundings, but uncertain in the next steps. You've seen the X-Men at work, in their way, and the results of that work, but you haven't been in the position yet. It's a good place to start." He pauses to fold his hands in his lap as he considers. "As much as I'd like to engage you and challenge you with questions as to what you feel your part is in this larger picture, I feel as though I am also adjusting, shifting from my perception of you as one of my students and moving on to that of you as a capable adult and teacher -- and yes, X-Man." Professor Xavier shifts in his seat and leans back, calm and confident. "At your disposal, you have Hank McCoy and his laboratory. Hank has a keen eye for the science of mutation and should be able to provide a different perspective to the problem. Jackson Holland Zedner would also be an excellent reference as he has spent a good deal of time in Manhattan as well as possessing similar qualities to you in that he has been both a student and a teacher here. He may not be the most available, unfortunately, as recent events have caused him some difficulties. I would encourage you to talk to him though, as a voice of experience." His gaze is distant as he draws in a deep breath, a flicker of concern in his eyes as he refocuses. "Some of our flashier resources are also at your disposal, but I am not sure that they are called for at this time, as I am not sure this is a situation which requires jet speed. As far as Cerebro goes. Recent events have also rendered it less than functional." Rictor listens to what the professor has to say carefully, noting each point he makes and making judgements as to their effiacy in the current situation. Perhaps he should not be so quick to judge Jackson based on their singular recent interaction. Perhaps he should make use of the lab (will coffee have alterations that can be visible, tested and examined?). Perhaps he should stop thinking about how much he wants to use the jet. All of these thoughts are, of course, available to the professor who Rictor has long since stopped trying to hide things from. "I suppose," Rictor begins, "that you're right about my situation here." He's becoming aware of a new weakness in himself, of being unsure of his own place and capabilities, and it's unsettling. "I'm sorry if it seems I came here looking for you to tell me what to do. In some ways I was, but I realize you've given me enough to figure out my own next steps." "I am also a resource, Julio," Xavier reminds Rictor gently, a warm smile upon his thin lips. "I am available to you in any capacity you need. I am just not sure you need me to tell you exactly what to do." He reaches out for his tea once more and takes a longer sip, gaze lowered for a breath or two. "Do not lose confidence in yourself simply because you have learned you do not know everything. It is actually a better place to investigate from. When we acknowledge that we know very little, we open ourselves up to learning more." "Yes," Rictor says with a smile. He's left his tea to cool for now, giving his attention fully to his mentor. "You have always been a good resource for me, and I'm glad we had this conversation, howver brief it may have been. It's opened my eyes a bit wider, I think, and helped settle some thoughts." He takes a slow and measured breath before continuing. "And if I need anyting in the course of these events, I won't hesitate to call on you again." "It is what I am here for," Xavier replies as he continues to cradle his cup near his chest, studying the student turned teacher. "So, how about we take a moment to discuss your classes. Tell me how they are going? I'm interested how you view the students, having been one yourself." The pair continues to chat quietly, hopefully bringing Rictor back to a place where he feels comfortable in the older man's presence once again.