ArchivedLogs:Easy Not Being Green

Easy Not Being Green
Dramatis Personae Kai, Jennifer
In Absentia	2013-04-27 Jennifer meets Kai and lets him know that it's easy not being green.
Location <XS> Library
Xavier's librarian might hope the library is a quiet place to sit and study, but with a school full of teenagers that is not always the case. Nevertheless, it is certainly a treasure trove of knowledge, well-stocked with a wealth of books on its high shelves. Its reference section is vast, though its fiction is as well (much to the delight of many of its students.) The wide octagonal tables and smaller armchairs are often crowded with students, though the whispered conversations that often take place leave some doubt as to how much work is getting done at any given hour. The weekend seems an odd place to find a student in the school library. Most of them are taking advantage of the sunny warm weather to go into town, or relax somewhere on the grounds. If you listen closely, you can hear the shouts of a basketball game taking place nearby, and the occasional rattle-clatter of students going up and down the stairs in the foyer. In other words, most students are not thinking about reading, or books. Yet here Kai is. Seated at one of the octagonal tables, the young teen is dressed in jeans and a white t-shirt with some sort of flow chart inscribed on the front (clearly a donated item, as it's two sizes too big for his narrow frame). His feet are bare, his toes spread out on the thick carpet as he bends over what he's working on. It appears to be classwork -- a spelling list, perhaps, as the words are grouped on the page in fives. His handwriting is blocky printing, and it is /hard/ to do, appaerently. Observe the tip of his tongue protruding from the corner of his mouth as he inscribes the word 'lettuce' for the third time. Too bad he's spelled it 'lettuse.' Likewise, teachers are happy to spend their weekend away from classrooms and troublesome teenagers. To Jennifer, however, Saturday marks the end of a turbulent week. The school meant more to her than just a collection of classrooms and a crowd of unwilling kids she has to forcibly expose to information. To her, Xavier's is the closest thing to what a church is for a religious man. When the teacher steps into the library, she does not step inside as Jennifer Walters. She-Hulk enters the library instead, ducking beneath the door frame due to increased height. The green-skinned woman is wearing little, although more than enough to conceal indecency. A white-and-purple flexible attire hugs her frame from her neck to her thighs, and her feet are comfortably seated in running shoes. Beneath both arms she carries a pair of boxes, and the way she holds onto them, one might almost imagine they are empty. The powerfully built green amazon stops when she sees Kai. Double-take. "Sorry. Didn't know there were any students here." A quick gaze is flung through one of the windows, towards the source of the sounds of a basketball game being played. Kai's attention is so firmly on his work that he misses the sound of the jade giantess' entrance. It's only when he pulls back, frowning at the page in front of him that he seems aware that there's someone else there. His eyes widen when he spies Jennifer, and he stiffens in his chair. When she speaks, he swallows visibly, and nods. "There is only me," he confirms. "I am doing my school work, while it is quiet." His eyebrows lower into a curious furrow, and he glances at the door. "I am Kai," he offers, when he looks back at the woman, tilting his head to look her in the eyes. "I do not think we have met before." "/Ohhh/ yes, we have. A moment--" Initially, Jennifer is reluctant to step further before Kai gets a better look at the tall mean machine and registers her as a non-threat. It is only then does she step further into the library,aligning herself with one of the shelves before lowering herself to a single knee. The boxes are set down on the floor with just about as much care as possible, though inevitably one of them just slamdrops onto the ground. Once the boxes are placed down, her size shrinks and the colour turns to a healthy tint you'd normally expect on a human being. 'Lo and behold, Jennifer Walters. The teacher rises up with a bit of a sigh, shaking off a lingering dizziness. Then, she strides over to where Kai sits and boldly extends a hand. "Pretty sure you've at least seen me around, or heard rumours about me. Jennifer Walters, the terror of the halls and the dread of the night. The Savage She-Hulk." A wide grin radiates friendliness. Kai's amazement through this process is more than evident on his face. He watches with eyes that are nearly round, jumping slightly at the slamdrop of the box. His work is forgotten, it seems, and his pencil dangles from his fingers. When she transforms, the teen is completely flummoxed, and he just STARES as the woman approaches him. He continues to stare when she extends her hand, tilting his head thoughtfully before reaching out to take hold of her fingers and squeeze them lightly. "Miss Walters," he echoes as he drops his hand, and his brow twitches. "I have heard that name. And I have seen you in the hallway." A blink, and then there's an uncomfortable shift of weight, "I did not know anyone here could do...that." The hand that grips Kai's is every bit as strong as Jennifer's build suggests; she may no longer be the hulking woman that walked in, but her strength is admirable even in her human form. Fortunately, that firmness is fleeting, as Jen remembers that she should probably be gentler with those of a... more delicate stature. Once the ritual is complete and the handshake is delivered, Jen withdraws her hand and lets it mirror its sibling, planting it on her hip. "I usually don't. I have a perfectly healthy and strong body. But--" Tossing her pony-tail over her shoulder, she looks behind her at the four sizeable boxes. Hard to believe she was the one carrying them. "I figured I'd get those in here the faster way." Once her attention returns to Kai, she elaborates, "Books, in case you were curious." As she pauses to breathe in deeply, she eyes Kai. Exhale. "I can't say I recognise you, though. I blame it on Saturday." "You seem very in control of it," Kai notes, with a touch of -- envy? Admiration? Whatever it is, it comes with a solemn nod. "And if it is helpful, sometimes..." he lifts a thin shoulder, and offers a small curl of his lips. It's probably a smile, or meant to be. His toes spread further as he pushes himself back into the chair. "I do not take many regular classes," he says in explanation. "I have much to learn, first. It is possible that you have not seen me very much." He tilts his head, as if listening, and there's a small shake of his head that seems undirected. Then he shifts his eyes towards the boxes. "What sort of books?" The subject of control is one that easily attracts Jennifer's attention. She lingers at the side of the desk, leaning against it sideways and crossing her arms ponderously. "I'm afraid I have to be. I wouldn't be allowed anywhere near kids otherwise." For a brief moment, Jennifer is actually entertained by the thought of what might happen if a teenager annoys her sufficiently, but once she pictures the grim consequences, her grin wanes a little bit. Sudden guilt. The side of the desk is abandoned as she makes her way back to the boxes. One after another is stomped on demonstratively as Jennifer names each. "Spanish fiction, English exercise books, ethic principles and law books so thick, you probably shouldn't drop them on your feet." As she kneels down in front of the books, she starts unpackaging them. Turns out one of the boxes was stabbed with a knife, which she liberally uses to help herself unpack. Kai's own face is a little grim when Jennifer mentions the need to be in control. "You do not...lose yourself in it?" he asks, brow knitting as he studies his page. "The green you does not consume this one?" He waves a hand shyly in Jennifer's direction. "That is a very good thing." His smile is shy, but more definitely a smile. "For the students." He slides off the chair to pad after Jennifer when she heads for the boxes. "I do not know Spanish," he says softly. "I have enough difficulty with the English. What sort of exercises?" he asks. "Are they like the ones that Mister Logan makes us do?" He crouches next to a box, both feet flat on the floor. The result is a sort of frog-squat that's oddly well-balanced as he runs his fingers over the books. "Are they books that tell you how they might be done properly?" Ethics and law are apparently of little interest, although he does fan the pages of one thick book, smiling a bit more at the feel of the spidery whisper of the thin pages. This time, the matter of the books is tended to first, rather than control. Once the book with the English exercises is unpacked, she snatches up a pristinely straight paperback book that still smells of the printing press. "I don't know how Logan teaches you English-- In fact, he probably teaches you stuff like 'aboot', 'bub' and adding 'eh?' at the end of every sentence." What was her original thought, again? Ah, yes. The pages are flipped through. "I just figured I'd get some specialized stuff for the school. I brought some handy language-specific guides, I think I actually have a--" Jennifer squints as she looks at Kai. The teacher is trying very hard to determine something, but it's not quite clear what. "--Chiiiineeeese one", she finishes her sentence with an inquisitive tone of voice. Kai frowns. "Exercise?" he repeats, tilting his head. "Perhaps I am not thinking of the right word. It is like this?" He does a couple of squat-thrust-like maneuvers. "Mister Logan makes us do them before we do physical education." He wrinkles his nose, and peers at the book in Jennifer's hand. "Doctor McCoy says I am from Korea," he offers helpfully. "He says that is the name of the language I knew when I came here." His eyebrows lift, and his mouth pulls into a tight line. "I think I have been to China, though. It is the land of the red star?" <Xavier's> Rasa has disconnected. "Oh. /Oh/!" As Kai demonstrates what he meant exactly, Jennifer snorts, amused by the misunderstanding. "No, no, not physical exercises. /Mental/. As in, for the mind. You can use that word for both the body and mind." The fresh book is placed back into the box. Jennifer takes a handful of books from the bunch that mostly revolves around ethics, and rises up. Shuffling some distance to the side, she finds some empty space in the relevant bookshelf, and thus begins the quest to place books where they are supposed to be. "Korea, huh? You've come a long way." Pausing for a moment as she's asked the question about China, Jennifer nods slowly. "Yeah. It's like Chinatown in New York City, just... bigger." Unconvinced by her own explanation, Jennifer thins her lips. Great, now she's going to be labelled a racist. Looking back to the shelf, the auburn-haired teacher continues the task of sorting books. "How come you don't know where you're from?" Another book stops on its way. "Hold on, I didn't even catch your name, did I?" She almost looks guilty because of that. Kai smiles, and lifts his shoulders. "I do not know Chinatown," he admits. "This is the first place I have been that was not..." he wrinkles his nose. "It is the first place they brought me to," he amends, and then he's looking at his splayed toes. He reaches down to tug at the big toe of his right foot, frowning at the question. "I never heard its name," he says. "When I was growing up. It was simply the Homeland." He sounds very matter-of-fact about this, bobbing his head. "And I did not go to school, so I did not learn more than my parents could teach me." He looks up when she asks his name, confusion flickering over his face. "I am Kai," he says patiently. "I do not have a second name, so it is easy to remember." Another book slowly slides into place. Even after it finds its home, Jennifer's fingers remain languidly planted on its spine. Kai. Puzzle pieces come together. Looking over to the Korean student, the teacher takes in another deep breath before exhaling a sigh. "You are safe, now, Kai. Everyone here cares for you. And if someone mistreats you, well, you come directly to me." Her tone brightens somewhat. "I'll give them Danger Room detention." The joke might be lost on Kai, but at least it should be clear enough that whatever that is, it isn't pretty. Holding what few books are left in her hands, she closes the distance between herself and Kai once more. "You can shapeshift into a dragon, right? Is that why you were surprised I can control my ability?" Kai nods solemnly. "This is the safest I have ever felt," he says sincerely, and he ducks his head immediately, his ears coloring. "In this place. Everyone is nice, so far." He tugs at that toe again, chewing on his lip. "There is that name again," he says, craning his head to peer at Jennifer. "Why is there a room of Danger in this place? Peter says it is like a video game, but I do not think video games are /dangerous/." He's uncertain about that, and his expression shows it. "I have not played very many, though." When the teacher approaches, his head ducks again, and the color in his ears for the question this time is a bright red. "When I am scared, or in danger, Foom comes," he agrees. "And he does not go away very willingly." He lifts his shoulders without looking up. "I have never met anyone who could send away their other self so easily." "The Danger Room is like entering someone else's imagination", she explains. Jennifer takes a moment to ponder how to proceed with the explanation, temporarily averting her gaze, but soon she looks back to Kai with a knowing smile on her lips. "It's a room where anything you can think of can become real. It is sometimes used for recreation, but other times it is used for exercises. Physical ones. It's called the Danger Room because it /can/ be dangerous." The redhead is tempted to refer to The Matrix, but decides against it. Hugging the books, Jennifer crouches down in front of Kai. "It takes time, Kai. A lot of time, patience and most importantly, confidence. If control over your ability was a house, confidence would be the foundation on which it stands, time would be the walls, the rooms and the furniture, and patience would be the roof. You know, I discovered my ability when I broke almost all the bones in a boy's body. That was not a pleasant discovery." Kai's eyes widen a bit, and he glances up. "That sounds like a wondrous place," he says earnestly. "I hope that I might see it, someday." His eyebrows lift, and there's a slight crinkle to his eyes. "When I am less dangerous than the room." That's followed with a chuff of air that might be a laugh. He tenses just a bit when the redhead crouches, but immediately relaxes as she speaks. "I know it will take much work," he says. "The Professor and Doctor McCoy have told me this. I am just sad, waiting for my...house...to be built, so I may stop fearing Foom." He blinks at the confession, and his smile is shy and sad-looking when he offers it. "When Foom was born, he killed my family," he says in an oddly detached voice. "And many soldiers." He tilts his head, and furrows his brow, tugging at that toe with enough force to rock his body a bit. "Did the boy live?" Another frown-tug. "Did it make you sad?" Putting the bunch of books aside, Jennifer decides to plant her tush on the ground. She pulls up her legs as well, as if preparing for /story-time/. And, in a way, that's exactly what the two are up to. "Well, I think you unfortunately drew the shorter end of the stick than I", she admits with faint amusement. "The boy lived. He used to pick on me, then he managed to convince me that it is how he expressed 'affection'. He tried to-- Hm. You know when a girl says no to a boy, but he chooses to ignore it? That's what happened." "I was angry. Not at myself, at him. I blamed him for everything. My mother told me I was wrong. We left New York and started a new life elsewhere." A little bit of smugness escapes Jennifer's growing grin. "Many years later, when I became a lawyer, the same boy called me. He found out he was a mutant, and he got into trouble, so he asked me personally to defend him in court." Somewhat proudly, the teacher announces, "And I did." "My brothers picked on me," Kai says softly, although his expression is puzzled. Clearly, he has no frame of reference for what Jennifer is actually referring to. "They brought Foom the first time." He shakes his head. "I was not angry about it," he says, eyes wide. "But Foom was. He is always so angry, when he is free." He shivers, and rubs his hands along his limbs, as if trying to stimulate blood flow. The revelation that Jennifer /helped/ her assailant knocks him on his rump -- literally. His narrow rear thumps to the floor, and he STARES. "Why would he ask for your help?" he wonders, and tilts his head as if listening, and nods. "And why did you choose to? Would it not have been better to let such a one suffer further?" He narrows his eyes thoughtfully. "He was not your /friend/." Unlike Kai, Jennifer seems rather at ease. Naturally, the nature of the topic being discussed is perhaps not the most pleasant, but the negative reactions are fleeting. However unpleasant, such matters are after all important to discuss. "I was the first mutant he came in contact with. I was also the only mutant lawyer he knew. I suppose he figured a mutant lawyer would be a better idea, and given how we're treated, he was actually right. As for why I helped him-- It's complicated." Looking at Kai, Jennifer silently ponders just precisely what age difference opens up the opportunity to use such cheap excuses. It doesn't take her very long to feel obligated to offer up an actual explanation. "He was not my friend, but he had a right to justice, to being treated fairly. No matter what we do, we always deserve fair treatment regardless of what punishment awaits us. It's why-- If you go to prison, no one should beat you every day for what you did; the time you spend there is punishment itself." "We shouldn't let our emotions judge other people, Kai. That applies to everyone, but especially people like you and me. Should we get our emotions get the better of us-- Well, we both know what happens then. Does that make sense?" Kai chews on that information for a very long time, his face scrunched in deep concentration. He opens his mouth a couple of times to speak, only to clamp it shut again as he hears something else. "I think I understand," he says slowly. "You are saying that it is important that people receive their just punishment from the authorities, and not the one that someone /thinks/ they should have." He blinks, and rubs a finger alongside his nose. "And you are saying that I must learn to control my fear and anger, to prevent Foom from delivering such punishments." He holds up a hand, as if indicating the older woman. "Just as you must control your emotions so that you do not shift into your other self and hurt someone again." That /seems/ right, and his brow un-furrows just a bit. "Is this what you are trying to say?" "/Exactly/." Jennifer seems awfully content that Kai seems to have taken something away from this little speech. Finally, she does something right! Curving her back, she leans backward a little bit while holding onto her shins, quite like a child. "Now, remember to pass that lesson on to Foom, too, so he doesn't feel left out." Swinging forward, Jennifer snatches that momentum (and the books along the way) to lift herself to a crouching position, and then finally she rises back up. "Hey, feel like helping me with sorting books? Should be quicker with two people." Moving back to where she was sorting the ethics books, she stops to look back to Kai again. "Oh! And-- Do you have an advisor yet? Because if not, I think I could help you out." Kai brightens when he's gotten it right, and his smile is not-shy as it threatens to split his face in two. "Foom always hears," he says, with a duck of his head. "Although he does not always like to listen." He closes one eye, and the other rolls back as if to spy someone over his shoulder. "Very rarely," he amends. He rolls to his feet and pads after Jennifer when she heads back to the books, so when she stops to look back, he's forced to pull up short to avoid the collision. The request for help gets another smile, this one flashing actual teeth. "I can help!" he says eagerly. "I do not know many English words, but I know my ABCs." Because some help is better than no help, right? He scrunches his nose thoughtfully at the offer. "An advisor?" he echoes, narrowing his eyes as he deciphers the word. "Do you mean, like a person who helps another?" he asks, dubiously. "I have heard other students mention teachers who are helping them. I think --" his smile turns shy again. "I think it is very kind of you to offer," he says with a nod. "I would like that very much." A dainty digit points towards one of the shelves. Then another. Between both times she points somewhere, she explains what is where. "English books go /there/. Dictionaries to-and-from English go over /there/." That's it for now. Jennifer sorts the rest of the ethics books and moves back to the boxes to pick up another bunch. "Yep, an advisor is like a tutor, except instead of being helped by another student, a teacher helps you instead. It is especially important in a school like this one, because you will most likely get an advisor who has an experience in-- or knows how to deal with your powers. And I think I know a thing or two about scary monsters hiding inside." Her tone is once again as cheerful as it could possibly be. The basketball sounds continue playing out in the background. One youngster shouting to another to pass the ball. Cheers of a throw well made. In the meantime, a student and a teacher share company and conversations while sorting books.