ArchivedLogs:A Feelgood Moment Sure to Fade

A Feelgood Moment Sure to Fade
Dramatis Personae Hercules, Rictor
In Absentia	2015-10-10 '
Location <XS> Lake
Bright, bright, bright; the lake glitters wide and expansive here, stretching off into the distance. Sunlight, moonlight, starlight, it catches them all. Lapping at the rocky shore, its deep waters are frigid in winter and cool even in summer. A stone pier stretches out a ways into the water, wide and smooth, though often icy in winter. The water teems with life nevertheless, home to myriad species of fish that provide for ample fishing or just lazy watching on a slow summer day, for those who want to take a boat from the boathouse out to the center of the lake, or perhaps lounge on the pier and try their luck. The lake is perhaps the centerpiece of the entire estate, as far as natural beauty goes. And she is splendid this evening, reflecting one of the most perfect sunsets Hercules has ever seen. He smiles and leans back, then his arm hooks around, his hand releasing the specially selected flat stone. With a whistle that echoes throughout the surrounding area, the stone skips smoothing across the lake, soon disappearing out of sight. The young man's smile brightens further, and he begins the search for another good stone. If Hercules has been here for a while, he probably would have noticed the distant oblong shape of a canoe working its way steadily toward the school’s boathouse before disappearing on the opposite side. From said structure now emerges the faculty member Hercules probably knows as Rictor, having hung up his oar for the day. With a canvas rucksack slung over one shoulder, Rictor trudges alongside the lake with booted footsteps. His plaid shirt and jeans combo look worn from a day outdoors and there’s a nearly serene tone to his features. Lifting a hand, he waves to Hercules as he draws nearer, though it may not be clear if his path is toward the student or the eventual tree line that will lead him back to the main building. Hercules does indeed notice the canoe moving through the water, and ceases skipping stones across the lake. He sits and removes his boots and socks, dipping his feet into the clear water. The hissing intake of breath is fairly audible, the man surprised by the cold. After a few moments the shock wears off, and the professor will find the tall teen settled on the ground, leaning back against his hands. Grinning, he waves in reply to the man. "Hello. Name's Hercules. Have you paddled the entire length of the lake this evening?" Rictor takes a few last few steps toward the redhead and stops, hooking a thumb higher up under the rucksack strap. “Nice to meet you,” he tells the young man with a flash smile. “Sure, it was a nice day. Thought I would take advantage of it while I could.” He eyes the two naked feet sitting in the water for a moment. “Cold now, though,” he add idly before, “So, Hercules. Did your parents give you that name?” Hercules smiles to the man, "That is a good way to spend a nice autumn day, professor." He follows the glance to his feet, and he chuckles. "Oh yeah, it's freezing. I wouldn't want to swim in it now, that's polar bear worthy water right there." The question of his name causes the smile to fade a little, before returning full force. "Yeah, my mother named me, she went to Greece in her gap year, met a man, and returned pregnant with me. Well, she didn't know... but found out in her first term of medschool." Rictor extends his lower lip and nods in interest. “That’s some name then. My parents called me Julio. Nothing too special there, but it’s solid at least.” He grins and shifts his weight from one foot to the other, taking a quick glances out at the lake, where the colors are blending into a more uniform night shade. “Well, I’m going to head inside. I’m starving. Want to walk with?” Hercules chuckles and picks up his shoes, standing a moment later with them in his left hand. "I think my mother was being sarcastic. No way she could know I would mutate at puberty and become huge and strong." The large teen grins at the other man. "Julio is a solid name, I agree. Is that the name you go by, sir?" Rictor watches Hercules get ready and nods to the mention of the boy’s mutation. Makes sense, given what he sees. He offers a quick thanks in return for the compliment and then says, “Looks like my old nickname Rictor is getting around again. You can call me what you’d like, though.” He maneuvers his rucksack to slide his free arm through the other strap so the bag sits more sturdily. “How are you liking things here?” "Did you want a hand with the rucksack, Rictor? I don't mind carrying it, if you've been rowing all day, you might be sore and stiff at this point, yeah?" The young man offers a hand to take the bag, if the other man chooses to. "I like the school so far. Have a few small issues. And so far, all the students seem pretty cool." Rictor smirks and lifts a hand, giving it a little shake for an answer. “I’m fine, really. I know I’m a teacher now, but do I look that old?” The hand is pulled back to run across his face, feeling some sandpaper stubble and rough skin. “But seriously, thanks. What about those issues then?” He starts to head for the tree line and the path back to the mansion, slowly at first to make sure his company is in tow. Hercules falls silent on the walk, his face thoughtful and contemplative. "It's hard to explain, it's just some observations I've had, and I haven't thought about it enough yet to put it to words. I don't want it to come out wrong. I've already... said a few things that people took the wrong way. Maybe I am wrong, maybe they are, I don't know." Rictor keeps his steps slow and his eyes on the way in front of him, allowing the young man to express his thoughts without someone hawking on him. “You and me both,” he says, smirking once more. “Go ahead, though. I promise I won’t judge, and we’ve got a ways to walk anyway.” The sun continues to set but there’s still enough light to make it to the school without the use of a torch. Hercules lets out a breath. "It's honestly hard to say. As in, difficult to put my finger on it." He rubs a cheek, keeping pace with an easy stride, his bare feet slapping a little at the ground. "I think the idealology of the school is a bit off. And it takes a lot of courage to say that to a professor, yanno?" Rictor blinks a few times before nodding once. “Sure, it takes some guts.” He walks along a bit more in silence and then adds, “You have every right to question things if you feel the need to, including this institution. You’ll find there are many ideas in this place, and given the state of things…well, nobody should be surprised about that.” A few more steps, then, “Care to go into detail?” "I think they're erring on the side of caution too much. Like, opening up the school is what got me here, and it's a feel good moment for sure. But that will fade. And Xavier's is now publically in the middle. You have groups like the Brotherhood of Mutants on one side, and humans on the other. With groups like Friends of Humanity nipping at the edges." He lets out a huff, "It's like the school is trying to please everyone, you know? It feels like that to me." The tall teen slows a little. "And I feel badly for questioning, even if you say I should feel free to... because I have no answers. All the good minds in the school, there's no way I'm thinking up anything new, yeah?" Rictor takes the news as if he’s heard it all before, and chances are he has, as the opening of the school has sparked mixed feelings in all camps. “Don’t feel bad about it. Questioning what’s around you is a healthy thing, with or without an answer. Come at something the right way and you’ll have one eventually.” He licks his lips and continues down the wooded path. “To be honest, a fresh set of eyes on things is welcome in my book.” Hercules chuckles and shrugs. "You may be right. But there are some who might say I'm an ungrateful, whiny kid. And they could be right also." He lets out a huff of breath. "So yeah, that's what's been stuck in my head a little. It feels good to let it out. Though, uhm, could you keep it under your hat, as they say?" Rictor chuckles and nods. “Of course I can. And anytime you need to vent like this, come find me. I’ve met a lot of whiners around here and you don’t strike me as another. Then again I don’t really know you, do I?” Now he turns to Hercules to briefly give a wink. Turning back, he quickens his steps as the end of the path nears. The teen laughs at the wink and shakes his head. "Would that all the professors have the same sense of humour, sir." He pauses a moment to pull on his socks and retie his shoes, before catching up to Rictor. "So what do you teach here at Xavier's, Rictor?" “A few computer classes and one on environmental ethics. If you’re still choosing classes and are interested, we could always use a new face.” Rictor crunches along the last of the path as the mansion comes into view in the distance. “What’s your interest anyway? Classes here can get pretty specific, if you haven’t already noticed.” "Well, I know how to operate a computer, but likely I would have to start with the basics. I don't know any computer programming, except for HTML and some CSS." Hercules ponders the last questions for a few moments. "I really love math, when I think about it, and I am very good at it, I am told. Aside from that, I do enjoy sports, and I'm an avid boxer." “I bet you are!” Rictor says with a chuckle. “Maybe you can show me a thing or two sometimes. I like to get in the ring every now and then.” As the two break through the edge of the forest and onto school grounds, Rictor’s stomach growls. “I’m off to dinner now, though. Hope to catch up with you again soon, in or out of class.” Hercules nods to the man, "Well, there is one thing I know best about boxing and that's age and experience can beat youth and a crappy haircut any day. Just watch my left hook, yeah?" He grins, and pats his own stomach. "Our stomachs are in complete agreement. Take care sir, and yeah, hope to see you around again soon."