ArchivedLogs:Early

Early
Dramatis Personae Jax, Ororo, Rictor
In Absentia	2015-09-29 "Though with as many students that can't seem to tell the difference between Niger and Nigeria, I don't think that's an option."
Location <XS> Teachers' Lounge - B1
Running a school for mutant teenagers just taking control of their powers is not an easy job, and the teachers at Xavier's deserve a place to come and relax. This lounge is their place to come and de-stress, and it does not skimp for relaxation. The room is elegant and luxurious, plush couches making up the seating in the lounge and a glossy glassy bar wrapping around one wall, well-stocked with alcohol (and perpetually fresh-brewed coffee, for those so inclined.) A large-screen high-def television hangs on one wall, stocked with about as many movies and games as the childrens' rec room upstairs. High bookshelves hold a wealth of books. The fridge here is always well stocked, and the cook is always willing to make deliveries down to this level. Far in the back, a hot tub is submerged into the floor, for still more unwinding. More days than not, there's some variety of snacks to be found on perched on an end of the bar -- quite often in the form of fresh-baked desserts. Tuesday morning, and the school is still waking up, still getting in the swing of things before classes begin for the day. The Great Hall is bustling with breakfast-time rush -- which is probably why a select few teachers have elected to avoid the crowd at this hour. Tucked into an armchair with a plate of grits and home fries and tofu scramble balanced on the arm, a large glass of orange juice on the table in front of him, an equally large mug of coffee, a second plate with nothing but a pile of cookies (on the bar there is a much larger container, quite full with Even More Cookies where those came from), Jax is -- nominally -- down here enjoying his breakfast in quiet. Nominally. Sketchbook on his lap, the brightly colourful teacher (dressed today in purple galaxy-print leggings underneath a silvery-and-black crushed-velvet miniskirt, black sleeveless shirt dotted with stars, stripey purple and black armwarmers, tall stompy silver boots) has mostly seemed to forget about actually /eating/ his half-finished breakfast, absorbed instead in a half-finished drawing taking shape on the page. His teeth click lightly against his lip ring as he works; the area /around/ his chair shifts and changes somewhat restlessly, a twining mass of leaves and branches seeming to sprout from his armchair to root into the ground and stretch up towards the ceiling. Rictor exits the commotion in the hallway and steps into the lounge, looking decidedly less colorful than Jax in every conceivable way. Earthy tones cling to him in the form of a button-down, leather belt, jeans, and corduroy jacket. His eyes peek out of a pair of dark circles. "Morning," he mumbles, walking past his colleague without blinking an eye at the display being put on. He's focused on the coffee instead. A clean mug is plucked out of a cabinet and some fresh brew poured in. Holding it in both hands, Rictor lowers his face close to the billowing steam and takes a deep breath. Like many others, Ororo has chosen the teacher's lounge for its relative quiet. Hidden in the corner, she's taking the time to focus less on breakfast and more on the stack of papers sitting on her lap. A mug of coffee in her left hand and a red pen in the other, she goes through each paper carefully, occasionally checking something or scribbling a quick note before slipping the paper to the bottom and working on the next one. She, like Rictor, is dressed in more neutral earthy tones, a brown skirt and rust-red blouse. Rictor's greeting gets a quick look up and smile from her. "Good morning," she says, before suddenly being distracted by something on the paper and furrowing her brows. "Now I know I went over that in class..." she mumbles, quickly scribbling something before moving on to the next paper. There's a significant moment of delay before Jax's attention is pulled away from his drawing. When he does look up, though, his expression is as bright as the rest of him, from glittery makeup to silver-trimmed dragonfly-embroidered eyepatch to cheerful wide smile. The branches dissolve from overhead, though a tangle of roots remains snarled at the base of his chair."Oh! G'mornin'!" He waggles his drawing pencil in greeting. "Y'sleep aright?" Rictor takes a sip from his mug, despite the coffee still being close to scalding. Even this brief act does something to brighten the look in his eyes, paint a bit of life into him. He turns and eyes his colleagues for a moment, before lifting his shoulders listlessly. "Not really, actually," he tells Jax, moving to one of the plush chairs and settling down into it. "Maybe I should think about giving less homework for my sake." "I'm having the same thought. Though with as many students that can't seem to tell the difference between Niger and Nigeria, I don't think that's an option," Ororo responds, continuing to mark up the papers in front of her. This particular one rather heavily. Eventually, she just lets out a sigh and takes a sip of coffee. "First quiz of the year and the average is 72. I may have to rethink my approach." Jax's question gets a grin. "I would have but the moon Sunday night messed up my sleep schedule . Easily worth the third cup of coffee today though." "Or for the kids' sake," Jax says with a small chuckle. "There ain't been a lot by way of any research that suggests homework actually helps 'em much. I don't believe in it, anyway. More sleep's gonna help /everyone/ way more'n more homework." The mention of the moon brightens his smile, a brief silvery glow shimmering around him and then fading. "Oh, oh. /That/ was wonderful. Tian-shin brought tea an' mooncakes an' we told stories..." He trails off, tapping the back end of his pencil against his lip as he flicks a glance over Rictor and his listless shrugging. "-- Y'sure it's the homework? Y'look a little --" His brows knit together. "Well. Like it's some mighty weighty gradin' you got." Rictor taps a finger against the edge of his mug and raises his brow as he considers Jax's statement on homework. "Well, it's all part of a project they're developing, so they're happy enough to do it. I think." He drinks a bit more coffee and settles into the chair more comfortably. His right leg crosses over his left and his gaze moves over at Ororo. "It really was beautiful moon. I watched it down by the lake and won't soon forget." Back to Jax, he says, "No, it's nothing. Thanks for asking, though." "So I've heard. I would have joined you guys but I had had a busy day and took the opportunity to meditate," Ororo says as Jax goes on about the fun everyone had. She glances down to the bottom of the papers and, apparently having made her way back to the beginning, sets them down and leans back against her chair. "What's this project you're having them do?" she asks, smiling as she looks over to Rictor. "Mmm." Briefly, there's still a look of concern on Jax's face, but it's hidden behind a curtain of purple-green-blue hair that spills downward as he tips his head back down towards his sketchbook. His pencil spins restlessly between his fingers a few times before he starts drawing again, slowly. "A little bit'a peace s'kinda a beautiful thing, too." His head tips, slightly, listening to the ongoing conversation still even if his eye has turned elsewhere. "They're working on some software design projects," Rictor answers, lowering his coffee mug to his lap. "What have you got there?" He nods his chin to the pile of papers, but his gaze wanders the room and finds itself peeking at Jax's drawing. Someone is distracted today, or at least still working on becoming a functioning person this morning. "First quiz of the year. Just bits and pieces for me to see what they've learned and what needs work." The ton with which Ororo explains the papers suggests she's not very happy with the result. "I always did prefer projects myself over homework and quizzes when I was a student. They're much more creative, usually." Her gaze also ends up falling on the drawing in Jax's lap. "Speaking of creative..." The drawing on Jax's page is a young man, barefoot and in jeans, huddled in a crouch with his hands lifted to cradle the back of his head. Roots have started to grow out of him where his feet touch the ground, breaking through skin and digging down into the earth (and then straight out of Jax's sketchbook to curl down around the chair and into the floor.) There's a frayed quality to the back of his head, the beginnings of branches starting to sprout there too between where his hands are perhaps trying to hold them /in/, though, unfinished as the drawing is, these have not yet fully taken shape. Jax continues working quietly, his nose crinkling up sympathetically at Ororo's tone. "S'early in the term yet, though, yeah? An' honestly with all the mess from the news an' all this year's had a rocky start, I bet the kids'll find their footin' in a bit. Now that things is -- a little. Little --" His teeth dig down into his lip briefly. "Quieter." The imagine holds Rictor's attention for a moment, but he eventually drifts from that, too ,as he lets his mind wander. "Things are a bit quieter, aren't they?" He smiles lights and lifts his mug to drink some more coffee. This one is a long pull, as if he's got somewhere to be soon. "I noticed you're teaching Ecology this term, Ororo. Maybe we could do a joint something-or-other, get the Earth Ethics kids involved." Ororo frowns with concern at Jax's change in demeanor but says nothing, instead turning to Rictor. "That's not a bad idea. I'd love to create a joint project. It might even give the student newspaper staff something to do, too." She takes a large gulp of her own coffee before rising, the stack of papers tucked under her arm. "I should get ready for class. Take care, both of you," she says, offering a smile before making her way to the door. "... what /do/ you teach in your enviro-ethics class?" Jax wonders, a more curious note creeping into his tone as he glances back up from his book. His eye widens a moment later; he shifts slightly in his seat to reach down and pluck his phone out of his nearby messenger bag. "Oh gosh! Class. Have a good -- day, oh, gosh, I should -- actually. Uh." A blush darkens his cheeks as he looks at his barely touched breakfast. "... class." Rictor stands as well and finishes off more of his coffee. "Yep, for me, too. Have a great day guys. And Jax, find me later and I'll tell you all about it. It was a fun summer class, and I think it's turning out good this term, too." He walks over to empty and wash out his mug before heading for the door.