ArchivedLogs:Obstacle Course

Obstacle Course
Dramatis Personae Jennifer, Kris
In Absentia	2013-04-29 Another week starts at Xavier's. Classes begin for Kris, and that means meeting Jennifer Walters, the She-Hulk.
Location <XS> Gymnasium - B1
For a mutant school, this is a pretty standard gym, even if its sturdy construction to handle mutant powers is less standard. Still, it is designed along normal lines; setup for a basketball court, standard equipment -- punching bags, rubber mats, standard assortment of balls, weight training equipment, the usual fare. It is large, and as well-appointed as the rest of Xavier's tends to be. For some, physical education is a good way to unwind after a day full of mentally taxing classes. For others, it is nightmare. And as an unwritten universal law might have it, physical education is always handed out by someone who is intimidating both physically and psychologically. In this case, it is Jennifer Walters. The white-and-purple outfit she is wearing bears resemblance to a leotard, except it extends to shorts and it also has short sleeves. The stretchy fabric clings to her incredibly strong frame. A complicated-looking digital watch hugs her left wrist. Finger gloves prevent callouses from rigorous exercises, whereas padded running shoes make it look like her feet are in an exceptional state of comfort. Finally, her auburn hair is done into a practical ponytail. The current class involves an obstacle course. It starts out with a diagonal mat that rises upward, followed by a relatively low sort of fence. It precedes another mat, to ensure that any failure would not be met with injury. The wooden ladder-like wall has been moved to stand next in the line of obstacles - students have to climb up one side and climb down the other. Jumping down is not allowed, but a mat awaits just in case. Then it's a bar one has to reach by jumping up and shimmy along. There are a few other items that lie in wait. "Come on, come /on/. Take any longer, and I'll have to assume you /love/ physical education", she teases, her tone more teasing than downright mocking. She really doesn't mind physical education, at all. In fact, it's one of the few things she's been able to excel at since she started playing catch-up with her academics. What Kris doesn't like is the ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT. Not that she TELLS anyone that. The obstacle course, though... it's as close as she gets to zen, so maybe she WAS bird-dogging it a little trying to make the run. When she gets the 'encouragement' from coach to hurry it up, she blushes brightly. "SORRY MA'AM!" Mere moments later, she squishes whatever embarassment she's holding onto about what she's wearing and puts her back into it. The low fence is jumped, and she practically SPIDER-CLIMBS the ladder-wall, and picks one post of the other side of the wall to basically SLIDE down since she's not allowed to jump. The bars? Well, she's got a lot of upper-body-strength for a young woman, but this DOES take her a bit longer to navigate than the others,"Feels like training camp all over again... BE RIGHT THERE COACH!" Easy to embarass. Once Kris refers to her couch as ma'am, that is enough to catch Jennifer's attention. With a bit of a frown, she approaches the course, lifting up a hand to twirl the whistle that's hanging off her neck. She walks alongside the students, but most notably Kris, as the obstacles are scaled. "You're new, aren't you?" Her eyes quickly scan the new pupil's appearance, something that may or may not seem like an appraising once-over. In truth, Jennifer is merely trying to recall reading her file. Pop. Now it occurs to her. "Kris, was it? Welcome to Xavier's." The welcoming message is followed up with a grin. "And don't call me ma'am. Call me Jennifer, Miss Walters if you /must/, but I'm not your headmistress." After the bars would be shimmied along, the next part in the obstacle course is another fence to jump over, with the mat on the other side. The mat extends some distance; as Jennifer had instructed prior to the start of the run, this is meant for rolling once. The softish mat continues on towards a slight elevation. A jump is set up. While it does not simulate a gap, students /are/ encouraged to jump as far forward as they can without utilising their abilities. Oh, look! There's attention on her! That's... painful. Kris has never enjoyed having eyes on her, but... It's not like she's being called out exactly, it just means now she's gotta do that... socializing thing. And now she's being 'once over'ed! Totally not fair. So she sucks it up as much as an introvert like her can, and keeps her face straight ahead,"Sorry Miss... uh... Jennifer... Thank you. Where I am from, we do not normally presume such familiarity with anyone, and certainly not our esteemed educators." She leaps the next mat, rolls and comes up running again with no apparent effort. AND she seems to be picking up both steam and speed,"This is a nice warm-up, Miss! I can't wait to see what you have set-up for after." Warm-up? It sounds arrogant maybe, but it's meant with earnestness. When the jump comes up, she manages a pretty good distance, stealing a few extra inches with a tuck and roll. The sort people usually come up firing a weapon from,"We were always told Americans are lazy and soft. This makes me wonder where the reputation comes from, if you exercise the youth so well." A single brow is raised. Surprised, Jennifer silently observes Kris dominating the obstacle course. A cursory glance is sent to the students behind her. It is not strictly speaking a race; it /is/ a time trial, however. The other students are doing a good job. Taylor very nearly used his tentacles to help with climbing down the wall, but the teacher's gaze is enough to make him reconsider. As her gaze slowly returns to lie on Kris, Jennifer huffs a bit. "If you listen to enough students, I don't think I count as /esteemed/. And this /is/ the exercise, Kris. The running before this was the warm-up." And it's not even the first time the kids are running this course. If she saw the student as arrogant, at this point she'd see it justified. The comment about American sports culture (or lack thereof) only serves to amuse Jennifer enough to coax a chuckle out of her. Once Kris would clear the last bit of the course - the jump - she calls out, "Come over here. I'd like to talk." And then she exclaims to the rest of the students, "Once you clear the course, grab a drink and take five, we'll continue in a bit." Kris was certainly surprised! None of these look anything like the spoiled, indolent, and generally fat and lazy children her kidnappers had once taught her to expect. Looking at them as she finishes off the obstacle course, she can't help but let a little bit of pride drift onto her face. Not because she did well. No. It's because these students she calls her fellows and compatriots... THEY are doing well. And with the communalistic view she's been raised with, a whole bunch of fellows doing well is way better than one person excelling. As she jogs over to Jennifer, she actually smiles,"All educators are esteemed. Look at them. These people, I get to call them my brothers." Like it's a privilege. Then she suddenly realizes she's being singled out for a talk and she practically wilts again. Oddly, she doesn't neglect cool downs. Arms crossed behind her head, she keeps moving rather than plopping down after that exertion,"I'm sorry... I did something wrong didn't I? I can do it again if you want. I am good at English, but sometimes I mix up words. I... please explain the rules to me again, more slowly?" Like she's CRUSHED that she might've done it wrong. Walking away from the obstacle course she's set up, Jennifer lazily walks over to the teacher desk that's not too far away. Granted, even her 'lazily' has a certain level of poise and precision. Once at the desk, she grabs one of the three unopened bottles and tosses it to Kris; she seems casually confident the teen will catch it. As she leans against the desk with her spandex-clad butt, Jennifer still keeps an eye on the students behind Kris. Occasionally, the watch is checked. When a student clears the course, she lays pressure on one of the sizeable buttons, marking a time. "You didn't do /anything/ wrong. I think the problem - if we can even call it that - is that you did /too well/." A quick glance is sent to Kris. Jennifer doesn't seem mad at all. In fact, amusement still dominates her features. "The way it usually works is, a group consists of students whose abilities - /human/ ones, I mean - are within the same range. I'm honestly scared to even guess how you were trained, Kris, but you're way past introductory and intermediate. Now, I can't stop you from staying in this particular group, but you might want to consider moving up to Logan's kids." A pause of consideration is given. "If you stay, you could inspire the other students to do better. I have to warn you, though, there might also be some who would see you as a challenge and a teacher's pet. Pitfalls of teenage years, I'm afraid." Oh crap... She's being asked to make a decision about her future! She doesn't exactly hate those, but Kris is still getting into that whole 'self-determinism' groove that the rest of the students grasp so instinctively. "I... um... I don't want to throw off the group dynamics. Inspiring someone would be nice, though. But isn't it also wrong to do less than your best?" Sort of like she was when she started the course. Until Jennifer 'woke her up'? "Mr. Logan is nice, though. He evaluated me in the holo-room thingy... I was worried I'd upset him, but he was very nice about it. There's still some confusion about where I belong academically, though." She scuffs her foot, like a small child who is shy when their parent isn't there to hide behind,"What do you think is the better idea? I just want people to do well and be happy. I'm sort of happy just being here. It's safe, and it's a good education, and there's plenty to eat and do. I'm already getting everything I want." Her goals are still a bit diffuse. "Professor Xavier inspires me. My advisor, Scott, he's helping me work on that. Inspiration. Assertiveness." She has no idea why she offered that. Beep. The watch emits that tiny sound one final time as the last student clears the course. A few students look in Jennifer's direction, although it is Kris they are more interested in. Ultimately, the group gathers around a crate of drinks and start the usual barrage of chatter. "Look, I know it's not easy making such choices. Least of all in a school like this one." Finally, Jennifer can dedicate her full attention to Kris. She offers the student a friendly and encouraging smile. "I think your choice should depend on what you want more - to help others or yourself. I know the second one sounds selfish, but there's nothing wrong with wanting to focus on self-improvement. You can either stay here and try to inspire others, or you can move on to Logan to make sure you're at the top of your game." It's like she's got a radar. Eyes are on her! Scrunch up and look smaller. She pushes her hair around her head a little bit, futzes with her shirt, and then says,"How do you get used to that? Peoples' eyes on you?" Though she says it out loud, Kris isn't really asking that question of anyone in particular. Just thinking out loud. Still, it takes her a few minutes of fidgeting to actually come up with an answer. It helps that the woman is nice,"I... I don't suppose you need a teaching assistant? I'd like to help. I don't want to disappoint Mr. Logan... But... I have... a less than vested interest in getting better at the sort of thing that made me good at this in the first place. But helping other people... I like that. When everyone excels, it helps us all. You're tall AND confident... can I ask you a sort of personal question about that?" The wayward remark is promptly caught by the teacher. A crooked half-sneer, half-smirk shows up, along with a lofted brow. No, this will not stand! "They're not looking at you because they are scared of you or because they don't like you. They're looking at you because I called you over, and here that's usually a bad sign. Half the people who will look to you on the street will probably not even be thinking about you. They're more likely to be wondering if they aren't late for work or whether they left the stove on." As she crosses her arms, Jennifer erases that half of a sneer and once again turns to a brighter shade of friendly. "And you want to be an assistant? I don't think... it works that way, but I can't and won't turn down help. If you decide to stay, you will be the torch-bearer, so to speak. You'll often be the first to start an exercise, leading by example. That means eyes /will/ be on you, and the kids won't be thinking about work or stoves." A moment of consideration later, then, Jennifer offers a nonchalant shrug. "I'm not /that/ tall, but-- Ask away, Kris." Oh, she heard that! "Oh... Um... It's... hard not to feel like everyone is staring at you... I've read about it online... It's not unusual for... people in my situation to feel like they're being stared at... but knowing that doesn't make the feeling go away." She exhales, slowly. Hate to see a full sneer directed at her! Kris doesn't wilt this time at least. "I can do that. Or, I'll do that until someone beats me anyway. And then I'll keep trying. I suppose encouraging someone to beat me is the point, isn't it?" She smiles to show she doesn't consider it a particularly bad thing. Still, in a slightly lowered voice,"You're not much shorter than I am... but you always look so confident, and... un-selfconscious. How do you feel pretty when you're so tall? I always feel so big and... lumbery." Oh, look! Is that a glint of teenaged hero-worship in her eyes? Another once-over is tossed Kris's way. Jennifer is rather unabashed in that, although her facial expression does not darken at all in the process. If anything, she looks curious. "Hmh. Your case /is/ a little bit different, but you still shouldn't worry more than the average teenager. Save some of your nerves for when you're thirty." The mention of possible violence is what steals that smirk away from Jennifer. "Hey, f-- screw that, if someone bullies you during /my/ class, you come to me /straight/ away, and detention is going to be the nicest thing that's going to happen to them." The tone does carry a certain level of humour, despite the lack of an accompanying expression. The question of appearance is one that trips Jennifer, however. This is something she is less certain about. Oh, she is confident, that's for sure. But why? "As for how do I feel... pretty? I don't know. I guess I had my moments of doubt, but-- A large part of it is--" Jen huffs in thought. "It's... complicated. It's a combination of two things, I think. One, I treat myself with respect. I hold myself in high regard. Two, I let others judge me for what I say and what I do." Her eyes fixate on Kris expectantly, as if trying to judge if the words make sense. She blushes a little bit,"Oh... beat me... I mean... Ah... My English. Does better than me?" She's blushing rather heavily now. Still, Kris seems... pleased? "It is nice that people here... care so much... That my teachers care so much. Where I was before here... We were expected to... get along, or... handle it." Beyond that statement, she sees fit not to elaborate. "Is this the... 'fake it until you make it' thing I hear so much about?" She runs her fingers through the hair at the back of her head, then looks over at the other kids, waving in their direction. She finally opens her bottle of water and drains roughly half of it at a gulp. Having hydrated herself well, she smiles,"I think I would like to be like you one day. That is something I would like." Jennifer rolls her eyes at her own misunderstanding. "Oh, beat your /performance/. They are allowed that. They are expected that. But since staying in class that you're too good at is standing on thin ice above cheating - in my eyes, anyway - I will still give you exercises now and again that stress your body. Nothing /too/ taxing, mind. Just to make sure you're not slacking off." Pushing herself away from the desk to stand before Kris, Jen lands her hands on her hips. "Fake 'til you make it, huh? I wouldn't exactly call it that. I don't think you need to fake anything to 'make it'. You're pretty, you're adorable /and/ you're strong." The teacher dares to prod her student's bicep. "You've trained your body to become strong. Now do the same for /this/." Then, with a careful motion so as to not startle Kris, Jennifer pokes her forehead. Withdrawing her hand, the teacher straightens out. "I'm glad I inspire you, kiddo. After all, that's my job. Now, you ready to continue class?" The girl nods rather solemnly, as she is told how much is expected of her, and the extra exercises she is to expect,"I'll stay as late as you need me to, Miss. I've seen weight vests... I could wear one while exercising, maybe." Yep, Kris is already thinking, herself, how to make the course more different. Still, having professed admiration and a little bit of hero worship for the woman, she practically blossoms at the compliments to her person. When she is poked not once, but twice, she actually giggles. "People keep telling me about working on my... headspace, here." She turns back towards the field, squares her shoulders, takes a deep breath and finishes her water. Then she says out loud,"I suppose that means I should really start taking that to heart, doesn't it? I am ready Miss. I'm sorry for holding up class. I promise I won't let you down."