ArchivedLogs:The Nectar of Life

The Nectar of Life
Tea Time At Xavier's
Dramatis Personae Dante, Jessica
In Absentia	Saturday Night Initial misunderstandings usually lead to the best conversations...
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. Jessica had hoped to arrive at the mansion at a more hospitable hour, but as is often the case with long distance travel, projected arrivals frequently get pushed back again and again and again. Thus it is not until this unfortunate hour that the preteen standing within the teachers lounge finally has been afforded the opportunity to examine her new home. Though it would have been nice to do so in the day when people were about, youthful excitement would not allow this pre-teen a quick retreat to bed regardless of great fatigue. Though only a girl of twelve or thirteen, her stroll around the room has brought her to a halt before the great book shelf within, with head cranked back and hands folded into her lower black the titles of such are thoughtfully scanned and considered. "Hmmmmn" she whispers to herself as a faint smile reaches her lips, brown eyes dart about energetically even though bags are visible beneath, ahhh to be young. Dressed in a grey sweater and a black knee length skirt, this girl is dressed in rather mature fashion, clearly hoping to make a good first impression. Dante wasn't sure what possessed him to come back to the mansion tonight. Then again, he wasn't sure what possessed him to do much of anything these days. It's like he's been on auto-pilot since the the Fire at Zabar's. So much had happened that day, so much he still hadn't wrapped his mind around. He had been doing nothing but training, drinking, and picking fights with folk who were too stupid to know better...Not exactly the vigilantism he had been accustomed to. He needed some kind of escape, perhaps...some new scenery... "Check out the teacher's lounge," he'd remember Scott had told him when they took the tour. "Great place to unwind." Maybe it was just the change in scenery, a place away from the bustling city. Perhaps it was to help himself in making that next step in his life...maybe it was... He stopped dead in his tracks, his thoughts abruptly halted when he noticed a young girl overlooking the large, stocked bookshelves. "Uh, hi...I'm sorry, but I thought students weren't allowed in the teachers lounge..." He said softly, his voice trailing slightly. Then again, he'd not met many of the students...and it WAS a school for mutants...maybe this was some mutated 40 year old or something, he never really knew in this place... It would seem that Dante's imagination is apt, for when the girl turns her youthful countenance off the bookshelf toward the new arrival, she is quick answer the suspicion still unvoiced, "No I'm... Not one of the students." Jessica states awkwardly, hands remain clasped behind her back while posture remains straight and confidant. During a brief pause where only a kiddishly shy smile is offered, the girl adds, "I'm the new teacher's aid, Jessica Grace, perhaps there was some mention of my planned arrival." A young face is always easy to read and this girl is shy and embarrassed, yet still she speaks in a calm professional fashion, "I only appear a girl, be assured you're speaking to adult." Dante chuckles slightly, more to himself than to her...or rather, her statement of her planned arrival. Right...Like he's around the school enough to even know who's who, let alone who's expected and who isn't. He bows his head slightly, pulling the long, brown hair from his unshaven, yet slightly boyish face. "My apologies, ma'am. You never know around these parts who's what and what's who, ya know? I'm a rather new teacher here. I still dunno everyone in the area. Haven't even taught a class yet. They don't really tell me much of anything around here." He scratches the back of his neck, his demeanor filled with uncertainty. /Oh good, now you're doing it, Dante...Lookin like an Anime character with your head scratching. Might as well draw a big bead of sweat on your forehead./ the thought rolls through his mind as he rolls his eyes to nobody in particular. Snapping back into reality slightly, he turns his attention fully back to the girl/woman..."Anyway, nice to meet you! I'm Dante. I'm supposed to teach theatre here. But like i said, i haven’t had an official class yet. But you're here, I'm here...what can i do for you?" He stammers slightly, unsure really of where to go from here... Jessica cannot help but feel out of place, looking twelve while talking to a grown man as an equal takes a great deal of practice, she learned how though doubtless Dante has not. "Its fine, it is perfectly natural to feel a little odd speaking with me, but let’s start with how you'd greet me if I did not appear as I do." she replies calmly, reaching out her slender hand with intention to shake that of the older man. The girl does seem rather professional with her auburn hair pulled back and balled up atop her head, diamond stud earrings, mature attire, clearly effort has been made to make others more comfortable. Only the black headband in her hair seems to fit her youthful appearance, "As said I'm Jessica Grace, it is a great pleasure to meet you sir." Polite smile and nod is offered, "I was just looking around, familiarizing myself before I went to bed. Just like anyone else, I'm not so different really." This routine is planned, she knows it can sometimes take weeks for men to feel comfortable talking to her. Despite Jessica's professional demeanor, Dante couldnt help but notice the exasperation in her tone...perhaps also a bit patronizing? He pushes the thought from his head, and shakes the hand she offered. "Of course. Dante Lee. Good to meet you as well..." his voice trails off slightly as he nods his head in acknowledgement. "Understood...though I will say, I doubt you'll be able to familiarize youself with this place before bed. Hell, I dont even know half of this palace of a place." He makes his way to the other end of the room, filling a kettle with water from the sink, turning on the stove beside it, and placing the kettle atop. As he rummages through the cupboards, he looks back at Jessica. "So you said you're a teachers aide...do you know who you'll be working for?" he asks, finding his prize within the third cupboard he searches; a small box which he opens, pulling out two tea bags and placing them on the counter. He grabs two mugs, placing one next to the bag, and smiles as he holds the second up for her to see. "Tea?" "Tea would be lovely." Jessica replies calmly, remaining a comfortable distance away while she watches Dante prepare the beverage. Youthful eyes dart from the cupboards to the kettle, then again to cupboards again as the tea bags are produced, time has not dulled her childlike curiosity and no amount of clothing or make-up will hide such. "No they have not told me anything, my appointment is more charitable than academic I'm afraid. So I imagine I'll be helping you all in the coming weeks while I settle, there is a possibility the students wont take to me at all... I suppose I'm a sociological experiment." A girlish giggle that is followed by a self disapproving frown, calm quickly returns, "Far be it from me to judge a book from its cover, but I must admit you are not what I would expect from a drama teacher." A polite smile indicates she means no offence, but Jessica continues to keep her distance as she does not want to approach till Dante is comfortable with her presence. Dante nods slightly as Jessica explains her stay. "I wouldn't worry too much about the students," he says with a smile, "I don't think they'll have much trouble 'taking' to you. I mean, damn. If /these/ kids, with all their differences and...special quirks...aren't above prejudice, I dunno who in the world is..." he states matter of factly. It's obvious he tries to find different wording, instead of just throwing out the term 'mutant.' /hate that word./ He smiles warmly, his bright green eyes lighting up with amusement at her final statement. "Oh? Why's that, dare i ask?" he retorts, placing the tea bags within the mugs, wrapping the strings around the handle. It's something he'd done forever...makes sure the bags don't fall completely into the mug when one pours water over them...Seems such a simple idea, yet Dante can't think of another person he's seen do it. He grabs the kettle, now smoking ever so slightly from the spout, and pours the water slowly into the mugs. He brings them to a small table, pulling out a chair for Jessica, before sitting down in the chair opposite and placing the mugs in their respective places. "Hope you like it. You look like an oolong kinda girl, if I didn't know any better..." he quips as he blows on his mug slightly, cooling his own tea to just the right temperature. "Truth be told, if I had my way, I'd be teaching some form of self defense, or martial arts training...but they already have a teacher for that...so I guess they decided to place me in theatre, since there was an open spot. Was a little bummed, but hey, teaching my second love ain't too shabby." Jessica smiles sweetly at the invitation and without hesitation she strikes for the offered seat and sits herself comfortably down across from Dante. After a moment of preening, smoothing her skirt, checking hair then picking a piece of fluff of her top, her focus returns to the man with a nervous smile. "I think you're probably right, I imagine that the students are forced to be more open minded than typical children." she replies seriously, legs crossing at the ankles. Hands fold primly atop her lap, posture straightens, her eyes fixed upon Dante's prepairations, such seeming quite practiced, "Well we'll find out soon enough what type of girl I am." said with an amused smile that shatters her nervousness for a moment, "I think I'll just let it cool for a moment though... As to you question, I just thought you looked a bit, rough to be a drama teacher, I mean no offence of course, first impressions are often wrong. And I agree, getting to foster a second love is more than many are afforded." Brown eyes glance quickly around the room, "This really is a nice place." "Rough...I like that, I dunno why," Dante replies, a much more hearty laugh emanating from his belly this time at the remark. He shrugs slightly, taking a sip from the mug, letting the warm liquid soothe his insides. He takes a deep breath, then grunts slightly in pain. He refrains from holding his injured ribs, instead electing to take another sip. He closes his eyes for a moment in deep concentration and, for anyone able to notice exactly what was happening, gathering his energy and sending healing Chi to his injured side. He opens his eyes, and sighs with happiness. "Tea is truly a wonderful thing. It's soothing, relaxing, healing. Truly the nectar of life..." he muses for a moment...it seemed as if he wandered into his own little world, completely oblivious to exactly what Jessica had said...though he knew she said SOMETHING in those few quiet moments. "...I'm sorry, what was that?" he asked... With a smile offered in reply to Dante's reply, Jessica leans forward and takes the hot cup off the table to rest such upon her lap. Nervous as she might be, it is fun to sit and talk with someone close to your own age, "My parents were more coffee drinkers, so I've not aquired the taste for this particular pleasure." she muses as she continues to look down at the hot liquid, appearing rather pleasant all the while, "So I've been told that I'm being a given a room upstairs, that's kinda exciting." An enthusiastic remark that brings her brown eyes to look over at Dante, "Like this place, is so far above anything that I'm used to..." "It really is...Like I said, I'm still getting used to it here, and I've been here a few months now. Granted, I don't LIVE here, but you'd think I've been around enough to see all there is to see. No chance..." Each sip of tea he takes seems to relieve his pain that much more...almost as if he were pulling energies from the leaves within the bag... Hmm... He smiles once more, feeling much more relaxed and comfortable, despite their early misunderstanding. "That's great news! Definitely take that offer. It's way easier than trying to live out a crappy lease in New York. It'll give you a great chance to be more involved with this little community here, too." For that's what it seemed to Dante. A small community within it's own palace of a school. He takes the final sip of tea, and stand up slowly, walking over to pick up the still warm kettle, and refills his mug. He almost offers it to Jessica, before realizing she had barely touched any of hers. He shrugs to himself, before replacing the kettle and taking his seat once more. "So, tell me a little bit more about yourself. How'd you come to know of the school? What's Jessica Grace all about?" he asks inquisitively. Jessica laughs at the question, or is she laughing at how quickly Dante inhaled that tea, or perhaps she is merely tired after a long day on the road, still she watches the man attentively with her youthful eyes as he moves about, "My parents found this place for me actually, I don't know how they came about it, but they made some phone calls and got me in touch with representatives. If not for them I don't think I would have ever heard of it, I was becoming abit of a shut-in." A rueful giggle before a tentative sip is taken, such incites a wrinkled expression of disgust typical of a child trying tea. "It's good." she adds with a smile, lowering the cup back to her lap. "There is not much to say about me really, I suppose if things had have went differently for me I'd be just coming out of university about now. Maybe I'd have a husband and some kids, who knows... The last ten years have truly been a wash for me, I did not know what to do with myself, my whole family was at a loss. I'm hoping that now that I'm here I can do something useful, I've been quite solitary up to this point. Well, since high school anyways." Dante listens intently to her story, nodding here, and "hmm"ing there. His eyes flicker slightly when he notices her take a sip, sensing the wave of dislike wash across her face, if even for a moment. /Well, wrong again, dumbass...Some tea aficionado you are.../ he thinks to himself, all the while smiling and nodding as she acknowledges she likes it. Once she finishes her story, he nods once more. After a moment of silence, he pipes up "It's a difficult subject to breach without getting too awkward, so I'll just come out with it...If you don't mind me asking, how old ARE you?" He has to ask...She talks about a husband and kids, university...yet, physically, she doesn't seem older than 15...really no other way around the question than to just get it out in the open and ask... Jessica reddens like a lobster at the question, though she does smile before replying, "I'm thirty-two..." she replies softly, her brown eyes lowering for a brief moment till a deep breath is taken to stifle her shyness. "The doctor seemed to think I was twelve or thirteen when I stopped aging, but you know, these things are not an exact science. I did not even notice I'd stopped right away, not till I was nearing the end of high school really, I'd look at the other girls and they were a bit more... Remarkable than me." There is a quiet moment as she remembers something apparently amusing from the past, "But thank you for thinking I look fifteen, thats kind of you." Indeed Jessica does display some womanly virtues, she is well endowed for a girl her age and already possess an hourglass shape, but all is relative to her grade eight contemporaries. "Thank god it did not stop any earlier." "I see...I hope that didn't embarrass you...that was not my intention..." his voice trails off slightly. He listens intently once more to her story, taking sip after sip of tea, tapping slightly on the mug, almost nervously. It seemed as if they had just broken the uncomfortable ice...and there he went, making it awkward once more. After a few moments of silence, he speaks up... "I can manipulate Chi...Life force energy, basically. Started in high school, people thought I was on steroids at first. Got me kicked off the wrestling team, kinda killed all my friendships. Got into a fight with some kid who thought I didn't deserve the state championship...one thing led to another, you know how high school boys act..." "I hit him, and I felt my...stamina...my energy...drop. I felt winded, from throwing a punch...there was this big flash of blue light. It knocked him back, knocked him out, even scorched his uniform a little bit, like it caught on fire...Whatever friends i still had, whoever didn't believe the steroid stories? Didn't matter...Mutant was the word after that. My father pulled me from school, I basically was under house arrest. Couldn't go out, too dangerous..." "After he died, I couldn't stay. I disappeared. Went nomad for a few years round the country. Ended up back here couple months ago. This is really the only place I've found that...accepts it, ya know? That doesn't think twice about who or what you are...Out there, it doesn't matter how 'open' someone says they are...they're still gonna have that look. Are you just weird? Or dangerous? You're different than me, should i hate you, or fear you?" All the while he talks, he taps upon his mug, along with his foot. His gaze shifts from her, to the corner of the room, and back and forth. He sighs slightly, looking up at her again, and finally keeping eye contact... "Not sure why i just spilled all that to ya..." he admits... Jenna smiles faintly before taking another sip of her tea, fully intending to do the mature thing and learn how to drink it, even if it tastes terrible. "I'm not embarrassed, it's fine." replies the pre-teen in a soft voice, "I imagine I'll have to explain myself a great deal over the coming months, I best get used to it." At that the girl slides off her chair and comes to a stand, cup still held in her hand, "It's probably just the tea talking." Smile, "To be honest talking about our affliction is all us mutants do most of the time, having been barred from regular lives what else is there to talk about. But things are changing I think, when I was a kid mutants seemed far more hated they are now, I imagine progress will continue over time." A great yawn is flexed, "Do not be too hard on your father though, my parents were quite attentive and I still ended up in a house arrest as you call it. Mine was self inflicted, I was so embarrassed, still embarrassed, but I could not even talk about it back then. Normally a mutant in my position would move out west, hide their situation and start a new life, but I obviously cant work or own anything, so I sat around and did nothing. Till this place." With a gesture a pretty smile is offered, "I think I'm going to head up to bed, I'm so tired I'm not even thinking straight, all that time on the road. Perhaps we could get together tomorrow or the next day once I'm settled, you know, if I don't unsettle you." "Oh, don't get me wrong, I loved my father. He was the only one that stuck with me till the end. My house arrest was basically for protection's sake." He scoffs slightly, however, once she mentions that hate has lowered over time. "I dunno about that..." he replied, remembering a certain recent incident. "But that's a story for another day," he finishes, noticing her getting up. He holds his hand out to help her up, smiling slightly as he cleans up the room. "I would love to get together again, Jessica," he responds with another smile. "And no...you don't unsettle me in the slightest," he adds after he finishes cleaning the room, he nods his head down, almost in a modern bow. "It's been lovely. Get some rest," he says as he allows her to leave the room first. "Round here? You'll need it..."