A Less Tremulous Forward Direction ((Open to all at Xavier's))

[nohoundsallowed]

Rachel Grey-Ramsey, still freshly minted headmaster at Hogwarts Xavier's, had finalized the plans for the massive amounts of construction that was to happen around the school this summer. With the summer session in full-swing, she hoped the construction would not be too disruptive to the classes in session for those students still on campus.

Though she would gather all staff, students, X-Men and other residents of age that needed to know what was going on. It was mandatory for all to attend. Changes were going to happen whether any of them liked them or not. She mentally adjusted her perfectly-tailored suit and stood in front of the assembled mutants.

"As you all are aware, Xavier's is now a publicly-known school for mutants. As such we will be under more scrutiny to make educational standards on top of the larger student body we will be having in the fall. This brings many changes for us to adapt to. Dormitories separate from the mansion will be built for the students with resident advisers rooming in those buildings as well. There will be separate housing as well for the staff, X-Men, and other members of our family residing on campus. We have been a family, and I will make sure that remains the same. The interior of the mansion from attic to basement will be remodeled. Most classes will be held inside the mansion. There will be a cafeteria for students as well as adults to eat in. The subbasements will not be changed.

However, these changes come at some cost to how things were run before. As family we could be more informal and turn our eyes from certain behaviors. With government agencies watching us closely, this will no longer be the case. Among the changes, we will have a zero tolerance policy for drug use and underage drinking. Also, no training session is to be run without a teacher present to shut it down if things go wrong. Any X-Men affiliates who are on campus in a non-teaching capacity will be advised to stay away from the students.

If there are any further concerns or questions, please feel free to ask. My door is always open to anyone here who needs help."

Comments

[talk_to_you]

Doug, waiting in the wings and watching, offered a little applause once Rachel was done. She'd had a heavy burden placed upon her, but was taking to it remarkably well, as he knew she would.

[nohoundsallowed]

Well, she had not had any rotten vegetables thrown at her. Though she figured it might be too early in the season for that. Also, everyone here knew better than to throw things at a telekinetic. Idly whimsical worries aside, she moved toward her husband when she had the chance.

She let out a long breath. Though she did have to smile a little bit because he was there. "That went as expected. I expect grumblings about the changes closer to the changes happening."

[talk_to_you]

"Hey babe," he said. "You did great."

Doug nodded. "General body language on the crowd was pretty calm. I think most of us are still shocked by all the changes."

[nohoundsallowed]

"I'll hear it more when everyone but us has to move out of the mansion," Rachel noted ruefully. Though she was trying to get all the information out there for them before they had to do the great building shuffle.

She gave him a quick kiss. "Heard your applause. I'll show my full appreciation for it later tonight."

She winked.

[talk_to_you]

"I'll be looking forward to it," he said, with a grin of his own.

"Quite the ambitious project. Can we really get it all done before the fall term?"

[nohoundsallowed]

She sighed. "I'm hoping so. I'm hoping to get Forge up here to help Hank with some of the remodeling. If we had a sentient lawn that could dig holes for foundations, I'd be happy. But I'll just have to think hard to help out with that."

Between some of the power sets on campus, they could make easy work on part of it. Though the inspections and permits might slow them down some. Everything would have to be made better than code considering the powers in use around the campus.

[talk_to_you]

Doug nodded. "A sentient lawn? That'd be quite the sight."

"Lot of programming for the new computer networks and everything else," he added. "Good time to upgrade the firewalls too."

A sly grin. "And we'll probably need a school website."

[nohoundsallowed]

"Don't know how it would go when the lawn fights back, though." There were sometimes drawbacks to wistful wishes.

"Good thing I know this really good IT specialist. Should be easy to get him to do it with the right payment." She smirked a little.

"Most likely. We'll need to also prepare for any technopaths that may end up here as well."

[talk_to_you]

"Shouldn't be too hard," Doug said. "I can code up some of the software in Shi'ar or Technarchy or something like that. Enough to be intelligent enough to resist outside manipulation. ...provided I don't end up bringing the Danger Room to life or anything in the process."

[seismic_shockwave]

Kayla was absolutely going to find Rachel after that speech. But she didn't come by herself, no, indeed, she arrived with a little tray of fresh-made beignets, dusted liberally with powdered sugar and served with little containers of vanilla custard and raspberry coulis, along with a cup of French-press coffee, a double-double, just as Rachel liked.

Kayla had to carefully use her foot to knock on the door, though, because her hands were both occupied with the tray. Hopefully Rachel would open the door telekinetically.

"Mrs. Ramsey, hope you're not too busy. I brought a little post-inspiring speech snack."

[nohoundsallowed]

Rachel actually opened the door by hand. She had been up and not behind her desk. She was arranging some new items in her mostly bare office. When the door opened, Rachel blinked at the tray.

"Kayla, come in." She backed out of the way. Opened boxes floated off the chairs and became neatly stacked in the corner.

[seismic_shockwave]

"Hey. I guess you could call this a thank you?" Kayla moved to put the tray down on her desk. She looked around the office. It looked a little bare, but that'd be changed soon enough. Books needed to be moved in, papers would pile up and pretty soon it'd look full.

"I can go if you're busy, though. Don't want to be in the way or anything."

[nohoundsallowed]

Rachel shut the door behind Kayla and followed after the tray of goodies heading toward her desk. "A thank you?"

She was occasionally distracted by all things headmaster. It might take her a second to figure it out.

She did laugh softly at being busy. "I'm always busy, but I will always make time for anyone who comes bearing beignets."

[seismic_shockwave]

"Yeah, for the job. Means a lot." Kayla replied with a big smile. "I've ... really been enjoying cooking and baking? I'm actually thinking of making a career of it. You know, if the world gets uncrazy enough for me to actually get a job." That was something she'd always had to keep in mind. And she didn't think she could do the outside employment thing for a little bit. It just made her think of Bob. Her smile flagged for a moment, before picking up again.

"I know I'm still a student, but I just wanted to say that if there's anything I can help with, I'm here. I owe you all a lot. Really."

[nohoundsallowed]

"Oh! Right. The work-study." Rachel grinned. "I think Hana appreciates me getting her some help in feeding an army of people with large appetites."

She thought about walking around to sit at her desk properly. Instead she had the chairs for visitors scoot closer to the desk and settled down easily in one.

"I can look and see what culinary contacts we have available. Or if you want to start up your own business after graduation, I can have some people come in to talk with you." Rachel had the coffee float over to her. "All I ask for is for you to be the best student you can. We'll be here for you so when we're old and creaky, you'll be there for them. I will be either creaky or young and spry depending if I pop in or out of the time stream."

[seismic_shockwave]

"Hana is awesome, and I'm looking forward to working and learning with her." Yes, it was a lot of work feeding all those hungry mutants, but Kayla was happy to do it. She'd always liked to cook, but she'd been finding more and more, it was something she truly loved to do.

"I know Miss Shaw owns a restaurant, but yeah, I've been considering going into baking. I haven't decided yet. I love both, but there's something to be said about making sweet things that everyone loves." She smiled. "I will. Promise. And I'll do my best not to draw scandal to us."

[nohoundsallowed]

"She's kept plenty of people fed. I figured it was time for her to get paid and have a formal title for it." Rachel sipped the coffee and let out a small, satisfied sigh. Just the way she liked it.

"Professor Xavier," she paused for a second. Was she supposed to refer to him that way anymore? Though she started right back up where she left off. "Has an extensive network of contacts I have access to as well. Just let me know if I need to get in touch with any of them."

She raised an eyebrow."I wouldn't worry about drawing scandal here. It'll find it's way to the school somehow. Just learn as much as you can and keep a level head on despite our everyday craziness. That will get you pretty far."

[hellfire_empath]

Rachel wouldn't have been surprised to see Brooke sitting outside her office, waiting impatiently, adding a near ridiculous amount of clothing to her Neiman-Marcus shopping cart. She was anxious, curious, and had things to say.

A small part of Brooke also wanted to help.

These were, after all, her people.

[nohoundsallowed]

Rachel was hardly ever surprised to find Brooke outside her office. Now was not an exception. The doors to the office opened before Rachel got there.

"Miss Wyngarde, please come in," the redhead said as she got closer. She didn't even pause and wasn't likely to until inside her office. Whatever the conversation with Brooke would be about, it was best behind closed doors and not in the hallway.

[hellfire_empath]

Brooke practically leaped off of her seat and smoothed down the skirt of one of her usually overly dressy ensembles before following Rachel in. The doors shut behind Brooke once she entered, and had she not known that Rachel had telekinetic abilities, she would have assumed it was some sort of Brooke-is-hear-block-the-noise sensors that gave her and her mentor some privacy.

"What am I now, exactly? X-Men affiliate? Friendly resident?" Because she needed to know where she stood, first of all. "Also, leave-in conditioner would do your hair a world of good."

[nohoundsallowed]

There were no noise-blocking sensors in Rachel's office as far as she knew. She crossed to her desk at the center of the room, though she did not go behind it. She stopped in front of it and leaned against the front of it. She gestured for Brooke to have a seat in one of the two chairs in front of her.

"Considering the nature of why you're here, I'd probably put you under an adult continuing education student."

Hair tips were ignored as usual.

[hellfire_empath]

"Oh, good! Does that mean that I can hope for a room reassignment?" This was the easier part of the conversation, Brooke assumed. Other areas wouldn't be as simple.

[nohoundsallowed]

"Things not working out with Danielle?" She asked with no malice. She would have to figure out where to stick Brooke.

[hellfire_empath]

"Well, let's be honest. I didn't exactly make a sparkling first impression, did I? But no, that's not it at all. It's just...they're technically students. The next generation of X-Men. It's obvious that I'm not really ever officially going to be one, or that I'm not a student, though I've been with you guys on missions once in awhile. Also, you know. I have a maybe-boyfriend-type who may or may not want the spend the night every once in awhile."

[nohoundsallowed]

"So, you're looking for some privacy so you can have sex?" When it doubt, be blunt. It would also be a great way to gauge Brooke's reaction.