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

[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.

[hellfire_empath]

"I don't - what? NO!" Brooke exclaimed, very obviously mortified. "We haven't even - I mean, I've never! Have you ever heard of cuddling, or does someone who dresses in tacky red leather covered in spikes not actually believe in just falling asleep in someone's arms without necessarily needing to get naked and sweaty?"

[nohoundsallowed]

Well, that was Brooke's normal reaction. Rachel mastered the not smiling at the mortification.

"You do realize that is what the other adults you wish to be roomed near will think and assume if you do have a boyfriend spend the night. Despite protestations to the contrary." Also, Rachel would be hard-pressed to find adults who would want to be roomed anywhere near Brooke to begin with.

[hellfire_empath]

"I'd probably be a horrible influence on your students, though, if I were allowed to stay with them. Horrible spoiled rich girl? Bitchy empath. Just think of all the things that could go wrong." Pause. "Topher could release his crazy dark side again."

[nohoundsallowed]

"Like you have been for the past six months? Topher is working on getting more shields. Which is going along better than you losing some of yours. I will consider your request once the dorms are built and I have a fuller scope of where I will put various people living on campus." Outside of herself and Doug who will stay in the mansion in the headmaster's quarters.

[hellfire_empath]

"Fair enough," Brooke said, shrugging the topic off the way she would one of her many luxurious winter coats. "I want to help," she said. "With the rebuilding. And the redecorating. We're out to the public now, which means that we're a place of interest. That means that every inch of this place needs to look well-kept, stylish, and classic. I've seen what some of you people choose to design, and it can be hideous." Pause. "I want to be put in charge of redecoration and interior design."

[nohoundsallowed]

Rachel telekinetically pinched the bridge of her nose. It would have to do as she was trying to keep her hands from moving from where they folded in front of her.

"Some of us people, huh?"

[hellfire_empath]

"I'm not being insulting, Rachel. You know what I mean. We need to present a well put-together image in case any of the outsiders want to stop by for a visit," Brooke shrugged. "Think of it as me giving back for the help that you're giving me."

[nohoundsallowed]

"Yes, Brooke, you are being insulting. Someone who prides herself on taste and etiquette should be less backhanded when she is trying to get something." Rachel took a deep breath to let it out.

"You may consult, but you won't be in charge. I will look at your suggestions and if they fit the needs of the school, I will have them implemented."

[hellfire_empath]

"Fine. I'm not being intentionally insulting." Brooke lacked tact, it was true, but she'd never really felt the need to be tactful. Not when saying what was on her mind usually got her what she wanted anyway. "Consulting works." Pause. "But what about the community at large? We're not a secret anymore. There are going to be kids who need our help - who want it and who want to come here. I want to help with that."

[nohoundsallowed]

Rachel blinked. Then she blinked again. She licked her lips for a moment to try to figure out the right words.

"Well..." Having her help and be actually empathic might be good for Brooke. It was a step in the right direction. Rachel already knew Brooke's foibles so she could approach this with the right amount of care. "That's a little unexpected, but I don't see why not within reason. After," she stressed, "we see how well you can work with those we have on campus that need help."

[hellfire_empath]

"..." Brooke raised a gentle eyebrow. "Whatever do you mean, those we have on campus?" She then raised her chin ever so slightly. "Rather, who do you mean?"

[nohoundsallowed]

Rachel shook her head. "Nuh-uh. No information until you agree to it. You want to help, you have to be willing to help anyone. No matter your previous opinions."

She tilted her head, "You willing to help or not?"

[hellfire_empath]

"Fine," Brooke said. "Okay. I'm willing to help. Now tell me who I have to help to prove myself to you."

[nohoundsallowed]

"Pete Eastman," Rachel replied. She and Dani had been trying to work with him, but right now, she needed to see if Brooke even knew who he was.

[hellfire_empath]

"Oh, Pete! Right. Good old Pete. He's a great guy, Pete. Can't ever remember having verbally taken him down or anything." Or having ever spoken to him at all, but that was so very besides the point here.

[nohoundsallowed]

"Because you have always been complimentary about a boy who turns into six-foot tall bipedal turtles, right?" Rachel couldn't help but smile a little. Brooke's bluster was a little amusing.

[hellfire_empath]

"Turtleskin terrifies me, okay? There's a reason why none of my many sunglasses are tortoiseshell!" Brooke breathed in deeply. "I'm not going to be waxing his shell every night, am I?"

[nohoundsallowed]

"That would entirely depend on which turtle is in residence, but I doubt that will be required. No, what you're going to do is try to get the scared boy under all those powers to be less scared of mutants. Without using your powers. Lots of what we can help with is listening and empathy." Rachel pushed off the desk to stand up more fully.

"Seems up your alley, doesn't it?"

[hellfire_empath]

"So, you want me to sit there, listen to his problems, and help him figure out how to better himself and his life?" She needed to be clear on this, here. "You want me to counsel him?" Was Rachel really about to set Brooke free to give advice to people?

[nohoundsallowed]

"If you can actually get Pete to talk to you without a turtle interruption, congratulations, you're doing better than all the adults here. He's got other problems as well, but you'll need to figure those out as you talk to him." As problematic as Pete was, he was the least likely to do anything violent to Brooke in any of his forms. Even the crabby one in red.

"It's less about telling him what to do, Brooke, and more connecting with him. You're going to help his legal guardian at the very least."

[hellfire_empath]

"Of course he'll talk to me," Brooke said confidently. "After all, someone's finally giving him the time of day." She brushed a lock of hair behind her ear and added, "What's his story, Rachel? I'm going to need to know some of this going in, so I'm not blind. I'll be able to better engage with him that way."