nextgenerationmarvel | A Meeting With Headmistress Ramsey

Current Mood: anxious
Current Location: Xavier Institute, Westchester, New York

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A Meeting With Headmistress Ramsey

Dolemeck was nervous as he sat outside of Rachel's office. He was nervous for many reasons, none of them particularly bad. Though he did worry that she found out that he nearly destroyed a tree with his powers on the mansion grounds. That was embarrassing, though not as much as stealing a nap in Bobbi's bed!

He tried to sit with his back straight, hissing as he felt some pain from doing so. Between the bruises and the stress he was under, he was surprised he was not hurting more. Despite that, it would not stop him from doing important things... like speaking with Headmistress Ramsey. He needed her help on two matters, and hoped she was the right person to go to.

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Even with it being summer session, Rachel was still busier than ever. Particularly with all the construction on campus. The dorms for the students were just about done. Soon, the mansion itself would have things changed around, which would make it very noisy in this office some days. Dani's office in the stables sounded so tempting at that thought.

However, busy or not, Rachel kept a couple hours open each day for students living on campus to schedule in a visit. She gathered up the blueprints that littered her desk. With a thought, the doors to her office opened while she stood behind her desk putting things away.

"C'mon in, Mr. Night."

Seeing the door open, Dolemeck carefully walked into the office. he appeared to be walking gingerly towards the chair across the desk from Mrs. Ramsey. Once seated, he gave a small sigh of relief.

"Headmistress Ramsey, I apologize for taking up your time." He nervously looked about the room, before focusing on Rachel. "I... have something to ask you, Headmistress Ramsey, ma'am. Do you think I can have surgery to repair me back? I... I want to protect my friends, and I cannot do so with my leg braces."

Rachel quirked an eyebrow.

"Dolemeck, there's no need to apologize for taking up my time when you have a scheduled appointment during open hours." She settled back down behind her desk when the blueprints were tucked away in a drawer.

"I will point out that even being able-bodied will not be a guarantee you can protect your friends here at Xavier's. Life, as much as we want it to be, is not fair that way. I would also have to check with Hank and Cecelia to see when we could do the procedure. However, you are under the age of 18, do you have permission from your legal guardian?"

"I understand, Headmistress Ramsey." Dolemeck nodded his head. "I just want the chance to try. To... not be the one people worry about in the Danger Room, or being too tired to do much with friends because of my condition."

"I talked to my brother, Dayton. He... is my legal guardian." He hated to tell people that his own parents were so absent in his life, that his eldest brother had to take custody of him. "He has granted his blessing for the surgery, and is willing to speak with you about it if needed."

He took out his phone to give to Rachel, only to turn pale the moment a new message came up on it. he now appeared hesitant to give the phone to her.

"If you truly want that chance, a new pair of legs is not going to be that much of a help," Rachel admitted. "You'll have to retrain them. And that will take away from your power-training. I'm not saying definitely not, but surgery on spines are no guarantees. Even with our advanced technology." Particularly when the headmaster before Rachel was often confined to a wheelchair. She could just feel Charles's weighty gaze from the portrait over her shoulder. She gestured toward the portrait of Professor X.

"Not being physically abled is not as big a detriment to those of us with powers of the mind."

She glanced at the phone but didn't reach out to take it. Nor did she pay attention to what the message was that popped up on it. "This is not a talking thing with your legal guardian. This is he has to sign forms and give his consent legally. Also, we have to inform both of you that this surgery could make your legs even worse."

"You mean it could become the worst case scenario." He placed the phone on the desk, looking up at Rachel. "That it could cause me to become bedridden soon rather than later."

"I can lift things that I never thought I could before with my mind, headmistress Ramsey. But when it comes to trying to use my powers to allow me to move faster, it feels impossible." He tried not to show too much emotion, despite how his voice quivered at times.

"When Professor Franklin told me of all the amazing technology the school has, I thought... I thought I could one day be able to walk again. Not just that, but that I would not have to fear one day just waking up and not being able to move on me own free will."

"Or a Sentinel could fall out of the sky tomorrow and kill you. There are so many worse case scenarios here that focusing on them leads to a paralysis of a different sort." Rachel set her forearms on her desk and leaned forward. Her gaze was unwavering but gentle.

"You're a telekinetic. That you're getting more power as you use it more is common. The training we offer here will help with the control and fine details. It takes time and effort, but it is in the realm of possibilities for you, Dolemeck."

"Aye, Headmistress Ramsey, I understand." He gave a nod of his head. "I will just try harder is all."

His eyes close for a moment, making his phone shake, then lift off the desk to float towards Rachel.

"I have another question to ask, Headmistress Ramsey. Is it possible an adult can take me shopping for a new phone. I... I need a new number, immediately."

"Try harder and don't get discouraged it's not happening right away. Just like physical skills, tk takes some time to get refined and really good at it." Rachel reached over and plucked the phone out of the air. She eyed the backside of the phone.

"Unless you're gunning for just a new phone, you don't have to give up this phone for a new number. Most service providers allow you to change your phone number online."

He really did not want to tell anyone about this, but there was no point in hiding anything from the Headmistress of the school. Using only his mind, he turned the phone on for Rachel to see. The inbox was filled from a contact listed as "Da". Each message was more vulgar and cruel then the next.

"These messages have been coming to me mostly during the night, when it is almost daytime in my home country." He spoke quietly, as though ashamed. "Some I can tell are written while drunk or high, the others while sober. It will not stop, and since I am not on the phone's account, I cannot change the number or do anything! It is why I request getting a new phone and my own plan."

He took a deep breath.

"This has been going on since Professor Franklin and I met my Da when he was in the City. I have asked him to stop, and he will not. I am at a loss on what to do. It is starting to effect my sleep and school work."

Rachel frowned at the phone. "I will have to talk to Professor Richards about this later. We'll see what we can do about your own phone, but for now."

She went into Dolemeck's phone, removed his father as a contact, and blocked the number to keep the phone quiet. She held the phone out to him.

"If he circumvents this or anything else, we'll get a restraining order put in place."

"Yes, Headmistress Ramsey." He used his powers to take his phone back, and place it in his pocket. "Headmistress Ramsey, it was not professor Richard's fault. My Da requested to see me in the city, then stood me up. I demanded he take me to the hotel he was staying. I rushed in, and... I discovered my Da was nothing but but a drug addict and drunkard. He tried to throw a punch at me, but Professor Richards stopped him. He then took me home, and it never came up, again..."

His eyes moved to look down at his leg braces and shoes.

"Please do not be mad at him. It was my fault, Headmistress Ramsey. I should have just gone home, instead of confront my Da on his problems."

"I know it's not Franklin's fault, but there are some things I need to discuss with him." The emphasis had been put on his last name to remind the student in front of her that Franklin was a teacher here.

She settled back more into her plush yet comfortable chair.

"And it's not your fault your father is acting this way. Have you talked to Dayton about this?"

"I have, Headmistress Ramsey." He looked away for a moment. "All he told me was that this was not my Da speaking, but the drugs and the alcohol. Not that it made me feel any better to hear that. I told him I wanted to go into therapy for children that have parents with substance abuse problems. He agreed it may be a good idea, but said nothing about speaking to him about his behavior. I think he is scared he will have to deal with what I am."

Dolemeck covered his face with his hands for a moment, before running his fingers through his hair.

"I think he's also scared that if I file a restraining order, the Paparazzi will find out and make everything public. It could make things worse than they are, now. I've been trying to endure it, to ignore the messages. But they keep getting worse and worse. It's like the moment he puts something in his veins, up his nose, or a bloody bottle to his lips... I get a message like the ones I showed you."

Dolemeck finally shook his head, placing his hands on his knees.

"I just... I do not understand why he is doing this to me."

"Your brother's right about your father. Drug addiction and alcoholism are diseases. They can cause a loss of control and serious emotional and mental complications that require professional help and counseling. It's a very daunting task as his child having to deal with it." A pad of paper and a pen floated out of a desk drawer that opened and closed. She grabbed the pen as the paper settled onto the desk in front of her.

"You father's blocked on your phone now. If he emails you, block that, too. You need some time to process this. And one of the things you can do is learn all you can. Check out the facts about what he's using, its effects, and its consequences." She started writing down some things on the paper. "It's also hard for a parent to admit to their child there's a problem. Particularly if he doesn't see it himself."

She paused in writing. "This isn't your fault in any way, Dolemeck. You can’t control what your father does about his problem, but you can get help for yourself. You can talk to myself or any teacher here about it."

She finished writing down information and ripped the paper from the small tablet. She held out the paper to him. "Here's some phone numbers and websites to find help for you here in the States and some you can pass along to Dayton at home. All of this is confidential and won't get out to the public if either of you are worried about that."

He took the paper that Rachel gave to him, carefully looking over it.

"Believe it or not, I know what he is on, and the side effects. He... spoke of them during an anti-drug and alcohol campaign back home." His eyes could not even look over at Rachel, now. "A campaign he made me the poster child of, as I was hit by a drunk driver. Even nearly dying did not sober him up, and he just used me and my plight for publicity. All to sell more albums and garner more favorable press. I am still puzzled to how he can hide his addictions so well from the world."

He began to stuff the note in his pocket.

"Rose let me know this place, this school is my family. As far as I am concerned, it is all I have, now. Well, besides Dayton back home. I will give him the numbers and information later this eve... and I will block my Da's E-mail address, as you said, Headmistress Ramsey. I just... I wonder why the Universe keeps kicking me in the bum."

"Then you'll need to read up on drug addiction and alcoholism. Because that will answer a lot of the whys you have. And he can hide it because there's people around him to help with it. Benign or not."

She watched him stuff the note into his pocket. "Some of those numbers there are support groups for people your age going through the same thing. While we are family and can give you some of the support you need, it also helps to have people who know what you're going through."

She gave him a gentle smile. "Sometimes it feels like the universe does that. But believe me, it's not gunning for you. Life just likes to challenge people."

"Thank you, headmistress Ramsey. I think I just needed to hear that from someone. You know, that the world is not out to get me." He cringed, trying to stand up. There was a shooting pain going up his spine, but he endured it. "In between my studies for my citizenship and lessons here, I will read up on drug and alcohol abuse as well. I may as well be as informed as possible."

He did his best to smile for Rachel, trying to hide the physical and emotional pain he was in. Talking to her and getting those numbers just made it more real, than the hurtful messages he received.

"I believe I will head back to my room to rest for a bit, Headmistress Ramsey. No doubt Bobbi will sneak in again and draw me sleeping, again. Apparently, I look very peaceful in me sleep." He gave a small chuckle. "Thank you for all your help, I am very appreciative."

One thing about a telepathic headmaster, she could sense things that students were trying to hide. She rose smoothly to her feet.

"Dolemeck, if you're in pain, please go see Dr. McCoy or Dr. Reyes. While we don't have a quick cure for your spine, they can help with lessening the pain. And if you need anything else, you know where to find me."

"Aye, Headmistress Ramsey, I shall go to the med lab right away." He hissed. "I have been trying to avoid taking any pain medication. I know that Dr. McCoy and Dr. Reyes have me on strict pain management, but it does not lessen the fear I will become a man like my father."

He readjusted his cast, pressing it close to his chest as he started to walk out of the room. His leg braces would creak with each step he took.

"Again, thank you, Headmistress Ramsey."

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A Meeting With Headmistress Ramsey

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