Players:
Summary: Omri meets two students, Jeremy and Rashmi while they discuss Ahab a bit.
Date: August 15, 2010
Log Title: Back At Barnes
Rating: PG
Barnes Academy - Cafeteria
A large open space with dozens of tables is attached to a kitchen module and a few freezer bays. Trained chefs prepare nutritionally balanced meals for staff and students here that is usually actually pretty tasty and after hours, there is an a la carte fridge with glass doors open to all. The cafeteria is even equipped to handle non-traditional metabolisms and there is even a small private dining module towards the back for staff dinners, guests of the teachers or for use by students with dietary requirements that might disturb others. The entire ceiling is a dome of transparent material and full-spectrum lighting gives the whole space a pleasant, sunny atmosphere, bolstered by the video monitors on the walls showing various live land and sea scapes.
He's back at Barnes and Jeremy couldn't be happier for it. Sure he's gotten quite a few questions about the hound thing but he hasn't really been able to answer them. It feels like it was someone elses life he was living, not his own. So at the moment, he's at a table by himself in the cafeteria enjoying the Sunday Night dinner of chicken, potatoes and salad. He's wearing a long sleeved Barnes shirt with his standard pair of gloves as he reads his book.
The first sign that the cafeteria is not quite as empty as it seemed, the slow tread of Academy shoes, drawing closer. The second, the smell of chicken and potatoes growing stronger, as another helping of both lend their scents to the air, accompanied by butter enough to be picked out as a separate smell. The third, when a tray is set at the opposite end of the table from Jeremy, accompanied by a solicitous clearing of the throat. "Um… hi? …Is it okay if I sit here?"
Looking up at the voice, Jeremy puts down his copy of 'Of Mice and Men' and smiles at Rashmi. "Uh, no, not all all, it's okay." He says sounding a bit startled but there's a smile on his face. "Oh..uh, I'm Jeremy, nice to meet you." He holds out a gloved hand in an introduction to the girl. He hasn't seen her yet but then he's not exactly the authority on whose new and who isn't at Barnes.
Rashmi's smile is bright and friendly, as she takes the gloved hand and gives a light, but confident shake. "Rashmi," she says in return, possibly jogging the memory of Jeremy's not-himself time as a Hound of Ahab, "Rashmi Franklin, good to meet you." Plopping down in her chair, she tilts her head at the book in the other boy's hands. "What's that?"
"Nice to meet you Rashmi." Jeremy says giving a nod. "Oh, this..just catching up on some school work. I know it's the summer but I'm really behind and then with…unexpected things happening I ended up getting further behind with summer work so, no rest for the wicked I guess." After a few bites of his dinner he asks, "Are you new here or just someone I haven't met. I kinda missed two months so I could have missed a bit." Also he's not usually Mr. Social Butterfly.
Rashmi bobs her head. "Yeah… Pretty new, anyway. I've been here almost a month, but mostly that was just protective custody for when I'm not at work. *Really* annoying, but, at least *that's* over now. So if you've been gone that long, I'm not surprised." The smile comes back, but conversation needs to wait until at least the first couple bites of dinner are had. "So… High school, or college?"
"Still High School, like I said, I'm really behind." Jeremy doesn't give a reason for it, but then something she says makes him blink. "Wait…protective custody? From what? I can understand how that would be annoying. I'm kinda used to being on my own so not being able to just…wander, that would bother me."
"I don't even like *talking* about it anymore," Rashmi says with a long-suffering sigh. "Some… crazy guy from the future. I guess he was time-traveling back here to get hold of a bunch of people who were giving him trouble or something back where he comes from." The redhead shrugs, picking at her potatoes. "One of them was me, I guess. But it's over now, so that's good at least."
"Ahab…Rashmi…I remember now." Jeremy mutters. "I was there when…nevermind." He doesn't like talking about it either and his eyes glance down and he can't even look her in the face. "I'm really sorry about what happened, I didn't really have a choice." He doesn't know what was worse, living on the streets or being a puppet of Ahab.
"You were… huh…?" The sudden and unexpected apology has Rashmi looking all sorts of confused, and when the penny drops she sits back, wide-eyed as a hand is brought up to her mouth. "….Oh my *god,* are you okay?! Oh jeez, I'm sorry, I didn't know or I wouldn't have brought it up!" Not accusatory, not pitying, simply mortified that she be the reminder of something *deeply* unpleasant for Jeremy.
Jeremy does look a little different from then the lack of bondage gear and his hair isn't as vibrant red, though there's still some red to it. "Just…yeah, I think my powers were helpful to him or something but…it's okay, honestly. I guess I like to think not much can kill me or something so it's just another thing that happened? That doesn't make sense, I mean..I'm a survivor so…yeah." He says trying to give a small smile it's just Jeremy doesn't like talking about his past.
Omri walks into the cafeteria. He's the brand new Liguistics professor, and hasn't really even moved into his office yet. He's dressed in a pair of tattered, expensive jeans and a tight white Tshirt with a Vneck collar. He has a worn, leather satchel over his shoulder, and he makes his way to the coffee machine, filling a cup halfway, and then adding ice to it from the ice machine. He sees the two students, and gives a friendly nod, "Evening."
"Well," Rashmi sniffs, still visibly upset by her blunder, "still. It shouldn't have happened, and if I could have my friend punch him in the face again, I might actually think about asking him to do it. But don't apologize for it, all right? There's just no reason to." Her attention is pointed back at her meal, until the teacher passes by. At his greeting, her head pops up, tossing Omri a smile and a nod of greeting.
Jeremy shakes his head at Rashmi and gives her a timid smile. "Don't be upset, I can see it on your face. Okay, I won't apologize again just as long as you say you won't be upset, we both lived through it didn't we? So…we're here to stay another day, I guess." He sighs as he knows it sounds really cheesy. Looking up at the teacher, Jeremy gives a small nod. "Good evening sir."
Omri smiles at them, "I'm Omri. I'll be teaching linguistics this semester," he says, introducing himself to the students who aren't that much younger than he is. "Any idea what time they serve breakfast around here?" he asks, making small talk that clearly he's not good at.
"Um…" Rashmi's head tilts to one side, eyebrows rising. "…Morning, maybe? Sir? …Not to sound snotty or anything, sorry…" Shaking her head, she flushes, glancing down. "…Sorry. Really. Um. Rashmi Franklin, sir. … …Pre-law, actually, so probably I'll be in your classes for awhile."
"I think it's from six am to ten am?" Jeremy offers knowing some students have some pretty early classes. "I think the lunch staff would know better than I though. I'm Jeremy." He doesn't offer a last name though, just Jeremy. "I'm still in High School, going into my Junior year." Even though he's going on eighteen he's still just starting his Junior year. "I used to study Spanish, I wouldn't mind picking it up again."
Omri nods, "Well, I'm teaching French and Spanish for high school, and a list of others for the college students. You're both welcome in any, eh." He smiles, "Thanks," about the times for breakfast. "PreLaw, huh?" he asks of Rashmi. "That's great. Sometimes I regret not having higher aspirations like that. That's fantastic." He looks at Jeremy, "What about you?"
Rashmi shrugs a bit, coloring at the compliment. "…It's not a *higher* aspiration, sir… Just mine, you know? But, thanks." Busying herself with her drink, she listens with interest as the question is asked of Jeremy.
Jeremy pauses at the question and looks down at the table, pulling the gloves on his hands down tighter, if possible. "Um…no real idea of what do to after just..finish High School right now." Which is a big accomplishment to him right now. "Just the chance to go back to school, I'm concentrating on that right now." Which is enough for the former street rat right now.
Omri shakes his head, "Don't sell your dreams short, Ms. Franklin. A Lawyer is a great dream." He looks over at Jeremy, "I understand that, eh." He smiles, "I didn't finish high school either. It's a regret, sometimes, but I do okay." He studies Jeremy for a moment, "Why did you leave school, if I can ask?" When Jeremy answers, Omri gently reaches out with his receptive empathy, trying to feel what emotion Jeremy has as he shares, or doesn't share.
Rashmi chuckles quietly. "I'm not, sir. I just don't think anyone *else* should, you know? Dreams are dreams, and they're all good things to have." For her part, the redhead seems more than understanding of Jeremy's happiness to be back in school.
Using his empathy, Omri would be able to pick up that Jeremy is feeling discomfort, nervousness and shame at his question. "Um…well..just..I didn't have a choice." He closes his eyes and when he opens them he finds his plate very interesting. "Just…I ended up not being able to go to school for two years."
Omri nods, and if he allows, gently lays his hand on Jeremy's shoulder, giving a quick, light squeeze, before releasing. "My father died when I was 16. I ran away to keep myself out of the foster care system. I never went back, eh." He smiles, "I'm glad you did."
Rashmi bobs her head in agreement. "That's all that matters, too. What happened is what happened; now you're free to do whatever you like with your life." The redhead turns a bright, beaming smile on Jeremy. *And* you've got time to figure it out before you graduate, too!"
Jeremy tenses as Omri puts his hand on his shoulder and there's a quick flash of fear. "Please sir..don't touch me, if you touch my skin…I can see your past. I can see the past of anything I touch." He then smiles back at Rashmi's smile and nods. "Yeah, thanks. I figure once I get used to being back on my feet then I'll figure things out."
Omri tilts his head a bit, "Sorry," he says to Jeremy. "That must be frustrating, to always know things about others. I imagine it also must be quite awful to not be able to touch those you love." He offers a warm smile, "When my powers first manifested, I would accidentally incite emotions in others, and I couldn't tune out the emotions I sensed from those around me. It's difficult, but it's probably quite possible you could learn to control it, eh." He looks at Rashmi, then back at Jeremy. "Friends help."
Rashmi nods quietly. "I know how that feels too… But, it's okay. We have a mutant powers trainer here, and it seems like he's really good at what he does, too. Besides," she continues, nodding to Omri, "far as I can tell, just about everyone in charge of this school is a whole lot more special than they let on, so yeah… I'd say you're in just about the best place you could want to be, until you figure out what to do."
Jeremy shrugs. "Well. The love part…that's not really an issue." He honestly doesn't have anyone he loves anymore, he's just been on his own for so long. "It's just…I invade people's privacy and some of the stuff I've seen, New York isn't a nice place." He then nods to Rashmi. "I know, this place has been good to me. I'm just glad they're willing to take in a kid like me."
Omri nods, "Well, you two don't need a teacher hoverin' over you." He smiles, "I'll leave you both alone to do whatever you do." He nods once more, still grinning. "It was my pleasure to meet both of you."
Rashmi chuckles, lifting a hand as Omri starts to move back. "Well, have a good night, sir," she calls. "It was really good to meet you, too!" Sitting back in her chair, the redhead smiles a bit. "Well. If there's anything I know about schools like Barnes, it's that they'd very much rather take you in and take care of you, than have to worry about the next Magneto growing up all bitter and angry, you know?"
"It was nice to meet your Mr. Omri, sir." Jeremy says as he looks over at Rashmi and nods. "Yeah….I didn't even know places like this existed. And I don't think I could become the next Magneto…I just see the past of people and things I touch, I'm not dangerous really. Anyway I was to busy worried about surviving and finding…umm..a way to get by that I didn't think about being an evil bastard."
Omri smiles, "Night," and he heads off.
Rashmi nods. "Yeah I understand that, too… … …Though probably not as much as you, but I sort of grew up in Hell's Kitchen, so…" The redhead shrugs. "I've seen a lot of people who had it way worse than I did, so, I understand. And I *am* glad you're here."
"I grew up in Ohio, I only lived in New York City for about two years." Jeremy says as he finishes up his dinner. "I…I was homeless. I lived on the streets." He admits with some shame about it. Noone wants to be homeless. "So, I'm just happy to have clean clothes and a bed, seriously."
Rashmi bobs her head, utterly unruffled by the revelation. "Well… I think I remember someone saying, once, it's better to be homeless in New York, than most other places." One shoulder rises and falls. "Personally, I don't think anyone should have to deal with it. So, yeah… definitely glad you've got a place to belong, now."
"Like I said, I'm a survivor, did quite a few things I'm not proud of but that's all over now." Jeremy says as he doesn't get into the details, he doesn't seem to keen on telling a lot. He did get out that he was homeless though. "So what about you, what was your life before coming here, just growing up in Hells Kitchen?"
"Me?" Rashmi shrugs faintly, sitting back and picking up her tea. "Pretty normal, all things considered… I'm the first American born in my family, and Papi raised me on stories of great people, and how he and Mami spent every penny they had to move here, so their children could have the options they wouldn't have in West Bengal, you know? Probably it would have been perfectly normal. …Well. Until the whole finding out I'm a mutant thing."
"My parents and my siblings and I were all born in America. Second generation." So Jeremy knows a little bit about that but not much. "Yeah, I know about there perfectly normal…my family tried to be normal but then I found out things, they found out things and well, anyway now I'm here. It was nice meeting you Rashmi, I'm sure I'll see you around but I gotta head back to my room."
Rashmi nods, reaching out once more to Jeremy, for him to take or refuse the hand as he likes. "It was really good to meet you, Jeremy… And I hope you like it here. It seems like a *really* good place to be."
