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Summary: Hildegarde visits Emma to discuss concerns about recent violence that the students have encountered.
Log Title: Concerns
Rating: G
Xavier Mansion - Emma Frost's Office
Miss Frost's office is not as white as one would expect, however it does present an overall theme in the room. Using a classic den/office style structure from the building, the hardwood floor has been mostly covered from entry to desk with a white carpet that has been decorative bordered in an ivy-pattern, with the center having a delicately done floral arrangement. Two plush white leather chairs sit slightly staggered and angled facing a white marble topped desk of dark-stained oak, the Xavier Academy logo in front emblazoned in a polished steel. Atop the desk is materials for physical writing as well as a dual-monitor computer system that seems keyboardless, instead having a single mouse-like interface device. To the right are a pair of striated white marble book-cases filled from top to bottom, in the center of the pair a marble fireplace that burns sedately despite the time or season.
The left wall has a series of file cabinets sitting next to another computer desk, this one with a standard keyboard and mouse with the academy logo floating sedately on the screen. Next to those is a table where mail seems to be laid out next to a carafe of what is either coffee or tea, and a small pile of cookies, which seems to vary day by day. Behind the carafe is a small containers for sugar, fresh cream, and honey.
Behind the desk is a bank of windows facing northwards, running practically from wall to wall, bordered on both sides by silver-embroidered sheer silk cloth, so even when drawn you can make out details outside, and so long as day is present, line pours in to give the room a sense of warmth. For the times when more light is required, it comes from the vaulted office ceiling from a tasteful-looking light and fan combination. Just behind the desk and on the right side is a second door with a hand-print scanner.
Scene
Work know no bounds on the Xavier School grounds… Security is always on duty to one degree or another, and as such administration should be as well. With her shift in Cerebra over for the day, Emma Frost has returned to her office for a light dinner, and looking over a holographic display of the current grounds, and the sets of dots where each of the student phones that are active are, as well as several points noted away from campus. There also several X-s on the maps, indicating X-men in gold, and regular staff in blue. Noting a presence coming to her door, she checks the time on the clock, and then sits down and motions for the display to cease… followed by touching a spot on the desk so that the door will open just as the incoming staffer touches the knob… "Enter."
Hildegarde moves down the hall in a determined manner. Since she has been a teacher with this school Hilde has seen her students almost gunned down by anti-mutant terrorists in the city and kidnapped by madmen in Africa. And now she finds out one of them is having trouble with the Japanese Mafia? It is time to have a chat with Miss Frost. Not really to point blame for anything, she just wants to talk to someone who's been with the school longer. She reaches up to knock and stops as she hears the woman speak, opening the door and poking her head in. "Hello Miss Frost. I'm sorry to bother you. It's just…I've been worried about a few things lately. Is this a bad time?"
Shaking her head, and motioning for one of the plush white seats for the german teacher, Emma then motions back towards where there is a tray of evening hors douevres sitting out, "Of course not… I always have time for student or faculty, Miss Von Reigenlief. I have juices and waters available, or if you're looking for something a bit more stout, I have wine in a chiller back here." That being said, she turns off the security interface, leaving a screen that is just the floating school logo spinning there.
Hildegarde smiles and moves forward into the room. She frowns at the chair and examines it closely before deciding it is safe to sit on. The chair creaks under her weight but it holds. "Water is fine, thank you." Alcohol never did anything for Hildegarde. The amount she would have to drink to feel a slight buzz is astronomical. "I suppose…I just worry about the students, you know? After that Mutant Town incident…And then Africa." She shakes her head. "I know we are trying to prepare them to deal with such situations, but it still frightens me."
With her arms cross on the top of the desk, Emma leans in and tilts her head slightly to one side before saying, "Don't worry about the furniture… it was built to house Cain Marko if he came to visit… it will bear up nicely for you." But then comes the second half and she leans back once more to cross her arms over her slightly exposed chest, "We cannot prevent hatred… nor can we prevent life from staying it's course outside of these walls. We protect our charges as best we can while we're here, and in the field… Admittedly, the results of the trip of Africa were… less than pleasing, but by far and large everyone came back intact." However, there is a slight sigh that passes her nostrils, "Perhaps… it is not quite the problem of protecting them, but feeling helpless to protect them while in a dangerous situation?"
Hildegarde is silent as the headmistress speaks, quirking a brow slightly at the mention of Cain, who she has never heard of. She nods as Emma goes on. "I admit, I was caught completely off guard when Nero took some of the students from me. I am a teacher, a scientist…I have very little battle experience." After the attack on Mutant Town Hilde had some battle armor made. She'd had the foresight to take it with her to Africa, but it was mostly useless against the bullets. "And now I hear that one of the students is involved with the Mafia? I don't doubt the defenses of this school…But he can't stay here for ever."
"Neither can we, Lady Von Reigenlief… Neither can we…", Emma replies with a steeple of her fingers, "To the students we seem to do too little, never be there when they need us, and are always the last to understand what is happening to them. Which is damnably troubling. We do the best we can here is pass on what we have learned, and help them understand… that they are not alone. That this school was not just made to be a safe haven… but as a cornerstone of how their lives can be. A community. Like as not, we are the new subculture, and the most popular to hate. And imagine as not, eventually from the ranks of the young will come the right young man or woman at the right time to give us the equal footing we have all wanted. Even yourself… living in a world of paper, and always in very tight control. Not too dissimiliar to myself."
Hilde nods again and frowns slightly. "Yes I understand the purpose of the school. And I understand the importance of it as well." She sighs, "I suppose I just worry too much. I look at the news and all I see is violence and fearmongering. Like this morning, I read a mutant was shot by the police for being attacked by a gang. Our students venture into that city all the time and they're not even safe from the police." Hilde is silent for a moment. "I suppose in a way I'm glad I went to Africa though. Well…I AM glad I went. Who knows what could have happened if they were short one or two people. But it kind of opened my eyes to the mindsets and needs of the students. Allowed me to alter my lesson plans slightly."
Eyes close for a moment, and Emma lowers her head for a moment, taking a breath as she then pushes up out of her chair and walks over to the fireplace, poking at it a few times, and then waving a hand so that suddenly the dry wood within catches off, "I worry as well. I worry all the time. This is not the first school I have helped create and manage for young people of special abilities. My Hellions are all dead and gone save a chance few here and there… my proud young men and women from Massachusetts… I've had to bury two of them, and settle for the scorn of the others. Here I am held with a lofty sense of distrust for who and what I am. To some a rich girl who pleasures her time with playing with people's minds. Or I am a villianess. Or I am the Queen of the Hellfire Club." Turning back to face you, with the firelight illuminating her, she then exhales, "Of all those here, I am a perfect example of every thing any one of them could be… and a cautionary tale for them to hear."
Hilde seems a little uncomfortable. She has not heard much about the headmistresses past. She always felt it rude to ask, and none of the other professors or students had ever really mentioned it to her. "Well it seems to me that right now you have these students safety in your mind. Whatever you may have been in the past…You're working to help them now." Hilde offers a soft smile. "At least you're not Magneto, hmm? I found out recently he orchestrated that whole war in Mutant Town. It almost got me and several of the students killed. He showed up in Africa…And maybe we're lucky that he did. But…I worry that a few of the students seem to know him so well. He seems the type to use them and put them in harms way."
The mention of Magneto puts a mild scowl on Emma's face, a passing darkness that fades before she replies, "Yes… we have Mister Blake to thank for that… tactical decision. He filed a letter with the school detailing his actions and an explanation of his reasons… leaving it to us to decide if he should be dismissed or not since when he made those decisions he was a legal and consenting age." Walking back to he desk, she takes up a wineglass, and then sips from it while coming around the end and settling herself on the edge of it, the White Queen adds, "Actually, Magneto was invited by me to join staff for the year under a pseudonym…" Putting a hand up to forestall you, she continues, "For all that he is a monster, he is also a man who can do what some of us cannot. Instill discipline and focus, and breed understanding among the children we care for who need the kind of tough love we are ill-fit to provide."
"Dismissed?" Hilde looks concerned. "He explained the situation to me in Africa and I agreed that it was probably the best course of action. I reasoned that Magneto had used others in the past, why not use him?" She shakes her head, "It ended up working out in the end." She again looks surprised when Emma states she invited him to teach. "I am…Well now that I think about it I suppose I am not terribly surprised. Actually the one time I spoke with the man he seemed very polite. A gentleman. And I have only his actions to judge him on. I'm certain the media stretches the truth a bit."
Another sip of her glass is taken as Emma replies, "Nothing will happen to him… though I will leave any additional discipline in the hands of his Counselor, Mister Guthrie. And as for Magnus?" She pauses and meets the young Germanic woman in the eyes, "He is a monster… as am I to a degree… but we recognize that we became monsters for the reasons we chose, and have made no apologies for it. We do what we do for reasons that are our own. He strives for a world that he knows he is not fit to live in… just as I wish to create one where another like myself would never happen again. But…" And with that the woman seems to relent a bit in her dark wording, "I am glad you came to talk to me. Most would rather avoid me, student and teacher alike. I have very few friends here… hence why I function as a chief administrator and corporate face for the school. I fight the fights I can, and leave the rest to those better trained for such. Now… is there anything I might do for you?"
Hildegarde's expression is hard to read as the headmistress continues. It might be pity, or it might be sadness. Whatever it is she shakes it away. "I suppose I just needed someone to speak to. If you keep negative thoughts and fears bottled up inside of you they're bound to eat you alive." She smiles slightly, "Thank you for taking the time to listen to me." She hesitates slightly. "As for something you can do for me…Well after the incidents I've been involved in I've realized that my fighting style is unrefined. I wondered, as unorthodox as it may seem, if you'd mind if I took a few of the classes that take place in the Danger Room. It is best to be prepared. And in Africa I lost my powers for a few minutes. It would be nice to have something to fall back on that is less dependent on my strength."
A small smile spreads on Emma's lips, as she then nods and moves back around her desk, where she begins to write something down, "Most of the Counselors are X-men or former X-men to one degree or another. They're also some of the best fighters you'll meet, trained to work together, think on their feet, and improvise. I believe the perfect person for you has recently returned. One Mister Remy LeBeau. Also known as Gambit. A thief and a vagabond, but dependable, and an excellent one to help you help you." Finishing scribbling something down she brings it over to you, and holds it out, "This is an access code to the Danger Room. It will give you access to the main room, and the control room, but nothing else on that floor. Regardless of whether or not you seek Lebeau's help, you can preprogram Danger Room time for yourself, as needed."
Hilde takes the paper and smiles to Emma. "Thank you, Miss Frost. I'll find him and if he is unable to tutor me than I will at least have him show me how to use the equipment properly." She folds the paper and holds on to it, her current dress lacking any pockets. "I suppose I should go grade those quizzes before I head to bed. Thank you again for seeing me, and if you need anything don't hesitate to call for me." The woman stands and nods to Emma before heading for the door. "Have a good evening."
Emma says softly as you make your way to the door, "Of course… but thank you for coming to me. That action in and of itself makes me feel better than any other action you did in Africa, Miss Von Reigenlief. And that my door is open should you ever need to speak again." And with that she returns to her desk and sits back down, bringing up the security display and beginning to make some notes.
~ Fin ~
