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Summary: Emma brings Nicholas upto speed on what Xavier's is and why he's here.
Date: November 28, 2011
Log Title: Welcome To Your New Home
Rating: PG-13
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.
There's something slightly different about the room this time tonight. Instead of there being her usual comfortable chairs and coffee table in the center of the room, it has been changed out for a lovely oak dining table and two padded but otherwise just as elegant chairs. Off to the side is a spread of dinner consisting of turkey, stuffing, and other thanksgiving accoutremant that smell freshly made and not reheated leftovers. While Emma herself is present, her attire is somewhat subdued compared to normal. Gone is the usual lingere-esque bottoms and bustiere for a proper shirt and flowing dress pants, and her front is buttoned to keep her usual charms at bay. Even her hair is different, up and away in a sedate bun. All in preparation for a knock.
And the knock comes as Nicholas is finally getting a moment to meet the Headmistress of Xavier's and find out more about the school. The students have tried to explain it but it's all really been hard for him to believe. He's dressed in the only clothes he really has anymore, Xavier's issued t-shirt and sweat pants. The black eyes from his broken nose have faded as has the swelling, but his arm is still in a sling. He waits nervously outside the door for it to be answered having no clue what to expect.
A click, and the door swings wide in it's usual mysterious fashion, followed by a prim voice with a bostonian accent saying, "Mister Gerhardt, please come in. Thank you for taking time to come up at the dinner hour… I've had some food prepared for us. Please." It's warm, the white stained gold by the fire running in the fireplace, and the scent of the food hangs rich in the air. Then a tsk is added, and Emma Frost adds, "I apologize most profusely that we've not had a chance to see to your things. I'll explain though, if you'll just take a seat."
Nicholas takes a seat and looks over at the food and seeing that it's sort of a Thanksgiving meal he finds his appetite dying. "Nice to meet you, uh..I'm sorry I'm not really sure of your name." Even though he's probably been told it. "And it's okay, I'm not really sure what I'm doing here anyway so I'll be grateful for an explanation." He says trying to be polite but Nick might be coming off as a bit brusque.
Emma shakes her head and then looks back at the food before saying, "Oh. My apologies… I wanted you to feel welcome. But yes, let us get to the heart of things." Sitting down at the table for a moment, she motions to the spot opposite of her, "I am Emma Frost, Dean of Students and Co-Headmaster of the Xavier Academy. I was the one who detected your ability coming to the fore during the Purifiers attack, and rescued you. You were barely conscious when I found you, and we brought you via jet here to recover from your wounds. I've been working on research into your family, and what options we have as a school to protect you from being exposed to Reverend Stryker and his… ilk." The word coming out with a drip of ice that seems appropriate to the white-clad woman.
Nicholas shakes his head. "No, it's a nice gesture it's just, I don't really feel much in the Thanksgiving spirit." If there is a Thanksgiving spirit. He sits down in the seat indicated and nods as Emma talks. His whole body tenses as she talks but it's more because Nick isn't comfortable with talking much about what happened. "Reverend Stryker and thank you, I guess, for finding and believing it wasn't me that did that. And what's there to research into, they're dead."
Motioning with one hand, "Firstly, I had to see if you had any living relatives of any sort that could claim you legally…" Emma replies, and then the other hand goes out, "The other was checking to see if there was any government options available for you… such as Witness Relocation for giving you a false identity to shelter you." Then both hands come back together as she sighs just a touch, "Unfortunately… neither lead has given me any fruit… and I have the money to pay for the best in investigators and conatact." With that, she settles back in her chair to watch, "And I know because I scanned the minds of the people of Martin, and then the Purifier agents who stayed behind under disguise in case you returned. They were dealt with. Harshly." In finale, you hear, but without her lips moving, -I am sure you have already heard every horrid thing about me possible, but this much is at least true. I am a telepath, Nicholas.-
Nicholas blinks and is completely confused and thrown off by it. "I..uh…how are you in my head? And I haven't really heard anything about you." And if he has he hasn't really thought about it much. After all if it's from Quenton he's not exactly someone Nick has a high opinion of. "My Grandparents, they're in Florida. I haven't called them yet, I, uh don't have a cellphone or their number. I was trying to make my way to Flordia when you found me I guess."
Pursing her lips, Emma nods and speaks once more, "I attempted to reach out to your Grandparents immediately… but before I got there, Stryker apparently had some of his men speak to them… they posed as agents of the FBI, and informed them of the same things he'd said in Martin about you. That you had used your gifts to harm your parents and friends, and people in town. One of them even had convincing burn makeup on to look as if he had been there." Tapping the side of her head, "They are under observation, so I have his people under observation. Once we know they have departed, I will go personally, and fix this." There's another pause in her voice as she looks out the window, "None of this is easy, and worse so that you have had to suffer so much… but that is what this school is for. To protect you while giving you a chance to learn about yourself and your gifts, and to be around people like yourself."
Nicholas slams a hand on the armrest of the chair and stands up. "Fix this?! What is there to fix?! My parents are dead, Bodie is dead, even if things are some how 'fixed' they'll still be gone!" He says, pulling the news paper article out of his pocket about him being a 'killer' and slams it on the table. "My friends, my neighbors, my /girlfriend/ they all turned on me! After four years of knowing that I've got Jedi powers they fucking turned on me at the first chance!" He starts to pace a bit to just relieve some of the emotional tension. "I'm not angry about being brought here, I'm just, they're gone Ms. Frost and there's nothing I could do."
Emma does not stand, instead she sits and watches you pace, her eyes following as she steeples her fingers before her, and nods, "I cannot give you your family back, I cannot give you your life back. I cannot remove the corpse of the hatred spawned from my generation that has poisoned the wellspring you once called home. All I can do is offer you a chance, Nicholas." Her eyes cast down as her hands spread on the table, "Power frightens, Nicholas… the more powerful, the more frightening. I should know." As a lock of hair falls perfectly over one eye, she looks back up, "Xaviers can train you to use your gift. I have seen your potential inside your own mind. Your telekinetic talent might one day rival some of the more powerful who the X-men have trained over the years. In not only power, but versatility." Then, more softly, "But the question is, what do you want to do."
Nicholas eventually stops pacing and just collapses to his knees on the floor. "I don't care about power, I just liked helping my neighbors but, I guess it doesn't mean shit anymore." He says before looking up at Emma. "I'm sorry for my foul language Ms. Frost, I shouldn't be talking like that in front of you." At least he's learned respect for his elders. "I don't really know what I want to do. I just want to go home but I can't do that." He says as he has barely had time to sort out his thoughts and emotions over what has happened so thinking about what he wants to do is hard for him.
Finally standing up, Emma comes over to the young man, not touching him but standing close enough to be a comforting presence, "It's not a question you need to answer right away, Nicholas… in fact take as much time as you need in order to decide what you really want to do. Until then, however, I would like to ask you to stay. Regardless…" She pauses, and then slips her hand in her pocket and brings out a small debit card, "Here is funds to purchase yourself new clothes and personal items. It is very generous… and there is more if you require. Rooming here will be free for you, as well as any meals taken here. The nearby town of Salem has a small shopping center and any of the students would be happy to take you down and help you choose some things."
Nicholas takes the debit card and looks at it before standing up. A lot of his questions were just answered but he nods quietly. "Thank you." He says standing up and looking at the card. "I'll..uh…I need someone to go with me I don't know where the store is and I usually get lost easy. I'm only telling you this cause you're in charge here but, I don't really have much direction sense so, I'll try not to get too lost." But an embarrassed Nick knows it's inevitable.
That little bit causes Emma to chuckle as she then says, "Tomorrow, there is a former student who comes to the school to help tutor our self-defense classes. Tell him I asked him to take you into town, and I am sure he will be fine with it." With that Emms turns back and walks over to the dinner setting, looking it over a moment, and then sighing once, "I do not suppose I could tempt you to at least sit down and eat? Do not think of it as thanksgiving… merely, a good meal to help warm you on a cold evening."
Nicholas nods and takes the seat he was sitting in earlier. "I'll have a little bit." He says as his stomach rumbles. "And thanks for saving my horse, Orion, too." He says as he was able to find the stables and spend time with him since he's gotten here. "Thank you, for, all this." He says indicating the rescue, the school, board, food, the debit card and the meal.
