Yet Another Parental Visit, part 2
Jun. 28th, 2005 11:53 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
x-cable.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
xp_logsThe tour continues. Introductions are fun!
"--get the sense from your office that you enjoy the teaching." Saul gave Nathan a smile and an oddly assessing look as they continued down the hall. Nathan raised an eyebrow, and Saul explained. "It's very obvious that you've made it a welcoming place for your students to come and see you."
All right. He didn't particularly need to hear the reasoning behind that; Saul was already freaking him out but good with how perceptive he was, picking up on all of these little details that people didn't generally notice. "I do," Nathan said. "Enjoy the teaching, I mean." It took some self-control to keep the ambivalence out of his voice and off his face; he didn't want to be explaining to Saul how many times the teaching had been interrupted over the last year.
Haroun was in his own office, head-down working on a schematic. Well, theoretically working on a schematic. In reality, he was swearing at lot at his laptop. "Look, I _told_ you that the config file is in /etc!" he told his laptop in a very firm voice. "I need you to get over your brain-damage and see the nice config file so that I can finish up my feasability testing. Permissions - wait, did I chmod that directory correctly? Wait, duh. /etc is world-readable. So it's not that." he grumbled to himself.
Haroun's office door was partially open, so Nathan could hear him talking to the laptop, not just overhear the annoyed mental commentary that went along with it. Saul looked at him inquiringly, and Nathan coughed, then paused in front of the door and knocked lightly.
"If we come in, am I going to get something thrown at my head?" he called.
Haroun blinked and looked up. "Nah. My laptop budget is fairly nil right now. I can always take it to Ramsey or Pryde later and let them work their sweet magic on it." he said, grinning at Nathan. "What's up?"
"Well," Nathan said, opening the door, "I thought maybe a proper introduction was in order." He came in, Saul following him, and wasn't sure why he felt quite this edgy about this particular introduction. "Haroun al-Rashid, Saul Morrow. Saul, Haroun's one of the other teachers here."
Saul smiled, but an eyebrow went up. "And was at the cafe that day, if I'm not mistaken."
Haroun blinked. "I'm sorry?" he said, standing up to offer Saul his hand. "What cafe? I teach Arabic here, with a sideline in aeronautical engineering. A pleasure to meet you. I've heard a lot from Nathan."
Saul, looking mildly amused, let it go and shook Haroun's hand. "Good to meet you as well. You all have the advantage of me, I'm afraid." He released Haroun's hand, then glanced sideways at Nathan, smiling. "Although it is good to finally find out how my son is spending his time these days."
"I just told Saul about the school a couple of days ago," Nathan said quietly, telling his nerves to stop jangling already. So Saul had seen Alison and Haroun at the cafe?
Haroun kept his pleasant-face up, while shooting Nathan a constant stream of #Way to bone security, Binky.# thoughts. "This is truly an amazing place. I feel honored to be here." he said with a grin. "So what is it that you do, Mr Morrow?"
#Well, I had to tell him where he was coming to, jackass,# Nathan shot back, aggravated. #And I cleared it with Charles first.#
"I run a data recovery company in San Francisco," Saul said amiably. "It's consistently interesting work, if nothing else." He tilted his head at Haroun in a gesture uncannily identical to one of Nathan's. "Aeronautical engineering, hmm? Is there much call for that in the high school context?"
#Remind me to bitch Charles out.# he 'path'ed back. "Data recovery, eh? Interesting." he said. "And for pure Aero, not really. But there is always a need to teach the children how to be rigorous, to double-check their logic, and to remember that the Real World is a messy place."
#I'm sure he'll be properly chastened by your disapproval,# Nathan sent back rather nastily, then twitched nervously as Saul looked sideways at him.
"I can imagine that these children learn some lessons about the Real World that those without their... genetic challenges do not," Saul said thoughtfully. "It's an admirable institution, this school. I wish there had been a similar place decades ago when I was struggling with my mutation."
Nathan coughed at the look he got from Haroun. "Interesting story," he said, his voice a bit strained. "Apparently I'm a mutant from both sides of the family."
"I was discounting the whole genetic-status argument there. I'm a mechanical augment myself - lost both legs in a fire a few years back." he said truthfully. "And, if you do not mind me asking, what is your particular gift?"
"How did Moira phrase it, Nathan, when I was explaining? Ah, yes. I'm a 'walking stem cell'. It's an intriguing way of looking at it, actually."
#I can't read him,# Nathan sent to Haroun, almost calmly. #And that's why. He can tell every cell in his body to do basically whatever he needs it to do, so I don't think his brain activity is going on where it should be.#
Haroun grinned. "That's a fascinating power. We have someone on-call who is something like that. Name's Gavin, works for Infonet. Does some courier work for us here - given the nature of the school, I don't think I can get into any more details."
Saul nodded, making an understanding noise. "Such an interesting range of abilities here," he said, a distinct twinkle in his eyes. "I was watching a fascinating basketball game earlier."
"We've run into quite a few of the kids," Nathan said. "You know how they are about new people..."
"The kids - they're good people, but they can get a little rambunctious." Haroun said with a laugh.
---
Cold eyes turned darkly toward the door. A deep seeded chill ran up her spine. The strange sensation made her stand up slowly, her hands braced against the desk as the doors open. Her breath catching in her throat, her heart raced. Betsy stared at the warm face of Nathan Dayspring followed by another man. His father. But, to her telepathic senses, there was nothing there but static. A snowstorm in the middle of an oasis. The look she gave the two men as the they entered the faculty lounge could bore holes through walls.
"Hello," Betsy said coolly.
Oh, fucking wonderful, Nathan thought, fighting the urge to turn around and haul Saul right back out of the room. "Uhh... this would be the faculty lounge," he said weakly, "and this would be Betsy Braddock. One of the other teachers," he lied, rather than explain that hey, she was actually an ex-teacher and one of the mansion's intelligence personnel. "Betsy, this is Saul Morrow. My father."
Turning her gaze to Nathan, her grim expression softening, but not by much. ~I'll play nice, if you will,~ Betsy sent to her compatriot. But nevertheless, she crossed the room with regality and poise, wearing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "It's a pleasure, Mr. Morrow."
"Likewise, Ms. Braddock." Saul shook her hand. "The tour's been very interesting so far," he said. "I've managed to meet a number of the students and staff. This is quite the place, your school."
"Well, we all appreciate what we have here," Betsy said, her voice equally as saccharin. She released her hand, resisting the urge to wipe it clean. "Hopefully, Nathan hasn't overwhelmed you with all that you've seen here?"
"It's been quite a bit to take in, but I've found it very educational." Saul gave another rumbling laugh. "Pun intended. So what do you teach, Ms. Braddock?"
Nathan opened his mouth and then closed it again. Betsy could handle the answer to that.
Without batting an eye, Betsy spoke. "I've taught a varied many classes over the years. Introducing a sociology-based course here and there, but mostly specializing in psychology and writing." She gestured widely with her hands. "But, I like to consider myself a jack-of-all-trades, as it were. But, I'm sure we've all been boring you with our unending lists of accolades."
"Oh, no," Saul assured her. "I've greatly enjoyed meeting everyone thus far." He smiled a little. "It's a relief to know that Nathan's found himself a place he can call home, after everything he's been through."
~And we plan on keeping it that way, don't we, Nathan?~ Betsy passed along to Nathan, as she returned Saul's smile. ~Even if it means, I have to go fishing, doesn't it?~ Betsy shrugged. "Well, it's the case for many of the people here."
"I have gotten the sense that things have been difficult at times, for some of the students and staff," Saul said, and Nathan swallowed.
#Stray comments. He puts stray comments together very well,# he sent to Betsy a bit faintly.
"It has, more than necessary, from my perspective." Her eyebrows raised slightly. Oh, really. Two can play at that game.
~There once was a man from China, ~
~who wasn't a very good climber, ~
~he slipped on a rock, ~
~and cut off his---- ~
#Betsy!# Nathan burst out telepathically, and Saul gave him a mildly incredulous look, tipping Nathan off to the fact that he'd let slip some physical reaction.
"Nathan? Are you all right?"
#You're psychotic!# Nathan took a deep, shaky breath and tried to force himself to calm down.
"He's fine, Saul. Don't pay Nate any mind." Betsy stated, matter-of-factly. A vicious grin forming on her face. "He's prone to outbursts when unduly taxed."
~Not anymore. I've been cleared, or have you forgotten?~ Her laughter at Nate's expression could be felt over the link. She looked over to Senior Morrow, transmuting her thoughts loudly and clearly for them to hear. ~Hope you enjoy your stay, Saul. Play nice.~
Saul merely smiled. "Another telepath," he murmured quietly. "I was married to a telepath, Ms. Braddock. I have a long-standing appreciation of the sense of humor that seems to generally come along with the mutation." He nodded to her. "A pleasure to meet you," he said. "Shall we continue with the tour, Nathan?"
"Yes. Let's." Nathan gave Betsy something close to a murderous look as he followed his father back out of the staff lounge. #We'll talk about this later,# he sent back, a distinct snap to his mental voice.
"And this is the Art Room," Nathan said, pausing at the door as he sensed a familiar mind inside. #Angie?# he sent, getting a brief impression of her sorting through art supplies as he brushed against her thoughts. #Do you want to meet my father? I can hustle him right past the door if not...#
#Your father? I would be happy to meet your father..# And it would give her a nice chance to get a good long look at him to fix him in her mind and see just why it bothered her so. #I am up to my elbows in tissue paper. Piotr asked me to help him reorganize the supply closet before next semester.# She needed to at least finish sorting this box. Good lord, but someone had made a mess in it.
"Let's go in," Nathan suggested to Saul. "I've got someone else here you might like to meet."
"Another student?"
Nathan nodded and led the way, smiling a bit, almost involuntarily, at the sight of Marie-Ange sorting through multicolored pieces of tissue paper with a very familiar little frown on her face. "Saul, this is Marie-Ange Colbert," he said. "Angie, this is my father."
He looked -old-. Older than the Professor. And not at all really what she had expected. She'd expected someone who looked more military, less grandfatherly. Though he -was- going to be a grandfather. And naggingly familiar. "It is good to meet you." Marie-Ange said quietly, then looked down at the box and the dozens of little pieces of tissue that were -not- staying put. "My apoligies for my distraction. Tissue paper does not like me at all. It flies around and clings to everything."
Why did he look so familiar? She was nearly certain she hadn't actually seen him in a dream, or in a reading for Nathan. That would've stuck out in her mind.
Saul chuckled. "Don't apologize - we're the ones who walked in on you, after all." He gazed down at her, the smile lingering, but an assessing look in his eyes. "I've been fortunate enough to meet quite a few of your fellow students so far today. Have you been in any of Nathan's classes?"
"Just some summer language classes." Marie-Ange answered. "Arabic and Chinese, I believe." Which she'd promptly managed to forget most of, except for the occasional useful phrase, and the more colourful parts that Doug was so fond of. Meditation did not count as a class, therefore it wasn't a lie. Neither did Askani, or assesing her Danger Room runs.
"Angie's one of our older students," Nathan said, contemplating just how well the X-Men training was apparently sinking in. Angie had opted for discretion rather seamlessly, there. "She's just graduated this year, actually, although she's been taking courses at the local university already."
"The school certainly seems to have more than its share of bright young people," Saul observed. "The atmosphere here must foster excellence."
"Well, we do try..." Nathan trailed off, managing not to frown. There was just something slightly... off, when Saul said things like that.
"Obviously you haven't met some of my classmates." When in doubt, be dry and act like Monet. "I am not sure some of them have yet figured out how to tie their shoes, the elementary level students notwithstanding." Besides, it covered up neatly that she'd finally realized who Saul looked like. Odin. And that did not make her feel comfortable at all.
Saul laughed aloud, looking honestly delighted. "I like her," he said to Nathan, grinning.
"Angie's sense of humor is a refreshing thing," Nathan quipped, although his eyebrown went up. There was something odd in Angie's expression as she looked up at Saul. He made a mental note to quiz her later, just in case she was seeing something he needed to know.
---
Nathan closed the back door behind them, blinking. "All right," he said apologetically to Saul, "I didn't anticipate that showing you the pool would get you splashed. The kids can be a little rambunctious at times."
Saul was still fighting back laughter. "Oh, don't worry about it," he chuckled, his expression the picture of good humor. "I'm hardly drenched, son, and it's good to see such high spirits."
Coming down from the library with a slim copy of Midsummer Night's Dream in her hands, Jean was mentally restraining herself from just flipping the book open as she walked. Reading as she walked through the halls was a little too childish, and she only needed to find a new passage for class tomorrow, which wouldn't take more than a couple of minutes. Assuming she could restrain herself to just reading the passage, which was unlikely. But she was being good and not reading, which meant she was not too distracted to notice the strange mental presence in the house. Oh... Without even realizing it, she began to frown.
Nathan looked up, sensing Jean's presence immediately. "Hi, Jean," he said as she came around the corner, looking a little wary and more than a little discontented. "Umm... this would be Saul Morrow, my father. Saul, this is Jean..."
"Grey," Saul said with a smile. "I recognize you, Doctor Grey, from some of your political work." He extended a hand. "It's an honor to meet you."
She couldn't not take his hand. It would be rude and, in theory, he hadn't done anything wrong. He hadn't even done the wrong things they'd thought he had done. Probably. Of course, the fact that his mental presence was so strange didn't help, either. She'd never met someone who managed to sound like tv-snow in their own head. But she reached out and shook his hand briefly. "A pleasure," she said, and even managed to not make it sound like a lie. "Have you had a good visit, so far?"
"Oh, very illuminating," Saul said pleasantly. "It's a relief to see Nathan's found such a place for himself. And the school itself is fascinating."
"I've been giving him the tour," Nathan said. #The five-cent tour, not the grand tour. But the kids are blurting out all kinds of stuff, and...# He stopped the agitated flow of thoughts, and forced himself to smile. "We're supposed to be meeting Charles for tea in a while."
Nathan's own sense of stress was not helping Jean to like his father in the least, and in her mind the image of the lost little boy, out in the snow as this man walked away and left him there remained. She wasn't going to be able to smile at him, but she made an effort to keep from actually scowling. "Illuminating... I'm sure tea will be, as well."
"I'm looking forward to meeting Professor Xavier. I owe him my thanks, for giving Nathan so much help." Saul looked regretful for a moment. "I just wish that Nathan's mother could be here to see how well he's coping with the abilities he inherited from her. She struggled with her telepathy for quite some time as well."
Jean bit back half a dozen inappropriate responses with a mental admonition. Play nice, Jeanie... "Yes, Nathan's done very well for himself." By himself...
"We were out by the pool," Nathan said a bit tentatively, "and the kids decided to welcome Saul to the mansion in the time-honored fashion. I suppose I should be glad they didn't actually throw him in."
Saul laughed again. "Well, it's terribly warm out there, son. You never know - I might have appreciated it."
That was either an admission that Saul knew he was telepathically unreadable, or... just an innocent comment. Nathan told himself to stop overanalysing.
"And did you appreciate it?" Jean's self control really had gone out the window, she thought, for her to be letting this all get to her so much. She was resolved to at least keep some of her distrust of the man under wraps, but it wasn't going so well. "The children can be a bit... overly rambunctious at times."
"Rambunctious." Saul chuckled at the echo of Nathan's previous words. "The euphemism of choice, I gather?" He shrugged a little, then answered her question. "I didn't find it objectionable," he said amiably. "It is warm out there. I might not have appreciated the actual dunking, I'll confess. But it's good to see children feeling secure enough to act out a little."
Jean snapped her mouth shut on her first reaction, managing a tight little smile. "Yes," she said finally. "We take great pains to make sure the kids feel comfortable and safe here. Although, I hope you'll excuse me. I have a lesson plan to make..." And I need out of this conversation before I lose my temper. Whatever else Saul might be, he was certainly good at putting her off balance.
---
So not a tour guide, Nathan was thinking as he and Saul headed down the hall towards the sunroom. "The kids are generally pretty good about respecting the house," he said, pointedly not thinking about Amanda and Jubilee's fight last summer. "We do have the occasional power accident, but that's only to be suspected." Saul made a thoughtful noise, and Nathan started to go on, but hesitated, sensing that the sunroom was occupied.
Well, he thought with a certain amount of amusement. This is only fair, wasn't it? "Forge?" he asked as they reached the door of the sunroom. "If you're not busy, I've got someone you might like to meet."
Raising his eyebrows under his sunglasses, Forge kicked his legs over the chaise lounge he'd been reclining on, pivoting around to face Mr. Dayspring's voice. "Sure thing, Mr. D. This part of that independent study or..."
Upon seeing Nathan and Saul next to each other, Forge slowly took off his sunglasses, looking back and forth between the two men. Despite the age difference, the family resemblance and Mr. Dayspring's post gave only one conclusion.
"Wow. Mr. Dayspring The Elder. It's, uh, nice to meet you."
"Mr. Morrow, actually," Saul said with a smile, extending a hand. "We're still trying to figure out precisely where he picked up the 'Dayspring'."
"This is Forge... John Henry Forge, actually, but he prefers going by his last name," Nathan said, biting his lip at Forge's expression. Well, he needed to get some form of amusement out of the day. Helped his nerves to no end. "I had the great good fortune of having Forge in two of my classes this year... history and humanities."
"The irony of a humanities course in a school for mutants notwithstanding," Forge quipped, shaking Saul's hand. "Mr. D had mentioned something a while back about his name - I figured it was due to his..." catching himself, Forge looked nervously between Nathan and Saul, "uh, well, what's in a name anyway? So..." he peered at Saul intently, as if trying to analyze the man with his own eyes. "You guys certainly look alike. How much other stuff runs in the family?"
"We're still trying to answer that question," Saul said with a chuckle, his eyes sliding sideways to Nathan for a moment before his attention returned to Forge. "So... history and humanities? What was he like in the classroom?"
"Say 'tyrant' and I might have to retroactively remark your finals, Forge," Nathan joked a bit weakly.
"Pedantic," Forge immediately responded. "And overly concerned with the 'why' more than the 'when'. And lots of essay questions." He quirked his mouth up in a smile, scratching his shoulder lightly. "And I'd never say 'tyrant', sir. If I'm not mistaken, you prefer 'maniacal despot'."
"You remembered," Nathan murmured. "Forge was one of my more outspoken students, Saul. In a good way, mind you... most of the time."
"I had guessed that," Saul said amiably, "given the comment about the irony of a humanities course." He regarded Forge with a smile. "I think we mutants have a great deal to learn from humanity's common past, don't you?"
"Wow, did you guys read from the same script or something?" Forge replied, recognizing the exact words Mr. Dayspring had used in many a lecture. His next phrase stuck in his throat as he cocked his head, mentally shifting gears. "Wait a minute, 'we' mutants?"
"It appears I get my genes from both sides of the family," Nathan said, giving Saul a quick sideways look. He almost seemed to be identifying with the kids, in a way. That wasn't a bad thing, was it? "Although the psi bred true, as it generally does..." #And do not,# he sent to Forge telepathically, #mention the baby throwing things around. Please.#
#Ixnay on the elikinetictay baybay.# Forge thought back, trying not to nod. "So, what, you got telepathy from one side and from the other - the amazing ability to blow up your own cranium on a bi-monthly basis?" At the sharp look from Nathan, Forge gave a weak laugh. "Kidding, really. It's more like every three or four months, lately."
"Blowing up your cranium?" Saul asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Uhh... what I mentioned about my powers being... not quite stable, for a while," Nathan answered, a bit defensively. "It's something of a running joke." He couldn't quite stop himself from glaring at Forge, just for a moment.
"Ahh," Saul said more quietly, his voice almost sad, but then smiled at Forge again. "Cellular manipulation, actually," he explained in a more normal voice.
"Cellular... you're a shapeshifter?" Forge's eyebrows shot up into his hairline. "Wow, even on a small level, that'd explain how Mr. D bounces back from stuff so fast. I mean, it's not like Kyle or Jay with the healing factors, but still - he's a tough guy to keep down. Which we all regret when it comes to midterms. He always seems to be on his feet for those."
"Not really shapeshifting," Saul said easily. "I don't actually change my appearance. I can however tell any single cell to duplicate the behavior of another cell." He shrugged slightly, still smiling. "Not a flashy ability, but it's occasionally been quite useful."
Forge nodded slowly. "Like a big walking stem cell." After a moment, he looked over at Nathan. "What? I pay attention when Doc MacTaggart teaches, you know."
"I'm sure she'd be very glad to know that," Nathan murmured wryly. He folded his arms across his chest, wishing he could banish the defensive feeling. Saul was giving him that thoughtful look again. "I don't really wind up off my feet that often," he said abruptly.
Saul merely smiled. "So," he said, rather obviously changing the subject, "if I can be presumptuous, what sort of mutation do you have, Forge? I've been trying to get a sense of the make-up of the school, here. This is a fascinating example of community formation."
Forge smiled, leaning back into the lounge and rapping on his leg with his metal knuckles. "Inventive genius. Whatever it was that got the first Neanderthal to figure out that rubbing sticks together made fire? I've got it in spades. Mechanics and electronics mostly, but anything I can wrap my brain around the concept of? I can build." He flexed his arm in demonstration. "Thinking about pursuing advanced cybernetics next semester, actually."
"Fascinating," Saul said, sounding entirely sincere. "Do you find that the school provides you with sufficient opportunity to explore your gift?" He laughed suddenly. "I imagine it is a matter of exploring it."
"If there's one thing there's an abundance of here, sir," Forge answered sincerely, "it's opportunity. If I'm not fabricating lifesaving materials for the first aid folks or stuff to keep my roommate from clawing up the rugs, it's working on the cars or just tinkering with things in the machine shop. And plus, having two Nobel laureates on staff can't hurt."
"Lifesaving materials," Saul said speculatively, looking back at Nathan, who raised his hands defensively. "Shall I take that to mean no, they weren't for you?" he questioned with a certain amount of amusement in his voice. "You'll have to forgive me my curiosity, son. I keep hearing these disturbing things."
"We occasionally have... streaks of bad luck," Nathan said a bit helplessly. No, don't look at the watch. Looking at the watch would be obvious. "So, uh, Forge? Independent study? Want to stop by my office tomorrow so we can discuss some possibilities? An extra credit gets you out of high school that much faster, after all..."
For once in his young life, Forge was overcome by a sudden attack of perceptiveness, noting Nathan's unease. "Right! And oh gosh, I was going to meet up with Kyle and Jay by the lake. Hey, nice meeting you, Mr. Morrow." He paused as he stood to leave, cocking his head again. "Weird that just when Mr. D's about to become a father, his own drops into the picture. Huh."
"I prefer to think of it as very good timing," Saul said pleasantly. "Good to meet you as well, Forge."
---
"I like walking down here, around the lake," Nathan said as he and Saul moved down the trail at what could only be described as a stroll. Too hot out here to be going anywhere too quickly. "Gives me a little space from the mansion when the telepathic noise gets a little too loud."
"Does that happen often?" Saul inquired gently.
"Sometimes. I had such trouble with my shields for the first several months I was here... and stress will weaken them, too."
Saul made a thoughtful noise. "Your mother had similar difficulties. I'm very glad that you, at least, found someone to help you with them." He blinked at the trail ahead. "Nathan... is that a wolf?"
"Uhhh..." Nathan cast his mind outwards, then smiled a little. "No... well, yes. But the wolf is a student." #Rahne?#
#Aye?# The wolf stepped onto the path and stood for a few seconds before shifting, rising up on two legs and coming forward to meet them, a little shyly. "Good afternoon."
"My goodness," Saul said very softly. "How remarkable."
"I had... promised her an introduction," Nathan said a bit hesitantly, but smiled at Rahne. "Rahne, this is Saul Morrow, my father. Saul, this is Rahne Sinclaire."
"Pleased to meet ye." She offered a hand to shake, furry but not otherwise particularly paw-like. "Though I suppose I should maybe have gone in and changed sooner...."
"Please, it was a rather amazing sight," Saul said with a wide smile, taking her hand almost gently. "And... you're Scottish, to judge by your accent." He looked up mischievously at Nathan. "Just how many red-haired Scotswomen are around?"
"Just the two," Nathan said, and found himself at rather a loss for words as to something to say about Rahne. Just calling her another student would be the discreet thing, but maybe he'd just had enough of discretion today. "I've given Saul the tour of the house," he said to her, "and we were just taking a look at the grounds. Were you hunting?"
"I doona really want anything as warm as fresh meat today," Rahne said wryly. "Just skulking through shady places I'm too tall for in human shape, mostly."
"It is warm out here," Nathan said. "Wish this heat wave would end... Moira's not liking it very much."
"Did you know Moira before you came to the school?" Saul asked Rahne curiously. "Or am I just jumping to a conclusion based on shared nationality?"
"I knew *of* her," Rahne said. "We'd only met the once -- she came and explained what had happened, after I first transformed, and suggested the school."
"Ah, I see." Saul, still smiling, shook his head as he gazed down at her. "What a remarkable mutation, truly. I remember watching wolves in Alaska, at nights. We were in such a rural area that we often saw them in the woods."
"They were just stories to me until I ended up as one." Rahne tilted her head, looking back up at him with interest. "Did ye like it there?"
"Very much," Saul said quietly. "I miss it still."
There was real longing in Saul's voice, and Nathan gazed at him for a moment, some of his doubts fading a little. Saul did miss Alaska. He could sense it. "Saul's got a plane to catch this evening," he told Rahne, his voice as quiet as his father's had been. "This was just a flying visit. Literally, actually."
"Well, I'm glad ye had the chance." She offered a quick smile. "And if I ever visit Alaska, maybe I'll go looking for the wolves there."
"Want to walk back with us?" Nathan suggested lightly. They were due to meet Charles for tea shortly.
"Yes, please do," Saul said with a smile. "I'd love to hear more about your experiences at the school." He turned the smile on Nathan. "I'm trying to get a sense of what life is like here, for obvious reasons."
Rahne fell in beside them. "I canna tell where to start..." She tried directing the thought at Nathan, with a hint of humor, #Suppose I should avoid trying to explain Asgard or the baby dragon?#
#I've managed to avoid Lockheed so far today,# Nathan sent back with the same faint ripple of mirth. #Watch, though, he'll be waiting inside the back door...#
#I don't smell him, but he's sneaky. Now he's not one to decide 'tis too hot for fresh rabbit....# "The courses are interesting," she said aloud, wondering what she was supposed to describe. "The cooking one got *very* interesting when the teacher decided to put us in mostly charge of the kitchen for half the semester...." Having no idea how much Saul was supposed to know, she didn't explain the injury. "And I've been able to assist the school's doctors some; I've learned a lot that way."
"Ah, yes. I'm getting the impression that the school's doctors do a great deal of business," Saul said thoughtfully, and Nathan tried not to stiffen. "Are you contemplating a medical career, Rahne?"
She could smell the hint of stress and hoped bringing up the medlab hadn't been a bad move. "Maybe," she said. "I'm nae as squeamish as I would have expected, but I canna say if I'd be good at all I'd need to do."
"That's a good attitude to have, I'd think," Saul told her. "Much better than some young people who go into the medical profession without thinking these things through."
Saul was giving her an approving look, Nathan realized, and relaxed a little, again. Rahne did tend to have a calming effect on situations. Maybe she needed to go into diplomacy, instead? He caught himself smiling.
"Well, I'd never have thought of it at all if not for trying it out here... but I think I've had more chance than most to learn what's involved besides... well, the obvious. Having them here to ask questions, and all." She glanced over at Nathan and grinned. "I've learned all sorts of things here I wouldna have expected at a high school. Nonhuman anatomy, too -- Nathan taught me to field-dress a deer."
"Really? I remember he did that for the first time when he was six years old," Saul said nostalgically. "He was a quick study."
"I did?" Nathan asked a bit faintly, then shook his head. "I don't remember..." The mansion came into sight through the trees. "Here I thought I'd learned that at... well, later."
"We have tasty deer here," Rahne informed Saul, "and very stupid."
"Deer tend not to be known for their intelligence," Saul said very gravely. "I think there's an inverse relationship between stupidity and tastiness."
"Oh, I wouldna go that far," Rahne said, thinking of the deer in Asgard. ...Not explaining Asgard. "I think they'd definitely have been too big for me when I was six, though. Isna that a wee bit young to start hunting? ...Well, not for a real wolf, but ye know what I mean."
"That's an interesting question, Rahne," Saul said. "Maybe your mutation didn't emerge until you were ready to deal with the changes in lifestyle it required?"
"I understand I manifested about the usual time for a first-generation mutant," Rahne said, "and it doesna really require nearly as much change as some." She grinned. "Luckily my, er, physical age goes by how old I am as a human -- I wouldna care to end up as yuir average sixteen-year-old wolf. But I was more trying to picture Nathan getting a deer hung up that young."
"He was an extremely stubborn six year-old," Saul said wryly. "Insisted upon doing it all himself. I have to wonder," he said, his eyes on his son now, "just how much he's changed over the years."
"Well... can I say I can believe he was stubborn all his life and leave it at that?"
"Let's do that," Nathan said with a helpless laugh. "A little hard on my ego otherwise."
"Ah, but 'stubborn' is a compliment, son," Saul pointed out.
"Determined is a compliment," Rahne said. "Stubborn depends on what about and whether whoever's saying it agrees with him. But I'll be getting myself in trouble next course if I doona watch out," she added teasingly, then nodded toward the approaching mansion. "I'm for a cold drink, though -- do ye mind if I go and wash up when we get in?"
"Of course, Rahne," Nathan said, well familiar with her habits by now.
"If I don't see you again before I go, it was lovely to meet you," Saul offered with another warm smile.
"'Twas good to meet ye too," Rahne replied. "I'll be down again soon, but if I miss ye, have a good flight."
---
The tea with Charles had gone... surprisingly well, Nathan supposed. Charles and Saul had discussed a wide range of topics, and the conversation had been... interesting. Saul was rather more of an intellectual than Nathan had suspected, behind the businessman's exterior. But then, that made sense, didn't it? he wondered a bit bleakly. Given the nature of the settlement in Alaska, he'd have had to be.
"Is that a guitar I hear?" Saul asked from behind him as they walked down the hall. Nathan paused, listening, and then nodded.
"We're just coming up on the music room," he said, starting to extend his mind to identify the player.
"I had a guitar, in Alaska," Saul said suddenly, distracting him. "Do you remember that?"
Nathan paused, blinking. "I... I'm not sure," he said hesitantly, but that wasn't entirely the truth. There was something, suddenly, a niggling image provoked by Saul's words. He tried to chase it down, and as he did, they reached the open doors of the music room.
And the guitar player, not unexpectedly, was Alison.
The minute shift in the way the music reverberated through the room would have alerted Alison to their presence, had their voices echoing down the hallway through the open door had not. Uncharitable as it was, she'd hoped they'd just walk by if they thought she was busy practicing. The final scale was drummed out of the guitar at a rapidfire pace, Alison bringing at least that much to a close before looking up, breathing steady and even.
Playing the guitar required the same breathing as singing did, really - just as any other instrument did as far as she was concerned.
"Good afternoon," she offered, leaning on the guitar cradled in her lap, eyeing both men contemplatively.
"Didn't mean to interrupt," Nathan said a bit uncertainly, part of his mind still very much elsewhere. Elsewhen. He wrenched it back with what felt almost like a physical effort. "Saul, this is Alison, our music teacher. And I think we're disrupting her practice session..." He took a step to move past the door, but Saul's next words froze him in place.
"She was at the cafe as well," Saul said. "Her and the young fellow you introduced me to - Haroun, wasn't it?"
"Of course we were." Alison smiled at that with a touch of amusement - there was hardly anything to hide there now, and she certainly didn't feel like what they'd done was unwarranted. And making that clear now was a good thing. As was Nathan hearing her make a point of making that clear, she suspected. Carefully setting her guiter on the stand nearby, she rose to her feet and walked towards them.
"But now would be our first official meeting," she said smoothly. And extended a hand in greeting, letting social niceties take hold over the conversation.
Saul shook her hand, his handshake firm but not crushing. "It's good to meet you, Alison..." He paused suddenly, his eyes narrowing a little. "You're a musician," he said slowly, and then paused, laughing softly. "Well, obviously. But one with something of a reputation. Alison... Blaire, isn't it?"
While a year ago the casual question might have drawn a pained look, this time Alison grinned instead. Brightly so. "Got it in one! Guess that one earns you a gold star, Mr. Morrow." And if a tiny voice was gleefully singing 'I know something you don't!' in the back of her mind, none of that showed in her face. "It's just a bit of a reputation now though." Changing the subject before she slipped up would be good, she decided. Yes, very good.
"So. You decided to come by for a visit, I see?" The question was entirely innocent, of course. Being antisocial would hardly be appropriate at the moment. And she had no reason at all, on the surface, to be anything but welcoming.
"Nathan invited me," Saul said, looking sideways at Nathan with a smile. "I was very glad to come. I have to confess I've been worrying, and wondering... I have a very lively curiosity, as well, so it's been a relief to have some of my questions answered."
"I just thought it was a better idea than trying to do it over email," Nathan muttered, rubbing at the back of his neck. "I wasn't doing well with that." And he didn't understand why he felt the need to explain. Damn it. He needed to snap out of it.
"Okay." Nathan was granted an easy smile, a different quality to it clear to see when compared to the politeness being afforded Saul. And the entirely paranoid portion of her mind where Miles was concerned sang with glee at the knowledge that the boy would be nowhere within Saul's sight today.
Pure happenstance, of course, that. Absolutely. And anyone calling her ridiculously paranoid and the such would be absolutely right. Not that she cared in the least.
"Where've you been so far, then?" She tilted her head to the side, returning to her cheerfully complacent expression.
"Most of the common areas of the school," Saul said, "although Nathan did show me his office, as well." He gave his son an amused look. "I'm still wrapping my mind around the image of him as a teacher. I gather from what the students have said that he's a good one, though."
He was, despite his bonhommie, managing to grate on Alison's patience with each small comment. And why, she asked herself while still keeping up a bland smile, would Nathan not be a good teacher? Or was she just finding excuses to dislike the man because of the doubts his presence cast on memories she had, in a sense, seen and experienced. The memory of the small boy lost in ice and that episode in the sun room caused the smile to fade, for a brief moment.
"I'm surprised he hasn't shown you the kitchen yet." The look she gave Nathan was pure innocent, but hopefully being teased by a known quantity would help settle him down somewhat into something more familiar to him.
"Oh, he did. I met one of the students there... or a recent graduate, I suppose," Saul said. "Danielle? Very nice young woman." He looked sideways at Nathan again. "She had some interesting things to say about conspiracies to make Nathan take proper care of himself," he said speculatively, and Nathan flushed.
"The... eating thing," Nathan said to Alison, to explain. "Or the not-eating thing. I told Saul that it was just... powers oddities, catching up with me." He did look at his watch, this time. Almost time to take Saul back to the airport. Getting fairly close, at least. He was starting to wonder just how many more awkward moments there were going to be before this visit was over.
"Can't throw stones here, I forget to eat too sometimes." Alison wrinkled her nose in amusement, noticing the 'must go' gestures. "When I'm not running around going on about how hungry I am." She winked at him merrily, then eyed the watch. "Time to go yet? I can walk you both to the car the long route, if so..."
Nathan gave her an unutterably grateful look. "We should probably start heading in that direction," he told Saul. "Might take us another hour to get out of here, after all, depending on who we run into between here and there."
Saul nodded. "Then let's take the scenic route," he said, cheerfully enough. "I have to admit, I'm a bit loathe to leave. But I suppose there can be other visits..."
"--get the sense from your office that you enjoy the teaching." Saul gave Nathan a smile and an oddly assessing look as they continued down the hall. Nathan raised an eyebrow, and Saul explained. "It's very obvious that you've made it a welcoming place for your students to come and see you."
All right. He didn't particularly need to hear the reasoning behind that; Saul was already freaking him out but good with how perceptive he was, picking up on all of these little details that people didn't generally notice. "I do," Nathan said. "Enjoy the teaching, I mean." It took some self-control to keep the ambivalence out of his voice and off his face; he didn't want to be explaining to Saul how many times the teaching had been interrupted over the last year.
Haroun was in his own office, head-down working on a schematic. Well, theoretically working on a schematic. In reality, he was swearing at lot at his laptop. "Look, I _told_ you that the config file is in /etc!" he told his laptop in a very firm voice. "I need you to get over your brain-damage and see the nice config file so that I can finish up my feasability testing. Permissions - wait, did I chmod that directory correctly? Wait, duh. /etc is world-readable. So it's not that." he grumbled to himself.
Haroun's office door was partially open, so Nathan could hear him talking to the laptop, not just overhear the annoyed mental commentary that went along with it. Saul looked at him inquiringly, and Nathan coughed, then paused in front of the door and knocked lightly.
"If we come in, am I going to get something thrown at my head?" he called.
Haroun blinked and looked up. "Nah. My laptop budget is fairly nil right now. I can always take it to Ramsey or Pryde later and let them work their sweet magic on it." he said, grinning at Nathan. "What's up?"
"Well," Nathan said, opening the door, "I thought maybe a proper introduction was in order." He came in, Saul following him, and wasn't sure why he felt quite this edgy about this particular introduction. "Haroun al-Rashid, Saul Morrow. Saul, Haroun's one of the other teachers here."
Saul smiled, but an eyebrow went up. "And was at the cafe that day, if I'm not mistaken."
Haroun blinked. "I'm sorry?" he said, standing up to offer Saul his hand. "What cafe? I teach Arabic here, with a sideline in aeronautical engineering. A pleasure to meet you. I've heard a lot from Nathan."
Saul, looking mildly amused, let it go and shook Haroun's hand. "Good to meet you as well. You all have the advantage of me, I'm afraid." He released Haroun's hand, then glanced sideways at Nathan, smiling. "Although it is good to finally find out how my son is spending his time these days."
"I just told Saul about the school a couple of days ago," Nathan said quietly, telling his nerves to stop jangling already. So Saul had seen Alison and Haroun at the cafe?
Haroun kept his pleasant-face up, while shooting Nathan a constant stream of #Way to bone security, Binky.# thoughts. "This is truly an amazing place. I feel honored to be here." he said with a grin. "So what is it that you do, Mr Morrow?"
#Well, I had to tell him where he was coming to, jackass,# Nathan shot back, aggravated. #And I cleared it with Charles first.#
"I run a data recovery company in San Francisco," Saul said amiably. "It's consistently interesting work, if nothing else." He tilted his head at Haroun in a gesture uncannily identical to one of Nathan's. "Aeronautical engineering, hmm? Is there much call for that in the high school context?"
#Remind me to bitch Charles out.# he 'path'ed back. "Data recovery, eh? Interesting." he said. "And for pure Aero, not really. But there is always a need to teach the children how to be rigorous, to double-check their logic, and to remember that the Real World is a messy place."
#I'm sure he'll be properly chastened by your disapproval,# Nathan sent back rather nastily, then twitched nervously as Saul looked sideways at him.
"I can imagine that these children learn some lessons about the Real World that those without their... genetic challenges do not," Saul said thoughtfully. "It's an admirable institution, this school. I wish there had been a similar place decades ago when I was struggling with my mutation."
Nathan coughed at the look he got from Haroun. "Interesting story," he said, his voice a bit strained. "Apparently I'm a mutant from both sides of the family."
"I was discounting the whole genetic-status argument there. I'm a mechanical augment myself - lost both legs in a fire a few years back." he said truthfully. "And, if you do not mind me asking, what is your particular gift?"
"How did Moira phrase it, Nathan, when I was explaining? Ah, yes. I'm a 'walking stem cell'. It's an intriguing way of looking at it, actually."
#I can't read him,# Nathan sent to Haroun, almost calmly. #And that's why. He can tell every cell in his body to do basically whatever he needs it to do, so I don't think his brain activity is going on where it should be.#
Haroun grinned. "That's a fascinating power. We have someone on-call who is something like that. Name's Gavin, works for Infonet. Does some courier work for us here - given the nature of the school, I don't think I can get into any more details."
Saul nodded, making an understanding noise. "Such an interesting range of abilities here," he said, a distinct twinkle in his eyes. "I was watching a fascinating basketball game earlier."
"We've run into quite a few of the kids," Nathan said. "You know how they are about new people..."
"The kids - they're good people, but they can get a little rambunctious." Haroun said with a laugh.
---
Cold eyes turned darkly toward the door. A deep seeded chill ran up her spine. The strange sensation made her stand up slowly, her hands braced against the desk as the doors open. Her breath catching in her throat, her heart raced. Betsy stared at the warm face of Nathan Dayspring followed by another man. His father. But, to her telepathic senses, there was nothing there but static. A snowstorm in the middle of an oasis. The look she gave the two men as the they entered the faculty lounge could bore holes through walls.
"Hello," Betsy said coolly.
Oh, fucking wonderful, Nathan thought, fighting the urge to turn around and haul Saul right back out of the room. "Uhh... this would be the faculty lounge," he said weakly, "and this would be Betsy Braddock. One of the other teachers," he lied, rather than explain that hey, she was actually an ex-teacher and one of the mansion's intelligence personnel. "Betsy, this is Saul Morrow. My father."
Turning her gaze to Nathan, her grim expression softening, but not by much. ~I'll play nice, if you will,~ Betsy sent to her compatriot. But nevertheless, she crossed the room with regality and poise, wearing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "It's a pleasure, Mr. Morrow."
"Likewise, Ms. Braddock." Saul shook her hand. "The tour's been very interesting so far," he said. "I've managed to meet a number of the students and staff. This is quite the place, your school."
"Well, we all appreciate what we have here," Betsy said, her voice equally as saccharin. She released her hand, resisting the urge to wipe it clean. "Hopefully, Nathan hasn't overwhelmed you with all that you've seen here?"
"It's been quite a bit to take in, but I've found it very educational." Saul gave another rumbling laugh. "Pun intended. So what do you teach, Ms. Braddock?"
Nathan opened his mouth and then closed it again. Betsy could handle the answer to that.
Without batting an eye, Betsy spoke. "I've taught a varied many classes over the years. Introducing a sociology-based course here and there, but mostly specializing in psychology and writing." She gestured widely with her hands. "But, I like to consider myself a jack-of-all-trades, as it were. But, I'm sure we've all been boring you with our unending lists of accolades."
"Oh, no," Saul assured her. "I've greatly enjoyed meeting everyone thus far." He smiled a little. "It's a relief to know that Nathan's found himself a place he can call home, after everything he's been through."
~And we plan on keeping it that way, don't we, Nathan?~ Betsy passed along to Nathan, as she returned Saul's smile. ~Even if it means, I have to go fishing, doesn't it?~ Betsy shrugged. "Well, it's the case for many of the people here."
"I have gotten the sense that things have been difficult at times, for some of the students and staff," Saul said, and Nathan swallowed.
#Stray comments. He puts stray comments together very well,# he sent to Betsy a bit faintly.
"It has, more than necessary, from my perspective." Her eyebrows raised slightly. Oh, really. Two can play at that game.
~There once was a man from China, ~
~who wasn't a very good climber, ~
~he slipped on a rock, ~
~and cut off his---- ~
#Betsy!# Nathan burst out telepathically, and Saul gave him a mildly incredulous look, tipping Nathan off to the fact that he'd let slip some physical reaction.
"Nathan? Are you all right?"
#You're psychotic!# Nathan took a deep, shaky breath and tried to force himself to calm down.
"He's fine, Saul. Don't pay Nate any mind." Betsy stated, matter-of-factly. A vicious grin forming on her face. "He's prone to outbursts when unduly taxed."
~Not anymore. I've been cleared, or have you forgotten?~ Her laughter at Nate's expression could be felt over the link. She looked over to Senior Morrow, transmuting her thoughts loudly and clearly for them to hear. ~Hope you enjoy your stay, Saul. Play nice.~
Saul merely smiled. "Another telepath," he murmured quietly. "I was married to a telepath, Ms. Braddock. I have a long-standing appreciation of the sense of humor that seems to generally come along with the mutation." He nodded to her. "A pleasure to meet you," he said. "Shall we continue with the tour, Nathan?"
"Yes. Let's." Nathan gave Betsy something close to a murderous look as he followed his father back out of the staff lounge. #We'll talk about this later,# he sent back, a distinct snap to his mental voice.
"And this is the Art Room," Nathan said, pausing at the door as he sensed a familiar mind inside. #Angie?# he sent, getting a brief impression of her sorting through art supplies as he brushed against her thoughts. #Do you want to meet my father? I can hustle him right past the door if not...#
#Your father? I would be happy to meet your father..# And it would give her a nice chance to get a good long look at him to fix him in her mind and see just why it bothered her so. #I am up to my elbows in tissue paper. Piotr asked me to help him reorganize the supply closet before next semester.# She needed to at least finish sorting this box. Good lord, but someone had made a mess in it.
"Let's go in," Nathan suggested to Saul. "I've got someone else here you might like to meet."
"Another student?"
Nathan nodded and led the way, smiling a bit, almost involuntarily, at the sight of Marie-Ange sorting through multicolored pieces of tissue paper with a very familiar little frown on her face. "Saul, this is Marie-Ange Colbert," he said. "Angie, this is my father."
He looked -old-. Older than the Professor. And not at all really what she had expected. She'd expected someone who looked more military, less grandfatherly. Though he -was- going to be a grandfather. And naggingly familiar. "It is good to meet you." Marie-Ange said quietly, then looked down at the box and the dozens of little pieces of tissue that were -not- staying put. "My apoligies for my distraction. Tissue paper does not like me at all. It flies around and clings to everything."
Why did he look so familiar? She was nearly certain she hadn't actually seen him in a dream, or in a reading for Nathan. That would've stuck out in her mind.
Saul chuckled. "Don't apologize - we're the ones who walked in on you, after all." He gazed down at her, the smile lingering, but an assessing look in his eyes. "I've been fortunate enough to meet quite a few of your fellow students so far today. Have you been in any of Nathan's classes?"
"Just some summer language classes." Marie-Ange answered. "Arabic and Chinese, I believe." Which she'd promptly managed to forget most of, except for the occasional useful phrase, and the more colourful parts that Doug was so fond of. Meditation did not count as a class, therefore it wasn't a lie. Neither did Askani, or assesing her Danger Room runs.
"Angie's one of our older students," Nathan said, contemplating just how well the X-Men training was apparently sinking in. Angie had opted for discretion rather seamlessly, there. "She's just graduated this year, actually, although she's been taking courses at the local university already."
"The school certainly seems to have more than its share of bright young people," Saul observed. "The atmosphere here must foster excellence."
"Well, we do try..." Nathan trailed off, managing not to frown. There was just something slightly... off, when Saul said things like that.
"Obviously you haven't met some of my classmates." When in doubt, be dry and act like Monet. "I am not sure some of them have yet figured out how to tie their shoes, the elementary level students notwithstanding." Besides, it covered up neatly that she'd finally realized who Saul looked like. Odin. And that did not make her feel comfortable at all.
Saul laughed aloud, looking honestly delighted. "I like her," he said to Nathan, grinning.
"Angie's sense of humor is a refreshing thing," Nathan quipped, although his eyebrown went up. There was something odd in Angie's expression as she looked up at Saul. He made a mental note to quiz her later, just in case she was seeing something he needed to know.
---
Nathan closed the back door behind them, blinking. "All right," he said apologetically to Saul, "I didn't anticipate that showing you the pool would get you splashed. The kids can be a little rambunctious at times."
Saul was still fighting back laughter. "Oh, don't worry about it," he chuckled, his expression the picture of good humor. "I'm hardly drenched, son, and it's good to see such high spirits."
Coming down from the library with a slim copy of Midsummer Night's Dream in her hands, Jean was mentally restraining herself from just flipping the book open as she walked. Reading as she walked through the halls was a little too childish, and she only needed to find a new passage for class tomorrow, which wouldn't take more than a couple of minutes. Assuming she could restrain herself to just reading the passage, which was unlikely. But she was being good and not reading, which meant she was not too distracted to notice the strange mental presence in the house. Oh... Without even realizing it, she began to frown.
Nathan looked up, sensing Jean's presence immediately. "Hi, Jean," he said as she came around the corner, looking a little wary and more than a little discontented. "Umm... this would be Saul Morrow, my father. Saul, this is Jean..."
"Grey," Saul said with a smile. "I recognize you, Doctor Grey, from some of your political work." He extended a hand. "It's an honor to meet you."
She couldn't not take his hand. It would be rude and, in theory, he hadn't done anything wrong. He hadn't even done the wrong things they'd thought he had done. Probably. Of course, the fact that his mental presence was so strange didn't help, either. She'd never met someone who managed to sound like tv-snow in their own head. But she reached out and shook his hand briefly. "A pleasure," she said, and even managed to not make it sound like a lie. "Have you had a good visit, so far?"
"Oh, very illuminating," Saul said pleasantly. "It's a relief to see Nathan's found such a place for himself. And the school itself is fascinating."
"I've been giving him the tour," Nathan said. #The five-cent tour, not the grand tour. But the kids are blurting out all kinds of stuff, and...# He stopped the agitated flow of thoughts, and forced himself to smile. "We're supposed to be meeting Charles for tea in a while."
Nathan's own sense of stress was not helping Jean to like his father in the least, and in her mind the image of the lost little boy, out in the snow as this man walked away and left him there remained. She wasn't going to be able to smile at him, but she made an effort to keep from actually scowling. "Illuminating... I'm sure tea will be, as well."
"I'm looking forward to meeting Professor Xavier. I owe him my thanks, for giving Nathan so much help." Saul looked regretful for a moment. "I just wish that Nathan's mother could be here to see how well he's coping with the abilities he inherited from her. She struggled with her telepathy for quite some time as well."
Jean bit back half a dozen inappropriate responses with a mental admonition. Play nice, Jeanie... "Yes, Nathan's done very well for himself." By himself...
"We were out by the pool," Nathan said a bit tentatively, "and the kids decided to welcome Saul to the mansion in the time-honored fashion. I suppose I should be glad they didn't actually throw him in."
Saul laughed again. "Well, it's terribly warm out there, son. You never know - I might have appreciated it."
That was either an admission that Saul knew he was telepathically unreadable, or... just an innocent comment. Nathan told himself to stop overanalysing.
"And did you appreciate it?" Jean's self control really had gone out the window, she thought, for her to be letting this all get to her so much. She was resolved to at least keep some of her distrust of the man under wraps, but it wasn't going so well. "The children can be a bit... overly rambunctious at times."
"Rambunctious." Saul chuckled at the echo of Nathan's previous words. "The euphemism of choice, I gather?" He shrugged a little, then answered her question. "I didn't find it objectionable," he said amiably. "It is warm out there. I might not have appreciated the actual dunking, I'll confess. But it's good to see children feeling secure enough to act out a little."
Jean snapped her mouth shut on her first reaction, managing a tight little smile. "Yes," she said finally. "We take great pains to make sure the kids feel comfortable and safe here. Although, I hope you'll excuse me. I have a lesson plan to make..." And I need out of this conversation before I lose my temper. Whatever else Saul might be, he was certainly good at putting her off balance.
---
So not a tour guide, Nathan was thinking as he and Saul headed down the hall towards the sunroom. "The kids are generally pretty good about respecting the house," he said, pointedly not thinking about Amanda and Jubilee's fight last summer. "We do have the occasional power accident, but that's only to be suspected." Saul made a thoughtful noise, and Nathan started to go on, but hesitated, sensing that the sunroom was occupied.
Well, he thought with a certain amount of amusement. This is only fair, wasn't it? "Forge?" he asked as they reached the door of the sunroom. "If you're not busy, I've got someone you might like to meet."
Raising his eyebrows under his sunglasses, Forge kicked his legs over the chaise lounge he'd been reclining on, pivoting around to face Mr. Dayspring's voice. "Sure thing, Mr. D. This part of that independent study or..."
Upon seeing Nathan and Saul next to each other, Forge slowly took off his sunglasses, looking back and forth between the two men. Despite the age difference, the family resemblance and Mr. Dayspring's post gave only one conclusion.
"Wow. Mr. Dayspring The Elder. It's, uh, nice to meet you."
"Mr. Morrow, actually," Saul said with a smile, extending a hand. "We're still trying to figure out precisely where he picked up the 'Dayspring'."
"This is Forge... John Henry Forge, actually, but he prefers going by his last name," Nathan said, biting his lip at Forge's expression. Well, he needed to get some form of amusement out of the day. Helped his nerves to no end. "I had the great good fortune of having Forge in two of my classes this year... history and humanities."
"The irony of a humanities course in a school for mutants notwithstanding," Forge quipped, shaking Saul's hand. "Mr. D had mentioned something a while back about his name - I figured it was due to his..." catching himself, Forge looked nervously between Nathan and Saul, "uh, well, what's in a name anyway? So..." he peered at Saul intently, as if trying to analyze the man with his own eyes. "You guys certainly look alike. How much other stuff runs in the family?"
"We're still trying to answer that question," Saul said with a chuckle, his eyes sliding sideways to Nathan for a moment before his attention returned to Forge. "So... history and humanities? What was he like in the classroom?"
"Say 'tyrant' and I might have to retroactively remark your finals, Forge," Nathan joked a bit weakly.
"Pedantic," Forge immediately responded. "And overly concerned with the 'why' more than the 'when'. And lots of essay questions." He quirked his mouth up in a smile, scratching his shoulder lightly. "And I'd never say 'tyrant', sir. If I'm not mistaken, you prefer 'maniacal despot'."
"You remembered," Nathan murmured. "Forge was one of my more outspoken students, Saul. In a good way, mind you... most of the time."
"I had guessed that," Saul said amiably, "given the comment about the irony of a humanities course." He regarded Forge with a smile. "I think we mutants have a great deal to learn from humanity's common past, don't you?"
"Wow, did you guys read from the same script or something?" Forge replied, recognizing the exact words Mr. Dayspring had used in many a lecture. His next phrase stuck in his throat as he cocked his head, mentally shifting gears. "Wait a minute, 'we' mutants?"
"It appears I get my genes from both sides of the family," Nathan said, giving Saul a quick sideways look. He almost seemed to be identifying with the kids, in a way. That wasn't a bad thing, was it? "Although the psi bred true, as it generally does..." #And do not,# he sent to Forge telepathically, #mention the baby throwing things around. Please.#
#Ixnay on the elikinetictay baybay.# Forge thought back, trying not to nod. "So, what, you got telepathy from one side and from the other - the amazing ability to blow up your own cranium on a bi-monthly basis?" At the sharp look from Nathan, Forge gave a weak laugh. "Kidding, really. It's more like every three or four months, lately."
"Blowing up your cranium?" Saul asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Uhh... what I mentioned about my powers being... not quite stable, for a while," Nathan answered, a bit defensively. "It's something of a running joke." He couldn't quite stop himself from glaring at Forge, just for a moment.
"Ahh," Saul said more quietly, his voice almost sad, but then smiled at Forge again. "Cellular manipulation, actually," he explained in a more normal voice.
"Cellular... you're a shapeshifter?" Forge's eyebrows shot up into his hairline. "Wow, even on a small level, that'd explain how Mr. D bounces back from stuff so fast. I mean, it's not like Kyle or Jay with the healing factors, but still - he's a tough guy to keep down. Which we all regret when it comes to midterms. He always seems to be on his feet for those."
"Not really shapeshifting," Saul said easily. "I don't actually change my appearance. I can however tell any single cell to duplicate the behavior of another cell." He shrugged slightly, still smiling. "Not a flashy ability, but it's occasionally been quite useful."
Forge nodded slowly. "Like a big walking stem cell." After a moment, he looked over at Nathan. "What? I pay attention when Doc MacTaggart teaches, you know."
"I'm sure she'd be very glad to know that," Nathan murmured wryly. He folded his arms across his chest, wishing he could banish the defensive feeling. Saul was giving him that thoughtful look again. "I don't really wind up off my feet that often," he said abruptly.
Saul merely smiled. "So," he said, rather obviously changing the subject, "if I can be presumptuous, what sort of mutation do you have, Forge? I've been trying to get a sense of the make-up of the school, here. This is a fascinating example of community formation."
Forge smiled, leaning back into the lounge and rapping on his leg with his metal knuckles. "Inventive genius. Whatever it was that got the first Neanderthal to figure out that rubbing sticks together made fire? I've got it in spades. Mechanics and electronics mostly, but anything I can wrap my brain around the concept of? I can build." He flexed his arm in demonstration. "Thinking about pursuing advanced cybernetics next semester, actually."
"Fascinating," Saul said, sounding entirely sincere. "Do you find that the school provides you with sufficient opportunity to explore your gift?" He laughed suddenly. "I imagine it is a matter of exploring it."
"If there's one thing there's an abundance of here, sir," Forge answered sincerely, "it's opportunity. If I'm not fabricating lifesaving materials for the first aid folks or stuff to keep my roommate from clawing up the rugs, it's working on the cars or just tinkering with things in the machine shop. And plus, having two Nobel laureates on staff can't hurt."
"Lifesaving materials," Saul said speculatively, looking back at Nathan, who raised his hands defensively. "Shall I take that to mean no, they weren't for you?" he questioned with a certain amount of amusement in his voice. "You'll have to forgive me my curiosity, son. I keep hearing these disturbing things."
"We occasionally have... streaks of bad luck," Nathan said a bit helplessly. No, don't look at the watch. Looking at the watch would be obvious. "So, uh, Forge? Independent study? Want to stop by my office tomorrow so we can discuss some possibilities? An extra credit gets you out of high school that much faster, after all..."
For once in his young life, Forge was overcome by a sudden attack of perceptiveness, noting Nathan's unease. "Right! And oh gosh, I was going to meet up with Kyle and Jay by the lake. Hey, nice meeting you, Mr. Morrow." He paused as he stood to leave, cocking his head again. "Weird that just when Mr. D's about to become a father, his own drops into the picture. Huh."
"I prefer to think of it as very good timing," Saul said pleasantly. "Good to meet you as well, Forge."
---
"I like walking down here, around the lake," Nathan said as he and Saul moved down the trail at what could only be described as a stroll. Too hot out here to be going anywhere too quickly. "Gives me a little space from the mansion when the telepathic noise gets a little too loud."
"Does that happen often?" Saul inquired gently.
"Sometimes. I had such trouble with my shields for the first several months I was here... and stress will weaken them, too."
Saul made a thoughtful noise. "Your mother had similar difficulties. I'm very glad that you, at least, found someone to help you with them." He blinked at the trail ahead. "Nathan... is that a wolf?"
"Uhhh..." Nathan cast his mind outwards, then smiled a little. "No... well, yes. But the wolf is a student." #Rahne?#
#Aye?# The wolf stepped onto the path and stood for a few seconds before shifting, rising up on two legs and coming forward to meet them, a little shyly. "Good afternoon."
"My goodness," Saul said very softly. "How remarkable."
"I had... promised her an introduction," Nathan said a bit hesitantly, but smiled at Rahne. "Rahne, this is Saul Morrow, my father. Saul, this is Rahne Sinclaire."
"Pleased to meet ye." She offered a hand to shake, furry but not otherwise particularly paw-like. "Though I suppose I should maybe have gone in and changed sooner...."
"Please, it was a rather amazing sight," Saul said with a wide smile, taking her hand almost gently. "And... you're Scottish, to judge by your accent." He looked up mischievously at Nathan. "Just how many red-haired Scotswomen are around?"
"Just the two," Nathan said, and found himself at rather a loss for words as to something to say about Rahne. Just calling her another student would be the discreet thing, but maybe he'd just had enough of discretion today. "I've given Saul the tour of the house," he said to her, "and we were just taking a look at the grounds. Were you hunting?"
"I doona really want anything as warm as fresh meat today," Rahne said wryly. "Just skulking through shady places I'm too tall for in human shape, mostly."
"It is warm out here," Nathan said. "Wish this heat wave would end... Moira's not liking it very much."
"Did you know Moira before you came to the school?" Saul asked Rahne curiously. "Or am I just jumping to a conclusion based on shared nationality?"
"I knew *of* her," Rahne said. "We'd only met the once -- she came and explained what had happened, after I first transformed, and suggested the school."
"Ah, I see." Saul, still smiling, shook his head as he gazed down at her. "What a remarkable mutation, truly. I remember watching wolves in Alaska, at nights. We were in such a rural area that we often saw them in the woods."
"They were just stories to me until I ended up as one." Rahne tilted her head, looking back up at him with interest. "Did ye like it there?"
"Very much," Saul said quietly. "I miss it still."
There was real longing in Saul's voice, and Nathan gazed at him for a moment, some of his doubts fading a little. Saul did miss Alaska. He could sense it. "Saul's got a plane to catch this evening," he told Rahne, his voice as quiet as his father's had been. "This was just a flying visit. Literally, actually."
"Well, I'm glad ye had the chance." She offered a quick smile. "And if I ever visit Alaska, maybe I'll go looking for the wolves there."
"Want to walk back with us?" Nathan suggested lightly. They were due to meet Charles for tea shortly.
"Yes, please do," Saul said with a smile. "I'd love to hear more about your experiences at the school." He turned the smile on Nathan. "I'm trying to get a sense of what life is like here, for obvious reasons."
Rahne fell in beside them. "I canna tell where to start..." She tried directing the thought at Nathan, with a hint of humor, #Suppose I should avoid trying to explain Asgard or the baby dragon?#
#I've managed to avoid Lockheed so far today,# Nathan sent back with the same faint ripple of mirth. #Watch, though, he'll be waiting inside the back door...#
#I don't smell him, but he's sneaky. Now he's not one to decide 'tis too hot for fresh rabbit....# "The courses are interesting," she said aloud, wondering what she was supposed to describe. "The cooking one got *very* interesting when the teacher decided to put us in mostly charge of the kitchen for half the semester...." Having no idea how much Saul was supposed to know, she didn't explain the injury. "And I've been able to assist the school's doctors some; I've learned a lot that way."
"Ah, yes. I'm getting the impression that the school's doctors do a great deal of business," Saul said thoughtfully, and Nathan tried not to stiffen. "Are you contemplating a medical career, Rahne?"
She could smell the hint of stress and hoped bringing up the medlab hadn't been a bad move. "Maybe," she said. "I'm nae as squeamish as I would have expected, but I canna say if I'd be good at all I'd need to do."
"That's a good attitude to have, I'd think," Saul told her. "Much better than some young people who go into the medical profession without thinking these things through."
Saul was giving her an approving look, Nathan realized, and relaxed a little, again. Rahne did tend to have a calming effect on situations. Maybe she needed to go into diplomacy, instead? He caught himself smiling.
"Well, I'd never have thought of it at all if not for trying it out here... but I think I've had more chance than most to learn what's involved besides... well, the obvious. Having them here to ask questions, and all." She glanced over at Nathan and grinned. "I've learned all sorts of things here I wouldna have expected at a high school. Nonhuman anatomy, too -- Nathan taught me to field-dress a deer."
"Really? I remember he did that for the first time when he was six years old," Saul said nostalgically. "He was a quick study."
"I did?" Nathan asked a bit faintly, then shook his head. "I don't remember..." The mansion came into sight through the trees. "Here I thought I'd learned that at... well, later."
"We have tasty deer here," Rahne informed Saul, "and very stupid."
"Deer tend not to be known for their intelligence," Saul said very gravely. "I think there's an inverse relationship between stupidity and tastiness."
"Oh, I wouldna go that far," Rahne said, thinking of the deer in Asgard. ...Not explaining Asgard. "I think they'd definitely have been too big for me when I was six, though. Isna that a wee bit young to start hunting? ...Well, not for a real wolf, but ye know what I mean."
"That's an interesting question, Rahne," Saul said. "Maybe your mutation didn't emerge until you were ready to deal with the changes in lifestyle it required?"
"I understand I manifested about the usual time for a first-generation mutant," Rahne said, "and it doesna really require nearly as much change as some." She grinned. "Luckily my, er, physical age goes by how old I am as a human -- I wouldna care to end up as yuir average sixteen-year-old wolf. But I was more trying to picture Nathan getting a deer hung up that young."
"He was an extremely stubborn six year-old," Saul said wryly. "Insisted upon doing it all himself. I have to wonder," he said, his eyes on his son now, "just how much he's changed over the years."
"Well... can I say I can believe he was stubborn all his life and leave it at that?"
"Let's do that," Nathan said with a helpless laugh. "A little hard on my ego otherwise."
"Ah, but 'stubborn' is a compliment, son," Saul pointed out.
"Determined is a compliment," Rahne said. "Stubborn depends on what about and whether whoever's saying it agrees with him. But I'll be getting myself in trouble next course if I doona watch out," she added teasingly, then nodded toward the approaching mansion. "I'm for a cold drink, though -- do ye mind if I go and wash up when we get in?"
"Of course, Rahne," Nathan said, well familiar with her habits by now.
"If I don't see you again before I go, it was lovely to meet you," Saul offered with another warm smile.
"'Twas good to meet ye too," Rahne replied. "I'll be down again soon, but if I miss ye, have a good flight."
---
The tea with Charles had gone... surprisingly well, Nathan supposed. Charles and Saul had discussed a wide range of topics, and the conversation had been... interesting. Saul was rather more of an intellectual than Nathan had suspected, behind the businessman's exterior. But then, that made sense, didn't it? he wondered a bit bleakly. Given the nature of the settlement in Alaska, he'd have had to be.
"Is that a guitar I hear?" Saul asked from behind him as they walked down the hall. Nathan paused, listening, and then nodded.
"We're just coming up on the music room," he said, starting to extend his mind to identify the player.
"I had a guitar, in Alaska," Saul said suddenly, distracting him. "Do you remember that?"
Nathan paused, blinking. "I... I'm not sure," he said hesitantly, but that wasn't entirely the truth. There was something, suddenly, a niggling image provoked by Saul's words. He tried to chase it down, and as he did, they reached the open doors of the music room.
And the guitar player, not unexpectedly, was Alison.
The minute shift in the way the music reverberated through the room would have alerted Alison to their presence, had their voices echoing down the hallway through the open door had not. Uncharitable as it was, she'd hoped they'd just walk by if they thought she was busy practicing. The final scale was drummed out of the guitar at a rapidfire pace, Alison bringing at least that much to a close before looking up, breathing steady and even.
Playing the guitar required the same breathing as singing did, really - just as any other instrument did as far as she was concerned.
"Good afternoon," she offered, leaning on the guitar cradled in her lap, eyeing both men contemplatively.
"Didn't mean to interrupt," Nathan said a bit uncertainly, part of his mind still very much elsewhere. Elsewhen. He wrenched it back with what felt almost like a physical effort. "Saul, this is Alison, our music teacher. And I think we're disrupting her practice session..." He took a step to move past the door, but Saul's next words froze him in place.
"She was at the cafe as well," Saul said. "Her and the young fellow you introduced me to - Haroun, wasn't it?"
"Of course we were." Alison smiled at that with a touch of amusement - there was hardly anything to hide there now, and she certainly didn't feel like what they'd done was unwarranted. And making that clear now was a good thing. As was Nathan hearing her make a point of making that clear, she suspected. Carefully setting her guiter on the stand nearby, she rose to her feet and walked towards them.
"But now would be our first official meeting," she said smoothly. And extended a hand in greeting, letting social niceties take hold over the conversation.
Saul shook her hand, his handshake firm but not crushing. "It's good to meet you, Alison..." He paused suddenly, his eyes narrowing a little. "You're a musician," he said slowly, and then paused, laughing softly. "Well, obviously. But one with something of a reputation. Alison... Blaire, isn't it?"
While a year ago the casual question might have drawn a pained look, this time Alison grinned instead. Brightly so. "Got it in one! Guess that one earns you a gold star, Mr. Morrow." And if a tiny voice was gleefully singing 'I know something you don't!' in the back of her mind, none of that showed in her face. "It's just a bit of a reputation now though." Changing the subject before she slipped up would be good, she decided. Yes, very good.
"So. You decided to come by for a visit, I see?" The question was entirely innocent, of course. Being antisocial would hardly be appropriate at the moment. And she had no reason at all, on the surface, to be anything but welcoming.
"Nathan invited me," Saul said, looking sideways at Nathan with a smile. "I was very glad to come. I have to confess I've been worrying, and wondering... I have a very lively curiosity, as well, so it's been a relief to have some of my questions answered."
"I just thought it was a better idea than trying to do it over email," Nathan muttered, rubbing at the back of his neck. "I wasn't doing well with that." And he didn't understand why he felt the need to explain. Damn it. He needed to snap out of it.
"Okay." Nathan was granted an easy smile, a different quality to it clear to see when compared to the politeness being afforded Saul. And the entirely paranoid portion of her mind where Miles was concerned sang with glee at the knowledge that the boy would be nowhere within Saul's sight today.
Pure happenstance, of course, that. Absolutely. And anyone calling her ridiculously paranoid and the such would be absolutely right. Not that she cared in the least.
"Where've you been so far, then?" She tilted her head to the side, returning to her cheerfully complacent expression.
"Most of the common areas of the school," Saul said, "although Nathan did show me his office, as well." He gave his son an amused look. "I'm still wrapping my mind around the image of him as a teacher. I gather from what the students have said that he's a good one, though."
He was, despite his bonhommie, managing to grate on Alison's patience with each small comment. And why, she asked herself while still keeping up a bland smile, would Nathan not be a good teacher? Or was she just finding excuses to dislike the man because of the doubts his presence cast on memories she had, in a sense, seen and experienced. The memory of the small boy lost in ice and that episode in the sun room caused the smile to fade, for a brief moment.
"I'm surprised he hasn't shown you the kitchen yet." The look she gave Nathan was pure innocent, but hopefully being teased by a known quantity would help settle him down somewhat into something more familiar to him.
"Oh, he did. I met one of the students there... or a recent graduate, I suppose," Saul said. "Danielle? Very nice young woman." He looked sideways at Nathan again. "She had some interesting things to say about conspiracies to make Nathan take proper care of himself," he said speculatively, and Nathan flushed.
"The... eating thing," Nathan said to Alison, to explain. "Or the not-eating thing. I told Saul that it was just... powers oddities, catching up with me." He did look at his watch, this time. Almost time to take Saul back to the airport. Getting fairly close, at least. He was starting to wonder just how many more awkward moments there were going to be before this visit was over.
"Can't throw stones here, I forget to eat too sometimes." Alison wrinkled her nose in amusement, noticing the 'must go' gestures. "When I'm not running around going on about how hungry I am." She winked at him merrily, then eyed the watch. "Time to go yet? I can walk you both to the car the long route, if so..."
Nathan gave her an unutterably grateful look. "We should probably start heading in that direction," he told Saul. "Might take us another hour to get out of here, after all, depending on who we run into between here and there."
Saul nodded. "Then let's take the scenic route," he said, cheerfully enough. "I have to admit, I'm a bit loathe to leave. But I suppose there can be other visits..."
Tags:
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}