Scott and Jean-Paul

[x-cynosure.livejournal.com]

After getting Victor and Johnny back to the school, Jean-Paul vents his worries to Scott.



Jean-Paul's report on the boys' dabble into vigilantism had been one-half informative and one-half barely constrained rant. He finally flopped down onto the couch beside Scott, seeming to have finally run out of words.

"Go on." Or perhaps not quite. "I can tell you want to say it and you have been very restrained."

Scott just raised an eyebrow. "I've mastered the urge to blast you in the head for volunteering me for teaching them the error of their ways," he said, thinking about Doug Ramsey and the series of lessons that had begun with 'This is how Kevlar doesn't work'. "So I suppose my first question is why you didn't ground them."

"And grounding would do what, exactly?" Jean-Paul shook his head. "Only one of them actually has a license, classes are back in session, and I find the prospect of teaching them the error of their ways by confining them to a mansion to be somewhat lacking. Keeping them burdened with extra studies seemed a more effective approach." He sighed and rumpled up his hair. "You were the first name that came to mind. Desole. I can take it on myself."

"Mmm. I've done it before - I suppose I can do it again. And God knows I can make it far more punitive than grounding if I put my mind to it," Scott said. "Punishments are as much for terrorizing the other kids into line, you realize."

"I know. I have some faith that the specter of additional schoolwork as a restriction on freedoms will have the desired effect." Jean-Paul sighed. "And the usual undesired one -- making them that much more determined to keep any adults from finding out when they have done something stupid. At least this way might result in fewer broken bones when they try again."

"You're gloomy tonight," Scott said, somewhat wryly.

"I usually am. And yet you continue to put up with my company. Masochist." Jean-Paul kept his gaze on the coffee table. "I held back the worst-case scenario when I was giving them their dressing down, but I keep thinking on it myself. When the police hear 'dangerous mutant' and come upon a fight in progress, who is most likely to draw fire -- the normal-looking boy on the ground or the green one with the spikes? I am wondering if I did them a disservice in that, or if they managed to get the point without being reminded just how merciless the world can be to someone over a chance of birth."

"You may have spared them that. I won't," Scott said calmly. "It would have maybe been too much, coming from you... but it's my job. And even if neither of them wind up going anywhere near the X-Men, they're sure as hell not graduating from this fine institution without having their eyes opened to that sort of thing."

"I think I am going to need to get better at kicking puppies if I am going to stay in this line of work," Jean-Paul observed, propping his head up on his fist. "At least to the point that I can dislodge the idea that good intentions and mutant powers make you invincible."

"No, what you need to do is accept that they are going to get hurt, to some extent or another," Scott said, not harshly, but firmly. "We can do our best to make sure they don't actually mangle themselves... but what we can teach them is only half of it. It's up to them to apply it, and it takes them some time to learn how to do that."

"Accepting that there are limits to how far I can inflict my will on the universe has never been one of my strengths, but I will work on it." A crooked expression that didn't quite sell itself as a smile crossed Jean-Paul's face. "I should learn some perspective in these matters. Fobbing off student discipline on other staff is not an acceptable state of affairs."

"Oh, don't fuss," Scott said dryly. "I may not sit in the big chair anymore, but when people need a hardass, they know who to call." He rose, limping a little as he headed into the kitchenette. "We'll have to run this all past the man who does sit in the big chair, make sure he finds it appropriate. He'll probably want to have a few words with the boys himself."

"I would imagine so. I am all for anything that gets them to think more than one step ahead next time. The Professor's 'you have managed to disappoint me' tone is effective at that, I understand."

"They'll learn," Scott said, retrieving a bottle of water from the fridge and waggling it inquisitively at Jean-Paul. There was a thump, and a black and white cat appeared on the counter next to him. He scratched Desdemona's ears absently.

"S'il te plait." He caught the bottle that Scott tossed his way and settled back again. "The one positive to this whole mess: Johnny's father seems sincere about wanting to reconnect."

"Oh... lucky boy," was the muttered response as Scott fished out another bottle for himself.

"My sentiments exactly," Jean-Paul sighed. "I can let him be happy about that...or whatever he is feeling right now. Hope for the best."

"The law of averages would suggest that not all estranged fathers are going to be disappointments." A pause. "Or pirates."