Jean and Sooraya: Balance

[x-jeangrey.livejournal.com]

Jean teaches Sooraya about science and the two have a discussion about her powers.


‘I need to dig out the bag I used for school in Attilan.’ Sooraya decided as she juggled her textbook, notebook, lab notebook and the large file she kept her assignments in one arm so she could knock on Dr. Grey-Summers office with the other. “Dr. Grey?”

"Come in," Jean's voice called from inside. She had cleared her schedule for an hour and a half to help teach Sooraya 2-3 times a week to help her finish up the required class she needed to graduate. Jean enjoyed teaching so she was happy to oblige.

Sooraya pushed open the door, all the while still balancing the books in one arm. “Morning, Dr. Grey… Whoops!” Sooraya dove after her lab notebook that finally slipped from her arm. “Sorry...”

The lab notebook paused in mid-air before it hit the ground and Jean stood. "Not a problem," she said with a smile as she walked over to help her should she need it. "It's a lot of books and they can get rather heavy. How are you today, by the way?"

“I am doing quite well, thank you. With all my things having arrived I have the feeling I am finally settled in.” She shot Jean a grateful look as the doctor also accepted the large file. “My book bag is still in the crate. “ She explained as she headed over to the desk and set down the remaining books.

"I have a backpack you can borrow for the way back, if you'd like," Jean said. She sometimes went hiking in the forest and brought her backpack with filled with supplies for the trip. She headed over to the opposite side of the desk and took a seat. "Does it feel any different being back?"

“It is different… And it took me a few days to stop looking over my shoulder…” Sooraya reflected. “It is a lot more quiet around the school, to be honest. But I enjoy rooming with Yvette. Not going to regular classes is a little bit weird though, just like having only two courses to finish up. ”

"Quiet?" Jean glanced around, partially surprised. She hadn't really noticed. "Some people are gone for the holiday. I imagine it'll be a lot livelier once the New Year starts up." Tilting her head, Jean rested her chin in her hand. "If you'd like, I know you're busy with a lot of other things but some of the labs the other students will be doing have some of the same elements that we will be learning. We would continue the lecture lessons on our own but the actual physical practice could be done with the students." She wanted to give the girl a chance to learn with the other students if she could. Socialization, she believed, was an important part of the learning process.

Sooraya mirrored her teacher’s movement, tilting her head and resting chin on her hand. “I would like that. I will give me a chance to get to know the other students a bit better. And from what I remember from Attilan, there are several labs that are easier done when you are with more people.” Considering her schedule for a moment, she continued: “Thursdays and Fridays work best me, though I don’t Angelo would make problem if there is a lab on the other days that I want to join.”

Jean grinned. "If he wants a little nostalgia you can ask him if he wants to sit in some time," she mused. "But I'm sure we can all figure something out," she said, then nodded toward the books. "Shall we get started?"

“I will mention it to him.” Sooraya pulled her books closer and opened them to the correct page. Suddenly she sat up and pulled a small binder from the larger file. “I finished some things. Inside are ‘Anatomy in the news’ from December, my Disease Diary on cataracts and my set-up for that project on antibiotics we were talking about.” She pushed the binder towards her teacher, pulling her books closer with her other hand. “I was having some trouble with how one’s sense of balance works.”

Jean smiled. "Ah...Equilibrioception," she said, nodding. "Sense of balance is easier to pronounce, though. It may be hard to believe but a lot of it comes from here," she said, tapping her ear. "Your inner ear. The vestibular system," she said opening up a book that showed what looked very similar to some sort of crustacean. "Inside the vestibular system contains complex tubing that holds fluid called endolymph. Your sense of balance is determined by the level of fluid in your ear and a detection of acceleration..."

“I never thought we were this complicated…” Sooraya murmured as she bent over the picture.

+++

“Thanks for the lesson, Dr. Grey. I will see about getting that assignment back to you as soon as possible…” Sooraya gathered her books once more and gratefully accepted the backpack to put everything. When she had everything gathered, she hesitated for a moment before asking: “Can I ask you something, Dr. Grey?”

Leaning back in her chair, Jean slipped off her glasses, placing them back on the desk with a note of curiosity. "Of course."

“I don’t know if Mr. Summers told you, but I have been training my powers with him. When I change I become a cloud of sand, but I would like to learn to become more semi-solid, like a human made of sand. I know I control my form with a kind of telekinesis… and Mr. Summers advised me to seek you out for training in that area… Would you be willing to work with me on this?”Sooraya asked after a few more moments of hesitation.

Jean nodded. "So you want to learn how to keep yourself together?" she said. "I think Mr. Haller might actually be best suited to help you with that. He's able to control things on a much smaller level like sand."

“Mr. Haller?” Sooraya looked doubtful for a moment. “I thought he was only telepathic?” she murmured softly, but her memory cleared up pretty quickly. Then spoke louder. “That would be fine. Do I need to ask Mr. Haller myself?”

"He's both, actually, like myself," Jean said, nodding."I can ask if you'd like or you can if you want. Whichever would make you feel the most comfortable."

Sooraya fiddled with her scarf for a moment. “Would you mind asking him? I think you might be better at explaining things on the telekinesis and so forth…”

"I wouldn't mind at all," Jean said with a smile. She stood after a moment. "But until then, would you like to go get some hot chocolate from the kitchen? I think we deserve a treat."

“Hot chocolate? I never say no to that.”