Scott and Angelo: Setting up

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

Angelo stops by the mansion and Scott shows him X-Corps new offices while they discuss the school and planes.


Scott twirled the keys around in his hand as he stopped in front of the doors, "The mansion is so big that we really don't use half the rooms out here" he told his companion. Opening the door Scott coughed as the dust swirled up from the unused room, the light from the corridor illuminated the room revealing stacks of furniture covered by white sheets. "We thought you might like to be a little separate from the classrooms and living areas, give you some privacy to work without any kids underfoot. Not that you're not going to get your fair share of visitors now you're operating out of the mansion," he mentioned in an aside as he stepped to the side to allow Angelo to enter and examine the room.

Angelo nodded as he stepped past the taller man to study the space. "Lots of room to spread out in here", he said approvingly. "And yeah, Elpis always used to get people dropping in when we were down at the boathouse."

"Especially if the kids think it's an excuse to get them out of class," Scott agreed as he hunted along the walls for a light switch. Finding it he flicked it on, blinking as the bright lights flickered on. "None of the rooms around here are really being used so feel free to spread out as much as you want," the told Angelo tossing the younger man the key. "These old rooms could do with airing out every now and then."

"There'll only be a few of us to start with." He caught the key and shrugged. "Four, that I know of, but we will be recruiting so you never know."

"Well with your mandate, experience and resources," Scott gestured around, "I can't see you staying small for very long. Well you know, as long as your expansion doesn't push the school out of the mansion." he continued with a smile on his face.

Angelo snorted in response. "Yeah, I don't think that's happening any time soon. The school's small too and the mansion... isn't."

"Charles has a rich family," Scott agreed. "Considering the grounds and the privacy, there are worse places we could have ended up."

"I don't think the school'd even exist if it hadn't had this place to be in", was the more serious response. "And half of us would be in a lot of trouble."

"I think Charles would have found a way to bring his dream to reality, one way or the other," Scott disagreed. "It might have been tougher, would have almost definitely been, but we'd have made it somehow. Something like this was inevitable as people banded together. If it hadn't been Charles it could have been so much worse."

"As a group, mutants as a whole? Something like this would have come to be, you're most likely right. Individuals, though... well, you remember where you found me. I wouldn't even have lasted much longer out there, let alone got anywhere like where I have."

"You and me both," Scott agreed fervently, "I honestly don't want to know what would have happened to me if Charles hadn't found me. It wouldn't have been pretty." He leaned against one of the pieces of furniture, "Perhaps X-Corps will be able to help all the kids the mansion can't help for one reason or the other, give them what Charles gave us."

"That's the idea." He smiled slightly. "I always wanted Elpis to operate in the States, but it wasn't allowed. Nate kept saying we had to stick to the official remit."

"Well you've got a new remit now," Scott pointed out. "There really isn't anything stopping you from operating in the states as well as the rest of the world. We could probably help you with that."

Angelo nodded, and the smile turned to a grin. "Yeah, this one's all mine to do what I want it to be. The rest of the world still needs help, but there's a lot of kids out there right here in America who get kicked out, or whose families want to help but have problems. That's what I want to look at."

"That's a pretty big task to set yourself," Scott replied with a smile, "Although, if anyone can help all those kids we can't get to it's going to be you and yours. I'm not sure what use the X-men will be, but if you ever need us for anything, you know you just have to ask."

"I know. And I can think of a few things you might be useful for, pick-ups that might come with trouble for one. Besides, you've got a jet."

"I see how it is," Scott grinned at Angelo, "you only want me for my plane. Well and bailing you out of trouble when you get into it." the older man teased.

"Nah, bailing me out of jail's what I've got Nate for", was the innocent response. "What I'd want you for is bailing mutant teenagers out of trouble."

"Well I guess that's a cause I can get behind," Scott returned, "As long as you don't decide to take the Blackbird out for a joyride." Scott's eye's shot open and he almost leapt up in alarm. "If X-corps is coming here that mean's John is going to be hanging around the mansion right>" Scott asked with a slight tremor in his voice.

"I wouldn't know how to even get the Blackbird off the ground", Angelo assured him. "Nor does John. And you know he only talks about your car to get a rise out of you, right?"

"Maybe," Scott allowed, "but perhaps I'll install a new security system on the car. You know just in case. You know if you want a refresher on flying the Blackbird we could arrange that right? It's always a useful skill to have."

"You let non-team learn to do that?" He nodded, though. "Could be fun as well as useful."

"It's not really like you're non-team," Scott pointed out, "If we ever needed you you'd be there for us so the least I can do is return the favour. Besides it's always good to be prepared for any situation and having one extra pilot in X-Corps might come in useful in the future."

"That's true", Angelo agreed. "And once I've learned the jet, maybe I'll get my very own microlight or something."

"A microlight is a little different from a jet," Scott replied with a grin, "but if you enjoy flying then a microlight is a nice way to go."

"I wouldn't have anywhere to keep a jet", he came back easily. "And a little one of my own'll never be out when I want it. But we'll see."

"It is easier to hanger a microlight than a get, but they just don't go as fast," Scott complained. "On the other hand having a plane of my own might be nice. A little expensive to maintain though."

"Oh, like everyone doesn't know the Blackbird's your baby and you get to veto pilots."

"Well it's not like I can just take her off to Hawaii just because I feel like it," Scott pointed out with a grin.

"Yeah you could, with a bit of notice. The team's got Clarice, as long as either her or the jet is available..." He shrugged, grinning back.

"The Jet is a little easier to take over long periods and besides I wouldn't want to tire her out when we may need her later." Scott shrugged, "She's my baby but she's not really mine."

Angelo considered this, then nodded. "Yeah, fair points. Maybe you should get one of your own, it could live in the side of the Bird's hangar."

"Big Bird and Little Bird?" Scott asked with a laugh. "Well the free hanger space would help with the costs."