Log: Matt & Scott

[x-daredevil.livejournal.com]

To absolutely no one's surprise, Matt goes to inquire about joining the X-Men



Tracking down Scott Summers was not a difficult task. Finding him in his office, Matt knocked on the door. "Mr. Summers?" He said. Scott didn't sound busy, no use of the phone, computer keyboard or anything else to indicate that an interruption would be a Bad Idea. That was good.

Scott looked up guiltily from the paper he had been looking at, the teacher was supposed to be marking the papers but he'd just found himself staring off into the distance unable to focus. "Matt, come in," he said standing up and dropping the papers on his desk, "How can I help you?"

Entering and taking a seat, Matt tried to look decent, sitting up straight and not flopping like he was prone to do. "I turned 18 the other day," he said without preamble, "When I graduate in a few weeks, I want to join the X-Men." He was too busy in the next few weeks to do so sooner.

Scott leaned back in his chair to look at Matt, he couldn't lie and say he hadn't been expecting Matt to broach this subject, he just didn't think that it'd be this soon. "Have you thought this through?" he asked the younger man, "Is this what you want to do?"

Matt nodded, "I want to help," he replied, "Yeah. I know you're goods want to drug test me or whatever and that's fine. I'm doing good with counseling and the steps and all that. And I know I don't have the most offensive powers, but I've been working on using my cane for self defense and I've tried billy clubs, too," both effective and nonlethal.

Scott nodded slowly, "From everything I've seen you've been sticking to your promises and keeping yourself in control, so I'm not worried about that. As you say we'll probably want to give you a drug test and talk to Amanda just to err on the side of caution. I was actually thinking about school, you start college in September. Are you sure that you can manage studying for class and your extra duties as a X-man?"

"I'm not the first to go to college and be an X-Man," Matt replied. "How did the others do it?"

"No you're not," Scott confirmed, "but it's a question that I ask everyone in your position so that I know they've at least thought about it. The older man leaned back in his chair as he looked at Matt, "You'll have some reports to read and extra training to do here at the mansion. It's not too strenuous, but it's just that one thing more for you to think about." Scott smiled, "Don't worry about your powers and their offensive uses, you're a gymnast who is acutely aware of everything around you. I'm pretty sure that you won't have a problem with keeping up. That's what the training sessions are for, as a student we teach you to defend yourself; as a trainee you learn how to use your powers in other ways as the situation demands."

Matt nodded, that made sense, "Well, I've got all summer. I'm not taking any classes except that circus camp I mentioned on the journals. They decided they'd take me after the professor explained the situation. That's just for fun, too. So I can do a lot of the reading then if it's printed in braille. Or if there's audio," he wasn't a fan of audio, but it was easier and less bulky compared to printed braille. "I'm also taking 12 hours this fall, which is a full course load, but lower than standard. So I think I can manage it all."

"I'm pretty sure we'll find a way to keep you busy with reading," Scott commented, "There are years of reports and intelligence for you to get through." Scott stared pensively at the door before he looked over at Matt, "I think we should be ok using the printers we used for your class to provide you with reading material for now." Scott shrugged, "It'd be a lot of paper for you to carry around, but since you're living out of the mansion you can take what you need and then print out the rest as you get done." Satisfied with the arrangement Scott leaned back in his chair, "So where is your circus class being held?"

That worked and it wasn't like people tended to randomly read braille for fun so anything confidential was still safe. "In the city," Matt replied, "It looks like fun. I've really liked trapeze here, but with my gymnastics on top of it, I could do anything!" Within the limits of the human body, but even those could be stretched like silly putty sometimes, "I've signed up for four or five classes. And Johnny and Topaz signed up for some with me," not as many as he did, but still, groups and friends were fun!

"Anything?" Scott queried, throwing his mind back to the last time he'd been to the circus. "You mean they teach you things like tumbling and high-wire acts too?" Scott nodded slowly, "That sounds like it could be a lot of fun, and something you'd enjoy. Besides 5 classes should keep you pretty busy, and there's nothing worse for teachers than teenagers hanging around the mansion all summer long without anything to do," Scott joked with a laugh, "It's almost enough to make me want to run a 3rd semester of classes."

Matt had done summer school two summers running now to try to catch up with his age-grade since he'd been so far behind. "He says to the king of summer school," Matt snorted, amused. Of course, taking three classes one on one was a lot easier than actually teaching an entire class, "Yeah. They do trapeze, floor work, juggling, ropes, silks, lyra, all sorts of stuff. I've got Topaz coming to a handstand class with me and Johnny wants to do juggling and partner acrobatics, so we're gonna balance each and tumble each other." Sounded good to him.

"It's only cause you set such a good example," Scott pointed out with a grin, "summer school worked well for you, why not everyone else? So are these guys actual circus performers running the school or just talented amateurs? It kinda sounds like they've got their work cut of for them." Scott blinked as he played back Matt's words, "Wait a minute, you said that you actually got Ms Ashdown to agree to come with you and learn how to do a handstand?"

Was that surprising? "Uh, yeah," So? "I've been working with her in the gym once a week or so on basic stretching and floor stuff. She can do a pretty decent flip on the trampoline, but not on the mat yet," he was sure she'd get it though. "And yeah, they're pros. All professional acrobats, professor's of dance at various universities, that sort of thing. I checked them out."

That revelation floored Scott and it took a moment for him to gather himself, he had been worried about the girl and her attitude towards settling in at the mansion. "That's good, she could use a friend or two. I'm glad she's comfortable hanging out with you."

"She's cool," Matt agreed casually, but he'd heard the changes in Scott's breathing and heart rate. Standing, Matt offered his hand. "Let me know when you're ready for me to start training or whatever the start is."

"I'll need to clear it with the professor," Scott noted as he stood and shook Matt's hand, "but I should have something for you in the next few days. Then we can get you a training name and get you authorized on the system and signed up for training."

"Sounds good. I'll see you later then," Matt grinned, pleased and excited. He was going to be an X-Man when he graduated!