xp_logs | Julian & Hope- Broken Books and Ballet

Julian meets hope in the library to discuss the New Mutants and the next year.

"Excuse me." She spoke softly as she slipped behind an unfamiliar young man intently studying something on his laptop and took her own seat, spreading the New York Times out before her. A few quick page turns brought her to the business section and she bent over it, studying the latest reports.

Julian looked over at the young woman who was so intently studying her paper- he pulled out his tablet and absently flipped through some files. "You're Hope Abbot, right?" he asked, not making eye contact.

Hope glanced up from her paper, a slightly quizzical expression on her face. "That is right." A small frown stole over her face and she tilted her head. "Are you not Mr. Keller? I think I left a response to your post on the journals?"

Julian set down his tablet and extended a hand, giving the young woman a friendly smile, "Yes, thank you for your welcome. Some of your peers have been less hospitable, do you have time for that meeting now or are you and your paper otherwise engaged?"

"It's nothing pressing, Mr. Keller. I have the time to talk." Hope replied as she shook his hand. "The paper can wait to a later date."

"Please, call me Julian, I'm not a teacher," he smiled and opened up her file on his tablet. "So how are you enjoying your stay at Xaviers?"

"As you wish, Julian." She folded her paper and sat back, her eyes curious. "May I ask what you wanted to talk about?" She let the formality slip a little.

"The New Mutants," he inclined his head slightly, or more specifically, what you hope to get out of the program the next year. What you would like to learn, or do. How you would like to see yourself grow." Julian knew that she and the others had been dealt a difficult bout with the program, but he aimed to change that.

"Hmmm." Hope considered it for a moment. "I have not thought about it much. The powers training and self-defense I value very much, but I have focused more on Red X last year."

Julian nodded and made a note, "Your powers are pretty cool- being able to project your consciousness like you do, I can see that being very useful." He smiled, "I also think Red X is a very worthwhile thing to spend time on, but I can understand the allure of powers training. I used to want to learn to fly, so I started throwing myself off the flier's platform to try and force a reaction." He chuckled, then stopped, realizing he'd just condoned jumping off the roof, "I don't recommend doing that, it didn't work and the doctors weren't overly happy with the bruises I'd earned in the attempt."

Hope had to laugh at the idea and quickly covered her mouth with her hand. "I am sorry. Perhaps you better not mention that to Johnny though, Julian. He might just take that as inspiration.... But back to what you are asking. I have found Red X and my powers training work together very well. Search and rescue training has taught me much about the practical application of my abilities."

"That would certainly be one use for them," he made a note not to tell Johnny about his jumping off the roof. "We can certainly try to incorporate some of that into team exercises," another note. "You're a senior this year," he met her eyes with his own, "do you have any plans for after graduation- not to pressure you, I'm just curious."

"Definitely college and I hope to remain in the area, but that is about how far I have come. I am still working out which schools to apply to. Otherwise I am fairly open to what the future brings." Hope remained fairly non-committal for the moment. "Do you have any idea's so far what you would like to suggest this year for the New Mutants?"

"Angelica and I are kicking around ideas, but the program is really for you and your friends," he closed the file on his tablet and set it down. "We'll be covering the basics, certainly- powers training, though you'll be working through experts for yours. We'll also do a lot of team building and field trips...on which nothing but fun will occur. No one is going to get swallowed whole by robotic dinosaurs on my watch...again."

"Robotic dinosaurs?" Hope raised her eyebrow and smiled ruefully. "That is something we have not come across before. Though maybe I should say 'not yet'?"

"If I do my job right, you won't," Julian sighed. "When I first arrived at the mansion, when I was sixteen, I won a contest for my friends and I to go to this super-arcade up state...it ended up being this huge psychopath's playground with giant robots and weird obstacle courses- sort of like a reality show." Julian actually smiled at the memory, so much had happened since. "We all made it out okay, but yes, someone was swallowed whole by a giant robot dinosaur."

"That sounds like... quite an experience." Another quick smile stole over her face. "Are you sure you want to subject yourself to that again? So far we had Shadow men and stone scorpions..."

Julian laughed lightly and floated a book over from a nearby shelf, opening it and rifling through the pages before making it dance a little, "Shadow men don't scare me- I've fought the Shadow Queen," he left out the part where he'd had barbed wire forced underneath the skin on his legs. "As for stone scorpions," the book zipped across the room, almost making it back into the narrow spot that it had been removed from- it slammed against the wall, breaking the binding and showering the floor with paper. His jaw dropped, "As for stone scorpions, I'll just throw some books at them- honestly, I meant to do that." He blushed slightly.

"Uh, you might not want to let Ms. Smith see that one." Hope replied with twinkling eyes. "I think many demons fear to thread on her hallowed grounds after last December."

A few pages at a time were glowing and stacking themselves neatly on the table, "I have no doubt of that- it will be our little secret." As the pages stacked themselves, Julian turned his attention back to the young woman, "I hear that there has been a great deal of demonic activity lately."

"A number of demons invaded the mansion then indeed, but I think I heard some mention of demon activity in NY this summer as well. I don't know any details though." Hope mentioned briefly. "You mentioned fun field trips though..." She quickly changed the subject. ".. did you and Angel have any concrete idea's yet?"

"There's the usual fare planned, museums, galleries, forests, and so on. I was thinking at least two trips to amusement parks- out of state, if possible," Julian knew it probably wasn't but he was surely going to try. "I was hoping to do more specified trips too- tailored to certain student's interests. Is there anything you had in mind for off campus trips?"

"I do try to catch some of the various shows, performances and expositions in the city each year. I would be happy to look for a few suggestions if you'd like?" Hope replied after a moment of thought. "Though I am not sure my taste quite matches the ones of my fellow New Mutants."

"Why do you say that?" Julian stood as the last of the pages piled themselves on the end of the table in a not-so-neat pile. He began to step towards it, still facing Hope, as the cover rested itself on top of the stack.

"Oh, just that I am not sure if everyone will enjoy things like ballet, art galleries or something like Chinese opera or classical music." Hope explained a little more in detail, fiddling with the hem of her skirt a little.

"My parents would have to drag me to the ballet, or the opera, when I was little- but now, I find that I've developed more of a respect for the discipline required by the people who perform." He picked up the cover, examining it, the hard binding looked old- and expensive. Julian turned back to Hope, "Forcing a little culture upon them will likely be a good thing in the long run- let me know which performances you'd like to attend and we can see who is interested. Then those who aren't will be required to go anyway." He gave her a wink.

"I am sure I will be able to find something." Hope narrowed her eyes thoughtfully, running through a few things she remembered being on the schedule the next two months. "Do you have any favorites from when you attended performances?"

"Eroica, Odysseus, Leroy Malgre-Loo," he was certain he'd mispronounced the last title. "I caught the Moscow ballet once when I was younger, it was the first time I'd enjoyed it, but I don't recall what they were preforming." Part of the reason he'd enjoyed it so much was that the ballerinas were stunningly attractive to his pubescent eyes, but he thought it better than to let her know that.

"It might have been the Nutcracker? I know they tour the US every year with the ballet. I saw it last Christmas." Hope considered for a moment what the most likely show could have been.

"May have been, does that one have toy soldiers that come to life?" Julian picked up the book, the pages crumbling to confetti in his hands and snowing upon the table and blue carpet below it. "Oh...damn," he looked over at Hope, a sly smile curving one side of his mouth up, "I don't suppose I could convince you to keep this a secret until I get it replaced?"

"Yes, that one is it." Hope shook her head at his antics, reaching over and picking up the cover. "On the care and keeping of snakes." She read out loud. "I will not talk, but you are on your own if Ms. Smith does find out? I think that might make a fair deal?" She tilted her head, her eyes twinkling mischievously from under her eyelashes.

Julian slid what he could of the confetti into his satchel before taking the cover back and stuffing that in too, "Fair enough for me, thanks." He picked up his bag and tablet, starting toward the door and wondering how much this little bit of showing off would cost him. He paused and turned back, "It was great to meet you Hope, I'll let you know what I find out," he started walking backwards toward the doorway, "hopefully no one needs to know how to take care of a snake for a bit."

"It was good to meet you as well, Julian. Good luck with your endeavors." Hope gave him a nod and a smile. "And I do not think the book was used that often, so I think we will survive." She watched as he left the room and returned to her paper.