Meeting your new room (outside guest rooms)“Where am I going to stay in this place, and where am I going to store my stuff?”
John figured that this was a logical question for the youth to ask but he still felt harassed by it. He was getting to the guest rooms as fast as physically possible without completely bypassing the tour. So he took a discreet breath and proceeded to explain how things would work for the next few days.
“Up these stairs are the guest rooms where you will stay for the next few days while you get enrolled. After that you will be given a room of your own. All of your possessions apart from your weapons you can keep in your room, the box,”
He pointed at the box that was hovering next to him.
“will go in the safe in the acting headmistress’s office.”
He hoped that the new student did not ask why Jean was only acting head mistress for he had no intention of explaining the complex situation that had lead to the institute’s current faculty organisation. He led the way up the small flight of stairs and onto the first floor. The corridors here were the same as the ones downstairs but the doors were slightly bigger and more impressive. The guest rooms here were very well appointed with a double bed and a desk. The en-suite bathroom contained a bath and a shower that would be worthy of any hotel. So all in all staying a while in these rooms was no real hardship.
Seeing as John had no real idea of when he was leaving he was still residing in one of these rooms but he had no intension of telling Jordan this. He also made sure to give him an unoccupied room that was as far away as possible from his own. To his satisfaction the room on the end of the corridor was free and he walked towards it at a determined pace.
Stopping in front of the large oak doors he turned to his charge and cheerfully announced that they had arrived.
“This is going to be your room Jordan, I hope you enjoy it.”
Jordan proved that he was from a long line of lawmen and crooks by forming several questions in his mind concerning John's statement of an acting headmistress. Yet Jordan did not voice any of these questions since he prefered to be underestimated. Acting headmistress? What happened to the normal boss here? More importantly, how and why did it happen? His questioning almost drowned out his annoyance at not having his weapons. Jordan was also wondering how much access he would have to his small arsenal. It annoyed Jordan since absence of weapons almost stripped him of his powers.
Jordan looked into his room and was impressed. He was used to more rugged furniture and surrondings, but he still could tell that this would be a comfortable room. Nice place. It is a lot better than I'm used to. Jordan dropped his two bags of clothes and books, and lowered his weapons chest to the floor by the door. He dropped his whip while putting most of his clothes in the closet on hangers, and emptying his socks and underwear in a drawer. He tossed his other bag by the bed, where it made a loud thump indicating how many books were in it. Jordan also took his straight razor and shaving soap into the bathroom and laid it on the sink.
Jordan was also taking note of what the walls and door were made of. A lifetime of using guns had ingrained in him a deep appreciation of knowing what materials would stop bullets and to keep an eye out for such backstops so you would always know where you could shot at an intruder without risking someone on the other side of the wall. Jordan figured that if you decided to carry and use a gun, you had a responsibility to use it right and that includes knowing where the bullet is going to go. He also took out several trophies for shooting both rifle and pistol and buckles for roping that he had won in his short life. He put all of them in a drawer instead of setting them out where people could see them, as if he didn't want anyone to know of any of his accomplishments. Considering Jordan's self perception where he saw himself as never doing anything right and having an impossible to meet standard for himself, this could have been right.
He reached the last item that he was going to take out of his bags at the moment. Instead of slinging it around helter skelter like he had with his other possessions, he reached in slowly, with near infinite reverence and took out his Bible. It was an incongruous sight to say the least seeing this young man with scarred arms and hands from fights and labor treating something as etheral as a spiritual book with so much respect. He set it on the nightstand by his bed, were he kept it when he was back home. Of course, at home he also kept one of his Ruger .357 magnum revolvers by his bed to, and a shotgun in the closet, but it looked like that wasn't going to happen here anytime soon.
Jordan reached out his hand and summoned his whip to his hand again, and had it wrap around the weapons case again. He turned to look at John, waiting pateintly to see where to go next, expecting some sort of smart remark about his actions.
Before such a remark could come, Jordan's cell phone rang. Hello? Hey sis, what do you need? What about Mitch? WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE GREW TEN FEET TALL? Uh huh. Yeah. He's coming here? He needs to make some sort of arrangements first. Oh, he already did that. Okay. Well, I really haven't gotten settled in yet, so I'll call you when I'm done sis. Okay, talk to you later. Bye.
Looking at John, Jordan said Guess what? Turns out my cousin Mitch is a mutant to. He's going to show up in a few days. Don't worry about him being wierd, he thinks I'm crazy just like everyone else. He's also a certified genius, but he is a little naive about how evil people generally are. Edited by: Hank at: 9/26/05 11:04 pm
Re: Meeting your new room (outside guest rooms)“Nice place. It is a lot better than I'm used to.”
John looked the boy up and down taking in his cowboy like attire… and he had to admit that he wasn’t at all surprised that the luxury of the Xavier’s institute was a novelty for the new student. He had also found the school impressive when he had first come here at fifteen but after a life of fleecing rich men out of their money, mostly by sleeping with their wives he now just accepted the opulence with a shrug. He watched as the young mutant put the weapons chest down on the floor and deposited his other bags on the bed. He was expecting Jordan to take a look around and then either let him go and put the weapons in the safe on his own, or accompany him.
Instead he found that the youth had decided that now was as good a time as ever to unpack, uncaring of whether or not his guide might have other things to attend to after having babysat him. So John just leant against the door and waited trying to keep the exasperation from showing on his face. At least he had to admit the kid was thorough, he emptied every single item out of the suitcase before showing any sing of wanting to move on. Pyro had not bothered to pay much attention to what kind of items the young mutant had brought with him as he had lost interest after the socks were pulled out. He had no intention of finding out what colour underwear Jordan possessed. He had however kept a look out for any other concealed weapons one could never be to careful.
When Jordan had finally finished unpacking he returned to his whip and resumed his strange levitating trick. John smiled as he would soon be able to go about his own business and not have to worry about giving a tour anymore when the boy’s phone rang. He rolled his eyes… what could it possibly be now?
He had had no intention of listening in on the conversation but the boy’s exclamation did not give him a choice. “WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE GREW TEN FEET TALL?”John smiled again; he knew how much of a bummer it was to have someone display some kind of rather obvious power was. And by the sound of it this incident had been rather well… big. He had always considered himself as one of the lucky ones as his power was relatively easy to hide. Seeing as he could not actually create fire he had not experienced many mishaps when he was younger because no many places held open flames.
As Jordan finished his conversation he turned to John presumably to explain what he had just heard. “Guess what? Turns out my cousin Mitch is a mutant to. He's going to show up in a few days. Don't worry about him being weird, he thinks I'm crazy just like everyone else. He's also a certified genius, but he is a little naive about how evil people generally are.”
John actually had to physically bite his tongue in order to hold back to “Oh joy” that he had felt coming. The last thing he wanted was to have to greet another of these cowboy types from god knows where. But as he was trying to make a reasonably good impression he aimed to say something at least civil.
“Well if he has troubles with his powers this certainly is the place for him. But you might want to tell him that it is not a good idea to come here carrying weapons… next time it might not go down so well. Anyway shall we go and see about putting your box in the safe.”
John held the door open for the youth and waited till he and the box had passed through before exiting himself. He turned down the hall and headed towards the faculty offices, he wasn’t sure whether or not Jean would be in but he knew that if need be he could always contact her or Scott over their com badges if he needed the combination to the safe. Edited by: catfood74 at: 9/27/05 11:44 am
Re: Meeting your new room (outside guest rooms)
Jordan could feel the continued scrutiny of his escort. He figured that John was probably still wondering if he had any more weapons on him. Jordan couldn't pinpoint any particular action that made him feel this, just a feeling in his gut seemed to scream it at him. It was the same instinct he felt when he was deer hunting once and a cougar snuck up behind him. He didn't know it was there, but all of a sudden he could just feel the critter's eyes on him. Jordan thanked God that he had had his .30-.30 deer rifle with him that night.
Jordan had to physically fight down his laughter at the thought of Mitch carrying guns. Cousin Mitch carry weapons? He might make weapons, normally after myself or my sister have badgered him for a week about it, but he never carries them. Probably safer for us all considering how bad his aim is with firearms. He can still take care of himself hand to hand, and his preference is to fight with his fists, and he really doesn't even like that.
A smirk of barely contained laughter appeared on Jordan's face as he thought about Mitch trying to learn how to draw and shoot a revolver one summer. Mitch wound up accidently shooting himself in the very tip of his little toe because he didn't pop the strap on the holster that held the gun in place. Luckily, the pistol was just a .22 so it didn't do any real damage. It had been one of the funniest things that Jordan had ever seen, but thinking about Mitch backing someone up by using a gun brought chills of fear down Jordan's spine.
Jordan started following John down the hall, talking a little more about his cousin. He seemed a lot happier and joyful at the news that some of his family was going to be at the institute as well. I really don't understand it, cause he can build weapons and fix nearly anything, but he just can't use any weapons wiorth a flip if his life depended on it. He made a design for a wrist mounted flamethrower once, but nobody could figure out just what the heck they would ever need it for. Looked nice, though. Lightweight, easy to aim, easy to adjust the flame output as well. He made some sort of chemical compund for it that would give it more juice to burn.
Jordan started thinking back to the last time he had badgered his cousin into making a weapon for him. It had been a gauntlet with a long, spring loaded blade stored in the forearm armor. It had looked great, and was fun to swing around. Problem was, it really wasn't practical to wear or carry. Jordan also had a slight problem with how innocent Mitch tended to be. Heck, Jordan had tried to avoid inner city life with a large degree of success, and was deeply religious even if his outward actions tended to appear otherwise. Yet Jordan had a hard bitten deep distrust of most people, and did not rely on people or their word until they proved to him that he could rely on it.
In contrast, Mitch spent a lot of his life in Dallas, but still kept an innocence about himself that Jordan couldn't understand. Mitch didn't know who his father was, did not belive in the supernatural and spiritual, yet he had more hope and belief in the innate goodness of man than Jordan ever would. It made for a strange comparison when the two were in the same room. All what that means is that I got to watch out for him, cause family is about the only thing that you know for sure will have your back in a fight.
Jordan also thought about how different their approaches to danger were. Mitch always prefered to take things slowly and carefully. Jordan could do so when he wanted to, but if it was only Jordan's life on the line he preferred to meet the threat head on and settle the situation right then and there. It was normally good when both of them were together since they basically covered each others weaknesses. It was also good since Mitch often could keep Jordan from acting on feelings of honor, which normally consisted of beating down some guy who cussed at a woman.
Edited by: Hank at: 9/29/05 12:00 am
Re: Meeting your new room (outside guest rooms)“Cousin Mitch carry weapons?”
The way Jordan answered the question immediately told John that the boy thought the idea was preposterous, which the fire mutant figured was a blessing. But this though had only just had the time to come into existence that it was dashed by what the boy said next.
“He might make weapons, normally after myself or my sister have badgered him for a week about it, but he never carries them. Probably safer for us all considering how bad his aim is with firearms. He can still take care of himself hand to hand, and his preference is to fight with his fists, and he really doesn't even like that.”
Great, so not only does Jordan have a case full of weapons but he will soon have his very own walking arms shop. John tried to look pleased about this but all he could think about is how he should probably have words with Jean about this whole situation. As for this arms building giant that would be arriving soon, John was going to try and make sure he got out of being his escort service. The idea of someone who could build weapons but by the sound of it not even hold them the right way up did not fill him with confidence. Maybe he should suggest sending Logan, then if he got shot he could just shrug it off and teach the kid not to bring weapons into the school.
”I really don't understand it, cause he can build weapons and fix nearly anything, but he just can't use any weapons even if his life depended on it.”
Did this kind not know when to stop digging? John had to try very hard to come to terms with the fact the love of weapons seemed to run in this kid’s family. He was doing this to stop himself from saying anything he might regret. So he was going to assume that the whole weapon fetish thing was a bit like Cycolps’s love of all things with an engine. He did not understand that either so the link was not to hard to make.
“He made a design for a wrist mounted flamethrower once, but nobody could figure out just what the heck they would ever need it for. Looked nice, though. Lightweight, easy to aim, easy to adjust the flame output as well. He made some sort of chemical compound for it that would give it more juice to burn.”
John smiled he had had one of those once, when mass destruction had seemed like fun. It was the time of his life when he had considered actually being part of the X-men. He had had it all: the flame thrower, the costume, and the friends. He had spent days in the danger room with Bobby seeing, if fire or ice was the most powerful element. It had always ended up with a draw and two exhausted boy’s that could not use their powers for hours if not days afterwards. He had always kind of resented Bobby for being able to create ice from scratch when he needed an external source for his powers.
But that was all a long time ago and the flame thrower had not left the armoury wall in fifteen years. And now he only carried a small metal lighter which drove people insane when he subconsciously started clicking it. They had made quick time to the offices and he grasped the door handle and let them both into the empty office. It was a majestic room with a mahogany desk at the centre of it and book cases lining the entirety of the walls, except for the farthest one that held the large window.
Seeing as Jean was not present, he knew he was going to have to contact someone to ask for the safe codes. He also knew that he could not do so in front of the kid, first of all because it would involve using the com badges which were for X-men use only and secondly because he had no intention of letting the weapon wielding mutant anywhere near his box without permission. And giving him the code might prove to much of a temptation.
“Jordan, seeing as the headmistress is not in I need to go and find what the codes for the safe are this week. I will be back shortly.”
He was not afraid that the kid was find anything that he should not see as all of the important documents were in the safe and on first inspection it looked like this room did not have one. It was in fact cleverly hidden in a section of wall near the window. Every good burglar would look behind a book case or in the floor but thanks to the Doctor’s holographic technology they had been able to put the safe, which was made of a special alloy, into a wall that seemed seamless. It was also placed at waist height, sort of inconvenient but also something robbers would not expect.
He smiled at Jordan and left the room. Once outside he let out a sigh of relief, he was just glad to be away from the boy even if it was only for a short while. Gently he touched the com badge that he had been given by Jean even if he was not an X-man, it was for important communications only though.
“Pyro to Cyclops. Scott I need the combination to the safe in Jean’s office. The new kid has brought a box full of weapons to school with him.”
Re: Meeting your new room (outside guest rooms)
Jordan watched as John left the room. Let me guess, he wants to see if I'll look around for the safe. Jordan wasn't going to bother with that. Considering the connection he had with weapons of his, he would be able to sense where the safe was anyway, and he had no intention of breaking into it. Theft was something that Jordan could not stomach except in limited circumstances.
Maybe they don't trust me with weapons because they know what happened at my last school. Even though that school shooting resulted in Jordan killing all three murderers, knowing that a new student had willingly taken human life without any hesitation or regret probably weighted heavily on the administrations mind.
The biggest thing that bothered Jordan about this was the fact that everyone he had seen acted as if the weapons in and of themself were dangerous. A weapon is neutral. It is the intention of the hand that weilds it that determines if the weapon is put to good or ill use.
Jordan guessed that if he wasn't making such a big deal about it nobody would mind as much. Probably shouldn't raise to much of a fuss. In any case it's never the weapon thats deadly but the man who wields it. It just kind of ticks me off that they don't trust me to practice with them on my own.
Jordan started thinking about what he had told John about his cousin. All of it was true, but maybe he should mention that Mitch hates weapons. Odds were that if Mitch was put through a hassle of a body search and then heared it was because his cousin Jordan had tried to smuggle in some firearms, he would come looking for Jordan to beat the crap out of him. Let's face it Jordan, if Mitch ever learns to fight dirty you are screwed if you don't have your weapons. My bullet proof skin won't save me from a giant sized fist slapping me around.
Jordan thought about how his luck had been going today, and concluded that with having a fellow student decide upon there first meeting that he was a gun wielding sociopathic idiot, having a guide with which he had nothing in common, and having to give up virtually all of his weapons, odds were that they were going to search Mitch. A strange pained look appeared on Jordan's face as he thought of his odds if it came to blows. If he has any idea how to grow at will, I'm in trouble. The past few times we've sparred, I've managed to when just because Mitch won't fight dirty, and he worries about fists to much instead of keeping an eye out for a kick. So odds are he is going to show up tired from his trip, annoyed at being searched, and pretty angry at me for trying to bring in some guns. I am so screwed.Edited by: Hank at: 9/30/05 8:05 pm
Re: Meeting your new room (outside guest rooms)
OOC As promised Short and sweet
.................................
It was true . There was justice in the world. Scott couldn’t keep the grin off his face as he heard Johns rather frustrated words come over the com badge. “Pyro to Cyclops. Scott I need the combination to the safe in Jean’s office. The new kid has brought a box full of weapons to school with him. The irony of the situation was almost too much for even Scott’s self control, forcing him to turn a laugh into a carefully disguised cough which he was sure didn’t fool Pyro even for a minute. That John of all people should have to deal with a problem student!
Scott could remember all to well Pyros own arrival at the institute. Cocky. Overconfident. Ready to use his powers at the drop of a hat. A danger to himself and all those around him. At the time it had been Cyclops who had had the task of keeping him in line. He had been the teacher, the carefully rolled out good example that others were supposed to emulate. He wondered if they ever realised what a pain it had been always living up to that image. Without having to try to keep control of young hotheads who always thought they knew everything. *Well now John is finding out first hand!* Scott thought wickedly *It couldn’t happen to a nicer person.*
Still setting all that aside the problem remained that they had a student with dangerous weapons on the premises and that really was no laughing matter. "Sure John" he said . "The combination is 5963401. And remember you’re putting things in not taking them out."
The humour of the situation had caught him out again and he had for once given in to it. "Sorry" he added hurriedly.”Couldn’t resist.” “Seriously though. Do you want me to come down and have a word with him? I can still do stern and uncompromising better than most. As Im sure you can remember.”
Re: Meeting your new room (outside guest rooms)
John’s day was going from bad to worse. Scott seemed to only barely be able to contain his amusement as he received Pyro’s request over the com. As the pyrokenetic mutant’s temper rose his nervous tick kicked in and as he waited for Scott to revel in the irony of the situation he instinctively started flicking the metallic lighter that lived in his pocket open and closed.
"Sure John, the combination is 5963401. And remember you’re putting things in not taking them out."
John repeated the numbers under his breath committing them to memory almost instantly, he would be a good con man if he was unable to retain safe codes now would he. And then rolled his eyes at his former mentors little added comment. He had only tried to break into the professor’s safe once and he had learnt his lesson… don’t get caught.
"Sorry, couldn’t resist. Seriously though, do you want me to come down and have a word with him? I can still do stern and uncompromising better than most. As I’m sure you can remember.”
John had to admit that the idea of passing this wannabe cowboy off on Scott was hard to resist but the whole thing was nearly over anyway so he might as well see it through. As for Scott looking stern, that was very true, maybe it was something to do with the glasses. John had always thought it would be easier to pull of faking an emotion if the person you were aiming it at could not see the lack of conviction in your eyes. That’s why in some of his more difficult cons he had worn dark glasses.
“No, don’t worry about it. He was stubborn at first but now he’s just annoying. Thanks anyway, Pyro out.”
With that taken care of he made his way back to the office. He found Jordan standing in the middle of it lost in though which was a good thing as by the looks of things he was not one of those nosy students or if he was he was very good at it.
“I’ve got the codes for the safe and now if I can just take that box off you.”
He walked past Jordan and picked up the box, which was just as heavy as he remembered. Walking over to the bit of wall next to the window he had a feel around until he found the very small bump that indicated the holo emitter. He gave the tiny device three consecutive taps in order to deactivate it and reveal the safe. It was quite a bit thing really for a private safe but today that was a good thing, for there was no way John could have brought the new kid into the subbasement in order to put the box in the armoury.
He bent over the safe as he entered the code; event though the codes were changed weekly there was no point in taking any chances. The door opened without a noise, but it still made him feel uneasy for he knew that there was a camera pointed at him right now and as a con man that was a bad thing. He lifted the box gently into the safe and put it down delicately on the small pile of papers that was already there. Then he closed the door and turned to Jordan.
“Right are you content that they are safe?
He waited for a reply before turning the holo emitter back on.
Re: Meeting your new room (outside guest rooms)
Jordan assumed that nobody would want him to know the code to the safe, so he kept himself busy by looking around the room a little. He took note of the family pictures on the desk, and did everything to make sure that he didn't see the combination. Perhaps the oddest thing was that Jordan felt comfortable within the office. There just seemed to be an air around it that left Jordan at piece. Or maybe the piece came from knowing that he would at least have his whip and pocket knives, even if they were mostly used as utilitarian tools.
Yeah, they'll be safe there. Do you happen to know who I need to get a hold of when I want to practice with them?
Practicing was important to Jordan. To his mind, there was no reason that his skills should deteriorate just because he is in a school. Jordan was also wondering about the horses he had seen outside. Are the horses outside the school's or do they belong to sombody else? Jordan was hoping that the school kept some horses on the property, since that meant that he might be able to bring up some of his horses to ride. Those outside looked okay, but Jordan was willing to wager that they were more pet than athletic. Horses used as pets were easy to ride, but they lacked that barely broke to ride spunk that Jordan enjoyed. Admittedly, few people here would use horses for rodeos, so the horses at the school would probably be geared towards the equestrian english style of riding and jumping, as opposed to chasing down a calf or running by a steer while some horesback idiot like Jordan tried to jump beside it. Edited by: Hank at: 10/3/05 12:52 am
Re: Meeting your new room (outside guest rooms)“Yeah, they'll be safe there. Do you happen to know who I need to get a hold of when I want to practice with them?”
John mentally went over which teachers were around and who would be most likely to look after this particular subject. The most obvious person for the job would be Remy but he had no way of being sure, so rather than feed the kid erroneous information he decided to stay vague.
“You will be issued with a time table that will include the names of all your teachers and some time slots for you to practise with your powers. As for any additional sessions those will have to be arranged directly with your teacher.”
There that sounded reasonably correct and also indicated that John was not open for anymore questions on this subject. All he really wanted to do now was usher the boy out of the room and point him back to his room. But it seemed that Jordan still had a couple of things he wanted clarified.
”Are the horses outside the school's or do they belong to somebody else?”
The extent of John’s knowledge about the horses was that they did belong to the institute and that when he was younger some of his female team mates had attempted to convince him to ride them. It was easy to say that they had not succeeded. He also knew that Jean was responsible for them and therefore he had the perfect way of getting rid of Jordan.
“The horses are ours. You can go down and visit the installations if you want, just down the corridor to the left down the stairs and then straight to the front door. But if you don’t want to do that now I can show you back to your room.”
OOC: sorry for the shortness, but in my opinion this thread is drawing to an end… so if ya wanna get in another post or two fine but I don’t see us being able to go on any longer than that.
Re: Meeting your new room (outside guest rooms)
The news about the horses perked Jordan up a little. There would at least be one thing that he was familiar with here. I'll just head down there and take a look around.
Jordan started to head for the door, but turned around and said without any malice or ironic intent I appreciate you taking the time to help me out. I know I don't make the best of first impressions, but i didn't mean any sort of malice or malevolence by bringing my guns here. I am sorry about the trouble and hope the rest of your day is better.
After saying this he started to head down the hallway to the stables, wondering what sort of saddles, bits and bridles they had there.
OOC: I agree that there isn't much left in this thread. I kind of posted a short one that would work as a fade out, or you can put another post on here if you want to .Edited by: Hank at: 10/3/05 11:19 pm
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