1963-06-28 - Terrorists and Barbecue
Summary: Darwin meets with Xavier to discuss joining up more fully.
Related: If there are no related logs, put 'None', — please don't leave blank!
Theme Song: None
cannonball alex jubilee bobby darwin xavier 


The Institute's rear grounds are large, lovely, and well taken care of. For a day or two, Armando has been visiting- getting to know the school and those students who remain during the summer. Today, he's sitting in the Gazebo not far from the mansion as he reads a book. Its a lovely day, not too hot with the sun shining down nicely through white clouds. Overall its been a pleasant visit, and Armando seems comfortable among his fellow mutants- he's found it very much easier to 'fit in' when everyone has the same activated X-Gene.

*

Charles Xavier walks out onto the large stone patio in the background, nursing a glass of lemonade and ice. The students who work maintenance have just finished mowing the lawn (and replacing a certain divot from a certain Kentucky born mutant) and the Professor has come out to enjoy the beautiful surrounds. He's wearing a simple white polo shirt with linen pants. His blue eyes scan the forest line, and then he notices someone out in the gazebo.

He decides he'll go say hello. Before long, he can see well enough that it's Armando. By the time he arrives, he's already given a wave.

"Good to see you, Armando. Hope you are enjoying your stay here."

*

"Oh, its been lovely, thank you." Armando replies, as he closes his book and stands to offer a hand to Xavier- "A pleasure to see you again." he offers with an easy smile as featureless eyes seem to gaze through Xavier- its difficult to tell exactly where Armando is looking with his white eyes.

"I noticed the Library has a full collection of P.G. Wodehouse books, and I figured I'd enjoy a little Jeeves and Wooster with a lovely day." he offers, with an easy smile still on the grey-skinned man's face. "And yourself? The day is finding you well?"

*

*

"Indeed. I am returning after a short trip and so the first few days are always filled with attempts to get back on top of things." Come to think of it, Xavier does look a lot more tired than usual, with small hints of lines under his eyes.

"Funny, you seem to have found something in our library to read, but so many of our younger students say there is nothing interesting." Xavier chuckles to himself, knowing full well that's just how kids operate.

*

"They're not looking hard enough." Armando says simply. "But, I've enjoyed reading from a young age. When you're born different, and look different in the manner I do- you get used to not having much in the way of social interactions at school. Wodehouse has been an old friend- always worth a laugh. I've often wished to live in the world he's created- ours, but idyllic- with no real problems affecting the world. That, however, is fantasy." he shrugs, as he takes a slow breath. "I do hope your trip was an easy one." he says, looking to Charles quietly. "Or, at least, you were able to get done whatever it was you needed to do."

*

Bobby is walking toward the mansion from the lake. In just a swimsuit and with his hair still damp, it doesn't take a genius to figure out what he was doing. Much what he's been doing all summer. "Hey." he greets, heading over to the Prof and Armando.

*

"In some respects," Charles says cryptically. "But of course, not every journey is a success, nor is every return an easy one." He shrugs and brings his glass up to his lips. "Hello, Robert. How was the lake?" he asks as Bobby approaches. "There's quite a bit of lemonade left when we get back to the house, if anyone would like some."

*

Armando smiles and nods towards Bobby as he appears, returning to his seat in the Gazebo. "I think I'd like to take you up on your offer, Charles. Regarding the school. Moira seems to think highly of the institution- and, of course, is worried for my safety if I stay in the city. Still, I may be able to continue my studies while working here and with Warren- and network with more mutants. Perhaps, also, to help some of the younger one's along- I understand deeply how difficult it can be." Perhaps even more so than others- Armando's early life was tragic and sad.

*

"Nice." Bobby answers, grabbing the leg of his swimsuit to to squeeze out a little more water cause having it dribble down your leg is annoying. "You're going to join us at the school, Armando? That would be cool. Doing what?"

*

"That is fantastic news, Armando. I think it will be a great benefit for our students to have you here and I hope that you find it just as beneficial. We shall get a truck and a couple of guys to help you move in." Xavier nods to Bobby. "He comes highly recommended by an old friend."

*

Jubilee has recovered from her last trip into the city, and it's safe to go outside. Contrary to Guthrie's rumor, she isn't a vampire, after all, so going out into the sun is an acceptable thing. So she comes out in some simple thong sandals, sunglasses, and a towel wrapped around her body. The lake, you say?

*

"What exactly I'll be doing remains to be decided. I'm sure Charles and I will go over my various qualifications." Armando says with a smile towards Bobby. "Likely a student teacher of some sort." he offers then. "Unless you had another idea?" he wonders over to Charles with a quiet smile. "I'm going to have to buy a car anyways, and I don't really have all that much to move." he notes, "So, I imagine I can take care of that side of things without much trouble."

*

"I still need to figure out what I'm going to do now I've graduated here." Bobby says, looking over at the Prof to see if he has any ideas. "Stay here? Move? College? Find a job somewhere?" He shrugs then nods a greeting as he spots Jubilee. "Hey Jubes."

*

Xavier gives Jubilee a wave as she walks out on the patio and nods to Darwin. "Actually, Student Teaching is precisely what I had in mind. That being said, we could look at some other options for him. As far as a move, if you end up needing any assistance, the help will be there. Just let us know."

"I'm hoping many of those who have graduated will be interested in becoming teachers. Your math skills are top notch, Robert, and your rapport with the students is another great benefit."

*

Jubilee is holding her towel to her body with one hand, so the other is free to return waves, nodding and tilting her open hand back and forth to Xavier, and doing the same to Bobby. She approaches them slowly. "Hi everyone. So how's the lake today?"

*

"Sure thing." Armando says, with a nod of his head. "I can certainly do some tutoring, as well. English as a second language- that sort of thing." Armando offers with an easy smile. "We'll sort out the details a little latter, Charles. For the summer, I'll just help keep people at grade level and not falling backwards." he suggests, "Unless you also run classes during the summer break?"

*

"Me? A teacher?" Bobby asks, sounding dubious. The class clown? "Don't you need to go to school to be a teacher? For like, years?" Not something he'd be looking forward to doing. "I wouldn't mind staying here though." he admits. "Jubes, this is Armando." As she can hear, a future teacher.

*

"We do have a J-Term, yes, but it will be finishing up in middle July," Xavier explains. "We may wish to put you on a list for substitutes, which we are always in need of." Charles has not visited the lake in quite some time, so he can't speak to the temperature. Of course, given that Bobby is still wet from his swim, he would seem to be the expert on that question.

"Yes," Charles says. "Class clowns often times make great teachers because they understand what it's like to have to struggle. And they do not tend to take themselves too seriously."

*

"We've met." Armando offers, "Jubilation- good to see you again." he says, with a friendly smile. "Well, not much time left on that- but just enough time to help before testing happens." he replies to Charles, "That would work, certainly. I've got no problem covering classes that need it. I'm sure you're not teaching anything academically I haven't already learned."

*

Jubilee snickers and gives Armando a wave now. "Armando. A teacher huh? At one time I'd have been greatly interested in a new teacher joining the school, since it would have affected me on a daily basis. Fortunately I don't have to worry about that now. I get to be on the other side, hoping you'll take good care of the students, meaning you work them like crazy, right?" She grins evilly.

*

Bobby's used to telepaths picking thoughts out of your head so it doesn't even make him blink. He still looks dubious about the idea but… "Well, I'll think about it. And the water's starting to get warm, Jubes. It's nice. What subject would you teach, Armando?"

*

Bobby's used to telepaths picking thoughts out of your head so it doesn't even make him blink. He still looks dubious about the idea but… "Well, I'll think about it. And the water's starting to get warm, Jubes. It's nice. What subject would you teach, Armando?"

*

Xavier takes another sip from his glass. "Jubilee, have you thought about what you would like to do in the future?" It's a question that he's used to asking at about this time every year.

*

Jubilee looks to Xavier, and tilts her head, considering that. Still holding her towel on, she hums. "Well, in the immediate future, I want to see just how warm the water is today." She then laughs. "After that, I'm not sure. Do good? With the X-Men?"

*

*

"I'll probably be substituting and tutoring." Armando offers to Bobby. He blinks again, "There it is again- X-Men." he says, looking to Charles then. "What exactly are these X-Men?" He's been listening, it seems. His attention almost fully on Charles, now.

*

They're all hanging out in the gazebo, Bobby in a swimsuit and damp and Jubes with a towel around he but not yet damp. "The X-Men? We… I guess you could say we butt in when it's necessary. Use our powers for truth, justice and the Mutant way without needing to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Really small one are good to go though."

*

"The X-men," Xavier starts, but then stops abruptly, trying to think about how to phrase this. "It has become apparent that, in certain situations…" He stops again, pursing his lips, and wishing that Jubilee did not ask the question. Better to just be out with it. "The X-men are a group of graduated students who assist me in helping mutants in trouble. Somewhat like the Coast Guard, I guess." So far, Xavier has resisted the urge by some to make it a more militant group, but things like the recent mutant massacre in Mutant Town have made those cries even more intense. He nods to Robert, "Or what he said."

*

Jubilee gestures to the others. "That. That's what I want to keep doing, you know? I'm out of school, and it's not like I have anything else to do. Might as well help. I like the idea anyway."

*
*

Alex comes strolling out of the mansion, a bounce in his step. He's in khaki's and a fitted button up blue shirt, looking all business casual today. He also looks like he's in a good mood, his smile lazy and easy. He nods around then, grinning broadly at Bobby, "Out for a swim?" And then smiling at Jubilee, "Apparently its a common thing." He slips his hands into his pockets and nods to Armando as well, "Good to see you again." And a quick upnod for the Professor. Maybe he's grinning extra there, because the Professor doesn't usually have difficulty getting his words out in order.

*

*

"I see." Armando says, taking a moment to weigh on all this information. He's next to impossible to read- able to put on a poker face like few others. Its the eyes, mostly. Those white orbs seeming to look no where, or everywhere all at the same time. His thoughts race- the ethical dilemma involved of basically 'raising' a group of vigilantes on the forefront of his mind. "I'm not sure what to think about that." he admits, finally. "I, of course, am very much for helping Mutants- but it sounds as if you've created vigilantes." he lets his thoughts be open.

*

*

"It's summer." Bobby tells Alex, smiling over at him and suddenly looking a little happier. He must love summer. "You should remember that instead of wearing… clothes. The Prof thinks I should teach math here." Glancing over at Armando, he shrugs a shoulder. "And that's a bad thing? Obviously, the cops aren't willing to protect us." It's the cops mutants need protecting from.

*

"One might say that, Armando, but I would take extraordinary issue. We do not fight crime. Saving a mutant from a burning building, or helping them escape from a genetic testing facility in Asia is not vigilantism in my mind. There is surely a word for it, but I would not believe that to be it."

"Hello, Alex," says Charles and gives the young man a nod. But then as Robert discusses the cops, Xavier can do nothing but breath deeply. Not only was the mutant massacre a great tragedy, but it struck a deep wedge between the police and those who want to see mutant equality. Belief in peace grows more difficult by the day.

*

"Who else is going to put a stop to mutants who are out for no good or out of control?" asks Alex with a glance between Xavier and Armando, with a tilt of his head, "Most of our people are just people trying to live our lives. But some people who have evolved powers are using it for ill purposes. Don't we have a responsibility to deal with them? Who else can? Ideally, by talking them out of being jerks." To Bobby he grins broadly, "I think that's a great idea. Teaching is fun. Inspiring, even. As for wearing clothes?" Alex laughs softly, lifting a hand up to run through his hair, "I was going to go into the City." he explains.

*

Jubilee smiles faintly. "I'm not all that worried about the theoretical ethics of the X-Men. If I do something wrong or right, it's not going to be affected by whether I'm part of a group or not."

*

"You're rationalizing the point." Armando responds. "Its a thin line between freedom fighter and terrorist. A thin, and exceedingly muddy thin line. The ethical dillema is… You all went to school here- for years, even. And now, you're a part of this X-Men. Who's pulling the strings? Who's Integrity is that which defends the X-Men from falling from Freedom Fighter to Terrorist? Its muddy, dirty business." Armando says with a sigh, "I'm afraid that it might make things more difficult for those people you're trying to protect. What happens when something goes wrong? Someone's focus fades during a mission and civilians die?"

*

"It would give me a reason to stay here at the school." Bobby agrees. "Cheaper, and nicer, than finding a place to live somewhere. And I could take some classes at the community college." When Alex mentions the city, he asks "Have an appointment? Or would you mind some company. There's this place I was thinking about going to." And then Armando starts going on about ethics and shit. "And what happens if we don't do something and a civilian dies? Well, guess it's not our fault so we don't need to worry about it huh?"

*

The intense discussion is punctuated by a dull roar overhead. To some present, it's characteristic and identifiable, but to others, it sounds like an extremely powerful rocket — which could be worrying. A flaring streak originating from the direction of the mansion streaks overhead toward the lake. Once it's over the water, the noise and glare cuts away, and there's just a person there: lanky, blond, and wearing nothing but swim trunks, Sam Guthrie rides his momentum toward the lake while tilting forward in freefall.

Once he's turned upside down, the teen hollers, "CANNONBALLLLLLLL!" and his thrust power reactivates. He hits the surface with such speed and power that there's nearly as much water in the air as in the lake: a tsunami in miniature. He's gone for half a second before there's a thudding reverberation — the sort of thing measured on the Richter scale — and he comes flying back out again, now angled upward and toward the gazebo.

His thrust cuts the moment he's out of the water, and he again flies on momentum with an exuberant whoop. His feet hit the ground at speed, though, and what was a graceful flight through the air becomes a desperate run, then a trip, then a head-over-heels tumble. It finally ends in a muddy skid.

"Ow," the southern youth grunts, facedown in the dirt.

*

"And you're exaggerating the point," Xavier replies to Armando, waiting to allow Bobby to speak before he blurts in. "And even if you weren't, Linda McVie or any of the other mutants who have died, especially that night in Mutant Town, deserve better. We are not a military group, and are certainly not terrorists. We assist where we are needed."

Xavier can't help but smile as Sam comes to make his appearance. "Glad you could join us. Bit of a tough landing, but how was the trip?" Charles nods over his shoulders, "The groundscrew just got the last one fixed."

*

Alex furrows his brow and goes from grinning to eyeing Armando a moment, "It seems to be a really bright, really clear line, to me. Don't hurt people. Do help people. It's a really simple distinction." He shrugs then, slipping his hands out of his pockets to fold them over his chest, "And no one is pulling any strings. We work together. We help eachother. We aren't some bunch of blind followers who obey orders without any sense of right or wrong. But, integrity? Well, the Professor and Magnetoerr, Erik are pretty much leadership and guidance roles and I don't think anyone has a problem with that." He grins at Bobby again, a bit goofily, really, "Sure, come along. I mostly just wanted a change of pace, no specific plan. But that sounds like a good idea. Community college, I mean." And then Sam makes an entrance, and Alex blinks over that way, and laughs.

*

Jubilee rests her face in her hand after Armando's speech, and takes a deep breath. Looking at him, she shrugs. "I think you're overthinking this badly. How exactly is it a muddy line between rescue and terrorism? It's not like we're trying to take down the government." She then takes her towel off, revealing her black bikini underneath, resting the towel on her shoulder as she looks toward the lake, considering going there instead of arguing. Alex then gets a friendly wave, as does the new arrival.

*

Armando's rebuttal is interrupted by Sam's entrance. "You okay there, Sam?" he says first- wanting to make sure the young man was okay before he continues. "Perhaps I am over thinking it- and you without a doubt have the best intentions- that much is obvious- but a group of mutants working together in such a way *will* bring attention to the mutant populous as a whole- lets hope that when the time comes people see you as heroes, and not as terrorist mutants."

*

"Were you planning on leaving soon?" Bobby asks Alex. "I can go get changed." Glancing up at the noise, he follows Sam's progress into the lake then out of the lake then into the dirt. He starts to laugh. "You really need to work on those landings, Sam. Have you been practicing your flipping? Cause once you've got that down, it'll solve all your landing problems."

*

The water level in the lake is noticeably lower than before. Given the size of the lake, the amount of water displaced must be staggering. Just to hammer home that point, after a second, it starts to rain. Just for a few seconds, and just in a very small area, but still.

Sam pushes his upper body up from the ground, tugs his ever-present goggles up off of his eyes, and says, "Ah'm okay." Then the sound of the Professor's voice registers, and he quickly scrambles to his feet. The entire front of his body is caked with dirt. "Ah… yes, Ah need to work on landin', thank you, sir," he says with all the formality he can muster shirtless in a self-imposed rainstorm. "But the trip was mighty fine, if Ah may say so," he adds, fighting a grin and losing.

Bobby gets a bit of the grin as well. "Ah was thinkin', pretty much the only time Ah can steer is when Ah hit somethin'. That gave me the idea for the dive — Ah could just bounce off the bottom of the lake."

He looks back to the Professor, now looking downright proud. "No groundskeepers needed."

*

"Or not seen at all," Xavier says with a bit of a grin and a tilted head towards Armando.

Xavier gives Sam a backhanded slap on the arm and a wide grin as the man from Kentucky makes a joke. "It gave them a project. The groundskeepers love projects. Keeps them out of trouble, of course."

*

"Good to hear." Armando says towards Sam- "We'll have to see what the future brings then, Charles. If you want to not be seen, though, I might recommend telling your X-Men to keep their membership in the group to themselves. Even among our own kind- especially among our own kind." Armando, it seems, will keep it to himself.

*

Jubilee smiles and shrugs. "Most people I wouldn't tell. But if I can't talk here, I mean here of all places, about a basic part of my life, then that would be really tough."

*

"I'm not in a rush, Bobby, so if you want to change— whenever you're ready." Alex smiles warmly. Then he grins at Sam, "It was an impressive flight." He does nod in Armando's direction, "The intent, as I understand it, is to keep a low enough profile while we're X-mening so that people don't really even think about us." At Armando's suggestion on secrecy, he shrugs slightly, "Its an open secret at the Institute because this is home base, but beyond? I don't think anyone knows." He nods to Jubilee then, "Yeah, this is our home."

*

Sam is surprised and delighted by the friendly smack — he hadn't expected relaxed good humor from the Professor, but so far, that's mostly what he has experienced. No one else is making fun of his landing, either, so there's nothing to displace his farm boy grin, even as everybody continues to talk about something he doesn't quite follow.

"Y'all're talkin' about that X-men thing again," he says. "Now, it may be an open secret to y'all, but it's just a regular secret to me, and Ah'd appreciate bein' in on the joke, if that ain't too much trouble."

*

"Yes, of course, Sam. I'll explain it to you, but on one condition. You've got to help me out on the grill. I confess I am just learning, but some of the students said they would prefer I try smoking the ribs instead of just grilling them. Frankly put, my friend, I need an expert." Xavier nods to Armando, "I'm sure we will discuss this further, no doubt. I looke forward to it. Everyone: I hope you'll join me for dinner. That Sam does most of the hard work on."

*

"Yes, I imagine we will." Armando offers to Xavier with an easy smile. "I should probably get back to the city shortly anyways- I've got a few meetings to go to tomorrow." he says, "Its been a real pleasure- and we'll work out my moving schedule." Armando takes his book and stands. "First, perhaps a walk to see this lake." he smiles, and nods to the others as he begins to walk off in the direction of the lake.

*

Jubilee grins. "Dinner sounds good. But for now, I'm going to get in the water. Bye everyone." She then makes for the lake with her sandals and her towel.

*

Alex just lifts a hand for a brief wave at Armando as he heads off, then grins over at the Profesosr when he starts looking for cooking tips, "Smoked sounds reeeeal good." he encourages.

*

Sam just stares at Xavier for a second. Then, drawing another couple of inches of height from somewhere (surely it must be a secondary mutation), the muddy mutant nods with solemn gravity as his little rainstorm subsides. "Professor, you just came to the right man. Ah ain't the best barbecuer in Kentucky, but Ah'd bet the farm Ah'm better'n anyone north of the Mason-Dixon." Considering there's an actual farm in question, the phrase takes on a little more seriousness than usual. Not a lot, but a little. He heads back toward the mansion with Xavier, already holding forth about rubs and hickory smoke in his thick drawl.

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