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New country, new job, new responsibilities. Tessa Valentine arrived a week ago. Planning began. Perhaps it's just simply that Xavier remained unaware of how broad Tessa's knowledge base has become in the intervening years. Sitting under the gazebo at a table, Tessa has multiple books spread out in front of her. At least half are, no doubt, purely for herself. In her hands is a pad of paper, and she has been scrawling lesson plans over the various possible subjects she can take on. Despite the summer heat she's in one of her many pantsuits, hair pulled back into a ponytail, and the (unneeded) glasses on. Mostly to help hide herself from those she ran from. It might be working. Then again, they might not have come looking for her. She isn't sure.
*
And then there's a familiar voice, "It's definitely a nice night to be preparing lesson plans outside, isn't it?" And in strolls the Professor, looking a bit more carefree than he has in a while. But then again, with the rumors of what's going on between him and the other Headmaster, there's probably a reason for that as he smiles, "Glad to see you're settling in."
*
Typical for Tessa, she doesn't have to look up to concentrate on the conversation. "I couldn't do this in London," she agrees. The Great Smog was only a decade ago, and Tessa was there for it. Despite the fact that she could easily carry on this conversation without looking up, she also knows how impolite it would be. After finishing her sentence - she always has to get that least bit of ink out - she stands, straightening her her rumpled jacket. "I apologize for not seeking you out sooner. I thought it would be better to offer some lesson plan possibilities before I did so. I didn't relish the idea of meeting with a new employer empty-handed," she explains.
*
Charles laughs a bit, "What, you think I'd kick you out to Empire State?" He looks mildly amused, "But I appreciate the work ethic, Tessa. I always have, and I'm glad you're here to help us with everything." He leans back on the edge of the gazebo, looking around the campus, "I actually feel like things are starting to come together here."
*
"No, no. I expected a stern lecture had I not shown I was serious." She takes a moment, like Xavier, falling silent and looking around the grounds slowly. "How many students?" she wonders. She didn't really ask questions when the offer was made. Charles offered a job, and she already owed the man a lot, so she accepted without question. "Some of your students were good enough to give me a tour of the grounds, but we didn't discuss the students or the staff very much." Which, oddly, reminds her, as she gestures to her impressive pile of books. "You never did specify what you had intended I teach," she reminds. "I'm sure some of what I know is already covered by your other staff.."
*
Charles hmms, "Well, we have quite a few students, particularly now that we merged with Frost's Academy. But this school is designed for students with extraordinary abilities, and with your skills… frankly, what did you want to teach, because really whatever you wanted is possible."
*
For a moment Tessa isn't sure what to reply. She doesn't /look/ any different, at least, not obviously. Everything with her, when it comes to expression, is at a microlevel. She's practiced hard to keep everything under wraps. "What I want?" she furrows her brow a moment, thinking. "Maybe the best course would be to tell students what I can offer, and see what interests them most… it is for their benefit, after all. …But barring that.. languages would be my preference." This year, anyhow. Tessa's interests are as diverse as anything can be. Who knows where her focus will be next year.
*
Charles smiles, "Perfect. We don't really have a languages teacher yet, and I'm sure you'd be very good at it. Of course, such things are subject to change… and, well, it beats Logan trying to teach French, at least." He gets a bit of an amused look at that.
*
"I understand completely. Good thing I'm specialized in several things." And knowing Tessa, she'll be specialized in many more before the year is out. She's already studying mechanical engineering. That would be one of the many books that are piled on the table. She leans against the chair she was sitting in early, her gaze sweeping over the grounds. "Anything you feel I should know before I cross the Rubicon, as it were?"
*
The Professor considers, then shakes his head, "Ah, well, wait, there's one thing. Almost everyone you'll be teaching, the students are all mutants, like we are. Save one. Cassandra Cain. She's not, but if you ever see her practice routines, you'd think she was one." He grins, "I'm working with her on a communications problem she has."
*
"I knew that much - that students were mutants. The three that gave me a tour explained that." She did not know about Cassandra, but judging from the look on her face, she has committed it to memory. "Are there rules regarding mutant students I should know about?" She could, perhaps, let Xavier try to figure out why she asks, but… "Because as you will recall, my experience with mutants is limited to you and I."
*
Charles shakes his head, "Nothing more than typical for students, I think. But some of them might be a little sassier than normal, since they'll have powers… if they are, a little discipline is always good."
*
"Regular discipline, I assume you mean," Tessa says. "I generally keep my defenses up." She's gotten a lot better at not just… taking all those stray thoughts from her surroundings in, but.. "It's just easier," she adds perhaps a bit too quickly.
*
The Professor tilts his head a bit, "Well, yes. If you need some practice with your mental shields, I can help with that of course. Or Emma, or Jean, or…" He blinks, then chuckles, "I guess we have quite a few telepaths around here now, at that."
*
Sage shakes her head. "No. No, thank you. My mental shields are good. Though perhaps making sure of that some time would be in order." She hasn't exactly had opportunities to train after she and Xavier parted ways in London.
*
Charles smiles, "We can definitely arrange for some time to practice then." He then hmms, "But what have you been up to for the past few years? It's been a little while since we've seen each other, after all."
*
And there was so little contact those few years. Just enough for him to find Tessa, still in London. "I studied. I worked as the personal assistant for the CEO of Black Knight Industries. To be honest I was surprised he accepted my resignation. There were days where it felt like he couldn't do anything without my presence."
*
Charles nods a bit, "Well… I'm glad you decided to come here. You didn't have to, you know. I mean, a position like that. I would have understood if you had said no." He smiles, "But I'm very glad you decided to say yes."
*
Sage shakes her head, pushing the thought away with the gesture of a hand. "It was time to move on. I was flattered you even thought of me," she admits. Or, as flattered as someone like her could possibly be. "I had entertained the thought, more than once, that I was fairly forgettable in the grand scheme of it all."
*
The Professor tsks at that thought, "No one is ever forgettable. And you are most assuredly not, Tessa." He grins, "But, it's getting a bit late, and I have a few things left to do before retiring tonight. Don't stay out here too long, alright?"
*