12041/Taking Inventory

Taking Inventory
Date of Scene:	17 July 2022
Location:	Main Kitchen
Synopsis:	Monet, Sam, and Tabitha stumble upon Nori taking inventory after dinner. Noriko has things to say about the organization of the kitchen. People catch up. Plans are hatched for Kitty and Lockheed.
Cast of Characters:	Noriko Ashida, Monet St. Croix, Samuel Guthrie, Tabitha Smith

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Noriko Ashida has posed:
Dinner has come and gone, but there's still plenty of free time left for students to burn.  While the kitchen isn't currently in high use, it's not a ghost town either.  A few ovens are in use, currently wafting the smell of home-baked cookies to passerbys in the corridors, assaulting their will until they succumb to the power of sugar and just baked goods in general.

Noriko, a recent high school graduate, is standing with a clipboard flipping through worn, crinkly papers that have seen better days.  One of the sheets gets stuck to the others and she stops trying to use her glove to turn it, instead tilting her head as she considers the merits of using her tongue as she stares at the strange unknown stains bordering the page.

The kitchen itself looks as if it has been turned inside out, all of its guts strewn out and stacked up on every inch of space, some spilling out into neat stacks on the floor.

"No wonder the whole staff drinks."

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix goes to enter along into the Kitchen. She's looking quiet and not at all imposing. Perhaps M has had her ego taken down a few notches. Again. Or whatever it was, it seems to have at least had her not ordering anyone around.

She would pause to glance around over. "Do I want you to explain what is going on or should I read your mind to get it? And do you mean the majority of the staff or primarily Rogue?"

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie can be heard a bit before he gets into the kitchen "Ah told you we could get the place spic and span in less than an hour." He says over his shoulder to someone. He steps into the room, he is wearing black pants and a shirt with Harry's hide-a-way's logo on the chest of it. He steps in holding the door for Tabby, and blinks as he looks at what has happened in the kitchen.

Tabitha Smith has posed:
Despite being a fixture of the school. Tabby is not actually employed. So that means real jobs if she wants to wear all those loud yellows and pinks and reds shhe's usually seen in.

Hence having to work as a waitress at Harry's Hideaway.

The tips are decent enough and with no actual rent and stuff to pay. It's all in her pocket. Though she does share a chunk of those tips with the staff that don't work the tables. Sam

I nher own uniform. dark bluejeans and a tank top with the bar's logo across her chest. Her hair is even pulled up in a bun with pencils and hairties keeping it behaved and away from falling into anyone's food.

"Most people that deal with actual kids drink like fish. And this school like soooo had me as a student!" she points out at her own expense. "It's one reason why Harry puts up with all the abuse we bring to his bar!"

Noriko Ashida has posed:
"If you read my mind you will regret it.  The staff.  I'm the new Rogue."  A phenomenon Noriko does not explain as her eyes dart so fast between one point and another on the sheet that she just looks like she's staring.  "I took...inventory a New Years ago or so."

"I'm taking inventory and reorganizing...or, well, organizing," the Japanese girl says.  "Explosion is a necessary step in the process."  Nori looks up and over to Sam just in time to catch him blinking.  "If you guys need something..."  Noriko looks around, "You can find it yourself, like usual."  She's dressed in some cargo pants that rest at her hips and a tank.

"Hey Sam.  Tabs.  If anyone wants some cookies they should be done soon."  Noriko has a strategy, a pre-meditated lure.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would just watcho over at the chaos, "I see. So how much of this then matches up with your last organizing? And will the area be usable before or not you wander off somewhere else?" There was M back to normal when it came to snark.

She would glance over at Tabitha, "And congratulations on having managed to maintain your employment."

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie will nod a bit to Noriko, and he side steps this or that to get to the fridge pulling out a pitcher of tea, and looks over to Tabby asking if she wants some or something else. "So, you going to be doing this to some of the storage areas as well?" He asks, as he may have recently put stuff in storage.

Tabitha Smith has posed:
"New Rogue?" Tabby says with an eyebrowe arching behind her cateye framed glasses. "Hot, wild hair, can't hug without extra work. It tracks." Tabby states.

"I keep the keys to my van with all the others in the garage. So if you need to haul kids at the speed limits it'll seat seven." she states and chuckles while sniffing and catching the scent of cookies baking with an eager oooh sound. "Guess it means I'm your minion now as well Nori! Jubes is gonna get a kick and a laugh out of that!" She still volunteers her time at the school. One of the few rules she truly respects. So having an idea of what Nori is going through is not lost on the blonde.

"Harry's cool with us having to deal with like X-Men and mutant hero stuff Monet. So long as I'm not exploding the bar!"

Noriko Ashida has posed:
"This is the first time I'm organizing.  In prep for the school year before all the chaos starts," Noriko fires off, eyes darting up to glance at Monet momentarily.  The look has a bored edge to it.  She doesn't talk about when she'll be wandering off.

"It's usable now.  I mean, look I'm making cookies," as if this were proof of its full functionality. After Sam's question, Noriko sighs and tosses the clipboard over her shoulder.  It clatters loudly into a stack of cup o ramens.  "Yeah probably.  Why, are you stashing something somewhere?"  By her tone, it's clear her frustration was directed at the clipboard and not Sam.

"Ha.  True," Noriko offers to Tabby's assessment.  "Oooh, good to know...wait what do you mean your my minion?"  The handoff seems to have been rather, hands off.  "This is by far the best job I've had.  I think if I had to wait on customers I wouldn't last a day."

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would lgance over at everything around, "I see. So do you have access over to the cooking facilities here or are they blocked off?" Everything did seem to be piled up and over about seemed like it almost would be something to trip over . "I do believe that you've done an adequate attempt at organizing so far. Tell me what notations have you made over to contents and what is present, and what things are older than the Mansion?"

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie looks over, and says "Nothing bad or worrysome, Ah just have not got everything stored away as best as Ah should. When Alexis moved and Ah had to pack up the apartment, Ah was just more get it in and out of the way, Ah will get down there and get my stuff organized in next day or two." He offers.

Tabitha Smith has posed:
"Like chore rosters. Helping in the kitchen. Driving kids around. Making other people muck out the stables." Tabby points out. "Price a living rent free when not a student. Pitch in and all that." the explosive blonde explains.

"You get to deal with younger teenagers Noriko. I can also physically throw drunks out on their ass when they get handsy with mine. But I let Sam do that when we're both on at the same time!" she adda and gestures that she'll have at what Sam's setting up for himself.

"You need a hand hauling stuff Sam, you know you just gotta like shout out right. Load up your ride and mine. Then get Jimmy to fly us here." she posits the idea with a grin.

Noriko Ashida has posed:
"Well there's a cobwebs section over there, but being older than the Mansion is tricky, since it's always being rebuilt."  Dark eyes flicker toward Tabby, obviously thinking of the girl's ilk...that is, the people who go splodey.

"It isn't organized yet.  What you see is what you get.  Shop freely!" Noriko says with an abnormally (for her) large grin.  It's just too kind, too much like a mall worker who might actually enjoy their job.  "That said, if you ideas for a better system...and if you need to get to something, let me know."

"I can help you with it if you want," Nori offers to Sam with a little lift of her brow.  "This should be done by then..." but she trails off when Tabby says something about asses.  "Why are people getting handsy with your teenagers?"  Why are they /her/ teenagers?  Noriko gets lost in the grammar only a native isn't thrown by instead of instantly assuming the correct meaning.

"I can throw the kids out on their asses too.  I just have to toss a pillow out first or aim for the lake," Noriko shares the sentiment with a smirk.

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie looks over and says "Ah appreciate the offer, stuff is already here, just when Jimmy and Ah brought it in, just found a corner to stick it in, did not play tetris with it yet, to make the stuff fit in the best possible ways to leave as much room as possible.

Tabitha Smith has posed:
"They're getting handsy with me at the bar. The customers. There's two types of waitresses. Those that have been harrassed. And those about to be harrassed." Tabitha clarifies with a chuckle.

"If anyone is getting handsy with kids it's the kids. Oh god I'm calling them kids" Tabby wears an expression of shock realisation. "I'mm oooooooold!" she mourns the fact that as a twentyone year old she is no longer a teen and one of those grown ups she used to complain about.

"Well Sam, if it's already here then that's just yeah, Tetris and interior decorating. There is some overlap. When Jimmy moved back into the mansion. I had to clear out my old room here and move some stuff to my dorm apartment. I will fight to keep all that space by the way!" she adds and grins.

Noriko Ashida has posed:
"Oh, yeah.  I think that's every woman working in a public setting.  I used to get harassed spraying shoes at the bowling alley."  Nori shrugs, as if it were as bothersome as a fly, jaded.

"How old are you?...I can always get you a stop watch so you don't lose track of time and blow yourself up, make sure the numbers are nice and big so you don't have to use your readers," she says 'helpfully.'  "But seriously.  I don't know how old you are."

The oven timer goes off and in a snap, Noriko has made a pyramid of cookies on a plate.  They pile up as if appearing in some stop motion short, one at a time in quick succession like Mary Poppins magic.

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie chuckles a bit and will get Tabby some tea and looks to Noriko "Want anything while I am up?" He asks her, yup tends bar at work, gets drinks for people at home.

Tabitha Smith has posed:
"Twentyone since like a week and a half ago now. So decrepid!" Tabby answers with a grin. "That's gonna be something you'll need to keep track of. Kids birthdays." Tabby points out.

Planning parties you probably don't have to worry about but keeping track of a sweet sixteenth and stuff is still probably something. Kids need that kinda stuff." she points out with a sage like nod.

The drink Sam sets up is taken with a smile and a "Thanks!" for the man as she claims herself a stool. Every so often she catches another whiff of baking from the oven. And a temptation to just reach in and grab one. Not like she has to worry about burning herself.

"Kitty's is like weekend next. Same age as me!" she adds.

Noriko Ashida has posed:
"Nah, it's cool.  It'd be like asking a sloth to get me a thimble of water.  I'd have to see you with it and wait for it to get here.  So much regret,"  Noriko enumerates her hypothetical micro-saga of excruciating boredom.  Luckily it doesn't last long, because...well, Noriko gets tired of communicating the details.

"Okay well maybe you surprise me," the speedster suddenly decides aloud as if not knowing which is hers will be a worthy enough experiment to see if it stems the stretched out waiting between moments of synchronicity with the rest of the world.  "So I know why /I'm/ staying here.  Why are you two losers staying here?" she says with her biting affection and effortless grin.

"Yeah, you're old," Noriko determines with a level of casualness as if she's doing Tabby a favor.  "I don't have to keep track of kids' birthdays.  Why would I need to do that?-oh...wait.  I thought I just do what people tell /me/ to do?"  Nori's eyes go there, here, back to Sam and then to Tabby in mild panic.  BIRTHDAYS WEREN'T IN THE FINE PRINT WERE THEY?!

"Crap.  Are you going to take her out drinking?  Getting the guidance counselor drunk off her ass is on my lifetime achievement list.  Well, to be achieved.  You think if she gets too drunk she might fall through the world?"  Nori is talking a little faster, not realizing her velocity is creeping up on her.  "Did you guys get her a present yet?"

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie looks over and says "Well, Ah was keeping my room here to keep an eye on my little brothers and sisters as they came through and help out, but moved back in full time recently. Ah may look for a new place for myself in a few months but want to get my feet back under me, and see where Ah am left standing. " He grabs some chips and finds a seat "Well, I got part of her present, but still need to find the rest of it." Tabby would know the part he has,, the whiskey and shine she and the other New mutants have all gotten for their 21st. "I don't think so, think probably find it harder to phase when drunk."

Tabitha Smith has posed:
"I'm here cause well. It's my home Nori. Xavier took me in off the streets after that whole Brood thing. Probably couldn't handle the rest of the New Mutants puppy dog eying him. And considering how bad it was for me. Any girl on the streets. The abuse, the stealing. I don't regret the stealing. having to kill a guy one time. If they didn't who knows what would have happened." Tabby explains.

"And Sam and Jimmy, 'Yana, and Dani. They and the X-Men. Family. I might disappear every so often when my head gets in the wrong space but i always come back home. And at least try to give back. Maybe even finally become a full X-man." she explains all that loyalty.

Nothing buct actual love in her voice.

"We'll try and get Kitty tosated. As much booze and weed as we can manage. All legal!" Nori and Jubes have no doubt smelled the smoke wafting out of Tabby's door some nights. "Even if she never touches the stuff again. At a minumum we will get Lockheed high." she plans.

Noriko Ashida has posed:
"I'm kind of doing the same thing in a way.  It will probably take me a lot longer to figure out next steps though, so I figured if I took this job, I could take my time."  Noriko speaks more freely than usual, even if she doesn't go into the details.  At this point, Noriko starts to put things away between sentences, phrases, words even sometimes, but it's usually when someone is pausing briefly to take a breath.  "Really?  Huh," Nori intones with a puzzled look.  "I muuuust just be a weirdo then.  "Drinking didn't do it for me."  The girl isn't even 21.  "It took much harder stuff, but maybe that just has to do with my powers."

As much as Noriko seems to be open to identifying with Sam's reasons, Tabitha's strike a chord too close to home.  She grows quiet, not just in sound, but in movement, staring at some indiscriminate cookie in the pyramid as Tabitha continues to explain.

"I'll have to break something special out then so I'm not the odd one out.  Oh yeah we can get Lockheed high easy.  I read online that you can get dogs high by blowing in their ears so...we just need to figure out the equivalent...or hot box him.  Yeah hot box him.  Lockheed needs a hotboxing crate," she rattles on with a laugh, suddenly eating a banana.

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie looks over to the two of them, and says "You do know Lockheed is intelligent right? I mean like you and me intelligent, not dog and cat intelligent. He actually speaks when he wants to." He looks over to Tabby. "She saw him, stating our side of things when we faced the Dominion and Ah threatened to drop asteroids on their heads.

Tabitha Smith has posed:
"Yeah, Lockheed is like totally sentient. He just plays like he's not sometimes cause it gets him cheesy poofs but I think sometimes he misses his home. I think. I mean i can't understand a word he says. And I only get as far as a few bits and pieces of Russian, Portugese, French. I'm fluent in Southern though but that's cause I was Virginia born." Tabby addswith a grin.

"Nori. We're all weirdos. Stepping up like you are. That's good direction to start with. Means you got that same love and stuff most of us do. Bet by the end of the next year you can't imagine yourself being anywhere else!" she states and grins.

"Well with additional wife. So include with anyone else." she points out and nodfs sagely to Nori and Sam.

"So you know yah. Hot box Lockheed. Pass Kitty the bong on the left hand side. We'll see howe much of a drinker she is. Eventually there will probably need to be bachelorette parties for you and Jubes. Separate parties but that just means more for the rest of us girls. But we'll make sure you both party enough for two parties!:

Noriko Ashida has posed:
"I mean I could tell he was smarter than a dog or a cat but I didn't know he'd gotten to his abcs."  Noriko laughs a little bit at the mental image of Lockheed moving his mouth like a puppet.  "So I'll just tell him I built him a sauna," she determines.

"Okay the cheesy poofs angle makes a lot of sense now," Noriko mutters half to herself as if mulling over all the times she gave Lockheed food.  "I only know English and Japanese."  Noriko shrugs.  The acquiring of these languages obviously seem incidental to her.

Noriko just stares at Tabby.  "Eww Tabs.  Just eww..." but when Tabby reminds Nori she's engaged, the speedster's eyes widen for just a fraction of a moment.  "Oh that ship has sailed.  Making her my wife is just like making my obsession official and socially acceptable."

"I need to figure out what I'm going to wear to the wedding first," Noriko laughs and then grumbles.  Some things can't be sped up, even by a speedster.  Making up one's mind is one of them.  "Oh shit.  Jubes will be up soon," Noriko says distractedly.  Her disrupted focus has become a little more fractured in her wedding planning frenzy.  "I should go...At least for breakfast."  That is vampire breakfast, nocturnal breakfast.  Noriko blurs over to a drawer and scribbles out on a loose sheet of paper with a fat black marker, 'Out of Order - ETA morning'

"Would one of you mind putting this up on the door I've got to go hop in a coffin," as if she never left.  Normally Noriko staggers a coffin nap in, but today was inventory day.  But a speedster asking for someone to do something for them?  Okay it isn't unheard of.  They still have the capacity for laziness or manipulation if pre-disposed.  "I have to go.  But yeah, I'm down to help with the Kitty/Lockheed action.  We'll have to do a supply run.  Bye."  The words come out rushed and the sign flutters back toward the other two, slipping down from the counter after catching a ride on a gust in her wake.

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie looks over and says "Ah got this." He tells the woman, his mood having dropped a bit at the talk of weddings, but he tries to hide it and not let it bring others down "Ah'll even make sure the inventory is right." He offers to the woman, as he moves to get said earlier clipboard.

Tabitha Smith has posed:
The cookies will also get saved as well when they're done and baked and maybe not actually entirely devoured as Nori speeds off. Tabby makes no promises.

"You know I still think we should all be filling up blood bags for Jubilee. Safe snacks in case missions and stuff keep them separated. back ups and all that!" she states and goes to check the oven and totally yank one out while it's very very hot.

Fire immunity is great for a kitchen hand. But losy for patience when you should be sensible about safe snacks.

Tabby does not always practice that preaching.