14665/Protection for a fellow Student

Protection for a fellow Student
Date of Scene:	12 April 2023
Location:	Exterior - Happy Harbor High School
Synopsis:	After protestors arrive at Happy Harbor to scream about Melvin (Aka Diesel), Crush, Belinda, Mike Hannigan and Richard Stadler take the time to escort Mel to his dorm room.
Cast of Characters:	Richard Stadler, Xiomara Rojas, Michael Hannigan, Belinda Gutierrez

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Richard Stadler has posed:
the annoucement was a bit of an answer to a prayer, as Stadler let's a breath out. "All right, looks like everyone's got some time off today. That doesn't mean you can get away from Chapter 14!" More groaning, as the class filters out to the outside, to dorms and staging areas to bus back to class. There was a quick check of a watch, and frowning. Belinda still hadn't come back from thte 'bathroom', yet, and he wanted to make sure she was cleared out like the rest of them... And he had overheard some of the words from the megaphone outside. He looked over to Melvin, heeading outside the classroom. Certainly... he should be okay. Not mentally, no, this was hard for anyone. But Physically... mostly. Possibly.

Maybe not. Could do with keeping an eye on the kid. After he found out where Belinda headed off to, as he moves to exit the classroom itself.

Xiomara Rojas has posed:
Dorms, children with dorms go back to them. Well... Crush had a dorm room, but at the same time she was twenty and not a kid. For a singular moment she debates that in her head and decides without further need to think it out, that Melvin needed protection. Not just the protection offered by the teachers, but the kind that only a future Titan or member of the Justice League could offer.

"Mr. Hannigan, Belinda... I'm going to go find Diesel," yep that was catching on. "and make sure he gets to his dorm room. You can come with, or not... up to you, I just have to find what class he's in."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Being that Mike was previously mentioning possibly checking on Melvin before the announcement came over, the bird glances to Xio at her comment. "Good idea." The bird states, breaking the quiet pause. "Let us walk."

And by walk, he means Xio. He'll just ride the shoulder until they're no longer in plain view of the protesting crowd.

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
"He was with me in Mr. Stadler's class," Belinda remarks quickly, glancing back at the classrooms with a brief cringe. Biting her lip, steeling herself with a sigh. "Let's check there first," she continues, falling into step alongside, "If anything, I am sure he'd be safe there from anything untowards, even if he could hear everything that was going on outside."

Could he? Bel furrows her brow, trying to remember the limits of human hearing. "....nice bird?" she remarks, glancing aside to Mike on the Czarnia-shoulder.

Richard Stadler has posed:
The gaggle approching the classroom itself was noticed by Rick, who at this point stepped outside. There was Belinda, of course... but his brow furrowed at her companions. Not in conceern, though, more in puzzlement. "Ms. Guiterrez, thank you for coming back. You heard the annoucement? Headed back to the dorms? I assume Crush is, as well. And the.. .err.." He says, motioning toward the crow. "I don't think you tamed a corvid, so is this... magical? Shapeshifting? I'm working on getting used to the... weird stuff."

Xiomara Rojas has posed:
The walk is rather quick, though Crush tries to remember that Belinda has short legs so keeps it to a pace she can keep up. Coming around the corner of the hall that Mister Stadler's classroom is in, she's surprised to see him not in that classroom.

"Yo, Mr. S," she offers first, then looks to Mike. Did the bird want others to know? Did he want to change back? Did she need to stop thinking so many things at once? "Uh... yerka... doh." She had no idea how to answer the question, so she rapidly changed the subject.

"Lookin for Melvin, we're gonna make sure he makes it to his form room and understands those fuckers outside are pure shi..." and then she remembers this is a teacher. "doo doo."

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
Belinda's lips twitch at the teacher's comments, putting ruin to the somber, serious expression she had been attempting to put on for his benefit. Though the mention of the gathering outside--

"She's good with birds!" she explains to Mr. Stadler, as though that were all the reason in the world. She steals a quick glance into the classroom, eyes glancing about for Melvin's presence. "Uh..." She pauses a moment, blush tickling at her cheeks. "How much did everyone hear?" she asks more quietly, folding her hands behind her back. "I'm not sure if Vin got everything clearly, though that guy outside had a bullhorn..."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
The bird looks over to Belinda as she calls him a nice bird, "Sometimes." He replies, cracking an unnatural smirk "Depends on what someone's doing."

The bird rides quietly along Crush's shoulder initially. As the group makes it inside, Mike discovers just how close Rick's classroom is to the main entrance and once Crush comes to a stop, the bird lifts up a wing to wave to Rick in greeting. "Hello ...Dr. Stadler." The familiar voice speaks up, "Uh one second."

The bird hops forward, doing a bit of a flip. As he does so the form shifts, becoming more of Mike's old self. Upon landing, the T-shirted, jeans wearing musician straightens up, the final act of the transformation is the simple fading of a scar from his lower left forearm to his right.

He looks over to Crush. "I didn't want to add anymore fuel to the bonfire o' bigotry out there by changing forms right in view of them." He explains, "They're annoying enough assholes as is."

Ever the role model there, Mike.

Richard Stadler has posed:
Stadler was clearly not about to take those nonsense words from Crush as an explanation of why a bird was riding on her shoulder. crossing his arms and peering through his glasses at her. "Language, Crush." Of course he had to make sure to remember everyone knows they're in a high school. But Belinda jumps forward with her own explanation. "Good with birds? Is that true, Crush?" He says, redirecting. As if he can't see when some students were stammeering and dancing around some sort of issue-

And then the bird moves to talk, and Stadler pauses for a moment, before tiredly bringing his hand to his face. "Oh, God." He doesn't even watch as there's a bit of a flip around, and a transformation back into a person that looks very familiar. "All right, shapeshifter. That's shapeshifting, right? I seem to remember some capabilities- not important." He says, waving a hand dimissively, before motioning them forward to a Melvin that looked perhaps a bit hesitant about the talk and had stopped moving toward the dorm room. "He's right there, if you wanted to do a quick escort. I doubt we'll have a lot of trouble, though. It was... audible. Audible enough with that bullhorn that I'm sure the rumor mill is going to start circulating. Honestly, nothing wrong with a protest but these are just busybodies."

"Language, Mr. Hannigan." Hey, the rules apply to everyone.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
The musician gives a slight shrug to Rick's question about powers being shape shifting. "Close enough." He answers, before looking over to Stadler, "And mitigating circumstances, Stadler. I'd rather people release some steam from the kettle instead of having the entire pot explode." He frowns, "And if that's not enough, Consider that 'experience learned the hard way'."

Xiomara Rojas has posed:
Crush actually looked... embarrassed. Being reprimanded by Ms. Stadler actually had an effect. She was taller, stronger, deadlier, could easily crush (no pun intended) the entire school, and yet one middle aged man seemed capable of putting the young alien in her place.

"Sorry Mister S, it's just..." she grunts, looking for a word that wasn't a curse and finally sets on the most mature of words anyone above the age of two could utter. "Total kaka."

She looks toward Melvin, now named Diesel even if he didn't want to be, and a bright smile spreads across her face. She had been there for him in the gym, bought him pizza to help defuse things, he was already used to her. "Hey there Diesel," she comments. "I got some real red licorice in my room, not that fake plastic Twizzler stuff... let's get back to the dorms, and I'll share it."

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
Belinda grimaces sheepishly as Mike ripples and changes from bird to man, tagging along behind. "Well, she is," she adds, covering her lips over a nervous chuckle as she comes in behind. "Heya!" she greets the young man with a cheerful wave, moving up behind Crush. She glances to the window, glowering at the crowd still gathered outside. "Anyhow, we thought it would be a good idea to tag along, keep Vin company." She walks up alongside, offering a smile as she grins. "And get his opinion, because I am sure that avocados need salsa music to really grow well. Speed metal does not make plants grow faster, no matter who is playing it."

She pauses, considering. "Have we tested with updated classical yet? Maybe Beethoven's Ninth, if it were set to metal..."

Richard Stadler has posed:
Melvin (or Diesel, as the insistant crowd seems to cornate him like bishops to emperors) certainly doesn't seem to object to the escort, or the promise of candy. And who exactly ddin't look slightly happy at the prospect of an escort and red vines?

Stadler shakes his head. "It's about decorum, Hannigan. We're in a school, and students don't need to hear us swearing. You want to do that outside, on a set, be my guest, but we're all meant to set an examples. Both students, volunteers, and those young adults they're going to look up to." He notes, looking to Crush as he says this. It's a less stern look, though, and a nod of understanding, at least. "It's not a good situation, no. It's a down right poor one. But we just have to handle it. A crowd like this will stick around until there's some other manufactured outrage to react to." He grumbles, folding his arms and walking along with the rest of the group toward the dorms.

Belinda gets a nod herself. "Well, that you'd have to check with Crush for. She did have some rather nice avacado trees for the science fair..." He says, before frowning. "But I don't think I saw your peppers on display, Ms. Guiterrez. I meant to ask about that. Everything all right?"

Xiomara Rojas has posed:
The grin stays on Crush's face, her own anger shoved down into her toes for now. It was difficult, she wanted to rant, curse, scream and kick every single protestor in the balls (even if they didn't have them)... but that was the Czarnian temper, the very thing that made her father such an asshole, and there was no way she was going that route with her life.

"It's hard for me not to just... curse," she admits with a slight shrug, stepping in time with Diesel. "An I'm sorry bout the bird thing, not my place to reveal secrets that ain't mine."

At the moment, Melvin was the safest kid on planet Earth, even if he didn't realize it. Looking form him to Belinda she lifts a brow, "You grew peppers? That's so cool! I got eight avocado trees."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike looks to Rick, eyes narrowing as the look given to the teacher becomes colder. "It's about more than just decorum...Rick." The name is bitten out. Lips part, seemingly about to elaborate and likely with more words that Richard so strongly disagrees with but he pauses. Glancing to the students, he shakes his head and walks over. For the rest of his time escorting Diesel to his dorm, the musician doesn't curse. Nor does he say much of anything to the admonishing doctor.

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
Belinda blushes hotly, glancing at her feet. "I do," she beings, words soft. "...I did. There was..." She trails off, halting again. Biting her lip. "...it got stepped on." Pause. "Big robot." Longer pause. "Big giant nazi robot." She exhales a slow, slow sigh. "I had the experiment with me while I was taking my driving test. It was in the trunk. Got caught up in a mess near Randall's Island. And if this was not New York Ciudad, I would never have seriously dreamed that the phrase 'my homework got crushed in Giant Robot Invasion' to be taken as a serious excuse," Belinda explains, gesticulating wildly. "Yes, eaten by dog. Damaged by birds. Stolen by chupacabra! But stepped on by big metal foot?" She sighs with a lusty breath, glowering at nothing in particular. "I have the experiment notes at least, but the terrarium, and the equipment, and the peppers...."

She balls her fists, seething in frustration before she lets her emotions slide away. "So, that was the reason I could not attend the Fair. Because Giant Nazi Robots with Big Smelly Feet. El fin, the end."

She mutters a grumble, crossing her arms before her as she struggles not to grin at Crush. "And now I want guacamole. Disced peppers! Avocado! Perfect salsas." She glares outside, muttering abut crowds. "And now I want one of those Big Belly Burger salsa-ranch-bacon-avocado-megamelts with extra toppings. Gah."

Richard Stadler has posed:
Rick gives a look to Mike at the use of the first name. It isn't cold, per say, but it's stern, and controlled, just giving the man a curt nod as he gives his opinion in that sparse sentence. That rift wasn't closing much any time soon.

But he takes a deep breath, and nods. There's a reason for decorum, and it was the students in front of them. "Trust me, sometimes you just need to express that. I can understand. But it's about a measure of control; right now those people are looking for a fight. YOu can't simply give it to them." He said. "And you're doing a good job of working with something constructive instead."

But to Belinda, he whips over to look at her with concern. "You were /around/ one of those things? I didn't see any-" He starts, before swallowing. "Anything on the television regarding civilians getting caught up in something like that. But that... that's... well. Understandable. I'm sorry. They had looked good when you had shown them off earlier. It's... hard to be prepared for every contingiency. I just hope it doesn't dissuade you too much from a new experiement." He says.

Xiomara Rojas has posed:
It doesn't take a rocket scientist, or a therapist, to realize that something was going on between Mister Stadler and Mister Hannigan. Crush might be focused on getting Melvin to his room, and of course the real licorice, but she picked up on the tension like a chill up her spine and was forced to look between the two older adults. Neither were giving an inch, and it was obviously neither intended to.

The mental sigh and eye roll went through her before attention was back on her fellow students. "I was workin' on Jersey when the attack happened," she admits quietly, obviously not happy. "If I'd been in New York, I'd of helped out, but... I was on the clock. I... I ain't worked out how to handle that kinda situation yet. I mean, I want to help. I /need/ to help... but do I tell Mister O'Connail, 'Sorry boss, worlds in danger, gotta clock out!' or, stay until quitting time and risk people gettin hurt?"

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
Belinda smiles weakly to Mr. Stadler, nodding with a soft sigh. Ignoring the subtle tension between the adults. Rallying! "I still have the notes," she repeats, "And can at least start over from not-quite-scratch this time. But really-- giant robot Nazis?" She shrugs, gazing to the heavens for sympathy. She bites her lip at the mention of the metal machines, asmiling with sheepish bemusement. "Driving testing," she explains, "We were on the bridge there. The southern one, I think? Anyway, the instructor decided the better part was to go east on foot, and... well, traffic piled up bumper-to-bumper, so...."

She sighs wistfully, giving Crush a friendly thump to the shoulder. "I know. I took a CPR class down at the YMCA, and the first thing the instructor talked about was 'responsibility to help' and what that means." She smiled ruefully, a snort coming through. "Mostly something about breaking ribs, tearing off shirts, electrocuting people, and then having them thank you for it when it is all done." Her smile turns somber. "And that CPR would only work half the time. Even if started right away."

She scuffs at the floor, an absent kick at at half a pencil on the ground.

Richard Stadler has posed:
It was, at least, not a war. They were still talking to each other, at the very least, though who knows how long that would last in this case.

"That's not a problem, Crush. A job's a job, and the attack didn't last very long at all... even if it seemed like it was an eteernity, and they did a lot of damage during it. I do not like Hydra." Understatement of the day, right there. "In terms of how you handle a situation like that, you'd have to discuss it with your boss before hand. It may require a job that is willing to accept you... respond to large threats as an obligation." He pauses. "Well, that or hope that superheroics gets some sort of USERRA. Honestly, I don't trust Luthor to do much of that though."

Okay, politics was certainly off limits. Change in tactic.

"That's wonderful, Ms. Guiterrez! It's important to bounce back from things like this. Not let them get you and succeed in spite of things."

They could sense a bit of a sigh of relief. The Southern bridge. So she hadn't been close to his operational area.

There's a bit of silence there. "The truth is that,, at least in this country, you don't have a responsibility. A legal one, I mean. A personal one... well, I feel like both of you have one you keep close to you. Which is... complicated. But not bad. If you have the power, the knowledge... it's hard to argue aganist going out there to help."

Xiomara Rojas has posed:
Getting to the dorms from inside the school was a bit of a round about, given they were in a separate building, but Crush knew all the ways from one building to another without being seen because she used to use those ways to get out at night to the underground fighting rings. Now she used them for the sake of safety, who would have figured that would happen?

"I think Mister O'Connail knows," she responds first. "I mean, he's watched me save guys from fallin off the buildings being built, so he knows I'm... well, not exactly normal and want to help. I'll talk to him though."

She pauses for a moment to look at Mike again, at how quiet he is, and she really wants to know what happened between the two adults that they are treating each other like this. "I ain't talkin bout the USERRA," she then growls, and leaves the rest of that conversation to the curses in her head. "Superman... he told me, he said... usin the power I have from being who and what I am, it's a choice. So, I made the choice... I'm gonna help people that deserve it, I'm gonna work with the Titans and the Justice League, and that means people understanding I ain't just a civilian any more." Now she looks to Mister Stadler. "I'm... a hero for earth now."

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
Belinda grins softly, leaning in to give a quick shoulder check to Crush. "And totally awesome besides," she adds, nodding with a breath. "Heroes of all kinds have to stick together, whether supery or just regular-y. CPR or catching folks tumbling from high structures or even those officers dealing with the Big Dumb Robots. OR the medics, or the firefighters, or--"

She pauses, trailing off with a chuckle. "Okay, it all counts. Now I got to stop before I get mushy."

Richard Stadler has posed:
Richard Stadler pauses briefly. "I will note you have a... unique look about you. I'm sure it would just take a bit of a display of the power you have for people to start putting two and two together. So it's important to note with your job that you might do something like this. But... Well."

He pauses. He had a bit of an audience here; young people with capabilities regular people didn't have. "Construction is certainly a job that's needed. To build a place and know it stands because of you has to be an amazing feeling, but there's going to have eto be a point where you, yes, have to make that choice. And a choice to be that hero, of the Earth, of America, of New YOrk, or even just this school, means that you need to... align yourself with that goal. You need to find a way for that to offer you a place of safety and respite, and I'd argue that the private sector is... ill-equipped to offer that to you. You might find someone who can provide those things with your wanted occupation. Or one that at least allows you to help others, and they're out there. Why do you think I became a teacher?"

Xiomara Rojas has posed:
Rounding the corner and up a flight of stairs, the once small group walking to the dorms had actually turned into something larger. As they walked down the hall, past rooms on the left and right that students go into, they come to a stop for moment for Crush can get the licorice from her room as promised. It's a huge back, and by huge... 15 pounds of real red licorice whips that she starts sharing.

"There ain't no one out there to provide anything Mister S," she states as she offers him and Belinda some licorice. "The Titans and the Justice League, they're the only groups I know and neither seem... well, I ain't good with jumping through hoops to get liked."

Walking once more down a second hall they come to a stop in the boys dorms, Melvin's room. Crush eyes Rick for a moment before adding, "This school's the only home I've ever had, and I'm gonna protect it first no matter what. I know soon I'm gonna have to leave it," she shrugs, walking Melvin grab a couple handfuls of licorice then go into his room. "So I'll start camping out on the roof if I have to, to keep protecting it, cause it's all I got."