16725/Not All Of Us Can Hide

Not All Of Us Can Hide
Date of Scene:	31 December 2023
Location:	Xavier's School Front Yard
Synopsis:	Olivia arrives at the school for an appointment and meets Joshua and Monet and gets to see Joshua's power in action. As if the gold skin wasn't enough of a giveaway.
Cast of Characters:	Joshua Foley, Olivia Gaudin, Monet St. Croix

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Joshua Foley has posed:
Even if Xavier's is at break for Christmas and the New Year, there are still plenty of students that are at the school and taking idling around the campus. And there are those that are in the college program that are visiting just because they have free access to the library and are taking full advantage of it.

Sitting under the cover of the porch and bundled against the cold in a large black puffy coat and knit stocking hat, the dark colors only help to cause Joshua's unique mutation to stand out more. Every inch of the visible skin on him is a pure golden color. It reflects the light, and is nearly as bright as the sun as he is flipping through a medical text that is probably far beyond the youthful years that he shows. At his feet is a skateboard and small container of board wax along with a cloth, neglected for a moment as his focus is studying something in the book that has his attention.

Olivia Gaudin has posed:
    Olivia's arrival is little different than any other. The car is the same, some stately sedan, driven by a handsome man, the likes of which are pretty much the norm at a school for gifted children. At his side is a woman around the same as Liv, and in the back is a young girl in a child's car seat and of course, Olivia herself. What might not be so normal is the sound of music flowing out of the vehicle, or that Olivia does not leave until the song is done. After all, she's clearly jamming with her entire family, even the driver (her brother).

    When she steps out, she offers a warm, "Thank you so much for the ride, Joe! And the concert, as well."

    Joseph looks at the imposing gate, then back to Olivia. "You sure you are okay with us just taking off? I can at least stay to make sure you get in alright."

Olivia's attention is focused on the little girl in the back as the question is flung her way, "And you, young lady? you and I have a date tonight! With ice cream!" Turning back to her brother she laughs, "Joseph, you are talking to the Wicked Witch of the West. You think a gate can stop me when I can fly?"

    There are a few more little pleasantries, but only when the car is completely out of view will Olivia request and gain permission to enter. She is not sure that precautions were strictly necessary, but she is not taking any chances, either. Being at gunpoint grew her up fast.

    She will make her way towards the front door, and towards, as it happens, Josh.

    Olivia lifts her voice to call out a friendly, "Hey there!"

Monet St. Croix has posed:
The sound of a car pulling up is fairly easy to notice. Monet doesn't recognize the vehicle as she heads down the driveway. She's wearing a large jacket fit for the weather with her hands in her pockets. She goes to give Olivia a quick mental scan - just surface thoughts if anything, presuming she can actually read Olivia's mind. The woman may have shields or other abilities that block scanning and M isn't that strong of a telepath as she approaches.
    Given the lack of awareness of the other woman's identity or any real clue as to what she's doing here, she is being a bit wary. But, there's no signs of hostility so perhaps she's a possible new admission tot he school? Or just being given a tour of the place. Hands in her pockets she doesn't announce herself, but she's still fairly easy to notice as she would come down.

Joshua Foley has posed:
The new arrival gets a rise of a golden brow when Olivia calls out to him, but Joshua looks towards Monet first. Not seeing a negative response from her, the young man sets aside his book to stand up and dust off his lap. "Hello!" he greets in a friendly manner, a smile crossing his features for a moment. "You a new student or teacher here?" he asks curiously.

But there's no ill-intent offered there as he gives a dip of his head. "I'm Joshua. I'm one of the college students here." A golden hand is extended to Olivia. "Pleasure to meet you!"

Olivia Gaudin has posed:
    Olivia has no ill intent. Her thoughts are pretty easy to poke in for those who are curious. Depending how deep one goes, though, things can get messy. She's mostly just beaming happiness, excitement for having New Year's Eve with her niece, and yes, a touch of trepidation. Considering the very public shooting that took place at the Gershwin, she may be forgiven for that.

    Not that any fear is allowed to show.

    She reaches out to take Joshua's hand, but shakes her head. "Kind of.. neither, really. I was told I might get some help here. Cause I have a hearing problem. By which I mean I can hear people's hearbeats. From across a crowded room. And apparently see in the dark." She takes off her knit hat and gestures to the top of her head, bending over enough to show off a blow hole, "And I have had this positively /splitting/ head ache lately!"

    When she rises, she looks Monet's way and offers a friendly wave. "Hi!"

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would walk towards Josh and then look over at Olivia, "And who told you you could get help here? You should call ahead for an appointment in the future." Monet goes to maintain her scan over if she can on Olivia - the woman not (seemingly) having anyone out to greet her meant she came without anyone having given her a specific invite. Monet's at least not being hostile. Just wary.
    Looking to Joshua over to see if he's noticing anything on Olivia that's indicative of her having injuries that could be quickly tended to or not.

Joshua Foley has posed:
When Joshua takes Olivia's hand, she may realize his hand is warmer than normal. Not uncomfortably so, it just feels soothing. And the other part of that, which Monet just spoiled, is that the young man gets an automatic biokenetic feedback on all that is going on with Olivia - if there is anything that is truly wrong with her, he's going to be able to detect it.

But, his attention is really upon the words that she said and he gives a soft chuckle, though it's probably one tinged with some... unknown emotion. Monet will know of the troubles that Joshua has had since his powers first blossomed. And of his past. "I'm not sure if you're looking for the type of help that will remove those things... but we're more of the accepting type?" he asks. "The blowhole's cute though." he offers to her sincerely.

As they're talking, there's a small crash inside the doorway and one of the younger students opens the door. "Help!" he calls out, gesturing towards the foyer, where a girl is lying on the floor, clutching her leg in pain. "She was trying to fly in the house and tripped! We told her no flying in the house!"

Olivia Gaudin has posed:
    "Oh, Dr. Grey invited me. Sorry, I am just a bit earlier than anticipated. My brother was kind enough to drop me off and it almost lined up perfectly. I did not expect traffic to be so cooperative, though!"

    Olivia laughs at herself, sighing. Her tone is more serious as she explains. "I did not want to hire another driver. Considering recent events I felt it better if I not bring too much focus on my visit. I would rather not bring danger to the school. My company was recently targeted on the mere suspicion that a coworker of mine might be a mutant and I had to reveal myself to keep her safe." And then Flatline just killed everyone because she didn't get her drink refill.

    Olivia was reeally focused on Joshua, and even blushing a little at the compliment. "I... thank you!" It threw her off. A blow hole is cute? "But yeah, I don't think there is any fixing this. I just want help figuring out what is happening to me and well... when it will stop would be great to know."

    Then the crash comes. It's a little thing, but it came without warning. Olivia feels a sudden wave of intense vertigo as the entire world ripples and spins, her echolocation putting her through an experience rather like a rollercoaster crossed with a tilt-a-whirl while surrounded by spinning funhouse mirrors.

    She stumbles as if there was an earthquake. "What? She's hurt!" Olivia suffers from a lack of moderation and context. Without even thinking, she sends clicks out and by pure instinct is looking into the girl's leg as she rushes in her direction.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
As Olivia replies that the Headmistress gave her a welcome, taht's all the explanation that Monet needs. Her lips would turn to an 'ah' expression and a 'very well' is transitioned to.. Monet moves as if getting ready to head back indoors where it's much warmer and the climate more temperate - she's from the desert, she finds this sort of weather annoying..

Right when a child is yelling. "Please excuse me." She heads along over with Josh towards the student. Her first bit going to attempt to telepathically pinpoint their presence just as a backup if they're out of immediate line of sight, then going to send them a message telepathically <<Stay still, we'll be there momentarily>> Josh will get there first and can deal with the injury without issue. The door is open, so there's no reason that Olivia can't follow the duo indoors, after all.

Joshua Foley has posed:
"Are you going to introduce yourself, or just be the dusky woman that haunts her dreams later?" Joshua asks Monet with a smirk, just before there's the cry out from inside the school. With Monet sending off the message, he gets to his feet. "Never a dull moment around here." he comments dryly.

As they arrive in the school, he makes his way over to the child that's down and slips off his jacket. "Hey." he greets. "I need you to hold still for me, like Miss Monet asked, okay?" he asks quietly.

The girl is staring at Olivia though. "You look familiar..." She owns the Wicked cast CD and doesn't quite recognize Elphaba for who she is under the makeup. Kneeling down, he sets his hands on the young girl's leg and draws in a breath as he starts to glow a bright shade of gold. "Good news is, you didn't break it. Bad news is, I'm going to have to report this."

A small smile to the girl.

Olivia Gaudin has posed:
    There's something disturbing about seeing someone's bones. Liv hopes someday she can kind of control this. And ask permission first. Maybe have a medical waiver written up. Something.

    "It always seems very high energy here," agrees Olivia. She is relaxed now that Josh is doing. Hm. What is he doing, she wonders. "That's amazing." A breath in and out. "Are you... healing her? Is that why your touch hand felt so warm?"

    She smiles at the young girl. "I get that a lot. Nobody recognizes me when I'm not green, but once I am everyone seems to know who I am! It seems like you are in trouble, but if you promise not to break the rules by Defying Gravity, I may be convinced to share a song or two."

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet goes to arrive with the others, going to hold a hand out to the arm of the girl to help hold her down. This is a chance to see Joshua's abilities over in action. Since they can sometimes cause him pain by the faint knowledge she has of how his powers work.. She goes to focus over on him to see if she can't try and deaden some of the pain in him for a change so he's not looking bad in front of the girl that he's probably trying to impress here. Might as well try and give him more of a chance to retain dignity.

That done, hopefully without issue, Monet goes, "Welcome to Xavier's School for the GIfted." This sort of thing is rather normal. At least nothing is on fire.

Joshua Foley has posed:
"Just another Sunday." Joshua agrees with a hint of amusement and a smirk before his face slides into a more serious mien. "Yeah. She didn't break it, but she has multiple fractures. Feeling the light touch of Monet on his mind brings a moment of surprise to the mutant healer, but there's a smile towards the dusky woman in gratitude.

"Yeah. That's the ability I was cursed with. Can't die. And I heal that which I touch and want." he explains. Most people would call it a blessing, the way he talks, he sounds like it's almost a curse. He's still coming to terms with his abilities.

The girl smiles brightly at Olivia. "Oh! That would be great!" she offers hopefully. "Please hurry Mister Foley, it hurts!"

"I know, I know." he closes his eyes and starts, "I'm mending the femur now. Straighetning the bone, there we are..." his hands remain in place on the leg for several moments, nearly half a minute, a small wince creasing Joshua's brow as he shares in that momentary pain, but Monet's aid is helpful.

Soon enough, he releases the leg and dusts his hands off. "There! You're good to get back on your feet. No more jumping from the banister?"

Olivia Gaudin has posed:
    "Thank you for the welcome! I was here for the party, so I have been here before. But it is really great to meet students this time." She looks at the child begging for haste in healing. She can 'see' still. The damn thing of it is once she is locked on it just keeps going. Her brain does not know how to stop it. It's like learning to defocus your eyes.

    "You say cursed? But that seems kind of wonderful to me." However, she is also a very attentive woman. She can see that wince. Pain. She suddenly realizes that there may be a less wonderful side of it.

    "Have you always been able to do that?" she asks curiously. She looks to Monet for a moment, wondering if she should ask 'what can you do' but it seems so horribly rude. This isn't like asking someone's occupation.

    To the healed child she says, "I'm Olivia. Olivia Guadin, currently Elphaba on Broadway. I bet you have the original recording, with Idina on it. She's my hero. The best there ever was, as far as I'm concerned."

Joshua Foley has posed:
"No. Like most mutants, I got my gift with puberty." Sitting on the ground for a moment as the girl bounces to her feet, only for Monet to take away to file an incident report, and he pops out a piece of gum to chew on.

"I grew up in a household that taught me that mutants were abominations. So you can imagine what it was like when they learned I was one. In fact, cost me my life. Which is how I learned what my abilities were. And now, well, I seem to be on call all the time." A small grouse, but he moves to get to his feet. "So, the Headmistress promise to give you the tour?"

Olivia Gaudin has posed:
    "I see. Wow, as if puberty isn't bad enough as it is! That had to be a horrible experience. I'm so sorry they thought of you that way. You seem pretty awesome to me." She has a lot of questions. None of them would make Joshua happier. None of them are any of her business.

    "I think that was part of the agenda, yes. I get the feeling this place is pretty special. It seems already that there is a disproportionate number of unique people here." Plus Jean totally did the whole talking in her head thing, which was really obvious.

    "How long have you been at this school?" she asks. That question seems better than prying into thing that are less fun. Olivia doesn't count herself as having much for valid mutant stories yet. She has yet to even tell her family.

Joshua Foley has posed:
"I've been in and out of here for a couple of years. I'm still considered a student, but I don't live here." he explains as Joshua takes up his jacket. "My girlfriend has me living with her down in the city. She's a detective with the NYPD, so our crazy schedules conflict with each other like whoa." he admits with a small laugh.

"We're just another school. Just all of the students share one commonality." he explains. "But I think it would be better if Jean or Ororo talked to you on that. I'm just one of the folks that helps out when I can. Speaking of which, I should get back to it, took too long of a break. It was a pleasure meeting you, Olivia. I hope you like the school!" With that, he's gathering his stuff to head off deeper into the school, glancing down at his phone. Someone else that needs to be healed.