18388/Sam needs opinions

Sam needs opinions
Date of Scene:	21 June 2024
Location:	Classroom (West Wing)
Synopsis:	Sam gets some good advice and a listening ear
Cast of Characters:	Samuel Guthrie, Jean Grey

---

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie has been needing to talk to Jean for a couple days, but with his work and her timing it has not happened. Today he has heard she is in one of the classrooms working on something, and should be there for a bit. So Sam decides to go by and see if she is busy or not. This brings Sam to the outside of the classroom, where he knocks on the doorframe, to get Jean's attention. Even if she may have already sensed him there.

Jean Grey has posed:
Summer has the school mostly cleared out, aside from the students that live there year round (a combination of poor orphans and grown-up mooches!), but there's always something to do. The particular classroom is one that Jean does normally teach out of during the year, so the shelves are stocked with some relevant textbooks. She has some of that material out on the desk, as she reviews what might be the lesson plans for the coming year.

But it's not critical work at all, so hearing someone knock she looks up immediately. "Oh hey Sam. Come on in, this can wait. What's on your mind?"

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie walks into the room, and will head to the front row of desks. He does not seat though more leaning on one of the tables. "Ah was hoping you might have a bit of time to chat. Ah am considering something and wanted to get a few opinions on it before Ah make up my mind totally."

Jean Grey has posed:
Since she's putting her work aside briefly, Jean takes a moment to use a page of whatever she was writing on as a bookmark, laying it over the open pages of the textbook she was working with and then closing it on top. His interruption might be just the excuse she needed to take a break, anyway. A look is spared out the window - to the bright sunshine on the lawn outside (it's been a huge heatwave all week), before looking back to Sam. "Always," she answers first, with a typical smile.

"Talking things through is sort of the whole point of all of this, right?" Psychology is what she means, presumably, gesturing over the spread of books on her desk. "Have a problem, talk it out. So what's up?"

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie looks to her, and says "Well, as you know Ah work for the special units of NYPD, and do patrols around town. Ah do mostly in Bushwick, but other places as well. Well with all thats been going on, Ah have been thinking maybe Ah should go public with being a mutant. My captain already knows Ah am. She works with the Avengers some. So I am not worried about loosing the job, but Ah am trying to think of both the good and bad parts of it.

Jean Grey has posed:
At first, Jean simply listens. That's a big part of all that psychology stuff too! But it doesn't take too long to come to the actual point of things. Once he's finished talking through it, she gives a slow and equally thoughtful nod. "Oh. I see. Well..." She takes a little time to process. Obviously, for all the same reasons that it's a hard decision for him, it's not something that's easy for her to spit out an immediate 'right' or 'wrong' answer for. "I think it depends what your goals are. If your superiors know, and would support the whole thing, then there's not much downside there. And maybe it would let you be a bit more open in using your powers, which is going to make it easier to do the job..."

However, there's always cons to go with the pros, right? "On the other hand, obviously there are risks that come with it. To any situation you approach as an officer, where your identity might escalate things. Or secondary threats to friends, family. Of course, it might win you some friends on your Mutant Town beat, too."

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie nods his head and says "And Ah know Ma aint worried about it coming out Ah am a mutant, heck with way my powers came out, Paige, Jay and now Jeb, Ah am pretty sure most of Cumberland county know the Guthries are mutants. Ah know with me having gone to school here, that could be an issue though. Ah don't know if Hank hid his connection here on his school records or not.

Jean Grey has posed:
"You wouldn't be the first alumni to go public," Jean points out. "Warren got that honor all the way back in my class. So... Obviously, yes, there can be concerns and dangers with it, but it's not something unheard of, or that we don't have some experience with. I suppose, as time goes on, and maybe more and more alumni start working publically in the world, it may get harder and harder to keep things a secret here. In the long term, there's nothing we can really do about that. The school doesn't exist to teach you to live in hiding - it just exists to teach you. What you do with the rest of your life after that has always been up to you." The same smile persists, warm and encouraging. "So really, I'd say go with your own instincts on this. Whatever you do, we'll manage."

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie nods his head a bit to this and says "Well, it is good to know ya think it will be ok. Ah was not sure if it would complicate things with Jay and Melody and soon to be Zeb all going to school here as well." He looks to her and says "Ah do wonder if it might get me some grief in Bushwick as well since Ah can hide it, you know?

Jean Grey has posed:
Again, Jean seems to think it through a little. "For your siblings, like you said, there's probably a lot of hints already, that if anyone really looked into y our family, they'd figure things out. But it's true that all of them at the school could make it a little trickier. Everything we do comes with risk. It's not always an option to just... be safe." This causes her to give a little shrug. "As for Bushwick, yeah, that's it's own thing. Probably comes with upsides and downsides alike. But you may be able to get more done if you're not worried about hiding things, right?"

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie nods his head a bit to this and says "Yea, it would make things easier thats for sure." He hmmms and says "Ah plan to talk to the professor, and Roberto before Ah decide for sure, but Ah think Ah am leaning towards it."

Jean Grey has posed:
When he brings up the idea of conferring with some of the others, Jean nods along rather emphatically. "That's a good idea. Multiple perspectives will help, and no reason to rush into the decision, one way or the other. Talk it out, think it over a while, and figure out what works best for you. Whatever you decide, you'll always have all of us supporting you." Is it a little sappy and saccharine? Sure! But, well, it's Jean.

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie smiles and steps forward offering her his hand "Thanks." HE says one of his own classmates he would have offered a hug, but Jean still has that his superior feeling with her having been headmistress, and such . He does add a "Jean" instead of Miss Grey at least.

Jean Grey has posed:
There's definitely a sense that the lack of formality is a nice change of pace for her, and she grins a bit bigger at the choice in names, even if all she gets is a handshake. Jean's gonna have to work on that! Baby steps. "Any time, Sam. And if there's anything else you need help with, as you're working through all this, don't hesitate to ask. All of us being here for each other, that's bigger than the school or secret identities or anything else."