3064/The Zen of Gardening

The Zen of Gardening
Date of Scene:	23 August 2020
Location:	Student Gardens
Synopsis:	Betsy bumps into Ororo in the gardens. Home and family are the themes of the conversation.
Cast of Characters:	Ororo Munroe, Betsy Braddock

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Ororo Munroe has posed:
The school year is fast approaching, bringing with it the dog-days of summer. This is when the children of the school that were 'left behind' start their last 'hurrahs' of the summer, and when those kids that board for the school year arrive. In a couple of weeks, Xavier's will be a hub of hustle and bustle.

It's a place of reflection, a place of quietude and just a little peace out in the gardens. The vines are trying their very best to produce just a little more before they're done, and the vegetables that aren't picked are settled on the ground, soft, opened and a feast laid bare for the bugs.

Storm is crouching by a plot, picking off the dead shoots of a plant that is trying it's best before the fall, and the mutant is encouraging it with a touch of mist formed from her hand. She's no longer wearing her flowing, soft, comfortable clothes; instead, she's in leather, a pull-over darkly colored tank top shows off bared arms, and boots. This appears to be only a side stop on a path somewhere else.

"Just a little more.." is murmured before she finishes the quick but attentive work, and she straightens once more.

Betsy Braddock has posed:
Betsy Braddock is crossing the gardens on her way... well, yes. Somewhere else. She has a focussed expression, but she slows when she sees Storm paused by the plant. Her head cants. "You know," she says, "I don't think I've ever found gardening as soothing as so many other people do. I like gardens well enough, but I really don't like all the work they entail."

Of course, there are other things she enjoys that others don't get. So, it all evens out in the wash...

Ororo Munroe has posed:
Turning towards the sound of her friend, Storm offers a warm, welcome smile. "It's not the gardening, really," and she says that in hushed tones so as not to upset .. the plants? "It's the fact that it forces you to focus," and she brushes her hands together to remove non-existant dirt from her hands. "The touch of the plants, the dirt, the feeling of life in the shoots." There's an extra heartbeat before, "And nothing beats fresh vegetables."

Storm turns her back fully from the garden plot, trying not to look at others that need a really good weeding. What she doesn't see, she doesn't know, right? Right? "I'll be using it in class this fall, I think. Pumpkin patches are always a success." Though, she really should greet her friend, "How are you, Betsy?"

Betsy Braddock has posed:
Betsy gives an oblique nod of her head -- an acknowledgement of the mini gardening lesson in zen as well as an indication of her well-being. "Well enough," she smiles. A shadow crosses her eyes briefly and she cants her head, regarding Storm for a moment. "I've been rather busy with a bit of a side project that's starting to preoccupy me, I'm afraid." But, she pushes that thought aside for another. "However, my brother has moved over here to the States. I am hoping to find time to visit him before too much longer."

Ororo Munroe has posed:
"Oh?" Interest piques for a moment, both a polite sound and one of interest, and her brows rise as she shifts her weight on a foot, "If there's anything I can do..." begins, and ends with the intent conveyed.

For her part, Storm turns to look points east, and her voice drops slightly, "I am considering a vacation back home," and light eyes return to her companion of the moment. "I shouldn't be away so long from them."

Betsy Braddock has posed:
Betsy follows Ororo's gaze and gives a gentle nod. "I can understand that," she admits. "There are times I miss England. But my best work is here in New York."

A small, tight smile touches her lips. "I was on a mission with that new bloke Rogue brought in the other day. Remy LeBeau? We ended up in Inostroland, breaking up another mutant slavery ring." She shakes her head, her hair swaying light with the movement. "They're popping up all over Ororo. I think it's the destruction of Genosha that's caused it. So many displaced mutants, too many people willing to take advantage of them. I've interrupted three separate 'deliveries' in New York Harbour alone. And then this jaunt into Eastern Europe?"

Her eyes glint. "I can't leave it alone." She spent too much time in brainwashed captivity, herself, to leave anyone else to that fate. "I'm... I'm trying to find the people we rescued someplace to go that will be safe for them, but..." The other X-Man must know how difficult that is.

Ororo Munroe has posed:
Storm inclines her head with a single dip, and exhales in a sigh of all the news coming in seemingly from all quarters. "I..." and she closes her mouth again, the words ceasing. She has opinions on the matter, but they will remain unspoken. Instead? "The refugees need a firm hand, a gathering up and a safe place to go. Just because the neighborhood has returned does not mean it feels safe, and home. Thor and I have walked among them, tried to give what comfort and solace we could. The agencies are still trying to reach those, but there will always be the unreachable, for whatever reasons they may have."

Returning her attention to her friend, there's a single rise to her shoulder, and she acknowledges, "When I return, I would love to help your endeavor." There's the bemused side-smile that rises soon after, "Between classes."

Betsy Braddock has posed:
Betsy smiles at her friends offer. "I'll take you up on that," she says. "I am thinking that, perhaps in some small way, I can use my position and assets to help." Telepathic assets as well as financial and physical assets. "I'm still working out the details, but..." She shrugs now. "It'll come. I've been able to find most of the Inostroland refugees safe places to hide. I'm working on getting them new identities and keeping them out of the hands of people who might exploit them."

She shakes her head. "It's difficult, particularly if I don't want to inadvertently exploit them myself." It'd be too easy to give them jobs at Sion, after all. Not that she'd deny them proper compensation and their own freedom, mind. But it's something she's conscious of.

Ororo Munroe has posed:
"I think we can do them a proper service," Ororo agrees easily, "With their best interests kept intact. They must have the freedom to choose, but if they don't know what their choices are?" Extending her hand, her head cants and the smile remains, but she's obviously ready to continue on her path, on a path away. "Do you mind if I join you? I think I'm done here, and I'd love to catch up.. you said your brother was arriving?"

Betsy Braddock has posed:
Betsy nods. "Yes. He's picked up a place in Gotham of all places. Still, at least it's within driving distance. I won't have to steal a jet to go see him, if I want, now." She neglects to mention that she's not exactly gone to seek him out before now. It's not like she couldn't have gone to England before now.

But she'll cross that bridge when it becomes important.

For now, she falls in step with Ororo, the pair padding deeper into the gardens and into conversation as the day wears on.