5450/Backyard BBQ at Xavier's School

Backyard BBQ at Xavier's School
Date of Scene:	05 March 2021
Location:	Back Yard
Synopsis:	Henry and Kassandra talk about Mutant abilities while brisket is cooked.
Cast of Characters:	Kassandra Pagonis, Henry McCoy

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Kassandra Pagonis has posed:
     It's only been a few days since Kassandra's arrival and acceptance here at Xavier's School for the Gifted and, truth be told, she was really, really missing the opportunity to cook. Cookies had been making appearances around the school, here and there, with some double chocolate chip ones appearing in Henry's lab with a nice handwritten thank you note and some with Emma Frost's name on them in a basket in the teacher's lounge, but that wasn't scratching her itch. No, one of the things that Kassandra often did, when she was home, before all of this, was smoke meats, the Ancient Texan way, with hardwood coals in a contrapton that looked like a water heater turned on its side which, truth be told, is exactly what it was.

     A spot in the backyard, downwind, has been set up with a black-painted smoker, a pile of dry firewood, a table, a pair of folding chairs, and a beach umbrella in case there was some weather that suggested not manning the pit. Kassandra is there, in her jeans and jacket and boots, sitting by the smoker, feet kicked up with her attention on the thermometer screwed into the side and the color of the smoke coming out the other end. If the temperature in the cooker dips below 215, Kassandra moves and adds another stick to the firebox before settling back down in her seat. There is a laptop there, too, playing an old country station over its tinny speakers....all in all, a nice afternoon to enjoy the sun.

Henry McCoy has posed:
The estate had a wonderful kitchen - and just about all the students were fans of home cooked meals! The cookies were very much appreciated, Henry having a sweet tooth and all. It wasn't hard for the Beast to scent out the start of a smoker, and the aroma of brisket. The music was a nice touch as well, Henry's foot tapping to the music before he headed out to the backyard.

Once in the sunshine, he takes in a deep breath and stretches - happy for the warmth and the aromas. He glances over to where Kassandra is, grinning. "A bit of smoking today, Kassandra? Smells delicious."

Kassandra Pagonis has posed:
     That's the thing about Brisket when it's done right - you can tell from a great distance using your nose alone. She settles back in her seat after adding a chunk of post oak, pushing the firebox closed with the toe of her leather boot and crossing her hands over her belly in a pose she likes to call 'slouching.' Thanks to the Adirondack chair she managed to liberate from the back porch of the school, she's the picture of comfort, pushing herself up to a more vertical seating position at the call from over there.

     "Hey there, Dr. McCoy." Kassandra gives a wave, turning to look over at the blue-furred man as he makes his way over. "Yeah, just a little smoking. I haven't had a chance to do a brisket properly in almost a year, so I figured I might do one just as a kind of thank you to whoever would want some. Managed to find two and wrangle up this smoker, so...yeah. Dinner's on me for a few people tonight, s'long as they don't eat whole briskets in one sitting."

Henry McCoy has posed:
There's a wry chuckle at that. "Some of our students and staff have a higher metabolism than normal - they can eat quite a bit." A wink to Kassandra. "They'll share, though. They tend to be mindful of the others." Henry comments, finding a place to sit as well - perch really.

"How are you settling in, then? Is the room good for you, Kassandra? I'm hoping it's much better than the infirmary?" He asks, chipper as can be.

Kassandra Pagonis has posed:
     Looking over at her borrowed smoker, Kassandra shifts her chair so she can look at Henry and the smoker at the same time. Efficient Laziness, she likes to call it, as she shuffles the chair to the side slightly, settling back down. "There's room for six briskets in there. Figured I'd better learn how the thing cooks before subjecting the school to sixty pounds of brisket at once, which is why i'm doing the two now." And they smell pretty good, too. Whatever she's doing, she's doing it right.

     "So far, i'm settling in pretty well. I'm supposed to sit down with a counselor to figure out classes on Monday...so...pretty well. I mean..." She rolls her shoulders. "It's almost like a dream, you know? From where I was to where I am now. Learning how to control my ability. Heck, maybe even being able to use it to help someone, somehow."

Henry McCoy has posed:
The Beast relaxes as they talk, his eyes on her. He trusts her to manage the brisket - she's already got it smelling so wonderful! "It is unfortunately like that for most of our students. It's a sad truth that many families don't know how to cope with their child having gifts and being a mutant." There's a slight shrug. "They are afraid, and have no real concept of how to deal with it. They think we are far removed from humans." A slight smile.

"Sometimes, we can bring them around to understanding - but for the most part we are more inclined to make our students and guests feel at home, and safe. Learning one's powers is key to that - having control over what makes us different is ultimately the best path." A chuckle. "I won't lie, meeting individuals facing the same challenging was comforting to me. Realizing that while I was unique, I was not alone."'

Kassandra Pagonis has posed:
     "We are far removed in their eyes because we can do things that are different, or frightening, or just plain do not fit into the way their world works." Kassandra says softly. "God help 'em, they try. Some folk, like my parents, do what they can with what they have, but they don't got the experiences to deal with images of the past comin' out of their little girl." Kassandra sighs, sitting up to add a stick to the firebox, pushing some of the coals aside, the smoke clear almost, a hot fire with the temperature right where it needs to be. "It's hard."

     Kassandra leans back, looking over at Henry and his tall, muscular, blue body. "I guess you had it worse than I do. All I have to worry about is not fallin' asleep or gettin' drunk and I can keep myself hidden. Not so easy with the fur, Ah'd guess."

Henry McCoy has posed:
There's a chuckle from Henry. "I wasn't always furry. That image you saw of football, that was me in college. My fur and... facial features didn't come about until I acted on preventing a serum from falling into the wrong hands." He says, a nod. "Before, I had big hands, big feet that could grip and a superior physique. I blended in, fairly well."

"People who wanted to see something different in me, did. But for the most part, I escaped scrutiny." The man nods. "And yes, some are just fatigued in trying to keep up or in making sure they are doing right by their children. Those parents, are quite wonderful when we can help with the burden. They aren't doing wrong, but like all parents, it is on their mind that they might be. Parenting is hard, whether you have a human or mutant child." The man smiles. "And one would hope you're not getting drunk at your age." He winks.

Kassandra Pagonis has posed:
     "Went through them like they were standing still." Kassandra says with a chuckle, remembering the charge for the goal line that a young, less furry Henry McCoy was undertaking with a zeal that would have easily translated to NFL if all went well. And she shakes her head in the negative. "It was just the one time in high school, before getting here." she explains. "Just a couple of beers at a high school party. Common thing 'round where I grew up. And I'm a lightweight when it comes to that sort of thing..." She trails off, looking up into the clear spring sky.

     "You really think I can be a help to folks doin' what I can do?" she asks, looking at her hands, then over at Henry. "You think I can learn to control it?"

Henry McCoy has posed:
The doctor grins. "Oh, I understand - I had my share of underage parties before. I'm not telling." Henry smiles in understanding. "And yes, I was an absolute beast on the field, pardon the term." A laugh. "It was a good time, even if I felt a bit unsporting in having such an advantage."

Henry nods. "I expect your gifts will help quite a bit. It can help people find lost people, lost memories - all sorts of things. It could help any heroes as well, in finding clues when investigating issues."

Kassandra Pagonis has posed:
     "Assuming I can handle it without passing out. I guess it'll be a lot like working a muscle out, won't it? I'm....I'm kind of at a loss. I have no idea what to expect. I mean, from what I could tell, this place is pretty much like a regular school, except..." Kassandra gestures to the house behind. "Except mansion, private school, and all the students have something unique 'bout 'em."

Henry McCoy has posed:
Henry McCoy chuckles. "Just like a regular school, except where it wasn't. We have all the same sort of school ups and downs with it too." He snickers. "And yes, indeed. It is like a muscle - there will be ways to help with your endurance in using your gift, as well as controling the affects." He strethes, relaxing a bit more as the brisket smokes and cooks. "It will take work. You will get frustrated. But I have faith that you'll suceed."

Kassandra Pagonis has posed:
     There's a few moments of quiet as Kassandra works on the fire, getting the temperature back up into the range it needs to be in, the soft sound of the radio station humming along in the background along with the noise of birds and wind and all those sounds you don't get in the city. And then, at some point, she settles against Henry, giving him a big, tight hug. For such a small girl, she's got some strength in her, it seems. "Thanks, Dr. McCoy." she says softly. "For everything."

Henry McCoy has posed:
A bit surprised at the hug, Henry grins and offers a one-armed hug in return. Carefully! Ae expected, he's all muscle under that fur! "Of course, Kassandra. I would be a poor model of a man if I didn't help you." A smile. "You deserve far more than you were provided with by those ... scientists. You're one of us, and we take care of our own." A wry grin. "Even when we disagree with the other mutants who take a more violent methodology - they are still our brothers, and we want to get them on the right path."

Kassandra Pagonis has posed:
     "It's a whole new world, isn't it?" Kassandra says, disentangling from Henry after a second, blushing a little from the impromptu hug she just gave. "For a little bit, I thought that I deserved what I was getting, somehow. That it was all my fault, you know?" She rubs her eyes, re-taking her seat and grabbing her can of soda, swirling it around before taking a sip. "I'm just going to do the best I can and hopefully dunno..." She shrugs. "Get a cool uniform and learn how to do super hero stuff."

Henry McCoy has posed:
The Beast grins, nodding a bit. "Even without a uniform, I am sure you'll do right by the world Kassandra." Henry beams a smile. "And everyone deserves a proper chance at thing. Only those who do harm deserve hardships." A sage nod. "Nothing is at fault - it is just as nature wanted it to be." A grin.

Kassandra Pagonis has posed:
     Just then, the timer on the laptop goes off and Kassandra gives Beast a light pat on the cheek, followed by a smile, before disentanging herself and heading over to the smoker. "Moment of truth." she says with a glance over her shoulder, swinging open the door to reveal two briskets, each a deep red mahogany color, sprinkled with pepper and salt and developing a wonderful bark. She nods and heads over to the table, pulling a length of unwaxed butcher paper from a box and spreading it out, making a tray, of sorts, for the brisket. Then, with a towel, she lifts one out, wraps it tightly in the butcher paper, and then back in it goes. This is copied for the second one and then, with a heft of the lid, the cooker is closed and the timer reset for about 3 hours. "Dinner at seven...ish? Once the briskets rest, of course. Can you think of any side dishes for this, or should we just make brisket sandwiches?"

Henry McCoy has posed:
The man thinks on that, hrming. "I suppose I could whip up some baked potatos, or curly fries?" He grins. "I do tend to help out in the kitchen when I'm able." He slowly gets to his feet. "Around sevenish, I can have things ready by then." A nod to Kassandra and a chuckle. "Thank you for this, Kassandra. It smells wonderful."