7524/Garden Talk

Garden Talk
Date of Scene:	24 August 2021
Location:	The Gardens
Synopsis:	A happy Clarice checks on her fennel plants. Cynthia meets Toad, and Hank gets glomped.
Cast of Characters:	Clarice Ferguson, Mortimer Toynbee, Raven Darkholme, Lydia Dietrich, Henry McCoy

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Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    It's been a quiet day on the Asteroid - without any major excitement or disturbance to bother the residents. After waking late, and enjoying a lazy breakfast, Clarice had moved onto the garden - with the Earth and Genosha visible overhead. She's paying little attention to the view, though, and instead is smiling at some rows of little plants sprouting from the vegetable garden. Reaching out with her finger, her magenta-hued skin brushes gently over the tops of the tiny, delicate sprouts. Part of her was impatient - apparently it would take //months// for the plants to grow to full size.
    But it was exciting as well.

Mortimer Toynbee has posed:
Mortimer Toynbee has on a full on mechanic's jumpsuit, albeit in bright yellow. His greasy hair is tucked behind a red doo-rag and he has on his chunky goggles to shade his eyes, being a little light sensitive in his bulging peepers. He'd been just going by on his way to his room when he sees Blink paying special attention to a certain row of plants.

"Got yerself a green thumb, have ye, luv? Looks a li'l more purple t'me, but I ain't one to pick. Well, other'n my nose, but you don't look under my desk, I won't look under yours, huh? Whatcha got there? Eggplants? Lilies? A bit o' the old devil's lettuce?"

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Oh, it's uh- fennel, actually," Clarice answers, looking a little surprised that someone is actually talking to her while she checks on her little plants. "Not that I need to do much to help them grow. The watering's automatic in here." Fennel probably seemed like a strange choice of a plant to pay such attention to - but maybe she just really like that licoricey flavor?
    "Did something break down up here?" she asks curiously.

Mortimer Toynbee has posed:
Mortimer Toynbee plops down on the ground, his superstrong legs folding beneath him into a fairly proper lotus position, full enough that most people's tendons would probably scream trying it.

"Fennel? Like them little seeds what you get on a sausage pizza sometimes? Huh. Guess if that's what gets yer knickers damp, I ain't about to question it."

He shakes his head, "Nah, I was jus' doin' a bit o' general maintenance. Keepin' the cogs greased with the power o' carbon based lubrication."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "I'm actually trying to grow them for the flowers," Clarice answers. It's almost completely non-sensical statement - fennel flowers are hardly the most attractive blooms. You certainly wouldn't find them in any florists shop, but some people are just plain odd.
    "I'm glad we have folks to keep things running around here," she adds with a smile. "If it were left up to me - we'd be in real trouble." She had no mechanical apptitude at all - but she had a knack for killing, which was all the marketable skills she'd needed to join the Brotherhood, after all.

Mortimer Toynbee has posed:
Mortimer Toynbee twiddles his thumbs, "I don't think I ever seen one o' them before. I'll have to take a look once they gets to bloomin'."

"Pretty important t' keep all the widgets an' such in workin' order when you're up in space like. And I learned a long time ago the lesson o' ol' Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - a freak can be tolerated s'long as they're useful."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Either we're all of us freaks up here, Morty, or none of us are," Clarice answers the man as she sits on the edge of the large wooden planter box. "You know that. That's how the Brotherhood is. Though - yeah, we do ask folks to pull their own weight." They do have a mission to achieve, after all.
    Clarice's hands plant on the edge of the box on either side of her and she smiles in a calm, relaxed way. "From what little I know - it'll be months yet before they start to flower. We'll just have to be patient - which isn't one of my strongest suits. But I'm willing to try."

Mortimer Toynbee has posed:
Mortimer Toynbee pulls a little at his overlong hair, tugging it in a nervous habit, "Up here, yeah, although it weren't always as much so. An' I know I'm even a freak t'the other freaks, there ain't no surprise in that to me none. Toad's just a nasty ol' creep and I always has been an' I don't see much point pretendin' otherwise. Sometimes, folks tried to tell me I was pretty to make me feel better, but I know they wuz jus' lyin' to me. Sometimes just t'make fun o' me on purpose. I ain't got much time for liars."

"I ain't got yer patience, missy. Guess'n I'd just get some o' the pre-growed ones from Walmart or summin'."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Yeah, well. I've never exactly fit in either, Toad," Clarice points out with amusement - from her purple skin, to her strange facial markings, to her fae-like pointed ears - she's always stood out, and there's never been any hiding it. "But you know - fuck those assholes who look down on us for that. What the hell do they know?" she asks, her tone bright, and casual. She's in a good mood, and there's little that can bring her down right now.
    "And - well - I'd consider doing that, but it's not exactly something they carry at Walmart. I mean, I could probably find somewhere that it's growing wild right now and pick some, but... I want some up here. At home. I bet Cynthia'll like it too - when it's grown in." 'Cynthia' was not a name that would mean anything to Toad - not as someone important to Clarice, anyways.

Mortimer Toynbee has posed:
Mortimer Toynbee peers at Blink for a long moment, "Yeah, but yer pretty, ain't ya? Gorgeous, all like made o' jewels an' moonlight an' such. You might be strange, yeah, but the kind they call exotic, like a beautiful bird covered with sparkly plumage. Don't get me wrong, they'll put you in a cage just the same, cause humans be like that, they just love to lock things up and make things hurt and starin' and pokin' an' proddin'. They don't know no better. Earlier stages of evolution, the Master used to say. Just ain't proper civilized like us."

"Maybe we can grow us some food stuffs an' the like. I would like a nice tomato what I could slap on some toast in the mornin'."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
The elevator doors open and Cynthia bounds out like something is chasing her, but not in panic just that speed. She heads straight for where Clarice is with a smile on her face. A moment later, Mystique steps out with an expression on her face of amusement. That was the most awkward elevator ride she's has in a long time. Where as the teenager went for her sister, the cobalt mutant heads for the lake. It was time to feed the fish, and give them each a once over to ensure their health.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Toad's words bring a surprised, and slightly embarrassed smile to Clarice's features, and she glances down towards her feet. "Well. The caged part I know enough about, but it wasn't for my beauty." She shakes her head, not elaborating on that further. She doesn't want to dwell on those htoughts - to go back to that place. Not when there are better things in her life now.
    "Well. I guess maybe all the tomatoes got picked? We could always ask Bruinn to grow some- more. 'Thia!" It's largely be virtue of her sister's rush that she sees her incoming across the large garden. She raises to her feet, opening one arm to welcome her in. "Hey you. Come meet Mortimer."

Mortimer Toynbee has posed:
Mortimer Toynbee blinks at the incoming mutant, one he had not met as of yet, looking down quickly and shyly. He shuffles back a few steps, even with his legs still bent, scuttling on the ground like a crab and keeping his distance from both the new woman and, of course, Mystique, who always spooks him just a little bit.

"Evenin', missy. Mum," he says, bowing his head and doffing his cap towards Mystique.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia hugs Clarice, and once they are side by side it might be semi-obvious they're sisters, then again their hair isn't exactly the same purple, and the vitiligo patches on her dark skin aren't the same magenta.

Without pause, Cynthia extends her hand toward Toad, "Hi! I'm Cynthia, but you can call me Thia. Nice to meet you Mortimer."

Mystique has wandered off in another direction, close to the lake, not near the other's at the garden. She can be seen certainly, but she appears more interested in the koi in the lake than the people. Yes, she counts them, and there better be nine.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Morty, Cynthia here's just about the nicest person you'll meet on the Asteroid," Clarice reassures him - after giving her sister a squeeze of her arm, and releasing her. "You finished your homework already? Or you're just taking a break?" Honestly, it seemed sometimes like her sister was a harder worker than //she// is, and that's saying something.

Mortimer Toynbee has posed:
Mortimer Toynbee wipes his hand on his jumpsuit about six times, trying to get all of the muck and sticky off of his fingers before he very tentatively shakes her hand, drawing back quickly as if he's afraid of staining her. Which he is.

"You can call me Toad," he says, running a hand roughly through his hair and covering his face a bit as he squats. "S'my mutant name."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia watches the process that he goes through with his hand, wondering just what it's about because she doesn't care if he has anything on his hand. They invented soap for a reason.

"Toad huh?" She says cheerfully. "Well if we go with Mutant names, I'm Cachette, but I answer to both. Which is the one you prefer?" She looks to Clarice, "Done for the day, one of the teachers had a family emergency, so I helped the other two people in her class cause I'd already done the work."

Now Cynthia looks back to Toad, eyes sparkling, "Are you the guy that works on things around here? Cause if you are, you do /amazing/ work! I was um... not getting in trouble," she offers that quick. "but looking at the shuttles. I swear, I didn't touch anything, but I /so/ want to learn about them."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    She's already done the work? Clarice gives her sister a look that part amused, part bemused. "You're working... //ahead//? That's why you're always so busy?" she asks.
    Drawing her sister's attention down towards the gardenshe adds, "Look - my fennel is growing." And indeed - poking out of the soil like little tufts of grass were patches of tiny little plants in a row. "It'll be two or three more months before they're properly grown, though," she laments.

Mortimer Toynbee has posed:
Mortimer Toynbee blushes very deeply, his already weird skin tone making it perhaps hard to detect, but it's pretty obvious from his body language, too. His neck shortens and he buries his chin against his chest, unable to look even vaguely in the girl's direction as he wraps his arms around his knees.

"It ain't hard or nuffin', you c'n look most of it up online, I can maybe show you somesometimes, not that you'd have to be there, you could gimme a camera or somethin' or maybe have a drone follow m e, that ways you don't have to smells me or nothin', I wouldn't want to make you barf, you ain't in trouble, nah, couldn't ever be in trouble wit' ol' Toad, that's me, Toad's what I like, a'though Mort's okay, really, I ain't picky, I been called 'worm' and 'shithead' and 'abortion' most o' my life, so I got whats the ycall a thick skin. Literally, too, but I mean in the figurative kinda ways, eh?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cytnhia was just about to answer her sister, but then she just turns and stares at Mortimer. She had no idea where he grew up or what kind of people he'd been around, but it sounded to her like most of them needed to be introduced her to pocket.

Chewing alittle at her bottom lip she steps a touch closer to Mortimer, "Um..." A quick glance to Clarice, then back to Mortimer. "There's nothing wrong with you, you know that right? Just because your different doesn't make you..." no, she will not repeat the things he said, cause that's just wrong. "... you aren't ugly. Besides, what other people thinks doesn't matter."

Now she can look back to Clarice and say, "Only in a couple of classes, because they are so boring. The work is /so/ easy, but I can't get advanced classes online."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice smiles with quiet amusement as Cynthia proves her words from earlier. See? Cynthia //is// just about the nicest person you'll meet on the Asteroid. "Seriously, fuck those guys, Toad," she asserts in agreement. "Up here - if anyone starts giving you trouble over shit like your //mutation// - well. I don't think Mystique'll mind overly if we see how their mutation holds up against the vacuum of space. We don't stand for that sort of intolerance here. If we're not united - what chance do we stand?" she asks firmly, her voice going a bit cool for a moment.
    It's hard to tell if she's joking or not about spacing people. She sounds like she might be serious. And weren't there rumors around the Asteroid about Clarice spacing Stixx one day for challenging her authority...?

Mortimer Toynbee has posed:
Mortimer Toynbee keeps his head down and mumbles, "Yeah, I know, I know, we're all equals and stuff. Mutant solidarity, yayyyyyyyyyy," he says, putting up a very mild fist pump in the air.

Does he believe it? Fuck no. People always say they're all the same until it's time to decide who has to stick their head down the outhouse to find the bomb and then it's Toad's faced shoved into hillbilly manure looking to pull out dynamite with his teeth.

But that's okay. That's his place in the glorious new order Magneto promised him all those years ago. And things may have changed a bit, since then, but Toad ain't about to give up. No matter how many stupid filthy scumsucking humans he has to kill to get it.

But in the meantime.

"Ain't nobody 'round here been mean to me none, luv. At least unless Fred's lurkin' about somewheres, but he's mean t' everybody, you can't take it personal."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia has been spending time with the ancient tomes she acquired from Isabella, learning some of the magics within them. She even taught herself the weasel warding spell. You never know when you'll be attacked by weasels. Exhausted by her research she decided to come up to the Asteroid to enjoy the atmosphere, and perhaps the companionship of her ladyfriend.

She makes it up to the gardens when she hears familiar voices out near where the vegetable gardens, so she makes her way over there. Finding Mystique there, she walks up to the cobalt woman and snakes an arm around her waist, and leans up to kiss her affectionately on the cheek. "Hey, love," she says to her, and Clarice gets a nod of the head, "Hey Clarice, how's the fennel growing?"

To Toad she gives him a curious glance. "I'm sorry," she says, stepping up and holding out a hand in introduction. "I'm Lydia. I don't think we've met before." By now, Lydia is notorious for being the bosses girlfriend, so she'd probably be easy to identify. That and she has a softly glowing green aura of ectoplasmic mists that constantly surround her.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia decides to prove that she's just fine with Toad being himself, just the way he is, and unless the man actually scrambles, she moves over and hugs him... slime and all, she gives no fucks at all. If he does move, well that just means she tries harder because one way or another, he's getting hugged..

"You're my brother," she states firmly, not at all joking. "I'll shove any a-hole into the pocket who's mean to you, except Magneto or Mystique, because frankly, they're scary."

Mystique had completed her fish counting, all nine were there, and each one had gotten a pet before she was back on dry land. As Lydia comes up to her and slips her arm around her, the cobalt mutant smiles and looks to her.

"Finally out of your book?" She asks, then moves with her toward Mortimer. She has deliberately not been listening to the conversation, because when she listened to what happened to Toad, it makes her want to punch Erik in the jaw, and that would just not go well at all.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Yeah... Please don't mess with my King, or my boss," Clarice remarks with amusement, rolling her eyes as she watches Cynthia go in for a hug.
    Poor Morty. He's met his match in Cynthia, she's sure of it.
    "Hey Lydia!" Clarice greets her friend in a cheery voice. Indeed - Clarice seems to be in an almost inexcuseably good mood as she beams at her friend. "It seems to be growing well - it's sprouted. It's about this tall now," she explains - holding her fingers about an inch and a half apart. "So it's got a ways to go before it hits five or so feet in height."

Mortimer Toynbee has posed:
Mortimer Toynbee almost throws up when he's hugged. Not because it's gross, but because he's not supposed to hug or touch or be near other people, especially girls, because he knows what he is. His first instinct is to throw her off, to run away and hide, but he knows he can't do that and it's his fear of Mystique that probably keeps him in line this time, not wanting to draw the wrath of the Wicked Mutant Stepmother.

"Yer...yer a very sweet girl, missy, Toad ain't...ain't had nobody hugs me in a long times, maybe not much evers. Not even me Mum, cause she always hated me most of all, I made 'er ashamed and disgusted wit' 'erself. Dad left cause o' me, y'know, I don't much blames her. Except she should've gimme up and not...do the things what she did," he says, a little bit of a tear in his eye that he quickly wipes away.

Now he does push away from Cynthia, turning his head so they can't see the beginning of tears and then he strikes himself, hard, across the face with an open hand, the slap echoing in the room, "Sorry, didn't means to be pathetic, I knows better'n that, Master taught me right, don't feel sorry for ol' Toad, I'm jus' fine nows that I got the Brotherhood, yeah? Mutants lookin' out for mutants," he says.

And now Lydia is introducing himself and he snuffles long and hard, a string of drool hangin' from his lip as he give her hand a quick touch before drawing back. "Nice t'meet ye proper like, mum. Don't worry, you don't spook me none." he says, managing a slightly unnerving smile that's too wide at the corners of his misshapen mouth.

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia gives Toad a kind chuckle. "Nobody on the Asteroid has been spooked by me," she says. "It's one of the reasons why I like it here. People treat me as just a normal person. She doesn't seem taken aback by his quick touch instead of a full shake. Some people are just touch sensitive that way.

"I hate to meet and run, but I've got to work on my book some." She gives Mystique another kiss, this time on the mouth. "I'll be in our room if you need me." And with that, she makes her way back to the elevator to do some writing.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Stepping back, Cynthia blinks many, many times as Mortimer gets emotional and then hits himself, and that's just too much for the teenagers brain to even begin to understand, so she slips over behind Clarice.

"I'm sorry, I..." she mutters. "Why did you... you hit yourself? What's wrong?"

Mystique gives Lydia a return kiss before the green mutant leaves again, then looks to those gathered, eyes settling on Mortimer. "Mortimer, icksnay on the hitting yourself, save it for the enemy."

Henry McCoy has posed:
It wasn't uncommon for Henry to be nose deep in a book. Often at the manor, he could be seen roaming the halls while reading. Absent nods given to friends, the Beast wrapped up in some fantastic novel. Surroundins being different, Henry was still up to his old habits. The man had his spectacles on, strolling absently along as he went page after page in his book.

It was only when he heard familiar voices that he looked up. A pause, the man offering a nod to those present as he brought himself to the here and now. "Oh, gracious. Evening. I'm sorry - I didn't realize..." He grins, sheepishly.

Mortimer Toynbee has posed:
Mortimer Toynbee trembles a moment, "Sorry, mum, jus'...old 'abits, you know how it can be," he says.

"I 'ave somem ore work to be gettin' to, but it was nice to meet you ladies an'...you're all very nice. Except you, Mystique, I mean, you're nice sometimes but not too nice, I wouldn't ever cross you, promise promise, you can count on ol' Toad," he says.

Rapidly, he scuttles towards the door, backflipping up onto the ceiling and secreting some slime to help him stick, makign his way up and into one of the environmental vents.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Not your fault, Thia," Clarice murmurs quietly to her sister, nudging her gently with her shoulder, as her brow wrinkles with concern for Toad. "You've got nothing to apolgozie for, Mort. It isn't your fault people have been acting like shit to you. You won't get that from me unless you've //done// something to earn it. And like I said - that's what I expect of everyone in the Brotherhood. We save this shit for our enemies, like the boss said."
    She nods to Mystique - flashing her a smile, that only broadens that little bit more when she spots the hulking, blue-form of Beast. "Hank - hey," she greets the man warmly.
    Her attention shifts back to Mortimer as he literally clambers away, her head shaking slightly. "Man. He's not... entirely right, is he?" She's not sure she'd ever seen someone try to hard to be nice to him before, honestly - to witness that sort of a reaction. It was odd.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia nods a little, accepting that she hadn't done anything, but still... the man hit himself rather than show emotion. That's extreme. Turning now to look at the fennel she says, "Clarice, why don't you have Bruin poke them just a little?"

That's about when Hank shows up and her eyes shift to him. "Hi."

Mystique sighs softly, watching Mortimer make a hasty exit, then shakes her head, "No. He's been a victim most of his life, a victim to pretty much everything. The British have a different way of handling mutants, and I can assure you, that school he burned... deserved it."

"Evening Henry," is then offered, to change the subject. "You know you're always welcome."

Henry McCoy has posed:
Toad's exit is watched, a bit of concern. A look to Clarice, the man sighing. "He's had a rard life, just as many of our people have. He copes with it in a rather unique way." He comments, giving a bit of a shrug. "Perhaps someone might be able to help him along, therapy or some such." His book is closed, the page marked with a ribbon.

"Evening, Thia." He grins, giving her a wave as well. "How are you doing? Enjoying being in outer space?"

A nod and wave to Mystique, as well. "Appreciated, Raven. It's just bad form to wander about and ignore people while you're reading." He offers over sheepishly. "Especially as a guest here."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice leaves Cynthia's side greet Hank more enthusastically than is her norm, cheerfully wrapping her arms around one of his, as he draws him a little closer. "Oh, I'm doing well enough," she remarks brightly, her gaze going back down to her two little rows of fennel sprouts.
    "Well. Maybe we'll have Bruinn grow them in stages - maturing some of them, only boosting some of the others - so they'll flower at different times?" she suggests. "That wouldn't be so bad. And then - as the flowers die off, we can pull those ones out, and plant new ones to grow normally."
    As for Mortimer, she adds a little more seriously, "I just hope we'll get through to him eventually. I mean - I know I struggled for a while." She still does at times. "But for him to view himself with such disgust, and think of me... so differently." She shakes her head slightly.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia kneels down to look at the fennel plants, they are so tiny, but she is grinning ear to ear. She knows exactly why her sister in a good mood, in fact Thia got no sleep because of it, but that's okay by her. She has some lovely images in her head as to what it was like.

"That might be good," she offers, in regards to the plants. "Have them at different points then you'll always have flowers."

Mystique watches Clarice greet Hank, one brow lifting slightly, then a playful grin crosses her lips. Stepping over she takes his other arm in exactly that same way.

"You can wander around reading all you want Henry," she offers, not as cheerfully as Clarice, but still nicely. "You may be a guest, but you're welcome to continue your normal routines."

Henry McCoy has posed:
This was not expected. Not at all. Henry nods to Clarice, looking to the fennel. "Fleeting beauty is still beauty, and should be treasured all the much more." A smile. "Nature has a way of making our breath catch, upon looking on her wonders." He murmurs.

And then Mystique has his other arm. Absolutely not expected. A glance around, then to himself - like he's checking for something. "Please, Raven. Call me Hank." He offers over, with a smile. "It's a matter of genteel manners, of course. I try my best to be the best sort of guest. Especially in serving as a liaison." He chuckles. "You all have been quite welcoming."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Plus, it tastes like licorice," Clarice responds after Henry's wisdom. "Which is the point, really." Well. It was part of the point. If she just wanted the taste of licorice - she could just go buy licorice. She gives Henry's arm a little squeeze before she lets go, giving Mystique and amused smile to see her holding onto Hank's other arm. What must he be thinking? She can't help but take a moment to wonder as she rejoins her sister, kneeling ear the tiny plants and wrapping an arm around Cynthia's waist.
    "Your online classes are too easy?" she asks. It's not a sentiment she can relate to, really. "You don't have to stick to online classes, you know. If there's a school you want to go to... We'll get you there. If there's a tuition, we'll figure out a way to cover it. You deserve ever chance to learn," she says firmly.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique bats her eyes at Henry, but the stupid playful grin on her face makes it obvious she is just joking around.

"Hank it is then," she comments as she steps back. "I just recalled you saying thay only friends called you that. Wasn't quite certain here I stood in that regard, after all I'm still an evil, manipulative woman." She winks once, then takes one more step back. That was way too much closeness out of the blue (blue, get it?) but the joke was worth it.

Cynthia continues to look at the little plants as she says, "Yeah, they can't really arrange for advance classes for just one kid, so I take the classes I can, all the extra ones I can too. Kelly thinks I should have graduated already, but there's no specific test for that that she knows about." She looks up at Clarice. "I don't want to go to a human school. I'm not comfortable around humans, they stare and point, and I just can't get over that."

Henry McCoy has posed:
A grin to Clarice. "Oddly enough, not one of my preferred flavors." He admits, with a chuckle. "I am favorable towards those strawberry Twizzlers though." A nod. "But it is always pleasant to nurture plants of your own, even if you simply wish to see the blooms." A look again to the fennel. Grinning at the school conversation, he smiles. "I am always willing to help where I can in terms of education, for either or both of you."

There's a little nod to Mystique, perhaps more blushing from the man as she steps back. Which of all that did he cause? Any of it? "Are you, though? Something tells me all of this is different - else I'd not be here, Raven."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "It's- it has to do with a memory of my father." There's a momentary pause before she corrects that with, "Our father." That was still strange to her. Wonderful, but strange. She has a sister.
    A sister who she regards with some concern. "We can find some way for you to take advanced courses. I mean - there's lots of places doing online courses, right? Colleges and such? And I'm sure there's got to be a few schools offering classes to, well, //exceptional// students. Probably in London, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco..." She looks to Hank for confirmation of this, before returning her attention to Cynthia. "We're not going to let pigheaded assholes stop you from getting the education you want."
    She gives Cynthia a squeeze before remarking, "Oh, she's definitely manipulative when she wants to be. And the term 'evil' is highly subjective. There are lots of people who still consider her evil. And me. And probably you." Something crosses briefly over her features at the mention of Hank being 'evil' - but she quickly pushes it away.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique chuckles quietly. "Yeah, that's just what people want to believe Hank, but it's not entirely true. I'm not evil," she offers him another grin. "Nothing I've done was with the intent to be evil, yet it's perceived as evil. I get it, and I joke about it, but I don't believe it. Manipulative, well..."

She clears her throat a little and sighs. "I am, but I've had to be, it's part of how I kept this whole organization going, how I gather information, how I do what I do, but I'm never like that to the people I care about. Sorry about invading your space like that," she adds on there at the end. "I shouldn't do that to people, it could lead to problems."

Cynthia frowns and pats Clarice's arm, "Wait... it's not about pigheaded Clare, it's about the orphanage, the situation in Genosha, and the lack of money for extra things. I'd love to go to a mutant school, but there aren't any finished being built yet. Everyone in Gnosha does online courses, because computers were cheaper than building the number of schools needed... but, if there's a place I can more advanced classes, I'd love that."

Henry McCoy has posed:
Offers a nod to Clarice and Cynthia. "Plenty of options, and I am sure we can suggest good ones if you've a particular idea for study." He beams. "I do have a bit of pull among a few institutions, outside of Xavier's." Henry admits. "I won't have people being denied an education." A confident nod.

A look to Mystique. "We've all had decisions to make in life." A smile. "And while I understand your line of thinking previous, I could not necessarily support." A sigh. "And the fact that you understand what has happened, and how it can be bad, is a huge step forward."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia grins then picks herself up, brushing her knees off.

"There used to be fennel plants near the beach," she explains. "Our dad used to take Clare there, he did me a couple of times but it reminded him of her too much."

And now she changes the subject, "The last set of tests taken placed me in the top five percent for Genosha, I just like to learn. If I had to choose a direction though, it would be either music or mechanical engineering."

Mystique offers Henry a slight shrug, "I wouldn't have noticed if it wasn't for Clarice and Lydia, so really they're the ones who should get the credit."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Well - the online courses are with all the kids on Genosha - isn't it? Or are they not giving the kids in the orphanage the same opportunities they're giving the other children?" Because if that is the case - //someone// will be dealing with an irrate Clarice in the near future. As soon as she figures out who the most appropriate target it. "I'll do what I can to improve the opportunities of all of the children - and I know Lorna will help me with that. She's made it very clear to me how she feels about education." She's the reason, after all, that Clarice started to learn to read at all.
    "But you're my primary concern, and if you're not learning... If school is just //wasting your time// right now, then... well. We'll fix it. I mean, there's Xavier's of course. And Happy Harbor. And I thought I heard of school called Amador Valley - near San Francisco?" She looks towards the pair to see if it rang any bells for them. "There must be others."
    As for Mystique's comment, she gives a shrug and a wry grin. "You blame me - I blame Lorna. She's the one who convinced me the violence was doing more harm than good."

Henry McCoy has posed:
The Beast chuckles and gives Mystique a nudge. "We often miss things about ourselves. It is our friends who hold up a mirror for us to see our successes and failures." A wink to the other blue mutant. "And even so, it's more often than not that people ignore the criticism, even from themselves." A sage nod.

There's a sad smile at the mention of Clarice and Cynthia's father. "It's a good way to remember someone." He offers. "And yes, I will help with education as well. Lorna and I see eye to eye in that."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia grins at Clarice as she says, "You're so pretty when you're angry." Then with a giggle adds, "We all do the same courses sis, even the teachers are Genoshan. Don't worry, we orphans weren't cast out or anything, it's just the way it is right now, really need schools, and houses, and a lot of other things built. One step at a time though, right? I'm not supposed to be all uppity about it."

Mystique eyes Clarice. "Lorna doesn't talk to me about that sort of thing, in fact the only time she talks to me is when you're around. So you get the credit, not her."

Looking back to Henry, she steps closer again, since it's established she not pure evil to him. "Clarice didn't hold up a mirror, she clobbered me over the head with logic. It's the only way it would work for me, because when I look in the mirror, I can be anyone, so it does no good at all."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice touches her little plants with a moment of undisguised fondness - before climbing to her feet as well, brushing off her own clothes a bit negligently. "I wonder how I would have done in school," she muses. "Though - it's possible you got all the brains and talent," she remarks, giving Cynthia a playful nudge.
    She nods to Hank with a smile as she adds, "It's appreciated, you know. Everyone's been so- well. I was so afraid, for so long, to admit to anyone that I had no education. It felt like admitting to a weakness, or a defect. I always thought... I don't know. That people would think less of me somehow." But no one has.
    Then again, maybe that's because she only admits it to the people she trusts.
    "I feel a bit at a loss - on how to help Cynthia with something I've no experience in." But she's determined to see it through, regardless.
    Smirking at Mystique she adds, "What I did - was I out-stubborned you. Which is a feat, certainly."