8882/Night School

Night School
Date of Scene:	30 November 2021
Location:	Cafeteria and Bar
Synopsis:	Clarice and Lydia share a drink. Clarice shares some concerns about her father - and recruits Lydia as a teacher at Hope House.
Cast of Characters:	Clarice Ferguson, Lydia Dietrich

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Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice has had a lot on her mind lately - though really, how does that make that any different than most of the past year? At the moment, the young magenta-hued woman sits at the bar, a glass of cognac in one hand, and a tablet lying on the bar in front of her. Not far from the tablet sits a small ceramic figure of a dragon bursting out of an egg - irridescent colors painted on the scales of its head. She scrolls slowly through the information on her screen between sips, wearing a thoughtful frown.
    At least she seems to be reading more quickly and fluently than she had a few months prior - and she was starting to realize that, herself.

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia comes into the bar to take a break from writing, and slides into the seat next to Clarice. "Mind if I join you?" she asks, signaling Sasha to make her her usual. "Cute dragon."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "It's for Theo. From our dad," Clarice explains. "I think... he's trying, but it's really not enough, yet. And I'm trying to decide if it'd be more helpful or hurtful to give it to him like dad asked." The look she gives the dragon is almost annoyed - as if the inanimate object is somehow at fault for her predicament. She takes another sip of her drink before adding, "Hanukkah in a couple nights, right?"
    She still knows nothing about the holiday. Well - she's heard there's candles. She wonders if you're supposed to blow them out like a Birthday cake? Lydia will probably explain at some point.

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
"He's trying, at least," Lydia says, as she receives her Manhattan. She considers it for a moment or three before concluding, "I think you should give it to him. Let Theo decide how he wants to react to it. It seems somewhat disingenuous to keep it from him."

She nods at the mention of Chanukah. "Yes. I've talked to Mom and... she still doesn't approve of what you and Raven do for a living, but she seems to have gotten over the surprise that I am a lesbian." She lets a wry grin touch her face, "Dad promised that she'll behave."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "That's probably true," Clarice agrees quietly. "But it'll probably upset him again - and then it's me and Pete that have to pick up the pieces." She lets out a sigh. "But he is trying. He wants his... child back. That's how he mostly refers to him now, you know. To avoid pronouns and such." She shakes her head slightly. "Better than nothing, anyways."
    At the mention of Lydia's parents, Clarice blinks in surprise. "Oh," she remarks. "I'm going to meet my family? I, uhh... is it 'come as you are'...?" she asks a bit uncertainly. After all - she could image inducer away her appearance.
    "Should I wear one of my dresses? Maybe the white one with the silver? It's the least fancy of the lot, I think..."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia nods, "Yeah. Sooner or later your dad has to come to the realization that kids grow up and change and become their own people. You can't go back in time no matter how much you want to." She sighs and picks up the little figurine to take a closer look at it. "This is really quite adorable. Under normal circumstances Theo would love this. Still might."

Setting the figurine down she shakes her head. "They know you're mutants and have different colored skin, so it's come as you are. You don't have to dress up fancy for this. It's a casual affair, but not too casual, if you know what I mean."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Maybe it'll reassure him some - that dad is trying. That he really might come around eventually. It's hard for him - I knew 'Cynthia' for a few weeks. He knew 'Cynthia' for 'her' whole life," Clarice remarks with a sigh. "It's not quite how I pictured being reunited with my dad," she admits - and how she'd dreamed of it, without ever daring to voice it. Not even to Rahne.
    She takes another sip of her cognac before responding with a nod of her head. "Something less fancy than the white dress - but clean, and presentable. I think I can manage."
    Her gaze drops to her tablet again, a thoughtful frown on her features. "My reading's been getting better - hasn't it? I mean, I think you'd know even better than I'd know myself..."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia rests a reassuring hand on Clarice's back. "It'll get better," she says. "Your dad will come around. He doesn't want to lose his children all over again."

She gives Clarice a brilliant grin, "You've been progressing wonderfully on your reading. I'm very proud of you. You're a smart woman who does her homework and exercises and it'll only get easier."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "We went for a walk together - on the beach. The fennel was blooming." A few tears spring to her eyes, and she stubbornly brushes them away. "It's just frustrating, because I feel like I can't tell Theo about it... And part of me feel guilty, to enjoy spending time with him - after he hurt Theo like that." It's a complicated mess of emotions, can anyone really blame Clarice for being confused?
    Or for trying to change the subject.
    "If I'm getting any better it's only because of you. You've been a good teacher." She forces a grateful smile for Lydia, then taps her tablet as she adds, "There's been some reports that many of the residents of the Hope House shelter never finished high school - and many of them struggle with reading. I thought- well. If we can help them with their reading, get them ready to take their GEDs, it'd improve their chances of finding work and getting back on their feet. We could offer night courses..." she suggests.

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia looks thoughtful. "Raven had a similar idea back when I first joined up, but she wanted me to create an entire school for it." She shakes her head. "I'm no administrator. I looked into it but it so outside my field of expertise I really have no idea where to even start other than finding people who know more than me."

"But I think offering night classes at Hope House is a good starting point," she says with a nod. "I'm sure we can find teachers who'd be willing to teach there. I'd even put in time, and finally do something with my degree"

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Well - I figured we'd start there - with some basic reading classes. We should be able to find someone else who could teach some math - maybe someone from Xavier's?" she suggests in a thoughtful voice. "I mean - we don't need to be accredited or anything like that, I don't think - do we? We just have to help get them ready to pass the exams. And I know learning reading has helped me a lot - my work keeps getting easier and easier, and I don't have to rely on a text reader nearly as much as I used to." Clarice still does for some words, though - she knows it's all still a work in progress.

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia takes a sip from her Manhattan as she thinks. "If it's just for the GED, you don't need any kind of accreditation, though you'll need to hire actual teachers for it." She runs a finger across the rim of her glass, "Hm. You'll also want to set up assistance for taking the test, too. Where to go, getting it scheduled, how to apply, that kind of thing."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "I think we should find a way to offer the classes for free," Clarice suggests. "And access to the tests - helping them register for the test, covering the cost of it for them, all that. While encouraging them to pay it forward someday - by coming back to help tutor others, or donating to help support the program once they're on their feet and financially solvent. It could take a while to get everything put together formally - but we could see which residents are interested in studying pretty quickly - and honestly start offering some beginning tutoring at any point after that."