Owner	Pose
Richard Stadler	Stadler's class room is where it normally was; one of the science labs in a certer hallway; It's an internal classroom, the type without external windows (all the better for the various pieces of equipment aganist the walls). The effect makes it a bit hard to get the time of day, esspecially if the door and the small window built into it are both closed to the windowed out doors. It was during that time of day where it would have been light out when someone walked in, and dark when they left; the school was empty aside from the janitorial staff, some late night classes and clubs, the nerdy students taking advantage of computer resources, and the teachers otherwise finishing up the myriad amount of paperwork required of them. Stadler's own domain was well lit, at least, enough to show off any presentation, once it was wheeled past the door and it's obvioous 'No Weapons' signage that was rather unique to his own. For the moment, Stadler himself was in a crouch eyes peering at table level through his spectcles to the terrarium on the desk, adjusting aforementioned on his nose just briefly. "So you are keeping a temperature log, then? I know I keep repeating it, but documentation is a key part of the scientific method; having the data allows us to draw our conclusions and replicate what we've done later on."
Belinda Gutierrez	Belinda Gutierrez stands at patient attetntion, having just finished explaining her year project to the Supreme Biotea-- er, Mr. Stadler. "Yes sir," she explains, fingers toying at the loose pocket of her slightly oversized labcoat. Simple cotton, plain and white, with her nametape ("B. GUTIERREZ") prominantly placed. Safety first! "I wrote down the equipment used, and the ultimate end goal-- sweet pepper, here --and marked the steps taken to begin, the temperatures used, and results to various amounts of water, daylight length, so on." She inhales a long breath, exhaling with a slow rush. Discipline! "I began with terrarium, because it was small and could fit in my dormroom. But I ran into problem needing more vents, so mi hermano-- my brother, suggested I use an old fish tank instead, with a vent fan from some spare computer parts." She gestures, pleased with herself. "Three inches dark soil, some local fertilizer, plenty of sunshine, and the old computer fan to helpo try to keep dry up here in the North. So far..." She pauses, grimacing. "Slower growth, but-- is growing! Slowly." She pauses, glancing away. "No taste test yet sir. Lab rules."
Richard Stadler	Stadler himself seems to have left the labcoat hanging up, this close to the night, just his standard sport coat and buttoned up dress shirt. There's the slightest sound as he moves off his knees, disliking the way they happen to creak to himself, before nodding to the accounting of Belinda's documentation. "Very good, Ms. Gutierrez. Esspecally the resourcefulness in constructing something bigger when you neeeded it; always good to expand your mind with some practical problems, now and again. And it is growing, that I can see." He notes, before cocking his head slightly at her grimace. "And not to worry if it's not growing incredibly fast. We're teachers here, not managers, and I don't caare about what yield you reach compared to you knowing how and why you reached that yield in the first place. That's what we'll be looking for at the fair; well, what I'll be looking for. Oh, I'm sure they'll be some people trying to sell themself with sizzle, but the steak's the important thing." Another approving nod, before stepping back. "And of course; tasting is for the people over at a 4H... which I don't /think/ we have on the island. Not a lot of room to raise cattle. Just remember when you do to take a small piece, and chew slowly, to start."
Belinda Gutierrez	Belinda giggles quietly, biting her lip as she affects a straight face. "Yes, Mr. Stadler," she says, beaming to herself. She taps at the aquarium glass wistfully, sighing as she gazes with warm delight. And a sudden, serious expression. Emotional whiplash! "I know it is silly to ask, but--" She bites her lip again, suddenly nervous. "De la nada, nevermind sir. I mean, silly idea. No one would ever grow peppers in space or on the Moon or on Mars first. Probably potatoes, or algae, or carrots, or those wierd little grassy ferns..." She snorts a half-hearted chuckle, bending down to look into the glass box.
Richard Stadler	Richard Stadler gives a smile when Belinda beams in pride... and a bit of a concerned look as she goes serious, quickly waving his hand in a motion dismissive of the notion. "No silly questions in my classroom. All questions are valid so long as it's asked ernestly and honestly, after all! So feel free, ask." He notes, before pausing himself. "Well... that's.. a tough one. I can tell you that plants do require certain building blocks to grow; carbon dioxide, the right soil, the right amount of sunlight, but I am, sadly, not a botonist, much less a xenobotonist. But from what I know of humanity, it's certainly fair for us to look at spice after survival. Potatos are generally packed full of nutrients and easy to grow, but they can be bland, and adding some kick to them would probably be wanted." Another pause, and a sigh. "Though, it's very tough to say at the moment. After all, there might be pleanty of plants and vegtiables we haven't seen now that Fermi's Paradox has been solved. Leaves us scientists a little uncertain, but excited. Maybe a bit concerned."
Belinda Gutierrez	Belinda glances away from the box, turning up to Mr. Stadler with a curious look of surprise on her features. "Well, yes there are plants and fauna and things science has not seen yet, sir. Creation is so big and huge and gobsmackingly *grande* after all!" She spreads her arms wide, grinning. "But if we could do that, then astronautas who go out and see things can still have good food!" She smiles, eyes dancing. "And if sweet peppers grow here, and grow out there too, then-- Spicy ones! Good for sinuses, ears and nose. Mi Abuela says so. And so." She crosses her arms, nodding firmly. "It is so. Grandmother cooking-- constant of the universe."
Richard Stadler	Richard Stadler gives a snap of his fingers of emphasis. "Right you are, Ms. Gutierrez! Good attitude to have; science is the study of the universe we live in, and the more of the universe, the more we get to see. But you bet that they'll be looking for good food out there, for growing their own, for being proper and sustainable in a way that leave them as excited as you are now! Though your grandmother is correct; there's health benefits to eating spicy things. My own grandmother- the one on my father's side-, didn't cook too many spicy dishes, though. I do remember her strudel; taught from her mother back when she was in Germany, and it was just..." He purses his lips, gives a shake of his head. "Just another thing I loved about her. You miss it, of course, but better to experience it than not." He grumbles to himself. "Look at me, going down a depressing route. Keep this up! I think you'll do really well at the science fair when we run through to grade it; Dr. MacIntyre's on the biology side of things, as well. Was there anything else you wanted to get a check in on?"
Belinda Gutierrez	At the mention, Belinda freezes unexpectedly. Fingers fidgit, a glance away, and... She nods. Slowly. With a searching glance towards the corners of the lab, a faint blush on her features. "It was about a year ago?" she asks, voice soft and hesitant. "When everything went... was... Egypt." She gestures helplessly, forcing her gaze back up with a shiver of breath. "When Mrs. MacIntyre was... got..." She draws a hard breath, releasing it with a fierce gusto. "..when bad things happened. Mrs. M got better, but--" She gestures again, movements tiny for all their gestures about. "When we got home, I stayed under bed for... ages. Expecting policia to come, or giant killer metal robots, or..." She screws up her lips, fighting a smirk and a grimace. "Ninjas. But nothing happened. How does on get better from--" She rubs her stomach, wincing. "-- that?"
Richard Stadler	It took a moment for Stadler to notice. It had been, at the end, a prefunctionary question. Something to be answered with a quick 'I'm good' or a minor 'what are your office hours' sort of question. But he's aware enough to look up from a document he was perusing after a moment of silence, freezing as she sees her eyes dart to other places beyond eye contact, and the halting way she speaks. He moves to sit on the desk and lean forward just a bit as she speaks. His own face looks... hesitant as she describes the events that occured, and her feelings through her breathing. Even after she finishes, he's quiet himself, his mouth opening for a moment, and closing it. Trying to gather his thoughts. "Well... the first thing I would suggest is... a counsulor. Or a therapist. I'm... it's not something I'm..." He trails off. "I mean, I've talked about it before, I suppose, just... I know they can be very helpful. And my suggestions are... they're very... situational. But I suppose I can ask are you... still hiding under your bed? Still afraid?
Belinda Gutierrez	Belinda is quiet for a long moment, utterly hesitant. Sheepish even. Gathering thoughts, focus, words! "No," she answers carefully, enunciating her English more precisely than ever before. Without hint of her accent, she turns to gaze fully on. And immediately quiets again, as the words fail to come. She chuffs, grimaces, glowering before she casts restraint aside, hopping up on a lab stool with a slump and a glower. "Everything happened so fast," she answers carefully, "And nobody seemed to know what to do. So, I... took... action." She glances aside, feet kicking idly at the stool legs as she tenses. "And haven't stopped. I always was night owl; now, I work out energy by jogging in park." Pause. "...at night. And frisbee! Ultimate... frisbee." She murmurs quietly, a soft voice. "...and get shot at by las pandillas. In Gotham. Sometimes."
Richard Stadler	Richard Stadlergives her time; he doesn't have anywhere else to be, honestly; worst comes to worst, the dorms were a short walk away, and it wasn't like he hadn't had a conversation like this with a teenager before. Just not here. A quick nod as she focuses on that word... and fails to expand on it. He moves himself, picking up a labstool next to her and sitting at the table across from here here. "That... does happen, some times. If you're ambushed, the objective often is to keep you off balanced and unable to respond, esspecially if you go after the leaders. It took us a while to respond, I know, and I'm sorry for that, but you did the right thing. Action is better than inaction." He takes a breath. "But taking action now... it sounds like hypervigilence. Finding coping mechanisms so you don't have to... process what happened. It's not exactly the healthiest thing for you to do... well, scratch that a bit. It's certainly keeping you physcially healthy. But mentally healthy is a different /what/!?" He instantly regrests the suprised, stern tone of his voice, wincing to himself. "I'm- Sorry. Didn't meant to jump there. But you need to tell me what happened."
Belinda Gutierrez	The girl glances up, and has the appreciably sheepish expression down pat. Winces at the shocked outburst, but bends her head with a quiet expresion. "It... actually started before the Egypt trip," she begins, trying to recall everything. Sinking into her-- no. She sits upright, steeling herself as she focuses her words. No more! "A few months before," she begins again, voice edged with iron. "Was with Morgan, we were out having food. Then, some men tried to kidnap him, and... used some gas." She grimaces, crinkling her nose. "Knockout vapor? Anyway, were saved by Wonder Woman--" She bites back a VERY visible urge to squeal. Cough. Stern! "--but before she could come, we were able to save... ourselves." She brushes a lock of hair to one side. No need AT ALL to discuss shotgun to the head. Not at all. "And that was first time," she adds, trying her level best to not adminminister heart attacks. She recounts on her fingers, ticking off incidents. "There was a robbery, but the robber 'slipped' on something." Cough. "And then there was a trip in Gotham. More jogging. Met a... cat." Long pause. "Friendly, but had to leave behind. No pets in dorms." OBVIOUS OMISSION. "And I almost met Avengers!" she suddenly exclaims, briefly cheerful. And then shivery. Flames. "And then there were.... really ninja." She pauses thoughtfully, brow furrowed. "Well, I thought they were other students at the school first. I mean, teenager! But she..." She stops, cringing as she glances back. "...stole from the museum. And I think she blamed it on me. So, tried to track them down, and..." She quiet, shivering. "....she was scary. Oh, and got shot by a helicopter! Got better though."
Richard Stadler	There was a bit of relief on his face that, at the very least, he hadn't missed the signs where she had gotten shot at. Though he wasn't exactly... comfortable with the news she had gotten in that sort of trouble. And it doesn't look as if he's going to be given a reason to feel better as she accounts incident after incident, leaving him, perhaps, staring just a bit at her as she finishes, just for a few seconds. "Miss... Miss Gutierrez, this is... you're 16! Egypt was.... would have been enough, some angelic creature coming down and deciding to- She got better. But it can't have been a good experience. But you're telling me someone who were eating with was almost kidnapped and you had to get out of it yourself, and the fact that you were involved in a robbery- and I know that's not the whole story, but I'm letting it slide for the moment," He says, sternly. Slipped on something, with that tone, /right/. "And you... mentioned meeting a ninja who stole and blamed it on you. How'd you explain that to the police? And you went /after/ her?" He's not sitting now, standing up from the stool, hands off to his sides, and his tone is... less stern. Almost pleading. "And /shot/! Teenager shouldn't have to deal with this short of AIT and the goddamn sandbox, and not even then, now that we're out! Why... do you talk about this? With anyone?"
Belinda Gutierrez	It feel strange; as the outraged panic grows from Mr. Stadler, the calmer she feels. Relief, faith-- she nods as she gets up, reaches to take his hand, to reaffirm with a comforting squeeze. "I do," she promises, gazing evenly. With mi tio and tia and mi familia and--" She stops with a quiet giggle, shaking her head. Sighing in shared frustration! "My bisabue-- my great grandfather, from Germany, taught me when I was very young that.... taught lessons that I still get, only just now. To help people, and be brave, and learn things, and--" She pauses, head quirked. "Sandbox? AIT?"
Richard Stadler	It had to be hoped that the source of his outrage could be detected; not at her, but at the idea that life could do something to a person that young. The squeeze of his hand is met with a freeze, and then a bit of a slow nod, though he does quickly move his hand out of ranage next, folding his arms. "That's... better. I'm glad you have a support structure to talk about with this, but it..." He trailss off, shaking his head. "This is not what you're supposed to worry about. Or... it isn't something you should be so used to by now that you have coping mechanisms. You should have at least a few years before you have to start /making/ the decisions, and it just... I don't like it. I don't like knowing that these things happen." He says, before waving another dimissive hand. "Advanced Infantry Training and... you know. Sandbox. Iraq. Afgahnistan too, but I wasn't in Afgahnistan. Not important. The important thing is these things... Look. I know I'm busy quite often, but can you try to come to me if you do get in any of this sort of trouble again?"
Belinda Gutierrez	@emit Belinda nods, folding her hands together as she takes a long breath, quiet and deep. "I promise," she answers, nodding gravely as she answers. She pauses, smiling sadly. "I am glad it is not someone else, though. Because it could be so much worse for them. I mean-- familia is so far away, but I can always call them, and I have some here in the City. I have friends here too, and things to learn, and peppers to grow for the astronauts." She grins with a giggle, coughing as she evens out her features into solemn expression. "Life is not fair," she says quietly. "So, if I must start being adult and responsible.... Well." She bows her head, nodding with grave expression. "I will do so." She glances up, eyes glittering. "Though I am still going to go to prom dance when it is time!"
Richard Stadler	There's a firm nod from Stadler at her promise. "Thank you. At the very least, I can be of some help It's..." He's silent for a few moments, moving his hands to the table, leaning over it. "Don't get me wrong, you're a good kid. You look at the bright side of things, what you can do instead of what you can't. That's a valuable attitude to have, esspecially with what you've experienced. But it's not... right. That you've had to take it. I know life is fair, oh, boy, do I know life doesn't play fair, but that doesn't mean I can't get incensed about thaat fact. And a lot of times, this isn't life doing it, but the people who would shoot at a teenager for... whatever reason. Just make sure you don't scarifice your years here to responsibilities all the time. This is supposed to be just like you and those peppers. A time of experimintation and growth that shouldn't be stunted by harsh conditions and a lack of support. So. Please. Don't be afraid to use me as a resource so I can make sure you have that chance." And at the mention of prom, his hands are up, good naturedly as he backs away. "Except for that. Bit of a wallflower back in High School myself, so I'd be of zero help there."
Belinda Gutierrez	Belinda giggles, slipping forward for a quick, firm hug. "You help put these things together," she says reverently, "But the rest is totally for me to sink or swim or flail in the corner!" She squeezes again, releasing with a sniffl--nod. Nod! Exhaling, with a lusty fervor. "I cannot promise to always be safe, because... I do not get to be. But I can help keep other people safe, and that is good for something too, yes?" She stands to attention, raising her hand to the air. "I solemnly swear that I shall do all I can to be strong and be fair and live life to all its fullest." Pause. "And to not give mi instructores heart attacks before I learn CPR. Because that would be bad."
Richard Stadler	Richard Stadler does seem suprised at the hug, taking a brief step back... but he at least movees to give her two quick, firm pats on the back before disengaging. He doesn't seem to be the hugging sort, for the most part. "That is true. But you should get the training and oppurtunity. All of it. And I'll make sure to provide it as best I can, just like all the other teachers and staff here sure." He moves to exhale a bit. "That is true, though; if you decide to go to that line of work, it's not something I can expect you to remain safe in. Just... make sure you know what you're getting into. And the price that it might require." To her raising her hand, he shakes his head a bit. "Don't make oathes lightly, Ms. Gutierrez. Those are important and shouldn't be joked about. But that would be acceptable. Though I expect to fix to the second you'd better learn CPR rather quickly. I have a class I can refer you to, or just show you how sometime soon."
Belinda Gutierrez	Belinda blinks in surprise, and really does squeal in happiness this time! She almost hugs again-- thinking better of it, though grinning with delighted glee. "I would be very happy to learn CPR, Mr. Stadler," she answers, nodding in a rush. Then, more soberly, she purses her lips, struggling to hold back the wild swirl of emotions. "I will try to be more careful, too. Some of it, these things, are.... heritage?" She chuckles faintly, stealing a sheepish glance. "Well, heritage. But learn much to be involved too!"