Owner	Pose
Dane Whitman	It's been a slightly stranger than usual couple of weeks for one Dane Whitman. It started with a not-quite anonymous letter that arrived, suggesting that he should look into a position at a school he had never heard of. No name was signed, but it was on SHIELD letterhead. Setting aside the disturbing notion that SHIELD might be monitoring his web surfing while he was idly considering hunting for a day job...more out of keeping occupied than needing the money...he decided it couldn't hurt to see what was up, and perhaps more so how and why SHIELD would care. He did a bit of research online, sent a few emails and a resume and cover letter, and now he finds himself waiting outside the office of the School's Principal, to interview for a position teaching Engineering. He doesn't remember his old high school having Engineering, but this school does seem to be academically rigorous from what he could gather. And so he waits, not looking particularly impatient, dressed in a nice medium-gray suit that's been tailored to fit him well, and a black turtleneck. Formal-ish but not TOO formal. He's surprised to find that he's actually a tiny bit nervous. Mostly because it's been a while since he's had a job interview.
Morrigan MacIntyre	Morrigan's assistant is actually there to meet Dane when he arrives, "Mister Whitman? I'm Duncan. I can show you to Doctor MacIntyre's office if you'd like to follow me." the man states. He's tall with reddish brown hair and a winning smile. No wonder he makes a good assistant! The door isn't that far away and it's opened. Duncan gives a knock to alert the red head within and there's a smile, "Ah, thank you Duncan." the Irish woman states as she stands. "Mister Whitman, please come in and have a seat if you want. Make yourself comfortable. Can we get you anything to drink?" she asks.
Dane Whitman	Dane gives Duncan a polite smile and a word of gratitude as he passes into the office, moving across to extend a hand before he takes the offered seat, "Doctor MacIntyre, pleased to meet you in person." It's only been some businesslike emails until now. He retains that polite smile, before shaking his head, "Thank you, but I'll be fine." He settles into one of the available chairs, opposite Morrigan's desk. He seems reasonably comfortable but not nonchalant...at least trying to put on a professional demeanor. Of course, all that may be of passing interest, since for Morrigan the first thing that likely comes to her attention is that a great deal of magic swirls around Dane. Powerful enchantments...and bubbling beneath the surface of all that, a dark and powerful curse. Not something that's active at the moment...but something that lies sleeping. For now.
Morrigan MacIntyre	Morrigan gives Duncan a smile and a small dip of her head, the man leaves without further words, closing the door behind him. The womans desk is not near the windows, but the curtains are open to show a view of the campus. "It's nice to meet you as well, Mister Whitman. I was looking over your resume and things and was very interested in having you come in for a one on one." she tells him as she retakes her seat, smoothing out her skirt as she does. But her violet gaze looks through him almost as she studies the enchantments...and that'underlying curse. She shakes herself though and offers a smile, "So I see that are a number of things that you could teach. Do you have a favorite subject that you might like to take on over others?" she asks him.
Dane Whitman	"Well, you've seen my resume, I don't have any real experience as a teacher. Though I guess in a way I've trained people, just...not really in academic subjects." He cants his head, "So I suppose I would leave the preference up to you, but I'm an Engineer by trade, though I did minor in history, so I could probably handle teaching that as well." He smiles just a touch wryly, "Or at least might be a handy substitute if the regular history teacher calls in sick." He gives a little shake of his head himself, "But if you're asking my preference, it would probably be more in the science and engineering fields."
Morrigan MacIntyre	Morrigan gives a nod to this, "This is true." she tells him. She has the file out for him, flipping it open and there's a look between him and the file. Those violet eyes of hers taking things in. "We do need an engineering teaching." she admits to that. "I like to see if people have a preference of where they might want to spend their time though. You should have some enjoyment out of this as well." she states. She settles back in the seat, "The pay and benefits are generous. We've got housing for those that need help relocating. I think that we'd benefit from someone with your expertise." she admits. "And we have another MIT graduate that is looking to start working here." she smiles to that.
Dane Whitman	Dane looks a bit surprised, though not at all upset, "Just like that?" He laughs a bit, "Well, this is turning out to be a better interview than I could have hoped for." He smiles, "I may look into the relocation. If I'm being completely honest, the money isn't really what I'm after, I'm...well, not wealthy, exactly, but I guess my parents would have called me "well-to-do."" He shrugs slightly, a bit self-conscious about it, "Even so, I've been looking for something to occupy my time, and I'd prefer not to be complacent about it all." Another smile, a few degrees brighter this time, "And this looks like something that might be a better deal than just a 9-5 in some lab somewhere. More fulfilling, certainly." At the mention of another MIT graduate, Dane grins, "Oh? Do you happen to know what class they were? Wonder if I know them."
Morrigan MacIntyre	"I've been over the file and things. Part of the test is how you do teaching and I can't gauge that from just sitting and talking." she grins at that. "And it's alright on that. I'm not doing this for the money either." she admits. Then she does a shuffle of files and there's a bit of a squint at a file, "Well. I misread. He's from Oxford." she frowns. "I must have read that wrong. Seems we have a graduate from most of the Ivy League schools though." she admits to that. "What are your views on Mutants, Metahumans or those that have special gifts, Mister Whitman?" she asks him.
Dane Whitman	Dane's expression grows serious at the next question, and there is perhaps a flicker of something on the boundary of curious and suspicious, though perhaps not directly towards her on the latter: "I'm glad you asked, since I did have something I feel I need to bring up." He takes a breath, clearly steeling himself a bit, "I'd be a hypocrite if I carried any particular animosity towards them in general. I'm...I guess we can call it "gifted" myself." He seems a bit conficted as to whether that's the right word, but continues, "But before we go into any detail on that, I'll just sum it up as: I don't have anything against people with extraordinary abilities just for having extraordinary abilities. It's what they do with those abilities that matters as far as my opinion on any given individual."
Morrigan MacIntyre	Morrigan takes a drink from her water bottle as she listens to him and she lets her gaze settle on him. It's nothing that is suspicious. She's just watching his actions. When he is done there is a breath taken and then she leans forward a bit, placing her elbows on her desk, "We have a very delicate mix of students here, Mister Whiman. It's why I ask prospective teachers their views. If you did not like those that are gifted or harbored ill will, we'd be parting ways." she tells him. "We have metahumans, aliens and mutants here. Even magic users. Is this something that you feel comfortable knowing?" she asks him. "To add, you would not be divulging that we have any special students. We are not known to the public as anything other than a private high school for humans." she admits.
Dane Whitman	"Actually hearing that helps at least one thing make a -bit- more sense." Dane admits, "As I was wondering why SHIELD would have sent me a tip for applying for this job. Setting aside the uncomfortable implications about what they might know about me...at least that question seems like it's partially answered now. And yes, I don't think I would have a problem keeping quiet about that knowledge." He studies Morrigan a moment, then asks, "Are there metahumans on the faculty already?"
Morrigan MacIntyre	Morrigan gives a nod to him, "Might make a bit more sense, yes. Most don't get pointed here unless it's SHIELD or others that are doing the pointing. And honestly I'm glad they've been so involved in the project." she states. "And without naming names, yes, there are metahumans on staff and things." she admits. "I am not one of them though." she explains. "So if you think you'd fit well with us the position is yours." she offers.
Dane Whitman	"Maybe. Nothing I'm opposed to on my end but you should probably know a little more about me before you commit to that decision." Dane frowns in thought, "I can promise that...the things I can do aren't any threat to the students or faculty. But given the way the world works these days, if there are ever people in danger here I'm not going to hesitate to use all the means available to me to protect them. I'll keep quiet about them from the students and staff if you prefer...I'm not sure what your policy is on that yet...but I don't want you to hire me if you think I'm going to be any kind of problem. So you probably should know at least the basics of what I can do." He meets her eyes for a moment and continues, "I'm...descended from a Knight of Camelot. The Round Table and all that. I...have a magic sword and armor and a flying horse." He pauses, then looks a bit amused, "Which sounds a lot more lame than it did in my head a second ago." It's the kind of humor that tends to be overlaid an unpleasant truth. "Anyway, there are some...strings attached where all of it is concerned, and like I said, it shouldn't be any danger to the school or the students, but if things take a turn for the worse, well...I'll let you know immediately and tender my resignation. Or I may just end up disappearing whether I like it or not. Regardless...if you want to know more, or any of the specifics, feel free to ask. Even if I'm not sure about going public it wouldn't be fair to you or the students if I was anything less than up-front about it all." Of course, depending on just how much and what kinds of lore Morrigan has been exposed to, she might rather easily be able to surmise which particular Knight and which particular magic sword he's talking about.
Morrigan MacIntyre	Morrigan listens closely, genuinely interested in the things he has to say. There's a soft smile when he's done and there's a nod of her head, "It is not the oddest story I have heard." she tells him. "Now are we taking pegasus or just regular horse that flies?" she asks him. "Sorry, that's probably...well.." she waves her hand. "Magic we can handle here. I'm a Master and there's other resources." she tells him. "I don't make that public knowledge to everyone, so just in case you need something." she offers. "Do you have any enemies that might decide to make an appearance from your past? I ask just so that I can have it on the radar just in case." she offers. "And is it Excaliber?" she squints at him a little.
Dane Whitman	Dane grins, just a bit wryly, "It's a pegasus, though...well, he can break the sound barrier, among other things, so I get the impression his speed isn't all about wings." He blinks a bit at the next bit, "You're a...sorceress?" He chuckles yet again, shaking his head with an expression somewhere between rueful and wry. "I...appreciate the offer, and if I think you can help I might take you up on it." He pauses at the next question, clearly giving it thought, "I don't have any...personal enemies that I know of. But I do know that there are those around that certainly might come after the sword. Thankfully for everyone here, it's usually a couple hundred miles away, unless I need it." At her next question, his expression does look genuinely amused, "No...no, not Excalibur. I doubt I'm that worthy." He adds, his expression dimming just a bit, "Though in it's own way, it might be just as powerful...it's called the Ebony Blade. I'm called the Black Knight."
Morrigan MacIntyre	"That's pretty neat. I know the Valkyries also have those." Morrigan nods to this. She seems a bit intrigued by the whole thing. "Knights are very rare these days. Well...proper knights." she chuckles to that. For the briefest moment she thinks of another medieval being and there's a frown, but she paints on another smile as she looks to him. "If my lore is correct, you guys tend to come to very violent ends. We'll see about that not happening...or hopefully it won't happen. And I'm sure the usual answer to 'can I see the sword?' is No." she muses. "Curses are not my best thing, but there might be others to try." she tells him.
Dane Whitman	Dane actually laughs this time, genuinely, before noting, "Careful Doctor, out of context that could be some horrible innuendo." He shakes his head, then adds, "But one good turn deserves another, so since it's just between us..." He stands up, and extends a hand, and with a brief pulse of light, the long, night-black blade, with it's golden crossguard and ruby-bejeweled pommel is in his hand. And if Dane had magic swirling about him, this weapon is...both immensely more suffused with it, and yet somehow at the same time almost feels as though it were a void that was drinking it up. Magic and Anti-Magic all at the same time. At her comment on the curse, Dane looks somber, "I appreciate the offer. Really. But...I'm pretty sure it's just something I have to bear. Magic and power always have a price, Merlin said. The curse is mine." Whether he likes it or not. "But I know ways to hold it off for as long as possible, at least. Hopefully, anyway."
Morrigan MacIntyre	Morrigan's pale cheeks flame a nice crimson when he points that out and she hides her face behind her face for a moment, "Act like I didn't say it like that." she laughs. Though she wasn't expecting the next event and she looks to the blade for a moment, those violet eyes of hers glowing as she watches it, "It's beautiful." she tells him as she settles her hands on her desk. Nope. Not touching it. She then nods, "I understand bearing curses or hardships. So if you ever want to speak. I'm a good listener." she admits. "Merlin seems to be at the heart of many medieval debacles, but, I'm sure he was more clean up crew than mischief maker." she looks to him. "So, does the armor put itself on or do you have to strap yourself in and you have to mutter about not having a squire to help with it?" she asks with a straight face.
Dane Whitman	There's another pulse and Dane is bedecked in gleaming silver chainmail, helmet, tabard, gloves and boots, "I can change it's appearance when I summon it, at least a bit. I prefer the chain mail...easier to move in, but it's lighter than it ought to be either way, and seems to give about the same amount of protection no matter what form it takes." He smiles , "No squire. And I can summon Strider...my horse...pretty much the same way, but I think that might make things a little messy in here, so that one I guess I'm saving for a rainy day." That light pulses again, and there's plain old Dane, right back in the same clothing he was wearing before, sword and armor now once again languishing in the hidden chambers of a castle in Virginia. "Well, Merlin certainly managed to make getting armed and armored convenient."
Morrigan MacIntyre	Morrigan seems absolutely intrigued by the situation. There's a look over the man as he's in full armor and there's a little clap, "That's fantastic." she tells him. "And very convenient, yes." she muses. "I don't think I have a spell like that.' she sighs. "Might need to try a new one. Or I could just fall out the window trying." she shrugs with a smile. "Merlin would have been interesting to meet." she admits. "And thank you for enlightening me. I've honestly never imagined to get a yes to things like that." she chuckles.
Dane Whitman	"Well, I aim to please, I guess." Dane smiles, "And I did say I'd be up front, so it seemed only fair." Dane cants his head at the mention of Merlin, "I never met him firsthand, but I've had uh...conversations with my ancestor who did." A bit of a sheepish grin, "I suppose I shouldn't feel so self-conscious about that around you, given your own knowledge, I just always feel like someone's going to look at me, smile and nod, and dial the local asylum when I talk about some of this."
Morrigan MacIntyre	"You can always say 'No' though. Don't ever stratch aiming to please into giving into everyones whims. I've made that mistake before." Morrigan tells him as she looks to him. The glow leaves her eyes and there's a nod to him, "I think you'll fit in nicely at the school, Mister Whitman." she admits. "And it's not because of my love for medieval times." she points out. Then she laughs, "We're not going to dial up the asylum on anyone unless the Joker shows up. And at that point, I doubt we're going to actual stop to phone them." she muses.
Dane Whitman	"I'll keep that in mind." Dane shakes his head, "Love of medieval times? Is this a bad time to mention that I spent ten years occupying the body of my ancestor, fighting in the Third Crusade?" He looks entirely bemused at this, "But I suppose I'd better save a few things for future conversations. I'm glad to be on board, and before I start wondering if this is someone at SHIELD's idea of setting up the world's strangest blind date, I should probably remember that you're running a school here and probably have things to do. I imagine Duncan probably has any of the necessary paperwork?" He adds, "Though before I worry about that, do you have any other questions? At least as far as the job goes?"
Morrigan MacIntyre	Morrigan looks to him and there's a bit of a chuckle, "I'd expect SHIELD to set up the worlds weirdest blind dates in the making." she admits to that. "The Third Crusade was a favorite...though all of them are bloody reminders that there will almost never be peace in those lands." she frowns at that. "You'll have to tell me who your ancestor is sometime though." she states. "And if staff wants to date that's no business of mine really, I know that if I catch any teachers trying to schmooze a student we're going to have a really long talk." she admits. "And yes, Duncan has the majority of the paperwork." she smiles. "Questions from me? I...are there ways to see if you are going to have a bad day? Just so I might be able to catch it? Like Duncan and a few others know if I like or sound a certain way to shoo me back home." she chuckles.
Dane Whitman	Dane nods, his expression a bit grim, "The curse is triggered under a very specific circumstance. If the Ebony Blade takes a life, it activates. So I'll definitely know either way. There are a lot of technicalities...some types of beings don't trigger the curse, but humans definitely do, and I assume that probably means mutants and metahumans too. The curse it self...well, the sword was forged in a much more brutal time, where much more brutal means were acceptable. It wants to slay the enemies of Camelot, and in the absence of those, evil beings in general. It won't make me go after innocents and bystanders, thank God, but it'll try to compel me to fulfill it's purpose or die trying. I...was able to hold off against the worst of it for a while, when I was in the past. So I should have time to try to find a way to cool it off again...if it exists. But yes...I should be able to let you know, and I appreciate the offer of help. I'm not too proud to accept it, either."
Morrigan MacIntyre	"Well have to make sure you don't have to find out the hard way of if they day." Morrigan states. "So we'll make sure to make things go smoothly and if any trouble starts cropping up we'll make sure to help out." she tells him with a soft smile. "And thankfully it doesn't compel you to go after innocents, that is noted." she states. "And do you have any questions for me, Mister Whitman?" she asks him.
Dane Whitman	"Not really, besides when you'd like me to start?" He pauses a moment, then adds, "Well actually, I suppose I could ask: What's your policy on...I guess I'd call it "meta-technology" here? Because as a way of trying to sidestep the curse I've invented a couple of things. One of them is a weapon, but it's default mode is completely nonlethal...just unpleasant. Unfortunately that one I can't just summon. The other is a shield."
Morrigan MacIntyre	Morrigan nods to that, "Is Monday too soon? It would give you a week to get situated with paperwork and things and then Friday is the last day of school before Spring Break. So could just get settled and then relax." she tells him. Then there's a smile, "As long as they look like a normal everyday object that doesn't freak out the human children then I'm fine with that. The main idea is discretion. We don't want it known that there's special people in the school and things of that nature. We're just trying to be a normal school really." she admits. "As normal as that ever gets really." she muses.
Dane Whitman	"I think I can make Monday work, and duly noted. It's easy to keep hidden and most people would probably think it's a flashlight at first glance if they saw it." He adds, "I can probably get most of the answers to any other questions by reading up on the paperwork, so I'll get to that and let you get back to work. If I have any questions I'll send you or Duncan an e-mail, whichever you'd prefer." He steps forward and extends his hand once more, "It's been a pleasure Doctor, I'm looking forward to working with you." The smile now is warmer than the merely polite one he wore when he first arrived. "If nothing else, it certainly sounds like it'll be interesting."