Opening Day [OPEN]

[astonishing_xmods]

WHO: EVERYONE
WHAT: Mingle/Figure out Room Assignments/Meet old friends again
WHERE: The whole campus.
WHEN: September 1st, 2018
WARNING(S): None. If anything goes into warning territory, please create a new log for it.




For all of the newcomers, welcome to Professor Xavier’s Institute of Higher Learning! For all of our returning students and staff, welcome back! Once Professor Xavier’s welcome speech wraps up, it’s time for everyone to get themselves situated in their dorms and, more importantly, get to know your fellow mutants! Even if you’re not sharing rooms, you’ll still be sharing the same campus with each other, so don’t be afraid to get used to all of those new faces! Or even catch up on old ones! You have options; don’t be afraid to use them.

[[ ooc: This is the general mingling post for all of our characters to get settled into their rooms, get to know each other, reminisce with old friends, all that jazz. The log will be split into multiple locations. ]]

Comments

[tactlesstactician]

[ There's another moment or two of hesitation before Soren does as bid, sitting on the edge of the seat and not leaning back. He slumps a little, though. ]

... Soren.

[shiningscales]

[Soren's response is met with a couple of clicks as Caelius turns to his computer's monitor and brings up the necessary information. Another few seconds of skimming, and then—]

Ah, I see. Well, you've come to the right place. [Really, there's notes on a few problem behaviors—mostly his trouble interacting with peers, along with his issues regarding physical mutations—but Caelius actually feels...confident in dealing with one of them.] Actually, I'm glad you chose to speak with me. It looks like there's something we have in common.

[tactlesstactician]

[ Soren gives him a look somewhere between dubious and curious. Caelius looks normal at first glance, and Soren isn't really sure what else is in his file. ]

Besides being at this school, you mean?

[shiningscales]

If you're going to be like that, two things in common.

[He accepts that dry reply with a smile.]

Here, though— Look.

[With that said, he unbuttons the cuff of one sleeve, promptly rolling it down to his elbow. As he finishes, he holds his arm in front of himself, displaying the scales that pepper his forearm. A different color than Soren's for sure, but no less scaly.]

They gave me a lot of trouble when they first started growing in, to be honest.

[tactlesstactician]

[ Soren refrains from being even more pedantic and listing still more superficial similarities - but even if he had been going to, any comments die on his lips when he sees the scales. His eyes widen a little, and he subconsciously reaches a hand up to touch the back of his shoulder through the sweatshirt. ]

... are there more growing in?

[shiningscales]

Not now. When I was your age— Well, it's probably similar. Just your back, right? Mine are still densest there.

[tactlesstactician]

...

[ Soren shifts a little. ]

You... don't have wings, though.

[shiningscales]

Well... Our mutations are a bit different. There's a bit of shape-changing involved for me. I can't have less than this, but I can have more. [He shrugs, the gesture almost apologetic.] Like I said, when I was younger, it gave me trouble. Even if I wore long-sleeved shirts, I couldn't keep them from growing on my hands sometimes.

[tactlesstactician]

[ His eyes drop to Caelius' hands for a moment. ]

... I see. Mine have just... been slowly spreading. [ His tone indicates that he's not really thrilled about that. But after a moment he looks back up. ] You have other powers?

[shiningscales]

Mm. For me, the more control I gained over them, the more...permanent ones grew in. It's a little ironic, but I guess that's just what it means for a power to mature sometimes.

[He doesn't roll his sleeve back down to his wrist. Instead, he rolls the other one up, leaving both his scale-speckled forearms in plain view. He's supposed to be showing that a physical mutation is nothing to be ashamed of, so he won't cover it again.]

Hm... Sort of. I can change my shape enough to have wings or a tail if I need them, and these scales can absorb light for me to use later. [He chuckles, though, like he's admitting something embarrassing.] It comes with a drawback, though. You know what happens to a lizard in the cold, don't you?

[tactlesstactician]

I guess... [ he'd really rather not have more scales be a consequence of his power maturing, though. He'd rather not have any mutations at all.

At the mention of lizards, though, he nods. ]

Cold-blooded animals get very sluggish.

[shiningscales]

Exactly. I'll probably be wearing a scarf before the month is out.

[And the inconvenience of that is obvious, he thinks, so.]

Anyway. If nothing else, I wanted you to know we at least have similar situations, so if you're having any problems with it, hearing my perspective can't hurt. And not just me— We have a whole class about flying here, so you're not the only person with scales or wings.

[He doesn't expect an about face on the matter after one conversation, but presenting the idea of normalcy— That can't hurt, either.]

[tactlesstactician]

[ Soren nods but makes no effort to really relax or open his sweatshirt to show his wings or anything like that. He makes a note about the class on flying, though. Maybe.... maybe he can sit in on it. Or watch... Learn a few things about air currents without having to participate... ]

What do you do in the snow? Or do you just stay inside?

[ What? He's curious. And it's better than addressing the remark about scales and wings, anyway. ]

[shiningscales]

[It's not like Caelius doesn't notice the way Soren avoids the topic, but he says nothing about it. He's said what he wanted to say, and he doesn't mind just talking or answering questions.]

I put on even more layers. When I can't lower my arms to my sides anymore, I know I'm wearing enough. [Is he joking? He just smiles as he adds, somewhat more pithily:] Or I just stay inside. I never dealt with snow before coming to this school, and I still don't get along with it, to be honest.

[tactlesstactician]

[ He nods, having never been overly fond of snow, either. Cold is less detrimental for him, but that doesn't mean he likes it. It's much harder to keep air warm, after all, than it is to cool it off. ]

Isn't there someone here who could make you a self-heating coat or something?

[shiningscales]

A self-heating coat, hm? That's actually not a bad idea. If you can put that kind of thing into the lining of a blanket, then...

[Well, it's definitely worth mulling over, at least.]

Honestly, I hadn't thought to ask anyone else. [The admission is just a hair sheepish.] I guess I've just gotten used to working around the issue. It's usually fine if I warm up in advance... Apparently I'm large enough that I retain heat better than a lot of animals.

["Apparently." He trusts what other people have explained to him, not being the best at the sciences himself.]

[tactlesstactician]

[ Soren nods and mumbles: ] ... lower surface area to volume ratio.

[ Physics is one of his favorite subjects! Except when it involves group labs....

In any case he falls quiet again, out of questions for the moment. Actually, he's sort of hoping that Caelius will say he can go and doesn't need to come back. ]

[shiningscales]

[Unfortunately, that response only serves to make Caelius perk up.]

Do you like science?

[He asks with genuine interest.]

[tactlesstactician]

[ Well crud. That isn't telling him he can leave.

But -- Soren nods. No hesitation there.

And doesn't elaborate because what is being cooperative and open, and can he eat it? ]

[shiningscales]

What about the classes here?

[Alas, there is no escape. This is the track the conversation is on now.]

[tactlesstactician]

[ He shrugs. ]

Most of them...

[ Narrows his eyes a little, though. ] I don't like group projects. [ And that seems to be a Thing with certain teachers. ]

[shiningscales]

Mm. [It's an acknowledging sound, neither positive nor negative.] Would you mind talking about why that is? Unfortunately, I don't think they're something that will just go away.

[tactlesstactician]

[ Soren frowns, giving him a sort of Look. ]

I don't like most other people. I don't see why there's anything wrong with that.

[ It's just teachers who do. ]

[shiningscales]

[Another hum. His hands fold together where they rest on his desk, Caelius briefly glancing down as he considers.]

There's nothing wrong with being introverted or preferring to work alone. [Not liking most other people— Well, it's a little more concerning when it's put like that.] It's just that group projects aren't likely to go away anytime soon, so if you have trouble working with other people, it's probably something worth working on.