with his back to the audience

[exterrorist]

Who: Charles Xavier, John Allerdyce, and NPC Jacqueline Travieso
What: hi professor this is my spawn i am very sorry about erik please give me a job
Where: Madrasati
When: the Thursday after they spoke
Notes: FYI. Also, anybody who works at Madrasati is welcome to join in, if you feel so moved (PYRO CR IS SO ENTICING I KNOW >_>). Just start a new thread.
Warnings: n/a

It's been awkward, of course. John has little idea of what it takes, day to day, to raise a kid, even one as undemanding as Jacqueline. Just because she doesn't demand his attention, however, doesn't mean she has no need of it, or wouldn't appreciate it. He's not sure what the balance between attentiveness and smothering is, but under the circumstances, erring on the side of the first seems better than the other way around.

She did cry the first night without her mom. It's the first time he's ever really tried to comfort her since she was a baby. He can't be much of a reassurement, but he's better than nothing. He's at least somewhat familiar.

Today, she is interested in the El Train and its procession from Mog Hill to Echomire, peering out the window, examining other passengers, and occasionally giving her new red rain boots a casual but deliberate swing. Ana has never been much for restricting Jacqueline's clothing choices, apart from the safety concerns, and John doesn't intend to be either. Rain boots are practical, as far as he's concerned. And if she wants to wear a maroon... jumper dress thing with a many-pocketed vest, well, fine. Whatever. She's warm, pockets are very practical, it's Baedal, no one cares.

The Madrasati building is sort of old English gloomy, even though it's not terribly overcast today. John conscientiously holds Jacqueline's hand as they proceed up the path. He's not nervous, only concerned, or so he tells himself; there's a low level jitteriness in his mind, a controlled tension in his body and the way he moves, but he's careful with Jacqueline's hand. Jacqueline herself is a bright streak of active awareness, taking in the shrubbery and the house layout with equal curiosity. She is not accustomed to holding hands with an adult anymore but is tolerant of it for John's sake, dimly aware of the meaningfulness behind the gesture as much as the physical comfort it gives both of them.

Comments

[cerebral]

Echomire seems to have that effect on what remains of it. Inside Madrasati is a different case altogether; it's well lit and welcoming, with plants and seating areas that have carefully co-ordinated tables with fanned pamphlets. The reception area was probably a parlour once upon a time, only an alcove has been cut out of one wall and fitted with a wooden counter and bell, past which is the administrators office.

Except there's no need for anyone to ding or pass on a message to Charles. He tends to keep out of people's minds unless he's being asked to, but he's very aware of his surroundings and who enters them. As soon as John and Jacqueline enter, he's already taken the time to go 'what?' in his office and wheel out to the foyer. By then, his face is impassive and friendly.

"Now you, I already know," he addresses John, which has all the intonations of 'we'll discuss this later,' (to be fair, he doesn't sound mad, maybe something between bemused and exasperated). Then, turning his attention towards Jacqueline, "But not you. I'm Charles." He actually holds out his hand to shake, which he knows is ridiculously formal, but then he remembers how annoying it was to be a bright child and treated childishly.