Leading in, Catching up

Posted on Sun Jan 29th, 2023 @ 11:17 by Phoebe Hunter & Claire Cavendish

Chapter: Prologue: Dawn of Avalon
Location: Teacher's Lounge, Avalon Institute
Timeline: Sunday, September 20th, 1992
3312 words - 6.6 OF Standard Post Measure

It was late at night but Phoebe was still very much awake with a cup of tea in the staff room going over thoughts and feelings that normally she would process with a run. Running was impossible due to rain that was due any moment and the lateness that would lead her down paths and roads dark. She was trying to work out what exactly Claire wanted from her here, people seemed nice enough and some had abilities that were easy to see but she had yet to unleash herself fully keeping a tight grip on everything as she was not fully sure who were her team mates and who were not.

Claire pushed a chair aside and sat herself down near Phoebe, cup of tea in her hands. The room was empty except for the two of them, school hadn't started yet and most of the teachers were still in the midst of getting back in to their rhythm. "How are you settling in?" She gently blew some of the heat away from her cup of tea.

“I am settling.” Phoebe answered getting comfortable in what looked like one of the more comfortable chairs when she glanced over at Claire. “Can we talk more about the extra stuff you requested me here for? I get the impression that people do not know my place in the team and I would like to clear it up seeing we were interrupted by the request from one of the students.”

"Like I said, we're a bunch of enthusiastic amateurs, and I'm an ethics major. I need someone that can lead the team. Make sure they get home safe." To Claire there had been no ambiguity, she needed Phoebe to lead the Quantum Knights. The others, while capable, didn't have the field experience that she had with teams of mutants working towards a common goal.

Phoebe understood that part but she was conscious of the fact she was the new person and did not want to step on toes. “So if I called a training session it would be acceptable?” She tested the water in wanting to get them to start being less amateurish and more a well-oiled machine.

"I would expect nothing less." Claire knew that they were far from ready to face the very real threats that were brewing around the world, and in their own country as well. "There are the Institute's regular facilities, of course, but I'm sure that we'd need something more advanced. I can see if there's room in the budget for that if you let me know what we'd need."

"I think what we have will be okay for now. MI-13 let me in on some cheap and cheerful options for training," Phoebe quickly assured relaxing visibly now that she had confirmation that she could take charge on it and arrange something. "I just did not want to step on toes. Does anyone know that I am going to be leading and not you?"

Claire shook her head, she never had any leading ambitions when it came to the Knights. "They all know I'm not leadership material in that particular field." If she was being honest with herself she barely found herself leadership material in the academic part of the operation. But they'd been able to manage since opening the doors in '89 so she felt she had to be doing something right.

“Perhaps but they are very polite in interactions where I have tried to suss them all out. The only one who seemed to have any inkling is Cameron.” She mused aloud. She was still unsure on having a speeder in charge of the transport but she was not going to judge until she saw something that would merit it. “So if you are not leader what position do you foresee for yourself?”

"Oh, well. Ehm." Claire wasn't really comfortable with any part of that operation but knew that in order to defend their ideals they would probably have to take action. "I think my particular skill set would have me in an infiltration role."

“Teleportation would be a handy ability in that role.” The precog confirmed with a nod. Having someone who could teleport inside somewhere and unlock the door would be a handy ability to have on the team. It would be less damage making and easier to get in and out of whatever was coming their way.

"It's just. I've never really done any of that. Except for when I snuck off campus." Claire didn't really feel shame for the act of sneaking out of the internment camp her parents called an educational institute, but saying it to another person that was also in an educator role still seemed rather shameful. "I mean, it was like a military school. In the states." She shook her head, she probably wasn't making it sound any better by admitting that her parents felt that she would benefit from strict rules and authority.

“Then we practice,” Phoebe said not letting the woman live in shame they had all done things as teenagers to try and survive in a world that was scared of change. Claire would have been more at risk due to her Mutant status being out in the open and obvious. “I am sure people would enjoy a game of tag with a free rein in using abilities.”

For a moment that sounded like fun until Claire realised that Cameron would also join in that and that he was too fast for her to avoid, or catch. "That does sound interesting." She'd still want to try it and she knew that there were others among the faculty that would appreciate the opportunity to stretch their legs. "I think it goes without saying that all of this is strictly off the books, so if you do need resources, please come by me directly. No need to burden Secretarial with this."

The Precog smiled over her drink. "It is our secrete but a game of tag does not need resources," Phoebe assured. "I have worked for many departments within MI-13 on a very limited budget so do not worry there Claire. I am not going to stretch you on whims."

"I didn't think you would, but as you have already noticed, we're trying to keep the Knights on the down low." Claire clarified to make sure that she had every trust in the new addition to the crew. "Honestly, I'm up for a game of tag, and anything else you'd want to throw at us."

"They will be on the down low from my point of view. I have no want or need to rock your boat." Phoebe said quickly. "I just needed some reassurance that I am on the right path for this."

"Steady as she goes." Claire remarked in her attempt at military lingo. "Any concerns or other questions I might be able to help out with?"

"Oh, I have met William." The precog said with a grin. "He caused me a little bit of a headache with his unique situation."

Claire nodded knowingly at that, it was a very weird situation and the longer William stayed with them the harder it would be for them to send him back to where he came from, if that was even a possibility. They didn't even knew where to begin with that. "He seems very clever, has been adapting really quickly into his new reality. Except for the fact that his memory is lacking in certain areas."

“It might be trauma based as he told me that is final few days were full of war and pain.” The woman frowned. “But he seemed to have adapted well. I would not have realised if he had not caused me to have a vision.” Phoebe had been embarrassed to have such a strong reaction to someone but time was a fickle and controlled her sometimes.

"Wait, a vision? He gave you a vision? You get visions? What about the rivers and all that?" It didn't quite add up in Claire's understanding of Phoebe's powers. Not that her knowledge on the subject was vast. "What did you see?"

“Sometimes the rivers turn into raging currents that want to drag me under.” Phoebe explained with a small shrug. “Just him stood in his armour. Very interesting spin on armour skin but it was not anything alarming that I know has any bearing on anything else. It was just him standing watch I guess.”

Claire was able to suppress her disappointment and simply gave a nod. "Well if you stumble across anything that would explain his slumber, please share it with him. It's something with a major impact on his psyche, not knowing." She leaned forward and smiled, "is there anything else I could be doing for you?"

Phoebe nodded. She would be telling Claire as soon as she saw anything but she was sure that her powers would be no help in working out a 600 year slumber. It was out of her expertise but she would try where she could using her history skills. “Have a drink with me?” Phoebe asked indicating the locked drinks cabinet. It was likely they both needed it.

With somewhat of a flourish Claire twirled out of her chair and stood up. "It would be my pleasure." She made her way to the cabinet and used one of the keys on her keyring to open it. "What's your poison?" She scanned through the bottles they had in stock trying to decide for herself.

“Anything amber.” Phoebe declared happy that she had not been turned down. She had not wanting to give a bad impression to the head teacher in her first week but she was going to have to learn to live and work with everyone. It would be a work in progress after the last time she let someone in but she would have to eventually.

Claire rummaged through the cabinet to find a proper Scottish Whisky and poured both of them a modest amount in the tumbler. "Neat or on the rocks?" She indicated towards the other woman, she knew how some people could get about putting ice in their drinks. She tossed in a few frozen cubes in her own glass. She wouldn't be able to stomach it neat.

“Oh god no. I am not a savage. On the rocks please.” Phoebe quickly said. Her accent shifted between American and British in that one statement. She could not stand a lot of drinks with ice in but whisky deserved to be savoured and cool.

With that Claire lobbed in a few cubes for Phoebe as well. "There was this one old guy I worked with, I don't remember like start of the eighties. I can still remember very vividly. I poured him Whisky and went to throw in some ice." She crossed the room back to Phoebe and placed the tumbled in front of her. "He shot up from his chair and moved faster than I've ever seen him move before or after, shouting at the top of his lungs." She mimicked the man grasping for the whisky and then in a thick Scottish accent bouldered; "Dinnae pour wa'er in ma Whisky!"

“Thank you.” Phoebe took a sip before placing it back down. “Be the same type of person who likes warm beer in a pub.” The mention of pub for a moment made her think of Robert and she quickly locked that thought away. She had been thinking more and more of him recently and it still hurt three years on.

"I'm sure William likes his beer lukewarm..." Claire drifted off in her thoughts as well before she realised that Phoebe was clearly preoccupied with something. "Everything alright?"

“Yeah. Yeah. Precog got lost in the past then. Was thinking of the last time I went to the pub.” The red head quickly plastered on a smile. “William has not had a decent cold beer then even if he is used to drinking just ale.” It must have been a big cultural shift for him. It showed the will power the man had to adjust well enough that he was a valued member.

Claire didn't want to press but it was clear there was some old pain in that memory. She took a careful sip of her whisky and leaned back in her chair. "It's been a long couple of years for him, that's for sure. And he's adjusted really well. Some things, though. Feels like he might be clinging to something that reminds him of home." She rolled her neck, heard it crack as she did so, "can't imagine." She also couldn't really go home, but Will's predicament was way different.

"Where else would he go though?" Phoebe wondered. It was not simply clinging to something that reminds him of home, it was the only thing he had that was still the same. "He has a job, and connections, I'd stay where I knew."

"I wonder if there's more I could do for him though. Seems like with everything coming together for the new school year I always lose sight of him a bit." Claire took another thoughtful sip. She then shook her head, there was so much going on in the world it seemed silly to be so preoccupied with the curriculum and the staff at the institute. It was such a small part of the world, and some days it made her wonder if it was going to have any effect at all.

“But you always roll back to him. That sight always returns to him.” Phoebe reminded her quickly. “We’ve known each other a week but you do not seem the type Claire to abandon someone on purpose.” The precog soothed taking a sip of her whisky.

"I guess." It wasn't easy to accept compliments but Claire was sure this was one, and that the only proper response would be a thank you. "It seems as though others are all too eager to distance themselves. Find their own paths in life, I guess." She sighed a bit. The discourse outside of the walls of Avalon was heating up and more and more she started to wonder if she might be taking the wrong stance in the whole matter. The downside to having studied philosophy was being able to make an argument for all sides in a debate. She took a quick sip and brought a smile back to her face. "Once the students are here and everything is in full swing I'm sure some of this doubt will start to ebb away."

“This is his home.” Phoebe said simply. “He was happy here from what he said over the coffee we had. And you have made it such a happy home again here. Why would he leave?” Phoebe shrugged. “Claire you are doing an amazing job. You built this whole school, your dream is alive. Do not let your doubt steep in. That is my job and I do not appreciate you trying to take it.” She added the last part with a smirk.

"I think there's enough of that to fill the Loch." Claire took another careful sip of the whisky. "I'm really not sure what you have to be insecure about." There was probably a lot that both of them were insecure about, it was kind of par for the course for people in their situations. Early years like theirs didn't usually make for strong, independent, confident, women.

"I am the new person coming in when everyone already knows each other." Phoebe pointed out gently taking another sip. "It is hard but I know that I will get there but ... until then I have my own doubts. Not even my abilities will stop that feeling in the pit of my stomach because it would be unfair to reassure myself." She had a moral code to keep to and it would be selfish to do that.

Claire shook her head, "I don't know how you do it." She took another sip, "makes a super strong case for determinism. Or I guess I could make a strong case for determinism and simply relief myself of the stress and guilt of peeking." Another sip. "I'd be peeking all. the. time."

“I would never get anything done in the here and now if I did that,” Phoebe explained having cocked her head to the side at the question on how she did it. “It would be too easy of a life. I want to live a life worth living instead of always looking forward to the next thing.”

"Very Zen Buddhism of you." Claire remarked at that approach that Phoebe seemed to take to life. "If you're OK with it, I'd like to involve you in an Ethics and Morality class." It had been something she'd considered since Phoebe had walked through the gates. Her own powers, while rather useful for teens trying to spy on the opposite sex, weren't really worth of world shattering morality classes. Everyone largely agreed that they shouldn't be used. But Phoebe. Now that was an entirely different and very interesting debate to have with the more mature students.

"I can be okay with that." It was something she had done for MI-13 trainees and her being the test on whether they would be able to handle to the morality of what the job they did create for them. "You are aware of my past that led me to MI-13 right?" Phoebe had greater scope for ethics and morality seeing she had been on the wrong end of a group wanting to use her.

"As you may know, MI-13 isn't overly forthcoming with their agent's history." Claire had heard the sanitised version where she had 'fallen in with the wrong crowd' and was rehabilitated into the agency. But she was sure that wasn't all there was to it, and the extend of her involvement with the wrong crowd was also never elaborated upon.

"Suprised that you did not at least get some type of hint." Phoebe downed the glass and looked at the woman. "My abilities were used by a group of people and myself held hostage so I am aware of the good and evil that comes from some people and how they react to some of us."

It was a sad truth that almost every mutant had a story similar to what Phoebe had. While the bigotry against Claire had been a bit more outspoken, at least she'd always been in control of her own powers and whenever she used them it was always on her own terms, for her own causes. She couldn't imagine what it would've been like for someone like Phoebe, "I'm really sorry to hear that." She reached out and put a hand on Phoebe's to emphasise her empathy.

"What happens when we lose a sense of ourselves and believe we are better than humans," Phoebe said with a shrug. She was under no illusions that mutants could be just as bad as humans in hurting and harming each other.

Claire had always wondered about that divide. She could see it from the perspective of those without abilities, it was unknown and scary and in some cases it was clearly visible who was in the in-group and the out-group. But the other way around, mutants looking down on humans for a fluke of nature? It was like that whole blue-eyes, brown-eyes experiment all over again. Why was it that humans, even in the 20th century, were so damned tribal. "Here's to us then." She raised her glass, "may we one day find ourselves living in a world where nobody bats an eye if a purple woman walks into their shop or bar."

“To us.” Phoebe responded raising her rather empty glass but the sentiment was the same.

One day.