No harm, no foul [OPEN]

[on_my_feet]

Characters: Paninya, oh so open
Location: Around the Xavier Institute grounds
Time: Monday, afternoon-ish.
Content: Paninya is interested in the Institute and has come to take a look around. She's also interested in putting her powers to the test, so she will be pickpocketing.
Format: Action or prose, whichever you like!
Warnings: If anyone tries

Comments

[bodilesswarrior]

Barbara was just starting her afternoon tour; it was a nice bit of exercise, and it helped her get to know the city. Particularly any nooks and crannies to avoid.

Her wheels slowed as she caught sight of Paninya; not a student, didn't seem like a protester. So Barbara approached, with a faint smile, keeping her words casual.

"Interested in the Institute?"

[on_my_feet]

Oh, joy -- a teacher. Paninya folded her arms behind her back and smiled innocently.

"Mm, I guess! I just came to look around. Sorry if that's not allowed."

[bodilesswarrior]

No - no matches in her internal catalogue. Girl could be telling the truth, though, and in that case...

A slight shrug. "If it's not, it should be. I've only been here a short while, but if you have any questions..."

[on_my_feet]

"Yay! I'd hate to enroll and then find out I hate it here." Not that she was planning to, really. From what little she'd seen here so far, it wasn't really for her.

"So are you a teacher here?"

[bodilesswarrior]

"Doesn't happen often, from what I've seen. I don't think they'd make a fuss, though." So far, everything confirmed these people had the kids' best interests at heart. It was one hell of a relief.

"I'm teaching computer science. ...And I seem to have taken up a few combat classes."

[on_my_feet]

"Computer science, huh? Hm, that sounds interesting." She'd never actually seen a computer before the Brotherhood's arrival, so they were pretty new to her. "Where do I sign up if I want to go to school here, anyway? Hypothetically." Not that she was really planning to.

[bodilesswarrior]

Okay, that widened her smile. "Glad you think so." Then her expression turned thoughtful. "That depends. Do you have any guardians?"

[on_my_feet]

In Paninya's defense, she had never before heard that word used to reference parents and their legal replacements. Her face wrinkled and a somewhat snotty tone took over. "No."

[bodilesswarrior]

Barbara raised her eyebrows. Well, that reaction certainly told her a lot. If she wasn't going to look this kid up before...

Her voice is soft as she says, "I meant parents, or people like them."

[on_my_feet]

Oh. Parents. Her face didn't soften one bit, though; she just repeated, in a less insolent tone than before, "Nope, I don't. Is that a problem?"

[bodilesswarrior]

Barbara shook her head. "Not at all. Just means you'll talk to the staff and sign the paperwork yourself - and the Institute will gain legal guardianship."

[on_my_feet]

"So they'd be my parents?" Her tone was incredulous, and more than a little disapproving. "You're not really doing a good job selling this place."

[bodilesswarrior]

Barbara chuckled. "Only in the eyes of the law. It's really just a way to protect the students who don't have anyone else." Her smile faded, then; there were too many.

[on_my_feet]

"To protect them?" Paninya still didn't particularly trust the whole concept, but there was no harm asking about it. It didn't seem like anyone was going to force her to stay here; not that this woman could do so if she wanted to. "From what?"

[bodilesswarrior]

"This way, they're secure. The government can't swoop in and make them wards of the state." Barbara rolled back a bit before stretching her arms, cracking the bones. "Relatives the kids don't trust won't automatically have custody of them."

[on_my_feet]

"They can do that? I thought this was the 'land of the free'." Boy, had she heard wrong. Then again, what with what they were doing with their airports... Looks like this place is no better than Genosha.