[voice]

[blue_and_proud]

So, as I sit here wrapping a lot more Christmas presents than I thought I would have to, I was thinking about Christmas's before. When I was little I didn't celebrate for...well, just because. And then when I got a little older, after I met Charles, I did, but the presents tended to be...hit or miss.

Some of them were just awful. Charles's mother

Comments

video; filter

[bluepurrymuffin]

Oh?

video; filter

[blue_and_proud]

[She smiles weakly.]

Yeah. It's pretty important. Uh.

[And then a little hesitation, because despite having practiced this, she has no idea where to start.]

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[bluepurrymuffin]

[He spreads his hands and smiles.]

Well, you have my attention!

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[blue_and_proud]

Well. Okay. [Another little pause.] Basically, I'd like to stop teaching at the institute. But I didn't want to just...quit on you, that seemed pretty awful.

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[bluepurrymuffin]

Oh. [He frowns a little more than he wanted to.] Well, we'll be sorry to see you go, but I suppose it's better that you decided to do this between semesters.

Was it...not working out for you?

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[blue_and_proud]

[That frown makes her feel even worse.] No, no, it's not...well, there were parts of it I liked, but...[She trails off.]

You know I've been working with Donna at her magazine in the evenings? I seem to be...clicking with that a lot better, and it's less frustrating, and just...

I don't know. I liked teachign at first, but the more I do it...

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[bluepurrymuffin]

Ah, so I see.

[He works to wipe off that frown, though still a bit disappointed maybe.]

But if you're thriving there then I think it's only fair for you to go with our best wishes! I do want you to now that, whether you're employed with us or not, you'll always have a place at the Institute.

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[blue_and_proud]

...Thank you, Hank. And I do feel bad, at first I thought it was a good fit but...I don't know. Charles seems to really like it.

[She smiles faintly.]

Maybe I'm just not stuffy enough.

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[bluepurrymuffin]

[He chuckles a little, almost mischievously.]

Well, we bluer mutants tend to skew away from that, I think. Though I may suffer from it from time to time, Kurt and I have done our best to bring a lighter mood to the faculty's face.

Charles, well, his name's on the building, of course he'll thrive! You have to do what will make you happy, and I can understand that it might not be in a classroom.

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[blue_and_proud]

It does seem to be the environment Charles likes best. He loved all his stuffy classes at the University too. And I wasn't saying you were stuffy. I don't know about Kurt, he doesn't...seem that way. We haven't spoken very much.

So, should I...stay on until you find a replacement?

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[bluepurrymuffin]

Ah, the two of you don't, then... [Well, he figures it must still be a bit too awkward for Kurt.]

I can arrange for a substitute until something more permanent comes along. You shouldn't feel it necessary to stay longer unless you'd like to.

As I said, our being between semesters makes it a little easier, actually.

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[blue_and_proud]

Thanks Hank. Really.

And I am sorry.

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[bluepurrymuffin]

Don't be! It's only fair for you to do what you find necessary.