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[center][h1][i][color=DarkRed]Jean Grey - Present Day/Flashback - The Bunker[/color][/i][/h1][/center]

[h2][i]One Week Ago...[/i][/h2]

[i]A comfortable silence had finally fallen upon the household after a rather rough argument that had resulted in the young woman once more being locked away in isolation, her lip bloodied and cut from where her aunt had decided that violence was the best way to stop her doing whatever it was that she could actually do. Lifting her hand up in front of her mouth, she let her tongue slip out through her lips, slowly letting it drag over her fingertips, giving herself more time to finish the last sentence on the page before she finally turned over to the next one; the process beginning all over again as she took in the strangely written world that was known as 'Alice In Wonderland'.

"Alas! It was too late to wish that! She went on growing, and growing, and very soon had to kneel down on the floor. In another minute there was not even room for this, and she tried the effect of lying down with one elbow against the door, and the other arm curled round her head..." Frowning slightly, she lifted her hand slipping her fingers through her long vibrant red locks, pushing them back off her face as she continued to read on; obvious annoyance written over her features, "Still she went on growing, and, as a last resource, she put one arm out of the window, and one foot up the chimney, and said to herself 'Now I can do no more, whatever happens. What /will/ become of me?'-... What complete rubbish this is..."

Sighing heavily, she rolled her eyes, her back pressing flat against the wall of the window seat that she had been perched on now for quite some time, her head turning to watch the light rain roll down the pane leaving small trails; showing the path that each droplet had taken. The soft yet calming sound helping her body to relax, her hands working to shut and lower the book down to her lap as she let herself be taken in by the soothing noises sneaking into the room from outside; the situation no doubt the same around the rest of [url=https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/f9/ed/19/f9ed19fa9a41c74b2507bda4ed68e23f.jpg]the house[/url], though she knew that she was more than likely the only one who would actually appreciate the small things, like rain in all its forms.

Shifting her gaze so that she was now looking past the rain, she let her eyes roam over the well-kept grounds spread out below where she was locked away on the second floor, unable to help herself as her brows furrowed, her eyes coming to rest on a rather smartly dressed figure as he moved through the gateway and into the garden. The shadowy male figure leaning over his cane as he moved down the path, heading towards the front door. Tearing her gaze away from him, she turned her head, dropping it back against the wall and closing her eyes as she concentrated, her mind seeking out to connect with that of her aunt; the action causing imaged to begin floating across in front of her eyes, showing her exactly what was going on without her having to move an inch.

[color=DarkRed]Moving down the hall as the sound of knocking filled the entryway, her aunt reached out her lips pursing slightly as she pulled open the door, her eyes falling onto the man that stood on the other side while her grip tightened over the door, the older woman ready to close it in his face at a moments notice if he did something that she didn't like, "I'm sorry... May I help you sir?"

Smiling genuinely towards the woman as she opened up the door for him, the man straightened his posture as best as he could, keeping his handicap in mind as he introduced himself to her, "You must be Ms. Grey...I am Charles Xavier." Reaching up with his arm, he pressed two fingers firmly against his temple, being sure to make direct eye contact with her as he continued on with his explanation, "I believe we spoke briefly a few days ago on the phone, about your niece and her more...unique talents." Removing his fingers from his temple, he once more lowered his hand, letting go back to resting on the hilt of his cane.

Relaxing both her grip on the door and the expression on her face, she nodded her head slowly as his short but informative explanation, her mind coming to rest on the sudden recollection of a phone call they had shared a mere few days ago. Moving to the side, she opened the door a little wider, making sure there was plenty of room for him to move inside, "Of course... We've been expecting you Mr. Xavier... Come inside; and please, excuse the mess. Things have not exactly been quite so peaceful in these halls as of late..."

Inclining his head in affirmation, Charles merely gave an empathetic smile before passing through the threshold of the door and into the house itself, being sure to wipe his shoes off on the welcome mat beforehand.

"I am to understand that Jean has been, as you said...somewhat unruly lately?" Charles asked, eyes lifting to look about the room, settling every now and then on the various  cracks in the walls and the occasional flickering of lights amidst more incriminating examples of a family struggling to remain safe when housing a budding mutant.

"She has become much too difficult to handle at most times, yes... Though she was not always like this..." Frowning slightly the woman turned her head, looking over at the staircase, her eyes lingering there for a few moments before she continued on, explaining what she had meant by her words, "..It seems that the news of her brothers passing is what caused my niece's illness to set in. Before such times, she was a sweet young thing."

"If it is alright with you, I would like to speak with her as well. She is not the first adolescent I've dealt with in similar circumstances." Charles said next, his eyes now wandering over the interior of the house as he spoke, a certain confidence in his tone that helped to put the woman at ease.

Only managing to take in half of his words until her niece's name caught her attention, she turned back to him hesitating a few moments before letting out a soft sigh, showing that she clearly wasn't happy with the idea of letting Jean out of her room just yet, especially after not so long ago getting her in there, "Yes... Of course... I'll just go get her for you..." Reaching out she placed her hand on the banister, her gaze dropping down to the stairs every now and then as she be

"Thank you." Charles replied sincerely as he watched her begin to ascend the staircase, the woman hovering a few moments on the landing before she turned the corner, leaving him in total silence as she headed down the hallway towards the room where she was keeping her niece. Fumbling around in her pocket, she took out a single key that would unlock the door, her body coming to a stop in front of the room, her eyes flicking over the old cracks in the wood before she reached out slipping the key into the lock.[/color]

Turning her head just as the door swung open, she let her bright forest-green eyes come to a rest on her aunts figure, taking note of the extremely unimpressed look upon her face before she stood up putting the book down in her place. Not bothering to speak a word to the woman, she crossed the room, following silently behind her as she led the way back through the house and down to the entryway, the young girl hanging back to linger upon the staircase as she let her eyes flick over the man who had been wanting to both meet and speak with her about what she could do.

Tilting her head slightly, she let her eyes flick over the mans face as she took in his features, her mind concentrating in on his own as she tried her best to find out exactly what it was that he wanted with her. Turning his head towards the staircase, the man offered her a welcoming smile, though her own features gave him nothing but her normal bored expression, the young woman still attempting to delve into his mind, searching for the answers as to why he was there standing in the entry of her aunt's home.

[/i]'It's very rude to read my thoughts without my permission.'[i] Clenching her jaw as she heard the mans voice projected within her thoughts, she pulled her thoughts back, her eyes remaining locked on his though now they held a hint of curiosity. The tone of voice in which he had used was neither angry nor stern, though from the look in his eyes she could see that he himself was intrigued, but the thought of trying to enter his mind again without permission was giving her second thoughts.

"You must be Jean." He then said aloud in quite a hospitable tone, hobbling towards the foot of the staircase where he then held his left hand for her to shake. "I apologize for using the improper hand, but it'll have to do, I'm afraid." He spoke with a slightly amused tone, motioning with his head down towards the cane he was leaning on; though one could detect perhaps the [/i]slightest[i] hint of bitterness if they listened hard enough. 

Dropping her gaze down to his hand that was extended out to her, she allowed her eyes to linger on it in silence for a few moments until finally lifting them back up to meet with his again, being sure to take note of the slight bitterness in his voice as she reached out shaking his hand once before dropping her arm back down to her side, "Charmed."

Narrowing her eyes slightly as she felt her aunt's stern gaze fixed on her, she straightened her back, her weight shifting over onto her right hip as she took her time to take in the mans appearance, although this time it was with her own two eyes rather then that of another, her gaze lifting to meet with his once more once she was done, "What exactly is it that you want from me Mr. Xavier?"

"It seems you've already become quite acquainted with your gifts." Charles noted aloud, sounding both impressed and curious at the same time as he spoke, this time adding an offer as a small half-smile crossed over his features, "There are a few important things I'd like to discuss with you, in regards to your talents. What say we all sit down, hm?"

"Gifts, talents... You have an interesting way of speaking about what everyone else here swears is nothing but an illness. I'm surprised I haven't been shipped off to the loony bin as of yet." Descending the rest of the staircase, she wandered past both him and her aunt, heading through the archway which lead into the lounge, the room covered in the remnants of her latest outburst just waiting for the world to see.

Turning her head back to look over her shoulder, she watched on as he followed along behind her, the man looking around the room at the various cluttered and shattered items surrounding them, and while his expression was completely blank, it was clear to her that he was obviously thinking about something else before the both of them took their respectable seats; the younger woman falling back into an armchair while he chose to take a seat on a sofa nearby where she was perching.

Tearing her eyes away from him for the time being, she turned her head glancing over into the corner of the room where her mother sat silently, nursing a half-empty bottle of whiskey, her aunt moving into the room silently placing her hand firmly on the back of her mothers chair while keeping an eye on the conversation. Forcing her gaze away from her mother and aunt completely, she turned it back to him, giving him all of her attention as she brushed some of the ruins from her latest tantrum from the arm of her seat, an unmistakable smirk playing on her lips as she did so.

Following his gaze as he settled back in the seat he had chosen, she lifted her hand up, her expression changing and her gaze dropping from his as she let her fingers brush lightly over her lip, the crimson blood that hadn't properly dried up smudging on her fingers from the cut she had gotten earlier, the injury sustained when her aunt had tried to subdue her moments before locking her away in her room. Flicking her gaze back up she allowed them to take in his features, and despite his young appearance she could tell that there was a sense of experience and maturity held within his eyes, and she'd be willing to bet that he was simply trying to sum up exactly what sort of living conditions she was truly living under.

Meeting his eyes once more, she crossed her legs, listening silently to what it was he had to say to her, "First, I would like to make something quite clear: No matter what people tell you, your powers are not a disease, a curse, or a burden - quite the opposite. You are gifted." Nodding softly as he smiled towards her after assuring her that what she had wasn't a curse but a gift, she relaxed her body back into the couch, remaining silent as he continued on in a more serious manner, "I want to ask how your home life is, Jean. What do you like to do on a day-to-day basis?"

She could tell exactly what he was trying to get at, see right through his question about her life... He was trying to see if he could find any sort of reasoning behind why her powers were so volatile, so out of control to have caused such a mess within the home, and in turn maybe even a hint as to how she was being treated, though he seemed to have already known just by the way he was looking at her, "Gifted... I don't see how I'm gifted, I'm just different. It's why I'm stuck here in this house, not allowed to leave and see those I used to be able to call my friends... I'm not even allowed to go to school anymore because I'm a so-called freak..."

Pulling her legs up she crossed them underneath her, her body leaning back in the armchair as she slouched, continuing to watch him as she thought about how to answer what it was he was asking her. She could feel her aunt's gaze on the back of her chair, like daggers in her back warning her to watch what she was saying to him, though she knew that he wanted her to be truthful, she didn't even have to read his mind like she had attempted earlier to know that, "There isn't much I can or am allowed to do other than read through whatever books [/i]they[i] give me... The minute I try and do something else that I want to, they shut the thought down... Though it's mostly her."

Turning her gaze away from him she shot a disgusted look over at where her aunt was standing, watching as the older woman shifted slightly, showing her disapproval at the fact that her niece was divulging information that was supposed to be kept private, "The other one; the one that's supposed to be my mother... She does nothing but drink. But her... She won't even let me go outside without getting angry and locking me away in my room. It's why I've read as much as I have, because I'm barely allowed out, always locked away in there on my own..."

Watching as he let out a heavy sigh, she couldn't help but take note of the disapproving glower that crossed over his features, causing his lips to press into a thin line, "I see." Dropping her arms from the arms of the chair down into her lap, she fell silent once more as she heard the tone of his voice, his words holding a dangerous edge to it though she knew that it was directed towards her guardians rather than at herself, "Then that makes the reason I came here that much more important."

Playing with her fingers she continued to listen, his voice not as hostile now as he spoke directly towards her, though it still possessed a stern and resolute inflection, "Jean, I've spent the last year-and-a-half searching for teenagers and young adults like you, shunned by society, sometimes even by their own family." Raising her eyebrow she paused her actions for a moment, the emphasis on the latter part of his words lingering in the back of her mind, causing her eyes to flick over to the two women in the corner before turning her attention back to where he was sitting, giving him all her attention.

"Adolescents who are born possessing extraordinary abilities and yet are forced to hide underneath a facade or risk facing societies prejudice. A good friend and I are working on building a safe place, a haven for our kind, mutants, to come together in a secure, healthy environment for us to be able to be who we are without fear or discrimination. There you will be with other young adults who, too, have powers that have earner them the monikers of 'freak' or 'diseased', among other deplorable titles. I've come here to extend you an invitation to be a part of this 'school' for gifted youngsters. Perhaps you can find your place in a warm and hospitable environment." Lowering her eyebrow once more she relaxed her body, her features softening once slightly as he offered her a small smile, allowing time for the information he has given her to be processed.

"There... are more like us..? People with the same illne-... People with gifts..?" Straightening her back, she leant forward slightly, her brows furrowing as she brought her hands together in her lap, her posture showing him just how interested she was in not just his offer, but also in what it was that he was saying to her about there being others like them, and how he wanted to try and make their lives better than they were, "You can really promise me a better life than I have? A life outside of this cage and away from... them..?"

Everything that he was offering to her, it was something that she hadn't thought possible in such a long time, a safe place where she would be able to not only be herself, but where she wouldn't have the fear of being abused, or the fear of losing control of her powers like she always seemed to do in this environment, "If you can do what you say you can; then I fully accept your invitation to take up a position within this school of yours. Whether I fit in with the others there, or not; please allow me to join you."

"Before you make any decisions..."  Raising her eyebrow she let her lips part slightly as she caught the hesitation in his voice, her eyes searching his for why he was re-thinking himself as he continued on with his words, "I should warn you that living situations are...not ideal, at the moment. Far from what you have here. I won't be able to offer you much in the way of furnishings, or state-of-the-art appliances, or even gender-separate showers. What I [/i]can[i] and [/i]will[i] offer you, however, is fellowship. Do you still wish to join me?"

Tilting her head slightly she kept her eyes fixated on his own as she contemplated his words, choosing the best way she thought to answer him, her body relaxing once more back into the chair causing her long red locks to tumble down over her shoulder, "Mr. Xavier, this luxury environment that I have been forced to call my home has become nothing more than a prison... One which I'm not allowed to leave the confines of. After a while, you too would begin to detest and despise everything around you if the situation was reversed and it was you in my position."

Turning her head for a moment she let her gaze slowly glide over everything in the room, though they lingered slightly longer on the books and some other small objects that lined the shelves and the cabinets around them, remaining thoughtful she turned her attention back to where he was sitting, her hand coming up to brush the locks of hair back off her face though they fell back down almost instantly, "As I said before Professor... If you can deliver on this offer of a life better than the one I have right here, right now... Then I accept your invitation."

"Then it will be my personal honor to name you the first student of 'Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters'." Following his lead as he leant into his cane wincing slightly as he stood up from the chair he had been using, she lowered her own feet to the ground, lifting herself back up as she watched him smile broadly as she accepted his offer to attend the school he had been speaking to her about, "Now then...under normal circumstances the students will be arriving in a weeks time. But given your particular...situation, it may be best to arrive at the school as soon as possible. Please, feel free to bring with any amenities, furnishings, or comforts so long as you can carry it."

Unable to help the slightly proud smile that crossed over her lips thanks to his words, she turned leading the way back out of the sitting room and back into the entryway that led to the upper floors of the house, her hands coming together in front of her body as she slowly made her way over to them being mindful of his step when it came to her pace, "I'm going to go ahead and assume that when you say 'so long as you can carry it', you mean in the physical sense of the word. No help from certain...gifts, correct..?"

"That's correct. You will be safe to utilize your powers at the School, but the populace still views out condition as being a defect. It will be best to maintain an air of anonymity until we arrive." Turning back around to face him as she came to a stop she nodded, taking note of the patient tone in his voice as he explained further to her, his hands both resting softly atop of her cane as he did so, a warm smile on his face, "I will give you a few minutes to pack any belongings you wish to bring with." 

Reaching her hand out she let it come to a rest on the banister, her head turning slightly so that she was looking down at it, her thumb brushing back and forth over the polished wood as she contemplated the gravity of what he was saying to her. Nodding a couple of times to show him that she had understood what it was he had said, she turned beginning up the staircase step by step, stopping only when she felt a firm and familiar grip over her wrist, turning herself around she furrowed her brows, her lips parting slightly as she looked down at her aunt, pulling at her arm though it only made the woman't grip tighten over her, "Let go of me, you're not going to keep me here any longer."

Flinching slightly as her body moved with the rough tug that pulled her back down a couple of steps, she scrunched up her face as her body was twisted to face the arch that she had passed through moments before, her mothers figure able to be seen from within the dark room, "I don't think so, not yet anyway, not until we know what exactly is being offered here; you're not going to do this to your mother and I, not after all we've done for you. You're nothing but an ungrateful little brat."

"I said... let go of me..!" Clenching her jaw tightly she pulled roughly on her own arm, ripping it away from the woman's hold, the objects decorating the entryway on all sides slowly beginning to rumble and shake violently as her breathing picked up, her heart wildly beating within her chest with all the anger and resentment that she had kept inside of her over the years, everything that she felt for the two women in her life bubbling inside her stomach threatening to boil over and erupt.

Furrowing her eyebrows she gritted her teeth, her body being guided back and away from that of her aunts as she felt something coming in between them, her gaze lowering for only a moment giving her enough time to realize that what had pushed them apart was the cane that the Professor had been using to lean on during their conversation, flicking her light blue eyes to match his taking in his darkened expression, the stern resolute look in his eyes, and the firm but calm tone in his voice as he spoke out to her aunt, his left hand lifting up to the side of his temple, lightly pressing two fingers against his skull, "Ms. Grey... I think it's best you go lay down for awhile, get some rest."

Pressing her back flat against the wall behind her she turned her head, her eyes lingering on her aunt's figure as the woman reluctantly nodded, hesitating before she headed up the staircase and to the left, the woman's movements slow as though she were wondering why it was that she was actually doing what he was suggesting she should do. Relaxing only slightly as she watched her aunt disappear she closed her eyes, the anger within her lessening only just so much that the objects that had been shaking violently settled down, now only moving the tiniest amounts rather than teetering on the edge threatening to explode or shatter apart, "What did you do to her..?"

Watching him as he moved his cane back to it's original place at his side, she let her eyes flick over following the path his hand took as he slipped it back into his coat pocket, his body leaning back into his cane once more for support, his voice remaining completely calm as he answered his question, "I'm a telepath, Jean...like you are. Under normal circumstances I am usually against using my powers to manipulate others. But I will [/i]not[i] sit by and let one of my students be mistreated. Now, you best get packed...I would prefer to be at the School by the time your aunt wakes up and realizes what happened."

Tearing her gaze away from his she let it linger over the second story landing, listening silently to what it was that he was actually saying to her before she contemplated over his words; he was like her... they could do the same things, though he seemed to be able to do it a lot better than she could. Taking a deep breath she let her lips part slightly, the warm air flowing out through her lips as she nodded softly showing him that she had understood the explanation he was giving her, taking his latter words as encouragement as she began to ascend the staircase, heading in the opposite direction as her aunt had done, "Huh... So there's actually a name for the stuff that I can do..."

Not bothering to wait for an answer to her statement, she made her way down the hallway, pausing in the doorway for a few moments as she took her last looks at the room she had called her own for years, shaking the thoughts out of her mind she moved forward, gathering up a couple of empty bags before she placed them down on the bed, her eyes darting back and forth around the room contemplating what to bring with her and what not to. Making up her mind about what she wanted, she quickly moved about the room mindful to take her time packing so that she could bring with her everything that she wanted to; clothing, books, small trinkets, pillows, blankets, and anything else that she could make fit into the bags.

Pausing for a moment she moved over to her bedside drawers, leaning over as she pulled open the drawer she shuffled through the contents before she pulled out a neatly bundled, and well taken care of stack of letters tied together by a long piece of twine, grabbing up an empty book-bag she slipped them inside, taking her time to give her room another look over to make sure that she had packed everything and anything that she found any amount of sentimental value or worth in. Moving back out the door she made her way down the hall, taking extra care of her steps as she slowly descended the stairs for the second time that evening, her feet carrying her over to meet him where he stood.

"My coat is in my bag if I need it... I have my books, my letters, even my pillows and blankets. The only thing that I haven't grabbed is any alcohol from the liquor cabinet, but I have a feeling that it might upset those I'm leaving behind if I did take any." Lowering her gaze for only a moment she quickly fixed the straps of her bags, making sure they were resting properly on her shoulders before she lifted her gaze again, giving him a nod to let him know that she was ready to leave her past life behind her, "I'm all packed... Ready to go when you are Professor..."[/i]


[h2][i]Present Day...[/i][/h2]
[h3][i]4.30am - October 26th, 1946.[/i][/h3]

Gasping for breath as she felt her breath catch in her throat she snapped her light blue eyes open, her body quickly flinging up into a sitting position causing her doona to fall down over her lap, her elbows gently resting on her knees as she brought them up, her hands coming up to slip her fingers into her hair as she held firmly onto her head, the memories of her past life in her families house continuing to float around in her mind, clouding her thoughts and stopping her from falling back to sleep even though she knew it was such a late hour.

Closing her eyes again she furrowed her brows as she tried to focus on her breathing, her chest heaving up and down while her long vibrant red locks cascaded down over her shoulders; the young girl trying her best to relax and rid herself of the once forgotten emotions that seemed to be snaking their way back into her. Dropping one of her arms so that her palm was pressing gently against her chest, she slid her other hand further into her hair pushing it back and off her face, though it was all in vein as it seemed to gently fall back down into its normal place, her body turning as she stepped up off the cot that had become a part of her safe haven over the last week of her life.

Taking a moment or two to steady her breathing, she moved across the room and over to the door, reaching out to flick on the light she turned pressing her back flat against the wall beside the door, taking her time to relax as she let her eyes flick back and forth over the room she had chose and had begun to fix up to her liking since the first day she had arrived at the bunker int he first place; managing to get ahold of red wallpaper that she liked, some trunks that she was able to use as bedside tables, a lamp that Charles had managed to get for her so she could read, and a desk that she was able to get her hands on.

Closing her eyes once she had calmed down a little she lifted her arm up, letting her hand rub over her face for a few seconds as she thought of what it was she was supposed to do, the knowledge that she was still tired tugging at the recesses of her mind, calling for her to go back to bed for at least a few more hours though she knew that at this point it was going to be nearly impossible for her to fall back into a slumber. Sliding her hand down over her face until it was resting over her mouth she opened her eyes, slowly heaving a sigh through her nostrils as she pushed away from the wall, her body turning as she slipped out of her room and into the hallway, her hands dropping to tug at the baggy black singlet she was wearing, making sure that it was covering her body as she walked.

Bringing her hands up she folded her arms over her chest, hugging herself tightly causing her breasts to look bigger than they actually were as she slowly wandered down the hall and across the main room, the young woman seeming to move on auto-pilot as she followed the path that had become so familiar to her over the past week, her feet slowly carrying her up the stairs that led up to the bar. Slowing her step as she neared the top she furrowed her brows in confusion, her lips parting slightly as she turned her head to look up at the second floor where a light seeping out from under the door of Charles' office caught her eye, her attention being pulled back to the present as the sound of Logan's voice filled her mind.

Tearing her gaze away from the office door she turned back to her original destination, her legs carrying her legs carrying her over to the bar that she had become semi-familiar with over her time spent there, lifting her hand up she let her fingers brush lightly over the polished wood as she moved around it, making her way behind the counter until she was far enough around to find what it was that she wanted. Leaning over she grabbed a clean glass from under the counter, placing it on the top of the bar she turned her head to look back over her shoulder, her other hand reaching back behind her taking a tight hold on one of the many bottles that lined the stocked shelves, straightening herself back up she opened it up pouring herself a glass of whiskey before she stopped herself, her eyes seeming to get lost in the liquid as she put the cap back onto the bottle her mind getting lost in thought.


[h2][i]One Week Ago...[/i][/h2]

[i]Sighing softly she shrugged her shoulders, her hand coming up to fix the straps of her bags, shifting their position so that their weight wasn't completely focused on the one place, her hand lifting up from the strap to reach up to her long vibrant red locks, ruffling them softly as though she was trying to give them more volume, her eyes glancing over at him every so often as he lead the way to where ever it was that he was taking her in the first place, "So, just to make sure that I'm getting this right, I'm going to a school for people like me, but I'm not allowed to use my powers because it's considered wrong... How am I supposed to learn about these things that I can do then?"

Lifting her gaze up as they neared the building she slowed her step, her light blue orbs slowly flicking over the exterior of the run down building that was towering down over the two off them, the boarded up windows of the abandoned bar giving her no clues as to what was waiting for her inside causing her stomach to turn nervously, though she didn't give any waver in her normal bored expression. Hesitating for a moment as he moved on a head of her, she let her gaze linger on the old sign, the dusty gold letters standing out giving her nothing but the symbol and the name of the bar which she was going to be calling her home for who knew how long, "The Old Rose..."

Dropping her gaze back down to where he was standing waiting for her, she pressed herself forward, her feet carrying her towards the front door as she brought her hands up, shoving them down so that they were resting within the pockets of her long coat, careful of the step as she headed up the curve to meet him where he stood by the door, her eyes connecting with his and her lips curving up into a small curious smile, "Why a bar?I mean, not that I'm complaining or anything, I'm just curious to know why you've chosen a bar as your so called school..."

Watching as he rested both his hands atop his cane she came to a stop, her head tilting slightly showing him just how curious she was to hear his answer to her question; there were so many other types of buildings that they could have chosen... A library, old office buildings, run-down hotels... The fact they had chosen a bar of all things certainly had her interest piqued, "Sadly, humanity still views mutants with disgust and disdain, though society as a whole knows very little of our kind. Anonymity is your greatest asset, Jean. As for your powers, the School encourages you to practice using them in order to gain better control and understanding, though it is a strict rule that you don't use your powers on another student."

Staying silent as she listened to his explanation she watched him clear his throat, his hand coming up from his cane to brush his hair back off his face, making sure that it was as neat as all the others before he continued what he was saying, "Dr. Lehnsherr and I, unfortunately, did not have many options in regards for a school building, thus a bar was the best choice. We refurbished it to the best of our abilities, and the military bunker hidden underground functions as the classroom and dormitory section of the building. Our finances are tight and resources are limited, but we make do with what we had."

Contemplating his words for a few moments she watched as he lifted his hand once more, quickly looking around the both of them as though making sure that no one was paying them any attention before he slowly opened up the door, politely motioning for her to go on inside of the bar before him, a gentle smile once more gracing his features, though it was something that she was getting used to seeing after having spent so many hours in travel with the man himself.

Nodding in understanding she turned her body slightly, slipping past him and through the open door into the warm glowing environment of the refurbished bar, her eyes flicking over the room taking in everything from the booths to the patterns on the wall behind the counter top, her gaze lingering on the alcohol for a few moments before she tore it away glancing back towards him, "I see, I guess it makes sense; you use what you can get. Well I guess living here is going to be quite uneventful for those who are underage... Considering they won't be able to drink, while others can."

Frowning slightly as the sound of clinking chains and frustrated grunts floated through the air towards her, she looked around the room once again, this time trying to figure out where the source of the noise was coming from though seeming unable to pinpoint whether it was coming from up the stairs or down them. Turning her head back she flicked her gaze over her shoulder and back to where Charles was standing, a look of slight curiosity flickering over her face through the cracks in her normal bored and uninterested expression, "We're not alone... Who else is here? That Doctor you mentioned?"

"Dr. Lehnsherr is out at the moment. I believe our unseen guest is Wolverine." Turning her head she looked back over her shoulder as he made his way into the bar behind her, his voice calm as he spoke rhetorically towards her, letting her know that there was more than just the two of them and the mysterious doctor she kept hearing about, keeping her eyes on him she watched as he crossed over the room, slowly coming to a stop in front of a set of wooden steps that led downwards, "Now then, I should warn you beforehand. Wolverine is not exactly known for his courtesy or empathy. Nevertheless, he is one of the most loyal and trustworthy men I've ever had the privilege of meeting. After you, Ms. Grey."

"Wolverine..? Really?" Unable to help the small smirk that played on her lips she shook her head, her arms lifting up to cross over her chest while she watched him move across the room towards the stairs leading down from the bar, his hand gesturing for her to go first though she hung back for a few moments showing him that she wasn't going to move until he went down a head of her, tearing her gaze away from him she allowed it drop to the staircase which led down to the area where she assumed the bunker he had mentioned earlier was located, hidden behind the face of the run down bar.

"..Sounds like the name a child would give to their pet dog..." Turning her body she lifted her gaze away from where the stairs were, her feet carrying her across the room and over to where the bar was standing strong, her gaze dropping down to the polished wood as she rested her hand on top of it, her fingers slowly trailing over it in small swirls as though she were drawing patterns on the bar top.

"He uses his alias for...personal reasons." Turning her body into the counter, she brought her other hand up resting it softly against the polished wood, nodding every now and then to let him know that she was indeed listening as she continued to watch her fingers making patterns against the wood, the sound of him clearing his throat from somewhere behind her causing her to turn her head only slightly, her eyes continuing to stay locked on what she was doing, "We all have parts of our past we'd like to forget, Jean; pieces we want to be buried with history. For both Wolverines sake and yours, I strongly recommend you neglect asking him personal questions...the same goes for probing his mind. Wolverine is far older than I am and has seen many things he'd like to keep to himself, I urge you to be respectful of that."

Pausing her movements over the bar she took note of the firm tone of his voice, the sound making him seem like more of a headmaster than he had seemed before, her actions resuming once he had changed the sound of his voice, his tone softening as he seemed to become more warm and welcoming once again, the sound of his cane and footsteps alerting her to the fact that they were now once again moving, this time down the stairs to the bunker he had told her about so that she could get settled into her new home, "Now then, we best be going down, I'd like to get you accommodated with the building before you get settled in."

"I... understand Professor..." Lifting her head up she turned her gaze back over to where he was standing, nodding softly so that he could see that she truly did understand what it was that he was saying to her; this Wolverine character wasn't the only one with a past that he wanted to forget, she had all that as well, though she knew that if she tried she would lose the fond memories that she had of her brother, the only one she was ever truly close to. Raising her hand up from the bar she readjusted the straps of her bags once more before crossing over the room, her step slowing as she followed him down the staircase, her gaze dropping so that she could be mindful of not only her own steps but of each and every one of his as well.

The growing sound of the straining and clanging of what she assumed were chains catching her attention once more, causing her eyebrow to rain out of slight curiosity as to what this person was doing, lifting her gaze up as they began to reach the bottom of the stairs, she let her light blue orbs scan the room around them both, her feet bringing her to a stop on the second to last step as she lifted her hands, burying them deep within her pockets, the young woman once more falling completely silent as her features changed going back to it's normal bored expression.

Sighing softly she leant to the side, her weight shifting over to her right hip as she let her eyes come to rest on the scene in front of her, her head tilting to the side slightly causing her long vibrant red locks to fall over her shoulder, soft light blue orbs taking in everything that was going on in the room; the dust clouds that were being created each time the guy struck the makeshift punching bag, the chains straining to hold the bag in place as he put all his weight into each punch, the grunts of frustration that seemed to get louder and louder with each action he took, the way that the bag swung violently from the roof until it all seemed to become too much.

The final blow from his fist connecting with the bag causing the chains to break apart, the punching bag dropping to the ground at his feet while the chains swung violently, whipping up and connecting with one of the over-hanging light-bulbs causing it to shatter, sparks and glass raining down around his figure as he hopped around on the balls of his feet, seemingly not caring about the glass and sparks that were hitting his body as they fell down to the ground below them.

"I'm beginning to think you have a personal vendetta against light-bulbs, Logan. That's the fifth one this week, if I recall." Lifting her hand out of her pocket for a few moments, she brushed some stray strands of hair back off her face, choosing to ignore the fact that they fell back down as she shoved her hand back into her pocket, her eyes drifting away from the both of them as they continued to converse with one another, "I'd like to introduce you to our first student, Ms. Jean Grey. As you can see, she's accepted our offer of staying to learn more about her most gifted abilities."

Hearing her name being spoken aloud in some sort of introduction she turned her head to look back at them both, her full attention turning and coming to a rest on the man that was bouncing around on the balls of his feet in front of them, though whether he was doing it was because it was him just trying to avoid the stray bits of shattered glass that was falling down around him every now and then, or just him trying to warm down from whatever boxing session or training session that he had been engaged in, she wasn't too sure, and honestly neither did she really care.

Showing her hands deeper into her pockets she let her eyes flick up and down his figure, not even bothering to try and hide the fact that she was sizing him up, seeing just as to how much of a threat he was to her as she took in his ragged appearance and unkempt hair; he was nothing like the guys that she had been brought up around, and he was certainly nothing like Charles who was standing just ahead of her alerting him to the fact that she was the so called 'new girl' to the school, and that she would be staying with them for however long it took for them to get sick and tired of having her around, "So, what's bitten you, Freckles?"

Raising her eyebrow slightly at both the nickname that she had apparently been given and the fact that he seemed completely uninterested in the first place, she remained silent as the guy she only know as Wolverine once more turned towards her questioningly, her eyes pausing on his for a few moments before she tore her gaze away, her eyes scanning the room again though this time lingering on some of the objects that were scattered around, her attention coming to a rest on the punching bag that was laying beaten by his feet.

Flicking her eyes back up for only a moment she took in his demeanor, the guy obviously unimpressed and doubting her as he watched on, not even getting any indication that she had heard him in the first place, gritting her teeth as she watched him scoff and crossed his arms tightly over his chest she forced her attention back down to the punching bag, her jaw clenching tightly she balled her fists up in her pocket, her mind flicking back to all the other times that she had been doubted... all the times that she had been told that she couldn't do something for one reason or another.

Hunching her shoulders slightly she tilted her head, her brows furrowing together as she began to focus her thoughts on the abuse and torment she had gone through over the years, the anger she had felt back at the house returning to her, bubbling away once more as she narrowed her eyes, her body visibly jumping as the once still punching bag lifted up off the ground before it flew across the room, crashing loudly against the nearest wall. The action causing both men in the room to watch the punching bag as it shot across the room like a projectile weapon, the seams on the bag splitting upon impact causing the sand to come loose creating even dust clouds that were slow to settle, turning her attention back to the guy who had been doubting her she lowered her shoulders, watching him simply scoff off everything that she had just done, "I'll replace the light-bulb. You replace my equipment."

Relaxing her body she quickly flicked her attention over to where Charles stood, her eyes lingering on the slightly amused expression on his face, though she could see something else hidden in his features, something else laying there underneath his warm smile... apprehension, though why she wasn't quite sure. Shoving her hands deeper into her pockets she scoffed out a laugh at Logan's words causing her to purse her lips, her eyebrow raising slightly as she gave him a look that unmistakably said 'In your dreams'. 

Where he had gotten the idea that she was going to replace his equipment was completely beyond her, she was there for two reasons and two reasons only: to learn how to control whatever it was that she had, and to get out of the house that had become her prison after her brother had died. Watching as Charles turned away from them, she took the last couple of steps of the staircase, moving out of the way as he began to head back upstairs exchanging a look with Logan before he moved any further, "Logan, I have a few files I'd like to go over. Would you mind keeping Jean company while she settles into her room?"

Seeming to ignore the request asked of him completely, she watched on as Logan made his way over to the wall where the punching bag had exploded, her lips parting slightly as she kept her eyes on him, watching as he leant over picking up something that seemed to be hidden underneath the sand and dust, shifting in her place slightly she watched him stand up straight again, using his hand to brush off the debris that she had inadvertently caused to fall all over his leather jacket, "I ain't no babysitter Charles. Freckles can do that herself. She lives here now don't she?"

"Hey... You know, if the puppy doesn't want to do his job, then by all means don't force him into doing it..." Rolling her eyes she shook her head softly, listening to the two of them conversing with one another about which of them was the next to babysit her, the conversation clearly beginning to wear thin on her patience causing her frustration to grow and bubble away within her again, reminding her of the types of things that she had heard her aunt and mother talking about over the past years. Pulling her hands out of her pockets she lifted her hand up, slipping her fingers into her hair she pushed the long red locks back off her face, a small smirk playing over her lips as she continued, "..Besides... He doesn't look very capable of handling someone like me-... Or simple tasks for that matter..."   a

"Indulge me." The reply from Charles was blunt, she could hear the firmness in both his tone and expression, clearly showing him that there was going to be no argument in this matter, even she could see that he wasn't going to take no for an answer, the Professor once more making his way up the stairs, leaving the two of them standing together in a rather palpable silence, bringing her arms up once he had left she crossed them over her chest, her gaze turning back to linger on Logan's figure for a few moments before she spoke out, "I can find my own way, I don't need someone like...[/i]you[i] hovering over me like a vulture watching my every move..."

"Oh I'm more than capable, Freckles. Which makes me over-qualified for this position." Raising her eyebrow slightly she watched on as he huffed and slung his leather jacket over his shoulder, his finger hooked into the small loop in the collar of the material, his hand resting back on his sweaty shoulder as he began to walk, his path lined straight with her though she knew he was most likely just going to walk right by her, giving her the impression that he was going to leave her alone to figure things out on her own. Tightening her arms over her chest, she followed his movements, each footstep bringing him closer and closer as he closed the gap between them, her body stiffening as she both watched and felt him come to a stop beside where she stood causing her stomach muscles to tense up, and her jaw to clench at the close proximity they were sharing.

"..As long as you believe that, then I guess that's all that matters... So good for you." Keeping her arms defensively crossed over her chest she narrowed her eyes, not bothering to hide it as she let her light blue orbs flick over his profile, taking her time to take in his features so that she could get used to them, the young woman knowing that she was going to be seeing a lot more of him now that she was living in within the school. Lifting her gaze to catch him once more she let her lips part slightly, her body relaxing under his gaze though she made no attempt to move, keeping their bodies close to one another as she showed him that she wasn't going to be one to back down.

"You know, I kind of like puppy better. Can't stand birds." Lifting her head up slightly she watched as his lips flicked up into a forced smile, the guy holding eye contact with her before he turned his head back to the direction he was facing, his free arm raising as she gestured to the path that was lain out just in front of him as well as just behind her, "Just through there. Take a right. Couple steel doors will catch your attention. If you've got the strength... or... whatever it is you can, try and pry one of 'em open. Inside you'll find a cot and a blanket. You're the first one here so take your pick, but it won't matter much, they are all the same except maybe... third one on the left has a busted pipe. Bit of water dripping down the walls."

"Well, how kind of you to warn me about the water on the walls puppy. I'll be sure to keep that in mind when I start picking out the wallpaper I want to put up..." Dropping her arms slightly she grabbed hold of the strap of one of her bags, her gaze once more connecting with his own as he tilted his head just a little, the man looking back at her through the corners of his eyes, though what was going through his mind was something she couldn't even begin to know without trying to gain access herself, something that she had already said that she wasn't going to do.

"Whatever life you had before... you must've been [/i]really[i] desperate to come here. Welcome home kid. You're among freaks now." Turning her body around only slightly she followed his movements with her eyes, watching as he headed down the hallway, making his way towards a separate opening which he gestured for her to go through herself, the young woman putting two and two together and though she hadn't exactly been watching where he had been telling her to go, she knew that was the direction that she had to go to get herself a room.

"To answer your curiosity, I [/i]was[i] desperate to leave that cage... And I don't ever plan on going back to that house... No force on Earth could make me go back there..." Turning her body she faced him completely, her eyes dropping for only a few seconds before she lifted them back up to linger on his retreating figure, tightening her grip on the strap of her bag she hesitated for a few moments before relaxing once again, her head tilting slightly as she spoke again, "And Logan... Thank you..."

"Red." Watching as he stopped just before turning the corner she shifted her weight, leaning over her right hip again as she kept her eyes on his figure, his head turning so that he was looking at her from over his shoulder, catching his eyes once more she furrowed her brows in confusion at the single word that he gave her, her eyes searching his for what it was he was actually trying to tell her, his own eyes flicking up to her hair causing his smile to widen and a small wink to be shot her way, a small genuine smile gracing her own lips matching that of his own, "For your wallpaper. I'd go with red. An easy color to get used to."

"Red..." Letting her gaze wander from his for only a few seconds, she let his words sink in as she nodded her head gently thinking on what it was he had said, her smile growing slightly as she began to get used to the idea of having herself surrounded by such a vibrant color, even with having to live with it every day of her life thanks to the genes that had caused her hair to take on the bright tone, lifting her hand up she reached back scooping her long locks over her shoulder as though showing him that she was liking the idea he had come up with, "I'll keep that in mind..."

Waiting until he had turned the corner and left her alone, she headed off down the hallway herself in the direction that he had pointed out to her earlier, her eyes flicking up to look over the large steel doors that were on either side of her, her step slowing until she came to a complete stop in front of one of them, furrowing her brows slightly she focused her mind on the door, watching it swing open causing a large bang to sound as it slammed back against the wall causing her to jump once again.

Closing her eyes she took a deep breath, holding it for a few moments before she let it out, allowing her feet to carry her across the threshold and into the room that she had chosen as her own, moving over to the cot that was resting in the corner of the room she lifted her hands up, removing the bags one by one, dropping them down onto the top of it before she glanced around, removing her jacket as she slowly forced herself to try and get used to her new surroundings.[/i]


[h2][i]Present Day...[/i][/h2]
[h3][i]4.45am - October 26th, 1946.[/i][/h3]

Lifting her hand up from the bar she let it run over her face, her other hand closing around the outside of the glass that she had been nursing for the last fifteen minutes, once again pulling herself back to the present she lowered her gaze, her eyes coming to rest on the glass watching herself as she swirled the contents for a moment before lifting the cold glass up to her lips. Closing her eyes she let her lips part as she tilted the glass, letting the liquid slip into her mouth and down her throat leaving a slight burning sensation thanks to the late night-cap, lowering the glass slightly as she heard a door closing she turned her attention over to the staircase as though slightly expectant on seeing someone.

Lowering her glass down to rest on the bar-top she remained silent for a few seconds, her expression relaxing slightly as she watched Logan make his way down the staircase, their eyes meeting for a few moments, long enough for him to give her a look as though asking her what and why it was that she was up at this time of the night when they both knew that they had to be rested and available for when the others arrived in a mere few hours time, "I know... I know... It's the same as last time, I couldn't sleep, thought I could find some help here rather than just laying around staring at the roof of the bunker."

Replacing the whiskey back to it's place on the shelf, she once more grabbed up the glass this time placing it down in the sink before she made her way back around the bar, her bare feet making soft thuds against the ground as she wandered across the room and over to where he was standing, bringing her arms up she crossed them back over her chest her step slowing as she grew closer to him, her eyes searching his for a few moments before she leant up on the balls of her feet, her body leaning inwards bringing the two of them closer against each other her hand coming up to rest softly on his shoulder, her lips parting slightly though she held back keeping only inches between the two of them as though she had thought better of herself, pulling away reluctantly she turned and headed back towards the staircase slowly her gaze flicking back to meet with his once more before she disappeared back down into the bunker in an attempt to get some more sleep for the rest of the night, "Night Logan, don't get into too much trouble without me..."