Issue 1 Downtime

((open thread))

After a good hard workout at the pool, Mars headed to the sauna to relax.

She stretched out on one of the benches, enjoying the heat after an intense workout.

And completely forgetting to cover the Circus of Crime tattoo on her shoulder.

"Mind some company?" a cheerful voice called out from the door.

"Nah, come on in," Mars says cheerfully.

"Oh, hey. Mars, right?" Stephanie smiled cheerfully walking in and sitting down across from her.

"That's me," Mars says, "You're one of the power instructors, right? Ms. Kalteria?"

"That's me," she smiled.

"What's your tattoo? I've thought about getting one occasionally, but they cost a lot more than I want to spend." she asked, making small talk and not realizing its significance.

Mars looked startled for a second, but recovered quickly.

"What tattoo?"

Okay, that's not a recovery, Mars. Try again.

"Oh, that," Mars laughs, "That's just a family...thing? Sort of like a crest."

Smooth.

Stephanie looked at it from across the room and a puzzled expression seemed to cross her face.

"You were in a circus with your family?"

"Well, yeah," Mars says, "That's kind of the family business."

"Does your family attack random English villages to--"

A light bulb went off in Steph's head and she stopped herself before she could finish the joke, sobering instantly.

"...were they coming after you?" she asked quietly.

"I...I don't know what you're talking about," Mars lies. Badly.

Steph smiled sympathetically, "It's okay. This is where I remind you that I'm a teacher, and you can trust me, and that I'm not judging you because of your background. We've all got something we're not proud of. My family are a bunch of mutant-hating bigots who disowned me as soon as I first shifted. Heck, I was just like them until I did."

Mars sighs, "My family is an organization of supervillains called the Circus of Crime."

"Some of them might be trying to kill me."

"Well. At least they don't seem to be very good at it, if Maldon was any indication," she reassured Mars.

"They're pretty incompetent," Mars says, "So that's a plus."

"Still. I'm sorry you had to put up with it."

"I have a very, very understanding boss in town, and it comes with the uniform. Or fur, I suppose, in this instance," she smirked.

"In any event, it's fine. We won't let anything happen to you while you're here under our care."

"I'm not too worried about that," Mars says, "I can take care of myself. Mostly."

Steph smiled,"It's good to be self-reliant, but know that you'll always have backup here."

She sat up slightly and cracked her back impressively. "Other than fighting off a circus downtown, are you adjusting okay?"

"I'm having a lot of fun, actually," Mars says, "There's a lot of interesting people here."

"Good," she smiled. "I met lifelong friends here. Family, really. And even the one guy I knew before I came to Xavier's only got closer to him while we were at school together."

"Who's that? Is it Mr. Gabriel? 'Cause there's some rumors..."

Stephanie smirked, and despite her best efforts, blushed a bit. It was at leas hard to tell in the somewhat dim light of the sauna.

"Yes, yes, yes, mr. Gabriel and I dated in high school, but that was a log time ago and we both have significant others now," she chuckled. "No, my friend is named Trev. He and I have never dated. I feel like it would be weird."

"So, he's like family. I get that," Mars says, "I mean, my family is a ton of people I'm not related to."

"Yes. I think that about perfectly describes it," she nodded.

"He's adorable and a giant dork. Exceptionally intelligent but clueless at the same time."

"If he has a bunch of woman problems, then you pretty much described Uncle Drago," Mars says, "...He's smarter when he's not doing the whole firebreathing act. I think the fumes make him a bit loopy."

"That's him," she chuckled. "Last I heard he actually had a steady girlfriend though, so maybe she can turn him around."

"Well, good luck to him there," Mars says, "What about you? Are you dating anyone right now?"

"I am," she smiled," "he's a great guy who puts up with me and all of my issues that come with shifting. Don't know why, but I'm glad he does."