Today marked Rowan's first full week at the Mansion. It had been one of his busiest first weeks, and yet his most quiet too. He was given a room, a tour, a trip to the Danger Room, and the rest of his time was just finishing some past schoolwork to get caught up for the new semester. He only had a few more things to do before that though. Figure out how to get school supplies and visit the guidance counselor. 

And...going to see a guidance counselor couldn't be any worse then having to do to the Danger Room...right? Well Rowan didn't exactly have the best history with guidance counselors. As someone who got in a lot of fights, at a lot of different schools, he had met quite a few. Most of them were unhelpful, either too strict or too soft. Others were just plain unhelpful or uncaring. But this had to be different. Rowan wasn't being sent to the guidance counselor because he was fighting, it was to pick up his class schedule and drop off some finished schoolwork from his previous academy. 

The young mutant hurried through the halls, a small stack of paper hugged his chest, his eyes scanning each door. By the directions he had been given he was likely close, but this school was huge and maze-like to him. Eventually he spotted GEMMA TAYLOY - GUIDANCE COUNSELOR on a door down the hall. 

Rowan's hurried pace slowed to a stop. He starred at the door, his anxiety swelling. What if this lady already hated him? She no doubt got his records from his previous schools...what if she reprimands him for those? Rowan was already uncomfortable around older women, and having to talk to one who likely knew his less than clean past felt...scary. He didn't know what to expect from a guidance counselor at a school for mutants. But he had to do this if he wanted to take classes. He could get through this quickly, and be back to his room to hide. 

He took a shaky breath and lightly knocked on the door. 

"Uhm...e-excuse me? My name is Rowan...Rowan Gray? I've...got an appointment...".

Not exactly the...assertive greeting he wanted, but it was the best he could muster. 

Gemma was having a work day with quite a few appointments, and only enough time between them to drink some coffee and answer some emails. Noon came and went, and she quite forgot about lunch until her stomach reminded her. Not wanting to be late for the next appointment with a new student, she made a sandwich and ate it in her office, just finishing the last bites when she heard the knock on the door. Putting the empty plate aside, she glanced at her notes.

>>"Uhm...e-excuse me? My name is Rowan...Rowan Gray? I've...got an appointment...".

"Come on in!" Gemma called, walking around her desk to greet the new student. She'd seen the paperwork, but had only caught a glimpse of him in person. She quickly wiped her hands with a napkin before offering a handshake to a new arrival. "Excuse me. Just finishing lunch. Hi Rowan, nice to meet you."

Rowan took a half step back as Gemma opened the door to the office for him. She looked different from what he expected. Less wrinkles and scowls.

"It's...nice to meet you too Ms. Taylor...".

He looked at her outstretched hand maybe a moment too long. He silently wondered when the last time gave a handshake was. Eventually he turned the gesture, tucking his school work under one arm, his handshake gentle.

Rowan stepped into the office slowly, cautious. His eyes scanning around the room, taking in all the little details of the office. Something about this place was...calming? But in a weird way that made him feel uneasy. Rowan couldn't quite figure out it's source. The room looked like an office, smelled and sounded like an office...it just felt different. Realizing he must look strange, silently looking around the office, he again turned to Gemma, not making eye contact.

"I finished my school work from last semester...I was hoping I could get my schedule today?"

He extends out his arms to pass his school work to Gemma.

Gemma stepped aside to allow Rowan into the office, and closed the door. He stood, looking around the office for a few long moments. Gemma wondered what he was thinking. Students came from all kinds of places and all kinds of backgrounds, and while her office was nothing out of the ordinary (maybe a bit cozier), it could have been interesting for a newcomer. She allowed Rowan to turn his attention back to her.

>>"I finished my school work from last semester...I was hoping I could get my schedule today?"

"Sure" Gemma smiled, taking the stack of papers from him, and nodded towards the couch and armchair by the wall "Please, take a seat for a moment. Would you like some tea or hot chocolate?"

Rowan's eyes followed Gemma's gesture towards the two options for seating. He deliberated, perhaps a moment too long, before quietly sitting on the couch. The spot he picked was as far from the armchair as possibly. It was hard to tell if this was a cautious decision. The young mutant perked up quite a bit at the mention of hot chocolate. In the week he had been here Rowan had enjoyed many cups of hot chocolate. He blames Ms. Sundance for his newfound love for the drink, not that it was necessarily a bad thing.

"H-hot chocolate would be nice...thank you."

He went back to looking around the room, hand resting nervously in his lap.

Rowan took a seat, and Gemma got around to making a cup of hot chocolate for him. She'd only had time to look over the basics in Rowan's file, so they had some ground to cover in getting to know each other, and that always went better with hot drinks.

"I don't know if you have been told, but don't be surprised if your powers don't work around me" she said, deciding to do her usual disclaimer while preparing the drink "I am what they call an adapted. I have an aura that cancels out mutant powers. If this makes you uncomfortable at any point, just let me know, and we'll make sure you are out of range. Sounds good? There you go." she smiled, handing the mug of chocolate to Rowan.

Indeed, Rowan hadn't been told about Gemma's aura, in fact he had never heard of an adapted. He looked up at her, eyes wide, dumbfounded.

"My powers...don't work?"

Rowan immediately went to work trying to prove this. He started thinking of everything that stressed him out; loud noises, needles, his mother, 8am math classes...and nothing happened. Rowan jammed a finger in his mouth, biting down. His teeth...weren't sharp? He pulled out the finger. No blood?

"N-no way...you weren't lying..."

Well...maybe he should have thought that through, because if she had been lying there would have been a bigger, wolfy, problem on their hands. Rowan took the mug of hot chocolate, but still seemed baffled that his mutation wasn't activating.

>>"My powers...don't work?"

It was not unusual for students, especially the younger ones, to be surprised by Gemma's ability. Adapteds were a rare breed, and not nearly as well known as mutants. Gemma had gotten used to doing a disclaimer, in case someone was relying on powers for everyday things (like, in Ez's case, digestion) without her knowing.

Rowan looked amazed. He fidgeted, and Gemma suspected he was trying to activate his powers.

>>"N-no way...you weren't lying..."

"No" she chuckled, taking a seat in her chair with a cup of tea "It's a good start, though. Would you want to tell me about your powers? Your file said you are a shifter?" It had said a whole lot more, but it was always better to allow people to tell their own story.

All the excitement in Rowan's eyes drained as the conversation turned back to his mutation. He figured this would have been brought up, but that didn't make it any easier to talk about.

"Uh...Yeah I'm a shifter...I shift when I'm...anxious..."

Rowan's grip on his cup tightened, not yet taking a sip.

"I...I already did the mutation talk stuff with Mr. Johnson...I really just want to know my class schedule."

His tone of voice was attempting to sound annoyed, standoffish, but came out mostly nervous.

>>"Uh...Yeah I'm a shifter...I shift when I'm...anxious..."

Well, he was clearly anxious now. Gemma wondered if he would shift if he had not been inside her aura. From what she'd gleamed from the file, the form he shifted into was a dangerous creature that gave reason for caution. She was not scared, though. She had experience making students feel at ease.

>>"I...I already did the mutation talk stuff with Mr. Johnson...I really just want to know my class schedule."

"I understand" Gemma nodded "This is not an interrogation or anything. I just wanted to make sure you are comfortable around my aura." She sifted through the pile of papers, and turned to the computer to pull up class schedules. "Do you have any questions about the classes you will be taking...?"

Rowan nodded. He didn't want to admit it out loud but he was actually...comfortable. Like comfortable comfortable. Getting to sit for a few minutes and not have to worry about his mutation. They had even brought up a subject that made him uncomfortable, and he didn't have to wrestle with himself to bottle his anxiety back up.

He sat up slightly, taking a sip from his hot coco.

"I...I don't think I have any questions. My grades from last semester were sent to the school, and my case worker had said I was on track to start eight grade...I didn't really struggle in any of my classes. Just, uhm, don't look too closely at my test scores..."

Rowan figured that needed a little more explanation.

"Cause...tests make me anxious...and I didn't want anyone to know I was a mutant...so I just flunked them..."

Gemma leafed through the paperwork. Rowan was right, the grades and classes were in order for eighth grade, and the schedule had already been planned for him. It would be one of the smoother transitions at the school. Except for some tests scored, which she noted at the same time Rowan mentioned them.

>>"Cause...tests make me anxious...and I didn't want anyone to know I was a mutant...so I just flunked them..."

"That's okay." Gemma smiled "We can work out another form of testing that doesn't trigger your mutation, until you get better control. Or you can ask me to sit in with you." she glanced at the paper "I see Sam... Mr. Johnson scheduled some Danger Room sessions for you too."

Oh...if she sat near him his mutation wouldn't trigger, and he wouldn't have to worry about smashing his desk during a math exam. That was...kinda awesome. It wasn't the kind of academic accommodation he ever expected to get. Probably any other teenager would groan at the idea of having to take tests, but for Rowan it was oddly exciting. Normal teenagers had to study for and take standardized tests, so why shouldn't he?

"My previous school gave me some...pretty nice incentives to keep my grades up...so I worked really hard last semester."

Any relaxing and opening up Rowan had done was immediately reverted at the mention of the danger room. He had expected that to be mentioned, but really was hoping Mr. Johnson had forgotten about him.

"That's...not fair. I did my Danger Room session already. I don't want to go to stupid mutant classes I want to take normal classes."

Rowan's brow was furrowed, glaring down at the floor.

Rowan seemed like a good kid. Also, a good student. With the drawbacks of his powers and the way it made harder for him to do tests, the grades were still good enough. Gemma always liked the rare moments when they got to a student just in time before they have up trying. It was easier to turn things around. Mutation control was going to be essential in Rowan's case, something Sam apparently agreed with, because he scheduled regular DR sessions for him.

>>"That's...not fair. I did my Danger Room session already. I don't want to go to stupid mutant classes I want to take normal classes."

"You will. Here is your schedule" Gemma handed the papers over "But Danger Room sessions have to be regular to help you learn more about your powers. And hopefully gain better control. Think of it like... gym class?"

Rowan took his schedule, putting the barely touched mug of hot chocolate on the table next to him. He looked his classes. It all looked so normal, aside from the very clear blocks for trips to the Danger room. Rowan sighed with frustration, still not sold on the whole 'getting to know his mutation' thing. He didn't want to control his powers, he wanted them ignored so he could move on with his life.

"Yeah well...gym class is fun, and you get to play dodgeball and stuff. My trip to the Danger Room sucked, I tried to bite Mr. Johnson's head off."

He sighed again, sitting up slightly on the couch, this sigh not the same as the frustrated one as before. And the slight red color to his cheeks showed that he was ashamed of that Danger Room trip.

"I'll do the Danger Room trips, I don't have a choice, but it's just gonna waste Mr. Johnson's time."

Rowan had completely closed himself off again.