17 January
Planting.-v.1. to put or set in the ground for growth, as seeds, young trees, etc. 2. to furnish or stock with plants 3. to establish or implant 4. to introduce into a country 5. to deposit in a river, lake, etc.
Rogue tentatively knocked on the door leading into Storm's room. Ororo had told Rogue to visit her after she had finished her schoolwork for the night. She didn't explain why, she didn't elaborate on her instructions, but had continued on to her next class. Mystified, Rogue couldn't concentrate for the rest of the day, wondering why her new team leader would be so vague. Now was the moment of truth.
"Come in," Ororo said from the other side.
Grabbing the door handle, Rogue pushed the door in. She stood still for a moment, shocked at the state of the room. It was more spacious than Rogue's own, and decorated much more nicely. Storm had forsaken most normal possessions and replaced them all with plants. Her room featured side-to-side windows on two walls, suggesting she had a corner room in the mansion. She needed the light in order to help her plants sustain life.
"Uh ... wow," Rogue commented, stupefied.
Ororo smiled gently. "I would like to discuss arrangements Kurt and I have been talking about. Please, take a seat." She gestured toward an empty space, a potted plant on the floor beside it. Rogue could only guess that Ororo had moved it in order to compensate for Rogue's presence.
"Been talkin' 'bout? We only had that meeting last night." Rogue gently pushed the door back in its jamb and took a seat on the vacant wooden surface.
Ororo's smile widened ever so slightly. "He doesn't have school like the rest of us and this is my senior year. I think I can put my duties as leader before my sleep schedule every now and again. Don't tell the professor; I won't make it a habit."
"Mmmhmm," Rogue hummed skeptically. "So what were ya two thinkin' over?"
"Professor Xavier didn't give my team a lot of muscle. Really, none of us junior X-Men have raw power. Remy and Kurt are our strongest fighters, but they're both on the blue team. Alison can compensate for our lack of brute force with her powers, but she lacks finesse. As does Sean. I tend to rely on subterfuge and my powers more than physical skill. What I'm saying is that none of the people on the red team have the skill set to teach you how to hold your own on a battle field. We can't have you going around and touching everyone to knock them out cold." Rogue dipped her chin down. "Kurt and I were talking, and he'd like to continue your training in that area. Even though we're separated on the blue and red teams, we can still work together."
"Okay? Ah don't mind that."
Ororo stroked one of her plants as gently as if it was a newborn child. "Yes. That does mean that you two will be working a little harder than the rest of us. You'll be with Kurt, taking lessons, but you'll also have to function as a part of my team so that we can learn team building techniques. We need to understand each other to have each other's backs. Are you alright with this?"
"Yeah, sure." Her fists closed tightly in resolution. "Ah want t' be a help t' the team."
"Good," Ororo sighed. "I'll set up a team schedule shortly. We'll make sure it's not too much for you to handle."