The District

[astonishing_xmods]

Who: Anyone and everyone
What: Another news update, coming to you live! 
Where: On any television, radio, or computer screen
When: All week
Warning(s): If a thread goes into warning label territory, either throw it in the subject line or take it to a separate log.

"...An explosion rocked a New York apartment complex today leaving 3 dead and 12 injured. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the blast which originated in a third story apartment. Survivors are reporting having seen a blinding light before the explosion leading to speculation that it could have been..."

"...Concert in central park was a rousing success as thousands of mutants and humans alike came together for the 2 hour spectacular. When asked what was next Dazzler said she'd be sticking in New York for a while to work on her new album before heading back on tour..."

"...First fatalities have been reported from the virus sweeping through the mutant population of District X. Heath officials are working alongside Dr. Henry McCoy on tracking the virus which still hasn't spread outside the Mutant population..."

"...Receiving reports of Claudine Renko through Canada and the United States. None of these reports have been corroborated and authorities are still asking people to report any sightings and..."

"...Repairs have completed at Xavier's Institute for Higher learning after the incident in May. Not much is known about what happened but proponents of the Mutant Registration Act have been using it as an example to push the legislation. When reached for comment Senator Graydon Creed responded stating a worry that if this was what happened in their own neighborhood that you should imagine what could happen in yours..."

[[ ooc: Anyone can feel free to start their own threads in this log in response to one or more of these news clips, or even to things related but not specifically posted here. Go forth and mingle!]]

Comments

[endurancepoint]

VIRUS

[He's overthinking it too much.

At least, that's what Alex tries to tell himself when he starts feeling like he's coming down with the flu. You spend so much time thinking about the symptoms you start thinking you have them yourself. Classic medicalstudentitis.

Nevertheless, he's stuck to his room as much as possible, eschewing the warm sunshine he'd never taken for granted living in London.

But as he struggles to concentrate on the same paragraph of text for the third time, Alex finally decides that maybe he should go talk to Dr McCoy. Maybe the good doctor could say something that'd snap his brain out of this obsession.]

First fatalities have been reported from the virus sweeping through the mutant population of District X...

[Alex pushes himself to his feet. Damnit. That was the last thing he'd needed to hear. He shuts off the news app on his phone and slowly starts making his way from his dorm to the infirmary. He only makes it about half-way between the boys' dorms and the main building before a wave of exhaustion catches up with him. He sits down hard at the base of a tree.

Five minutes. He'll just rest five minutes.]

[koukai_kirai]

[Heat stroke is what Hijikata is more of a mind to suspect, as he spots a student collapsed outside. He approaches, but draws up a bit short, not wanting to get into his personal space if nothing's actually wrong.]

Everything alright?

[endurancepoint]

[He should have just stayed in his dorm, curled up on his bed and burrowed under his covers. Though he knows the day is sunny and he should be feeling hot, Alex just feels cold instead. Seeing a shadow appear near his feet, he looks up, squinting against the light.]

I was...

[He pauses to moisten his lips then tries again.]

I was going to see Dr McCoy. Feeling rundown.

[koukai_kirai]

[Something cold slithers down into the pit of his stomach; he realizes it's fear. An old, old memory, just a hint of sound, dredges itself up all of a sudden:]

[Toshi? Don't come in here -- don't open the door!]

[He shakes his head, pushing the cobwebs out of it.]

I can call him for you. You stay where you are. Do you need water?

[endurancepoint]

[Alex starts to nod, then stops as it just makes the pounding in his head worse. He hadn't even noticed he was thirsty until a drink was mentioned, but now he realizes he feels parched. Parched and tired and aching like he'a just hiked across the Brecon Beacons in driving rain.]

Thanks. Water would be good.

[koukai_kirai]

[Hijikata reaches back into his gym bag and retrieves a mostly-full water bottle. He's drank from it, but that doesn't seem like the highest of concerns as he hands it out to the boy.]

Here. Drink as much as you need to.

[He takes his phone out of the pocket of his pants, hitting one of the numbers on speed dial.]

Hank? It's Hijikata...

[endurancepoint]

[Alex might have taken offense to someone saying he looked like Hell, but he certainly felt like it. So he uncapped the bottle without comment and started drinking. Slowly at first, just a few sips at a time. But when he was about halfway through, he took a slightly too large gulp and breathed a little water down his windpipe.

Pulling the bottle away from his mouth, he leaned forward and started coughing. Which did not agree with the headache he already had. When the coughing finally subsided, he propped an elbow on his knee and leaned his forehead against his hand with a mild expletive.]

Shite. That hurt.

[koukai_kirai]

[Coughing.]

[As it dragged on, raw and painful-sounding, it dredged up memories, images. A too-white hospital room, with too-thin women in it. Grey, poisonous skies. He felt a little sick himself, and had to remind himself to stand at a safe enough distance.]

Sounded it. Can you breathe now?

[Calm. He had to stay calm, or he was no use to the boy at all, was he?]

[endurancepoint]

[Alex nods as he tries to breathe slowly. This day was just getting better and better.]

Yeah. I'm okay now.

[He thinks.]

[koukai_kirai]

[Hijikata did his best to control his own breathing, turning the wind to keep himself shielded from anything airborne.]

Good. Help should be on the way. You just stay there, and... When did the symptoms start?

[endurancepoint]

[Alex took another slow sip of water.]

Few days ago? Thought it was a cold or something. Maybe the flu. I feel all achy like it's the flu.

[koukai_kirai]

Damn it.

Do you have a roommate?

[endurancepoint]

Tenma. Japanese kid, loves football. Soccer. Relentlessly cheerful.

[It's a little silly for him to call his roommate a 'kid' when he's only two years older, but two years can make a big difference when you're a teenager.]

[koukai_kirai]

[And it seems only appropriate to call Tenma a kid. Hijikata's at least seen him around the school enough to be familiar with the existence of Cheerful Japanese Soccer Kid -- which mean he's got a cheerful, young face to put to the danger anyone who's been in close quarters with Alex could be in, and it sort of drops the bottom out of his stomach all over again.]

I'll talk with the health staff, make sure he's checked in on when you're taken care of.

[endurancepoint]

[Alex cradles his head in his hands, the headache making it painful to look at anything.]

It was stupid. I know. I should have gone to Dr McCoy the moment I started feeling sick. But the first day you just feel a little off. And the next you think 'eh, this isn't so bad'. Then the next thing you know, it takes all your energy to crawl out of bed and you'd happily have your head chopped off if it'd make the headache stop.

[koukai_kirai]

You should have. No point thinking about it.

[He blows a cool breeze over the young man, still careful to keep it aimed away from himself and the school. He's not sure what else he can do until help arrives.]

Just focus on getting through this now.