The Brink of War [OPEN]

[astonishing_xmods]

WHO: Everyone
WHAT: The news of the world, brought right to your school!
WHERE: On any television, radio, or computer screen (assuming they're on a news site)
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.

"... the hashtag has inspired several high profile mutants in the entertainment world, particularly mutant pop star Dazzler, to put up personal accounts of the discriminations they've faced growing up as mutants. However, the Mutant Liberation Front, or at least hackers claiming to be them, have seemingly hijacked the movement on several social media sites, using the hashtag while "doxxing", defined as "sharing the private personal information of an individual or group, anyone that has publicly spoken out against mutants. The internet has become a battleground like any city street..."


"... special diplomat Haller faced many questions arriving back in the United States today. She has stated she had no comments on Genosha's threat of war against the US. President Kelly's diplomatic relations with Genosha have largely been criticized as failures, and many in congress and in the public in general seem to be in favor of preparing for the inevitable..."


"... Reverend William Stryker, uncle to the late Donovan Zane, has lead a vigil lasting several days now on the steps of Congress and refuses to be moved until Mutant Registration has been passed. Public support is turning overwhelmingly in favor of registration as the nation mourns the young man, Donovan Zane, whose life was taken in the midst of a violent protest..."


"... with the coldest temperatures on record. Volunteers are urging everyone in District X to be extra careful as the season progresses, to regularly visit the shelters and soup kitchens, and to not try to brave the winter storms alone. They have also put out a mass call to anyone willing to help out, with food, blankets, and/or warm clothing..."


"... a nation on the brink of war. President Kelly addressed the nation saying that 2019 will not be a repeat of historical mistakes or tragedies. He says he refuses to believe the spirit of the American people are so willing to give in to bigotry and surrender to what is perceived as an inevitable war with Genosha. It can be stopped, he urged. He said we all have to look at ourselves and find the courage to do the right thing and love our fellow person, no matter what the circumstances. President Kelly continues to believe in his vision of hope for humans and mutants..."

[[ ooc: Students and teachers are 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. ]]

Comments

[gloriousandfree]

[Teachers Lounge]

What a cross to die on. [She sips some coffee, shaking her head] Like camping out there will really change anything. No one makes policy because someone pulls something out the playbook of a kid waiting for the next iphone.

...Well at least I hope not.

[By the Lake]

[There are bright sides to frigid cold and snow storms. The lake has finally frozen over. Things are looking worse and she's having a hard time justifying staying here when this all looks like it might go to shit on them again. Cold and ice are easier to deal with than more talk of politics. She tests the ice with the edge of her skate, chipping at it to try to find the bottom. When a few moments of that yield nothing, she deems it safe enough and slides out over the ice. She had had the foresight not to wear her best pair in case this ice turns thin.

At least she had the common sense to stay within sight of the mansion.]

Don't you dare break. [Is she talking to the ice. Yes she is]

[fathoming]

[Naija, is by contrast, staring at the ice, looking forlorn. All her stuff is down there!]

What are you doing?

[Her curiosity is automatic but she still looks and sounds sad that she can't get into her den.]

[gloriousandfree]

Ice Skating. [She glances at the eyes. Then back at poor Naija]

...It's rather thick, isn't it. I forgot someone lived in this lake.

[fathoming]

Oh. That looks fun.

I can't get in to add stuff to my collection.

[Cue the tiny violins.]

[gloriousandfree]

Hmn. [She pokes at the ice with the edge of her skate and frowns. It could be broken, maybe, with a lot of force. Force she simply doesn't have.]

Maybe I can come back later and try to dig out a hole. Do polar bears do that? I can't remember.

[wholovesyou]

I wouldn't worry too much, sugar. If anything does happen, I'll be sure to remember that pretty little face of yours.

[Oh Moxxi. You always know exactly what to say.]

[gloriousandfree]

It's not--[She flushes. Moxxi's flirting is a bit much sometimes] I worry I'm going to have to head back home if it gets worse. And honestly, I was hoping to not have to drag my things around the world some more.

[wholovesyou]

Hmmm, you could always pay for someone to take care of that for you. Money still makes the world go 'round, after all. Hell, I could probably find someone for you. Fast and without asking too many questions.

Just how I happen to like it.

[gloriousandfree]

I'd rather not have to move. Maybe they could just not go to war or whatever it is being planned. Registration, how would they even classify some powers? Would you have to reregister ever five years? How would they know if you lied?

This country doesn't make any sense.

[icy_heavens]

[Toushirou is hardly any stranger to spending time out at the lake when he wants to keep his head clear, settle his mind. The extreme cold helps with that on two fronts: it keeps most people inside, so there are fewer people to bother him. And secondly, the temperature is downright comfortable for him. He's not even in a long-sleeved shirt, much less a heavy coat. He only wears those when he needs to pass, and that's not when he's at school.

[Despite his need for relative privacy, he doesn't find Madeline's presence objectionable. He's never had a problem with her.] I really doubt there's a danger of that, but if it starts to happen, I'll fix it.

[gloriousandfree]

[ She doesn't look up at him, keeping her eyes on the ice around her. It certainly doesn't seem like it's going to crack but one can never be too careful. The prescence of an ice mutant does take some pressure off though, and she skates a little further out.]

Why thank you. I suppose you don't need a coat. [But just looking at him makes her cold]

[icy_heavens]

[He just shrugs at the gratitude. Whatever. Just a practical use of his power, is all.]

No. Immunity is part of my mutation.

[gloriousandfree]

Useful. [She skates lazily in a circle] Well in this weather. Do you have problems in summer or does it only work one way.

[icy_heavens]

Summer is hell. [Answers that question very neatly, doesn't it?] I have to actively cool the air down around me or it can get unbearable.

[gloriousandfree]

Ah...inconvenient. I wonder if you would be happier farther north. Go to one of the colder parts of the world and live there.

[She thinks about saying how unfortunate it'd be that they're usually pretty isolated. Would he care? She doesn't remember enough about him to say.]

[icy_heavens]

[Surprisingly enough, he would care. For all that he can be grouchy and unsociable, he doesn't truly want to be alone. But that's not quite what makes him scowl.] I won't go.

[gloriousandfree]

I wasn't trying to say you had to. Just thinking.

[She tilts her head at his protest though. It wasn't exactly a proportional response]

[vulgarcrocodile]

Don't you think you should have said that to the ice before stepping onto it? [Or just not risked it at all if she was that worried. But there on the safe solid ground stood Kaito, bundled up in his winter wear. In his hand a thermos of hot chocolate and his other hand a bag that may or may not have had his skates inside, should he decide to join her.]

[gloriousandfree]

I feel the ice and I just had to know where we stood. [She skated out a few feet, then twirled on a skate to face him. A little proud of how she didn't fall, she beamed. The flashier ice dancing moves weren't her specialty.] Hah and I was certain we'd have a warm winter. That's why I'm not in weather, I suppose.

[vulgarcrocodile]

[She should be, because he might have laughed at her some if she did. He himself would never try a move so flashy, because he would fall.]

I think even the harshest winter in America would probably feel like a warm winter to you. [Being from Canada and all. The cold of Canada's winters wasn't something he would miss about that place.]

[gloriousandfree]

Are you implying that you don't miss Canadian winters?

[She slowly skated backwards, hands clasped behind her back] I mean, having your hair freeze is a ton of fun.

[vulgarcrocodile]

Not at all. I like normal world winter, not Canadian winter. [Two distinctly different things if you ask him. He opens his thermos and takes a sip of the hot cocoa.]

[gloriousandfree]

Well Canadian winter is normal world winter. For Canada. [She shakes her head solemnly at his hot cocoa] We didn't even get stuck inside the apartment for more than a day. You didn't get to experience a true Canadian winter.

[vulgarcrocodile]

If we were going to be snowed in for that long, we wouldn't have had much free time to think about all of the snow outside our door. [He sips the warm drink again then offers her some.]

[gloriousandfree]

There's not a lot to do when you're stuck in an apartment like that. Unless you've got electricity powers somewhere in your stash. Invariably, you lose power for most of it.

[She will come back over for a sip of that cocoa. She may be used to cold winters but you never turn down a warm beverage]