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

OPEN, multiple choice, flexible locations

[niepokonany]

[Just as usual, Feliks can be found checking the news periodically throughout the day, whether it's in the boys' dorm common room, a more communal rec room, or on his phone just about anywhere on campus.]

[Hashtag Activism]

Ugh, I was totally planning to write one of those... It's like, can the MLF just, like, not sleaze something good up for once?

[Some people are actually trying to make things better, and they're totally not helping! On the other hand... He cracks a slightly mean little grin.]

But I mean, God, must be hard for them! Like, can you even imagine what it would be like to have someone taking away your privacy and exposing you to the whole world like that? Oh, wait...

[Genosha]

[This is the only segment he's quiet during. He'd been hopeful for Kelly's attempts to keep the peace, but Magneto can be such a hardliner. Just because Feliks refuses to see war as an inevitability, what good does it do if the heads of state involved don't?]

[Something has to be done. But what?]

[Of course, if anyone calls him on how weirdly quiet he is, the odds are he'll just make some kind of excuse!]

[Stryker]

Ugh.

[He wrinkles his nose, giving a toss of his hair.]

Because all of us have to be persecuted for what some of them did? Doesn't this guy have, like, literally anything non-bitchy to do?

[Winter Weather]

[He tilts his head a little, thoughtful.]

We could totally round up some people to hit the soup kitchen on weekends! Right?

[Kelly]

[Feliks smiles a little. This was just what he needed to see after some of the earlier news -- proof that sometimes, people can be changed.]

Right, totally! Like everyone's just gonna shut up and accept the worst!

[Winter Weather, Part II]

[In the late afternoon, there is... what looks to be a miniature fortress out in one of the gardens, decorated with colorful banners like a fairytale castle. No one appears to be inside, but anyone who wanders near is likely to find snowballs flying at them from over the parapets!]

[There's nothing like a little joking around to get your mind off heavy things, after all, and what better way right now than a snowball fight?]

[Styker]

[teufelskerl]

I am not any more fond of Herr Stryker's politics zhan you, Feliks, but even still, you should show more respect. Zhe man has lost family, and in his grieving he has been put to madness.

[niepokonany]

[Feliks winces. Why does Kurt always seem to turn up every time he's being aggressive or uncharitable?]

...I guess, but he's just putting more people in harm's way at this rate! Do I have to respect that?

[He does feel guilty at being chastised -- in particular, by someone of his own faith that he respects -- but his instinctive response is still to defend himself.]

[teufelskerl]

You do not have to agree with vhat he does. But he is still human. If it vere my family, I vould likely be equally radical...

[niepokonany]

You would not. You're like, always so reasonable you make everybody else look bad.

[teufelskerl]

For your sake, for zhe children's, zhat may seem so. But zhe Devil hides in us all, Feliks. Even me.

[niepokonany]

Well, even if it were my family, I still wouldn't be trying to make an underclass.

[teufelskerl]

Vhat vould you do, zhen? -It wasn't really worded as a test of character.-

[niepokonany]

Look, you know me. It's not like I'm saying I wouldn't fight, right?

It's just that I wouldn't start punching down.

[Winter Weather II]

[batteredbatter]

[It's freezing cold, so what kind of idiot would try to do sports outside in this kind of weather? If you guessed this guy, well... you get a free throw at the dork with a baseball bat.]

[niepokonany]

[Oh, hey, it's baseball boy! Feliks grins, popping up over the edge of the fort.]

Hey! Do you like, think you could hit it if I pitched from up here?

[batteredbatter]

Huh?

[There goes your free hit]

Oh, hey, Feliks! Yeah, totally! Throw on at me!

[niepokonany]

'Kay, here it comes!

[He turns a snowball into a baseball and lobs it down at Koshi, without much in the way of technique.]

[batteredbatter]

[Koshi grins - the snowball would be out of the strike zone but who cares. He steps over to accommodate it and swings the bat at it hard... which of course just makes the ball explode and spray snow all over him.]

Pfft! Ack!

[niepokonany]

[Feliks laughs, completely without shame. God, that was too easy!]

Hahaha, oh my god!

[batteredbatter]

H, hey, don't laugh!

[Though Koshi sounds on the verge of laughter himself, spitting out snow and trying to wipe it off his face]

[niepokonany]

How am I supposed to not laugh? Like, you saw that, right?

[Yep, still not stopping. He'd meant to have the illusion be more real than that, and stay as a baseball until it went further away, but moving objects are hard and he's keeping the fort made of stone -- plus, it was much funnier this way, anyway!]

Winter Weater

[monkeythief]

[Someone took all of the advance they got about winter to heart and got themselves a thick jacket. He's also wearing like, two shirts underneath it. One long sleeve and one short sleeve. Both made from thick material.

He's got on gloves, a hat, some thick pants and boots. His tail is dangling out behind him, but he's still pretty damn bundled up. He's approaching the miniature fortress, having spotted it a little while ago and deciding he wanted a closer look.]

[niepokonany]

[As he gets near the walls, a bucket full of snow gets dumped over the edge. The only warning he gets is a moment before it comes:]

Like, who dares disturb my fortress?

[...He sort of sounds like he's about to burst out laughing.]

[monkeythief]

[He leaps back a little out of the way of the snow that gets dumped over.]

Uh..Sun Wukong dares to disturb it!

[niepokonany]

[For a moment, he pouts a bit about the snow missing, but he perks up as he recognizes Sun as someone he's talked to before. He peeks over the edge of the fortress, tossing a snowball up and down to himself.]

Oh, hey! Like, getting used to winter?

[He's obviously making the most of it.]

[monkeythief]

[He's watching that snowball as it is tossed up and down.]

Somewhat. I don't think I will ever get completely used to it, but I'm not all bundled up in my bedroom with an electric blanket like I was on the first night.

[niepokonany]

Fleece PJs are totally where it's at.

[He grins. He's still tossing that snowball, but doesn't look like he has any actual intention of doing anything with it.]

That, or making cuddly friends! Which I totally recommend, FYI.

[monkeythief]

[He chuckles a little bit at that.]

That's one thing I haven't tried. So which do you use to stay warm, fleece PJs or a cuddly friend?

[niepokonany]

Both, if it's way cold? Usually just my best friend, though!

[Best friends usually cuddle up and use each other as heaters, right? Like, that's normal?]