The Brink of War [OPEN]

[astonishing_xmods]

WHO: Everyone
WHAT: The news of the world, brought right to your school!
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"... 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

[batteredbatter]

How does that even work? You... "imagined" them?

[niepokonany]

Not exactly?

Like, I can't imagine something from nothing. I just kinda... think about things like they're a little different, and they are for a bit!

It's what I do to my clothes, like, all the time.

[batteredbatter]

Well, clothes are clothes but... snowballs and cannonballs are pretty different!

[niepokonany]

I mean, not that different? It basically just depends how easily I can imagine it, and they're pretty much the same shape, anyway.

Like, I turned a knife into a fish in a fight one time!

[batteredbatter]

If you say so... [Iron and snow are pretty darn different in Koshi's mind.]

A fish!? Like, a live fish?

[niepokonany]

Huh? No, no, it was totally dead...

[batteredbatter]

Uh, gross. And I'm not sure that's any less weird!

[niepokonany]

What? They're both, like, thin and silver and kinda move fast. Plus, it's way better to get hit with a fish than a knife!

[batteredbatter]

Okay, true. I mean that last part... I don't really think a metal object and a live... er, dead animal are that alike.

[niepokonany]

I mean, you don't have to focus so much on the dead part? It's not like it was rotting or something, it was just like you'd find in a store! Anyway, wouldn't it be weirder if I could make things that weren't alive alive?

[batteredbatter]

Well, yeah, that's be weird too, though "formerly alive" is only slightly less weird.

[niepokonany]

You're so overthinking all this.

[batteredbatter]

It's never struck you as weird?

[niepokonany]

Nnnnnno?

I mean, it's like, mine. It's part of me. Why would I think it's weird?

[batteredbatter]

Did you always have it? I mean, my power is part of me but... I still think it's kind of weird. And it doesn't even involve turning knives into fishes.

[niepokonany]

Defs not always. Like... since I was, I don't know. 14, 15? Something like that. It's hard to tell, 'cause I always imagined a lot, and I didn't have a ton of people to hang out with back then, so I'm not sure when it started being real.

[batteredbatter]

Wow, that's uh... pretty surreal? [Thanks, captain obvious.] I guess... it's handy though?

[niepokonany]

Super handy! Like, do you know how much money I'd spend on clothes if I didn't have this?

[And also he guesses it's nice to effectively be able to neutralize man-mad weapons with a thought, and stuff like that.]

[batteredbatter]

Haha, that's a good point. Guess you can play dress-up as much as you want, huh?

[niepokonany]

[Feliks dresses himself up as a Vocaloid, then changes his mind when he realizes how cold it is and dresses himself up like a (wintery) medieval Polish princess instead.]

Exactly! Plus, the costume club's never over budget!

[batteredbatter]

[Koshi has a good laugh at that]

Man, I wish I had a power that was fun like that.

[niepokonany]

Yeah, I pretty much lucked out. Like, I can't bench-press trucks or fly or anything, but I'm not complaining!

[batteredbatter]

I can't complain either I guess [considering he'd be dead if he didn't have this power] but I am sorta jealous. Even if it's weird.

[Grin. He's teasing.]

[niepokonany]

I can handle weird, I guess!

[He grins, leaning against the (solid, stone) wall of his fortress. Yeah, the princess outfit matches this better anyway, doesn't it?]

[batteredbatter]

[It does.

But that's not stopping Koshi from trying to lob another snowball right at him.]