A Brave New World [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: Today
WARNING(S): if a thread goes into warning label territory, either throw it in the subject line or take it to a separate log.

"... 5 dead, 20 injured in today's bombing in London. Authorities and witnesses both claim that it was literally impossible for the bomb to have been placed where it was unless someone had the ability to literally teleport into the terminal. Several experts are drawing this incident's blame to ex-Brotherhood assassin and terrorist only known at large as 'The Vanisher'..."


"... increased security for his upcoming public address. Now more than ever, calls are incredibly loud and clear for some kind of Mutant Registration law. Alleged mutant terrorism has spiked recently internationally, and many in the US public feel that President Kelly needs to take a leadership position on this much like he did during his congressional career..."


"... Sublime was very forthcoming with his experiences growing up in a mixed human/mutant household and the struggles it created. He also detailed his thoughts on Mutant Registration, saying that he felt like it wasn't the solution to the problem, and that humanity could only move forward if they embraced unity between humans and mutants. He went on to say that his philosophy of the Third Species suggests that there will be a time when the entire planet is mutant, and peace can come from accepting this..."


"... shook the sporting news world with his announcement that he was indeed a mutant. Delroy Garrett, Jr was stipped of the medals he'd won in the 2016 Olympics and has been panned universally for what was, essentially, cheating in some of the worlds' most coveted sports. The triathlete said that he doesn't regret coming out, and that he had to be who he was in the world today or those medals would have been truly meaningless..."


"... proposed a Mutant Olympics, as well as European United Mutant Football Club and any number of mutant specific sporting events and clubs. 'Why not?' Captain America said, firmly siding with Garrett and his supporters. 'I don't see any reason why these athletes, who have trained and worked hard to represent their countries should be denied that right based on how they were born. It just isn't right.' Rogers was also asked about the growing tension between mutant nation Genosha, whom protested the Winter Olympics this year due to the anti-mutant rulings, and the United States. Rogers refused to comment..."

[[ 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. You can reference the Weekly Update posts for other world news events not covered here, as well. ]]

Comments

Open (Making a Scene Here)

[scorchedchivalry]

[Arturia had just finished using the restroom after her last class and was heading out when something on one of the televisions left on in recently emptied classroom caught her attention.

London. What happened in London?

She stopped in the doorway, eyes widened, and listened to the newscaster. A bombing... in London. Innocent lives lost. In London. IN LONDON.

It hit her harder than she expected, so close to home, and when the rage surged this time, she was unable to control it. But at least she was able to direct it.

It happened so fast, unless someone was expressly watching her, what really happened wasn't easy to put together. There was a flash of black and red 'energy' directed with a single slash of her hand into the empty classroom and the senior stalked directly out of the building, hand clenched as if holding something that didn't seem to have a definable form.

To look in the classroom... It looked like something had cut directly from the door to the window, desks cut cleanly in half, a line scoring the floor, and up the wall to the now shattered single window it ended at.]

[legendarybub]

[She was followed. But he didn't exactly hide the face he was doing so. That was his classroom, after all.]

If you're gonna lash out, kid, at least lash out at something that doesn't cost any money to fix.

OPEN -

[niepokonany]

[One might expect a Political Science student to pay close attention to the news, keeping a close and careful eye on the goings-on of the world.]

[And, to be fair, one wouldn't be wrong about that. It was just that, to the untrained observer, Feliks looked less like an eagle-eyed watchman and more like a rowdy peanut gallery when he sat down to watch the news -- or rather, sprawled out, laying claim to much of one of the common area sofas in front of the TV, his computer set up on a little end table pushed up against the side of the sofa so he wouldn't have to reach too far for it. He'd brought snacks, a little box of chocolates from home and a big bag of paluszki and some soda, and seemed like he was paying more attention to his computer until the moments when he spoke up about what was going on on screen:]

[A]

A 'leadership position', huh? God, give me a break.

[B]

Yeah, that's not creepy. I could kinda buy Sublime as being from a third species, though. Like, have you seen his hair? Have you seen him trying to smile like a hu-man?

[C]

Real talk, though -- we should totally have mutant sports teams. I mean, boo, segregation and stuff, but how rad would it be?

[D]

[At other times, though, he had little to say, and his eyes were closer on the screen. The news about London was one of those times, as were some parts of the Mutant Registration act. He sat up straight, pulled his computer into his lap, and switched between looking at the TV and at his own screen as he typed.]

C

[batteredbatter]

[Koshi's not much into the news - it doesn't help that he has a hard time following it since he mostly know conversational English and they speak so fast - but he catches Feliks while passing through]

I guess it would be pretty cool... though it make me pretty sad that I wouldn't be allowed to play with everyone...

d

[musou_tensei]

... If it was Vanisher, we know he didn't work alone. He's a gun for hire by nature, after all. We need to follow the money.

B

[kamiizumi]

[Some people haven't spent enough time around humans to have such a keen eye for the differences, Feliks.]

What's weird about his hair?

b

[soccerwhisperer]

[Tenma's a little relieved he's not the only one who thinks Sublime is creepy, but at the same time it's a scary thought.]

You think he might be an alien?

Re: [A] ...seemed like this one needed some love.

[knighterrantofthedragon]

Alric happened to be passing by while Feliks was listening; he'd caught earlier, similar, continental broadcasts, considering his connections. He waits until that particular news clip is over before responding to Feliks' mutterings.

"For all the well-known potential benefits of the representative democracy, I've noticed before that--especially in its modern, American manifestation--fostering a spirit of integrity and leadership among those in positions of power is not terribly high on the list."

open

[friendofdorothy]

If there were one thing likely to bring shy, phlegmatic Liir out of his shell it was politics. So the usually silent senior could be found actually commenting on what was happening:

[1]

"They're leaving something out. Those responsible for such acts always make a statement, claim responsibility. What's the point, otherwise?"

[2]

"Nothing new. Not the first president to ride into office on suppressing and liquidating a pariah group and he won't be the last."

[3]

"But once his goal is achieved, will the word 'Mutant' mean anything? Is it the self-annihilation of mutants as a class?"

1

[bluishgreymatter]

"The statement could be the act itself. All humans, after all, are among the confirmed harmed. That building had no mutant workers, as far as the investigation goes. And besides, you may not know this, but if it IS that man... well. He was just a hired gun." Hank spoke with real disgust when talking of Vanisher. He was a longtime thorn in their side.

Open

[aile_noire]

[It was times like these that Remilia's years lost in stasis truly caught up with her. She was vaguely aware of American politics in her two years away from the Institute, and she knew of Kelly's presidency, but still—]

...How did that man become President?

[Remilia didn't even seem to notice she'd muttered anything. Her eyes were glued to her phone, one hand grasping the edge of the table, claws unknowingly carving gouges into the side. She remembered Kelly clearly from the news five years ago, and his crusade for a registration act. If the public wanted it more than ever, especially in response to incidents elsewhere...]

[It would be terrible for the mutant population as a whole, but what would her sister do?]

[jolie_aile]

[A hand settled on Remilia's, doing their best to disentangle her claws from the wood of the table without being obtrusive about it.

Flandre had heard; she heard the news too. She was...had, decided not to think about it. To distract herself.

She didn't say a word, instead focused on her task.]

Open - Hallway

[anythingwithstrings]

To anyone new, they might not understand why Maya stopped dead in the middle of a hallway and took off her headphones. Very few people have actively tried to kill her, very few people have proven effective at finding her to try and kill her. Vanisher was pretty much the list. Admittedly she tried to kill him back, once, with the help of a friend. But that was hardly the point. She had hoped, during her little nap, someone finally shoved an icepick through his spine while he slept and he just wasn't around anymore to try to kill anyone.

The other news filtered through her mind too, from the various news reports in various rooms as her mind flooded with stimuli, but she was weeding out and throwing away anything that wasn't to do with the bombing. It was happening again, it wasn't even new players, the same ones, the same game... destroying any chance of being left alone by killing innocent people. So much for safety...

[musou_tensei]

News of the bombing had Reimu up bright and early, largely due to needing to attend briefings in the sub-levels with the other X-Men. It was rare for him to be awake at this hour in his adult life... but it was a good thing. He reached for Maya's shoulder, making certain she could see him do it, that it wouldn't shock her.

"Hey. He doesn't know you're awake. And besides... it was always Black Star he was after. And we know he can handle him."

open

[kamiizumi]

[Politics aren't, exactly, Leo's thing. But personal interests aside, they're one of the things Splinter specifically told him to look out for and try to inform himself about, when he'd been sent to school in the first place.

So he's worked it into the routine, as though it were simply another drill to run. Outside for parkour around campus, katas, inside for a cup of tea while watching the news - making it a nonnegotiable part of his day. So he's usually easy to find for about an hour each day, even if who even knows where he is and what he's doing when he's training in the physical sense.

Right now? Sitting on the couch in the common room, legs neatly folded in the lotus position and regarding the TV thoughtfully as he sips his tea.

He's willing to discuss any of the stories currently on, but the bombing seems to have particularly caught his eye, and he leans forward a little.]

Are they sure it's impossible?

[Granted, as likely as a teleporter finding their way in is, the lack of much detail on the structure itself has him unconvinced, because he's trained and practiced in the fine art of getting to places nobody thinks you should physically be able to get to.]

[nobodysweapon]

Cannot be certain without stealing the files on the investigation. Eyewitnesses are unreliable and security can be flawed.

*Says the girl who murdered a presidential candidate, his family, his security detail, several members of the press and campaign contributors when she was a child. Humans are certain that if their security is defeated, it was done by 'cheating.' When there are plenty of tools any human could use to simulate mutant powers. Laura forgot she was trying not to be as creepy as she used to be, but she figured her chances of pretending she was normal were about to go away again.*

There are too many possible parties with a vested interest.

*Which meant she thought someone was lying to support an anti-mutant message. She was curled up against a bookshelf reading a sappy teen romance novel involving supernatural creatures. She did not understand the appeal, but people talked about it so it seemed important.*

[kickstart_my_heart]

London. England. Great Britain. The United Kingdom. Dieu et mon droit. Home. Bridget had dropped his breakfast on the floor, making a mess that seemed to be happening in a whole different world for all he seemed to notice. His eyes were locked on the television. On the pillar of smoke. On the emergency vehicles, lights flashing, mother's crying... He was frozen there in his shock. In his fear. His knees started to shake, and he was likely to collapse at any moment...

[comparative_insanity]

"Easy there."

Fai unsprawls from the bench he'd been occupying in one fluid moment, rushing over to Bridget's side and taking a light hold of one elbow. He doesn't want to intrude, but the girl (?) looks like she might keel over any moment.

"Come, let's sit you down. Nevermind the tray."

Open, out on the grounds

[jolie_aile]

Of course she saw the news. And heard it and read about it and thought about it and didn't want to think about it. Flandre spent the latest class (rhetoric) in an unusually quiet state, offering little in the way of her usual comments or ideas. It wasn't a good distraction.

As soon as she had a more significant break between classes, she wandered outside--bright sunlight or not. Flandre's wings were folded pensively tight to her back, rather than posed as pretty as a picture as usual. The young woman started in the courtyard, meandered through a building on the way to the lake, and then on to the lake itself. Surely there would be more to look at there; glittering water and dappled trees and nothing to worry about.

She might well blunder into someone at any point in this state.

[eternalprincess]

Probably right into Kaguya, a twelfth grader, who happened to be out at the lake to get some air.

The news was worrying her as well, the thought of a Mutant Registration Act going through frightened her most of all. Nothing good would result if Kelly gets his way.

Open

[eternalprincess]

[As she sat in the common room, Kaguya felt a pang of fear run through her like a spike with the news that a Mutant Registration Act was becoming more likely every day... All these bombings along with everything else the Brotherhood was doing, they were just hastening it all.]

...Why can't they understand that they're just making things worse for us all? It's just giving people like Kelly more excuses. [She had tucked her knees in close to herself now, her voice quiet and fearful...]

[If Kelly got his way... She didn't know what she'd do.]

[anythingwithstrings]

You say that like it isn't exactly the answer they want.

*Blonde, bitter, super hearing. She's just staring at the television angrily making the newscaster sound like a chipmunk. Her lips aren't even moving as the sound just exists in the room, formless and coming from various directions.*

They get Kelly to go after mutants, they get to point to the land of Freedom trying to lock up anyone who isn't human. And a lot of mutants will either get killed, or join the fight. It doesn't matter who put that asshole up to it, both sides would be entirely okay with it.

Open!

[stardustreverie]

[Usually Marisa didn't pay too much attention to the news anymore. Too much chaos that kept happening and she wanted none of it.

But she happened to be wandering by when they mentioned the bombing, the normally cool and collected X-man's face went ghost white. She had a close friend who lived in England and she had not talked with her in a while. She quickly moved away from the TV and went off to the edge of the forest to try and calm herself. Calling her friend in the state she was in was not going to help so she was just trying to calm down, curling up a little bit against a tree.]

[icy_heavens]

[Toushirou has rather had his fill of the stuff for now, plus that his legs had been falling asleep on him from bearing the weight of that heavy textbook he'd had in his lap. That thing, he's at least dropped off back in his room.

[He needs to get some air, stretch his legs, and he'd always liked the more natural areas of the grounds. And this is how he happens upon Marisa in a state he finds very alien. He's used to her being excited and energetic. Mischievous and annoying. This is so far away from any of those things.]

What's wrong with you? [There's no bite or accusation in the question. But wow, Toushirou. Tactless much?]

Open

[icy_heavens]

[It's like an old ritual for Toushirou, sitting in the common room, poring over textbooks -- in this case, a biology one that is actually a bit much for the grade he's in -- while listening to the news. All the stupid, infuriating news that refuses to change.]

Right, like his congressional career was an example to follow. Of course people are keeping this damn nonsense on the table. Why am I not surprised?

[He lets out a soft 'tch'.] Vanisher and Sublime, too. Still at it. All the same people.

[niepokonany]

Because some people are lame.

[Feliks grins, slipping into a nearby armchair and turning his jeans and t-shirt into a politician-worthy suit.]

But like, since entering office, President Kelly has fulfilled his campaign promises to revitalize the market for stupid little flag tie pins and awful glasses frames, and to reduce our foreign oil dependence by shifting energy production to focus on harnessing all of his hot air!

OTA | staff lounge

[thirdarrow]

[ It's rare to see Takakage in the lounge - at least when he isn't marking papers. But the news have indeed impacted everyone, and even someone as reserved as him had something to say.

The television is switched on and a few perused newspapers are strewn over the coffee table. The man himself seems to be reading a few printouts, though it's not immediately visible what's on the paper. Once in a while he does comment to any passerby who might linger long enough to hold a proper conversation. ]

a;
Quick to blame mutants, I see. I wish they would consider other viable suspects - at this stage, it may even be a setup to pull shame upon us.

b;
Is that man really going to go through with the Registration Law? It is of a similar calibre as the Jewish registrations during the Third Reich. Why has no one called him out upon that yet?

[ Americans are strange. ]

c;
You do realize the very definition of 'mutant' is of a genotype different from the average wildtype? If the whole world were to become mutant, we would all be normal. I doubt Sublime even understands what he is speaking of.

d;
[ He sighs and picks up one of the newspapers. It's the one about the Olympics. ]

On what grounds are they even doing this ruling? Being a mutant is not something we can control.

c

[aile_noire]

As... much as I disagree with the man—on many things, believe me—I won't deny that there is... a certain sense to it. Even with warped definitions. Mutants seem to be becoming slowly more populous.

[comparative_insanity]

[Fai is dealing with the news digest in the most mature way possible - which is to say by changing his appearance, voice and mannerisms with his glamours and doing mocking impersonations. Anyone who is present in the same room as he is and who is in a position where he can catch their eye for a moment will get to be spectators to the pantomime.]

A
[Fai at first takes on the appearance of the news anchor, putting on his "I'm talking to a dangerous criminal and I'm hoping this will boost my career" face.]

So, Mr Vanisher, tell me how you could be the only possible person to have done this, mutant or otherwise?

[And then there's the Vanisher's somewhat unsettling visage instead, smirking rather smugly.]

Why, it's because the media likes using famous names which are sure to scare ordinary people and make them blame just about anything on Infamous Dastardly Mutants, whether there is actual proof or not.

B
[Everyone needs a visit from Senator Kelly every once in a while, right?]

Yes, yes, nevermind that time when mutants actually saved me from kidnappers. If people are once more screaming for laws oppressing mutants and I can gain something from it, I certainly don't see why not! After all, it went so well last time we were doing this whole song and dance.

C
[Not to mention Sublime, looking exactly as glossy as he does on book covers.]

After all, we all know that 'survival of the fittest' definitely means 'survival of those with cool super powers', despite the number of hate crimes against mutants still remaining high.

B

[icy_heavens]

[He looks up from his textbook, but doesn't even bat an eye at Fai going through all these different appearances. Not like he's never seen him use his power before.]

Incredibly well, yes. [Ah, the biting sarcasm of children. Some things refuse to change.]

[open]

[seduceme]

[Christelle watches the news from beginning to end, her expression betraying none of her disgust as she remains 'boredly' standing with an arm crossed over her front, a mug of fresh coffee in the other that she sips at. Mutants vs Humans as usual, and the media just fanning the flames of conflict as they always did. When the news finally turns to the weather report (for which they'll probably blame mutants for droughts or floodings alike), she finally leaves the common room, coffee mug abandoned to be cleaned later.

She doesn't stop until she's outside, quickly pulling out a cigarette to light up and take several long puffs from. It's all... so... ridiculous. It's annoying, like an itch that she can't quite reach and can't ignore completely either. Eventually she takes out one of her knives, watching the blade flicker as she starts flipping and twirling it about, the movements almost hypnotic but soothing to her, smoothing ruffled feathers and letting her clear her mind as she focuses on the gleaming light as it dances around.]

[the sound of bigby violently pretending he's cool]

[whosafraidofthe]

[Bigby doesn't care much for what he still basically considers 'human news' (i.e. any news that doesn't and/or shouldn't directly involve him) but he has been noticing a lot of dampened, saddened scents and it's led to him casting his ears around for snippets of TV reports.

But all that quiet investigation eventually leads to him running across Christelle's scent, smelling tense. Well, he tells himself he doesn't really care. But here he comes anyway to sneak over to her and announce himself with the sound of a cigarette being lit.]

Something bothering you?

[He has a few guesses as to what could, but it's her move what they discuss in particular.]

[OPEN]

[wholovesyou]

[A]
[She looks decidedly unimpressed with news of the bombing.]

5 dead and they're already making the news? Must've been a slow day.


[B]
[And with all the other matters that are going on, Moxxi just has one prevailing thought right now:]

Mmm, what I wouldn't do for a night alone with Rogers.

[She might literally kill someone for the chance.

No, really. Moxxi would do it and have no regrets.]

[B in passing]

[seduceme]

[As Christelle walks by, she just has to comment:]

I 'ear 'e is a virgin.

Open - the history classroom

[koukai_kirai]

Hijikata reads the news more than he watches it, though with current technology, it's easy enough to do both as necessary. Some time late in the day, he can be found in his usual classroom, with his jacket over the chair, a mug of coffee in hand, and a vast array of notes on the day's news events written in Japanese on the whiteboard. He mutters to himself now and again as he writes, or sits on the edge of the desk as he picks up his tablet to research some detail or another that wasn't reported on heavily.

Today, one corner of the board is a map of the terminal in London that was struck, including entrances, exits, the location of the bomb and its blast radius, and what appears to be a rough timeline. Near there is a list of known groups with the potential money and vested interest to pull this off, with his own little notes to the side.

Another corner, for those who can read Japanese, summarizes the key points not only of the Third Species, but of Sublime's public appearances. There's another timeline there, of major events he's been involved with since his rise to fame.

Near the middle, he's listed several pieces of anti-mutant legislature, along with their major backers, and those backers' personal and political interests in moving it forward. A couple of graphs regarding public opinion accompany this section.

When he's not writing, he paces, sipping his coffee, occasionally going over to the window for a quick smoke if no one's there. Mostly, though, he looks it over, internalizing as much as he can, thinking.

[kamiizumi]

He'd originally been headed to the classroom for something else entirely, but it was relatively minor, and so Leo doesn't really try to fight off the distraction of Hijikata's notes; as soon as he peeks in, he pauses, gaze tracing across all of it (pity he doesn't have the foggiest about what all the Japanese means).

Still, even if he can't read all of it, the map speaks for itself, and he slips in quietly (the door is open, after all) to take a closer look.

It still bothers him - that everyone's immediately decreed the bomb's placement "impossible." For someone who's spent his entire life learning to sneak, intrude, and pull off completely ridiculous feats of agility and acrobatics, impossible doesn't sound like nearly as strong a word as the news reports are making it out to be, and he's been wondering just how impossible it actually is.

He doesn't speak up just yet; he's thinking about that map.

[open]

[whosafraidofthe]

[Bigby doesn't really care about the news that much, but he is worried about the mood it's put everyone in who does. A few people (Elsa, Alric, Leysritt, etc) will at least get checked on by smell, but everyone else can find him pacing around in his office or stalking through the hallways as he makes a general check to see how everyone's holding up. This has led to him have a vague idea of what's going on, but he won't voice an opinion until someone else does.]

[anythingwithstrings]

*Maya was very good at making herself scarce, she knew where the main traffics of the school were, and she knew where people rarely went. When she didn't want to deal with people it took a telepath or a blood hound to find her. For the moment she was in one of the storage closets reading a book. Sounds around her muted just to let off some steam...*

*Worth noting the storage closet was locked before she arrived, but one of the things she excelled at in school was lock picking. Something about super hearing and listening for locks clicking into place went hand in hand, or something. When she hears someone outside her little fortress of solitude and moping she tenses, wondering if its someone specifically looking for her.*

open

[leyabout]

[Leysritt, commandeering one of the televisions for her couch potato-ly ways? What a surprise. She's adopted her usual "out of class" posture: knees drawn up, heels on the edge of her seat, remote right beside her. Today, there's a magazine in her lap, which upon closer examination appears to be an issue of Newtype.

She hadn't been able to find anything to watch, so in the end, she had left it on a news station while turning her attention to the magazine. There hadn't been any particular reason for it. That had just been the station she happened to be on when she decided there was nothing she wanted to watch. However, when the topic of discussion turns to Delroy Garrett and mutant sports leagues, she glances back up, stopping in mid-page turn as she watches.]

[musou_tensei]

-Reimu plopped next to her, passing a bag of chips her way.-

I remember meeting that guy when I was still in high school, myself. Came as a speaker.