Opening Day [OPEN]

[astonishing_xmods]

WHO: EVERYONE
WHAT: Mingle/Figure out Room Assignments/Meet old friends again
WHERE: The whole campus.
WHEN: September 1st, 2018
WARNING(S): None. If anything goes into warning territory, please create a new log for it.




For all of the newcomers, welcome to Professor Xavier’s Institute of Higher Learning! For all of our returning students and staff, welcome back! Once Professor Xavier’s welcome speech wraps up, it’s time for everyone to get themselves situated in their dorms and, more importantly, get to know your fellow mutants! Even if you’re not sharing rooms, you’ll still be sharing the same campus with each other, so don’t be afraid to get used to all of those new faces! Or even catch up on old ones! You have options; don’t be afraid to use them.

[[ ooc: This is the general mingling post for all of our characters to get settled into their rooms, get to know each other, reminisce with old friends, all that jazz. The log will be split into multiple locations. ]]

Comments

[nobodysweapon]

"I do not believe that." Laura had stopped for enough time and moved onto another collection of possessions and started putting them on various flat surfaces. A teddy bear that clearly had a BB shot through its forehead being the most unnerving object. But also jewelry, books, and a few other things just short of normal young adult possessions.

"Humans are never simply one thing. It would be easier if that was the case."

[scorchedchivalry]

"We are not human, and some of us have had that fact quite clearly pointed out to us."

And with that, Saber decided she needed to change the subject before it turned toward a topic that stirred her rage. Thankfully, Laura's stuffed animal made an excellent focal point.

"What did the poor bear do to get himself shot?"

[nobodysweapon]

Something shifted very hard in the cool, but otherwise calm demeanor of the dark haired girl. There was a brief flicker of anger in her eyes sharp and deadly like that of a wild animal. "Yes. And we were lied to."

"I did not understand the nature of the game. And I wanted it." Laura closed her eyes for a moment to try to be less like who she was. And more like who she wished to be. "I did not have a normal childhood. That is why I keep trying to learn how humanity functions. Even if I am not scientifically speaking, human."

Technically there was even more philosophical and religious debate on if she was anywhere near human, if she had a soul, or if she was safe to leave near innocent children. But she had to believe they were wrong about her.

[scorchedchivalry]

"Whereas I do not currently have the best of opinions on humanity, I do understand the necessities of blending and the good in knowing the things humans take for granted. I am sorry to hear you did not get that time of blissful ignorance when everything was bright and full of hope."

Saber allowed herself a few more steps into the room, eyes on the bear. She almost reached out to pick it up, but stopped herself. "Do you keep it as a reminder?"

[nobodysweapon]

"I have to make my own bliss, and it is much harder with understanding. But I have not given up." Then Laura let the topic drift away, there were too many answers to give. All of them would not go away easily. And once someone knew, truly knew, they would not treat her the same. It was a curious bit of contradiction, on the one hand she hated why she was created... but without it she would not exist. Her being was thanks to unspeakable evil.

"No, I did not stop wanting it. Being damaged is not enough reason to get rid of something." She was getting out her shoes, other than a pair of dress shoes... all of them had the same vertical slice in the toes. Like someone stabbed a knife through them.

This included a pair of steel toed work boots.

[scorchedchivalry]

"...I feel as if I am standing in the midst of a shoe massacre," Saber commented.

Perhaps it was some fashion thing she didn't understand or... it had been a shoe massacre. The weird appearance of the collection distracted Saber from the conversation they had been embroiled in.

[nobodysweapon]

"I have metal blades that retract out of my feet. My shoes do not feel like they are mine without this."

Laura understood that metal claws like Wolverine was an unnerving concept, but she was not ashamed of them. They were too useful for her to hide away. It was also far more practical to do this before she needs to fight in a new pair of shoes.

[scorchedchivalry]

It made sense from a comfort and preparation perspective. Though having pierced through steel-toed boots, those blades had to be some other kind of metal. It did make her think of Wolverine, but she wasn't going to ask.

"That is a far more practical reason than any I had speculated."

[nobodysweapon]

"Fashion defies practicality. Your speculation is understandable."

Laura considered a moment, she was already into the explanation of her abilities. She might as well not stop halfway. "I have claws in my hands too. My gloves are the same, but I put them away first."

[scorchedchivalry]

"Is this explain our mutations time?" The way Saber phrased it made it hard to tell if it was an honest question or not.

"I am not surprised you possess those as well. It would be unbalanced and awkward to have only physical weaponry upon your feet. The body naturally strives for internal balance. I assume the X-gene does as well."

[nobodysweapon]

"That is a usual starting point for social interaction in this place. Especially if explaining physical aspects is needed."

Laura had to consider a moment how to best explain herself without getting into complicated specifics that were incredibly personal, incredibly unnerving, and dangerous to know. So she omitted any comments she may have had about how 'nature' does not figure into her creation.

"I am a genetic relation of Wolverine. Most of my abilities are similar to his, the variation in my claws isn't readily understood, but the speculation is it has to do with gender."

[scorchedchivalry]

"I will say knowing will aid me in keeping some of my instinctual reactions in check should you pop a claw without warning while too close to me or an innocent," she replied casually. Because no one needed her armoring up at inopportune times, especially as things current stood with her mutation.

Saber then tilted her head a bit. "Is Wolverine your father?"

[nobodysweapon]

"I am attempting to be a... normal girl. But if I were to do that, you should be prepared to fight," Laura was practical, she didn't want to fight, or kill, or bring down trouble. She didn't want to find herself without memory of what she did surrounded by the dead. She would rather someone fought her, and killed her, than do that again. And if she is reacting to a threat... help maintaining order would be of value.

Laura stares at Saber for a few awkward moments. "It is complicated."

[scorchedchivalry]

"I am always prepared to fight. I am a knight," Saber replied. "And I fail to see how complicated it could be. He either is or is not your father. You were not clear in your relation to him."

And it was always good to know if there were potential family issues going on. Father/daughter ones were never enjoyable.

[nobodysweapon]

"I was created off of a damaged genetic sample by duplicating the undamaged x chromosome," Laura's tone was slightly tired, remembering how easy it was when she didn't bring up her family and was an emancipated minor going to school on her own. Felicity, she never dealt with this as Felicity. "It is complicated."

"Hopefully you will not need to fight, but there is little chance that nothing will go wrong." She had returned to a more passive voice, the same quiet but stern tone she had been using this conversation, her 'casual' tone.

[scorchedchivalry]

"That is complicated." And unethical. Saber didn't like cloning or other forms of genetic manipulation. It also reminded her of the unknowns surrounding her own condition.

"Even if the school year itself is uneventful, I am to become an X-Man. I am certain I will be pulled for field use at some point." She then made a disgruntled sound in the back of her throat. "And there is always a few bullies that take my intervention personally and think they can best me."

She shrugged a bit. "I control mana. Primarily, I use it to create my armor and sword, but it has many applications."

[nobodysweapon]

Ethics are still an amusing notion to Laura she has not completely grasped, but she is doing much better with them then she did five years ago.

"You are very sure of your choice to join the X-Men." Laura closed up her empty suitcase and slid it to the bottom of her wardrobe. She ignored the comment about bullies, she never had a problem with them... of course she had a reputation.

"Non-combat applications?" Energy manipulation generally had more positive applications even if most thought they were best served with violence. As opposed to Laura's own powers, which were honed into a deadly edge. Literally, for her claws.

[scorchedchivalry]

Joining the X-Men was better than her other two options. It was also an honorable position and the closest to modern knights Saber could find. They protected the innocent, and that was what she did, despite knowing the path will continue to only bring her despair. And being one of them gave her access to resources where she might be able to find wondrous things she'd always thought were fairy tales. After all, if mutants were real, who is to say something like the Holy Grail isn't.

"Some, though most of that is passive and sensory-related. The other non-combat applications I have lost access to. Such as healing."

[nobodysweapon]

Laura had similar thoughts five years ago, minus any concepts of fairy tales. Most were most likely a variation of interdimensional or interstellar travel. Which were theoretically more credible than magic. But Laura did not want to be used as a weapon, even a weapon for good... not unless it was on her own terms. Maybe after she explores the options that are not as violent she will reconsider.

She does not want to look for more trouble.

"Lost? How are abilities lost?" She could understand losing her claws... she's done that before, it is very hard to find a doctor willing to re-implant metal blades onto someone who is immune to most forms of anesthetic. But an ability to manipulate energy is pretty hard to steal or cut off with a meat cleaver.

[scorchedchivalry]

Saber stated at Laura for a long moment. Did she want to explain to her what happened? Well, as best as she could explain. She didn't think she would get pity from Laura and given the genetic manipulation that had been apparent in the other girl's existence, perhaps she might understand better than others.

"One moment. I have to get something from my room," she said and then left Laura's room without giving the girl a chance to respond.

When she returned a few moments later, she had one of those standing picture frames that folded closed like a book with two photographs, one on each side. [ooc: the second one does not have Shirou showing any magecraft, but fanart limits, blerg.]

She held the frame out for Laura to take. "Those were taken two months ago when I was visiting a friend in Japan," she said without elaborating further. The differences in her appearance were very apparent. Her skin was paler, red lines scrawling up the side of her neck, eyes an unnatural yellow instead of the bright green they were, and her hair washed out to almost white as opposed to cornsilk blonde.

[nobodysweapon]

Laura took the pictures into her hand and examined them quickly, then glancing over the very clear physical difference that has happened in a relatively short span. She sniffed the air, naturally her first thought was a pathogen of some kind, this level of physical damage isn't easy to cause. Stress, naturally, could maintain it if left untreated.

"Have you spoken to Dr. McCoy about remedies for your current condition?" She figured, if Saber wished to share the specifics, that she would. But the pictures were enough to answer that Saber was damaged in ways that could limit the variation of her powers.

[scorchedchivalry]

"I have been placed through numerous exams by both human doctors and by Dr. McCoy," Saber replied. "Something was done to me while I was in Japan. We do not know what it is, or what they did to me."

She held her hand out for the photos back. "The best way I can describe it is that there was some kind of... corruption done to me X-gene. That is why my abilities have altered. Along with..." She made a gesture to her face, specifically the red lines.

[nobodysweapon]

There were plenty of people X-23 has not killed who had a hand in the game of mutant genetic manipulation. She did not have access to intercontinental travel methods, so she had to settle for killing the ones in North America. Plus that was a decade ago, there were surely more scientists trying to make the perfect tool again. She just... did not have the energy to go and detain each one.

"Understood. Is there a theory as to their intentions?" Some people were just interested in seeing what happened, others had very specific designs in mind. She has not been 'in the game' for some time, so her information on Japan was almost certainly out of date. "You seem... strong, considering."

[scorchedchivalry]

"I do not know who they are. I do not even know how they managed to knock me out. I was fully armored and engaged in combat with... I think it was another mutant, but I cannot be sure. He was cloaked in shadow with his face covered by a bone mask," Saber replied, looking down at the photos.

"Over the years, I have drawn a fair amount of attention in the anti-mutant circles across Europe. It could have been one of them." She shut the frame closed and looked back up at Laura. "My body is fighting the corruption. Dr. McCoy has said that is why I do not have access to the healing I used to be able to do with the mana. It is also not contagious, or they would not have allowed me to attend classes. I do ask that you do not spread this information around. I just thought that perhaps you may have a better understanding than others considering what you revealed regarding your genetics."

[nobodysweapon]

"Most organizations with the required expertise would use mutants in the field." There was definitely something about her tone that said this was not up for debate.

Laura listened to the girl and studied her for a few moments as she considered. The contamination was being fought, but Saber's body was not equipped to overcome the affliction, merely prevent it from doing further damage. "I understand. You should understand if your body is still fighting this contamination it is dangerous for you to to be an X-Man. Not just you, you do not know what the end result of this corruption is, and if you are too injured in combat, your body would be unable to continue fighting."

She left out that, in that situation, the optimum result would be Saber's death. There are far worse things that can happen when genetic corruption is involved.