When it Rains, it Pours

[astonishing_xmods]

Who: Everybody!
What: News from around the world, live and in full color. 
Where: Anywhere with a television, radio, or computer screen
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.

"...reported sightings of the fugitive mutant supremacist leader Claudine Renko remain unsubstantiated. A S.H.I.E.L.D. spokesperson assured the press that all plausible leads are being investigated, but declined to comment on her most likely whereabouts. Anonymous sources have sent News 10 the following photos, showing Renko or someone bearing a strong resemblance to her in a Mexico City cafe, and later in an airport near Cape Town, South Africa, leading to widespread speculation that she's on her way to Genosha. Anyone with knowledge of her whereabouts is again encouraged to contact..."

 

"...team of medical experts working alongside the Xavier Institute's Henry McCoy have put forth that the disease exclusively affects people with active X-genes -- in other words, mutants. While it has continued to spread like wildfire through District X and other mutant enclaves, no related cases have been confirmed among baseline humans. With the death toll at home rising and new cases beginning to be reported around the world, a travel advisory has been put out discouraging mutants from traveling overseas in hopes of slowing the disease's spread..."

 

"...Travel restrictions to the notoriously closed-off country of Genosha have been tightened even further in light of the mysterious virus affecting mutants around the world. In a personal statement, Magneto stressed that since the concentrated mutant population in Genosha puts them at greater risk from this disease, 'measures must be taken to prevent any contamination within Genosha's borders'. Many high-ranking Genoshan diplomats have gone further and offered their condolences to the families affected by the disease, as well as applauding President Kelly's executive decision to channel funding towards treatment and research of the disease. A number of Genoshan doctors and scientists have left the country to collaborate with the researchers studying the virus..."

 

"...vigils held around the country this weekend in memory of the virus's victims..."

 

"...meteorologists scratching their heads about the sudden storm near an Appalachian town in southern Virginia last week, where record levels of rainfall caused flash flooding and mudslides. Other nearby towns were completely unaffected, and experts say that the prevailing weather conditions don't line up with such a dramatic downpour..."

 

"...Senator Graydon Creed appealed to his major constituents during last night's primary debate with his usual hard line on social issues and mutants in particular. However, businessman Norman Osbourne has risen in the polls after claiming that Creed's proposed policies, including the Mutant Registration bill being debated in the House, don't go far enough. Osbourne promised that, if elected, he'll introduce legislation aimed at deporting all mutant foreign nationals to their home countries, drawing applause from the debate's live audience and an outcry from leaders of the mutant refugee community..."

[[ ooc: News Mingle! Feel free to start your 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

[reallyfeelingit]

"I don't know if I would be best for taking care of it but I can personally speak to Dr. McCoy about it if you'd like. I'm sure he'll listen."

Hopefully. But back to the tablet, which Shulk holds out for him.

"This is a special device I've made. I figure that if there's anytime you have trouble believing something someone is telling you or you're unable to read a situation, this can help. It has a infrared camera inside and if you hold it up to someone, the software will scan body temperature, expressions, and gestures to give you a good idea as to what someone is attempting to express. As someone who appreciates hard ideas as facts, I figured that you might find it easier to adapt to something if it's broken down into more tangible elements."

[griot]

Viti accepted the tablet, and ran his hands over it. Slowly he lifted it into the light...he smiled and gasped.

"This is awesome! Now I'll finally understand, in detail, why that guy who turns into a dragon is mad at me. How I use it?"

Viti twirled his the device in his hands, randomly testing out buttons to see what happened.

[reallyfeelingit]

"It's simple, really!" And he was fairly grateful that the idea was going over well. He was admittedly not the best at knowing what would be helpful and unhelpful emotionally for a person. "You hold it like you would any other tablet camera. With you looking at the screen and the camera focused on the person. Then you let it handle the rest. There are options to view the variables on how it came to its conclusion plus whether you'd prefer voice or text."

[griot]

"Oooooh." Viti had still not lost his sense of wonder at the device. He aimed the tablet at professor Shulk.

Through random button mashing the program was made to reveal the variables of its conclusion via voice.

He awaited to see what it would say.

[reallyfeelingit]

After a quick scan, with the display of the tablet indicating parts of his body to demonstrate the point, text popped up on the screen saying 'earnest and sympathetic'. Which was, of course, said entirely out loud. Not that Shulk seemed entirely embarrassed by the discovery.

[griot]

"Well this seems perfect so far but..." Viti turned the device on himself. He waited.

After another scan the device stated, "happy and excited."

Viti gave a sharp nod. "There's no doubt now it works. Well thank you for building this. No one has ever tired to help me with my learning disability before. Well they tried, but they didn't know what they were doing."

Viti lowered the tablet. The smile was still on his face, but it began to fade slightly.

"How have you been since we last met, and how as the fight against the virus been going?"

[reallyfeelingit]

"If it helps you, then I'm happy."

It also meant Viti could better utilize his own skills, hopefully, once that barrier is crossed. That knowledge could be useful to everyone if directed properly.

"It's...going. I've been working hard but progress isn't exactly forthcoming. That's to be expected when it comes to viruses. They're one of the most resistant life forms, if they could even be classified as one."

[griot]

Viti nodded. "Indeed. We humans and mutants boast of being at the height of all that lives, but simple virus and bacteria will surely out last us all."

He sighed letting his head fall.

"Have you considered relying on the powers of the other mutants here? I know Gregory is a powerful healer. Though his powers can't fight disease, he can rebuild tissue damaged by it and enhance people's physical abilities."

[reallyfeelingit]

"It's possible but it also risks putting others in danger. Not to mention that if the virus attacks mutants, who knows how it might affect usage of powers. I can't make any guarantees of safety at all."

If the outcome wouldn't be dangerous, Shulk wouldn't mind trying. But with so much at stake, he really didn't want to make that call. Nor did he want to see others in danger.

[griot]

Viti sighed and nodded. "For what it is worth, I intend to continue training with my power to fight the virus. It will be too little too late I am sure, but I'll try regardless."

Viti scoffed at himself. He smiled.

"It hasn't been a waste though. I was able to know before anyone else that the virus had been carried to the institute. This helped me avoid contagious people you see?"