Dark Clouds, Silver Linings

[astonishing_xmods]

Who: Everyone!
What: The news of the day, brought to you live.
Where: Around any TV screen, computer, radio, or newspaper.
When: All week.
Warnings: Reference to major NPC death. If a thread goes into warning territory for anything else, toss it up in the subject line or take it to a new log.

"...not the cure that everyone has been hoping for, but researchers working with the virus ravaging mutant enclaves around the country claim to have reached a breakthrough -- a treatment which can stop the contagion from spreading from person to person. For more on this, we're joined by our medical specialist..."

"...ravaged by riots for the second time this year, District X citizens have been organizing to repair the damage that's been done not only the the buildings and infrastructure, but also to their sense of community. Several people are in S.H.I.E.L.D. custody in connection with the recent outbreak of violence, but few details have emerged so far..."

"...outpouring of grief from mutant communities and their supporters internationally after a high-profile member of the X-men's death was confirmed. Kurt Wagner, known to the public as 'Nightcrawler', was a long-time staff member at the Xavier Institute, rumored in recent months to have been suffering from the virus affecting mutants around the nation and the world. When asked for comment, a representative of the school asked for peace and privacy, and declined any further discussion..."

"...slight drop in mainstream support for candidates Norman Osborn and Graydon Creed attributed to their well-publicized outbursts against, among others, the mutant and pro-mutant protest groups that have been dogging them on the campaign trail. A video taken just last week of Osborn's rambling and incoherent response to a question posed to him by a mutant attendee of a meet-and-greet event went viral, prompting mockery even from some of the other candidates in the primary..."

"...international news, President Kelly has set a date for a new round of discussions with Genoshan leadership. Speaking with the press this morning, he said that he wanted to give his thanks to them personally for the help that their researchers have provided in the past weeks, and to continue making steps towards the normalization of relations..."

[OOC: As always, feel free to react to any of these prompts or even to related things that aren't explicitly posted here!]

Comments

[long_live_the_queen]

[Hunting? For...why? Squirrels? What did they do? Though...Kaede supposed just being outside would help to think, anyway; it usually helped her, too. And it was starting to get cooler.

...maybe she could...pat her head. That's what you were supposed to do with kids, right?]

Does anything hurt?

Assuming she won't get hurt in teh one thread..or she's just keeping it to herself.

[droppedbucket]

[Patting her head was something she was used to, if only for when the Morlocks first found her it was the only type of affection she'd even accept. Of course now she was starting to get a bit clingy, if for fear of those she liked going away now.]

No hurt...I okay now.

[If that was the truth or not, it was hard to say.]

You okay?

[long_live_the_queen]

[She felt kind of dizzy, and her sinuses kinda hurt, and-]

I'm fine.

[Small child had not wiggled away yet!

She sat up, pausing a long moment as the world swam unpleasantly before her sense of balance came back. Getting up from the couch would still be a bad idea right now, though. So she didn't.]

...why don't you sit here?

[There was space now. At least, space that didn't involve climbing over Kaede to get there.]

[droppedbucket]

You sure? Not want feel bad.

[She's watching and hesitates for a moment. Isn't it best for sick people to rest..? But she's not one to argue...much. After waiting a moment, Kismue climbs up, slowly and sits beside Kaede. She doesn't take up much room, pulling her legs under her for now, looking up at Kaede with curious eyes. She's relaxed and at least seems a bit happier.]

[long_live_the_queen]

I've been through worse. I'll be fine.

[...should she give her a hug? That seemed right, right?

Kaede extended her arm until she could curl it around Kisume's shoulders, but didn't try to touch her yet.]

What were you thinking about?

[droppedbucket]

If sure...

[Although at that question, there is even more hesitance. There was a lot on her mind and it was interesting to try and put it all toghter.]

About clan. Not know if okay. Friend worry too.

[Another pause as another thought came up, one she normally would not bring up and would quickly move on from.]

Not understand either. Not belong because? Not important thought. Not worry about me.

[Because it wasn't something she waned to think about again.]

[long_live_the_queen]

[...well, she wasn't wiggling away or making hissing sounds at her. So Kaede settled her hand on Kisume's shoulder.]

Wait, wait, start over.

[Maybe...hm.

She projected a small thought image at Kisume: a picture of some faceless shapes suspended in nondescript space, with a small Kisume figure off to the side.]

What did you mean?

[droppedbucket]

[The touch helped just enough for Ksiume to let her thoughts run a bit unguarded and clear. Even though it was what she wasn't really wanting to think about. Kisume looks down at her lap at this and tries to think it through. Memories of being in the cage in the beginning, the fact she always seemed not to understand what was going on unless explained to and the fact she was sent back to the school while everyone else stayed behind to fight.

The idea of running away, going back into the forest and removing herself from everything was on her mind.]

Not belong...Not like others.

[long_live_the_queen]

[Kaede frowned; there was unhappy looking teal mixed in with the moss-green.

She changed the thought she was sending, placing Kisume closer to the faceless figures, giving them all green hair. There was a bit of a question left behind; is this right?]

What about your family? Are they like you?

[That's what she was assuming clan meant, anyway.

...she didn't know if Kisume could answer directly, by "editing" the picture. Kaede seemed like she was the only one holding the pencil.]

[droppedbucket]

[At that..there's nothing. That memory was so far gone that it was almost a gap. Just nothing there. After a moment of trying she shakes her head no.]

Not know. Only know clan.

[There is a moment where she just wants to clam up, and not say more but..it was okay? ...Right?]

[long_live_the_queen]

[At that, Kaede blinked. They weren't the same? She...didn't mean to ask that so suddenly, that was rude of her.]

What are they like, then? Do any of them have horns, or...?

[Small sprouts of white bone appear on one of the figures' heads, not unlike her own.]

[droppedbucket]

[There is a pause. There were so many different people in the clan with so many different powers and mutations. After a moment she nods, one person she knew for a fact had a horn.]

Some have horns. Not know if any like that. All different. Not look like everyone else. Stay in tunnel to be with others.

[She was more then willing to answer questions she knew, even if there was hesitation. She trusted Kaede.]

[long_live_the_queen]

[Kaede paused a bit longer than she had before.]

Do any of them...look like me?

[It was so...odd to think about. For the longest time, Kaede had assumed she was the only person in the world with horns, who looked strange, who wasn't normal.

And then she ended up here, where the strange was normal and the normal was boring.]

[droppedbucket]

No there. Saw here once.

[Of course that memory was so long ago. Lots of things before being put into stasis It was hard to remember and just so fuzzy..A small shake of her head because it made her head hurt to think on that.]

Not remember well. Was...nice?

[long_live_the_queen]

Here?

[Even so, it seemed...strange. Someone exactly like her? With horns, and everything?

...and they were nice? Not bitter or angry or hateful?

How...odd.]

...I wonder who they were.

[droppedbucket]

Yes. Want remember...fuzzy. Long time?

[She wishes that it wasn't so hard to remember. The long sleep messed her up sadly, regressing what she had learned and loss of memories. Kisume after a moment leans against Kaede, feeling really bad about it to a point. Also just because she's there.]

Want to tell...sorry not remember.

[long_live_the_queen]

[At first, Kaede froze when there was pressure leaning against her side. What was touching her?

...Kisume was touching her?

That was kinda...cute.

More of those protective, possessive feelings uncoiled from her mind as she relaxed again.]

That's okay.

[droppedbucket]

If sure...

[At the freeze, Kisume almost pulls away, thinking she did something wrong but at the relaxing doesn't. There is a tiny smile on her face and she looks up at Kaede again from her lap.

Her whole body relaxes at this point, even though she's still sorting through her thoughts.]

You have family or clan?

[long_live_the_queen]

[That makes her twitch, despite herself.]

...not worth talking about.

[droppedbucket]

Oh...Sorry.

[Going to stop talking at this point and just close her eyes. Just s she didn't say something else that was bad.]

Not mean say bad thing.

[long_live_the_queen]

Not your fault.

[Kaede squeezed Kisume's shoulders a little.]

Just...

[The thought image disappeared, figures losing their distinguishing features before vanishing.

Dammit, it happened years and years and years ago, why did it keep inciting this chaotic ball of emotions in her head? She was over this. It happened, she was a dumbshit child who didn't know any better and she killed her own mother. It happened. She was done with this.

Just.

Ugh.]

[droppedbucket]

[Kisume is just hesitating now. There was enough bad things and thoughts..Not wanting to add to them.]

Not good thing to remember? Not mean say. I sorry.

[Even if it wasn't her fault..she felt really bad for bringing it up]

Something else want to talk?

[long_live_the_queen]

[Kaede took a slow breath in and out of her nose, like that would help.]

It's fine.

[She folded her arms around the child in a full hug now; see, it was fine. Everything was fine.

...she was only holding onto Kisume like she was an anchor a little bit for her own benefit.]

Do you like butterflies?

[It was the first thing Kaede could think of-

...she didn't eat those, right?]

[droppedbucket]

[This was a hug right? She sort of knew how to handle this one! It's returned gently, since she didn't know how tight a hug should be.]

Mm..Okay. If say so.

[Opening her eyes once more at the question, she smiles again.]

Butterflies pretty. Like alot. You do?

[long_live_the_queen]

[Kisume seemed calm now. So...Kaede could be calm, too.

Hugs helped.]

I don't like to touch them so much. [Those feet were tickly.] But they're pretty to watch.