HEAVY IS THE HEAD: Part One, SINISTER LEGACY Fallout

[astonishing_xmods]

WHO: The Students and Faculty of the Xavier Institute
WHAT: Charity work in District X, but things are getting bad again
WHERE: District X
WHEN: Thanksgiving Weekend
WARNING(S): Violence, language, etc

So this was Christmas, and War was Not Over. The soup lines, this time, were alongside official Vaccine Centers, cures to the Legacy Virus being handed out alongside plates of hot food for the needy. Once more, winter was bleak in the world of mutants living in forced squalor. Attitudes were not particularly bright. People were no longer dying in the streets from illness, but were conditions really any better? War with Genosha was imminent. The National Guard was already standing post around the community, enforcing curfews, treating the area now more than ever like an internment community. Xavier's students were allowed to move around freely, but only with special ID badges that marked them as such. It was the same all over the country.

This wasn't Mutant Registration... it somehow felt worse. And it didn't help that the Mutant Liberation Front was still very active in the area, and many of them entirely blamed the X-Men for Renko's apparent 'death'. There were antagonistic forces around them, and desperate faces looking at them for some kind of hope. And if they couldn't get it there...

There were whispers, a lot of them, about fleeing to Genosha. About joining the MLF and working alongside Genosha for 'true' mutant liberation. About kickstarting this war on local soil. And really...

... was there anything the X-Men could do to stop it? Should they stop it?

Comments

[thenewbrotherhood]

[Flandre would get another vibra-enhanced punch for her efforts, this time aimed at her jaw. It had been in a long time since he'd been in such a drastic close-quarters situation, and he tried to recall his own training. And he could tell she was trying to keep him pinned so the other one could blast him... time was of the essence. He started to increase the intensity of his vibrations, hoping to delay the Magus's work with an earthquake.]

[stardustreverie]

[Crap, Her concentration was faltering as Marisa struggled to stay upright. That glow in her hand flickers for a moment was she pulls away from it to get her footing and balance back. She's stumbling but at the moment, she's done. Can't even try to charge up more so she's going to fire it quickly. It's shaky and in the right direction..She can only hope her aim is true.]

[jolie_aile]

[Flandre shouted, an inarticulate pained sound that tried to be a roar. But her jaw had broken and two of her sharp teeth flew out of her mouth, making any actually fearsome noise difficult.

She reeled back, her wing snapping around to clothesline the side of Avalanche's head with the metal bar as she fell back.

But when she heard that distinctive sound behind her, Flandre didn't correct herself or check her fall. She hit the dirt instead and hoped she was sufficiently out of the way.]

[thenewbrotherhood]

[Seeing the Magus trip up and the vampire girl hit the ground, Avalanche was pretty sure he'd won. But then he also heard that sound.

Shit.

There wasn't much but to take the beam, the blast sending him rocketing and smashing into a nearby building. He wouldn't be getting up, but any investigation to see if he was still there would turn up nothing. Vanisher had collected him for the retreat.]

[stardustreverie]

[It takes a moment but she does head that way, because better to double check.]

Hey, Ya alright Reine?

[Keeping to code names for the moment because if the jerk was still there..But obviously there was no need. She's shivering hard and heads to Flandre, holding out a hand to help her up.]

I think this means we're safe for now..let's get outta here.

[jolie_aile]

[Flandre's first impulse was to scramble to her feet immediately after the sound faded; her distorted hearing was starting to recover, whatever was wrong with her shoulder was dissipating-

-but she was still streaming blood out of her mouth. Great.

And talking was hard, and her teeth didn't line up right, and--someone was offering a hand to her. Marisa, specifically.

Flandre reached back without hesitation, partially frowning and mostly grimacing at how cold Marisa's hand was (and how much frowning hurt).]

Cold.

[The sound was slurred and clipped, and she winced as she said it.]

[stardustreverie]

Ya don't have ta tell me twice on that one.

[Going to carefully pull Flandre up and then warp her arms around herself. She glances about, trying to spot her coat before shrugging. Can't see it even though she knows it might be best to grab it unless someone wanted to use her ID card for something stupid. For now, Marisa was cold, still annoyed and part of her was at a point of not caring much.]

They are probably tryin' ta round everyone up somewhere ta get us goin',....once all the jackasses are gone 'prolly..Although I really don't wanna hear what's comin' next.

[astonishing_xmods]

Hands in the air, now! [Of course that ID card would have come in handy right about then. Five soldiers, weapons raised and trained to both women, slowly approached.]

[jolie_aile]

[New sounds, more words. Flandre snapped her head around to face the guns, hauling herself to her feet--and lifting her hands up to her head, claws and wings noticeably unfurled. There was still blood welling up in her mouth; she spat it out somewhere to the side, but the taste of copper pennies and paperclips lingered.

Flandre still had her ID card pinned to her chest, albeit smudged by dirt; Marisa...dammit, Marisa.]

'n the coat. Dropped her...coat.

[Dammit, heal faster jaw. That hurt.]

[stardustreverie]

[ ...Great. This was just what was needed and it's taking a lot of control to keep herself from rolling her eyes and snapping out. Hands go in the air and she shivers still.

And hey, Marisa was not expecting to be fighting NOR taking that coat off. It was nice and warm in that damnit.]

Yeah..ID is in my coat..it's on the ground..black coat with a star pin on it.

[astonishing_xmods]

[The leader of the squad gestured to one of his subordinates, who carefully checked the abandoned garment before calling back the clear signal. Slowly, their guns lowered, but they still seemed to be ready to fire at a moment's notice.]

We need to clear the area. Come with us.

[jolie_aile]

[At being released, even partially, Flandre put her hands down to instead prod at her jaw, feeling for anything out of place or misaligned.

...it'd probably have to be reset later. Ugh.

She took the opportunity to shoot a worried glance at Marisa, though.]

[stardustreverie]

Can ya at least let me have it back? It is cold out here ya know.

[It's clipped and to the point. As soon as Marisa was able to, her arms wrap back around herself. It's clear she's uncomfortable and cold but is trying to keep it toghter.]

[astonishing_xmods]

[The squad leader nodded to the other, who moved to return the jacket.

Eventually the squad leader identified themselves.]

I'm Corporal Jessica Allen, United States Army National Guard. We apologize, but right now, even if you're associated with Xavier, you're classified as a dangerous element at the moment, and we need to get you away from civilians areas while the rest of our unit moves in to restore order.

[jolie_aile]

[It was better than being placed under arrest or being shot, though it didn't make much more sense.

Despite the pain, Flandre did her best to speak anyway, even if she paused longer than was necessary at times when bolts of pain shot through her teeth. She needed to talk, dammit.]

We're here to help, though.

[stardustreverie]

[At the very least Marisa was nice about getting her jacket back and slipping it on. It's a minor step up but worth it although the grumpy and annoyed expression and tone isn't going away.]

Yeah, We did nothin' wrong except defend ourselves and others in the area.

[astonishing_xmods]

That's why you're not under arrest. Trust me, it's in your best interest to cooperate... [There was a look of sympathy in her eyes. She didn't want to have to point her guns at the people who had just saved the lives of her and her men. But orders were orders...]

[jolie_aile]

[Two options seemed available here. Resist further, with the accompanying artillery fire. Marisa looked like she was freezing. So the other option-]

...fine.

[Flandre unfurled one of her wings--and squashed Marisa to her side with it. Gently, but abruptly enough to interrupt whatever mischief she was going to do next.]

[stardustreverie]

[Good idea as Marisa was about to snap back with something that would probably not going to help in any way, shape or form. Instead there is a startled squeak and her tensing up even more at first. She's still shivering but relaxing for now. Warmth was more important then being a ass.]

...Yeah..whatever.