The Last Stand [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.

"... sweeping victories in both the House and Senate. Creed and his fellow Last Stand congressmen celebrated today, eager to begin the new legislation they promised in their collective campaign. Senator Creed enthusiastically exclaimed that the era of letting mutants go unchecked were finally going to come to an end..."


"... calling themselves the 'Mutant Liberation Front', or MLF, the campaign of vandalism and propaganda has been extensive in Europe and has started to appear in the United States and Canada as well. The MLF are most recognized by their tag sign of the double helix, along with the word LIBERATE. Most authorities are not incredibly concerned, as the group has been non-violent so far..."


"... as talks have broken down with Genosha. A special ambassador from the United States has been assigned to speak with Genosha on behalf of the US government, Gabrielle Haller, has stated that she will ensure that peace between the two nations will be assured. Haller and President Kelly left for Genosha this morning..."


"... Mutant Arts Council of Greater New York reported record setting turnout for their Halloween charity events in District X and are now focusing on their next seasonal event for the coming holidays. The Council is also looking for volunteers for District X soup kitchens for the winter months..."


"... making her the only platinum record seller in 2018. Industry analysts say that the hype that came as a result of Dazzler's coming out spiked the sales of her album well past anything else that's been release this year. Billboard expects "Mojoworld" to make the double platinum certification before the end of the year, with the Christmas shopping season approaching..."


"... projecting the coldest winter in the last twenty years for much of the United States. Certain voices outside the scientific community have gone from denying climate change to accepting it, under the caveat that climate change is now being blamed on possible mutant interference... "

[[ 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. ]]

Comments

Election

[nobodysweapon]

*Laura's education was weird, it included all the basics. How to kill a man without leaving a mark, how to kill a man making it as obvious as possible, every language they thought she might be able to use while going around killing people.*

{You should read the mechanics of Pym Particles to understand how to adjust mass.}

[niepokonany]

[Bless, Laura. He's getting awfully fond of you.]

{That sounds way hard. I'll like, get Fai to read it and tell me about it.}

{Anyway, wouldn't that just make it mega-dense? Wouldn't he like, be affecting the pull of gravity with all his hyper-compressed shit then?}

[nobodysweapon]

{That is the advantage of Pym Particles, they offset gravity and density. At least according to the theory.}

*Laura wasn't dumb, but she was not as smart as she managed to make others think. Mostly she functioned from rote memorization.*

{Most politicians are not honest. They take stands based on what works best, or what they are told will garner support. Most are tools, repeating that we are a threat.}

[niepokonany]

{Yeah, sounds confusing to the max. I'll ask Fai after all!}

[Feliks, conversely, isn't nearly as dumb as his laziness and mild eccentricity make him out to be. He has no particular interest in correcting people about it, though.]

{I really don't care how much they lie, it's the throwing innocent people under the bus thing that kinda gets to me? Asking for an honest politician is like asking for an obedient cat.}

[nobodysweapon]

{I would rather find the the person holding their strings. Puppets are not very entertaining to argue with.}

[niepokonany]

{Mostly because they've got, like, at best half a clue what they're talking about?}

{But I mean as important as top-down change is, you kinda have to change society at a more grassroots level for anything to stick.}

[nobodysweapon]

{Because they are not allowed to speak their mind. It is like a fistfight with someone in two arm casts.}

{I disagree. Society follows, it does not lead. They listen to the loudest voice they like, it would be best to silence the ones with the worst agendas.

[niepokonany]

{So they could attach blades to the cast! How bad would that be?}

{And see, no. 'Cause those people are only in power 'cause the people put them there, or in the worst case, wouldn't actually do that great in a 1-on-1 million fight. And just being told to change by the higher-ups doesn't change anyone -- for it to work, you have to help them get why they should, and make it so going after you isn't worth it for the politicians who wanna stay viable.}

[nobodysweapon]

{It would depend on if they are immobilized at the elbow or not. And it is very easy to turn blades on their owner.}

*She would be the expert.*

{They are in power because...} *Back to English, this is getting more complicated than she can manage.*

They are in power because people believe the system is balanced. There are many ways to circumvent the popular vote. Several attempts were made in the past, and they are continued now. Poll Taxing being the most well known. If you break the collective spirit of your opposition, they will not fight for change if they are assured to lose.

It would be easier to just destroy the liquid assets of the various interests funding the opposition.

[niepokonany]

I mean, that'd be one thing. And like, getting legislation on lobbying with any actual teeth?

But I think you're like, kind of overestimating how easy is is to really break people's spirit.

[nobodysweapon]

I fixed an election when I was eleven. By killing one of the potential candidates, his family, and every witness to the assassination.

*She isn't overestimating how easy it is to really break people's spirits.*

[niepokonany]

[Feliks switches back, because honestly, it's easier to be serious when most people can't understand him.]

{And did his ideas die? Did it take back the words he'd said, and the hearts he'd changed?}

[nobodysweapon]

No. His seat was taken by someone with the same words, and the same ideas. But a different set of rules. He played more amicably with the interests of lobbyists and was more freely accepting of bribes from military contractors.

*Laura spent some time trying to discern why she was sent to kill people. There were small ripples from that one, even if it was mostly for the spectacle of where she did it, and who did not catch her.*

[niepokonany]

Which is still sketchy as balls, and isn't something we should shut up and let happen, but people will surprise you.

[nobodysweapon]

You surprise me. You believe in a system controlled by money, and policed by itself.

[niepokonany]

Who said I believe in politicians? I believe in people.

[nobodysweapon]

Politicians are people.

[niepokonany]

They're not the whole picture. They just think they are.

[nobodysweapon]

Most people think they are too. They tell a very convincing lie.

[niepokonany]

Anyone can tell a convincing lie. Like, don't you think a convincing truth sounds like more of a challenge?

[nobodysweapon]

Lies do not need to be modeled after accurate representations of the world. They are always easier.

[niepokonany]

That's what I'm saying. That's why you have to work harder, to tell the truth.

[nobodysweapon]

Is this why you lie about your attraction to Fai?

[niepokonany]

[WAIT WHAT FUCK, can they be talking about her gloomy, pessimistic view of world politics again??]

I-- I'm not-- I mean, he's like, a way handsome guy, but nobody's attracted to anybody!

[nobodysweapon]

His name changes your heart rate.

*That would be an easier topic. But you cannot talk about the importance of honesty with this going on.*