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

[sugoooi]

[ Sam tries so, so hard not to look anywhere he shouldn't. Guys do not look at girl's skirts when they flutter! ]

Handy....? Like, um...how.

[kickstart_my_heart]

If someone's powers are goin' haywire, as is want to happen in our youth or so I am told, you can just grab there hand and everything's great!

[sugoooi]

Oh...I guess that's true. But they can't be too haywire, I dunno if I stop stuff from like...flying towards me or anything. [ He has to get close to the whole out-of-control thing happening, first. ]

[kickstart_my_heart]

Well, I mean... less dangerous kind of haywire. Either way, you get me? A mutant kid would like to have someone like you around. Feel safer that way, I imagine.

[sugoooi]

[ Sam pauses at that, blinking slowly--if a bit guarded. ]

You...really think so? I thought it would just be a bother to people here--me getting in the way of all the cool stuff they can do...

[kickstart_my_heart]

... Listen mate, not everyone really... enjoys what genetics got them, yanno? Or has trouble controlling it, either way. Xavier calls us gifted, and for some people like me that's probably true, but others... they aren't quite ready for the mutant life. To just be normal for awhile can mean a lot to someone.

[sugoooi]

[ There's one person that comes to mind more so than any other when Bridget mentions that last part, and for a moment he looks pensively down at one of his own palms before his gaze lifts back to Bridget. ]

...Did you ever want to be normal?

[kickstart_my_heart]

-The smile fades from Bridget's face as she plops down next to him, sighing.-

Growing up? All the time. Knowing I was different, and that's why dad had to keep me cloistered away... I resented that life. I knew he loved me, and feared people out there would hurt me if they knew, that some old curse would come true, but... I hated it. I hated not being able to go out and play with other kids. I hated being homeschooled, even if my dad was a good teacher. I hated living every day with the reminder I wasn't like other people, and because it was unsafe for me to be the way I am, I guess... I associated being a mutant with all kinds of bad things...

I ran away from home, about a year ago. Spent most of my time in Paris, where lots of homeless mutant kids in Europe tend to wind up. A whole culture, there, around mutant vagabonds and... Tons of 'em were far worse off than me. They didn't have families that just wanted to keep them safe. Most of them had families that kicked them out, tried to kill'em... A lot of them were 'too mutant' to even blend in with normal humans. Too visibly different, whereas I could pretend to just be a normal kid, doing yoyo tricks on the corner for pocket money.

So yeah... I guess you could say I wanted to be normal, but... now, I don't know. Being mutant kind of lead me where I am today, with this drive to make a difference. So maybe being normal... I'd have just grown up to be another spoiled posh kid.

1/2

[sugoooi]

[ At first Bridget's proximity is what Sam focuses on. He's never sat this close to a pretty girl before, and he finds himself staring at the way Bridget's hair falls around his face; super-cute. ]

2/2

[sugoooi]

[ But then his story comes out, and the elation he feels begins to wane, fast. He's not sure he understands the bit about the curse, but everything else hits him like a sack of bricks. He'd heard things could be bad but he never imagined anything to that extent... Parents who'd want to kill their children? It's a hard thing to digest, and by the end of his he looks concerned and guilty. ]

...'m sorry Bridget. [ For prying, for being ignorant, for him having to go through any of that. Sam feels guilty for his normal life up until this point. And for having parents who still loved him. ]

[kickstart_my_heart]

... It's alright, Sam. After all, I wouldn't be here if not for all that. Wouldn't have met you, just now. Wouldn't be trying to become an X-Man.

[sugoooi]

I'm sure you can do it...! Your power's really cool and you use it totally awesome! [ Which he blurts out a little too quickly in his eagerness to reassure him, cheeks warm. Sam wants to at least try and make up for not realizing how bad things were initially. ]

[kickstart_my_heart]

Thanks, mate. Awful nice of you to say all that.

[sugoooi]

It's true... I wish--that I could do something amazing like that. I mean, it'd be nice if I could help people too... But I can't rush into a robbery or anything and save anyone. And you're already training to be a hero...

That's really cool.

[kickstart_my_heart]

I dunno. Not all heroes wear spandex.

[sugoooi]

[ And of course, that's exactly what Sam pictures Bridget in a moment later. ]

It wouldn't be...that bad.

[kickstart_my_heart]

... Wait, what? I meant you can be a hero without literally fighting bad guys and saving kitten, mate. What are you on about? -Bridget...-

[sugoooi]

Oh, uhh--nothing! Nothing at all, hehe... You're right!

[kickstart_my_heart]

You're a weird one, Sam. I like that. -Bridget giggled.- I guess I'll be seeing you around. I should get back to my room and start on my homework.

[sugoooi]

[ She says she likes me... Or well, his quirkiness. But he'll take it, cheeks warming humbly as he nods. ]

O--okay! It was really night to meet you Bridget...

[kickstart_my_heart]

Oh, do you have your room assignment yet? I could show you around a bit!

[sugoooi]

Yeah--I haven't been by it yet. It's on the second floor, 201 I think? It's in the packet they gave me earlier. [ The one he tucked away into his backpack earlier and didn't look over. ]

[kickstart_my_heart]

No kidding? -Bridget lit up, eyes bright.- That means me and you are flatmates!

[sugoooi]

[ And of course the first thing that goes through his mind when his brain kickstarts and catches on, is:

They put me in a room with a girl?! It's co-ed?! ]

W, what??

[kickstart_my_heart]

What, is that gonna be a problem? And here I thought we were getting along alright.