Life Under A Magnifying Glass

[ngm_miscellaneous]

While some of the furor over the revelation that Xavier's was a school for mutants had died down, there were still reporters broadcasting from outside the school gates. There were daily reports on what they thought was going on in the school and more reports on what public officials were doing to calm fears. As reporters dug for soundbites to fill the air, little bits of "news" were put out for the public to see.

As the world looked in, the X-Men tried to keep doing their daily routines. Though as more news was reported it became more difficult to live there formerly anonymous lives.

Comments

[ngm_miscellaneous]

A conservative Christian anchor on one of the stations was working his way up to a fire and brimstone sermon about the decline of society with the introduction of these immoral mutants into it. He was shocked to find that his son, who is attending a good Christian college, had found and had easy access to a mutant porno.

While the broadcast did not show any of the footage from the porno, it did display some censored screen captures that showed two blonde mutants. The male seemed to have only four fingers per hand; the female seemed to glow slightly. There was also a black hoodie hanging on a peg on the wall behind them.

[summersspawn]

Sara came out of the kitchen at the New Mutant's converted power station, carrying a Diet Coke and a small bag of pretzels. She passed through the living room, intending to go upstairs and study for a while.

The TV was on. She caught the words "mutant porno", and turned to look. The Diet Coke and pretzels hit the floor. Sara let out a wordless whimper-squeak.

[sonoflongshot]

Aiden had quite the timing. He had missed most of the report because he had been out walking Cedric. Or, more accurately, running around with Cedric chasing him with the leash flopping around behind the small dog.

He shrugged off his jacket and took the leash off Cedric and headed toward his bedroom. Except he got a bit distracted by Sara keening in the living room over spilled Diet Coke and pretzels.

"Uh, I'm sorry for your salty-soggy loss?"

[summersspawn]

Sara pointed at the TV screen, her eyes wide and horrified. She was still making that noise.

[sonoflongshot]

Aiden followed where Sara was pointing. His brow furrowed. "Why do we have lookalikes having sex on national news?"

He squinted more and stepped a little closer to inspect it.

[summersspawn]

"I think those pictures are from Mojoworld"

Still that noise, but something close to words.

"OhmigodIhadnoideatherewasvideo. OhmigodwhatwillBrucethink... Angel... Mom... Dad! OhmigodRacheleveryone... ohmigod..."

[sonoflongshot]

Aiden rubbed his eyes and turned around to look at his freaking out leader. He took a deep breath.

"It's Mojoworld, why wouldn't they have video? And that's not us. I've only had sex with one person. You also aren't as flexible as some of those pictures..."

He glanced around living room.

Avenger's... (Common areas)

[poorgirlsarcee]

In the rec room Mira was sitting on the couch, a small tool box on the table before her, a panel on her computer open. Hearing the news she glanced up. "Oh please, maybe you should get your head out of the book you're obviously pretending to read and do your job as a parent? Don't go blaming Mutants for corrupting your kid, knowing jerks like you... they probably found it in your browser history." Hey when it came to the adult entertainment industry she remembered a few things from her parents. She may be human, but she figured everyone had the right to live freely.

Second later she yelped cursing, muttering the names of a few deities all tied to tech, because ow! the voltage in the stripped wire that had sparked HURT!

[iced_cherub]

Bobbi was staying close to the buildings, keeping her hoodies on because really she'd had heard enough about her wings from the reporters that had managed to catch her.

Today, even though her punishment cleaning out the stables was done, she was there, standing next to the stall feeding the horse inside half the apple she herself was nibbling on.

"Hey, not so fast, I only brought one with me and I like this kind." She patted the muzzle deciding she could risk slipping out of the jacket, it was too hot to be wearing it and she didn't want to risk making things too cold. Would be her luck someone would be watching the place with a heat vision camera or something.

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

"Ms. LeBeau, I know I have contracted you for a few months to examine artwork for me... but well... You know. With all this news buzzing about mutants and all, I fear having you work for me. I mean, I know you could probably handle yourself with whatever powers you have, but I cannot take the chance of being seen with you or having you work for me anymore."

Alisa frowned as one of her higher up clients called her to cancel their contract with her for art appraisals. She sat back in her chair, feet up on her desk as she continued to listen to the somewhat passive aggressive message on her answering machine that he had left for her.

"I will pay the severance fee, since it is in the contract. But please note I am not happy about it. After-all, how do I know you did not use your mutie powers to manipulate me? No matter, I shall send you a check in a few weeks! Take care!" -click-

Pinching the bridge of her nose, Alisa slipped her feet from the top of her desk, back under it. She leaned over some, cursing in a mixture of Cajun-French and English. This was the third client she's lost this week, and it was stressful. She prided herself on her career, for her talent. And now, it was all being thrown into question and her reputation was being destroyed. All because of what she was... a mutant.

In a fit of rage, she shot her arm out, knocking her lamp and some papers off of her desk with a loud cry. How could this be happening? What was she going to do now? She would have to find new work, or talk to her "King" about being paid MORE for her services to her. Or worse, she would have to ask the Guild for jobs, again.

With her hands now slammed on her desk, Alisa felt a bit sick. It was as if reality was starting to hit her and it hit hard. There was no way she could hide being a mutant anymore...

[ngm_media]

On another news channel...

Also, today, Avengers leader Captain Marvel publicly spoke out in favor of Xaiver's and the X-Men, stating that..."

It rolled to a video clip.

[comic_awareness]

"The X-Men and the students at Xaiver's have put their lives on the line to save this city and the world countless times. They're some of the finest people I know. Anyone who tries to deny that or think otherwise is just fooling themselves..."

[notmadeofglass]

Tina had made the rare decision to cut herself off from technology from the moment she landed in New York City. All of the garbage in the news about Xavier's and mutants by proxy was more than she really wanted to deal with. As such she hadn't exactly called ahead to Rose to let her know that she was coming, though the black Bentley pulling up to school might tip her off.

[wild_child]

Rose was, in fact, waiting out by the garage when Tina pulled up.

"Took ya long enough, Frosty."

[notmadeofglass]

"What do you mean long enough? What'd you want me to do, teleport?" Tina parked the car pretty much wherever she damned well pleased, killing the engine and stepping out.

[wild_child]

"Nah. If ya did that, we'd never have a reason ta steal Summers' car. ...Beyond the obvious of tickin' him off, of course."

[notmadeofglass]

"That's reason enough. So I'm here. What would you like me to do in regards to the whole us versus them situation we appear to be having?"

[wild_child]

Rose was not, by nature, much of a planner. She just acted on instinct. "Lots of flamin' crazy stuff goin' on," she said.

"Course, the biggest worry any time this kinda thing happens is that they start buildin' more Sentinels. An' there's the whole political angle... I ain't got the head for none of this, Frosty."

[notmadeofglass]

"I've been crawling around networks looking for the first signs of Sentinels being built again. So far nothing, but you know the second I sniff it I'll be shutting it down."

In the Infirmary...

[kinetic_assault]

Brianna Lebeau's monitor beeped softly during the entire time she'd been unconscious. Her brain activity hadn't changed since her injury despite the efforts of her friends and family.

However, some two weeks later, there was an energy spike centered on the infirmary, which would draw the attention of anyone monitoring the mansion's power grid. The monitor went on the fritz first, right before it shorted out completely. Then the other computers in the infirmary also blew out.


Brianna awoke with a start and sat bolt upright as the heat from her body caused her sheets to smolder just a bit.

"What in the bloody hell happened to me?" she asked aloud, her throat dry from nearly three weeks of disuse.

Re: In the Infirmary...

[seismic_shockwave]

Kayla had been spending a lot of time beside her friend and roommate, hoping ... almost praying that she'd just wake up, open her eyes, say something, even if it was to declare her everlasting hatred. She could deal with that. But to see her friend, so full of life, just lying there, breathing, but otherwise so still as to almost seem dead?

That was pretty much unendurable.

And then everything blew out and she was so startled she actually fell out of her seat. And then ... and then she heard Brianna.

"Bri? Holy fuck, are you awake?" Kayla managed to pick herself off of the floor, staring in relief, disbelief and ... a little fear as to what she was actually going to say.

Re: In the Infirmary...

[wild_child]

Rose had been in the infirmary only ten minutes ago, but had left Kayla with Brianna in order to take a smoke break. Not exactly the world's best habit, but the smoke helped make the world more navigable. Because with senses like hers, sometimes she really needed to dull them just to function. Especially if she was going to be in any kind of medical environment.

She returned in time to see Brianna awakening. "Finally get tired of bein' lazy, Cajun?"

Re: In the Infirmary...

[kinetic_assault]

Brianna looked around the room and her eyes fixed on Kayla.

Kayla...

There was something about Kayla she was supposed to remember...

"Where am I? What happened?" Brianna asked, looking around the room as though she expected another attack. She started pulling the sheets off her, ignoring the IV's as they poked into her skin.

Her legs felt like lead but the she ignored the sensation to shoot Rose a withering look.

"Mords-moi, Logan." Brianna said in French as she pushed herself out of the bed...and started to fall toward the floor.

Re: In the Infirmary...

[seismic_shockwave]

Uh no. No, she was not falling on her head and going into another goddamn coma. That was not a thing that was happening. Kayla acted quickly and caught Brianna, like she weighed all of nothing, because, well, she didn't.

"You've been out for three weeks. There was ... there was an accident. You hit your head really hard. I kinda, our training exercise went bad and my powers." Kayla's face screwed up a little bit as she eased Brianna back to her bed.

"But yeah ... three weeks. Which means you don't get out of bed at least until Doc checks you out."

Re: In the Infirmary...

[wild_child]

Rose understood enough French to get that, but she was so happy to be trading barbs with the Cajun again she couldn't help but smile. A smile which quickly turned into a more worried expression when she started to fall.

Fortunately, Kayla was there before she could even cross the room.

"Had people worried sick," Rose said. "...Not me, course. I knew ya was gonna get better."