Let's go to Comic-Con!

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A DAY AT COMIC-CON

San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) has been extending an invitation to the X-Men for several years now and they've finally opted to accept (with a little push from Remy LeBeau). How exciting! Time to hop on the Blackbird and head to sunny California to interact with the public.

The team arrives on Thursday evening and settles into the luxurious Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa, giving them plenty of time to unwind, explore the city, hit the beach, or maybe even attend the con on the down-low ahead of the meet-and-greet that will take up most of Saturday.

To the surprise of no one, the San Diego Convention Center has an additional crowd when the team arrives on Saturday: a gathering of anti-mutant protestors lined up and shouting about mutie freaks and the indoctrination of the youth. Some things never change. The head of security informs Kurt Wagner that there have already been multiple false reports trying to send sentinels to the event, but reassures them that they're handling all that. You folks just have a good time! ...And would you mind signing this photo for his kid? She's a big fan.

The hall set aside for the event is massive and filled with excitable fans, many of which are dressed for the occasion in cosplay X-Men uniforms or holding signs expressing their support for the mutant cause, thanking them for past deeds, or proclaiming their favorite members (which run the gamut from simple and sweet to intense and unhinged) or even ships (which are pretty much all unhinged). Remarkably, the event goes off without interruption. No sentinels. No protestors. No aspiring supervillains. It seems that security actually does have things under control!

The event consists of introductions, a Q&A session, a meet-and-greet during which fans can meet them and get their autographs or take pictures with them (at their discretion), and a cosplay contest that Emma Frost is recruited to help judge. It's all a little surreal.

Because of the number of fans, the event runs long and into the evening, but eventually they're able to wrap things up and return to the resort. Good job, team!

MORE VOLUNTEER SLOTS

Remy LeBeau gets the loudest reaction to their introduction. The cheers seem to go on for a solid minute. Who knew they were so popular??

During the meet-and-greet, Scott Summers is approached by a teen that quietly confesses to them that they're a mutant too and that their parents aren't supportive. Do they any advice? How hard is it to run away and join the X-Men?

[Character E] is, hands down, the most frequently cosplayed member of the team! Is this flattering, weird, or a bit of both? There are at least a dozen imitators visible in the audience.

While taking a breather in the restricted back rooms, Kitty Pryde encounters a confused attendee that compliments them on their amazing costume but questions why they'd choose to dress up as that X-Man? They're so lame. Okay, hurtful.

THURSDAY ⮾ FRIDAY ⮾ SATURDAY ⮾ SUNDAY ⮾ OOC

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SATURDAY: Rogue & Kurt

[blauerdamon kurt wagner ⚔️ nightcrawler]

"Tschüss! It was very nice to meet you," Kurt assures the woman dressed as Mystique of all people. She'd been nice enough. Asked for a photograph with him and Rogue. It'll be so fast, she promised, just a quick picture as they were about to leave. Other people had paid for photos, but she was a single mother to a little girl who adores Rogue.

SATURDAY: Rogue & Kurt

[glovedup rogue]

That woman was weird. Familiar, in the way she squeezed Rogue's shoulder as they posed for a picture. For just a second, Rogue could've sworn she saw her face shift into something colder, more merciless, but simultaneously gentle. Probably a trick of the costume and a conscience still guilty, that's all.

Either way, she stands and watches her leave quietly, chilled. "What d'you think the chances are that was actually Mama?" Rogue tries to make light of it to Kurt, but this comes out more humorless than she'd like.

SATURDAY: Rogue & Kurt

[blauerdamon kurt wagner ⚔️ nightcrawler]

Kurt's posture appears to stay relaxed, but Rogue can feel that the hand on her back has tensed up ever so slightly. He had noticed the way the woman leaned into Rogue, and only touched his shoulder with a single light finger. The stranger is staring at her phone, not them, as she vanishes into the crowd.

"Not impossible," he admits reluctantly as he leads both of them safely through the staff only door. "But this would be a waste of her time, I would think. Just to come see us." By us, he really means Rogue.

SATURDAY: Rogue & Kurt

[glovedup rogue]

Rogue leans in to Kurt’s shoulder in support, and also feel that he’s still there. She watches the woman disappear, and exhales. It’s probably not her. Why would she dress up like herself? It’s just that she could be anyone.

“Way too busy makin’ folks’ lives miserable to worry about ours.” She agrees, albeit faintly. “Awfully odd costume idea, though.”

SATURDAY: Rogue & Kurt

[blauerdamon kurt wagner ⚔️ nightcrawler]

"Very odd," Kurt agrees. "Or at the very least, a tasteless, ah, what is the term? Deep dive?" His tail whips behind them with agitation. Neither of them see that the woman had turned just in time to watch the pair vanish.

"She hasn't been causing trouble recently," he says. Worry is creeping in. "Do you think she retired with her lady?"

SATURDAY: Rogue & Kurt

[glovedup rogue]

"Don't like to think of her as having fans like that." If Rogue had a tail it would also be lashing right now. She simply closes the door behind them and sighs in some relief at not being surrounded by people anymore, at least. She was beginning to feel claustrophobic in the hall.

"Not where we can see. Likely on purpose." She should have kept a better eye on her criminal mother, actually. Rogue grins at Kurt, looking a little worn-out and resigned. "'Bout as much as I believe she started a charity where she hands out balloons to puppies, darlin'. If anything, they're neck-deep in something just about dastardly together."

SATURDAY: Rogue & Kurt

[blauerdamon kurt wagner ⚔️ nightcrawler]

Kurt slides his arm through Rogue's until their fingers can intertwine, and he puts on his best, most reassuring smile. The very picture of optimism. "Hopefully it will happen far, far away from us. And if she insists on making it our problem, we'll deal with it. Like we do with all the difficult things life has given us."

SATURDAY: Rogue & Kurt

[glovedup rogue]

Rogue looks for cracks in that smile, but she can't quite find them. She squeezes his hand, all the same. "Ah, it'll make its way to us. Always does. But not today." She's grateful for that, whatever else was about to happen. "You havin' fun? Before all that?"

SATURDAY: Rogue & Kurt

[blauerdamon kurt wagner ⚔️ nightcrawler]

"I am," he says, and he really is.

"I'm glad Remy talked everyone into this." They're backstage now, but meeting the volunteers behind the scenes has been just as lovely. It leaves a warm sensation in his chest. "Usually when we meet new people, we're interacting with billionaires and politicians, or it's the worst day of their lives. This is a nice change."

SATURDAY: Rogue & Kurt

[glovedup rogue]

"Everyone's real cute, ain't they." Rogue can acknowledge that, had loved seeing people inspired by them. So many people fear them, that it's easy to forget about this part of the world. These are the people who do understand what they're trying to do. "Don't tell Remy that, anyway. That head don't need to get any bigger than it is."