earth_367 | Back to School!

THE STUDENTS RETURN

Starting on September 1st, students that left the Xavier Institute for the summer begin returning and new students begin arriving. Classes will not start until the following week, so students take this time to catch up with friends and teachers, meet new peers, and get settled. This is aided by the staff, who are enlisted to help with everything from airport pickups to tours to providing guidance to the nervous and uninitiated.

It's a hectic first day back. [Character A] finds themselves in the middle of a developing rivalry between two new students and is forced to find a way to deescalate the situation. Come on, you just met!! They'll have to keep an eye on that. Meanwhile, Remy LeBeau and Manuel de la Rocha have to run an unexpected rescue mission when a student loses control of their powers on the drive back from the airport and creates an anti-gravity field that leaves several vehicles stranded in the air above Hutchinson River Parkway. That was close!

Charles Xavier holds a meeting on September 2nd to which all staff members and X-Men are invited. During this meeting, he announces that he'll be rolling out a plan suggested to him by Emma Frost: dividing the student body into squads to help them learn to work as a team, build camaraderie, and prepare to handle the threats that young mutants may encounter. This will also help to ensure that every student receives more one-on-one attention and guidance. While the program is opt-in, he encourages them to become mentors for their young charges. This will be announced to the students on the first day of classes, giving them some time to decide and to consider who might be a good fit for their squads.

For the rest of the week, students continue to trickle in and soon the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning is bustling again!

THE SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS

Starting on September 8th, classes begin again! The school year opens with an early assembly during which staff members are introduced, squads are announced, and campus rules are reiterated. After that, it's off to class!

Right away, the students are abuzz with talk of squads, codenames, uniforms, and other important matters. Like which squad is the toughest ([Character D]'s seems to be the front runner), which squad leader is the coolest ([Character E], apparently!), which squad name is the lamest, and who probably got picked last. Apart from this distraction, however, it's a return to form. Just another start to another school year at the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning.

Come the afternoon, classes end early so the squads can get introduced and participate in an informal field day! This includes events like a relay race, an obstacle course, tug of war, and kickball, all interspersed with Scott Summers-themed trivia questions (at the insistence of Kitty Pryde). Happy Birthday, Scott! Each game won and each trivia question answered correctly earns a squad one point and at the end of the day the winner is announced, receiving a first place ribbon and a pair of sunglasses with bright red lenses. ...Stylish! The event comes to a close with a picnic on the front lawn.

All in all, it's a pleasant start to a new year.

THE FIELD DAY WINNER WILL BE RANDOMIZED NEXT WEEK. STAY TUNED!

FORMS

Fill out the forms below to establish your character's staff role and to outline your character's squad!

SCENES ⮾ FORMS ⮾ OOC ⮾

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Any scenes that occur during these two weeks can go there!

Kitty has planned a little surprise party for Scott that Emma will steal him away from before too long, so we figured we'd just throw up a little header for it (or if you just want to do a little Scott harassment on that day, but.. don't feel obligated to use the header).

Mostly this is to establish dumb party and also ~~Scott~~ Scoot Facts.

It's honestly less a surprise party, more an excuse for Kitty to have stolen one of the nicest bottles of the Professor's champagne (it's his adoptive son so he can't complain.) She also set up a cake and corner for gifts, but that's about the extent. Her goal is celebratory but non-threatening, so she doesn't even coerce or trick Scoot there. If he ever shows up she just points at the cake and drinks and goes, "That's for you."

SCENES: Scott's Birthday

seeingred scott summers ⊗ cyclops - Date: 2025-09-06 04:20 pm (UTC) - Expand

Illyana did not do very well at Scott Trivia, and sounds mildly irritated when she turns to the nearest person to ask: "What is a pangolin?"

SCENES: Scott's Birthday

blauerdamon kurt wagner ⚔️ nightcrawler - Date: 2025-09-10 01:47 am (UTC) - Expand

SCENES: Scott's Birthday

allhell magik 🖤 illyana rasputin - Date: 2025-09-12 05:50 am (UTC) - Expand

SCENES: Scott's Birthday

blauerdamon kurt wagner ⚔️ nightcrawler - Date: 2025-09-14 02:43 am (UTC) - Expand

It's Friday evening, and Piotr has spent is day like he spends most days, out on the grounds, painting, sketching, trying to find some peace after everything that happened to him. He's getting there — his shoulders are starting to ease, his jaw isn't set tightly so often, and he's starting to sleep a little more regularly than he has been.

One of the biggest activities that's been helping him is getting back to painting, and while he's rusty, it's coming back to him quickly and provides a welcome outlet and something to focus on. He's finished quite a few small paintings already, and it's with one of those in hand that he knocks on his sister's door. He realizes a little too late that he probably should have texted to see if she was actually in.

Illyana is in, albeit feeling very tired. The majority of her week has been spent testing the students of the school for magical aptitude, a process which is more time and energy-intensive for her than it is for them. Still, she answers her door in just under a minute.

"Piotr. Did you bring me something?" she asks, moving aside to allow him access to her room.

SCENES: Sept 5 - Illyana & Piotr

breakloose Piotr Rasputin 🦾 Colossus - Date: 2025-09-08 11:16 pm (UTC) - Expand

SCENES: Sept 5 - Illyana & Piotr

allhell magik 🖤 illyana rasputin - Date: 2025-09-10 12:34 am (UTC) - Expand

SCENES: Sept 5 - Illyana & Piotr

breakloose Piotr Rasputin 🦾 Colossus - Date: 2025-09-10 01:44 am (UTC) - Expand

SCENES: Sept 5 - Illyana & Piotr

allhell magik 🖤 illyana rasputin - Date: 2025-09-10 02:43 am (UTC) - Expand

SCENES: Sept 5 - Illyana & Piotr

breakloose Piotr Rasputin 🦾 Colossus - Date: 2025-09-10 02:55 am (UTC) - Expand

SCENES: Sept 5 - Illyana & Piotr

allhell magik 🖤 illyana rasputin - Date: 2025-09-10 04:31 am (UTC) - Expand

SCENES: Sept 5 - Illyana & Piotr

breakloose Piotr Rasputin 🦾 Colossus - Date: 2025-09-10 01:48 pm (UTC) - Expand

SCENES: Sept 5 - Illyana & Piotr

allhell magik 🖤 illyana rasputin - Date: 2025-09-12 05:48 am (UTC) - Expand

SCENES: Sept 5 - Illyana & Piotr

breakloose Piotr Rasputin 🦾 Colossus - Date: 2025-09-12 01:47 pm (UTC) - Expand

SCENES: Sept 5 - Illyana & Piotr

allhell magik 🖤 illyana rasputin - Date: 2025-09-12 08:35 pm (UTC) - Expand

SCENES: Sept 5 - Illyana & Piotr

breakloose Piotr Rasputin 🦾 Colossus - Date: 2025-09-12 09:12 pm (UTC) - Expand

SCENES: Sept 5 - Illyana & Piotr

allhell magik 🖤 illyana rasputin - Date: 2025-09-12 11:32 pm (UTC) - Expand

SCENES: Sept 5 - Illyana & Piotr

breakloose Piotr Rasputin 🦾 Colossus - Date: 2025-09-13 01:53 am (UTC) - Expand

SCENES: Sept 5 - Illyana & Piotr

allhell magik 🖤 illyana rasputin - Date: 2025-09-13 02:18 am (UTC) - Expand

SCENES: Sept 5 - Illyana & Piotr

breakloose Piotr Rasputin 🦾 Colossus - Date: 2025-09-13 02:36 am (UTC) - Expand

SCENES: Sept 5 - Illyana & Piotr

allhell magik 🖤 illyana rasputin - Date: 2025-09-16 07:33 pm (UTC) - Expand

SCENES: Sept 5 - Illyana & Piotr

breakloose Piotr Rasputin 🦾 Colossus - Date: 2025-09-17 01:00 am (UTC) - Expand

As the group leaves the meeting where Xavier explains the concept of Squads to them, Illyana hastens after Kurt.

"I would like to test all the students for magical aptitude," she tells him, skipping half a step to catch up with him as they walk down the hallway. "It will be very easy. No blood involved or anything."

"That will be a nice change of pace," Kurt says thoughtfully, but his curiosity is clearly piqued. He offers his arm to Illyana, like he might to Emma or Kitty. A small gesture, though, so if rebuffed it won't embarrass either of them.

"How do you plan on doing this, if a layman is allowed to inquire?"

SCENES: Sept 2 - Illyana & Kurt

allhell magik 🖤 illyana rasputin - Date: 2025-09-10 04:50 am (UTC) - Expand

SCENES: Sept 2 - Illyana & Kurt

blauerdamon kurt wagner ⚔️ nightcrawler - Date: 2025-09-14 02:36 am (UTC) - Expand

Post your Squad and Staff forms here!

CHARACTER NAME: Emma Frost
CLASSES: Ethics - Warren took over her media readiness class for her partway through last semester, and she's left it with him to focus on helping students more directly.
CLUBS: Nah, but she'll help out with anything anyone asks her to help with, student or staff alike!!
REPUTATION: In general, Emma is well-liked by the students, seen as relatively fair about grading and pretty fun in class. She tends to treat them like adults, which many (but not all) of them appreciate. One point of friction is her mind-reading, which makes some students nervous, even when she agrees to not read their minds. For a subset of students there is quite a bit of distrust because of this. In general, though, she thinks her reputation is accurate.
OTHER: Emma's still doing stuff for Frost International so she's busy, but she likes it that way.

CHARACTER NAME: Illyana Rasputin
CLASSES: N/A
CLUBS: N/A
REPUTATION: Most of the students have gotten used to Illyana’s presence, although some of them are still a little leery of her due to her association with Magneto and her lack of an official position at the school. That being said, she is cool and weird, and happy to entertain questions from students about just about anything, so she has plenty of fun qualities too.
OTHER: With Kurt’s supervision, Illyana is teaching an unofficial magic seminar that meets once a week after classes. She requires her squad members to attend these meetings, but it’s open to anyone who’s interested in learning about magic, even if they have no magical aptitude themselves.

CHARACTER NAME: Scott Summers
CLASSES: Geometry/Trigonometry, U.S. History, Battle Tactics
CLUBS: Baseball (with Kitty)
REPUTATION: Mr. Summers is the rules enforcer and most likely to deliver a scolding lecture. Most students see him as strict, uptight and unfun, although some might acknowledge he's also fair-minded and willing to give multiple chances. His classes are difficult, but he has long office hours and answers emails within the day. If you find yourself training in the Danger Room with him, you will come out bruised. Despite all of this, Scott is extremely popular with a number of students, for reasons that he cannot begin to understand.
OTHER: Known to take students who need extra attention (but don't want to talk) to the garage to teach them auto maintenance.

CHARACTER NAME: ~~Laura Kinney~~ Wolverine
CLASSES: N/A
CLUBS: N/A
REPUTATION: Known as the X-Man who lives in the attic and will growl at any student who tries to talk to her. Wolverine doesn't share her civilian name outside of the X-Men, but the students have probably heard people use her name, so whatever if they call her "Laura." (Do not call her Ms. Kinney.) As there is a non-zero chance of Laura murdering everyone in the room at any given moment, until now she strictly avoided any socializing with the kids and tried make them afraid of her. Starting this year, she's stepping outside her comfort zone to assist Rogue with her extracurriculars and squad (and anyone else who asks for her help).
OTHER: still on the lookout for her genetic donor to show up so she can kill him

CHARACTER NAME: Piotr Rasputin
CLASSES: N/A
CLUBS: N/A
REPUTATION: Piotr is still quite a bit of an unknown because he arrived during summer break, and he often keeps to himself and isn't a formal part of the school. Generally he's seen as quiet and distant, but polite when addressed and helpful when needed. Since he's often painting en plein air these days, students will know he's an artist and he'll talk about his process with anyone who asks.
OTHER: Piotr will help out in the art club when asked, and will practice Russian with any students interested in learning (but won't teach). Not actually staff......

CHARACTER NAME: Kitty Pryde
CLASSES: She teaches several levels of Computer Science, including a seminar on ethical hacking for gifted students. She still teaches Jean's Civics class, too.
CLUBS: She runs baseball with Scoot! She runs a small chess club, too.
REPUTATION: Kitty is known as a kind, supportive person but a hellishly difficult teacher. And that's more than earned. She's a good door to knock on for existential crises and personal ones, but she considers reducing difficulty of assignments dumbing it down and refuses to disrespect her students in this manner. Some kids don't like her for this reason. She tends to attract the more intellectually gifted (read: nerds) and her office is often open for casual chats as well as homework help for those who need it.
OTHER: Kitty also is in charge of a lot of the Academy's IT work/upkeep of tech systems stuff too so she's busy.

CHARACTER NAME: Kurt Wagner
CLASSES: Drama
CLUBS: Acrobatics/Gymnastics
REPUTATION: Kurt is popular and beloved by most of the students. Drama is a simple pass/fail class based on participation and effort, so there's not much academic risk to get students riled up. Sometimes there's drama with casting, but he remains well-liked. Some students, particularly those who are troubled and have to regularly visit his office, might find his (slightly pushy) sincerity to be a little irritating.
OTHER: Student Counselor - this is Kurt's primary responsibility, and the beginning of a new school year has him busy. He's the first point of contact for getting kids access to therapy, or finding them some mentorship with staff and/or senior students.
Xavier's Heir - He tries to keep on top of the school's inner workings, like finances, repairs, upgrades, orders, etc. There are people to help him, but Kurt insists on being in Xavier and Moira's business about the school.

Edited Date: 2025-09-10 02:03 am (UTC)

CHARACTER NAME: Warren Worthington III
CLASSES: Economics, Media Readiness (anything you say or post online is forever, kids)
CLUBS: Fliers - Warren has his own little club to help students with the ability to fly master this pretty risky gift.
Lifeguards - He's the senior lifeguard for the indoor pool, and trains student volunteers who are 16+ to be lifeguards.
Jr. Medics - As the resident healer, he has agreed to have a small after school program with the handful of students with healing abilities.
REPUTATION: He's Warren! He's handsome, polite, and a little standoffish (or mysterious, or in reality just a bit odd). Kind, but somehow distant. It's easy for students to have a crush on him, which he doesn't realize. He's a bit of a busybody, but likes to keep to himself whenever he's off the clock.
OTHER: The new teacher!

Edited Date: 2025-09-10 03:34 am (UTC)