Genosha Visit

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THE FLIGHT & ARRIVAL - FRIDAY

After classes on Friday afternoon, the X-Men gather on the Blackbird and depart for Genosha with Scott Summers and Emma Frost at the helm -- as pilot and co-pilot respectively. Despite some early turbulence through a storm just off the coast, the trip is uneventful and they make good time, nearing the island of Genosha late into the night. As Scott prepares to land, they feel the aircraft being turned and maneuvered by an unseen hand that guides them into a neat landing.

It seems the Master of Magnetism wants them to know that he's got his eyes on them.

Once inside the airport, they're greeted by two of Erik Lehnsherr's Acolytes (Allen Marc Yuric, aka Chrome, and Joanna Cargill, aka Frenzy), who welcome them, tell them that Erik has arranged for them to have lunch in a reserved room at Melusine (an upscale restaurant) tomorrow afternoon, and offer to drive them to their hotels or residences.

Welcome to Genosha, X-Men!

AROUND GENOSHA - SATURDAY

Early Saturday morning, Scott Summers and Kitty Pryde head into the sewers for a precautionary investigation. For the most part, they find exactly what one would expect to find in a sewer system, but some footsteps in unexpected places do eventually lead them to the remnants of a large, unmarked crate in a remote utility tunnel. All of the contents of the crate have been removed, save for a peculiar battery, the purpose of which is not immediately clear. It has no familiar markings or labels and is about the size of a cell phone. Searching the area yields no additional information and eventually they depart. On their way out, they find themselves being trailed by a mangy, filthy stray cat that yowls relentlessly.

Later that morning, they share their findings with the rest of the team.

⦻ ⦻ ⦻
Later that morning, the team heads to Melusine to meet with Erik. The restaurant, modern and sleek and new, is right on the beachfront with large windows and a beautiful view of the vast ocean and the bright sky beyond. They're greeted at the door again by Yuric, who escorts them through the restaurant and into a private room where Erik Lehnsherr is waiting with more of his Acolytes. He invites them to join him and asks them to tell him everything. Talking to Erik yields no new information about Charles, though he does express deep sadness for the state of his old friend. While Emma Frost and Manuel de la Rocha are able to confirm that his words and emotions are genuine, an Acolyte seated beside Erik (who introduces herself as Carmella Ursino, aka Stand-off) blocks any further access to Erik's mind with an infuriatingly secure mental barrier. They understand the need for privacy, don't they?

Near the end of the meal, Erik changes the topic of conversation, encouraging them to explore the island and witness the resilience of Genosha's mutant population. He directs them to one particular neighborhood, where many of the survivors have put down roots and established a community together; he's certain they'll be inspired. Before they depart, Erik asks to speak with Kurt Wagner privately. Leader to leader. If he agrees, the man will step out with him onto a balcony and encourage him to consider bringing his people to Genosha permanently. He'll tell him that there's potential here, far more than in any home either of them have had before, and that the decision will eventually fall to him if Charles doesn't recover. Something to think about.

⦻ ⦻ ⦻
After departing from Melusine, the team sets out to explore the city and does eventually find themselves in the neighborhood Erik had described.

It's mishmash old architecture and new structures, built over and around the area that had once been the Citadel -- the former capitol building and the origin of many of the island's grimmest days. Mutants had been held there, brought to heel by abuse and drugs and mental manipulation before being put to work elsewhere on the island. But the scars of recent years are difficult to find now, even for those that know where to look. Under the bright afternoon sun, with a breeze rolling in off the ocean and streets alive with bustling crowds (many of which have physical mutations or are openly making use of their powers), it feels impossible that such things could've happened here. Everywhere they look, there are signs of a flourishing mutant community from vibrant public spaces to proudly mutant-owned businesses to a visible culture of support. It feels like a very welcoming place.

And, amongst it all, there is an obvious and growing support for Erik Lehnsherr, who has been instrumental in the revitalization of the island. And, of course, for the X-Men.

As they pass through, [Character C] is recognized by a group of kids in the park and is drafted into a game of baseball. They're behind! They need a hero! Or maybe just a ringer. Meanwhile, Kitty Pryde comes across a statue that's dedicated to everyone that died here and to the resilience of the mutant spirit. Around it, there are displays with contact information to get support. It's sobering but not surprising. Many people here have suffered and there's still a lot of recovering to do.

Unfortunately, this peace doesn't last.

Late in the afternoon, the team hears shouting and rushes to investigate, only to find a group of men armed and dressed in the equipment of Genosha's former Magistrates. While some carry normal weapons, firearms and blades, others are armed with strange weapons putting off a trail of black mist. [Character E] is quick to recognize that these weapons are powered by batteries identical to the one found in the sewer that morning. Black projectiles fired from these weapons strike a target and splatter like ink. The substance then spreads over the skin, seeming to inflict considerable pain followed by numbness meant to bring the target down or impair their abilities. Making for an easy kill.

The team immediately jumps into action, facing off with the 'Magistrates' and defending the locals, some of which scatter and some of which try to jump into the fray (for better or worse). They're also joined by Amelia Voght, one of Magneto's Acolytes, who just so happened to be in the area. They're able to turn the direction of the battle quickly, taking down the armed men before more damage can be done or any serious harm can be inflicted. Before the men are taken away by the authorities, Kurt Wagner gets into a heated confrontation with one, during which he admits that the new weapons had been sent to them by an anonymous benefactor. So there are still humans willing and ready to help them purge you freaks! Which is...concerning.

With that, they day goes on...

DEPARTURE - SUNDAY

Sunday is mercifully uneventful, leaving the team with a day to explore Genosha before returning to New York in the evening. What they choose to do with that time is up to them. The day is warm, the mutant neighborhood they visited is back to bustling, and everything seems well...

The team returns to the airport in the evening, where they are met by Erik Lehnsherr, who thanks them directly for their assistance. The city is grateful and so is he. They then depart for New York without any interference.

FRIDAY ⮾ SATURDAY ⮾ SUNDAY ⮾ NPCs ⮾ OOC

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THE FLIGHT & ARRIVAL - FRIDAY

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THE FLIGHT & ARRIVAL: Erik lands the plane

[seeingred scott summers ⊗ cyclops]

Scott is in full Cyclops mode for this flight, down to his visor, his uniform and the stick up his ass. They have no reason to believe Genosha will be anything but handshakes and a tour, but he's tense as the island comes into view, mentally running through his contingency plans for what they might encounter upon landing.

"Hold on, I'm getting interference." The sensors and a visual scan tell him there's nothing in the air but the Blackbird. It takes another two seconds for Scott to see through the darkness to where a caped figure stands with his arms outstretched. Scott's grip tightens on the yoke as he considers trying to wrest back control of the jet, but that would be pointless.

He takes his hands completely off the controls, clearly annoyed. "Magneto's on the landing pad."

THE FLIGHT & ARRIVAL: Erik lands the plane

[blauerdamon kurt wagner ⚔️ nightcrawler]

Kurt unbuckles his seatbelt and stands to see what Scott sees. The telepath and empath in the room can feel the way he internally groans. Eternally fond of Erik, Kurt has never held back his exasperation with either of his father figures, estranged or otherwise. This is nothing but a power play, and one that's going to put his entire team on edge. He wishes that Erik was the telepath so he could feel how irritated Kurt was by this.

"I will be right back," he announces. Then: BAMF! and Kurt is no longer in the Blackbird, but next to Erik Lehnsherr, for whatever good it does. (None.)

AROUND GENOSHA - SATURDAY

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SATURDAY: Manuel & Kitty

[empata Manuel de la Rocha (Empath)]

Manuel had started feeling off some time ago.

There's something about being in this neighborhood that gives him a perilous sense of déjà vu. Something about the scent of the air and the view of the sea that's impossibly familiar. Something about the emotional undercurrent of the locals that carries a resonance. Something that his mind can't name or touch or remember that nevertheless pulls him deeper and deeper into himself.

So eventually he'd just...slipped away. In a street this crowded and this full of distractions, it hadn't been difficult to disappear. He may've even given his friends a nudge, anchored their emotions and their attention to something else so they wouldn't notice. He can't actually remember now. Such things come so easily and it's becoming so hard to think. Much like it's becoming increasingly difficult to breathe or to focus on any sound beyond the rapid beating of his own heart.

He doesn't want to be here. He'd rather be dead than be here. Be back here.

Wherever here is. He hadn't been focused on where he was going and now he's just hurrying up a street he doesn't recognize. He briefly locks eyes with a woman and the expression of startled recognition on her face only makes him walk faster. He doesn't know how long he's been walking when he ducks into an alley and presses himself against an empty section of wall, trying desperately to steady himself. But he can't. He's starting to feel light-headed. He's trembling. He still can't breath. Closing his eyes, he tries to open himself up to the emotions overwhelming his empathic sense because whatever's out there must be better than what's inside him right now, but nothing seems to take root.

He hears himself wheeze and utter a sound like a choked sob and presses himself more firmly back against the wall. Then he senses...something else. Someone else.

"...Aléjate de mí."

SATURDAY: Delivery for Emma

[seeingred scott summers ⊗ cyclops]

Scott wakes up impossibly early to run around the sewers with Kitty, but this isn't the only plan he had in motion today. Just after breakfast, a delivery arrives at Emma's door: a large bouquet of white flowers.

An accompanying note reads: Taking the risk that you don't think roses are cliché. If I'm wrong, I'll make it up to you later.

SATURDAY EVENING: Kurt & open

[blauerdamon kurt wagner ⚔️ nightcrawler]

Genosha is beautiful. Damaged, but beautiful. It reminds Kurt of these postcards of Greece another boy in his class showed everyone when he was about eleven. Before the accident. Impossibly blue waters, bright white buildings, beaches as far as the eye could see. The other kids laughed about how Kurt would have looked ridiculous in a swimsuit, way too hairy, he'd just be a wet cat. None of that really stings anymore (he tells himself). After all, a designer contacted him last month to see if he'd be interested in a modeling gig. Tastes change all the time. There's no more need to be insecure about his looks.

Perched on the ledge of this balcony, he has a perfect view. The sunset, the sea, and an itching promise that this could be his home. Charles, comatose as he is, would be safe. The school could serve all of the children on Genosha. Maybe Emma and Manny would stop pretending they're human. Maybe Emma would go on an actual date with Scott as her real self instead of her flimsy public persona, since she never would with Kurt.

It's a fantasy. Mutants are not just born from mutants. There's no reality where all of them can just hide away in paradise. Ones like him or Bobby will be born to families that don't want them.

Kurt, already a little drunk, refills his glass from the expensive bottle of gin (made in Genosha, a gift). The ice is melting too fast, but he still can't take his liquor straight.

SATURDAY MORNING: Scott, Emma & 2 Kitties

[passingthru KITTY PRYDE]

Kitty hovers at Emma's door with Scott as promised, at almost exactly 10am. Give or take a few minutes because of a surprise complication to their mission. Kitty kicks off her boots outside the door, not going through without knocking for once. A bundle is squirming in her arms. Kitty pauses to rub down the mangy sewer cat with her jacket just a little more, trying to get some of the mud off so as to impress Emma with how orange he was underneath, so she'll allow him in her bathroom even at all. She holds it out to Scott for inspection.

"Little better, right?" (Objectively? Barely.)

SATURDAY NIGHT: Scott & Emma

[seeingred scott summers ⊗ cyclops]

Scott insists on stepping out first to open the cab door on Emma's side and offering her his hand. Outwardly, he's calm and confident, handsomer than usual in a casual maroon suit, and his hair styled instead of hidden under one of his customary caps.

Inwardly, he's running this day like a battle operation. Sewers in the morning, plus flower delivery and cat rescue, lunch with Magneto and his Acolytes, library visit with Emma in the afternoon, plus touring former sites of mutant torture, romantic dinner date in the evening. Lists and sublists, reminders and contingencies. Any good plan makes allowances for unforeseen events, so being attacked by Magistrate loyalists and dismantling anti-mutant weapons didn't throw off the schedule. The mood, though?

Scott shunted his growing anxieties into a concealed corner of his mind, but concern for Emma peeks through. "We can still have a quiet night in." They're already standing in front of Mumbles, which looks as unimpressive as Kitty promised it would, but Scott called ahead to get their best table and wine recommendations. But all the planning and preparation means nothing if Emma would rather not go through the motions of pretending they're on a normal date tonight.

DEPARTURE - SUNDAY

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SUNDAY MORNING: Kurt & Emma

[frost_queen Emma Frost ♕ White Queen]

This trip has been better and worse than Emma had anticipated, but she's trying to take everything in stride, take every good thing and bad thing in the moment and then move on. It's not most successful endeavor, but she does at least show up to her planned breakfast with Kurt with her usual poise, even if she is a few minutes late.

The restaurant is quaint and bustling, and their table outside affords them some of the morning sun and the distraction of people out and about. Hopefully it will help smooth over some of the tension she can already feel in Kurt's mind before she even really reads much at all there.

"Did you sleep well after all the excitement yesterday, darling?"

SUNDAY AFTERNOON: Kitty & Open (?)

[passingthru KITTY PRYDE]

This whole weekend was a wild ride, and by Sunday afternoon, Kitty finds herself falling into old patterns. She ensures that Manny would be okay for a few hours, and then without telling anyone else where she was going, her feet carry her to one of the first districts where stubborn businesses started popping up. The first place she felt hope, last time she was here. The Bittern is a little pub on the corner, all cozy lights and old furniture. The handwritten "Help Wanted" sign stands strong in the window, that beacon that beckoned her in to its safety. This place had been the site of her own rediscovery. Where she'd started wearing gauzy black and stopped. Home to a dozen dates with Petra, conversations with her friends that made her feel more at home than she sometimes even did in New York. Today, when she'd been so recently reminded of all the hope and pain this place carries, she's not exactly surprised to end up here.

Kitty slips in, sits at the end of the bar. She doesn't know who the bartender is. She orders a beer she drinks very slowly, instead using her energy to survey each person in turn. A larger group near the back catches her eye. It's a man and three women. They're all laughing. They start kissing. It's shared equally; all of them are together. She blinks. No mistaking. It's the married couple and his two girlfriends, apparently having worked it all out after all. Some weird nostalgia tugs at her heartstrings.

"Nature is healing." is Kitty's quiet proclamation about Genosha, said out loud to no one in particular, as she doesn't even bother hiding how she's staring.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON: Manny & Emma

[frost_queen Emma Frost ♕ White Queen]

When Emma arrives at Manny's hotel room, she's got a small cloth bag looped around her wrist and a sparse bouquet of red carnations tucked into a tiny vase with a small note, leaving her with one free hand to knock on his door. She's trying to get a feel of his mental state even as she knocks, of course, hoping to find him better than yesterday. And he does seem to be, a welcome balm to her still slightly stressed mind.

Once see physically sees him, she knows she'll feel even better.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Emma & Kitty

[passingthru KITTY PRYDE]

They'd been home for a few hours, and Kitty has unpacked, tucked Lockheed into bed, changed into pajamas and brushed out her hair. She had laid down in bed, got up from bed, tried a few more leads for Maddie, come up without fruit, remembered she should eat dinner, stood in front of the refrigerator, found nothing, and then found herself out of ideas. She's that kind of tired that demands action before sleep. She can't think of anything else to do than grab a pint of ice cream from the freezer and two spoons, and float through the walls to see who's awake. The ice cream is a bribe.

Emma's room is first, and she sees that she's still awake. This is actually a good choice. Kitty hadn't been able to talk to her much, and hadn't seen her almost at all individually this weekend. She solidifies and falls to Emma's bed, extending the ice cream like this is what she'd planned all along. "I can't sleep." She explains, outright, never one to hide her motives unless she needs to.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Scott & Kurt

[seeingred scott summers ⊗ cyclops]

Scott's adrenaline is always elevated after flying the Blackbird, so he's up and roaming the mansion's halls instead of resting. Normally, he'd burn it off in the Danger Room, but Kurt seemed distracted during their long flight, and they never really had the chance to debrief at Genosha.

He checks several of the more obvious places before finally ending up at the professor's study. Scott's whiled away many, many hours in this room, but not since Xavier fell unconscious. Scott isn't forbidden, but it felt... wrong, somehow, to be there without him. He wonders if it bothers Kurt too.

"Hey." He lingers against the doorway, unsure if Kurt would rather be alone or not. "Everything okay?"

SUNDAY EVENING : Kitty & Kurt

[passingthru KITTY PRYDE]

In the whirlwind that was this weekend, Kitty hadn't actually checked in with everyone as much as she'd have liked. She knows that Kurt is more than capable of taking care of himself. He's the leader, after all. But leaders have feelings, too, and it hasn't escaped her that he's seemed a little vacant.

Luckily, she has a distraction in the form of something that is definitely not a purple dragon sleeping in Lockheed's carrier, the owner himself preferring to roam free, anyway. Kitty takes it and without asking takes a seat next to their leader. "I have an extremely serious incident to report." Is the way she chooses to present this.

NPC INTERACTIONS

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Prompt a response from an NPC if you want one! The mod will respond to any comment here at least once.

NPC INTERACTIONS: Kurt & Erik (Sunday mid-morning)

[blauerdamon kurt wagner ⚔️ nightcrawler]

[The following conversation is in German.]

Everyone is packing, so it was a good time for Kurt to slip away. Emma and Manny are busy with one another, Scott is organizing their departure, Kitty is handling a kitty.

So Kurt is walking with Erik. A man who when he was just thirteen and spoke no English, assured him that things would be fine. That those who hurt him or ridiculed him or worse for what he looked like were not only wrong, but cruel and stupid. It was the only time anyone had said anything bad about the boys who—actually, he doesn't want to linger on that.

"I'm still thinking about your offer," Kurt says, "but it would be difficult. Unrealistic. Some mutants don't want to leave, no matter what. And some will be born into families that won't want them to be mutants, but don't want to give them up either. But while I think, I have a request."

OOC - QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS!

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You know the drill. ♥

VOLUNTEER

[367 367]

Grab a volunteer slot if you want to!

Re: OOC - QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS!

[seeingred scott summers ⊗ cyclops]

thank u Kasey for the sewer adventure!!

Scott has plans with a bunch of ppl and I will see about... writing things... but lmk if there's anything you want to do with him 😎

Re: OOC - QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS!

[frost_queen Emma Frost ♕ White Queen]

😘😘😘😘 ty Kasey

I have a kind of busy day today BUT I want to do things always... feel free to to hit me up here or discord or whatever 🥰 always happy to do starters~

Oh yeah and Emma and Manny are being like polite I guess but are not really talking lmfao. This is all fine and normal no one pay any mind to it.

Re: OOC - QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS!

[blauerdamon kurt wagner ⚔️ nightcrawler]

This is excellent thank you Kasey!!!

Kurt's going to be in a weird mood the entire trip but I'd love to write some scenes and do some things!!!

Re: OOC - QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS!

[empata Manuel de la Rocha (Empath)]

Manny is...going to have a bad time. 😌 Just like everyone he knows told him he would. Womp womp.

He'll be mostly okay (if a lil' prickly) on Friday and early Saturday, but is going to slip away from the group to have a full panic attack while they're exploring the mutant neighborhood. Too many lil' triggers for his brain over there. Luckily, Kitty to the rescue! He may or may not come back around for the Magistrate encounter; to be determined. Anywho, late Saturday/all of Sunday he'll be coming to terms with his stupid decisions, feeling generally Bad but also embarrassed, and probably keeping close to the hotel until it's time to go home.

If you want any part of this disaster...he's around!

Re: OOC - QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS!

[passingthru KITTY PRYDE]

I love this aaaaa thank you Kasey!!!!!!
Kitty is gonna be in I feel like damage control mode most of the weekend. She’ll be very annoying abt following Manny around in particular and rather thorough in the sewers. Weird mood city. I would luv to write with Everyone! I will not be around in earnest til a wee bit later but would be happy to do starters or whatever then!!!!