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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SATURDAY: Manuel & Kitty

[empata Manuel de la Rocha (Empath)]

Part of Manuel wants to reassure Kitty, tell her that taking care of him isn't her responsibility, but he can't quite bring himself to do it. She's taking care of him now and he doesn't want her to stop. Some other time, perhaps.

"...Not even memories," he points out, as if either of them could need reminding, "I didn't think it would be like this. I never even think about this place. But..."

But even Emma couldn't remove everything from his time on Genosha. The mind is too complex for that; there are too many connections, too many links between the conscious and the subconscious, too many places where impressions could linger. She'd told him that and, while he'd believed her, he'd thought he was in control enough to handle it. It's a horrific and humbling realization that he was this wrong.

SATURDAY: Manuel & Kitty

[passingthru KITTY PRYDE]

"They are, though." She says, for science's sake, "Just not conscious ones. Memories only parts of you remembers." Kitty does not go into the studies and books she's read about this, because that would be boring, weird, and ultimately unhelpful. He'd been reminded and couldn't remember about what. That's terrible enough.

She threads her elbow through his, for a point of contact that cannot be broken so easily. She wrinkles her nose, unhappy. "Would you have stayed home, if we annoyed you more?" She asks, point-blank, so she knows how guilty to feel right now.

SATURDAY: Manuel & Kitty

[empata Manuel de la Rocha (Empath)]

Manuel nods absently, willing to acquiesce to the correction, even if they don't feel the same. The memories and the remnants. He lets her hook her arm through his and considers the question for a long moment before frowning.

"...I don't think so," he answers finally, "I was certain I was right. I had something to prove. So."

SATURDAY: Manuel & Kitty

[passingthru KITTY PRYDE]

"I do that, too." She confesses, partly because it's true and partly to make him feel a little better about it. It feels like her entire life, sometimes, is doing stupid things because she's right and thinks she has something to prove. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't.

"What did you think you have to prove?" She does ask, and not just to immediately refute. She wants to know.

SATURDAY: Manuel & Kitty

[empata Manuel de la Rocha (Empath)]

While he can sense Kitty's sincerity and good intention, Manuel still finds it difficult to meet the woman's gaze. Because he hadn't been right and he hasn't proven anything. He feels pathetic. He can't bring himself to give her an answer and slowly shakes his head instead.

"...Ask me some other time. Perhaps I'll have the fortitude to answer. Or the wit to deflect less directly, at least."

SATURDAY: Manuel & Kitty

[passingthru KITTY PRYDE]

This doesn't puzzle or bother Kitty very much. She'd rather be told like this that this isn't something he wants to talk about rather than have to guess about it or be deceived. So she just shrugs, tucking herself into his side all the same.

"I hear that kind of thing is better out than in, you know." She still can't help saying, "If you ever need to talk about any of this. It's just me."

SATURDAY: Manuel & Kitty

[empata Manuel de la Rocha (Empath)]

"...Just you," Manuel echoes quietly. As if what she thinks of him doesn't matter.

While making people like him has never been his primary priority (that would be easy if it was), the empath has always been keenly aware of how other people see him. He can tolerate being seen as condescending or unkind or manipulative. A cause of consternation. Just a prick, even. But not...vulnerable. Not emotional. Not out of control. Though, for Kitty, who's already holding him and sitting with him on the ground after pulling him back from the edge of panic, perhaps that ship has already sailed.

Reluctantly, he starts to draw back from her just to prove to himself and to her that he can.

"...I appreciate the offer."

SATURDAY: Manuel & Kitty

[passingthru KITTY PRYDE]

But he probably won’t take the offer. That goes unsaid, but she gets it. It is, after all, just her. And he’s seen her emotions in all kinds of embarrassing configurations to the point that she’s pretty sure Manuel sees her as forever young and stupid, an eternal teenage maelstrom. Definitely not worth confiding in. She’s just in the right place at the right time, twice in a row, and she’s grateful she has been. She’s not sure why he echoes what she said like that, like it’s maybe something worth questioning. She lets him untangle himself without any question, but lingers near.

“Can I say one more thing?”

Kitty goes ahead and says one more thing.

“Whatever you feel like you have to prove, it’s probably just to yourself. And that’s enough, I know, and I don’t know how to change that, but. This is allowed to be hard for you. It’s hard to be back for almost all of us and whoever tells you different is probably lying.”

SATURDAY: Manuel & Kitty

[empata Manuel de la Rocha (Empath)]

This shade of self-doubt feels strange on Kitty, so out of place that Manuel wonders for a moment if his powers are still too disoriented to be trusted. But...no. It's plain as day, intertwined with threads of uncertainty and hurt and care for him that he isn't certain he deserves. He's only just pulled away from her, but finds himself moving to take her hand. For her sake this time, he tells himself.

"You do realize that I'm the problem here, no? Not you." After all, he's the one that had ignored his friends and insisted on coming here and failed to realize how close to the edge he was until he was already falling. If it had been up to him, Kitty wouldn't have even been here to catch him, but the woman had outmaneuvered him. And he still can't even being himself to just talk to her. "You..." he trails off, failing to find the right words, and finally dismisses the thought with a tight sigh.

Time for a new approach, then.

He draws back his hand and lifts it, mimicking a gesture he'd seen her do plenty of times when they were younger. Maybe more recently too. He puts his pinky out for a promise and smiles stiffly, feeling foolish but fairly confident that she'll take the meaning. That this is something he will offer only to her. "...How about this? If I find myself inclined to talk, I'll come to you. If I feel like...this again, I'll come to you."

SATURDAY: Manuel & Kitty

[passingthru KITTY PRYDE]

The threads of her emotions palpably smooth out from where they'd been before. Self-doubt gives way to a notable spike of affection; a pocket of gratitude. She smiles at the gesture. It's silly. But it does sort of make Kitty feel better too.

With all the gravitas in the world, she reaches out and holds her pinky up as well. "It doesn't have to be me." She corrects. None of this is actually about her. "But it always can be. I'll be there to hear it. And you have to say it to someone."

Terms and conditions stated clearly, she hooks her pinky around his and binds the promise.

SATURDAY: Manuel & Kitty

[empata Manuel de la Rocha (Empath)]

Feeling Kitty's mood brighten, as Manuel had hoped it would, is...pleasant and alleviates the mild humiliation of his very first pinky promise.

"If you insist," he concedes, locking his pinky briefly with hers before drawing back his hand.