indigogirl:

Gretchen needed it. She really needed it.

So she'd asked around among the Alternate-Xavier's kids (she should probably keep trying to stop thinking of it like that), touched on all the conversational points that made Rose more likely to go along with something, and was currently seated in a lovely little establishment that reputedly had great Asian barbecue as well.

Gott in Himmel, they had everything. Even the LeBlanc cover of the song she was looking for. That was good. She liked the more upbeat tempo, although she tended to sing the original, cleaner lyrics.

So the lighting near the little 'stage' area dimmed a bit as Gretchen strutted up for a very enthusiastic rendition of "The Lord Knows I'm Drinking."

mrfixit:



Arthur strolled up to the lab, pressed the buttons he was instructed to and the doors opened for him. He examined the area in the lab and rooms within the lab. He dug through the scraps and the chalk board, poking at the prototypes planning to be made. Then he reached into the pocket of the shorts given to him by Xavier, until he goes shopping for more. He pulled out a piece of paper. 

When he was in the lab in his universe, on his spare time he began learning about machinery and the parts, beginning to blueprint a suit he was planning to make for combat purposes. He looked at the skematics and then around at the lab. He'd have enough experience with the scientist. He could build the suit himself. He almost jumped for glee when he realized and maybe he could finish in time before going for his sister, just in case. 

He sat at a Drafting table he saw nearby and started examining his sketch and correcting any mistakes while listing all the parts he would need. He didn't see anyone in the lab so he didn't think anyone would mind

energizer:

Izzy took a towel out to the lake and stripped down to her bikini. She spread out her towel on the ground and laid down on it. The sun was out, and Izzy had every intention of getting something resembling a tan before the summer was over.

The world wasn't being attacked by alien invaders or there wasn't some other crisis that required the X-Men's attention. And surprisingly enough, she didn't have a training session today. Today was about just lying under the sun and relaxing.

_tsunami_:

Cait was at her favorite place down by the lake. There was a lot to mull over and she needed some quiet to work it all out in her head. The mansion was generally a noisy and busy place and not good for getting some quiet to think. A prank war was starting up and Cait didn't want to get caught up in it. Maybe if Corey had been here....

A new dimensionally challenged family member. It was a lot to process and a lot think about. Arthur seemed nice enough, but there were a lot of unspoken issues and history. Cait wanted to ask him more about his home world and his life, but was unsure of how to do it without upsetting him. She wanted to understand him and the situation better. He was family and she wanted to help.

She thought about asking Misha or Rachel how they dealt with dimensionally challenged siblings showing up, but she wasn't sure they'd be able to help. Different situations and Cait didn't think their siblings came with a background like Arthur's.

Cait stared out over the water as she tried to figure out what to do.

_tsunami_:

Cait had yet to meet Arthur, but there were other things that needed to be done first. Namely call Twerp Major and inform him of the good news. Cait assumed the Professor would contact her parents, or at least she hoped he would. She didn't want to have to be the one to tell them that a dimensionally challenged kid showed up. Who was also the kid of Lorna and her Dad. That would go over really well.

Cait stuck to calling Twerp Major.

She sighed and picked up her cell.

mishaloganovich:

Misha flew back to New York after his overnight stop in Moscow to see Mom and Grandpa Ivan. He was there only long enough to shower and change before he packed the stealth suit into Darlene’s trunk and headed out to the institute. He didn’t see Justin at the penthouse, so he left a voice mail saying he wanted to get together and talk. Stark’s words were still fresh and Misha was smart enough to at least explore the idea the man had about asking for Justin’s help in tracking down Weapon X.

On his way home, he stopped at the pizza place in Salem Center to order two dozen pizzas to take back. While they had a hard time getting delivery at the Institute, the place was happy to do carryout orders for them. He was the main culprit for carryout at the institute, and always willing to share.

Arriving home, he carried it all into the dining room and put out the call that there was food and it was getting cold.

nextgen_parent:

Given the events of the last few months, Logan didn't push for a party or even try to roust David and drag him out to dinner. He left a note in David's room that dinner at his favorite place would be entirely doable that evening if he felt up to it.

Also, David should check out the garage bay next to Logan's.

kidfuzzy:

The chapel at Xaiver's was smallish, but functional.  And it was where Mina found herself now, kneeling in prayer.  She was still in shock, truthfully.  And her father was like the walking dead himself.  He barely spoke, barely seemed to acknowledge the rest of the world.  At least her mom was home now, trying her best to help them both.

"God our Father,
Your power brings us to birth,
Your providence guides our lives,
and by Your command we return to dust.

Lord, those who die still live in Your presence,
their lives change but do not end.
I pray in hope for my family,
relatives and friends,
and for all the dead known to You alone.

In company with Christ,
Who died and now lives,
may they rejoice in Your kingdom,
where all our tears are wiped away.
Unite us together again in one family,
to sing Your praise forever and ever.

Amen. "

Her poor brother, who had never quite seemed comfortable in his own skin, who had seemed so frightened and skittish so much of the time.  Her brother.  She never thought of the fact that they hadn't shared the same mother.  He had been her brother and that was all that had mattered.  And now he was gone.

An accident, they said it was.  She wanted to believe that.  Wanted to believe it with all her heart.  But none of it changed the fact that her brother was dead. 

"Faultless Lord, enduring death for me,
You have consummated the debt of my sins:
Your sacrifice of forgiveness was absolute!
Grant me the strength to also forgive others,
To excuse their transgressions against me.
So I may truly reflect this spiritual fruit,
Obliterate any persistent feelings of malice.
Let each trespass end as a closing chapter,
My continuing on the road of righteousness.
Forgive my sins as I aspire to forgive others.
You are truly archetypical of forgiveness.
You are a most forgiving Lord! "

_tsunami_:

Cait had eaten enough food at the cookout that she thought her stomach would explode. She love the US Independence Day and the celebrations that went with it. While Brazil had an Independence Day (it was in September), it wasn't celebrated much in Nova Roma. The Nova Romans barely recognized themselves as a part of Brazil, let alone really celebrated the Brazilian holidays. Besides, they had enough Roman holiday to have something to celebrate during every week of the year. No kidding.

Today was Independence Day in the United States and a day of Pax in Nova Roma. The two mixed rather well, surprisingly enough. In the US people set aside differences and celebrated the birth of a nation. It was a rather peaceful day overall.

Cait wandered down to the edge of the lake to watch the fireworks. Others liked watching from the lawn, but near the lake the fireworks reflected on the water and it made them even more interesting. Cait settled the surface of the lake until it was as smooth as glass. Thankfully there wasn't a breeze and it was easier than it could have been.

She spread out a blanket and sat down. With any luck she'd have some company.

_tsunami_:

Cait wasn't exactly the most religious person (to Grandpa William she was a heathen because she didn't believe in the Christian God), but there were certain festivals each year that she did celebrate and honor. Her personal favorite was Neptunalia mostly because Neptune was her favorite god, but there were a few scattered through the year that she made the effort to observe. Today was a day sacred to the Lares or the household gods, it was the Initium Aestatis, and the Festival of Jupiter Stator.

The Lares were the household gods and protected and watched over the family. Cait had made a small Lararia in her room and had placed two small Lar statues in the niche. Cait rose with the sun and placed an offering of homemade honeycakes and grapes at the base of the statues. She asked the Lares Domestici and the Lares Familiares to watch over her and the others at Xavier's and her family in Nova Roma.

She grabbed some more honeycakes and fruit and went down to a place near the lake. There she made her offerings and prayers to Aestas, the goddess of summer. Today was scared to her as it was the first day of summer by the ancient calendar. Ironically enough it was the beginning of winter in Nova Roma.

She made an offering and sent a prayer to Jupiter Stator, "Jupiter, Stayer of the Rout", to help her stand her ground when she had the need.

When she was done she sat down on a rock near the lake and watched the sunlight play upon the water.

_tsunami_:

Cait left a basket of Sylvie's favorite baked goods in her room along with two pairs of leather gloves and a necklace. Cait usually didn't have much money, but what little she did have she always saved for gifts for her friends.

nextgen_holiday:

What Makes a Dad

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so,

He called it ... Dad

_tsunami_:

Rachel was one of Cait's oldest friends. They had known each other since they had been in diapers and Cait considered Rachel a sister she never had. They had even stood as maid of honor for each other when they both married Misha.

It stood to reason that Cait was not going to let Rachel's birthday pass unnoticed.

Cait wasn't exactly one to have readily available funds, but she did manage to be able to get Rachel a small gift in addition to making her a batch of her favorite cookies. The cookies and the small wrapped box containing a charm bracelet with a happiness charm were placed on Rachel's bed along with a card wishing her a happy birthday.

marvel_girl:

Galactus was gone, Chandrillar had been saved.  The Throneworld of the Shi'ar Empire and its royals were safe.  Saved by the efforts of the X-Men and the former guardian of the M'krann Crystal, the Phoenix.

The Phoenix, bonded to Rachel Summers of Earth, daughter of Scott Summers and Jean Grey, the former host of the Phoenix, counterpart of another Rachel Summers who had also hosted a measure of the Phoenix's power.

The same Phoenix the Shi'ar had tried to kill or enslave numerous times.  The same Phoenix a rogue faction of the Shi'ar had so feared, they'd tried to kill the entire Grey family and would have, if not for the timely intervention of the X-Men.

As Rachel rejoined the others, still surrounded by a corona of cosmic flame, she could feel the unease from... well, virtually the entire world.

_tsunami_:

Cait looked at her reflection in the full length mirror again. She was a bit nervous to say the least. Tonight was her first official date with Aaron. It had taken some time thanks to world devouring individuals delaying it a bit, but Cait was finally going on a date with Aaron.

She checked her reflection again. Her outfit was simple. New-ish jeans, a white blouse and a pair of sensible shoes. Her jewelry was handmade and from Nova Roma. Cait didn't do fancy, but tonight she had made it a point to look her best without going formal. Sylvie had helped with her makeup since Cait didn't normally bother with makeup and would have ended up looking like a clown without help.

Cait wiped her sweaty palms on her jeans. By Jupiter's beard she was nervous.

nextgen_cosmic:

Since his universe had ended and this one had begun, Galactus had fed.  His hunger had driven him, given him cause and purpose throughout the universe, in a way that the mortals who inhabited it would never understand.  He did not feed out of malice or even joy, he simply fed.  They tried to give motivations for him, but he was beyond their understanding, as necessary an element to the cosmos as Eternity and Death, the balancing point between those two extremes.

His feet touched the ground of Throneworld, and the whole of the populace seemed to tremble in fear.  Sharra and K'ythiri were called out for, but the gods of the Shi'ar would have no place here.  Here was only the Great Devourer of Worlds.  Here was only Galactus, assembling his terrible machine with which he would consume the lifeforce of the planet.

Galactus was.

nextgen_cosmic:

The small ship dropped out of hyperspace, but had it arrived too late?  The usual space traffic that surrounded the Shi'ar Throneworld of Chandrilar was light, and what few ships remained were either warships, now actively engaged in battle, or trying to flee the immediate area.

What dominated their field of vision was a ship who's geometry was utterly alien, almost seeming to not exist in quite the same space as everything else.  Taa II, the worldship of Galactus, Devourer of Worlds.  Galactus himself, for the moment, was nowhere in sight, but as close to the planet as the ship had come, it would not be long.  Unless the X-Men could do something, the Shi'ar Empire's days were likely numbered.

nextgen_holiday:

Mothers are the place that we call home.
On them we rest our heads and close our eyes.
There's no one else who grants the same soft peace,
Happiness, contentment, sweet release,
Erasing nighttime tears with lullabies,
Restoring the bright sun that makes us bloom. - Anonymous

nextgen_shiar:

It was a modified kjethya scoutcraft. Big enough for passengers, but still small and simple enough for one man to fly.

Or, in this case, one seventeen-year-old princeling.  His Imperial Highness Starbridge Xavier Neramani hadn't been to the planet he was now orbitting since three summers ago. Various formal duties and complications had kept getting in the way of his visits with his father.

The father for whom he was mentally calling as his ship came screeching into the upstate New York sky. Starbridge managed to land safely at the Institute's designated area, but it was close. And until he'd gotten help, nothing counted as 'safe' anyway.

anyastark:

As always, Anya knew exactly what to get Prince Dork for his birthday. Gifts for him were never hard. Others, like Mom, on the other hand were almost impossible to buy for. The Dork didn't need anything for Darlene or his motorcycle, so she went with something else he loved.

The New York Mets.

Luckily they were playing in New York on the Dork's birthday this year. Coordinating with Lyta, the girlfriend (hee hee the Dork had a girlfriend and one Anya liked), they came up with A Plan. Lyta would distract the Dork and get him to the stadium. Lyta also was responsible for telling the X-ers and making sure they knew The Plan.

The Plan was simple.

Get to the stadium three hours before the game and join battling practice with the team. Then dinner in the private box before the game, and then watch the game from the private box. Snacks and drinks would be served all night.

It would be the perfect birthday for Prince Dork.

She informed the other Brother Dork, Eliza, Dad and Mom of the plans. Mom excused herself from the activity and said she would have lunch with Prince Dork tomorrow. Which if Misha saw Mom, he would send her right home. She looked exhausted today and it was best that she stayed home. She wasn't sure if Eliza and Dad would make it, but the other Brother Dork was going.

She got ready and grabbed James. They arrived at the stadium before everyone else.

lytaworthington:

The Dark Rider Lyta Worthington flew over the citadel.

They had tried to defeat them. The Avengers and the X-Men had gone against the Horsemen and the Dark Riders, thinking that could DARE to challenge them and the Lord Apocalypse, and they had failed.

A number of the upstarts had been killed in the battle. Some had escaped, but she and her fellow Riders would hunt them down...and do to them what they did to their teammates. There were some, that they had captured. Those...they would make an example of. The whole world had to know that anyone who dared to oppose the Lord Apocalypse was doomed to fail.

Lyta touched down on the ground. It was a new age under Apocalypse, and she felt honored that he chose her to be a part of it.

omni_absorber:

Zak rolled over off of his bed, and his the floor with a large 'clunk'.  "Uhh."  He shook his eyes and opened his eyes.  He didn't really feel anything except slightly different textures, which was odd.  He didn't put two and two together yet.  It took him awhile to get up off of the floor, and he headed into the hallways and down to the bathroom.  Some of the other students gave him strange looks.  "What'chu lookin' at?" he barked.  He also gave some angry or irritated grunts.  He didn't understand what was wrong with people that morning.

And then he looked in the mirror.  "OH SHIT!!" he shouted.  He was easily heard when he shouted.  And he had every right to.  His body had taken on the properties of different objects, without his permission.  Some of the materials his body was mimicing he hadn't touched in ages, or even on the planet.  "Shitshitshit!"

nextgen_parent:

Amara Aquila Drake smiled as they stepped out of a portal and into the Champions' headquarters in New Orleans. She carried gifts in her arms and wore a smile on her face. Corey was seventeen today and they had to celebrate his birthday. Irina had been nice enough to travel to Nova Roma and bring Bobby and Amara to New Orleans to see their son on his birthday. There was a brief stop in New York to get Cait and the four of them continued on to New Orleans.

"Cornelius Drake!" Amara called out.

_tsunami_:

Cait had known that Aaron's birthday was coming up and she had made sure she wouldn't miss doing something for him. She didn't know what to get him outside of his favorite baked goods. Which is what she made. She put them in a basket and left them on his bed with a card wishing him a happy birthday.

aaronwyatt:

Things had been crazy the past couple of weeks and Aaron was taking some time to relax and watch a movie in the REC room. He had caught himself up on all of his homework and this seemed like a perfect time to watch Naked Gun a good light hearted comedy was just what he needed.

Aaron had told Cait that he would be watching the movie at about this time and was hoping that she would come.

wild_rose:

By startling coincidence (yeah, right), all three squads had ended up at the cave at nearly the same time.  "Funny meeting you here," Rose muttered.

This was... wrong. Extremely wrong.  An island out to get them?  Missing X-Men?  A brand-new team being put together to go find them?  It all added up to one horrible, horrible possibility.  She'd been told the story often enough growing up, even used the place in question as a staging ground for Danger Room scenarios.

She looked over to Chris and Anastasia, eventually taking in Christina, Melinda, and Joey as well.  She was worried about him.  The others had survived mostly unscathed and she was healing, but he'd taken some hard knocks.  She'd have to keep an eye on him.  Dammit.  How she felt about him... major distraction right now.  And yet, she wouldn't trade him for all the edge it might offer.

"Okay, hands up, this remind anybody of anything from X-Men History 101?"
 

anyastark:


To: Prince Dork (misha_romanov@xaviers.edu)
From: Anya Stark (anya_stark@starkindustries.com)
Subject: Sun and fun

Hey Dork,

I'm inviting the Avengers to the Tahiti house for a week. You're invited and so are the X-ers.

Leaving 5pm on the 4th. Coming back on Friday the 9th around 1pm.

Let me know how many are coming.


Anya.

nextgen_misc:

The citizens of Nova Roma were responsible residents of the Amazon Rainforest. They didn't waste resources, they used every part of everything, they worked with the land instead of clearing it and they recycled everything they could. They had learned these methods thousands of years ago from the local tribes not long after establishing their settlement.

Citizens from the colony would venture out into the jungle on a daily basis to gather the herbs, plants, fruit and other items they needed. Wood was gathered from the forest floor instead of chopping down trees whenever it was possible.

Today the citizens that ventured out did not return.

nextgen_misc:

“Hey , Joe, gimme a hand here, will ya?” Mike Sharpe, employee for Decker Logging, called out.

“Yeah. Gimme a sec,” Joe Krause replied.

The two men were checking the chains and straps that held the logs in place on the flatbed. They had just finished loading the logs and getting ready to ship them out.

Neither man saw the trees in the surrounding jungle start to move. They moved slowly and for a moment one would think the wind was moving them, but then they started to approach the two loggers. Slowly they made their way toward the two men and the truck.

Branches lowered and the two men were grabbed.

Workers would come to the site later and find no traces of the two men.

Elsewhere in the Amazon similar events take place at other logging camps.

_tsunami_:

Cait sat on the shore of the lake and looked out across the water. The temperature reached seventy and the sun was bright. Light danced on the water. Normally Cait would be out on the water, but today she was content to sit on a rock on the shore. Plus she was still adjusting to the change in her powers. She still had hydrokinesis, but it wasn't as strong as it had been. She still had the ability to turn into water. It was weird and she had only tried using it once since she returned to Xavier's.

She knew the other students didn't blame her for what she had done as Famine, but it didn't mean she felt any less guilty about it. She had destroyed numerous crops and villages around the world. People would go without food and some without homes because of her.

Tomorrow she'd go home to Nova Roma with her parents. Some time away and some TLC from Mom and Dad would go a long way. She wasn't sure what Corey was going to do, but she hoped he would go home too. Driving him crazy would make things seem more normal. Though she wasn't sure how normal things would be able to get, especially with her blue hair. She had Jenny try to change it back, but it didn't work.

Cait picked up a stone and skipped it out across the water.

shattered:

She's been sleeping a long time. Exactly how long, she's not sure.

But her dreams have not been peaceful. She remembers the pale man with the red jewel in his forehead. She remembers the blue and gray man.

She remembers the blood. The slaughter. Slashing and cutting. Hunting and killing.

And, worst of all, she remembers enjoying it.

The glass shards flash. The blood flows. The blue man laughs, a deep, booming laugh...

Abruptly, she sits up, screaming, tears running down her face, her sheets soaked in sweat. She doesn't know where she is. Strangers are all around her.

She looks at the people nearby, and screams again, terrified.

nextgen_media:

"We interrupt this regularly scheduled program to bring you this breaking report. It seems like a giant, what can only be called a citadel, rose from the very ground itself and covered almost the entire area of Central Park just moments ago. The monstrosity seems to be composed completely out of stone and there are no discernible entrances. What appears to be people on flying robotic horses circle the citadel. Who built this and to what end has yet to be discovered."

_tsunami_:

When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!" revelation 6:5-6

It was somehow fitting that her rebirth as a horseman of Lord Apocalypse was on the same day as her first birth into this world. Famine stepped out of the chamber and looked at her new form and smiled. Lord Apocalypse had blessed her with a whole form. Her missing fingers and toes were replaced and her skin was transformed into a pale blue and her hair was dark blue. Appropriate for her, she thought.

She could feel the strength given to her by Lord Apocalypse. She could sense every drop of water in the others in the base. Every drop of water in the air.

A black robotic horse waited for her. It would carry her out into the world and into battle for the glory of Lord Apocalypse.

nextgen_misc:

The media watched the battle from the safety of Ellis Island while on Liberty Island the battle raged on.

nextgen_media:

A special report breaks in on almost all channels....


"We're here live on Ellis Island as apparently a group of mutant terrorists, known as the Mutant Liberation Front, have kidnapped a number of senators' children and grandchildren and have brought them to Liberty Island. The terrorists are holding the children in the torch of the Statue of Liberty. They have threatened to kill the children unless their demands are met. Sources have it that those demands are the immediate halt to the registration bill that is currently in Congress.

The children were abducted from their beds in the middle of the night by the terrorists and a note was left in their place. It is unclear at this time whether or not the registration bill will be killed. Congress is in session now debating the issue.

The question on everyone's mind is what is being done to save these kids? Where are the so called superheroes? Where are the Avengers? Where are the so called benevolent X-Men who want harmony between mutants and humans and fight for that?"

_tsunami_:

Cait hadn't felt like celebrating anything lately, let alone a holiday mostly for couples. February was a month full of holidays, then again just about every month was, but Cait didn't want to celebrate any of them. There was Dies Parentales, Lupercalia, Quirinalia, and Feralia to name a few. She hadn't made any offers or said any prayers. Her heart wasn't in it.

Cait had been keeping to herself. She either stayed in her room and played with the water in the fountain Corey had gotten her or she walked down on the shore of the lake and played with the ice and water. Normally she loved being around the other students, but since the episode with the Marauders she was becoming more and more reclusive.

She sighed and stepped out onto the ice on the lake. She started making ice statues.

mishaloganovich:

Middle of the night, unable to sleep again, Misha gave up trying to rest and resumed wandering the halls and sub floors of the mansion. He only had four or five hours before he was due at his mother’s for breakfast. If he didn’t get sleep soon, she’d see for herself he lied about sleeping. If it wasn’t so cold, he’d make the rounds outside.

He ended up in the rec room and put a movie in, something from the B grade horror flick collection. Some mutant killer vegetable action was just what he needed to take his mind off things, or at least fool it for a couple of hours.

son_of_discord:

Joey walked up to the front gate looked at the damaged building and tried to remember if this was the place that Foxx described when she sent him here. He wasn't sure what this place had to do with finding his mother, but Foxx assured him that he'd learn something valuable here if he knew where to look. He still had trouble believing that this was a place for people like him and wondered if there were more of these places in the world. There certainly weren't any in Australia.

It took a long time for him to decide what scam he'd use to get in, and he'd gone over all of his best ones in preparation. When he finally told Foxx his plan, she just laughed at him.

"Trust me. Where you're going, the best con you can go with is the truth. They'll see right through anything else."

"Not with me, they won't." he said.

"Maybe, maybe not, John. Clever got you this far, but the truth will get you in..."

"I'll take just what I came for , then I'm out the door again." he grinned. He and Foxx shared a love for the same song.

That was three months ago. Now, St. John "Joey" Allerdyce, Jr., was here at Xavier's and on trail of information he wasn't even sure he wanted anymore. He pressed the button at the gate and waited for someone to answer, but the damage to the building didn't give him much hope.

It would be just my bloody luck to get here after they decided to pack up and leave. he thinks.

soothsayer:

He didn't like what had happened to the school. He had decided to go through with the outing anyways. This would be to help the students out. He had two vans ready to go with a third one if they had anyone else show up who wanted to get out. He has a clip board in one hand and a pen in the other.

Some people might notice that his shoes aren't normal sneakers. He had been wearing the ones that had a leg brace build in for one of his legs. Sometimes when he was more stressed out Ezekiel found it more difficult to use one leg so he had a brace for times like that. He didn't need a cane or anything, so long as he had a brace he would be fine.

He glances at his watch and leans against one of the vans. He would check off names and add any more to his lists. He had a feeling that there would be more people coming and he was prepared just in case. Good thing he had plenty of older students coming too.

dream_catcher:

The Marauders are gone. At least for now. They still haven't determined what that was all about, and right now, Lucas doesn't care. He's been hard at work ever since the attack, despite his own psychological scars, healing who he can. When the medical labs, Hank McCoy, and the other healer assured him they had things under control, he went to talk to Scott, and got permission to do the hardest task yet.
He sighs, setting down the pencil and reviewing the letter.

ng_marauders:

Penny stepped out of the cab and didn't look back to see if Winterkill and Breakneck were getting out. They would follow, of that she had no doubt. They had a mission to do. Penny smiled. They'd have fun doing it too.

Penny smiled more as she practically bounced up to the gate. Makeup covered the bruise she had because of that bastard breaking her nose. Anger bubbled up, but she pushed it back. She couldn't afford to let real emotions get the best of her. She had to play a part right now.

Smiling into the security camera, Penny pressed the buzzer.

nextgen_misc:

The skies were cleared and the cat-people seemed to be calming, if still nervous, as Elder Shadow addressed them.

"My people, we have been so very wrong. Look at the anguish and fear that has only been elevated in our attempts to protect ourselves and our world." He looks towards Lucas, before hurrying down the temple steps to tend to his wound personally, still addressing the others. "We cannot let the suffering and violation of one of our own blind us to the consequences of our actions. The Rituals will never be invoked, for they can only bring more pain and madness."

As he heals the wound, his tone becomes more personal. "Lucas Moonstar, Chris Pym, all members of the X-tribe.. we cannot offer enough apologies, and I give you mine personally. I will take whatever atonement you see fit to repent for the actions of my people's will and my own leadership."

soothsayer:

The newest staffer at Xavier's had been trying to figure out how to get to know the students better without scaring them off since his truth telling ability did tend to get in the way of things. That was when he thought back on the last weekend he had with his son no matter how much the kid seemed to hate him he at least had fun with his old man. Ezekiel smirks and taps his chin thoughtfully before setting up a sign up sheet to post in the recreation rooms.

Laser Tag!

Sign up for a night of laser tag and pizza. This is for fun guys. Any questions can be directed to Ezekiel Brooks. We'll be leaving at 5:30 expect to be back by 10 at the latest.

Ezekiel gives himself a proud mental pat on his back and then sets about correcting papers in a corner as h casually pretends to not notice if anyone looks at the sign up sheet.

aaronwyatt:

Aaron drove his car, a 6 year old blue Jeep Wrangler, up the driveway to the Xavier’s, after 3 days of driving he was finally back. He was tired and was glad to be back. Aaron parked the car in the garage and got out of the car. Opening the door to go inside Aaron prepared to deal with the welcome crew the manor always had whenever someone came to the manor.

pym_kitten:

Chris' eyes opened sharply, the trance over her breaking. The people at large, and most of the honor guard, had had their resolve shaken by the outsiders' actions. The connection with the energy that fueled their civilization was disrupted. The stream of light cut off abruptly, and Chris sat up.

"...what?" She blinked, holding her head. The rattling of the jewlery that had been placed on her prompted her to open her eyes. "I... where am I? Who the hell... this... why am I tarted up like tribal fetish Barbie?!" She screamed, rolling off the altar, transforming back to her human form in her disorientation.

nextgen_deviant:

The brides were clad in white and lined up in front of the altar. A semi-circle of priests stood behind the brides and were chanting. The magic in the air became more powerful as the priests chanted. A small circle appeared in the air before the brides and started to get bigger.

Standing behind the priests was a large group of deviants. They were witnessing the rebirth of their god into the mortal realm. It was an honor and privilege to be witness to this historic moment.

nextgen_holiday:

There were traditions around the holidays and then there were traditions. One such tradition on New Year's Day was a snowball fight at Xavier's Institute For Higher Learning. Each New Year's Day the students and faculty gathered on the front lawn and participated in a snowball fight. Snow was never a problem with the resident weather goddess and in later years hydrokinetics.

A fresh blanket of snow covered the ground thanks to Mother Nature.

High noon struck and the snowball fight was officially under way.

nextgen_holiday:

The beginning of a New Year, a time for new hopes, new experiences to come. A time to reflect on times past, remembering fond memories happily and trying to put less pleasant thoughts and experiences in the past.

It is a time of renewal, a time of rebirth. And for much of the world, it is a time of celebration. This is no less true for the super hero set as anyone else. If anything, they just have that much bigger of things to look forward to.

nextgen_misc:

At Elder Shadow's command, the honor guard threw themselves forward as the Ritual of Transformation began and the crowds pulled back. As light poured down from the cavern's ceiling onto the altar where Chris lay, each of the guard members chose an opponent.

nextgen_misc:

On the other side of a portal in the woods... there is a small empty cave, connected to a tunnel, descending deep into the earth. As the end of the tunnel comes closer, light grows brighter. The end of the tunnel opens into a cavern that seems simply too big to exist and not be known. The air is warm and humid, and there's light at the top of the cavern, like a miniature sun, but it doesn't burn the eyes to look at it. It seems to pulse and thrum with a gentle life of it's own, keeping life sustained here.

Those among the X-Men who have seen the Savage Land will feel much the same here. There are vast tracts of jungle, threaded through by areas of plain, with sandy shores along a huge lake that takes up it's own fair share of the cavern. At the center of the cave wall furthest from the tunnel's exit however, lies a village with dozens of huts, and smaller caves carved into the wall. These are all dwarfed by a ziggurat, rising up to an ornate platform. The base of the temple, and each ascending tier, are packed to the brim with bodies, arms and voices raised. Some are singing songs of celebration, some are arguing with one another. At the top however, lays Chris, still unconscious, body dressed in tribal finery that would leave her classified as indecent back in New York. Surrounding her are Elder Shadow and the honor guard that accompanied him.

By the time the X-Men could be within sight range of the individuals, the elder's voice rings out, magic carrying it to every mind in the cavern willing to listen. "My brothers and sisters, I speak to you, as ever, as the servant of your will! The spirits and our people's will have provided for us! We have brought the chosen one into our midst, and the time of alignment for the Ritual of Transformation is at hand. Although one of our kind was brutalized, and their blood perverted for the humans' science, we will not be like them. We will not rise and spill blood. We will make them as our own. They will hear nature's voices once again, and we will rise to live in peace with them!"

Another voice, that male with the moss and mud caked onto him, also carries, as if piggybacking on the magic the elder was using. "Even though there are those among us who feel the Ritual of Cleansing would be more justified, for the horrors the pink apes commit upon our mother... the greater voice of the people will be upheld.."

Elder Shadow wheels around, baring his teeth against the druid. "Cracked Claw, you are our most gifted life-weaver in three generations, and yet your mouth brings nothing but disasters and poison. You will stay your voice. The Ritual of Cleansing is an embarrassment in our people's history, and we will not speak of it."

"But Elder Shadow, they--"

The old male takes a hard step towards the younger, arching his back. "You wish to challenge my place as our people's guardian, kitten?" He does not yell, but his voice speaks with the force of a thundercloud, looking at Cracked Claw with shame and disappointment.

"...no, Elder Shadow. Your voice is the people's voice." His ears flatten, as he lowers his body towards the stones of the temple, before taking his place in a ring around the altar Chris is laid upon.

The elder turns his face out to the crowd. "If there are any who should speak against the great Transformation... now is the time to speak."