uisgeannan | [X-Men AU Continuation]

[X-Men AU Continuation]

[It's been a grand total of two hours, and Euri is ready to go home.

Home of course being a comfortable apartment in the Upper West Side, near Central Park. Sure, with her mother touring so much it was often only her, but it had nice views and she didn't have to share it with anyone. Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters might be larger than her previous private school, but the latter was smaller and girls only and she never had to deal with roommates and living on campus.

It's all strange and uncomfortable and she'd much rather find somewhere quiet where she can be alone. But no, one of the teachers (she doesn't bother remembering her name, she doesn't want to remember her name) is coming by after she's unpacked to let her know that one of the students will show her around the campus. It's a nice gesture but Euri can't help the sullen expression on her features as she follows her down to a very familiar door.

Apparently someone had seen the two of them talking when she first arrived, and decided it might be good for both her and Pyro to spend a little more time together. Euri isn't sure she believes that, though she remains silent as Professor Ororo Munroe explains the situation to Pyro, not giving him the option to say no.

And when all that's said and done it's the two of them left alone to explore the campus.]

So....

I guess we should get started, huh? [She couldn't sound more unenthused.] Where do you want to go first?

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She did that on purpose. [His own expression is equally sullen.] I swapped names on me and Bobby's tests in her class last week, and she caught me. No way I'd be student ambassador all of a sudden if that didn't happen.

[As to the question, he shrugs.]

What do you wanna see? The grounds, the offices, the secret superhero base?

[Oh good, off to a great start already.] Why would you do that??

[She huffs, folding her arms tightly and looking around.] Might as well start with the last one, if you aren't just teasing me.

To pass? [Well, duh.] Bobby could absorb the shitty grade, I couldn't.

[Her doubt makes him smirk.]

It's not locked to us, but we're not supposed to go down there. Honor system. Still up for it?

[So he's that kind of person, huh? What a pain in the ass....

Though, maybe it means she's lucky. She chews on her lip, thinking for a few moments, before looking at him.]

If we get caught I'm blaming you.

[He sounds like the type who'd get blamed for something like that, anyway.]

[Success. Her remark earns her another 'well, duh' look, though.]

I'm the tour guide. Pretty obviously my fault. But we won't.

[He leads her down the labyrinth of wood-paneled dormitory hallways without ever pausing or checking their location; it's obvious that he knows the school like the back of his hand, and she can probably guess by now that it's from sneaking around.

Eventually he stops in front of a panel that looks exactly like the others, but when he pushes on it, it spins to reveal a semi-circular elevator with a faint blue glow to its lights.]

Ladies first.

[Ooh, that's easy. She gives him a tiny smile and follows him down the hall, looking around at the home with vague curiosity. This place would be nice if she didn't have to be living here.

But that secret door? That has her staring in surprise.]

Uh... is it safe?

[Shit, it looks like something out of a spy novel. Or a sci-fi movie.]

There's tech here the government would kill for, never mind the army. Yeah, they've got elevators down.

[If she keeps hesitating, he'll brush past her with a little bump of their shoulders; if not, he'll follow her in. Either way, once they're both in, it'll automatically spin shut again and begin its descent.]

[She squints at him suspiciously, but heads into the elevator.]

I thought this was a school. What the hell's really going on here?

[She'll flatten against one wall, looking more and more uncertain.]

Oh man, you really don't know anything.

[He laughs, then continues to lead the way as the elevator comes to smooth stop and spins once again to let them out onto a floor that's every bit as eerily blue and white. Almost clinical, but with that sci-fi feel she identified.

Eventually he stops, though, content to just let her wander. The large, circular door at the end of the corridor with the giant X carved into it is rather eye-catching, as are the black leather uniforms displayed behind glass, which also bear prominent X designs and logos.]

Picking up the theme yet?

[She furrows her brows at him, ready to snap back. But, well, the secret underground base is kind of a huge distraction. She's utterly baffled at how something like this could be in a damn school. Sure, it's a school for mutants, but this is just ridiculous!

Euri follows Pyro, keeping a little bit behind him out of caution, though as she gradually gets used to their new surroundings she'll slowly step away from him. Eventually she zeros in on the uniforms, confused and more than a little freaked out.]

What the fuck is all this?! Some - some kind of creepy science experiment??

[That makes him laugh even harder.]

Calm down, dumbass, they don't experiment on us. I told you, it's the secret superhero base.

[He pauses for effect, but decides he'll finally give her more to work with.]

They're called the X-Men, after the Professor. All the teachers are in it. Mutantkind's last hope against human tyranny, if you think we can talk our way out of it. They've got firepower, too, but it's emergency stuff - no striking first.

This is messed up. This is so messed up.

[She proceeds to very pointedly ignore his suggestion about calming down, doing the exact opposite.]

Does everyone know about this?? Who the fuck do they use this stuff against? What the hell do you mean human tyranny?! Oh god, does my mother know about any of this?? She's going to freak out so much, sending to me to a fucking superhero base - school - thing.

You really don't know anything.

[This time his voice is dark, almost haunted, but with a scathing edge.]

They've got the wrong idea, but they're something. If you really don't know why we need them, go walk into a crowd sometime and start using your illusions. See how people treat you.

[It's his tone that has her yanking her gaze away from the uniforms to look at him, confusion fading away to wariness.]

Regular people? This is an army of mutants against regular people?

Will you listen to me? It's not an army, and they don't attack anyone. They're pacifists, basically diplomats. But they're ready if things turn ugly.

Bullshit! Pacifists don't need uniforms, they don't need all of - [She waves a hand frantically at the hall] - this crap!

[Oh god, and what would happen if they got caught down here? She didn't think anything of it before, but now it seems like it could be really serious. Biting her lip she glances around, before heading towards the elevator.]

This is so fucked up. I'm not sticking around.

You're leaving? Completely?

[He follows behind at a leisurely pace, not bothering to hide the disgust on his face.]

If you think having a way to defend ourselves is fucked up, then make sure to let the door hit your ass on the way out.

[She glances back at him, scowling at his expression and at least waiting for him in the elevator. Partly so she can keep arguing with him, partly because she doesn't want to touch anything in case she breaks it.]

Defend ourselves against what? Some idiotic civilians? That's what the police are for!

You know what the police did when I was living on the streets?

They chased us around and made us desert every place we found to live. In New York City. Like they didn't have anything better to do than smoke out squatters. It was all because we were mutants, and most of us were kids who'd been thrown out by our parents when they found out what we were. Not like they'd put us in the system, because who'd foster a mutant kid when their own parents gave them up?

One time we were too late, and a squad opened fire on us. We barely made it out alive. That's what the police are for if you're a mutant.

[She stays huddled in one of the corners of the elevator, not looking at him but listening quietly. He sounds sincere enough but she's scared, not wanting to believe he's actually telling the truth. It's much easier to think that the police would protect mutants in trouble and that this school is some secret villain hive than it is anything else.]

That can't be right.

[She shakes her head slowly.]

Maybe... maybe they've just gotten to you. They've got all that shit in the basement, who knows what they can do.

[Yes! Yes, that makes a hell of a lot more sense than what Pyro is saying.]

[This time, his laughter is thick with bitterness.]

I can guarantee they haven't gotten to me. I nearly refused to come here, 'cause I thought they needed to do more. But free room and board is hard to pass up when it's that or a park bench and it's January.

[Shit, she might actually be onto something. Her gaze snaps over to him and without bothering to stop and think she's responding.]

Then you should come home with me.

What?

If they haven't gotten to you then you should just leave. You're in the same boat as me, right? You just need somewhere to stay.

[It seems pretty reasonable to her, and she feels bad that he's being forced to stay here. Especially when she still has a nice apartment that's just sitting empty.]

[But - it -]

I barely know you. I don't know your family at all. Why would they take me in?

Mom's out of the country right now. I'll just call her and explain everything to her. By the time she gets back she'll be completely fine with it!

[Probably.]

And meanwhile, you just get to keep living in your ignorant little bubble where humans actually give a shit about us?

Meanwhile I go home, she takes me out of this insane school and enrolls me back in my old one, and things go back to normal. Easy!

So I get to go back to grade six and play human at some prissy boarding school.

No thanks.

Aren't you doing that here?

[Is she seriously stupid?]

We're here because we're mutants. Not in spite of it, and not hiding it. Yeah, it sucks most of the time, but it's better than faking human.

I didn't fake anything at my old school! [She sniffs.] It just never came up. That's all.

[Well, that was a very long elevator ride, oops. He steps out when it reaches the top floor, then crosses his arms over his chest.]

So go pack up. Leave. No one to miss you yet.

[His eyes light up in challenge.]

Pussy out.

[She follows him out, looking utterly affronted.]

I am not being a coward! If anyone is, it's you! A coward and an idiot!

No, I'm sticking around to see if any minds can get changed around here. You think there's some big conspiracy going on? Bust it up from the inside. Don't run off with your tail between your legs.

[She hesitates, looking ready to snap at him again.]

... Do you think they can change? With all of that - [She waves a hand at the elevator] - stuff in there?

[This is golden. Not only another shit-stirrer, but one who believes that they're some kind of crazy cult or something. Now he's got to get her to stay, just to watch the fireworks.]

Depends on you, doesn't it? You think you've got what it takes to bring this place down? You already know you're not alone. [His expression becomes gentle, almost intimate.] It'd be nice, honestly, not being alone. Having someone else know this place is bullshit.

Maybe....

[She can't deny that's an appealing thought, not being alone. Though she wouldn't admit it her life has always been lonely, and that change would certainly be a bright spot in this whole creepy mess.]

I need to think about it. So... we might as well finish the tour.

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[X-Men AU Continuation]

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