The Professor's Address to the Students - Group Log

[ax_professorx]

Professor Xavier addresses the rumors about the Brotherhood, and discusses the school's purpose.



When the kids have filed into the gym, the Professor is waiting at the head of the room. Through some trick of the room or the AV system, he's easily heard without rising his voice.

"My students, I feel it is time that I make certain things clear to you. First, I want to address certain rumors concerning my relationship to Magneto and his Brotherhood."

The Professor seemed as unmoved as ever, except perhaps for the way he folded his hands in his lap. That was different, but not exactly easy to read.

"I have known Erik Lehnsherr, known as Magneto, for a very long time. Once, he and I shared a vision of creating a place where we could train the next generation of mutants into a force that could create a brighter tomorrow for everyone. He and I designed this Institute together, I could not have achieved half of this alone."

The Professor paused and closed his eyes for a second before he continued. "Ultimately, Magneto and I disagreed about what that future should be. His experiences have made him bitter towards mankind, and he believes that a war between humans and mutants is inevitable. Whereas I still believe that for both species to survive, we must find a path to peace. I hope that we can convince Magneto's Brotherhood of that, but their stance doesn't change what I believe must be done for the good of all."

The Professor paused, and seemed to be looking at each student in turn for a moment. "To that end, I want to reveal the second purpose of this Institute. This place will always be a school first and foremost. But in order to secure our future, we must do more. For this, I wish to form a team of those of you who are willing to take risks and put yourselves in harm's way, to fight to protect peace and security for all people, both humans and mutants.

"I want these X-Men to be both a practical intervention team, and a symbol for people to look up to. And I want to invite all of you to join, if you feel you are ready. Let me be clear; no one will be compelled to join, and nobody will be turned away if they do not. You are welcome here, each and every one of you, and you will receive the very best education that I can offer you. But for those of you willing join me in working towards my dream of a better tomorrow, even if it comes at risk to ourselves, the X-Men are the way to do so. You will have a week to consider before I take any further steps. Please, ask any questions you have, discuss among yourselves, and think hard on what you want. And what you are willing to give.

"I must stress however, that the XMen must remain secret, for the sake of all of our safety. The knowledge of this new team must not pass beyond the Institute, And I can accept no compromise on that." Once again, the Professor paused, and then forced a somewhat strained smile. "Now, are there any questions"

Note: The gym is set up with folding chairs and benches, facing a podium. The other faculty members are standing by on the sides.

Comments

Kitty and Professor X

[ax_shadowcat]

Kitty stood, then floated herself high enough for the Professor to see her in the crowd. "Professor, would the members' identities be concealed?"

Re: Kitty and Professor X

[ax_magik]

"And how can they be?" Illyana chimed in from beside her. "It's not like the Brotherhood aren't going to recognize the people who were on the mission, at least." Unless he was planning to issue image inducers to everyone, anyway.

Terry - OTA

[ax_siryn]

Terry listened attentively to everything the Professor said, and as he answered some of the questions put to him. She was confused about a lot of it, and looked at the student next to her. "So they're not terrorists after all?" she asked quietly. Or were they, but the 'X-Men' were going to be vigilantes? Where was the line? Not that it sounded like a bad idea, but she had thought that they were clearly enemies. Now she didn't know what to think anymore.

Re: Terry - OTA

[ax_sage]

"I suspect the distinctions may be more ... ambiguous than that," Tessa told her roommate, sitting cross-legged in her chair, her face the same impassive mask it normally was. "We may share a common objective, but their methods are obviously more extreme than any the Professor has proposed. It is a delicate situation. Ideally, we would not wish them to be enemies, but the chances of our working together effectively seem somewhat dim."

Tamara and Professor X

[ax_dragoness]

Tamara could barely see, but she was pretty sure the Professor could see her when she shouted, "So we're an army after all?"

Re: Tamara and Professor X

[ax_speed]

Tommy folded his arms and leaned back in his seat, smirking when he heard Tamara's question. "Called it," he said to no-one in particular.

[ax_wiccan]

Billy leaned back to swat at Tommy's knee.

"Stop it." He whispered, even though his stomach felt cold.

[ax_speed]

Tommy kicked the bottom of Billy's chair in the row ahead of him. "Private army, little brother. Like I've been saying all along."

[ax_hulkling]

Teddy sorted through what he'd just heard while Billy and Tommy were muttering at each other. "It makes sense," he did say to Billy after a moment's pause. "Even if it's just protecting other kids like us. Someone has to do it."

Shinobi

[ax_upstart]

Sitting back in his really very uncomfortable folding chair with a hand tucked thoughtfully under his chin, Shinobi watched as the Professor's announcement brought about the wholly expected titter of anxious conversation among the students, and not a few shouted questions and borderline-accusations. For his part, he was happy enough to hold his peace; this was a development that was far from surprising, but still lent a different sort of complexion to things. In any event, let Xavier build his ... team. There was no harm in it--at least, not for Shinobi, personally, not if the choice to join would truly be voluntary, as the man had said.

And who could say what sorts of fascinating results might ensue? For now, his own best interests were served from a position of neutrality ... and preparedness to capitalize on any unexpected opportunities that might emerge.

Re: Shinobi

[ax_herald]

Nolan was glad to find a free seat next to Shinobi, sneaking in with his head bent and shoulders hunched, as if he could make his relatively gangly frame more discreet, especially when he was dressed in his usual manner. A white blazer, a bright pink polo shirt with a blue one underneath (collar popped), and black trousers. The pink and blue combo was a definite throwback to the fact that he had been stuck in a videoconference with some providers he wanted to cut loose on account of their deplorable record in terms of gender diversity.

He'd meant to be here on time, really, but manipulating them into severing the contract themselves had taken longer than he had hoped.

He sat beside his friend now, nonplussed about the amount of chatter and what few words he'd been able to glean here and there. "It sounds like I missed quite the announcement," he muttered to Shinobi, leaning towards him.

Simon - OTA

[ax_touchstone]

Somewhere near the back, Simon sat, listening to the speech and the questions that followed. And, for the first time since he'd arrived, Simon questioned ever coming in the first place. The only thing that stayed his paranoia and his worry was the memory of Warren...the birdbrain telling him, explaining to him, that they had to be leadership for the future mutants.

Whatever that might bring. He had to stay. He had to integrate himself into this community. He knew that darkness was looming on the road ahead - a darkness that was drawing ever closer with the idea of a vigilante team, but if so, the kids here still needed medical help. They weren't all invincible. He had to be ready for that time.

Re: Simon - OTA

[ax_aurora]

Jeanne-Marie had come in late, and the Professor's words had... made her think, to say the least. She saw the necessity, but also... her brother had been right. And Jeanne-Marie had heard enough speeches from adults who thought they could and should control her to know better.

But in her heart, she knew she wanted to do this. And she was mostly concerned with the reactions of her friends--and her brother, especially. Simon was nearest, though, and he looked... uncertain? She didn't know that expression. She scooted over a few seats and settled a hand on his arm. "What are you thinking of?" she whispered.

[ax_diamondlil]

Lil sank down into her chair as much as she could manage. The Professor's message hadn't quite sunk in for her until someone had shouted out a comment about an army. This wasn't quite the fancy-ass school she'd thought it was. Oh god, if her mother found out about this, she'd shit herself.

Lil and Nick

[ax_wolfcub]

"Yeah, my feelings exactly," Nick said to the girl next to him, also sinking down into his chair. He wasn't a fighter. He didn't want to fight anyone.

Hopefully it was true, and there was just asking. Not demanding. He scratched the side of his muzzle, nervously. He looked ferocious, sure, but he didn't have a mean bone in his body. He couldn't fight people, even if those people were wrong.

[ax_x23]

Laura remained quiet, though the fear of being used again for her skills made her slide one of her claws out slightly and dig it into her other palm. The pain helped steady the fear and she took a quiet breath as she listened to the others.

[ax_storm]

Ororo moved smoothly between the ranks of chairs, and grabbed a seat beside Laura, her gaze straight ahead at the Professor, as if she hadn't noticed what the younger girl was doing. "Hey there," she told her quietly. "You wanna talk about it?"

Jubilee

[ax_jubilee]

Jubes listened to all the commotion, then got up and climbed up on her chair to make sure the Professor could see her. And waved her arm. "Are we talking like, superheroes here? Because, y'know, this sounds like something straight out of comic books!"

What? Someone had to say it, right?

Re: Jubilee

[ax_northstar]

Jean-Paul scoffed from several rows down. "We're talking child soldiers," he replied sharply.

Jack Hawksmoor - OTA

[ax_urban]

Jack had been listening, and nodded along with what the professor was saying.

A week to consider? Jack barely needed five minutes. Sign him the hell up, as far as he was concerned. So long as 'practical intervention' wasn't coded talk for 'political assassination' or 'terrorism.' But from the sound of this Brotherhood thing, it sounded like that base was already covered.

To nobody in particular, Jack nodded. "Yeah," he said, glancing to his side. "I'm in."

Jack Hawksmoor & Kurt Wagner

[ax_nightcrawler]

Kurt had been silent throughout the Professor's speech, listening and processing. Professor Xavier had lied to them. It had been a lie of omission, but a lie all the same. It was an ugly realization and it made the place that was supposed to be their safehaven seem a little less safe. But there were some things it did not change: Xavier had rescued him. He'd given him a life he'd only ever dreamed of. And the school still represented something and if, after all this, it could still represent something than the X-Men could represent that something too.

When the boy beside him spoke, Kurt nodded. "So am I." Who better to be an example of mutants, to prove they were as good as anyone else, than someone who looked like him?

Jeb Guthrie - OTA

[ax_volt]

Jeb crossed his arms. He felt like he'd just gotten here, and this was happening? He didn't know what to think. On the one hand, holy shit, if mama found out, he was going to be called back home quick as a whip. On the other hand...

He glanced to Jay. His brother stood out without trying, even in this crowd where at least three other people had wings. There wasn't any way that Jay would sign up for something like that.

Which meant Jeb was going to hear about how he shouldn't, either. And that meant he needed to decide about how he felt about it, before Jay's badgering pushed him into it.

He decided to keep an ear open for responses to the questions that had already been fielded. Let the man speak, was Jeb's thought on the matter.

Re: Jeb Guthrie - OTA

[ax_icarus]

Jay couldn't help but watch his brother, distracted by concern even as he tried to sort his own feelings. He had come here to feel safe. He had been promised this was a safe place. It served him right for believing it. And as for his brother. "Jeb...we'll talk about this later."

Percy and Vax

[ax_hex]

Percy listened quietly, expression impassive and unreadable, as Professor Xavier spoke. The news was surprising, life-changing even, and, yet, he only felt relief. And possibly the smallest pinch of smugness. His suspicions had been correct. There was something the Professor hadn’t been telling them, this school wasn’t entirely what had been advertised. And now it was out there in the open—He didn’t have to keep worrying and waiting for that other shoe to drop, it had already done so.

When the Professor finally finished speaking, Percy looked at Vax and leaned in just the slightest bit. “Just how full of shit do you think he is?”

Re: Percy and Vax

[ax_blackguard]

Vax had his head down, phone out, already thumbing a text to his sister about the development. Secret or not, he was not keeping that kind of thing from his twin.

When Percy spoke, he glanced up, then shot a glance toward the headmaster. "I think he's pretty full of shit about it setting an example for people. That's bullshit at its highest level."

Warren TEXTS with JP and Simon

[ax_angel]

Warren wasn't expecting what the Professor was saying, but once it was said, it made sense. He'd come here to learn how to be a masked hero--a better, stronger one. Yeah, there was some worrying shit going down, but he was along for the ride and no question.

What bothered him was the reaction he knew JP would be having, and the one he suspected from Simon. He found their faces and--yep. JP looked like he could spit vinegar, and Simon... looked thinky. The worried kind of thinky.

He pulled out his phone and texted them both:
Talk after this? Your room?

He tried to swallow the sick feeling that they were going to leave. They wouldn't leave. Right?

Re: Warren TEXTS with JP and Simon

[ax_northstar]

Yeah. I may need to talk to Jeanne-Marie first.

[ax_cyclops]

Scott leaned back in his chair, arms over his chest, acutely aware that he could not betray any iota of response, one way or the other. For better or worse, he seemed to have some strange amount of cache as Xavier's first student. Though he had no idea why, and was uncomfortable with it for any number of reasons, that meant he had to hold himself to a certain standard. Any show of dissent here, now, could undermine the Professor's entire plan.

And though Scott had qualms, he wasn't sure undermining his mentor was the right move here. So he stayed silent, instead looking around as people spoke up, whispered, and generally looked taken aback.

What had they expected? Nothing in life was free.

Bobby and Scott (via text)

[ax_iceman]

Bobby sat, listening to the Professor answer questions, then glanced around the room. Scott was looking even more Scott-like than usual, which basically meant he had no idea whatsoever what the guy was thinking.

He pulled out his phone, and texted, "Did you know about this?"

Illyana and Pyro

[ax_magik]

After receiving what she figured was a pretty pat answer to her question, Illyana looked around the room for a minute, then smiled and pulled her feet up onto her chair, pulled out her phone, and started texting. Given that it looked as if about half of the students were doing the same thing, she figured no one would think twice about it.

"So, you were right about the mission not being a one time thing. All hell breaking loose here. Is it bad that I'm kind of enjoying watching everyone freak?"

Re: Illyana and Pyro

[ax_brotherhood]

Pyro glanced over at his phone when it buzzed, then quickly finished fueling up his Zippo. He flicked it, gratified with the flame, and twisted up into the air as he shoved the lighter into his pocket and reached for his phone, falling back on his bed as he unlocked the screen.

Holy fuck.

Kinda almost wish I was there to see it. Kinda. Almost.

He wanted to ask if Xavier was sending more kids out, and to do what, but he wasn't sure he wanted a specific answer. It would be easier not to say shit if he didn't know shit.

Gilmore (OTA)

[ax_glory]

Among the worried, thoughtful, and interested faces of the student body, one of them was unfamiliar to the rest. Gilmore lounged artfully on a bench, leaning back on one hand, long legs crossed. With his free hand he toyed with one of the layers of necklaces he wore against a purple t-shirt.

"A hell of a thing to learn on my first day," he drawled thoughtfully to the person next to him. "If I'd known we were turning into superheroes, I would have worn my best cape. Still... any good adventuring team needs a supplier, don't they?"

Already, a crafty expression was blooming in his dark eyes. This could shape up very well for him.

Re: Gilmore & Gar

[ax_beastboy]

"Well, sure," Gar said, looking to the boy next to him. "I mean, is that like, your thing?" he asked.

He didn't know where he sat on this. On the one hand, Gar was all about making a difference. On the other hand...

He'd have to talk to Shen about this. She'd know whether or not it was a good thing, one way or the other. Tommy too, maybe.

He just hoped he'd be able to live with himself, depending on the choice he made.