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?"

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.

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.

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.

[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_iceman]

"Yes, and before you say it, I owe you five bucks," Bobby tossed in.

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.

[ax_speed]

"I didn't need to say it, did I?" Tommy arched an eyebrow. "Are you buying what Xavier's selling?"

Re: Tamara and Professor X

[ax_swift]

Shen huffed out a laugh, glancing at him. "From day one."

That pizza party was day one as far as she was concerned.

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.

[ax_iceman]

Bobby shrugged. "Maybe? I need to think about it."

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.

[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.

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."

Re: Terry - OTA

[ax_siryn]

"'They're terrorists' seemed rather unambiguous," Terry replied, turning her attention on Tessa as questions were still being asked and answered. It was less about the actual situation and more about the fact that it felt as if the headmaster had manipulated them, or at least lied to them.

[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.

Re: Terry - OTA

[ax_sage]

"My apologies, Terry," said Tessa. "But at no time did the Professor specifically designate the Brotherhood as terrorists. Their methods are extreme, I agree, but they have yet to act against an entity or organization that does not pose a specific threat to mutants. I do not necessarily agree with their approach, but I cannot presently denounce them, either."

She turned her gaze toward the redhead. "You are uneasy. I understand. This was an outcome I had not failed to anticipate, but I realize, too, that my experiences have led to a particular outlook, not necessarily shared by the majority of us."

Re: Terry - OTA

[ax_siryn]

"He said he thought they were responsible for terrorist acts!" Terry protested, although she was still doing so quietly, talking to her roommate rather than the room at large. "After he sent the others to that horrible place. That sounds like 'they're terrorists' to me. So I am uneasy. About being lied to, or manipulated, or... whatever that was."

Re: Tamara and Professor X

[ax_speed]

"If it helps," he leaned toward her, his arms still folded, "I'm not super-happy about being right. This time."

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: Tamara and Professor X

[ax_beastboy]

Gar squirmed a bit where he was sitting, nearby.

"I don't like it either," he said, nervously. "But I see where he's coming from, I guess?"

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."

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.