etrayalogs | [OPEN] X-Mansion clean-up

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[OPEN] X-Mansion clean-up

WHO: Storm and you!
WHEN: Late May-Early June
WHERE: Xavier Institute for Mutant Education and Outreach
WHAT: Come bother a lonely goddess in a blast from the past mansion!
NOTES\WARNINGS: N/A for now, but this is the X-Men - discussion of death, bigotry, and discrimination likely.

A new building has popped up in Etraya - easily visible from the Hospital and Apartment Complex on the main island. Ororo spends a few days flying back and forth from the main island and to the Institute, investigating its exterior and interior, before finally just taking one of the bedrooms in the main mansion.

⏵ i. indoors;

The gate and the doors are, actually, left unlocked for now. Ororo is alone, and isn't too worried about security just yet - it was just her in this large, lonely mansion and she could take on anyone who might feel like trespassing -- not that there was anyone like that here, she'd found. She can imagine people like Scott or Logan or even Hank berating her for being careless anyway, but... she isn't worried. She's more concerned about how much of the institute is even real - and thus, how safe everything actually is.

So, she goes through the entire building one room at a time - testing light switches, checking stoves or microwaves, looking through the computers in the old staff offices (they switch on, but there's nothing saved in them), turning beds so she can offer them to people who might be sick of the apartments... It's a large place, so this takes her a couple of days. It won't be hard to run into her walking through the halls with a little clipboard and a pen -- she'd had a brief moment of missing the modern conveniences of Henry and Forge's tablets -- and a smile for anyone who'd wandered in after her.

"Hello. Come to help me investigate?"

However, if she sees anyone approaching the main elevator, she calls out instead in a sharp warning -- "The sub-levels are restricted. If you'd like to go there, you'll need me to key in some biometrics to access them."

⏵ ii. pool;

The Olympic-size pool is easily seen from surrounding islands. It's dry and empty when Ororo first discovers the Institute, and not yet very clean. She considers putting up a message on the network to ask for help, but... perhaps that'd be better suited for when the pool is actually usable, instead?

So when she's done poking through the inside of the mansion, she figures it's time for a more mundane use of her powers. She blasts the tiles with wind and water to wash away any grime or dirt left between the crevices. Filling it up with clean water later was no trouble at all either, with a convenient cloud of fresh rain.

Maybe she should work on clearing out spaces for some tables and chairs next? But that'll involve more hands than she has, so it'll have to be a project for another day, maybe.

⏵ iii. rooftop;

Between self-imposed chores to make the mansion feel a little less shadowed and a little more lived-in, Ororo takes her breaks on the east wing's roof. She's taken a pool lounger and set it up here, and lies under the sun or the moon or in the shade of one of those odd, chrome structures in nothing but her underwear and a pair of sunglasses, sipping from an insulated tumbler she'd picked up at Kwiktrip and a paperback she'd taken from Corrine's (she'll return it! eventually!)

It's the last place she expects anyone to find her, really, but... people could always surprise her.

⏵ iv. wildcard;

Feel free to mix-and-match or tag in with something else completely, or use the X-Mansion as set dressing for other threads! ♥ If we have previous CR, you can also assume Ororo has messaged your character in some way to help her check the place out. Message me on almondlychee if you want something more specific.

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By popped in, do you mean crawling about our rooftops? [ She actually has to think about this a little. Has he? ]

No, not to my knowledge, not like this.

You generally have announced... visits, I suppose. You served as a substitute teacher here, once, at a dear friend's recommendation - so there is that. [ Her smile turns very wry as she starts walking, inviting him to follow after her. ] He is older than you are, that Spider-Man. But he took my students out on a three-day trip without prior consultation, so... we got off on the wrong foot in that instance.

Without... [Oh, god, is this the same Peter Parker who had a failed industry? He very nearly rubs his hands down his masked face at the very thought. As cool as it sounds that he was a substitute teacher — would he be a good teacher? he'd like to teach people — the rest of that sounds like an all-around L.]

That's — his bad. I won't get off on the wrong foot, though! I swear. [He holds up his hand, as if giving a boyscout pledge.] If the way we met today wasn't the wrong foot, anyway. I, Spider-Man, solemnly swear to be on my very, very best behavior.

[A pause, as his hand lowers.]

It's... kind of weird, but this isn't the first time I've heard about other versions of me. Two of them ended up in my world. For — Dr. Strange reasons. I don't know if either of them were yours, but... they really helped me out when I needed it, so I guess I can cut them some slack.

[ It is, in fact, the very same Peter. He was taking a break to teach some kids, as you do! But Ororo just shakes her head. ]

To be perfectly transparent - I was not on my own best behavior then, either, so -- it is nice to start on new footing, don't you think? [ Her smile gentles, especially since he sounds so... young, and earnest. She can't be mad long. ] Do not worry about it.

And it is not too 'weird,' no. The multiverse is... very large - there are many universe out there with many versions of us. Some do not have us - you clearly do not know me, for example. One or two getting lost in the universal stream is not unheard of, but [ she shrugs helplessly. ] I could not tell you the science behind it.

That's why we have teachers like you, and Dr. Strange. Reed, and Henry McCoy. They could explain the physics behind it better than I ever could.

[Man, he only knows one of those names. Multiple dimensions are wild...]

New footing is nice. I like to start on new footing for sure.

[His whole life is currently at 'step one: new beginnings'. It's not something he wants to be at, sure, but there's nothing that can be done about it. Might as well make the most out of a screwed up situation, right? Etraya not even withstanding.]

Do you know who I am? Outside of the mask?

Or are you only familiar with Spider-Man?

[Because if she confirms it, he supposes there's no reason to keep it all under wraps in her presence.]

Only Spider-Man. I know secret identities are important, so we have never pried when you've come to us masked.

[ Well, she has never pried. She can't say the same for Hank, or Logan, or Scott. Or any of the hyper-paranoid/-vigilant of their team. Ororo knows boundaries and respects them! ]

You will find you are in familiar territory here, however. There are a few masked folks running about as well, I would guess they are about your age, perhaps a little older?

If you prefer that distance, you may call me Storm. But I would answer to Ororo just the same. [ She doesn't have to maintain a separate, alter-ego! ]

Man, that's a really cool hero name. Maybe I'll switch it up, keep you on your toes.

[He does appreciate the respect of boundaries, though. More than ever before, even, considering the state of things for him in his universe. It does make him reflect a little on that... On how his life had been so turned upside down, just from trusting the absolute worst person to trust. He doesn't... want to lose his faith in people, just because of Beck, but the idea of admitting his name aloud to another hero makes his stomach into knots.]

What... made you decide to be open about it? Your normal identity, outside of the hero business. [He bites his lip under his mask, thoughtful.] It's just... it's so much. Never having any peace, or -- you know. Always worrying about your family getting harrassed or hurt...

How do you handle being Storm and Ororo so openly?

[ She avoids the wry and easy response to simply have him look at her. Mutant or no, she'd be harassed and threatened anyway - and that's on top of the fact that she didn't even have blood-family left that could be harassed or threatened. ]

Well... The simple answer is that it is because it is not a hero name. Storm is my mutant name. [ She's led him into another room now, the school infirmary that they use for quick and easy first aid. She doesn't know for sure that he's alright, but it's a well-lit room with some comfortable beds they can sit or perch on while they talked. She didn't feel like having this conversation in the hallway. ]

Mutants are different from heroes. Not all of us become heroes, because the mutations one might be born with may not even be suitable for such a dangerous life. When evolution is... so diverse, and so unpredictable, the rest of humankind views us in a rather unfavorable light. To put it mildly. [ But she thinks he ought to know a little of what that feels like. When the popular news establishments aren't pushing anti-mutant sentiment, they turn to the next best target - Spider-Man himself. Or at least, that had been the case back in New York. ]

So... some mutants hide what they are. People like the X-Men try to make it so that we do not have to hide. We ought to have a world where we can embrace who we are, what we are like... Sometimes that means embracing a new name, too, when we discover what we can do. We must be open about such things - because the alternative means we have let the people who hate and fear us win.

[There's a soft oh in there, as he listens to the explanation. It's easy to feel a little shamefaced for asking, if only because it probably brings up some negative memories, and that's not so cool to do to a tour guide who has offered you her time in her home. But more than that, he totally gets it. The idea of people knowing his identity because it endangers his friends and family? That's one part of the puzzle. The other part is people looking at him with either one of two things: uncomfortably invasive adoration or... uncomfortably repulsed comments. Someone yelling 'Freak!' as Peter Parker crawls up a wall is a lot harder to swallow than yelling it at Spider-Man.

At least Spider-Man is in a bright, ridiculous hero suit.

Peter is just Peter.

He's pretty sure half a year of discomfort is miles below being born with it and dealing with it your whole life as a mutant, though. Like, 100%.]

... I never really thought of it that way. If I'm honest, it's cool that you guys just put yourselves out there like that. I'd been unmasked for a few months, and that was... awful.

I guess... when I think about whether I should give up on keeping my identity under wraps here, I can't help but think about all of the terrible things that happened back home, when that happened.

I'm sorry it has been so awful for you. Your struggle is different from ours, but that doesn't mean we should compare it, or try to make how we deal with our name and identity the only way to. People cope in different ways, for different reasons. None are necessarily 'cool', but all are valid. [ ... ] Well, as long as we do not hurt anyone.

[ Plus their experiences, painful and not, are not a competition after all. She gives him what she hopes is a kind, encouraging smile. ]

So if you're more comfortable keeping your name a secret, then... I think you should keep it a secret. There's nothing wrong with being Spider-Man here - and you are welcome to come visit like this, or as your unmasked self, without having to tell me.

[He considers her offer, and though she cannot see it, there's a look of gratitude on his face when he responds.]

... Thanks. That means a lot. The last guy I thought was on my side; he ended up being a villain, and it's hard not to think about what could've been, if I'd just not — trusted him so easily.

[Which is a very silly thing to think, and hypocritical, because there's no way in hell he'd blame anyone out there for trusting someone who seemingly saved people and helped you. It felt like a small piece of how he'd felt having Ben or Tony in his life, and — and sometimes, people just betray that trust.

... Oh-

He looks at her, eyes widening.]

Not that I think you're a villain or anything! It's definitely not that, it's just me being paranoid. I'm sure you're a super nice person. [He lowers his hands from placating.] Maybe... you know. Maybe someday. Maybe sometime I'll walk in with my mask off and my suit on, and I'll feel good about it, right?

...

I can't promise I'd be as good as teaching as your Spidey, though.

[ She might not be able to see it, but it certainly comes across in his words, if not his voice. It's easy, too, to commiserate - she's trusted in the wrong people before too. ]

I've been burned my share of times, for trusting the wrong people. But if we limit ourselves by trusting no one... That would be a very lonely and very difficult life, don't you think? Especially as since this sort of life - or calling, or whatever you choose to call it - we need people with us. [ So... she hopes she can be that for this Spider-Man eventually. ]

Don't feel pressured to take the mask off, however. I will say that one thing it does very well is establish a solid identity. People remember you and what you do, Spider-Man, whether it's stopping a robbery in their neighborhood, saving the galaxy... or making a good impression as a substitute teacher. [ Which he did, eventually. No need to go into the details, or how fed up she initially was at the time. It wasn't like she was in a great state of mind either; she was juggling grief and stress and the overall pressure of running a school and a team all at once when Spider-Man turned up at their door. ]

... I know.

[A solemn understanding, as much as he hates to admit it.]

It's wrong to just lose faith in people. Not trust anyone. I know that. It's just... hard, lately. Is all. [But despite his staggered response, he does seem to be made a little lighter from her words. His slumped shoulders straighten up, as if a just a little less weight hangs on them.] Being alone definitely sucks.

So if you ever need a hand or company or anything, you can always shout my name from the rooftops.

[ She hopes her grin doesn't come off as too amused, but - that's a very strange offer. She has no idea if she'll ever do as he offers, but she nods anyway. ]

Will that really work, do you think? Etraya is a big place. Can I not contact you through the... [ She gestures to her ear, where she is indeed wearing the earpiece. ] comms devices?

Heh. I don't know if 'Spider-Man' can reach out without the mask slipping.

[He's not completely sure, anyway. It seems like the comms don't have any obvious way of pretending to be two people off of one device. Maybe if he gets his own secondary earpiece for Spider-Man... that'd be a good idea.]

I'll work on it, though.

... Besides, I have a feeling you can handle yourself without Spidey pretty well.

[ Ororo chuckles at the claim he makes. ]

Yes, I probably can. But I always appreciate having help. Something accomplished together with others is much more efficient, isn't it? And more fulfilling. [ Let it be known: Storm was a staunch advocate of teamwork makes the dream work. There's a lot she can do on her own - but she will always promote something that can be done collectively so that everyone can lift everyone else up together. ]

Let me know when you have found a way around the... mask slippage problem. But in the meantime, I will call you from the rooftops somehow. Yes?

Sounds like a deal.

[And hey, he'll probably get himself a second earpiece or something.

The Spidey Phone! Maybe too on the nose? He'll have to workshop it.]

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[OPEN] X-Mansion clean-up

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🎀 and then ororo showed him the cool institute he'll be popping in on, on occasion✨