001; video

[oftheplains]

[For long moments, Ororo simply stood outside, on House #015's lawn. She took a look around the rooms, sure, and she'd spent some time looking through the file that she'd been given earlier. But ultimately there was something about the house that unsettled her. It didn't feel very lived in, and though it was spacious enough, it felt too small. A little like the walls were closing in on her. So she'd escaped to the front yard for some air, and to gather her thoughts and consider her options.

She wasn't a stranger to being pulled into new worlds. It wasn't something that happened often, but it had happened before, so she wasn't too troubled about that. No, what did trouble her was everything that she'd left behind: the school, the students, her team, her family... For her to be pulled away from all of them, at a time like this, left her frustrated and more than a little annoyed. Outwardly she remained calm, but it was harder to keep the sky from reacting to her building temper. Lightning flashed in an otherwise clear sky, and Ororo couldn't be bothered to do more than frown idly up at the clouds. How fortunate, she thought, that she didn't have to worry about upsetting weathermen in this world.

Eventually, she finally takes action. If this were like any other time she'd visited other dimensions, it stood to reason that perhaps one or two of her teammates were around here. It was just a matter of finding them. She switches on the communicator and, after a beat of hesitation, decides on something short and to the point and, hopefully, wouldn't give too much away about her.]

Good afternoon, all. If you have heard of, or know of the X-Men, I would greatly appreciate it if you would please contact me. Thank you.

[ There. Formal, polite, and straight to the point. But... well, not very friendly. Ororo decides to tack something else on, in a much warmer tone of voice: ]

That being said... My name is Storm, and I am newly arrived. Our handlers have been kind enough to fill me in on the situation, but I must admit that it is still a bit much to take in. Would it be too much to ask for some clarification on the information that we have been spoonfed?

Comments

[permavoice]

[heartstings]

I know of the X-Men but that's because there's been a few of you around. [So not going to mention it's because she's read some of the comics back home.]

[permavoice]

[oftheplains]

A few of us? [Ororo pauses. And maybe mentally going through the roster of X-Men and wondering who of them had ever had an adventure like this.] Could you be more specific, please?

( video )

[abadidea]

[He doesn't look too put off about the situation, even though he's been playing it safe, too, he doesn't see too much of a reason to hide.

Getting to the records he assumes exist for all the imPorts wouldn't be too hard, anyway, if something tried hard enough.]

Storm, huh? That's an interesting name. [And a codename, he assumes.] I'm Isaac Clarke, no special title, and that looks like my yard.

( video )

[oftheplains]

Ah, does it? [Ororo peers at the screen in surprise, trying to figure where he might be, then around to see if he's actually within talking distance.] Would you be one of my new housemates, then?

video

[corviform]

[ Gil hasn't used the network much and he'd been out of the city the past couple of days with Sharon. He's a bit tired from his trip (being nearly mugged and running around for his hat are tiring), but when he finally checks over the network his exhaustion seems to lift as the title of "X-Men" is heard.

He opens up the feed on his end, seated in the kitchen of his shared housing, and looking at Ororo with surprise conveyed in gold eyes. He speaks with an English accent: ]

I'm sorry, did you say X-Men?

video

[oftheplains]

That was what I said, yes. [Ororo gives him a polite, smile. The X-Men were well-known, yes, but not everyone was friendly with them. Best to be careful.] Are you familiar with them?

permavid!

[heartlessglitch]

Hello, Storm.

[oftheplains]

[It takes a few seconds for Storm to get over the initial shock. That's a voice she hasn't heard in a while since she hasn't seen or heard Danger since the writers keep forgetting her before... before everything with Hope went down.]

... Danger. [She looks at her through the screen carefully.] Hello.

[video]

[myownbestfriend]

[Emma sulks for about 15 minutes before deciding to answer because she is very mature.]

I've heard of the X-Men.

[The most mature.]

[video]

[oftheplains]

[Goddess. It's. So hard to keep the frown from seeping into her voice. But she is the most mature so she doesn't wait fifteen minutes before answering, cautiously because, well, they hadn't exactly parted on the best terms.]

Emma. [the tiniest of sighs.] Have you been here long?

[video]

[smarterthandad]

[What's small and blond needs to be watched constantly or she'll teleport the Baxter Building to Latveria?]

Hi, Your Highness.

[Val Richards.

Who's a little behind in the timeline, apparently.]

[video]

[oftheplains]

[And Val wins the award for person she least expects to hear from, on this network or in this place with all its stipulations for their being here. Ororo blinks in surprise, and then immediate concern.]

Valeria! Goddess, are you alright? [Concern apparently overrides the thought of correcting her. She does manage to calm her initial surprise, at least!] ... Where are you, sweetheart? Are your parents here with you?

[symmachy]

Are you one of them?

[oftheplains]

Yes, I am. [Best to be straightforward, she supposes.] I hope that won't be a problem.

Video

[liverletdie]

Well, if you're looking for information... I'm sure you know who to look to for most of it.

Video

[oftheplains]

Hello, Tony. Valeria mentioned you were here. [She makes no indication of answering his comment since, like he said, it goes without saying that she'd turn to him for more info at some point. Probably.]

Video;

[blue_pheasant]

Arara. Hey, a real babe. [He heard nothing.]

Video;

[oftheplains]

I beg your pardon?

[Cooly, and not at all as offended as she actually is.]

video;

[iampretty]

You're not the only one still confused by all of this, [Hans responds, shaking his head slightly. This place confused him so much and he was starting to hate it for it.]

I'm still having trouble understanding what others would consider the basics. [but hey, he figured out how to turn on the video on the communications device, so that's a small victory.]

video;

[oftheplains]

I think it is safe to say that we are all still adjusting to all of this. [Especially it's looking like even the ones who were here before she arrived had only been in this place for a short amount of time.

Still, she gives Hans a small smile.] That being said, who's to say that we cannot help each other?

video;

[noifsandsorbubs]

[He's out, somewhere, evidently exploring the town. He's also—unlike somebody—happy to see her.]

I think I've heard of the X-Men.

video;

[oftheplains]

[Ahh, finally. For the first time since arriving, Ororo can actually smile genuinely. Even if it's just a little one.]

I should hope so. Considering all that they've been up to lately, they are rather hard to miss.

video;

[glowsferatu]

[ kanaya had known x-men, she'd even attended the branch of the xavier's institute in the city for two years before dropping out, but somehow never really knew about the x-men as a group. so she doesn't comment on that. ]

What clarification can be offered will be dependent on what is needed. If you have questions, I may have answers to offer in return, but otherwise the request may be too general to elucidate.

video;

[oftheplains]

It was meant to be general, I was not sure whether or not I would get very many responses. [Ororo smiles a little; it's kind of surprised her how many people had taken the time to answer.]

But, a more specific concern I had was on this... issue of being registered as Heroes? [Ororo pauses. It troubles her a bit, wording it that way.] Have you had any experience in that?

action

[guiloteen]

[Let me know if action isn't okay! I thought it would make the most sense for Laura.

It'd been three days since Laura had woken up in the lab of the base, and three days since she's spent more than 15 minutes at #015. She hasn't been back since the initial drop-off, her time spent mapping the city and observing the patterns of traffic to and from the base. She's found no immediate danger or problem to solve, no proof that they truly did need help. Three days was a long time. The cage is big, almost open, but it is still there.

She doesn't know what to make of it yet. Any of it--but she decides to return to the imPort bloc and see what else she can find. What she finds is the last person she expects. Laura stops abruptly on the sidewalk in front of the lawn of #015.]

Storm.

action (is fine, don't worry!)

[oftheplains]

[Meanwhile, Ororo had been familiarizing herself with the house, and its immediate surroundings. It's a bit hard to believe that everything was really as 'normal' as it all looked - she still half-expected to find evidence of surveillance cameras or recording devices of a sort hidden somewhere. She was still treating everything with an air of caution, but at the sound of a familiar(!) voice, she can't quite mask her surprise.]

-- Laura. [There's no hesitation, and Ororo approaches her quickly.] You're here as well? Are you alright?

video;

[shutterbugged]

"X-Men," huh? Sounds familiar, but I can't quite place it... is it a TV show? I can never keep up with fandom these days.

[Spider-Man's looking the worse for wear, in the literal sense. Someone expert has repaired the rips and tears in his uniform, but even on the tiny comm screen they're visible to the discerning eye. But his demeanor is cheerful enough.]

Not to be all, "Great, you've been kidnapped too!" or anything, but you're a sight for sore eyes.

video;

[oftheplains]

[Ororo lifts an eyebrow in surprise. She isn't sure what it is that triggers it, if it's what he says or how he looks or that he's here at all... Perhaps all three.]

Hmm. Well, it would not be the first time I have heard that. [A brief smile, and then:] Are you alright?

voice;

[enigmaestro]

Inquiring intelligence at the source of those afflicted -- an overall good tactic. [He clears his throat.] I'd hate to consider our populace as one that simply accepts information as it is presented.

voice; sorry this took forever! ;;

[oftheplains]

I was merely hoping to get more perspectives on the situation. Not so much to determine whether or not the populace is accepting of what we were given. [She kind of assumes most would be at least outwardly generally accepting of it. This didn't seem like a place that took too kindly to people who opposed it.]