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And so, It begins.

Posted by wingdndangerous on 2006.02.15 at 18:14
Warren woke blearily to the curtained sun seeping into his room, and rolled out of bed. Dressing quickly, he skipped breakfast momentarily to duck into Jean's open office and use the phone. Dialing the all too familiar number, he was greeted with the automatic message.



"Hello, You've reached Worthington Industries, at our downtown office. If you-" He cut the automated woman off, dialing his inbox code, followed by a four digit password. No new messages. Sighing, he hung up, calling Jason at his front desk.

"Good morning, Worthington Industries. How may I help you?" Warren admired how cheery the man could be all the time.

"Good morning, Jason."

"Mr. Worthingtong- How are you? Your father was looking for you this morning, he said something about needing another chat with you..."

"Yes, I'm in trouble again." Warren replied lightly, and Jason tisked.

"Well, I have a message here for you from Mark Cohen- he called last night, at around 11. Sounded quite excited... He left his home number-" Jason continued, and Warren wrote the number on the inside of his arm, for a lack of paper he dared to touch amidst Jean's carefully stacked piles.

"Yes- Got it. Thank you, Jason. I'll be gone for a few days- Yes, I'm visiting the Mansion. Everyone's fine. Thank you. Yes, you too." He hung up, smiling to himself as he picked up the phone again and dialed Mark's home number. The phone rang a few times, then clicked to the answering machine. Warren sighed, having hoped to get a hold of him right away.

It took him a moment to realize he had almost missed the beep, with the short message recording or two men shouting "Speak!" in singsong voices passing quickly.

"Oh- Mark, it's Warren. I got your message, and I'd like you to come meet some of the people ou'll be filming. Hopefully you'll get this sometime today, you can call me on my cell phone-"
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life_crew at 2006-02-15 23:39 (UTC) (Link)
There was a tussle for the phone. They'd all been sitting in the kitchen when the phonecall had come. Mark had immeadiatly leapt for the phone and Collins had as well. Roger had looked up from his coffee (more like coffee mix and water, but who was he to complain, he didn't have to money for better) just in time to realize that there was about to be a bloody fight if he didn't do something. Jumping up, and spilling the coffee substitute all over himself in the process, he tackled Collins best he could just as Collins grabbed Mark's leg. Mark, who'd just picked up the phone, made a strangled noise like a cat being squashed and he and the phone were pulled down to the floor.

"I'm doing this for your own good." Collins grunted, pulling the phone from Mark's hand. "You've lost your mind Mark, the money's already going to your head, clouding your senses.

"Give me the phone! Don't hang up Mr. Worthington!" Mark cried, trying to pull the phone away from Collins just enough to put it to his ear.

"Let go Collins, Mark's a big boy---he's LET GO!" Roger cried, as the cord managed to wrap itself around them all once.

"ARGH!" Mark cried, wrenching the phone out of Collins' hands. "Quick, Rog, pin him down." he struggled to remove them all from the cord, as Roger fought to hold Collins down. "Hello?" he said, clearly out of breath.
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mutant_race
mutant_race at 2006-02-16 01:48 (UTC) (Link)
Warren held the phone a few inches away from his ear as the battle continued. Hearing someone say hello, he held it back.

"Mark- Did I call at a bad time?" He asked, unable to keep down the amusement in his voice.

"I'd like you to come to Professor Xavier's school- I can have someone there to pick you up in a few hours."
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Malkin
1407graymalkin at 2006-02-16 01:58 (UTC) (Link)
"That would be---OW!" Mark grunted in pain as Collins head snapped back into his stomach. "That would be fine. But uh--I would suggest a less---" he tried to find the right word. "obvious car?" he tried.

Because if a limo pulled up outside the loft Collins might egg it. Not that they had eggs. He noticed that Rogers shirt was dripping with instant coffee. "Um..I have to go...thanks for returning my call, Alexi said you were pleased with what aired..."
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wingdndangerous
wingdndangerous at 2006-02-16 02:18 (UTC) (Link)
"I was- thank you. Yes, it will be. The man will be wearing sunglasses." Warren hung up, and headed downstairs for breakfast. Halfway there, he decided that it was probably too late to hope for anything that had been on the table with the children around, and went straight for the kitchen.
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mutant_race
mutant_race at 2006-02-16 02:30 (UTC) (Link)
Ororo was loading the diswasher when Warren entered the kitchen. "Good Morning she said, rinsing another bowl out in the industrial sink. "Did you sleep well?"

She looked much more cheerful than she had last night, her silvery hair softly spiked. Closing the door she winked at him. "Here for breakfast, I'm sure there are still crumbs on the table outside..."
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wingdndangerous
wingdndangerous at 2006-02-16 02:38 (UTC) (Link)
"Mmm, I was hoping to find something here." Warren replied, opening a few cupboards. He settled for a bowl of Cheerios, the only non-sugary cereal present, and nabbed a bowl and spoon from the few clean ones left on the shelf. Pouring his cereal and covering it in milk, Warren sat at the island in the middle of the kitchen, pulling up a stool.

He felt almost like a teenager again- amazing how much that happened in the Mansion- dressed in a t-shirt and jeans, sitting in the kitchen eating cereal. Warren sighed in content. You could only be a business man for so long.

"How's Hank," he asked Ororo, as Scott brought the next round of dirty dishes in from the dining room.
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mutant_race
mutant_race at 2006-02-16 02:55 (UTC) (Link)
"How would I know how Hank is." Ororo said quickly averting her eyes. She threw Warren a dirty look and took the dishes from Scott.

"How would you like to come and talk to my World Issues class today. Our media unit has just started." She sat down at the island and bit into an apple which had been in the bowl on the table.
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wingdndangerous
wingdndangerous at 2006-02-16 03:03 (UTC) (Link)
"I'd be happy to. Although I may be bringing a visitor." He forewarned, taking a large bite of cereal. Scott cast a glance at Ro's back, then looked at Warren with a 'something's going on with her' glance. Warren replied with a smirk, and munched his Cheerios.
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mutant_race
mutant_race at 2006-02-16 03:08 (UTC) (Link)
"A visitor? This Mark fellow?" Ororo said, her head whipping round to look staright at Scott. "Are all the dishes cleared." she said, clouds suddenly covering outside and suddenly disappating. He left, shaking his head.

"You know, you two are no better then when we were students here. Always exchanging snide little glances."
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wingdndangerous
wingdndangerous at 2006-02-16 04:21 (UTC) (Link)
Warren shrugged innocently, his wings giving away the little grin he was keeping to himself as they fanned to the sides.

"It's hardly our fault your trying to keep secrets," He taunted. "You should know better here." Taking another spoonful of Cheerios, he munched as Ro started on the dishes Scott had brought in.

"Yes- Mark's coming today. I'm going to ask Scott to go get him, and I'll be showing him around. Without his camera, for a day, to let him get used to everyone." He said as he finished chewing.
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mutant_race
mutant_race at 2006-02-16 04:39 (UTC) (Link)
"Who said I'm trying to keep a secret." she snapped, her calm demeanor disapating. "And perhaps secrets would not need to be kept if the rest of you weren't such gossip mongers." She slammed the last of the dishes into the dishwasher and headed towards the door.

"And you'll be pleased to know that Hank won't be wearing his image inducer at all. We spoke and decided---he decided that he would show his true self as there's nothing to be ashamed of."
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wingdndangerous
wingdndangerous at 2006-02-16 16:09 (UTC) (Link)
"I'm glad- I won't be wearing my brace, I get enough of elsewhere." Warren said over his last mouthful of cereal. Scott re-entered, his arms full of the last round of dishes that he carefully dumped beside the sink. Seeing Ororo glare at him, he moved to duck back out, but Warren extended a wing in front of the doorway as he finished chewing. Scott barely avoided getting a faceful of feathers as he stopped and turned to face Warren.

"Scott-" He mumbled around the Cheerios, then swallowed and turned on his stool. "Can you pick Mark up from his apartment? He's getting a tour of the Mansion today, and I'd rather not fly him here."

"Yeah- sure. What time?" Scott replied, crossing his arms casually over his chest.

"As soon as possible would be nice- I have the address-" He displayed his arm to Scott, with penmarks up the inside. Scott looked at it for what would seem like a surprisingly short glance to most people, and nodded. Warren tucked his arm back in, knowing Scott had committed it to memory. He personally had no idea where the apartment was, but unfortunately Scott was relatively familiar with the part of town- something no one even considered mentioning.

"Yeah, I'll go get the car." Scott said with a nod, walking back out the small kitchen door. Warren stood, bringing his bowl over to Ororo at the sink. He paused to give her a one-armed hug hug from the side, one wing curling around her shoulders with his arm as he rinsed his dishes.

"You two are good for eachother," he said softly, with a small, enigmatic smile. Being away from the Mansion gave Warren the perspective most others missed by living there- he noticed the smallest changes in people's demeanours, or their interactions with eachother. It gave him the upper hand in figuring things out, and he rather enjoyed it.
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life_crew at 2006-02-16 17:10 (UTC) (Link)
Mark was starting to freeze on the stoop. He'd only managed to grab his scarf as he headed out the door. He'd paused downstairs to wake up Mimi, but she was already gone.

"Hey." Roger said, coming out of the open door behind him. "You look cold." He was already for band practice, jacket zipped up and his guitar slung over his shoulder.

Mark glared at him. "I am cold."

"Well then, it's a good thing that I brought your jacket down." Roger said, pulling the jacket out from under his own with a cheeky grin. "Oh, and your camera--the contract's in there." he said, producing the second object from behind his camera, where it was tucked in its worn bag.

He handed it to Mark and ruffled Mark's hair. "Have fun. Don't come back a yuppie scum!" He laughed loudly and with that he was gone, down the street to catch the subway to band practice.
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mutant_race
mutant_race at 2006-02-16 20:13 (UTC) (Link)
Mark was just putting his jacket on when a sleek blue car pulled up, and Mark was greeted by a large 'Mazda' on the front grate. The car had pulled up rather quickly, and skidded to a surprisingly accurate halt, exactly parallel an inch from the curb. He expected some spoiled teenage rich brat to step out, with rap music blaring and massive gaudy jewlerry around his neck, and was pleasantly shocked when an incredibly tall, lean man stepped out in fitted, dark blue jeans and a carefully pressed white oxford.

"Mark?" The tall man asked, surveying the building behind Mark for an address from behind red sunglasses. He was leaning casually against the door of his car, brown hair falling in front of one covered eye, with an air of control and precision that didn't seem to suit his rather... toned body.

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pan_left
pan_left at 2006-02-16 20:21 (UTC) (Link)
"Uh...hi." Mark said temporarily floored. "Yup, Mark, that's me." he looked back up at the loft briefly, and saw that Collins was watching from the fire escape.

"Umm...I'm ready to go...now.." he said.

Hadn't he seen this man around somewhere? He looked--very familar. "So um---wait, you were in one of the pictures of Mr. Worthington, right?"
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mutant_race
mutant_race at 2006-02-16 20:26 (UTC) (Link)
The man raised an eyebrow over his glasses, and looked up at the balcony questioningly.

"I'm Scott Summers- I've been friends with Warren for...a while." He said, with the smallest hint of a smile.

"So- hop in," Scott gestured a thumb to the passenger's seat, waiting for Mark to stand up and get in.
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pan_left
pan_left at 2006-02-16 21:56 (UTC) (Link)
Mark frowned as the guitar solo was cut off mid-riff. It sounded vaugely--familiar.
"So um...where are we going?" he asked, subtly gripping the seat as Scott sped down the street.
The other man didn't reply, intent on making several jumps through the traffic. He looked out the window and watched as New York began to slip past them, and frowned when he realized that he was subconciously humming along to the guitar chords in the song.

"Who is this?" he asked, wondering where he'd heard this before.
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mutant_race
mutant_race at 2006-02-16 22:14 (UTC) (Link)
"A band the kids like- I can never remember the name, but the stuff's pretty good. Some double-entendre," Scott replied with a small scoffing laugh, pulling around a corner at the closest thing to a 90-degree angle Mark had ever seen. Scott often forgot how unsafe his driving seemed, because everyone at the Mansion was used to it- they all knew he was calculating everything before he did it, and knew exactly what the result would be. Plus, even under the red glasses he was hyper-sensitive to motion around him, and Jean had seen him pull out of many a car accident before it occured.
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pan_left
pan_left at 2006-02-16 22:28 (UTC) (Link)
The CD, clearly a mix, switched songs, this one more grainy than the first had been, as if it had been badly recorded in a loud club.

Your Eyes, as we said our goodbyes

Mark nearly choked on his tounge. "Doesn't sound mainstream." He managed to croak. His grip tightened as they skidded round the corner and Mark hoped that they actually made it to whereever they were going without getting into a firey crash.
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mutant_race
mutant_race at 2006-02-16 23:21 (UTC) (Link)
"No- not much of what the kids listen to is," Scott replied as he switched the song, clearly not one for sappy music. Hitting the eject button, he flipped open the visor above the windshield, removing a CD from a full CD sleeve and putting the old CD in it's place. He popped the new CD in, and the heavier, older sound of Zepplin seeped through the speakers. Seeming content, Scott drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, having hit a long, straight road.

His attention now diverted from the road, he cast a glance at Mark.

"So- Warren said you're a flim maker." He said conversationally, although he had an easy tone that suggested he wasn't doing it to break the silence between them.
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pan_left
pan_left at 2006-02-16 23:27 (UTC) (Link)
"Yeah." Mark said, fingers relaxing as both the song and the insane driving stopped. "Just a couple of things, mostly documentaries on people---" he pauses. "And you know, Buzzline, but that's to pay the bills without having to work at Starbucks." He fiddles with his hands.

"This opportunity with Mr. Worthington is---exactly what I've been looking for. He smiles and notices just how far out of the city they are,

"Where are we going?" he asks again.
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mutant_race
mutant_race at 2006-02-16 23:34 (UTC) (Link)
Scott gave him a quizzical look, having expected him to know already.

"Professor Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters," he rattled off diplomatically, then raised an eyebrow. "I thought Warren told you-" He jumped slightly, and pulled a funny looking gadget out of his pocket. It clicked open, like a half-moon cell phone, but in a sort of X-logo.

"Yeah? What- No...I'm not going to go get chocolate. Sorry- no, darling I'm already almost home. Yup. See you soon. Love you too. Jean- I have a cell phone." He added with a smile, and clicked the device shut.
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pan_left
pan_left at 2006-02-16 23:44 (UTC) (Link)
Mark blinked. This wasn't like any sort of device he'd seen before. "Nice phone." he said, smiling. "Gifted Youngsters? Nice name though, naming it after the guy who wrote the theory on Homosuperior Evolution Right."

He scratched his arm, embarrassed slightly to have heard a conversation between Scott and his wife. "Um--if you need to stop anywhere..."
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mutant_race
mutant_race at 2006-02-17 00:11 (UTC) (Link)
Scott shook his head, making sure the comm link was safely tucked back in his pocket.

"No- don't worry about it. The kids are just whining for chocolate again." He said with a fond smile. "Besides- there's not much around here anymore. Just trees and some amazing picnic spots."

He cast a glance at the dashboard, looking at the time. Nearly 11. Scott sighed, hoping somone had taken over his mechanics class that wasn't Logan, and cast another glance at Mark.

"So- Warren didn't tell you anything?" He asked incredulously, although it was more of a self-reflective comment. "Well," he started, flipping a small switch in the dashboard that seemed to do something to the window in front of him, changing it's tint slightly.
"It's... a school for mutants- teenagers, mostly, so they can get a safe, flexible education. And it's not just education. With give them combat training, defensive martial arts, practical skills like automechanics, cooking- the works. And training on how to use their powers safely, effectively and appropriately." Mark could tell he'd used the speech before, but it was still just as impassioned. Scott cast another glance at Mark from behind his shades, and his expression was hard to gauge without seeing his eyes.

"Everyone you'll meet at the school is a mutant," He stated, watching carefully for Mark's reaction (which, unnervingly, seemed to take his entire attention away from the road).
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pan_left
pan_left at 2006-02-17 00:31 (UTC) (Link)
"Well if nothing else I could make you a really good promotional video." Mark joked. "But I'm really impressed that someone would have thought ahead enough to set up a proper school that doubles as a haven. I take it, this has been a work in progress for a long time." He was bouncing just a little more now, excited not only to see this school, but to see the look on Collins face if he ever decided to talk to Mark again and find out what he'd stumbled upon.

"So how do you recruit the kids then, if their parents don't know?" he asked, wondering why Collins hadn't at least stumbled across a hotline type number during one of his many protests and rallies.
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mutant_race
mutant_race at 2006-02-17 00:57 (UTC) (Link)
"The Professor's very...adept at finding them." Scott said for now, deciding it was up to the Professor do disclose things about Cerebro. Last time it had happened without his consent, they almost got killed.

"And it's been in the works for quite a while- since I was a student. The Professor has very strong connections." Scott said, with a knowing smile about something clearly relevant, but not going to be said.

"We're almost there, now. You can see the property coming up..." Scott said, gesturing out Mark's window to a large, hedge-surrounding yard, with complete gardens. In the distance, a ways ahead of them and sunk into the large green grounds, was quite possibly the largest house Mark had ever put his eyes on. Scott stepped steadily on the gas, giving Mark the full, stunning view as they drove at normal speed (slower than before, in Scott's books) down the slightly rocky road.
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pan_left
pan_left at 2006-02-17 01:13 (UTC) (Link)
Mark was in awe. He was staring at a Mansion. A real honest to goodness Mansion with sprawling lawns and hedges.

"That's the school?" he said, eyes wide. "It looks more like a country club. These parents must think that that they're sending their kids to some elite---" he paused. "How does a place like this go unnoticed?"

As they drove down the long winding lane and came to a steady halt in front of the large double doors Mark gasped. The Mansion looked even more daunting up close.
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mutant_race
mutant_race at 2006-02-17 13:52 (UTC) (Link)
Scott was just smiling proudly as they drove up to the mansion, and he pulled the funny looking phone out of his pocket and holding it up to the window. There was a small beep, and an electronic voice came from the speakers.

"Thank you- welcome back, Mr. Summers." It was a pleasant, female voice that sounded more human than the usual program voice. The massive gates opened slowly, and where Scott would usually pull through as soon as he had the room, he waited until they opened fully for the dramatic effect. He sped up the long, gravel road, pulling up to the circular mini-roundabout in front of the large doors.

"If youw ant, you can get out here- I have to take my car to the garage. You're welcome to take the back-root in with me, if you like."
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pan_left
pan_left at 2006-02-17 15:04 (UTC) (Link)
Mark knew he was staring. He just couldn't stop.

"Yes. One Piece." He agreed. His eyes shifted immeadiatly to the lump on Warren's back. Were there really wings under there. "I umm--brought my contract." he said, pulling it out of his bag and holding it out sheepishly. "And I wanted to thank you again for hiring me. This is --uh---what I'm looking for...in a job..."
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wingdndangerous
wingdndangerous at 2006-02-17 16:13 (UTC) (Link)
Warren grinned widely, taking the contract.

"Thank you- I look forwards to working with you," he replied, steping back into the Mansion and shutting the door.

"Please, come in," He said, one arm sweeping out towards the grand staircase, that paused on a platform and split into two twisting staircases. There were paintings, statues, and massive draperies everywhere, making the Mansion look like an art gallery more than a student's home. Warren was taking a step forwards when a young girl ran by, barely missing him, her arms full of books.

"Kitty- Walk in the halls!" He called after her, and she turned her head over one shoulder, galloping sideways.

"Sorry Warren- late for Ms. Munroe's class, she's gonna zap me if I'm not there!" The girl was headed straight for one of the large pillars in the middle of the hallways that spread out from either side of the entrance hall, but Warren seemed unconcerned. He shook his head, a clearly content smile refusing to leave his lips, turning back to Mark as the girl neared the pole- but didn't smash into it. She turned just in time to smash her nose into it, but she passed right through it. Just went straight through the pole without slowing her pace in the slightest.

"This is our entrance hall," Warren was explaining, "And down each of these halls are some of our classrooms. Down here," He started down the right side hallway, "Is the TV Room, Games room, and library."
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