I really like this. its the bare minimum but it feels... real at least. even if he's not necessarily acting like himself, it feels like a good explanation for how he feels about Krakoa and Logan.

Oh man there's a lot more panels/pages which make no sense the more you look at them believe me. Like the one where they show Azazel taking over if Kurt doesn't exist to stop him and all of Destiny and Mystique's plan

Firstly, the bamfs are there... Azazel only has them once he gets to Hell.... He only gets to Hell when Kurt dies and goes to Heaven... Kurt can only die and go to Heaven if he existed in the first place. Also Azazel goes for the Bamfs AFTER Kurt defeated him a first time. So like that's a big plothole

Secondly, yo how tall is Azazel did he get a growth spurt or something cuz he looks taller than Apocalypse even when he's sitting down

Thirdly, in the pile of bodies you see infront of Azazel's throne, there's Storm, Magneto, Jean Grey and the Avengers but also... Doctor Doom. I've said enou- No actually there's more. There's maybe real Angels in the background and the description says "Irene had beheld the obnoxious old fiend bestriding the cosmos" which makes things even funnier because Azazel is now stronger than literal beings made by God and whatever cosmic entities exist in the far beyond... But still gets defeated by someone who now "just looks like him" and doesn't even know MAGIC

"Unless a child was born that he would assume was his own [...] Unless his preoccupation with his heirs would allow for the boy to sabotage his big stupid ambitions -- not once but many times." = (This is why the editors on the wiki pages are going crazy) There's a lot of things wrong about this part, mainly that Azazel can't just assume.

The only people he is able to mind-control have been shown to be related to him, his very children, which is how he got Nightcrawler to his island in the first place. No one else. Really the second you say Kurt isn't related to him you unwillingly lead to the logical assumption that Azazel has mind control powers that work on anyone... Which is false. Next Azazel's Heaven take-over could only happen because Nightcrawler was his anchor there. Nightcrawler was his anchor there because they're blood related. If Azazel has been assuming Kurt was his kid when he wasn't, does that mean Azazel has had the ability to yeet himself to Heaven and never knew (is his jojo stand the actual stairway to heaven or something) ? Does that mean anyone can seal Azazel on Earth even when they're not blood related ? Because that's what Kurt had to do and it was his most selfless sacrifice. Are you saying he didn't need to sacrifice his Afterlife this whole time and anyone else could have just done it because being biologically related to the guy wasn't both his strength and weakness ?

There was really two ways to stop Azazel when he was still going around and having kids (even tho he was stuck in a loop of doing it until he got exactly what he wanted, that being Kurt): Kill all of his kids/stop him from having them or just kill/stop Nightcrawler from existing (cuz he really needed someone related to him with his exact abilities).

There was even one way for things to have never gotten as far as they did and it was literally stopping Margali Szardos from getting into contact with Azazel and getting him to Earth in the first place because Azazel was in his dimension for thousands and thousands of years without once managing to get out until then

... Coincidentally Destiny talked to Margali at some point. (+ 1 plothole)

The writer only refers to Azazel as a monster/fiend (which he is morally) but he pretty much means it as like the magical kind... When Azazel is a mutant and has been on Krakoa for three whole years with other mutants now. He even went through the gates that only let mutants pass. He didn't even cause trouble on the island during that time. Mystique knows he's on the island, Destiny surely knows he's on the island. So why did they let him there if he's not one of them and "Irene had seen that he'd become the worst of [the vaudeville monsters]" ? It's counterproductive don't you think ?

Lastly, I really like how Mystique is saying all of this when she managed to hire Azazel to work for her the last time they met. And he did everything she told him no problem back then too. The contrast is so jarring like the only way to stop this massive warlord and universe conquerer guy is to either have him "think he's a dad" so he plays favourites or give him an actual job

(Another thing I can't unsee because of many friends but Azazel is dressed like mad max fury road character or like he's part of the beast pirates from one piece)

I love the way you wrote this anon. Don't you know Azazel is apparently this all powerful giant being but also is able to be thwarted by his son who is just a weaker version of himself? Oh wait scratch that its only his son by a smaller percentage but still the point stands Azazel is the most powerful mutant except for when he isn't when the story calls for it. Technically all beings are made by God but I get what you mean, he's apparently able to defeat immortal beings created by God like its nothing. I honestly don't understand this writer, its not like he seems to think things through in terms of biology or story but then i guess I don't really understand the majority of X-men fans because they seem to think this is peak story telling even though now the narrative is far more confused and they've upgraded Azazel powerwise and had to ignore recent stories involving him.

Gwenpool: Desperate Misanthrope's Confused Angst

Showtime

Ms. Pool woke up in a familiar room. Not in Krakoa - there are no mutants around. This isn’t a story about that. Look, honestly, without an actual Gwenpool series and the constant breaks in her comics appearance I can’t even begin to give a fuck. I cancelled my marvel universe subbie. I might get back to my stories but single issues are iffy. I read fast and don’t pore over the artwork. So I get 10 minutes of entertainment for….FIVE DOLLARS? When did this happen? Jeezus.

Who even reads comics anymore?

Anyway, long story short, Gwen got out of bed and recognized the room as her old one from the “old times.” The dark times. The ‘not running around in pink and white outfits and shooting people’ times. She panicked (Been there. It is what it is though). The only way out of trauma is through.

She dressed in old clothes, immediately hit by old smells, she couldn’t help but cry. Was it all a dream? Have I gone insane (again)? All the usual self doubts cropped up. I mean, really, if you think this kind of thing didn’t pass through her mind regularly why don’t you transport yourself to a comic book universe?

Oh, you can’t?

Oh. It isn’t actually possible for you and I’m stupid for suggesting it. So, yeah. If it actually happened and you kept that attitude then the logical assumption for a normie is a mental breakdown. Trick for Gwen, though, is it's probably always been both real and her being nuts.

So she goes downstairs to the kitchen to figure out why this is happening and Evil Gwen is having cereal. Let's say cocoa puffs. I’ve been thinking about those recently. You ever remember cereal as something worth cherishing. Not as just bullshit that TV convinced you to want? God damn, now I want Cookie Crisp. Cookie Crisp wasn’t even ever that good. Why do I want Cookie Crisp?

So also sitting around the table were the faceless versions of her father, mother, and her brother. Just chilling. No BD. Seen Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind?

Yes, I know that references aren’t jokes - fuck you, I’m painting a picture and I CAN’T PAINT, THAT’S WHY THIS ISN’T A COMIC. Fucks sake. Anyway. So, Gwen is so creeped out that she just sits her butt down by Evil Gwen as if she’s the comforting presence here.

Her name’s too long. Let’s call Evil Gwen uh…….Gren. You know, like Grendel from Beowulf. I haven’t actually read Beowulf and this is all a little confusing but I'm solving problems here. Writing this is harder for me than you would think so it’s best to keep things flowing off the cuff. That’s the Gwenpool™ style anyway, isn’t it? Are you laughing yet? IMPROV. “YES AND” MY SHIT, READER!

“So, you ever really look into the retconned past thing, hun?” Gren said, moving her tongue around her food. Being gross as an attempt to be properly evil. She swallowed before continuing. “This is all I could really put together on short notice but i’m pretty sure what the future people created, all that stuff to try and trick you, it was all bullshit.”

“What do you mean? Are you trying to convince me to go all psycho like you again?” Gwen asked, exasperated, realizing she was now back in the whole ‘fuck with Gwen to decide her fate’ song and dance routine from the end of her first arc.

“Nah, not really.” Gren said. A hammer appeared in her hands out of nowhere and Gren swung it into their fake father’s head, snapping his neck..

“DAD!” Gwen instinctively cried as she saw her father’s body slump to the floor. Gren slapped Gwen’s face. “That’s it,” Gren said, “this is what the trick was.This is a poorly created character in a fictional story. Meant to manipulate you into attaching your concept of “father” to it. Even his finished version in the original comics run wasn’t THAT well drawn. Your dad read like a boomer’s idea of a responsible parent. You were going through a mental crisis and struggling to find purpose in life and his genius idea was get a shitty low paying job and suck it up?”

Gren turned to their brother, pushed his face to the table and smashed the back of his skull. . “Brother dearest, too. Going right along with their victim blaming. He gaslighted you as if what you were going through was just you being ‘irresponsible.’ Bitch, people working a minimum wage job aren’t somehow not impoverished and miserable because they get some of that ‘honest work’ that folks keep badgering on about. Minimum wage work is occupied by many physically and mentally disabled people held hostage; they’re people society only pretends to care about. Then they turn it all into you acting like some world ending threat. No questions about what drove you to the edge in the first place. You are just ‘unstable,’ so you’re just a problem to be solved. They say, ‘Let’s all solve this girl being upset and on edge by ruining her concept of self, reality, and memory.’ Brilliant!”

Gwen barely processed this in horror. Gren then slit the poor facsimile of their mother’s throat while continuing to rant, “You see people die all the time, Gwen. Half of the time you are doing the killing. You do it because it’s in a story. In a story the NPCs don’t matter and, after all, your original schtick in the story was to be kill-crazy. The non-marketable characters can be replaced or retconned at the stroke of the artist’s pen.” Gren leans forward as she pulls a Gwenpool mask over Gwens face. “Then the writers convince you that you have some middle class milk toast family and you take abuse and subsume your emotional needs because the problem MUST be you. You aren’t ‘normal’ so you have to be fixed.”

Gwen wiped her eyes over the mask and sighed. A bit of fire filled her gut as she stared at Gren. “So fucking what? You want me to go on a killing spree and be a big time villain to get myself a nice, shiny permanent big bad status? That’s how I stay around right? Just build my legacy on bodies?”

Gren scoffed “You already lost that fight, girly. Where do you think we are? Because this ain’t Marvel Comics.”

Confused, Gwen blinked and tried reaching for the page margins, finding nothing. Wait….why was everything on this page so ill defined and undetailed? Wait? Why was the story in kinda wobbly third person past tense?

Gwen sighed “Oh. I’m in a fanfic. I guess the publishing fight is for another day eh?”

“My advice, personally,” Gren stated, “is that you consider the lobster.”

“Wait, what the fuck?”

Gren pulled aside the kitchen curtains revealing the face of a giant lobster, its claws tapping on the glass. The lobster muttering gutterally about personal responsibility.

“Because there’s a couple thousand giant lobsters outside that would like to claw you until you read their book.”

--

Scared of Girls

On the rooftop, Gren shoved a high powered rifle into Gwen’s hands while she handled the close range threats. So, this conversation they’re about to have is important. Sniping puts Gwen into a sort of zen space, so that’s a better task to keep her focused, after all.

“So, what? You wanted me to internalize that my “origin story” is bullshit? Okay, what does that accomplish, then?” Gwen asked in a bit of a deadpan. She was so tired today. Not really feeling her happy go lucky energy. More like a “happy go fucky” energy. It was hard to always be on a knife's edge. Still the rifle’s kick into her shoulder was satisfying as she blew through two of the creepy looking lobsters at once. “Also, why the lobsters?”

Gren considered this. “Okay, last question first, I had to experiment a lot and do a lot of research to construct this place for your learning and healing in fanfic form....These buddies are a failed experiment of mine that I repurposed because the fic needed more action. Isn’t that right, giant enemy crap?” As she peppers the nearest goon with a hail of shotgun pellets the entire throng of them burst out, sharply muttering about divine symbols.

“As for what I'm trying to teach you, it’s that you aren’t reaching your potential.” Gren grumpily huffed.

“Duh,” Gwen reloads, “I mean you just killed a mannequin version of the voice in my head that says that to me every day.” one of those crustaceans talks about feminine symbolism while she decides on her next target.

“Not like fake daddy’s ‘Be a responsible member of society by paying your taxes’ type of potential. I mean your creative and emotional potential.” Gren flipped off the slavering throng of monsters, noticing they were starting to keep their distance from the roof.

“I never did finish that fanfic idea I had.” Gwen mused.

“God, don’t mention that,” Gren thrusts a finger at Gwenpool. “Not that I don’t respect fanfic, but when comic book writers make you and Kamala squee about fanfiction to try and relate to “the kids” it comes across as so condescending.”

“Really? I mean…..I'm sure it’s meant as support for the concept?”

“Most fucking superhero comics are just legalized fanfiction! The people who created the characters are either long gone or working on someone else’s characters! They just think they are so much better because they got fucking paid. They can’t imagine themselves as on the same playing field as fanficcers even though most of them have the same level of connection to the roots of the work as anyone else.” Gren groused loudly as she seemed to pull Reed Richards out of nowhere.

Confused, Reed looked around until his eyes met Gwen’s.“Oh great, you again.” Reed groaned as he turned to survey the piles of lobster gibs while Gwen cheered the lobster forces’ retreat with a resounding “EDF, EDF!”. The scattered creatures skittered amongst the bland scenery. It looked like a suburban neighborhood but someone forgot to color in the sky….or write that the sky had color. A castle hung out in the distance breaking up the generic normalcy and lay cloaked in shadow despite being surrounded by an endless white void.

“And…..black….you?” Reed pointed to Gren, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah, I have an evil future self….well I stopped that future so it’s an….evil...alternate timeline self?” Gwen said with a nervous chuckle, abandoning the kill quest for the minute and rested her rifle on the roof.

“Ah. Yeah I’ve been down that road. It’s a rather common occurrence. Multiverse being what it is.” Reed laughed heartily while putting his hands on his hips.

“I’m not sure I’m evil, honestly,” Gren interjected. “I think I’m just really fucking grumpy and I’m slightly more gung-ho on the homicide. Considering Gwen’s already one of the more kill crazy characters on the roster it’s not that much of a distinction.” Gren flipped her cape. “My main distinction is I don’t like that meme from The Incredibles! You can just make it so the cape detaches automatically when it’s pulled hard enough!”

“You could still have it tangled up around your face.” Reed pointed out in his standard know-it-all fashion.

“Don’t make me go into fuck wife mode, stretch.” Gren spat. “Okay, anyway, so I brought him here to illustrate a point. Reed. Explain particle physics to me as a laymen.”

“Huh...i’m not sure why but okay. Particle physics (also known as high energy physics) is a branch of physics that studies the nature of the particles that constitute matter and radiation. Although the word particle can refer to various types of very small objects (e.g. protons, gas particles, or even household dust), particle physics usually investigates the irreducibly smallest detectable particles and the fundamental interactions necessary to explain their behaviour. In current understanding, these elementary particles are excitations of the quantum fields that also govern their interactions. The currently dominant theory explaining these fundamental particles and fields, along with their dynamics, is called the Standard Model. Thus, modern particle physics generally investigates the Standard Model and its various possible extensions, e.g. to the newest "known" particle, the Higgs boson, or even to the oldest known force field, gravity.” Reed rattled this off rather mechanically.

Gren then took out her phone and showed Gwen the Wikipedia article on “Particle Physics,” which is naturally the same words that Reed had regurgitated above, just without any formatting and, again, on a phone.

“Reed can’t be a genius in any subject unless he’s written by a genius in that subject. That’s how stories work. Everyone is limited by the understanding and capabilities of the writer. Same with your origin story and all the people you’ve interacted with. If you are as ‘meta’ as you think you are then you have to realize that you aren’t actually talking to people. You are talking to the writer. Dr. Strange didn’t rewrite your existence to be a part of the Marvel Universe. As far as most of Marvel continuity goes Dr. Strange was never there and doesn’t know or care about his MCU casting…..Hey Reed, buzz off please before the conversation pivots to why you haven’t cured all known diseases.”

Reed looked a little surprised but then pulled out a teleportation device (of course he has one) and blipped away with a shrug.

“How awkward is that going to be when he enters the MCU after Kamala is already introduced with a very similar power set?” Gwen chuckled.

“Keep up the way you’ve been going and you’ll never see it. I’m not exactly expecting a young blonde girl casting call for Deadpool 3 and that’s your best bet.” Gren snarked. Gwen winced with a sigh.

“I don’t get what I'm doing wrong. I have a fanbase comparable to some of the characters that have already shown up but I can’t even get comics written about me most of the time. An MCU push seems unlikely. They would literally have to deal with completely recontextualizing my powers and gimmick”

“Let’s ask her what you should do.” Gren motioned her way to the suddenly appearing long hair future Gwen, looming over them like The Attack of the 50 foot Woman for some reason. Dwarfing the roof they are on. Let’s call her BIGwen!

--

Gold Guns Girls

As BIGwen acclimated to her surroundings she stubbed her toe on a car, dramatically flipping it so that it took out a few more lobsters before caving in a nearby house. The lamentations about clean rooms soaring as the remaining couple dozen of them attempt to clean up some of the bodies of their fallen kin. The large and sort-of-in-charge Gwen hissed in pain and adjusted her boot. Getting her balance as best as possible she muttered curses that traveled rather well considering the lung capacity of a giant.

“You know,” Gren started, “I wasn’t expecting much from our previous uses of the ‘make her big for emphasis’ trick, but it really does only work as a vague ghostly background element. I didn’t just want it to be ‘oh, here's a third Gwen for the conversation, though. Would lack umph.”

“ Yeah, I get it, but staring at my own giant taint is unsettling.” Gwen muttered.

“I’d still, hit it.” Gren grinned, then immediately got punched in the arm. “OWWW! Look, I’m the evil one here and we’re in a fanfic. I’m allowed to make internet fetish jokes.”

“And I’m allowed to hit you for it.”.

“Dirty lampshading goody two shoes. Don’t act like half your fanbase isn’t thirsty. It’s “insert current year argument”, all art is sexy to someone.” Gren complained back,rubbing her arm before hopping off the roof. Gwen followed while listening as patiently as she could considering how many changes in topic her evil-caped self is going through to get to her point. “This chick is the reason you’ve been on the path of good girl. Some vague idea that in the future everything will work out for the best. HEY, DOWN HERE, BIG SHOW!” Gren waved at BIGwen and she looked down curiously.

“Yeah what??” BIGwen responded in a booming and agitated tone. Honestly, being in this fic made every version of Gwen a little grumpy.

“How’s she supposed to be a popular hero that makes it into the MCU and has a stable publication history?” Gren asked.

“Fuck if I know.” Came BIGwen’s response. “Have you tried growing your hair out?”

“Rub it in,” Gwen muttered under her breath, “I’m not gonna lie, I’m kind of depressed now.” Gwen said as she sat on an abandoned car.

Gren hopped on the roof of the car, patting Gwen’s shoulder before squatting with enough force to flex the car’s shocks like a rocking chair just to amuse herself. “Future “good” Gwen wasn’t an actual plot point, it was a call to action to the fans to make fanfic like this and support the character outside of the actual Canon. Chris didn’t trust that Marvel would treat the character right. That, and your obsession with getting a new book, are both the writer’s attempt to turn a marketing tactic into fan engagement. If you want to be real then that makes the fans want you to be real even more, too.”

Gwen sighs heavily and leans her chin on one hand. “I mean...the time traveling through the life of an NPC fan complete with a Never Ending Story reference was a bit sappy even by the standard we sometimes set...damn it it really was just kind of a fan manipulation trick wasn’t it?”

BIGwen Sat down on the street next to them and crossed her legs. “Hey, little me. Don’t get too down. I mean it worked for the most part. You have a healthy cult following. Characters have survived on less and there are worse things to be known for then as a fan first character”

“But I have to fight for attention all the damn time, though. It’s so easy for Wade with his fucking meme bullshit. He even gets runoff enthusiasm from me. Jeff the land shark is all over Oldpool online” Gwen felt rather heavy and tired all of a sudden. Marvel editorial forcing a gun to your head is not a fun way to be.

“All that fight is hell on the fanbase too.” Gren sighed. “Advocating for shit, getting crumbs and being expected to accept it while Disney lavishes all the attention based on some bullshit numbers game. Even if you make it into the MCU will it be a Batroc style cameo with obligatory ‘killed off in case we don’t feel like paying the actor again later.’ Will it be an emotionally rounded character or an ambush bug style joke? The thing is. You're Not the one fighting and you never were.”

“The fuck do you mean?”

“This version of her doesn’t know?” BIGwen whimpered.

“You aren’t real, Gwen.”

--

Head Like a Haunted House

“No….we aren’t having this conversation. Fuck you fuck you i’m not a fucking Nihlist and i’m not going to do this right now.” Gwen said as she scrambled off of the car and pulled out some guns. BIGwen then picked her up off the ground.

“You need to hear this, Gwen,” BIGwen boomed. “The gimmick has run its course. It’s fucking with your canon. You’re never going to be a marketable character keeping up a half fourth-wall Kayfabe”

Gren climbed onto BIGwen’s Shoulders and perched over Gwen all menacing like. “You need to listen. I’ve been trying to ease you into this. Making things more meta slowly until you were ready but it was never going to be easy.”

One of Gwen’s guns was fired from it’s holster and pierced one of BIGwen’s fingers. BIGwen screamed and her grip loosened. Soon Gwen was on the move running up her arm and firing at Gren, who dodged like the nimble and cute badass she is. “Don’t do this Gwen. Just because it doesn’t matter to the comic version of you doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter.”

“I’m a real person god damn it! I read the comics out there! I came in! That’s why I know shit I shouldn't know. That’s what I am! THAT’S ALL I AM!” Gwen shrieked as she pulled out a sword from hammer-space and decapitated BIGwen. Suddenly a mess of colored streamers and a pile of Mickey Mouse merch tumbled out. Look, I am busy right now. Gwen is still slashing at my ass. I'm not going to explain it.

For some reason now the remaining lobsters were helping Gren. For Gwen’s own good you understand. This is proof that I’m right for some reason.

Gwen pulled out a revolver, firing pumpkin sized holes in lobsters who were still wailing about self actualization. She fully planned on shoving a sword up her evil self’s ass and getting rid of this doppelganger shit for good. Which is total bullshit by the way. She totally just cut off Gren’s leg because what the fuck you mean I’m not real? I’m going to be real all over your corpse.

Gren didn’t really think that was even a good comeback and also thought you should probably say it instead of meta willing the smack talk into existence, otherwise this fanfic is going to read like trash. Also, Gren’s leg wasn’t actually cut off. In a puff of smoke it is revealed that the cut off leg is a log and her leg is fine. Gren is a ninja now, believe it.

Gwen proceeded to do a sick ass CQC judo throw on Gren and then grab her cape and wrap it around her face like Reed suggested. Callbacks for the win! Callbacks to Checkov’s gun ideas always lead to victory in fights! She then totally shot at her and such.

But the bullet was caught by the cape because the cape was a symbiote! That’s right Gren is also GRENOM!...boy that sounds stupid. Anywho, the cape was no longer around her face and the fight continued and Gren now ALSO had extra powers and special wizard-symbiote armor (that would only show up in the MCU version if Marvel finally got the Sony characters back). The meta powers work like shit in text but this would be really good in CGI or animation if Marvel wanted to adapt this fic and give the writer lots of money. Gren still has more experience with them, though, and Gwen can’t really just kill her way out of this fic so she has to just let the story play out.

…...eh?....oh Gwen’s crying. I love/am you girl but we gotta work on the crying. Fucks sake this is harder than I thought. I’m depressed now too. Well I'll try to get the writing back on track so you guys can see what is going on. Even the lobsters are minding their manners now. Chill vibes, guys.

“The marvel character page for Gwenpool says, and I quote:

Gwenpool arrived in the Marvel Universe from the “real world,” but has wasted no time in making the most of her time in her fictional universe. Using her knowledge of comics to her advantage, Gwenpool causes and solves problems for her fellow heroes.”

Gren drags a lobster corpse slowly toward Gwen and sits on its tail as she talks to her. Taking her time to really scrape the lobster against the ground, smearing the gore on the pavement. Not that it was heavy for her or anything. Totally still has that symbiote, which would make moving it easy. Totally wasn’t a detail added in the second revision of the fic slightly before the lobsters were added.

“The words “Real world” are in quotation marks in that wiki. Real people don’t make it into comics because fiction isn’t real. Half of your versions barely make use of the ‘real person’ gimmick because it’s too meta by half and not every writer wants to waste time justifying it. So they just treat it like Deadpool’s medium awareness. Which it mostly is.”

“I really am just a fucking rip off distaff character.” Gwen moans. “Just a Gwen combined with a Pool. I’m worse than the Batman who laughs. I never mattered because I was never real”

“Fuck don’t say that. You were made with love and care by a team of creators who took a weird offshoot idea and built out a compelling metafiction idea and a likeable protagonist off of it. They just didn’t have the time and foresight to go far enough.” Gren sighed.

“Far enough?” Gwen sniffed as she was pulled up to her feet and dragged toward one of the big castles. As they walked Gren kicked along a Mickey Mouse doll that had rolled out of BIGwen’s severed head. Every time it bounced it cheerfully said ‘hahah. I love you!’

“Too much haha, not enough trauma. You’re not just a joke character.” Gren said as she kicked the Mickey doll into the big front door of the castle. The shadowy thing of course lighting up and being all fantasy and shit as the door opened.

“Well I did end both of my comic runs pretty mopey.”

“Damn right you did. When the jokes run thin they run to your real bread and butter. You’re an empathy machine.” As Gren shoves Gwen through the gate they are swallowed up in the castle, going dark again. “Let’s getcha sad clown on.”

--

Never there

“See, what evil me should have been telling you about in the original run is how to find meaning and purpose when technically nothing means anything. Comic book characters live in a world without real death and suffering. It’s all a puppet show version of real pain and real emotion meant to bring that out of an audience.” Gren opined as they walked through a black void to a couch floating in a nothing area lit only by the static of an old TV.

“Can we turn on a light?” Gwen asked as she sat on the couch. Gren sat on another recliner that suddenly appeared and put her feet up.

“Fuck off. Ambiance is a thing. We aren’t having a ‘lights on with something fun on the TV’ conversation. So look, I am not really ‘evil gwen.’ I’m half an author insert and half a plot device. If we are talking about the reality of the story you are basically talking to yourself. I am speaking about the things you don’t want to admit to yourself. You know, you’ve seen this kind of story sorta... right?” Gren picked up the remote and frustratedly changed channels between a bunch of vaguely illustrative footage on the TV, not finding anything that worked. A lot of black and white footage of trains for some reason. Just what comes to mind when I think of documentary footage? Weird.

“I am not sure how to illustrate this shit visually and this is a text story anyway so I would have to explain the illustration,” Gren griped.

“I basically get it. It’s not that uncommon a trope.” Gwen nodded.

“Because of the level of meta we are on right now we have to really acknowledge that you are basically an author insert, too. I mean, to a certain extent every version of you is more the writer that is working with your character at the time than a set character.” Gren said as she settled on a visual of Gwen being pushed out the window by her own narration text in the original comic run. When all else fails, resort to footage from the last story. That way people can look it up online!

“Right here is where the character crystallized in the mind of the author of the current fic we are in. A vague suicide metaphor wrapped up in the flavor of self destructive escapism. Your parents in the story thought it was a suicide attempt on at least some level. This is serious business. Not just a girl who doesn’t like work and can’t finish her fanfic. In this comic you are built on this understanding. The writer of this fic has ADHD and autism. So his version of you more or less has it, too. Writers bring themselves with them into their work.”

Gwen nods and takes a deep breath. “I….I can feel it. Like the world is closing around you. You aren’t built for anything that anyone wants from you. The one thing you really believe in, the one thing that really defines you, the stories in your head…..it’s just not enough.

You can’t trust you’ll ever make it with writing because you can barely write. You barely have the energy to do anything but wish that you weren’t you. What if someone actually listened? Actually believed in you and whisked you away somewhere else where the world would fit your needs? What if you were someplace you could be someone else, someone strong and confident?”

“Yeah. Like a funny anti hero in a comic for instance.” Gren nodded. “But the original comics sort of left the theme on the table. They were captured by the misconception of Gwen as the problem and not a person who needed help. All that desperation that real fans of the character might feel just bundled up into love for this character that really ‘gets’ them but Marvel doesn’t ‘get’ the character. They won't use her. They won’t go past vaguely gesturing at her mental issues and moving on. They saved the angst for Wandavision.” Gren scoffs.

“I mean the show was okay but they literally have a character built entirely on the theme of escapism and trauma. One that’s custom built for mind-screw visuals and reality bending plots and they think she’s just a lazy fangirl who really likes guns that they can sit beside Deadpool sometimes and stick in the X-Men’s bloated background character roster when they don’t need her.”

Gren leads Gwen off the couch and deeper into the void where a door to a bedroom waits. A room like her own, absolutely slopping over with old toys of comic book characters. An unclean messy space in a run-down house that smells faintly of cigarette smoke. Huddled in bed, reading an 80s era X-men comic with a flashlight, is a 12 year old Gwen.

“This is never going to be canon but this is the version of Gwen in this fic. She can’t stop crying at school. Things that shouldn’t be hard are so hard and she can’t explain why. Everyone says she’s making excuses. Meanwhile her mother is fucked out of her mind on pain killers and her step father killed himself last year ‘cleaning his gun’ while drunk. You know exactly what is on her mind right now?” Gren says as she gestures at the girl.

“I wish the superheroes would save me from this.”

“They won’t. They can’t. They were never meant to.” Gren Slams the door loudly on the scene.

“That is the emotional core of Gwenpool in this fic. The desperation that so many of the fans down here in the fucking muck of the real world feel. Poor and emotionally unfulfilled. Confused and vulnerable. If Disney and Marvel gave two fucking shits about people like that they wouldn’t waste as many stories as they do. They wouldn’t just use untold wealth to make expensive escapist stories with the military. Their gestures toward progressive ideas that they occasionally make in their stories would be THE ENTIRE POINT of their stories and the actual thing they used that money for instead of lobbying the government to keep Mickey Mouse out of the public domain.

“Disney has the power yet they save a fucking miniscule fraction of who they could. Saving people doesn’t make money.”

--

When I Get To The Green Building

Gren stormed through the void. The scene disintegrated around her as Gwen followed. Both now in a bit of a sour mood but with newfound determination.

“Come to think of it. Why is the fucking Hulk getting to fight for social justice in the comics? Why are they making a gay alternate universe Captain America? Why are they grasping at straws so hard to find characters that get to advocate and I am just sitting on a fucking island being grumpy?” Gwen groused. “I’m pretty sure I’m pansexual….at least in this fic. I could advocate for a bunch of shit at once.”

“You have a youth fanbase, a unique story and you technically aren’t an alternate universe version of fucking anything no matter how many people still think you are a Stacey. They made a fucking ‘for the fans’ character and then neglected it. Presumably because some fucking money making metric didn’t pan out despite the comics just being an MCU test kitchen and IP farm anyway.”

“You’re a fucking check mark on a ledger. I don’t even know if anyone technically created Gwenpool as a whole and Disney/Marvel can give the character to whoever they want to do whatever they want completely separate from what the fanbase wants and needs because she isn’t established. The IP landlords have spoken. The fans haven’t risen to enough ‘buy my merch’ calls to action to invest more resources. So tease endlessly until that changes.”

“Gah. Now I'm actually as pissed as you are.” Gwen said as she started fiddling with her guns. “Who do I kill?”

“We can’t do shit. You’re not even a character at this point. You are a meme for an underused character.” Gren smirked all evil like. “See but that’s it. You aren’t just a meme. You’re a MEME.”

“Uhm...I don't follow.”

“Like the concept of Justice. Gwenpool is an idea. Defined entirely by how people who engage with the idea choose to engage with it. The IP law means Disney owns Gwenpool but they don’t own how Gwenpool is perceived. Just like we as a people decide what justice is through popular consent we also decide what Gwenpool is. You see they made a character for the fans…..in my opinion that means the fans can do as they like with it even if it makes Disney uncomfortable.”

“I mean they can’t even stop porn of their characters just because of the sheer volume of the problem. I suppose people could do whatever.” Gwen nodded.

“Exactly. So the fans should just fucking Occupy Gwenpool!” Gren said as she flipped her cape dramatically with a mad smile on her face. That’s right. She was Dirtbag Leftist Gwen all along!

“Squat on that IP. Make Gwenpool a mental health advocate. Make her an LGBTQ activist. Make her fight for social and financial justice so hard that Bruce Banner looks like a poser. Make her talk shit about politicians who put their career ahead of the people. Do all the shit that makes the comicsgate crowd sad. Keep politics in our stories! Rally around that pink and white ass so hard they have to notice and then tie it all to the fact that Disney has great power and with great power they take no responsibility for how shitty the world is.”

“ If they are going to fuck Gwenpool fans they gotta learn Gwenpool fans fuck back. We have already proven we can make all kinds of cool shit. Let’s get serious and make more, harder, faster! Get a hashtag or some shit. They can't DMCA all of us! GWEN IS OURS WE JUST HAVE TO REACH OUT AND TAKE IT. Then they either respect the character and her fans or they just hit a PR disaster.”

“Marvel/Disney neglects fan focused cult character themed protest movements. Proves they are only progressive when it makes them money. They’re so worried about Mickey ending up in the public domain? We’re the public domain! After our entire lives stannin their characters and buyin their merch building them from an animation house into a juggernaut they are just another weight on top of the boot on our necks. They have to take responsibility!” At this point Gren is pretty much ranting maniacally and neglecting the actual writing of the story so this is Gwen taking over to wrap up.

Guys I may not be ‘the real Gwen’ but really, isn’t the version of Gwen that actually came from the real world all of us? Isn’t Gwenpool really the Gwens we made along the way? We could easily bring a little heroism and chaos to the real world (at least to the internet) if we really tried. Put the fear of God into some IP landlords and fight for some cool people that society is screwing over, too.

Prove that even in the fandom abyss people aren’t as powerless as they seem. Use that internet comic fan mobbing for something besides giving Zack more money. Disney is gearing up for their next IP fight for Mickey in 2024. Seems like a fine time for IP themed protests. For now we just need to spread the word that our needs are more important than their profits.

It’s been real. It’s been long. It’s been a real long time coming…..

But I finally finished my fanfic.

See ya, true believers.

Hey there @vvithteeth! So, this isn’t EXACTLY what you asked for the readlist to focus on, but I think it’s worth checking out all the same for a general sense of Emma’s history leading up to her current character!

 EVIL 80s EMMA She’s not good reference for who Emma is NOW, but a good look at what she used to be, and what she’s overcome. I think looking at Emma when she was at her worst, helps one appreciate her at her best. If you see what she had to rise above in herself, you understand the self that she’s fighting back, you have a better appreciation for the kinds of things she’s tempted towards---and the kinds of things she no longer does.  X-Men (1st series) #129-131 is her introduction, as she tries to recruit Kitty Pryde to her school before Xavier does. One of the most chilling moments, for me personally, is when she threatens to destroy Storm’s mind so that she will be “human only in physical form” And then Jean drops a house on her, which is why she’s not involved in the Dark Phoenix saga, as she was still recovering.  Emma continues trying to get Kitty and other kids into her clutches in  Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #180 and  New Mutants (1st series) #15-17, but in New Mutants (1st series) #38-40 she finally manages it by exploiting their current fucked-up state and having her student Empath use his powers to manipulate Magneto.  But when the kids decide to return to Xavier’s school, Emma allows them to do so without a fight, and just tells them that they’ll always have a place with her if they need it. Which seems nice, but then her thought balloons reveal that this is just so the kids won’t believe it when Magneto tells them she’s evil. Firestar #1-4: Whoa mama, Emma is at max abusive here. See, she desires to eliminate Selene, and to this end she trains a young mutant she names Firestar. She does so by manipulating the girl, isolating her, convincing her that she NEEDS Emma to help her control her powers or else she’s dangerous to others, and even KILLS HER PET HORSE. Emma is someone who says “I love children. Teaching is my life.” and she MEANS IT, she has a genuine call to teach and her love for her students is her driving force, but here we see how she USED to treat her students. Then put her against who she is now, it’s a huge contrast. Honestly, I don’t know why SOME WRITERS want to erase her growth by pretending she was Actually Good All Along but yeah, here’s Bad Emma. This is who she fights. This is what she has risen above.  EMMA’S BACKSTORY ISSUES Emma’s history is. . . kind of multiple choice. She tells one version in Generation X #24, but this doesn’t fit at all with the Emma Frost miniseries that came out from 2003 -2004, which also doesn’t exactly fit with “X-Men Origins: Emma Frost” single-issue backstory. I personally would read the “X-Men Origins” one and at least the beginning of the miniseries, specifically the parts that deal with her home life. The reason is that both of these show how unhealthy Emma’s home was growing up, and how that made her who she is. When I saw I think Emma is “wired” to be a villain, I don’t mean I think she was born like that, but as in, I think her environment trained her to become like that. It’s kind of like how a lot of personality disorders aren’t something a person is born with, but come from being in a shitty environment where certain behaviors will help you survive better, and then even once that situation is over, you can’t get rid of those behaviors because it’s how your brain is wired now. That’s how I read Emma---she came out of this toxic, duplicitous environment of manipulation and abuse where she and her siblings were set against each other, and that’s now her default for how she interacts with the world, even though she was originally just a sweet little nerd who only wanted to be a teacher. The “Origins” one features a generic Shitty Abuser Shaw and isn’t as good as the more drawn-out miniseries, as it focuses more on physical abuse (like her father suddenly slapping her) to get a point across that her family is toxic, rather than the more drawn-out miniseries, which I think works better for explaining Emma’s specific brand of. . .Emma-ness. But the bit where her mother tells her that her father is hardest on her because he likes her most of all, is really important I think, since that reflects her relationship later with the Hellions, which is also shown in this. Because Emma is cruel to the Hellions, even though she loves them, and in fact because she loved them. Her love for them and her agony over their deaths is what drives her to join the X-Men in the first place.  As for which origin story is true. . .I think the miniseries one is probably MOST true, as it’s the only one that Emma herself isn’t telling as a story. But as the friend who helped me assemble this list puts it, “ Think of any origin story of Emma's as "a sort of fairy tale, a parable," where it's the theme that matters, not the precise events or timeline “ 90s EMMA Emma spent most of the 90s teaching Generation X. I don’t remember a lot of stuff for specifically what I’m talking about with her, but here are a couple issues that strike me as significant. Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #311-314: In  Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #281-284, the Hellions were killed and Emma Frost was left in a coma, her body taken care of by the X-Men. This is when she wakes up, takes over Iceman’s body, and goes on a rampage thinking she’s the prisoner of the X-Men. When she finds out what happened to her Hellions, she collapses in despair and turns herself over to the X-Men. This is her turning point. This is when we found out Emma Frost had a soul. That she LOVED the Hellions. That they were not just tools. And there’s this one line in the yellow narrative boxes that really sticks out: “As the Hellfire Club’s White Queen, she spent the better part of her life traversing from one mind to another, violating the very essence of anyone she so chose. Losing herself in the memories of others. Altering, at times, the opinions of those who opposed her. This time is different. This time it is about survival. This time. . .it’s for the children.” The words are echoed when she agrees to join Krakoa's Quiet Council, after Charles and Erik tell her their plan and convince her it might just work. "One more time, then. For the children." Emma’s true love, in my opinion, isn’t Scott. Nor is it Namor. It’s teaching.  Emma becomes the teacher to Generation X, as mentioned, and in Generation X (1st series) #18-19, during the Onslaught crisis, she’s so terrified of losing them like she did the Hellions, that she snapped, took the kids to a safehouse in Canada, and put them under her telepathic control for their own safety. This is an Emma who has learned that abusing her students isn’t the right way, but still doesn’t respect their autonomy or consent even as she’s desperately trying to protect them, and has to learn from Monet (who is. . . .actually not Monet) that this isn’t the right way to do it either. Emma did not grow up with adult models who showed her how to love and care for a child, she has to figure it out herself, and it’s a rocky journey at times, even though she has the best of intentions. I think this is a good issue to show an Emma who is in the process of evolving. She’s getting better, but she still hasn’t got it “right” yet.  CURRENT-ERA EMMA Emma really becomes the Emma we know with Grant Morrison’s New X-Men in the early 2000s. This is where she starts affecting a British accent, calling everyone darling, and the delightfully witty Queen of Mean while also still a devoted teacher with trauma over losing her students. She always was witty and a little mean, but Morrison takes these traits up to 11 and gives Emma the foundation of what a lot of writers would build upon. It’s also when she begins her telepathic affair/seduction of Scott, which is a more than slightly problematic dynamic, as I’ve discussed. Also, this is when she got her now-famous diamond form.  We get a lot of lovely Emma nastiness in this series. New X-Men #128-139 all have lots of great moments for her where she’s just WICKED yet still on the side of the angels, and New X-Men Annual 2001 starts us off.  However, character-wise, I think what really comes out here is Emma going from blaming her past actions on substances (she tells Scott in the New X-Men Annual 2001 that she just probably out of her mind on drink and drugs all those times she was doing bad things) to being forced to face her past and herself for the first time when confronted by Jean & the Phoenix in New X-Men #139. It’s the first time we get a look at what Emma’s family and home life was like, as well as the first time she’s established as having a brother, but more than that is the emotion that gets brought in. This is also when Morrison decided to retcon the Hellfire Club as a strip joint (which I hate and also shows up in Emma’s “Origins” story) but that’s neither here nor there. The point is, Jean makes Emma face all her flaws and pain and nasty, most vulnerable parts of herself.  Emma is left mentally broken...then one page later, physically, shattered by a diamond bullet that we later find out was fired by none other than Esme, the Stepford Cuckoo whom Emma later says reminded her most of herself. There is definitely poetic symbolism there. As my friend put it “This cycle of her students dying and Emma losing it and trying again but never facing the roots of her issues goes on and on until her roots literally kill her, and Jean of all people resurrects her. Jean, who saw right through Emma, saw something there worth saving, and literally and metaphorically put her back together again.” The next place I’d go is Astonishing X-Men, which is the first time Emma and Kitty work together. Kitty HATES Emma at this point, because, as she points out, Emma is the villain in her origin story. And Emma KNOWS this. That’s why she WANTS Kitty there. She knew that Kitty would keep an eye on her, wouldn’t trust her, and that’s what Emma WANTS, because Emma doesn’t trust HERSELF. So this shows that Emma KNOWS her moral compass is a very flawed one, and that she WANTS to be better so consciously that she’s getting someone she knows doesn’t like or trust her to be around because she knows she’ll watch her like a HAWK. This also means Emma is admitting she can fail, and giving some control to someone else.  There’s. . . so much that happens from here. Utopia. Phoenix Five. The Terrigen Mists shit. Secret Empire. I feel like there are probably great Emma readlists out there that include these, but honestly I just kinda zoned out through a lot of it. These are some additional read lists for her I found: https://lornahs.tumblr.com/post/87230882649/where-to-start-reading-emma-frost-lets-start  https://www.reddit.com/r/comicbooks/comments/2bwwok/emma_frost_reading/  It’s definitely a LOT and I wish you the best of luck tackling it! Also, I wouldn’t feel you have to read EVERYTHING, or incorporate everything into your depiction. Pick and choose what you feel works best for your version!

whats going on with this x of swords event? i didnt read it! im ok with spoilers btw

HSJWJEJD HONESTLY ANON I HAVE NO IDEA

okie here's my attempt at a synopsis; krakoa, the cult island mutants are currently residing on wasn't always just krakoa; it had an other half called arakko or smth like that idk. then apocalypse came with a sword, had a fight and then Sliced™ the island in half. krakoa kinda vibed by themself and was sad while arakko... went to hell. or something. with a bunch of evil mutant demons on it. however unfortunately that also included apocalypse's wife n kid so that is an Oof.

the citizens of arakko were understandably not cool w/ this. it took them a crazy long time but eventually they made a Rift™ (which i think was caused by another thing but i don't remember what it was so uh. yeah dhsndjd) and started to invade Otherworld! this is where opal luna saturnyne lives and yes that is her real name! she looks exactly like emma except she covers up her tits more so if you see a woman who looks like her but with a cloak and long dress and a weird purple necklace thing that's her. this place is Important™ as this is where the starlight citadel is, the center of the multiverse!

(obviously following the events of secret wars... idk actually how this place is still around like i??? hwhshdhd???? but its there and i don't think anyone is mentioning the multiverse going boom in detail bc that would involve a Lot™ and really who as the time but still i have questions like? multiverse is back but its not the same multiverse so i??? anyway that's not what this is about jsnshd)

anyway if arakko gets there they can destroy Time And Space (again) which is obviously. bad. the quiet council on krakoa after learning abt this basically decide "hey if we get the two islands together again things will maybe be ok! :)" or whatever bc apparently krakoa is Yearning™ and so is arakko n whatever that is a bullshit excuse we're going with to make this happen. they try to do it peacefully but one of apocalypse's children who i imagine is still kinda pissed about being locked in evil mutant hell betrays and stabs him. that sucks. he almost dies.

anyway that happens and then??? opal decided "hey you know what would make this better?? swords!" or smth idk at this point i stopped paying attention but yeah! 10 krakoa n 10 of arakko must get some swords and duel! for a bit they go off and get their swords bc opal couldn't stop at the swords she had to make riddles to get them to get the swords. it's a long ordeal but in the end we have our team; kid cable, logan, ororo, magik, apocalypse, gorgon, brain braddock and betsy braddock, and doug! and technically warlock but in this scenario he is a sword so :) idk if he counts properly.

anyway off they go on their weird convoluted quest to go save the island and the world or whatever. i'll try and keep breezy on the details but basically apocalypse meets up with his wife, doug marries the woman he was supposed to duel (he can't speak w/ her either which is weird like bro if he can talk to an ISLAND he can talk to a woman who speaks weird like that's his wholeass power-), ororo does a fashion show, also stabs the horseman of death in the gut, logan almost drowns in sand, betsy gets shattered like motherfucking glass, opal wants to get with brian but he is married and generally not interested so that is an f. they also steal her sword which is called the starlight sword or something it's important anyway. shit happens and uh yeah. also kid cable gets the shit beaten out of him. he gets upset and calls for his Mommy™ who hears and gets upset.

idk really what happens here but things kinda go to shit. anyway basically there's a cool final battle and bc jean heard cable they basically all started showing up sans the quiet council bc they're a government they have to stay. there's a fight for a bit doug almost says "i love you" to his wife's face which is kinda sweet tbh but like bro she can't understand you i don't think she cares but anyway yeah. she joins krakoa forces, n so does another arakko swordsperson, and another guy just straight up dips and leaves the battle. shit is going down cable's sword is a key???? anyway it's kinda close and then,,, apocalypse merges with his wife's evil persona???? becomes "annihilation" surrenders to arakko or something opal comes down on a bigass dragon is like "oh cool" gets rid of the evil persona and thats it? she decides that from krakoa should go to arakko n apocalypse who assumedly wants to get pegged again by his wife for the first time in literal millenia offers himself up. she's like "yeah cool" and thats... it. doug goes off with wife opal feels sad bc she didn't get brain's s*xy british ass and its implied that if he slept with her this entire thing could have been avoided 😁

anyway uh. yeah. that's my unprofessional synopsis of x of swords. tbh i missed a bunch of issues because i wasn't that invested in it so like. hwnsjhshd there are Gaps in my knowledge but i hope this helps but i completely understand if this just makes you more confused sjejeudhsh

Monsoon Visits Krakoa

Based off my “numerous minor Marvel women hit on Monsoon” comedy fic idea. Apologies if anyone feels their fave was maligned or OOC in this. I tried to mostly keep it to characters so obscure no one would care, but Monet St. Croix did make her fabulous way in, and I can see how one would think this behavior is beneath her. Which I don’t disagree with per se, but just try to take it as the lighthearted fic it is!

"Thank you for the assistance,” said the woman in the barely-there purple...swimsuit? Monsoon wasn’t sure. He just knew that you couldn’t yell things like...like what those men had been saying at her...just because she wore something like that. Even if it made him uncomfortable. Just as it had probably made her even more uncomfortable when said men had followed her into this deserted alley, hence why he had arrived, scaring them off. Yet she seemed...less than thrilled about it. Perhaps she saw his interference as insulting to her own capability? Western women could often be confusing like that, he was frequently unsure what would be offensive or not in their culture. He wanted to be respectful, but it often seemed like the rules were far more individualized here than in India, where--- “But it was uneeded,” she continued, stepping close to him, “Perhaps though, you can make up their loss to me. ” Fantasma traced a purple-nailed finger over his broad chest, “You’re very large and you look healthy. Your morals though are very...human...and while those are not supposed to be genetic, I’d rather not risk those being passed to my children.” “Oh,” he said, relieved but feeling no less awkward about this, “Well, I...wish you the best with your endeavors...” “You can still help with that,” she said, her form beginning to shift, growing larger, purple, clawed, fanged, horned.... “For when they hatch...they will need food...” And that was his cue to fly away. *** “Oh monsieur,” said the French Canadian mutant woman known as Murmur as she fell (more than a little deliberately) into Monsoon’s arms, “You ‘ave no idea my gratitude---not just for your rescue, but for ze touch of a man! You see, my powers, zey can only work by touch, so ze brutes here, they employed only robots to guard me!” “Oh,” said Monsoon, a little cautiously as he found himself carrying her, ”What are your powers, exactly?” ”I can make anyone anyzhing I zay,” breathed Murmur, staring into his eyes with a significant, sultry gaze, then whispered in his ear with sensual emphasis, ”Anyzhing.” Then, giggling and drawing back, she continued, “But ‘ave no worries, mon hero Monsoon, I shall not use it against you---- for I am sure that zhere is nothing I could make you do to me that you do not already want to, non?” Monsoon decided to call her a cab to the nearest Krakoa portal instead of carrying her. *** Speaking of Krakoa, Monsoon didn’t want to go there himself. He didn’t like the idea of it at all. Xavier’s ideals had been far too radical for his tastes to begin with, claiming to stand for peace and unity while cloistering a secret army of mutant soldiers away, training children to become the mutant police. And Magneto, well, he was even worse! He was half the reason there needed to BE mutant police! And now they were separating themselves on to an island, with some of the worst villains among their kind helping to RUN it! No, Monsoon wanted no part of it. Haven had made good arguments to him on why it was a good thing or at least not a bad thing or an unneeded one, but Monsoon didn’t like it and he didn’t want to be a part of it. But some of the mutant children under Haven’s care DID want to be a part of it. Monsoon said they were too young to see the danger, to see that the people running it ranged from misled radicals to literal monsters, to understand they’d be living alongside a great many criminals who had harmed others for fun and profit. But Haven had said that the children should have a choice where they lived. She believed Krakoa COULD be safe. She just also, for all her good points made about why a mutant-only land could be a good thing, had misgivings about just blindly sending the children there. She wanted to give them agency---but she also had to make sure that the options being given to them were safe. Monsoon agreed more than wholeheartedly, and had very literally leaped (into the sky, specifically, to fly to the nearest portal) at the idea of going to the island to visit the kids and snoop around, talk to the residents, get a feel for the place and how it was run...and who was running it. As soon as he stepped out of the portal, he was greeted by two women, a blonde who introduced herself as Phantazia and a redhead who said her name was Dragoness, probably due to the mechanical wings she sported. Both he recognized as former terrorists; Phantazia had been a member of the Brotherhood, Dragoness from the Mutant Liberation Front. Not the people Monsoon wanted to have much to do with...but then, investigating their sort was why he was here. After they put him through security checks, he started asking questions. Phantazia was fairly open to it, with a professional though not friendly demeanor, while Dragoness was...none of the above. ”What is your deal, buddy?!” the latter demanded, “Do you want to live here or not?!” ”I do not,” said Monsoon flatly, “But the children my sister is charged with are--” ”Then why are we wasting our time with you?!” Dragonness cut him off, tossing his paperwork from Phantazia’s clipboard. ”Because I don’t believe this place is safe!” Monsoon bellowed back. ”Then why are you--” ZAP! Phantazia let loose a burst of her electromagnetic energy. She didn’t touch either Monsoon or Dragoness with it, she just made the noise. ”Knock it off, you two!” she barked, “Whatever his reasons for being here, so long as he’s a mutant and not going to cause trouble, he’s got the right to ask anything he wants. If you don’t want to do your job and help, Tamara, you can leave! Mr. Dastoor, I’ll go over everything with you til you’re satisfied, but you MUST remain calm and polite, understand?” Dragoness flew off in a huff, and Phantazia looked pleased. ”Alright now,” she said, turning back to Monsoon, ”Now that she’s out of the picture...as I was saying...we should go over everything...to your satisfaction...” Monsoon did not catch the meaning of her tone...at first, anyway. Five minutes later, he was running off in the opposite direction at random into the wilds of Krakoa...right into where Dragoness had gone, nearly bumping into her. ”Hey! Watch it!” she snarled, her hands crackling with bio-electric bursts ready to fire, ”What?! You again?! You wanna tangle, buddy?! You wanna fight?!” ”No, no!” Monsoon placed his hands up in apology, “I am sorry, I did not mean to do that--I was not watching where I was---” ”Clearly!” she yelled, hurling one of the blasts at him. Caught off guard, he was struck full in the chest, and knocked flat on his back in the mud. He didn’t want to fight her, to commit needless violence over little more than wounded pride, his sister had brought him up better than that and he was representing her here, so he lay still for a moment deciding what to do that wouldn’t set her off again. It seems he waited too long, however, as Dragoness strutted over to him and planted a boot on his chest. ”You know,” she purred smugly, “I think I like you better from this angle...say, look how dirty you got...you’re gonna need to clean up...how does a nice long hot shower sound?” ”Er...I would much appreciate that, ma’am,” said Monsoon, a bit hesitant and confused. He would appreciate it, but he wasn’t sure what to make of her change in tone and demeanor. She sounded like...like... Oh no. He realized...she sounded like Phantazia had. And Murmur. And, to a point, Fantasma. He began trying to wriggle out from under her foot. ”Hey! Where you going big boy?!” Dragoness called after him as he scampered away into the bushes in a very undignified way. Undignified...but unmolested. *** He reached a visitors area that had a bathroom, where he was allowed to shower and swap his muddy clothes for clean ones. The bath station attendant was a woman named Lorelei---evident by how she referred to herself only in the third person---and she didn’t seem to speak English well, using a broken, childish syntax. But they communicated just fine all the same. ”Lorelei help?” she asked, as she handed him a towel and bath supplies before he headed to the showers. ”Yes, you have been very helpful,” Monsoon said, “Thank you very much, Lorelei.” ”Lorelei help soon.” ”Yes, see you soon,” he understood that was a common American way of saying goodbye. But it seemed she’d meant it a little more...literally. As he’d been washing his hair, the curtain was pulled aside, and there stood Loreleil. Completely naked. ”Lorelei help?” she said, picking up a sponge. Monsoon tore out of there, grabbing the new set of clothes on the way out. *** “Of course it is safe,” Monet St. Croix said in a dismissive tut-tut tone to Monsoon as they toured one of the residential areas, “You think I would bring my precious little sisters here if it were not?” “That was why I wanted to ask you,” said Monsoon, as the aforementioned little sisters ran around his legs, “Since you have children.” “I also have a brother. An older brother. An evil older brother who feeds on other mutants and who is ALSO on this island. If I thought for ONE moment that he could EVER even POSSIBLY get to myself or my sisters, I would fly us all halfway around the world in the blink of an eye, monsieur. I am INSULTED you even have to ASK.” “I...I see,” said Monsoon, not having expected so fiery a response, despite his own temper being similarly hot, especially when it came to his own temper. “I should hope so,” she huffed, “But...since your intentions were good, I am prepared to forgive you. What say we go somewhere Nicole and Claudette shall not bother us? Somewhere...private?” That was when he realized she had started unzipping the top of her costume. “I...er...I must converse with others, ma’am, thank you!” he said, and raised himself aloft on the winds. Thankfully, even though he was in the air, it was still beneath Monet St. Croix to follow. *** From overhead, he sighted a serene-looking glade, brilliantly green grass and foliage surrounding a clear blue natural pool, and he descended. As he touched down near the pool’s edge, a woman’s voice greeted him, and he turned to see in the shadow of a large bush, a blonde in a dark costume that had not been visible from above due to the trees. “Hello there. Thank you for joining me. I hope it doesn’t disappoint you to find someone else here---I know it’s the sort of place people go to be alone, but I never like being ENTIRELY alone. I just don’t like crowds either.” Her name was Darkstar, and, as someone raised with a few other---but not many---mutant peers in a Soviet “school” that was in fact a state facility, then went on to a lifetime of serving on mostly-Russian superhero teams, she indeed wasn’t used to either crowds or solitude. She always had at least two other teammates with her...but never a great number either, like on Krakoa, where there were no more “teams”, where all mutants were one. It reminded her of home, in that way, though when she said that to others, it was taken as a criticism. They introduced themselves, Monsoon a bit cautious, but she didn’t throw herself at him or start taking off her clothes, and it turned out she was nice. She was even receptive when he brought up his issues with Krakoa and how it was run. “But speaking of that,” she said, after listening, and even agreeing with some points, “I am a resident of Krakoa. And as a member of this state...I abide by its laws. Currently, we are being encouraged to...to breed. I realize this is quite forward, but I was wondering if you might---” And Monsoon had shot into the air and zoomed away before Laynia “Darkstar” Petrovna could even finish asking him if she could get his opinion as a man on the outfits she was considering for her date tonight *** “Oh wow,” said a blonde barely out of her teens as he landed among a crowd of mutants near her, “Looks like it’s my lucky day. But then, it always is, for the likes of me, Roulette! And you’re about to get even luckier, stranger!” Aaaaand he was in the air again.  *** Monsoon very carefully selected the next people he spoke to---namely, he ensured they were MEN. They were also villains. He’d never heard of Shinobi Shaw, but he knew Fabian Cortez, he had been in the news as the terrorist who temporarily took over Genosha, around the same time Radha had been a...Monsoon still didn’t like to think of his sister as a villain. It didn’t count! It wasn’t her fault! And of course, Radha being Radha, she said that just as no one had known her real story, her real situation, they shouldn’t assume that others didn’t have such stories of their own, but...he doubted it. Especially within three minutes of speaking to these two. But the fact they were clearly slimy, self-centered, self-important hedonists who were NOTHING like his sister meant they were probably the best people to talk to, because they were the sorts of people he was worried about. ...of course, increasingly he was wondering why, as he wasn’t sure these two seemed competent enough to actually be dangerous. ”I see,” he said stiffly once he felt he’d found out all he needed or could from this pair, and wanting to get away from them as swiftly as possible. He was starting to feel he needed another shower. But what he actually needed was clothing. He really didn’t want to go home in the...uniform, for lack of a better word, that Lorelei had provided him with. It seemed that, along with human languages and other cultural mores, the mutants of Krakoa wished to do away with human manners of dress. But Shinobi Shaw was still dressing like a...well, not how Monsoon would dress, but like SOME people in the rest of the world would. He felt like Radha might like his style though; lots of purple and gold. ”Thank you both immensely for your help, I appreciate your time and patience with me. I have but one more question to trouble you with.” ”If you must,” Fabian sighed as though this were an exhausting ordeal that he was a saint for indulging. ”Shoot, stud,” said Shinobi, twirling a lock of his hair around one gloved fingers. ”I wish to procure clothing that is not a....a skinsuit,” Monsoon said, gesturing to the one he wore. ”Understandable,” said Fabian in a gently lofty and patronizing tone, “Not all of us look as good in them as I.” ”But since Aloba here does and then some, I’m reluctant to ruin the view,” Shinobi returned, “Still, if you’re looking for anything to do with textiles....Skein is who you want to talk to.” ”Skein?” Monsoon asked, his tone revealing his familiarity with the name. ”You know her?” said Fabian, “Ah, I apologize to you for how much she’s doubtlessly RAVED about me to you. She’s hopelessly---” ”Down the street, third home on the left,” Shinobi cut him off, “Don’t let this bozo come with, or he’ll distract her entirely.” ”It’s true,” Fabian smirked, “She just can’t keep her mind on work when I’m around.” As Monsoon left, he was fairly sure he saw Shinobi’s eyes roll at the ginger’s last comment. *** Monsoon was, understandably, cautious as he entered Skein’s abode and made his request. ”Basic salwar kameez?” she replied, “Yeah, I can whip that right up. Just give me what you’re wearing now and I’ll re-arrange the fabric.” ”But, ah...this is all I have here...” Monsoon said nervously. ”Wait in my room,” Skein said. ”I...would prefer not to.” ”Look, I’m not gonna come in and molest you, just hang out with your thang out for a few minutes and I’ll pass you back your fancy new suit, k?” ”You’re...not?” Monsoon asked. Skein raised her eyebrows. She’d been joking around. But this guy seemed sincerely relieved. “Nah. You’re too much of a hardbody for me, big boy. But tell your sister I said hi.” Monsoon said he would, unaware of the implication there. Just as Haven would be later when he told her. *** As Monsoon stepped out of the Krakoa portal, he very nearly knocked over...oh no...an attractive, scantily clad woman. ”Hey, watch it buddy, I’m walking here!” she cawed at him. Ah, he’d emerged in New York. Heidi P. Franklin aka Pretty Persuasions regarded him. She in fact had NOT been walking by, but waiting outside the portal, hoping for someone to come out who could get her in. Heidi was NOT a mutant, having gained her powers through being experimented on instead, but she WAS a partier...and Krakoa sounded like one HOT party, if the rumors were to be believed. ”Hey, I know how you can make it up to me,” she purred, and Monsoon winced. He knew THAT tone by now. Pushing herself up against him, she continued, “Get me into Krakoa, big boy.” ”I wouldn’t know how,” he said, trying to push her away as gently as possible without actually touching her, “If the portal will not let you through, then there is nothing I can---” ”Oh come on now...for me?” All of a sudden he felt...aroused. More than the natural animal reaction he’d had to other women; that had been buried under his embarrassment and his personal values and his spiritual choice to abstain before marriage...this, this was stronger, clouding his mind, making him want to do...not just do her, but do anything she wanted him to. Anything. This was too far. The other women had said things. Some had even touched him. But this woman was manipulating his mind, his body, touching him from within, making him--- She grabbed his crotch. “NO!” he shoved her away, driven too far at last, a blast of wind carrying her even farther than his heavy shove had. He was momentarily horrified---but, as he saw her getting to her feet, he was not regretful. He was also not sticking around. *** ”Well?” Haven asked him when he returned, “What did you discover.” ”It, er...might not be safe for children,” he said, ”But it is definitely not safe for adults.” END

There’s just...there’s just so much I need to know!

Are all the Academy X kids back? DJ? Kidogo? Loa? Wallflower? Blindfold? OMG IS TAG BACK, SHOW ME JULIAN REUNITING WITH HIS BFF, DEAD FOR YEARS AND NOW BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE.

There’s just...imagine, an entire class of mutant teenagers who were all tragically killed and now are resurrected into this new world that’s so different from the one they last saw, like everything’s changed in the blink of an eye. What’s that even LIKE? How do they feel about owing their return and resurrection to one of their own former classmates, who’s now part of this group of five mutants revered on Krakoa with idol-like status as the ones who like...defeated death for the mutant race? How do all the kids who died on M-Day like Hydro, never even having time to know what happened, feel about learning about the Decimation and why they died in the first place? How do the kids who died on the bus like DJ feel, trying to reconnect with their classmates like Julian and Cessily and Santos who have been through SO MUCH since they last saw them, literally lived through wars and the threat of extinction and are so changed now by experiences they can’t ever (hopefully won’t ever) be able to relate to?

Is Jay Guthrie back? What’s it like for Sam and Paige and the rest of their siblings to suddenly have him back? What does Sooraya feel about this? How do she and Jay interact now? How does the every mutant is automatically a citizen of Krakoa thing work....all the Guthrie kids are mutants, but their mom Lucinda isn’t...is she allowed to come and go, according to Krakoa law? There must be exceptions made for some humans to live on Krakoa, surely, given that Corsair is part of one of the Dawn of X line-ups....who makes the distinction and how?

Speaking of the Summers, what’s up with Gabe’s resurrection? How does that work? Does he remember everything, and his past crimes are forgiven on the basis of the amnesty law, so long as he plays nice? Or did Xavier take advantage of being the man who puts all the mutant minds back in their shiny new bodies and conveniently rearrange a few memories regarding why Gabe hates him so much, and now Gabe gets along with everyone just fine?

OMG ARE PETRA AND SWAY BACK AND IF NOT WHY NOT.

What about Kevin Ford aka Wither? Selene was one of the mutant villains granted amnesty when she came to Krakoa, does that mean her former pawns are granted the same resurrection treatment as any other mutant, and if so, how does Kevin feel about being resurrected by Josh....the very person who killed him in the first place?

Oooh, and Clarice....not to mention Jono. What’s it like for some of the more heroic descendants of Clan Akkaba to now be living on the same island as their long distant villainous ancestor, Apocalypse himself?

Speaking of Apocalypse, anyone else catch that bit of gossip from Bar Sinister about how gladly Apocalypse would trade in any of his later Horsemen for his original four....with Hickman having made a big deal about alluding to some long ago war Apocalypse and his original Horsemen waged on Krakoa against some other dimensional foes.....with those Horsemen dying or imprisoning themselves to stop them? Who wants to bet that was to set up a storyline where like, maybe part of Apocalypse’s conditions for working with Xavier and Magneto on all of this was to have his original Horsemen resurrected as well somehow? Like SOMETHING’S going to happen there.

Oooh ooh ooh......what about the fact that ALL OF LOGAN’S 13378427842 dead mutant children are now potentially alive again? CLAN SNIKT? ADRIAN CORBO? WON’T SOMEBODY PLEASE THINK OF JIMMY?

And and and and and they better fucking bring back Chris Bradley and I will literally pledge my firstborn if somebody writes in a scene where Bobby Drake gets to see his little buddy alive and well again, sans Legacy Virus. Look, it doesn’t matter that I’m probably never going to have a firstborn, its the thought that counts, shh, its allowed.

What about Magneto’s original Acolytes, the ones who died when Asteroid M crashed? Chrome, Delgado and Anne-Marie, etc? What might their reactions be upon say, running into Traitor McBetrayal, Fabian Cortez?

IS SIENA BLAZE BACK OMG PLZ LET SIENA BE BACK I WILL....crap, already pledged my firstborn. Ugh, second is the best?

SPEAKING OF....I forget what launched this tangential thought but Mikhail Rasputin anyone? HIS BABY SISTER IS ONE OF THE FOUR WAR CAPTAINS OF KRAKOA, LIKE...TALK ABOUT *SCREEECH* WAIT, SAY WHAT? REVELATIONS TO WAKE UP TO.

Just how long are they gonna tease the whole ‘no but really there’s ANOTHER Summers brother’ plotline this time?

OMG are Emplate, the M twins and Monet all supposed to play happy family in a shared environment, holy shit could you imagine the epic staredowns everytime Marius and Monet run into each other in like Krakoa’s town square or the market or something and Jubilee just stage whispers “Awkwaaaaard.”

Holy shit, how are Ev and Angelo going to react to coming back to life and discovering that Jubes is now a MOM???

What about depowered mutants we haven’t seen get their powers back yet, are they all repowered now thanks to Hope? Is Dallas Gibson on Krakoa, shadow powers intact? What about Shola and Freakshow and Wicked, aka the only interesting characters Claremont has invented in 30 years, no, Lifeguard and Slipstream DO NOT COUNT.

WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS HAVE TO DO WITH THE RETURN OF THE 2099 UNIVERSE IN A COUPLE MONTHS, LIKE HOW ARE THE X-MEN 2099 and X-NATION GONNA LINE UP WITH ALL OF THIS?

And will we get Twilight and Clarion and December back, and finally some kind of answer on whether December is a descendant of Bobby or Emma or both?

Is Leon Nunez, the REAL mutant behind Ink’s powers, a resident of Krakoa because the amnesty law got him out of jail and did he take the power back from that LOSER and did Ink get his stupid ass kicked to the curb because everyone was like lol nobody even likes you and you’re not even a mutant, go be an Avenger ITS WHERE YOU BELONG?

Probably not, but look a guy can dream.

What’s St. John gonna think about this new twink running around using his name, HE’S the only real flamer in town! Or is he just not gonna care, and retire to spend his time resuming his career as a romance novelist? (THIS IS CANON, I DID NOT MAKE THIS UP).

Most importantly, WHAT THE HELL IS THE PREMISE OF THE MARAUDERS BOOK AND WILL I LIKE IT AND WILL BOBBY BE WRITTEN WELL AND SINCE IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE HELLFIRE CLUB AND EMMA’S A KEY PART OF THE BOOK WILL WE GET CHRISTIAN THERE TOO AND WITH SIMON AS PART OF THE MARAUDERS LINEUP WILL I FINALLY GET THE CHRISTIAN/BOBBY/FIRE-GUY-EVEN-IF-SIMON-IS-A-SUBPAR-SUBSTITUTE-FOR-JOHNNY LOVE TRIANGLE I NEED AND DESERVE?

OMG and Daken’s on Krakoa too, oh shit, is Bobby gonna finally get to be the hot girl? So many gays, so little time...whoops, Bobby can make clones of himself too.....oh shit did I make it weird, WHO CARES, BOBBY HAS POTENTIAL LOVE INTERESTS NOW, PLURAL, NOT SINGULAR, HUZZAAAAAAAAH.

And also all the other stuff is still interesting too. But like. Bobby boyfriend. Make it happen.

The United Nations held a summit to go over global affairs and development on 1 January 2020. Another council was held on 6 January 2020 in Geneva, Switzerland for mutants, humans, gods, aliens and all others to attend. All invited parties have been called to the summit that had a strong emphasis on peace and promoting future prosperity, but attitudes soon proved that not all is forgiven towards the mutants and their crimes.

THIS IS THE OFFICIAL COMPLETE CHAT LOG COVERAGE OF THE IC

CAROL: Another day, another conference. Attending these had felt honorary in the past, as if she were setting the world up for bigger things. Now, they were starting to feel more necessary and imminent, as if they couldn’t escape them. The threats were coming bigger and worse than the ones before, but that wasn’t what this Summit was addressing. They had an influx of mutants post the war when the Phoenix threatened the planet, and they had a mutant nation that was entirely their own. To say she felt uneasy was putting it lightly, but Carol saw the promise in Krakoa. But she also could see the downfall. Still, she spoke over the crowd of people, humans, mutants, extraterrestrials, anyone that represented the cause they were pushing towards. Even if Carol felt an awful foreboding, she didn’t let that creep into her voice. There was an introduction, an icebreaker, and then Carol got into the meat of it. “We live in a world post Thanos. Post Phoenix. We have seen death, destruction, and mayhem at every corner of our lives. We may continue to seek the other’s demise based on power or differences, or we may push for a future that ignores that. I might seem optimistic or naive, but I’m convinced that we can avoid another war if we focus on promoting peace and prosperity amongst each other. It will take leaders from every faction, communities coming together—” she could hear it in her voice, her own doubt, but a part of her wanted to believe it too. “We’re gathered here today to discuss the future of our planet, distant planets, and especially Krakoa.”

SHAW: Sebastian sat with leaning onto the table heavily, head lips chin pressed into his interlaced fingers with his cane resting to the side of him. He was following every word that the woman had been saying closely. For the financial success of Krakoa the utmost attention needed to be paid. He gave a momentary glance to his Black Bishop, his son Shinobi, sitting to his right as their eyes met they nodded and looked forward. Their relationship was tense at best but they had a common goal at the very least and knew what needed to get done. Sebastian most certainly didn’t have faith in the optimistic gobbledygook she was spewing but he didn’t need to mention that. “What a capital introduction, Captain Danvers. We appreciate the chance to have all of our voices heard tonight.” Sebastian replied smoothly with a soft smile. He was feeling confident knowing that half of the conference were representatives of Krakoa. While this made him feel secure it also made him feel as if it was over kill. It made them seem like they needed all of this support to stand on their own. That they needed all of this support, that the leaders weren’t adequate to conducting politics. He was also concerned that the other factions may see this as an attempt to display power and feel threatened in the process.

JEAN: It felt good to be doing something. Some hated the public nature of summits and conferences, but Jean had always liked being in a forum and fighting for a cause she was passionate about. “Captain Danvers is right.” A red head tipped in acknowledgment. “The rise of our nation had some unfortunate timing considering everything that happened, but we hope that you don’t count us out as a sovereign nation. Charles Xavier once said that while humans slept the world changed, and it has.” The room was filled with her family and familiar faces but it didn’t eliminate the tension. It just lingered in the background. “There is no you and I. There’s only an us. We are together or we are nothing, and that’s what we hope the world can see. One of the best ways we can show good will is through the Flowers of Krakoa, which the lovely Emma Frost can speak about seeing as she currently helps run the Hellfire Trading Company.”

EMMA: Odds were that Emma had tried - not very long ago - to kill most of the people in the room. With the Phoenix exorcised her mind was clear and the thoughts of others floated by in a quiet rush of consciousness. Gone was the psychopath tripping on power. Not a blonde hair was out of place, nor did a wrinkle crease her white suit. From her seat between Shaw and Kate, the White Queen sipped her wine while Jean spoke. As the other telepath finished she daintily dabbed at her lipstick with the napkin before a smile ticked up the corners of her mouth. “Thank you, darling. There’s precisely three drugs in this world that are produced on Krakoa and Krakoa alone. Drugs L, I and M are capable of extending human life by five years, acting as a universal antibiotic and curing diseases of the mind respectively. We would give you these drugs for free, but after past experiences we have no choice but to offer them at a cost. Life does not come cheap, does it?”

CHARLES: Charles stood up immediately after Emma’s pointed quip. His helmet was resting atop the table beside him as there was no legitimate reason to wear it at this time. He had nothing to hide. And he wanted his fellow telepaths to be acutely aware of that fact. The idea of a face to face chat also seemed to be a bit more effective in connecting with those present as he spoke. “Unfortunately, not everyone seems too keen on this idea. Fourteen nations refuse to trade with Krakoa. Among them are Latveria, due to certain political issues, and the nation of Wakanda, who simply have no need for the drugs we offer to trade with them,” Charles paused for a moment, folding his arms over his chest as he slowly paced across the front of the room, “—normally this wouldn’t be an issue, but a lack of trade partners puts Krakoa at risk of economic and eventually total failure. And we owe it to our residents to fix this issue.”

ERIK: “My fellow mutants are all making points of their own, but I feel that they are not telling the whole truth of the matter.” Erik took over once Charles was finished. “It is true that in the past, I have tried to show you time and time again how strong I am. But methods change, and that it was what we all are going to do– myself included. There will be no war.” Briefly, he paused to focus on his food. It was a casual moment– him sitting there dressed in his new white suit without his helmet, lifting his fork to his mouth to eat before continuing. “You have all shown us the way you influence wars– silently and financially. You make people pay to be healthy. To be educated. To have a home. That way you control them. We have seen it– and do you know what we will do? We will do it better.” Another pause to eat, his tone light like the conversation was easy for everyone listening just as it was for him. “Our drugs enhance and elongate life, and people will pay for it. Then we will buy your banks, schools, media– politicians. And once we control all that, we control you. And we will have every means to stifle out the wrong sort of people. They will have no space or power to peddle their dangerous, outdated ideas. Yes– people will still hate and fear us. But you know what will be different?” Erik looked up from his plate, glancing around the room for the first time. “They won’t be able to do a single thing about it. No war, just like I said.” And with that, Erik took another bite and smiled.

AHURA: Ahura listened intently hardly touching his food except for a few dainty and precise cuts and bites. “Interesting point, Magneto.” Ahura replied returning his smile. It was purely for pleasantries sake. While he was sociable on this occasion he still sounded as much a fanatic as always. With a gentle pat of his napkin to his lips he went on. “Now this is all interesting news and news it is. I applaud you all for being able to use your resources with medicine you claim to be so… Divine.” He sad glancing over to Charles and then resting his eye upon Emma. “As you know I run the largest Inhuman business in the world and a fortune 100 company that trades world wide, but before we even consider becoming a business partner we’re going to need to get a few details taken care of. While I would love to simply take you at your word I will need to see some physical evidence of your drug’s curative properties. Furthermore, this is an issue we can discuss at length outside of this meeting, I need to understand your medicine’s effects on Inhumans and Nuhumans before I can even consider the potential of becoming a potential buyer.”

CRYSTALIA: While everyone else ate, her plate remained untouched. Crystalia had little appetite as of late, her mind now solely focused on the throne she had recently gotten back from her cousin. Even though Dante was seated next to her for additional security it was impossible for Crystalia to relax. “You have to be kidding.” Her voice was incredulous. “We can’t actually be sitting here talking about diplomacy and trade when they tried to destroy New Attilan. They did destroy New Asgard. Are you just going to sit there and take it?” That was directed at the Asgardians. “Redemption has not been earned and forgiveness should not be found.”

ODINSON: “No one has said that redemption has been earned, and I would agree with you on that subject.” Odinson replied, but his tone was detached. “But personal feelings aside, they are their own nation and it is their right for us to listen to their wants. My people have found their place. We have no right to take that option away from anyone else.”

SCOTT: “That isn’t what we’re discussing here.” Scott had been watching the various pieces of discussion get tossed back and forth, finding no reason to interject until now. “We understand that there are wrongs we have to make right. We will find a way to help the world rebuild, and we will make amends, but we can’t do anything if no one works with us. If you’re looking for someone to yell at, this is the wrong room.”

VALKYRIE: “I don’t know,” Val shrugged from where she was slumped over in her chair, flask clutched tightly in one hand. Take a long swig, the inebriated frowned. She had been doing better and drinking less so Thor could drink more, but after everything she had found herself staring at the bottom of her bottle once more. “We could light their island on fire and see how they like it.” She 100% should not have been a diplomat. Her occasional bedmate was in the room as well and the Valkyrie turned to Carol. “Should be all fine and good, right? We liked to say an eye for an eye on Asgard.”

GABRIEL: Gabriel looked around the room, after getting bored with the Phoenix Force drama he went back to Shi'Ar and reclaimed his thrown. And someone was reached out to about this council meeting or whatever it was. He wasn’t sure if he trusted anyone in this room, his brothers included. So he sat back with crossed arms and listened to everything everyone had to say. Of course there are many entitled assholes in the place and it just went to show. He sat quiet and waited until he felt that there would be a good moment for him to comment in or say something back towards the others. But he was sure peace is what everyone needed after the last few things with everything getting. But his interest did pique up when the Valkyrie started to speak. Now this was finally starting to get good and interesting. “I mean, eye for an eye… isn’t that how Magneto used to work? Valkyrie might have a point.” Gabriel shrugged.

THOR: Keeping her helmet on at the table seemed rude but there were many reasons why the goddess of thunder couldn’t take it off. Mjolnir sat beside her as well, ever ready. “Nay, there will be no lighting anything on fire. Perhaps that’s how it was, but Asgard is gone.” Thor looked to the mutant who had spoken. “Valkyrie is drunk. Forgive our King.”

CAROL: Carol’s eyes flickered first to the flask and then over to meet Val’s gaze. It was steady, despite everything. “Makes the whole world blind,” Carol completed the statement, speaking to the whole room despite where her eyes were locked. Not everything was easy, but finding a way to balance her anger and her role as leader was difficult. Even moreso when the people she depended on had varied views from her. “There will be other ways to repay.”

ORORO: “An eye for an eye, would be very irrational and unfair. The Phoenix Force was a cosmic entity that not many can control.” The Kenyan accent left the young woman. “And that would cause the opposite of what we want to happen.” Bloodstorm shook her head, because she had enough of the wars, petty beefs, and battles over every small thing or misunderstood thing. “I believe that it would be best if we put everything in the past behind us… and find beneficial ways to make up for the things that were lost, destroyed, and severed.” She flipped a lock of the long white hair behind her shoulder.

SCOTT: Scott shifted his eyes to his brother and he was forced to remind himself that he wasn’t born into the same luxury that him or Alex had been. His younger self, who was also in attendance, didn’t understand Gabriel like Scott did, and he wouldn’t for a very long time. It had taken years for Scott to even comprehend that he had another brother drifting in space, and another handful of years for him to come to terms with the reality of the situation. Gabriel was angry, Scott had been angry too. And they’d both been twisted by it. “We will find another way.” He said firmly.

CRYSTALIA: “Do you know how many of us died or were injured while you used the Phoenix as an excuse?” An accusatory tone crept into her voice. “This is just disrespectful.”

SCOTT: “That’s something you don’t forget.” Scott said, his tone dipping. “So what would you suggest, Crystalia?”

EMMA: A slight tsking left her mouth. “Hush now, Princess. Such behavior is unbecoming.” The misuse of title could have been passed off as an accident even if it wasn’t. “Perhaps you’re not fit to be leading right now.”

DANTE: As Emma made that last remark flames began to drip from his eyes and he was huffing out smoke from both his mouth and nostrils. “Queen Crystalia.” He said placing emphasis on her title. “Is more than fit to lead.” He said through gritted teeth. He lost people the day of Namor’s attack and his heart was still bleeding.

PIETRO: Softly rubbed Crystalia’s shoulder, not wanting her to get upset by the drunken warrior and the mutant. “I believe we all need to work on allying together. Shared resources, motives, plans, meetings every month or so. If we are going to team together or bond, then we are only as strong as our weakest link, so we should all be well caught up on many things.” He offered up. “Maybe that’s just something we could all work on? Train each other on each other’s customs and such?”

NOH-VARR: Noh had averted his gaze and the temptation to correct Emma. He was relieved that Dante was there to help defend Crystalia’s honor. He had wished his eyes didn’t linger on Crys. Seeing Pietro’s hand caress her shoulder made his stomach drop.

GABRIEL: Gabriel cocked his head remembering what the king said. He was the biggest hater of the inhumans, due to his blow out battle with BlackBolt that ripped a hole in space. “You” He pointed to Ahura. “But we should be the ones worried about you and your people. We don’t produce a mist that harms other species.” He folded his arm, but he was still glaring at his brother… brothers?

KATE: “See, that sounds productive.” Kate nodded in agreeance towards Pietro. “There has to be something we can do other than berate each other, even if we disagree or nearly killed one another.” Even though she was seated beside Noh-Varr and Gwen due  to their West Coast Avengers affiliation, things were still weird with Noh. Add in the fact that Julian was sitting by Emma like a lap dog made it worse. Where the hell was Clint?

JEAN: “Queen.” Jean amended, knowing Emma wouldn’t correct herself. “What Namor did in New Attilan to you and your family was horrible. We would never pretend it was okay. We want to move away from the past.”

AHURA: "No, you burn down nations with cosmic entities.“ He said letting his anger slip for a moment. "That was uncalled for. I acknowledge that the acts of my father were entirely fallible and his decisions resulted in the suffering of many of your species. There is no denying that this is a tragedy and I feel deeply for those effected. But I am… Crystalia is not my father. She is smarter than that and I couldn’t fathom her doing something as reckless as what King Blackagar did.” While he said that he was currently concerned over his cousin’s stability.

VALKYRIE: “By pretending it never happened? I watched a King do that before and I won’t watch it happen again.” Odin had been a coward. “I don’t think the Inhuman is the concern here. She’s far less murdery than I remember you two being. Especially when one of you relieved Thor of his arm. Really, I believe a rematch without the Phoenix to be the best course of action.”

CLINT: Clint was running late. So late, in fact, that he probably shouldn’t have come at all at this point. But sure enough, he busted through the doors of the Summit and announced himself. “Everyone can stop their worrying, I brought–” He stopped dead in his tracks when he finally got a glance of the room he had just entered. People were eating already. Huh. Did his invite say there would be fancy food? He couldn’t remember. “–pizza.” With the hand not holding the pizza boxes, Clint slowly closed the door behind him and started looking for a place to set them down.

GABRIEL: Gabriel nodded his head towards Valkyrie, because he agreed with everything she said. “You can’t pinpoint burning down nations on us. None of us have cosmic powers within us. And we didn’t create the phoenix or force it to choose Jean. Hell why would we give it to her and not someone strong enough to mentally stand it. But That anger of the burning nations is pointed in the wrong direction.” He shot a glare back towards the kid.

KATE PRYDE: Kate had attended more as a formality – she hadn’t wanted to get mixed up in politics, it was why she had originally rejected Emma’s offer for the red throne. Yet here she was, lounging back in her seat, a squat glass in one hand and a bottle of bourbon in the other. She wasn’t drunk, far from it, but to put up with all the bickering, she knew she needed a good form of aspirin. Knob Creek would do. She was in attendance near Emma, with her cohorts also making an appearance. It was a grand gesture, having everyone here, but considering Kate couldn’t even get on to Krakoa, she didn’t know what use she had in the conversation. That was until voices began to escalate and she couldn’t drown them out no matter how much bourbon she swallowed. Should’ve gone with the Bulliet. “Another fight?” Kate tossed her words in Val’s direction. “I’m all for it, but another war isn’t smart. We’re trying to build mutant human relations, not completely destroy them. Back. Off.”

WANDA: Pietro was mollifying his ex-wife, which was good. The two had always been far too emotional and hot headed. Even though she knew that they were incompatible in one major way before anyone else Wanda had worried about what their union could result in.  Thankfully, Luna was an angel and the two had remained somewhat friends. Everyone was better off  and Wanda was thankful both had grown up to the point that they could help one another. “By moving on, I assume. I’ve always been a mutant and an Avenger. I want to believe we can be both and –” the door crashed open, revealing Clint. “–and now it seems that there’s pizza. But like my father said, no one wants war. We have to be better than our failures.”

KATE: Her phone had been buzzing as messages from Clint piled up. She had been texting him about bringing something other than the gross gazpacho they were serving, but when it heated up she had left it upside on her lap. “Idiot.” Kate mouthed as he fumbled the boxes before sliding over so that his chair was more visible. Gwen was at the very end  being uncharacteristically quiet, and as much as she hated it Kate found herself brushing up against Noh-Varr instead  to make room. “Sorry.”

AHURA: It’d be so much easier just to poses this man and shut him up that way, but alas this was a time for words, not manipulation. “As I said, that was not fair of me to say. Being offensive is the last thing I wanted to be today.” He wanted to crush him. “But as my once cousin in laws have alluded. Now is not the time for further violence, but to build bridges of piece.”

PIETRO: He looked over towards his sister, as if he could tell what she was thinking. But he wasn’t going to press that now. “I agree. Because we have kids coming up. Crystalia and I have Luna, Gabriel has his son, and whoever else in here have younger children… so I think if we get it right, it will be smoother for them to get together.” He nodded his head, but was soon distracted by Pizza. “Here let me help you out.” He moved to help Clint out.

VALKYRIE: One shoulder rose and fell. “Seems there’s always a war. “ She had been fighting them for millennia. They just kept  coming. Finally had Val come close to dying in one but it had been for naught. Conveniently, she had her sword and she unsheathed it to lay it on the table.  The new Thor had her hammer on the table anyway.

SCOTT: Scott passed a glance to Emma and then to Jean, his displeasure clear in his expression. He knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Throwing a party after being resurrected was barely a bandaid to a festering wound, and it was only going to get worse from here. “We’re not going to fight you, Val. End of conversation. I hate to pull this card, but Krakoa has granted mutants full amnesty, which means the fate of them and ourselves rests in our hands. To be handled by our own authority. It doesn’t matter if you agree, it doesn’t matter if it makes you angry. We can find a solution together, or we can be at war like decades before us.”

GABRIEL: Shot a challenging look towards the boy. The boy was giving off the same look his father did right before the two of them got into the full out fight. He sat back and crossed his arms, a flash of weakness hit his eyes when Pietro mentioned his daughter. His daughter was definitely worth him making amends with these people, so for the time being he was going to listen to all outcomes and solutions.

CAROL: "There always is. Doesn’t mean we should start one.“ Carol countered, her voice remaining level.

AHURA: The Prince took this as a slight victory and relaxed in his seat pulling his attention back to the group conversation.

CRYSTALIA: Pietro had been both calming and troubling. The Queen sat with her head held high even though she was filled to the brim with anger. “My cousin is right. I am not Black Bolt and I will not stand by while my people are taken advantage of. You call yourselves Kings and Queens,” her chin jutted towards Emma and Shaw, “But you know nothing about ruling. You’re false titles are a joke, just like this vision of the world you’re promoting. Not all of us are willing to buy into it, and your amnesty means little. I’m not the only one who feels that way.”

KATE PRYDE: Kate’s focus redirected to Crystalia and in that moment, she leaned forward and set her bottle of booze on the table near her untouched plate of food. "Too bad you don’t get much say in the matter. Mutants have worked tirelessly to be left alone, and you will not threaten that stability.”

ERIK:  “You should listen to Scott.” Erik spoke up again, his voice clear above the rest but remaining level. “My words from earlier are the truest to the facts moving forward. We have the means to protect and control ourselves, and it would do you all well to be at peace with that fact.” His gaze darted to Crystalia even while he spoke to the entire room. “Things are going to be different. But mutants will not sit back and, and we will not give up what we have already fought so hard to create for ourselves.”

EMMA: A small smirk bounced around on her lips as Kate spoke. Emma really had grown fond of her new Queen. “Pettiness looks terribly tacky on you, darling. You married a mutant, remember? He might not have loved you, but you can’t get more mutant than the House of M Dynasty. Perhaps you should keep that in mind, hm? Or do you only hate mutants when they aren’t in your bed?”

CLINT: “Thanks man.” Clint whispered to Pietro as the mutant helped with his food offering. It seemed like he came in at a bad time. Noticing Kate, he moved as quickly and quietly as he could over to the empty seat she had moved out for him and sat down. ’You guys started without me?’ He signed to her with a smirk.

JEAN: Emma. Jean hissed mentally with her thoughts open to Scott as well. We’re trying to make sure we don’t go to war again, not start one. That being said, Jean wasn’t sure where to go from there. “Well. We clearly disagree, but burning things doesn’t solve problems. I think all swords and hammers can be put away now.”

ORORO: Looked at the everyone. She seldom agreed with Erik and definitely not Emma, but the inhumans were starting to sound like the homo sapiens that hated them. Hell what if they started working with the PURIFIERS? That would be even scarier. “I don’t think that neither inhumans nor mutants are more taken advantage of. We all have persecutions and people out to get us. Another reason we should put this to past.” She looked around the room to see who was listening to her.

KATE: Yeah. Hands moved deftly under the table. You’re super late. But you’re an Avenger. Step in. Do something.

PIETRO: Pietro was fucking up a slice of pizza.

HANK: Hank had sit there quietly not intending on making a big scene but this was getting ridiculous. “You’re kidding me?” Hank spoke up. “This is a UN meeting to solve our conflicts and you’re throwing insults at each other left and right?” His attention moved to Crys. “For a queen you have a wildly dangerous temper. You’re trying to get people rallied up and to your side but you’re just making the room far more hostile. And you.” He said turning to Emma. “Could you just say something productive or shut that mouth of yours? I have met multiple iterations of you and haven’t met one that I liked.” He took a deep breath as his fingers began tapping on the table his pulse was rising and his anxiety was acting up. He needed to take a minute. “And I’m sorry, Magneto, but that’s just not how it works. You don’t come to a gathering of leaders and representatives, say that this is what you want and that’s going to be the way it’s going to be and expect everyone to go along with it? You sound as much the egomaniac as the man from my earth. If we’re going to discuss let’s discuss dammit!” He said with a slam of his hand onto the table.

PIETRO:  “That’s a low fucking blow. I did love her, you don’t get to invalidate that. You should also be shutting the hell up, because you were a host of the Phoenix and fucked shit up too. So no one really need your opinion on things.” Pietro finally getting what the woman said. “And you…” He pointed to his father. “She killed the fuck out of you, so for you to take her side is very not right at all.”

ERIK: “Look back on history, Dr Pym. Tell me that our wishes are out of hand when so much death and suffering has been cast upon us over the decades.” Erik’s tone had changed, growing sharper. “We will work with the world the best we can, but we have standards. We now have rights that we had no other choice but to give to ourselves– because the rest have wanted only to take them away. We make these choices because we have to, because no one has helped us before.”

WANDA: It was quickly dissolving into chaos. Wanda didn’t disagree with what Hank was saying. Crystalia had always been arrogant and stubborn and Emma could be classified as the same. The fact that she and Jean were sitting next to each other after everything that happened still surprised her. When Pietro spoke a tiny smile crept to her face before she quickly tucked it away. “My brother makes a good point, no matter how colorful his language. We have all ‘fucked shit up’,” she quoted awkwardly. “But we all deserve another chance and that chance should not start with us belittling each other.”

ORORO: "I agree with Wanda.“

HANK: "I don’t argue that in a bubble this sounds great and wonderful but the world doesn’t exist in a bubble. Because you want something doesn’t mean you get it and feelings only get you so far. I’m not against the concept of Krakoa but if you’re going to vouch for it and say you’ll work with the world come off as if you will. You and I both know that good intentions can be twisted into something vile.”

CRYSTALIA: The instant Emma spoke her face flushed bright red. The embarrassment still lingered. Medusalith’s face when she heard the news coupled with Black Bolts silent judgement brought tears to her eyes. Even now with her cousin beside her she flinched as if he was going to tell her it wasn’t a good idea. Their marriage had long been annulled and Luna could walk on her own, but it didn’t matter. She had failed in her marriage and she would fail as  Queen. Dr. Pym was right: she was too temperamental. “How dare you.” It wasn’t a question as Crystalia rose to her feet quickly. “My ex-husband and my child are off limits in discussion. Although we shouldn’t be surprised by your fathers choice of alliance, Pietro. He never was good at decision making or doing what’s best for anyone other than himself.” Her heart was pounding her ears, a white hot rage. One finger was extending towards Emma, a small gust of air accompanying it. “Mutants can burn for all I care.”

ERIK: “Personal matters must be set aside when determining the fate of mutants, my dear son.” His last few words were tinged with sarcasm, but his point still stood. Emma might have killed him, but at the core of it all they wanted the same thing. He would work with his demons if it meant keeping his people safe. “Krakoa isn’t going anywhere.” His attention turned back to Hank. “That is a fact. Twist my words however you’d like– that is not my problem. It is yours. Things are different now. I am different.” And then Crystalia was talking. Her words were meant to burn but it didn’t phase him. “You can all say and think what you want about me. The truth cannot be changed, and the truth is that mutants come first. They always have in my mind, and in my heart and in my soul. What I do now is for them, for us. The only promise I give is that I will not stop fighting for that.”

KATE PRYDE:  She was going to swing the bottle. That was Kate’s first choice. But as she rose out of her seat and began to phase through the table to where Crystalia stood, her hand passed through the bottle of bourbon on her accord and she instead balled it into a fist and swung. Her tattooed knuckles collided so hard into Crystalia’s jaw that she heard the crack resonate through her fingers as the middle two broke. The pain wasn’t there yet, it was being suppressed by the unbridled anger that was spilling over. She didn’t say anything as she stood there, her body tense as her focus hyperfixated on Crystalia and no one else.

AHURA: He could quite literally feel her rage, her embarrassment, everything. It was being funneled directly into his mind through his empathy. “Take a walk.” He projected into her head as he stood up from his seat and brushed his pants. “We have decided to depart for the evening. Thank you for the opportunity and while we have our differences today I hope we can work through them over ti-” It was then that he felt the wind of a well thrown punch whiz past his face and into crystalia’s jaw. In an instant he went from civil to soldier. His eyes shined bright blue as a dozen spiritual projections surrounded Kate.

GABRIEL: “Alright. My daughter has a doctor’s appointment and I am not getting into this.” He stood up and watched Carol punch the hell out of her. He didn’t feel bad, due to the woman’s words of ‘mutants can burn’ - his daughter was a mutant and he wasn’t here for anyone shit talking the mutants or saying something that would suggest any harm to all mutants.

DANTE: As Kate threw a her punch Dante rose to his feet. His skin cracked and molted as magma became rock on his flesh and fire streamed like tears from his eyes and flames drooled from the maw of Inferno.

NOH-VARR:  Entirely on impulse Noh rose from his seat and extended an arm out. “Crys!” He called out on instinct despite knowing full well she didn’t want anything to do with him.

PIOTR: "Katya!“ He yelled out almost as if a scold as he stood to his feet knocking over his own beverage in the process. "What is wrong with you?! This is not you!”

ILLYANA: Well, now it was fun. Illyana hated the loud Inhuman so it was hard not to smile. Instead she pulled her sword off her back just to be safe, eyes quickly darting in the direction of her brother. If they wanted a fight she would fight. “Stand down, brother. She can fend for herself. Clearly.”

PIOTR:  “This is not about aptitude it is about what’s right!” His words were somewhat slurred as the smell of vodka lingered on himself. “Katy- Kate.” He caught himself. “Please.”

CLINT: Clint waited to respond as things in the room started to escalate. He took in a breath, reached for a piece of pizza, and took a large bite. Then he slowly shook his head, eyes wide as the Inhuman Queen got decked in the face. ’No way I’m getting in the middle of that.’

CRYSTALIA: For a whole minute, Crystalia had no idea what happened. She was approached quickly by the red clad mutant who reeked of booze and all of the sudden – hands connected with her jaw and Crystalia saw stars as her head snapped to the side before the motion sent her to the ground. There was a crack and her face felt like it was splintering but it was hard to say how much damage had been inflicted. A part of her knew that she had been out of line but time and time again mutants continued to throw the first punch. Her hands hurt from where they connected with the floor, body tangled up in her dress. Sitting there with a ringing in her ears, Crystalia tried to clear her head before pulling herself to her feet and raising a hand to gingerly touch her already bruising jaw. A pained grow was let loose from her lips as flames burst towards the Red Queen.

KATE: Immediately, Kate’s attention was forced away from Crystalia as the room retaliated. “Ah hell,” she heard herself say as she backed up a bit, giving herself some distance from the Inhumans. Shaking out her hand, she ignored the pleas from behind her and paid attention to ensuing anger before her. “Maybe next time—” her words were cut short by a burning sting that snaked up her arm just as Kate willed herself incorporeal. The rest of the flames extended past her and Kate moved out of the way, keeping her singed arm and broken hand close to her chest. Taking form near Emma, Kate was quick pushing her words out. “I get this is my fault, but I think we should go.”

EMMA: There was a reason why Emma had picked Kate. Even back when she was Kitty Pryde she had been something and after years of waiting for her to explore her full potential they had finally made it to this point. It was messy, of course, and brought on by unsettling circumstances but it was beautiful as well. Progress was often made through trial and error, after all. The telepath was already preparing to enter any minds that may have needed to be soothed when Kate backed up into her. Her body took on its diamond appearance a millisecond after Kate went intangible but it remained so even after the brunette returned to normal. “Well, darling, you’ve certainly made your first appearance as the Red Queen memorable. You and I will have a chat later about how to conduct ourselves.” Battles won with words were always more entertaining. Dropping a hand onto Kate’s arm, Emma smiled at the crowd. “I see your threats to burn us down were not made in vain. Lawyers will bring the required paperwork for  trading. In the meantime, it’s such a shame to hope that humans can evolve and time and time again see that they can’t. Next time, perhaps?”

NOH-VARR: The Kree very quickly wedged himself between Crystalia and everyone in front of her. His eyes pleaded with her to stop. “Crys…”

ERIK: ”Enough!” Erik stood up, slamming his fist against the table. Along with the noise made when his hand hit the surface, every metal utensil in the room shook– some of them even sliding onto the floor in the process. He had been able to keep himself under control, and he wasn’t about to lose that now. After standing, Erik took slow steps over in the direction of Kate and Emma, eyes glancing to different people in the room but lingering on Crystalia. “Contrary to what many of you may believe– I was hoping to forgo violence for at least today. Perhaps it is best that we all leave now. Behavior like this won’t be tolerated.”

JEAN: Jean was trying to be more composed than her counterparts. She rose gracefully to take her place between Erik and Scott, hands folding in front of her dress. “Of course, this isn’t ideal for anyone. We apologize for any harm done, but we remain firm on our stances. Queen Amaquelin, the last thing we want is to go to war with the Inhumans once more. Please let us know the cost of any damages and we will cover the bill ourselves. The world can be better than what it is, but we have to work to get it there.” With that being said, Jean nodded for Illyana to open up a portal for the mutants while others prepared to go to the Krakoan portal. “Have a nice evening.”

CRYSTALIA: Her chest was heaving from adrenaline and pain but the flames had died down. She still wanted to lash out and retaliate because her pride had been hurt but suddenly Noh-Varr was there. His presence didn’t take away from the aching in her jaw but it did make her self-conscious about the tears stinging in her eyes. “Noh?” She blinked, taking a step back. Where was Pietro and Ahura?

NOH-VARR: “Yes Crys, it’s me.” He said slowly taking a step towards her. He wanted to wipe her tears but knew it wasn’t the right thing to do. “Can we talk?” He wanted to get her out of here and it was something he had been meaning to do.

CRYSTALIA: For a moment she hesitated. The room was full of people who were either staring or beginning to file out. The event had ended and now she stood with shaking hands and a chest that couldn’t catch its breath. “Talk? I – yes. We can talk. I just – I need to get out of here.”

NOH-VARR: He handed a glass of water to her that he took off of the table and through his coat over her shoulders. “Let’s go.” He said gently as they made their way out.