Spark 03: Video:

[realmenknitplushies]

Yo. So I've kinda got a question for people who've done this whole [waving a hand] "hero thing" before, or gotten involved in these sorta fights. What do you tell your family 'n all that about - this whole mess? Do ya tell them anything? 'Cause ma came to the big city for New Year's, an' we were talkin' about things... I just wasn't sure what to say.

I don't wanna go scarin' her, or get her involved in this mess. But I don't wanna lie.

Any thoughts?

[Locked to his team:]

And by the way, ma brought a hamper of stuff to share with friends. Shit, you'd think she was trying to make me explode: I've got enough here to keep me goin' for weeks. So... I wanna split this with you guys. You up for it?

Comments

[video]

[presto_turn]

[Shindou is going to go ahead and just...set this as private between the two of them from the start, because it'a a delicate subject. He's frowning and not really looking at the camera as he hits reply.]

My first year, I told my parents the X-Men taught students here how to use their powers for self-defense, but...that was all. I never mentioned being on a team or anything that would have sounded dangerous.

I thought -- it's not something you can expect family to understand, when they aren't here.

[It's a decision that still makes him feel like the worst son in existence when he thinks about it. That's not exactly subtle.]

But, after the Sentinel attack...they found out everything anyway. So, just...

If you decide not to tell them, you have to be ready for it to turn into a secret. If that makes sense?

Voice

[anythingwithstrings]

I... didn't? My parents freaked out enough about people attacking the school, so I left it out of my last call.

Just, well, gauge your mom on how she reacts when you talk about when people come to kill us and steal our organs?

Re: Voice

[realmenknitplushies]

Yeah. I kinda didn't even bring that bit up last time. I dunno what she'd have gotten more worried over - us gettin' attacked, or me tryin' to fight 'em back...

[realmenknitplushies]

I ... think I get ya.

[Sighing a bit.]

I basically came here 'cause it was meant to be the safer option. I ... wouldn't hurt anyone this way. But now I'm gettin' into all of this stuff with you guys... it's worryin' me.

[anythingwithstrings]

I'm not sure mine have gotten over the whole 'asleep for five years' thing that happened yet, I tend to leave out stuff that'll just make it worse.

If they pull me from the school, it'll just mean they get stuck in this mess with me.

[realmenknitplushies]

That's another thing. I've already pulled her into too much crap just by bein' myself...

[anythingwithstrings]

Oh, you were trouble before you got powers?

[realmenknitplushies]

Yes. No. It's ... [ponder, ponder, how to put this] kinda complicated.

[anythingwithstrings]

This is a school for mutants, we're all complicated.

But if you don't wanna talk about it, I get it. I don't like revisiting my complications.

[realmenknitplushies]

Heh. Okay, that's true. I think some people here already know about this crap, but ... yeah, it ain't fun to think about.

[anythingwithstrings]

I mean, if they're still issues, you need someone to talk them out with.

But if you have them handled, past is past. Right?

[presto_turn]

Everything we're doing is about making the school safer, though.

[That, at least, bleeds some of the doubt out of his voice, replacing it with conviction.

More than any question of heroism or mutant rights in the world at large, that's what made him certain he needed to stand with the X-Men.]

You can't explain to people back home what that's like, though. Having to fight to protect the people around you...

Not with my mother or father, anyway.

[realmenknitplushies]

Yeah. That's what it comes down to. This is about protectin' people, and that's what matters.

Not bringin' more trouble. 'Cause trouble's gonna bring itself.

[realmenknitplushies]

R-right. Past's past.

[He doesn't sound quite so sure, mind.]

[anythingwithstrings]

You need to really sell that you're over it, if you want others to believe it and not pester you.

[presto_turn]

Mn. [He nods, simple and firm.]

It's up to you how much you feel like you need to tell anyone at home. Just...all I can say is that it's hard to make people understand that part.

Video

[divine_spirits_universe]

I tell them what they need to know, but there's already an understanding that I do what I want and what I want will turn out well.

[realmenknitplushies]

[Slowly nodding back-]

It's hard enough to explain normal stuff sometimes, huh. Never mind this.

[realmenknitplushies]

Sell it? It's done! It's gone! Nothin' to sell!

Re: Video

[realmenknitplushies]

Heh. Good for you if what you're up to always does.

Video

[divine_spirits_universe]

Well, more or less. But then I don't like doing things that won't turn out well, so I plan appropriately to get the best edge.

[Video ]

[jolie_aile]

My family has been like...[she waves a clawed hand near her eyes] this, ever since they started keeping records.

They've kept out of the way of things, really, until recently. Before the...incident, I was the first one to do anything like this. I joined a team, but I don't think they thought I was serious. My sister didn't, anyway.

[The next part is lightly locked; Flandre was still nervous about talking about this. Especially where her sister could see.]

She was afraid I'd get hurt, or...die, even.

[Video]

[niepokonany]

Tell them you're in it for the sweet uniforms?

[God, the blue and yellow. If they hadn't allowed him to customize his uniform, he would genuinely just refuse to wear it or use his power to transform it every time he had to.]

Re: [Video]

[realmenknitplushies]

[Kanji can't help but laugh a bit at that one. He's already quietly planning customisations for whenever uniforms become an issue.]

If I said that, she'd definitely know there was a problem.

[Video]

[niepokonany]

[He wasn't tense before or anything, but the laughter seems to put him more in his own zone -- more the way he looks when talking to friends, or rattling on about something he's comfortable about. He shrugs, giving the camera a little grin.]

Mad legit. They're kinda awful, you know?

[He has a thought, and bursts out laughing.]

You could tell her they're like, for some kind of sports team! Or you took up weirdly X-themed interpretive dance or something?