Cause and Effect, Aftermath | Part V {COMPLETE}

[Regenerist]

When: February 10th, 2006; 5AM
Where: Main Kitchen

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Juliette had managed to find just what she needed as she grabbed out the supplies her mother had sent her along the way for her favorite meal. She was quick about gathering said supplies from the fridge and once the supplies was on the counter she slid the fridge door closed and she noticed something in the doorway. For a moment it took her a second to realize what exactly she was seeing until she remembered earlier, the mutant Ms. Moore had brought to the Sanctuary before grabbing Virtuoso and herself.

“Hi.” She said. “Do you want to sit down?” Juliette asked him. She wasn't sure how the mutant's mutation was like but he seemed to comprehend the situation as was. “Do you like gumbo?” Regenerist inquired. She knew it was several questions but she wanted to know if he would eat what she was preparing and got out the utensils and pan. It hadn't taken her long to put everything together and in the pan. She turned towards him after rinsing her hands off.

“I bet this is different than what you're used to.” Juliette offered. ~Man, mom would have a field day once she learns about this. I don't think she's met a mutant like him.~ She thought idly to herself. It didn't make her smile any less at Alien. She figured they were a bit odd compared to him and he seemed a tad bit lost. Though given what had happened to him, she wasn't surprised. She wouldn't be all that surprised if everyone suffered quite a bit too from the experience.

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Summary: Juliette attempts to interact with Alien.
Tag: Alien, OPEN

[Alien]

Who: Alien & Regenerist [JP]
When: February 10th, 2006; 5AM
Where: X-Mansion, Kitchen

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Alien cocked his head slightly when the female turned to him and asked if he'd like to sit down. Taking this as an invitation to enter the kitchen he crept in, keeping himself haunched low, down to her height level, submissive and less intimidating. Citrine eyes looked into the pan at the food cooking together curiously. Regenerist covered the pot to let it cook. "It's old fashioned Cajun Gumbo," She informed him. "I like to cook it," Juliette informed him with a broad grin. "Are you alright?" She asked the mutant.

Alien listened as she explained what the food was. It had an interesting smell, all the ingredients mixing together along with the spices. He turned to her when she asked him if he was alright and gave a single nod in return. Just after his gesture of confirmation that he was alright, a clawed hand raised and motioned toward her with a questioning lilt to his head. It was his own way of 'asking' if she was alright as well.

"I'm fine, was shot a few times but I heal fast," Juliette told him. "Um, do you want anything to drink? Water? Soda? Tea? Not sure what you're used to. Though given that place..." She trailed off and began dragging drinks out to show him what possibilities there were for him. There were several types of soda placed on the counter, cold water, and juices. "I can make some ice tea sans lemon if that's what you would like." She told him.

Alien gave a faint trill as he listened, watching her as she began taking things out and placing them on the counter. He reached up, picking one of the cans of soda, one that read 'Root Beer' and eyed it for a moment, looking almost as if he didn't know what to do with it. Before she could question him he reached up to open the tab. Raising the can to his face the mandibles opened and tentacle like appendages wrapped around the can, one dipping in to get a taste. It was good, and vaguely familiar. Lifting the can he took a sip. There was an odd noise from his throat as he began to sneeze, the sudden carbonation not agreeing with him, making a bit of a mess on the floor. Another sneeze and a shake of his head he set the can down on the counter.

Juliette was quick to move out of the way. "It's okay, I can clean this up," She told him getting out a mop and cleaning supplies and made quick work of it. "Um, do you want some water in a glass or bowl?" She asked thinking that maybe soda was a bad idea to start with. Water was a tad bit easier and move up to tea and then soda if the mutant could tolerate it. She put everything away and made sure everything was dry while lunch cooked.

Alien trilled, apologetic sounding as he watched her clean up the mess he'd made from the soda's carbonation causing him to sneeze. He nodded, accepting the water in a bowl. Mandibles opened, and closed around the bowl as he tilted it upward to pour into his open mouth. Finishing the drink he looked around briefly before walking over and setting it in the sink, knowing that's where dishes go when you're done with them.

Juliette stirred the Gumbo and checked with taste and found it ready. She turned the stove off and smiled as she reached for the bowls and used the ladle to pour gumbo into two bowls. She placed one bowl in front of him and reached for a spoon in the drawer. Alien made a soft noise, akin to a purr, as he eyed the bowl placed in front of him. He glanced at Juliette a moment, using her spoon to eat the meal, before returning to his own. Picking up the bowl he raised it to his chin, mandibles opening and tentacle like appendages gingerly testing the food. It was hot, though not overly so that he'd burn himself. The slim extremities took in the taste and texture of the food, picking pieces up and guiding them to his mouth.

Juliette finished her bowl before watching Alien. "Do you want some more?" She inquired. A click of mandibles was her response and Alien nodded, eyeing the pan then his own empty bowl. He stood, making his way to the stove, glancing back at Juliette every so often to make sure he wasn't doing anything wrong by his actions before waiting for her to fill his bowl up again, looking for her approval as he did so.

Juliette opened the top of the pan and took the ladle in hand ready to give him more. She was glad someone else appreciated her food. Not all people appreciated genuine Cajun Gumbo. "You must be starving." She said confidently. Alien made a noise that could have easily been a laugh at her comment as he made quick work of his second bowl, then hesitantly eyeing the pan for a third helping. Juliette poured herself another bowl but didn't get a chance to sit down as she noticed his expression and once again empty bowl. "You can get another bowl full if you want," She told him. "After I eat mine, I'm going to go to bed and sleep off as many hours as possible. Getting shot takes a lot out of you," She muttered not realizing she was dozing off next to her bowl of food.

Alien nodded in firm agreement, getting shot did hurt, but that came with the territory when it came to him... or at least it used to. A breathy sigh escaped him as he watched Juliette, nearly nodding off into her meal. He was unsure of what to do, he couldn't just leave her there if she fell asleep. He would stay then until someone came for her, or she made her own way to wherever she intended to sleep. As he stood 'guard' over the sleepy teen he went back to the stove for yet another serving of cajun gumbo, beginning to feel full just as the pan was emptied.

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Summary: Alien and Regenerist are in the kitchen. Regenerist is cooking gumbo for herself, offering Alien some. She also offers him a drink. First he tries soda but the carbonation causes him to sneeze so she gives him water. She then serves up the gumbo which he seems to enjoy, working on his third serving just as Regenerist begins to fall asleep at the table. Left in an awkward position Alien hovers in the kitchen like a watchdog and finishes up the gumbo while he's at it. He's waiting there until someone comes to collect Regenerist or she makes her own way to bed.

[Storyteller]

Who: President Robert Kelly
When: Midday Friday, February 10th, 2006
Where: White House Conference, Washington DC

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Eloquent in dress and form, he stood upon the platform staring out over the crowd made up of both reporters and simply people of the public, intermingled with the heavy security presence always surrounding such ones of high status. His gaze caught the many but did not linger for too long all the same. President Robert Kelly’s demeanor gave off the sense of leadership and political height he had attained, nonetheless, his eyes held a renewed passion for something the man had only thus far addressed the public once since the events that’d paved the way for the change of outlook concerning those among them with unique abilities. The homo-superior were slowly being recognized not as something to be feared, but revered; fellow human beings with something special to offer, particularly to those not ‘blessed’ with such a skill sets.

His silence was louder than any words really ever could be, for it was clear the President of the United States of America was currently dealing with his own anger-filled reaction to what this speech, held at Midday on February 10th, 2006 was about. Gone was the need to plead; replacing was the urge to order, but he wouldn’t, for it was not in his best interest to start ordering the general public to change feelings so deep within them. However, he could relate, and, in this, he would tell them:

“I stand here as a man who would have once condoned what Jeremiah and Sylvia Crestmere were trying to achieve in the now ousted facility near the US and Canadian Border. At one time I would’ve wholeheartedly agreed with experimenting on mutants to find a way to not only control them, but perhaps one day erase the ‘disease’ that is mutant kind completely.

Now…

I look back on those days and wonder why? What could have driven me to look at a child and decide they had no more right to live than a baseline human being just because of the changes in their DNA? How could I have possibly EVER condoned doing whatever it took to eradicate this weakness, this infirmity, by any means necessary? I wanted to cleanse human kind from what I perceived as a threat and a danger to our very survival…

Then came the night Man’s Best Friend, the ever loved canine, the puppy you grew up with, the ever loyal companion your children play with, turned on every person, human or mutant, young or old. It didn’t matter, they came and they destroyed, yet, do we now sit back and demand the death of every canine within the city limits? Within the world?” Kelly paused for a few moments to let that sink in. “Have we not forgiven and moved past these events? Have we not understood our beloved pet was driven to commit these atrocities, made for a purpose that was not by any means their choice?

I ask you, the Citizens of the United States, if your pet survived that night and you have taken it back in and love it even though it was a part of something so horrible, ask yourself, how much more precious is the life of a human mutant, who just wants to live, who doesn’t ask for anything in return, and who perhaps aided in your survival of one of the worst nights in the history of this country? We have an obligation to be the first nation to show the world mutants are humans too and they were there for us even when we did not want them to be.

I will be renewing my talks with Professor Charles Xavier and his X-Men about the proposal of Agency X, and I open this offer up to all mutants, everywhere.

We need them!

So many of us would not be standing here if a mutant or mutants didn’t put their own life on the line to save us, despite how some of us had previously and so openly treated them. I now reiterate to any and ALL of you still harboring such heavy and unbridled hatred for the next step in the evolutionary chain of the Homo Sapien. Just like any other criminal activity, whether against human or mutant, you will be found out, and you will be punished accordingly.”

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Summary: Along with some brutal honesty of his own, President Kelly lays it all out on the table – the push for mutant rights and the promise that the United States of America will be the first country to pave the way for human/mutant equality, the reemphasis of the Agency X proposal, and the future consequences of committing such acts as the Crestmeres have done.
NB:

Part V Closed. Speech posted both here and in the Agency X Plotting Forum.