Sept 4th - Protestors at the Gates

by **Narrator** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 4:17 pm

During the early afternoon people from Maldon begin to gather at the front gates. They're carrying signs and one of them has a megaphone. They begin setting up, holding up signs that read such gems as 'No Mutant Maldon' and 'Muties Out' or simply a stylized strand of DNA inside a red circle with a red bar across it. All in all maybe two dozen people gather and take up position just outside the gate where they're easily visible from the Manor.

by **Will Stanton** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 6:13 pm

Will, still dressed in his dress blues, wandered over towards the commotion, intrigued.

by **Narrator** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 6:18 pm

"Look! They even got US military here! I told you, they're trying to unload their problems on us!" one of the protesters exclaims, apparently striking a chord with at least some of them because the crowd starts to boo Will.

by **Will Stanton** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 6:19 pm

"W...what?" Will stammered. "But, we're the good guys!"

by **Narrator** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 6:22 pm

"Go home!"

"You're not the world police!"

"We don't want your rejects!"

"You're nothing but trouble!"

by **Will Stanton** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 6:24 pm

"Oh, I see. There's a miscommunication. I'm a great number of things that aren't trouble!"

by **Alex Maurell** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 6:30 pm

The commotion at the gates was enough to get Alex to peek over. However he felt the need to asses the situation first. Just out of view he took a pile of leaves and sticks to create his hawk construct. With Ace now in the air he had a better view of the crowd. So far, small enough to be not too threatening but it could get out of hand if pressed the wrong way. Still there was a student looking harassed by the protestors, better make a show of number. Trying to play it off casual, he walked over to Will. "Hey, what's going on over here?"

by **Will Stanton** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 6:31 pm

"Oh, these are some people from the town. I think they think I'm trouble," he said to Alex. "I'm just telling them that they're mistaken."

by **Narrator** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 6:33 pm

"We're exercising our civil right to voice our displeasure with dirty mutants in our town!" one of the protesters shouts. It sounds like a rehearsed bit with a tacked on insult that kind of defeats the purpose of the former.

by **Will Stanton** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 6:36 pm

"The showers work fine! I know, I checked them out myself," Will nodded.

by **Alex Maurell** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 6:37 pm

Looking Will over he could understand the sentiment but perhaps there was more to the way Will was dressed than what appeared. "Right, well..." He turned to address the crowd, "Alright, you wanna talk, let's talk. What exactly is your problem with mutants?"

by **Narrator** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 6:39 pm

"You're a threat!"

"No one's gonna want to come to our town anymore with you here!"

"You're freaks!"

"I don't want my kids to catch what you have!"

by **Alex Maurell** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 6:45 pm

Alex took a breath, trying to keep himself from getting angry. Wouldn't do to blow up on the ignorant. "Alright one, that's exactly why we're here. To not only get an education but to learn control. And honestly a lot of mutations are harmless. Two, yes they will, it's just going to be more likely of the mutant verity. And honestly did Maldon have that great of a tourist economy in the first place? Three, that's mean, your mother taught you better than to hate on someone for something they don't control. And four, mutation is not contagious! It's genetic! That's why it's called mutation. You probably have the gene in you right now and I feel sorry for your kids if they turn out to have a mutation."

by **Narrator** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 6:48 pm

The woman screams. "You heard him! He said I already caught it!"

The rest of the protesters nod and murmur before they pick up their chanting again. They all look like they're either scared or angry with the only exception being the man with the megaphone, who seems like he's in charge and is wearing a very pleased smile on his face.

by **Will Stanton** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 6:50 pm

"I think they may have misunderstood you," Will whispered to Alex.

by **Alex Maurell** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 6:55 pm

Alex has never face palmed harder than he did just now. Lord help him, he hated the ignorant. "I said genetic, you ignorant sons of-...Alright, who here actually knows how genetics and evolution works?! Show of hands!"

by **Will Stanton** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 6:55 pm

Will, pointedly, did not raise his hand, but looked to see what the response would be.

by **Narrator** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 7:04 pm

Two or three people hesitatingly raise their hand but quickly change their mind when the majority doesn't.

"Evolution is just a theory!" someone yells to encouraging cheers of the rest of the crowd.

by **Shane Marsh** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 7:11 pm

"Just because you guys never left the cave doesn't mean nobody did!" Shane called out as he joined Will and Alex.

Probably not helping.

by **Alex Maurell** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 7:16 pm

"Oh, don't give me that tired bull. Scientific theory is up held by decades of cross categorical study and testing. Evolution is decent with modification. So just like you inherent your parents hair color and eye color, you can inherent mutation. And it's a submissive gene which means, just like blue eyes, mutation is a rare gene inherited by your parents and from their parents. I inherited it because both of my parents had non-active submissive gene. They weren't mutants but I was born one. I can't deny it any more than I can deny my skin color." He was hoping that he could convince this crowd, though it was unlikely if previous experience held true.

by **Will Stanton** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 7:21 pm

"I like this guy. He uses very big words," Will whispered to Shane.

by **Narrator** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 7:26 pm

"I don't like this guy! He uses very big words!"

"Yeah, they think they're better and smarter than us regular blokes!"

by **Shane Marsh** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 7:31 pm

"We don't hate folks for bloody arbitrary shite, so you're damn right we're better," Shane responded.

by **Alex Maurell** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 7:34 pm

Alex rolled his eyes, it was high school all over again. Everything he did was wrong. Alright, they thought mutants were dangerous, they probably wouldn't change their mind unless it was right in their face. Counter protests in the past had people interacting with little barriers between them. The gate was a barrier. Taking a breath he looked over to the other two mutants. "One of you should probably get a teacher or administrator." He was all he said before walking over to the gate, sliding it open just enough for him to get out and closing it behind him. "Well, here I am. I'm not going to do anything, I will not resist, I'm not here to fight. Do what you want." He stood there, hands at his side, waiting.

by **Narrator** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 7:39 pm

"He's trying to scare us off!"

"Watch out!"

"Don't come any closer!"

The group as a whole backs away a little bit but then it's almost as if a ripple of reassurance spreads through their ranks and they stop to stand tall.

"He's using his powers!" someone shouts and that's when a stone flies from somewhere in the crowd. It's not aimed very well and clanks off the gate behind Alex, but it sends a rather clear message.

by **Alex Maurell** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 7:42 pm

He flinches at the stone and he could hear his constructs in the back of his mind all scream for him to defend himself. But he didn't move, attacking wouldn't do. He'll stay right where he is. "I'm not here to fight! I will NOT attack you!"

by **Will Stanton** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 7:43 pm

Will gasped in shock, and quickly ran to the gate, shifting and melting his way through the bars rather than opening the gate again.

He was helping!

by **Narrator** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 7:47 pm

If the crowd had been nervous before, that puts them in a near panic. Several people scream and back up slightly while others try to close their ranks and present an united front. The man with the megaphone still looks calm, almost pleased. Another stone flies, this one aimed significantly better and coming Will's way.

by **Shane Marsh** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 7:47 pm

"Idiots, " Shane groaned, facepalming.

Up to me to get help... damnit.

He ran to find a faculty member.

by **Will Stanton** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 7:48 pm

Will panicked, and crouched down, covering his head.

He shifted into a large boulder, the better to negotiate with the small rocks flying at them.

by **Alex Maurell** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 7:50 pm

Alex looked shocked when Will melted through the bars and defended himself from the next rock. "No! We're not attacking! We don't want a fight! Please!"

by **Narrator** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 7:54 pm

The rocks bounce off of Will with little effect beyond chipping his surface. After a couple of them the rocks stop because they're obviously having no effect.

"You see? We've been here ten minutes and already they try to scare us away." the man with the megaphone says, his voice amplified yet still sounding surprisingly pleasant.

by **Will Stanton** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 8:03 pm

The boulder was almost quivering.

by **Alex Maurell** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 8:04 pm

"We have a right to counter protest!" he called back. Slowly he moved to sit down, gently patting the boulder. "Hey, sit down with me. If we don't attack, we'll be fine."he said reassuringly.

by **Will Stanton** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 8:05 pm

Will shifted back, still cowering a little. "a...Alright. Whatever you need me to do..."

by **Alex Maurell** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 8:32 pm

"If you get scared, you can go back inside at any time. I'll be okay."he tried to reassure. "What's your name? Mine's Alex."

by **Will Stanton** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 8:40 pm

"They call me Will. This is the first time I've seen something like...this."

by **Alex Maurell** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 8:44 pm

"Well Will, welcome to your first protest. Trust me it's not as scary as it seems. They won't do anything, not anything big anyway."

by **Will Stanton** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 8:45 pm

"They threw rocks!"

by **Alex Maurell** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 8:49 pm

"I said anything big."He shrugged, "They won't kill us."

Who is online