Xaviers!

"The aliens likely used their tech to turn innocent mutants into terrorists. We know they can."

"Interesting," Aiden said, "Must've been quite the fight. I've only ever fought other mutants in sparring matches and training exercises."

"It was a first for me outside of the Danger Room. Though not my first fight against an empowered enemy. First was, I swear I'm not taking the piss, a giant magical tree monster. Didn't even know for sure it wasn't a sim until after."

"Bloody Fey bullshit."

"Magic, really? We were briefed on magic," Aiden said, "By a very skeptical officer who probably didn't believe a word that was coming out of his own mouth. Didn't believe any of it either to be honest."

"We have a wizard, two Fey, and two literal werewolves living here, so my modern skepticism has taken quite the hit lately."

"My briefing did say this campus, and well the world outside Genosha, was a strange and chaotic place so why shouldn't it have a coterie of magical... people," Aiden chuckled.

"I'd wager, to you, we must seem to have a callous disregard for discipline and security."

"And I can't honestly say you're wrong exactly."

"It's both wonderful and horrifying," Aiden shrugged. "Genosha is quite drab and rigid in comparison. I do miss Genosha's general orderliness, but the world outside her borders isn't some terrible hellscape either."

"This school may be vibrant but I think you're going to find England is drab and rigid in its own special way," he joked.

Aiden chuckled.

"A little oasis then," Aiden said, "Too much tradition along with poor weather and food weighing everyone down?"

"Exactly. It's bloody gloomy, and that's before you factor in the night beasts prowling the moors," he said with a straight face.

"Seems irresponsible to allow night beasts to roam around," Aiden deadpanned. "It took our founders years to get rid of their nests on the southern islands around Genosha."

"You jest, but I'm not entirely kidding. My own personal childhood foggy night hellhound is one of the resident werewolves."

"Thought I bloody imagined the thing."

"Really? Small world running into your very own childhood horror," Aiden said.

"Stranger yet, I had just told my campfire tale when she crawled out of the fog. Like I bloody conjured her."

"You lot are apparently cursed to live in interesting times," Aiden said.

"No strange happenings back home? If this little enclave attracts weirdness, I can't imagine what tentacular horrors beach themselves on your shores."

"Fewer perhaps than you'd expect," Aiden shrugged. "Genosha is much less merciful than your campus is when it comes to invaders I imagine."

Aiden paused for a moment.

"It's also possible that being around mutants my entire life makes these events seem less... odd."

"I'd wager it would have that effect, yes," he nodded, "Whereas being around other mutants is all new and exotic for me."

"Whereas this is only the second time I've been in a place where humans haven't been actively trying to kill me," Aiden said before changing subjects.

"The number of mutants does make Genosha something of a sight," Aiden said. "Mutants flying from place to place and abilities on full display. Seems to keep the tourists entertained at least."

"You certainly make a visit sound appealing. I've yet to be anywhere tropical."