El!
El has been with the site for nearly two years now and has continued to prove her value. Currently, she is heading up our site event, Battle for Liberterram, on top of keeping up with her own personal plots.
CHARACTER
SPOTLIGHT
Peggy Carter!
Lux's posts are all wonderful to read. She has done a wonderful job of grasping the new universe and incorporating Peggy into it.
CHARACTER
SPOTLIGHT
Peter Parker!
It's good to see Spidey back on the site. Watching him deal with the universe shift in his own snarky way has been nothing short of entertaining.
THREAD
SPOTLIGHT
Eight O'Clock on the Dot!
El and Lux are making magic in this thread. Straight up fireworks, and the way they've played with drawing out the reveal is top class.
Post by Megan Hopkins on Dec 12, 2016 23:36:56 GMT
What was it with Megan’s psyche that even on a beautiful sunny day, she was always looking for trouble of some sort… The Genoshan capital was a pearl in a desert of people that looked cock-eyed at anyone that differed from the norm. Whilst the New English, and the Telanken people showed more tolerance than any Metropolitian had shown, there was always a sense of dis-trust and mis-understanding even in the most tolerant of people, differences scared people, ultimately those differences would always mean that it was a struggle to simply be ‘ordinary’, when people knew you were everything but.
But Genosha was different, it was a city of people like her, the Inhumans, the Mutants, the ‘powered’ people that had a gift that brought them beyond ordinary humanity. Of course, that openness came with its own pandora’s box, the nation of Genosha protecting every powered individual, even the ones with an ulterior agenda. And it made everyone an even bigger target to people that weren’t appreciative of non-humans.
In all the mess, there were ultimately ordinary people. Ordinary powered people who tried to live their life and went through their system of work, sleep, fun, and everything else. There was Megan, just trying to keep low, find a way to spend her time as she had taken a ‘Genoshan Holiday’ away from the other two big provinces. When life got too rough, she just went to the one place where people simply didn’t care about her being special.
But for Megan, it seemed that she simply was too goddamn stubborn to simply kick it and waste her time hanging around with people on the street, maybe learn some info. Her itch was ever recurring, the itch to act up when she saw things that weren’t right. And even in a place of safety, Genosha wasn’t perfect.
A thud, a blast, and the sound of trashcans crumpling. Megan sent out a concussive wave straight into a hoodied perp who had tried to run off with someone’s valuables. The guy flew a few yards through the air, straight into a collection of trash, groaning mostly from the shock of suddenly being blindsided by a blast of superheated air. It would hurt like a mother, but nothing he couldn’t walk away from, after all, Megan tried to keep her good deeds non-lethal, bodies wasn’t her game.
’I suggest you hand over the crap you stole, because the next blast won’t be a warning shot...’ Megan boasted confidently, her hoodie down but trying her best to not make a gigantic scene. She simply wanted the message to come across as clear as possible.
And the man obliged, quite quickly. Handing over a bag of loot, before Megan gestured him to run off before she’d ‘change her mind’, truly the usual ‘tough but fair’ vigilante shtick. Moving into the direction the crook had come from, she looked in the bag to see what the guy had stolen, letting out an annoyed grunt when she saw the items. ’Snack Cakes… Seriously?!’ she asked herself in bewilderment, wondering who in their right mind would steal a box of snacks in a city filled with people that could’ve skewered, fried, or freeze-dried the crook’s dumb ass.
Walking into the establishment it was stolen from, she dropped the bag on the counter, giving a shrug to the cashier. ’Someone forgot to pay for his stuff, asked me to return it and tell you ‘sorry for the inconvenience’…’ Megan told the cashier, who looked confused but quickly got the hint and nodded in appreciation.
Quickly turning around, she made her way to the exit before the storekeeper could even offer her a reward. She didn’t mind getting a reward, but she didn’t want to make it seems she had ulterior motives for simply being a good samaritan, so she always tried to make a quick exit before she could get tempted by the thought of free stuff.ce
Once outside, Megan glanced at what to her seemed like just another passerby, giving her a smile and pointing at the direction where the crook had ran off too earlier. ’Better hide your snacks, because pretty sure I saw a Twinkie Thief run off just a minute ago.’ Megan joked lightly…
TAG: Wanda Maximoff // NOTES: … It’s technically a plot starter… // WORDS: 700 words
For the most part, Wanda did not appreciate being cooped up in her Father’s castle all the time. She much preferred being out among the people of Genosha, assisting where she could. She likely spent more time doing community service projects than anyone else did, and she saw this as her true calling in her life. Protecting the people of the land was her principal goal in life, and one of the best ways to do so was to assist in the day-to-day.
It could be a bit difficult to leave her Father’s watchful eye at times, as he was quite overprotective of his daughters, but Wanda had certainly proven time and time again that she could handle herself. She had her powers, after all, and didn’t go out looking for trouble like her speedy twin did.
She had just finished some time at a local clinic for children, where she often spent time spinning tales for them while they were stuck among the white walls, and was now venturing through the streets, trying to decide if she had time to stop by another clinic or shelter before heading home. Her Father tended to get worried when she was out all day, but she was on a high and wanted to continue with her productivity rather than simply sit around the castle.
As she pondered her options, she simply wandered. For all her Father’s worries, Genosha was a safe place; she would not be attacked on the streets of her home - anyone would have to be a complete and utter idiot to attack the Scarlet Witch in the broad daylight while among her people. This was her home and she was quite safe, despite what Magneto might say to the contrary.
Blinking as another young woman addressed her, she gave a small smile at what she thought might be a joke. "Is that so? Petty thievery isn’t too common around here," she replied, wondering why someone would steal something so small in a place where most anyone could easily apprehend them. The risk did not seem worth the reward. Perhaps they were new to the area.
Post by Megan Hopkins on Dec 17, 2016 20:00:33 GMT
Letting out a light snort, she shrugged at the reply of the woman, feeling slightly amazed that someone even was humoring her attempt at casual comedy. In Manhattan people would’ve given her looks and probably had walked the other way as quick as possible, because open showings of friendliness was ‘weird’.
’You’d be amazed what people would do for a box of knock-off twinkies.’ Megan replied with a genuine smile, wondering if she had met or seen the red headed woman before. ’The twinkie black market is a big one, guns and drugs don’t even compare.’ she joked, although it made her wonder why the schmuck had been so desperate to steal things in the super-powered capital of the world.
But not counting for the fact the gross-majority of this city was a mutant, inhuman, or any other powered individual, it was still a city and a nation like any other. There were rich people, and there were certainly poor people right in the middle of it all. Not everyone enjoyed a perfect life amongst the tolerant, powers or no powers, there were always the greedy and the powerful at the very top of it all putting their boots on the necks of the have-nots for their own advantage.
And Genosha, whilst it was the place she could lay low without fear of being harassed, it wasn’t a place she’d call home. Whilst the other nations had their issues with power, she wasn’t a huge fan of how the Genoshan upper-class did their business, one man effectively holding all power without oversight simply opened the door for the ones in power to do whatever they pleased.
’But I’m sure any sort of black market will be crushed by Genosha’s ‘Great leader’, am I right? ’ she quipped sarcastically, trying to break the ice between her and the person she had just met.
To Megan, Rulers like Lehnsherr, and his little royal family made the little haven for the powered into just another dictatorship that the world was filled with. The same problems just continued to exist, only now it affected powered-only.
Shaking her head at her own thoughts, she put away the negative and instead stayed positive. Pining over the ails of the world would only make her feel depressed. ’I’m Megan, by the way.’ she spoke to the red headed woman, extended her hand in greeting.
TAG: Wanda Maximoff // NOTES: Her dislike of Wanda’s daddeh might pose problems in the future? // WORDS: 400 words
As the woman continued to speak, it became apparent that she was mostly joking, although the idea of someone stealing was still worrisome to Wanda. It wasn't the type of thing that she'd found to be common in her ventures into the city. Not because there weren't desperate citizens that lived within, but because of the risk factors when one was surrounded by mutants and the like.
"Is that so?" Wanda smiled in reply to the other woman's joke, "Perhaps we should be looking into the addictive components of twinkies, then." Considering the amount of junk food that Pietro could eat, Wanda certainly wouldn't be surprised if the country went into a shortage on the occasions when he was being particularly active.
The truth was that Wanda did not have much experience when it came to small talk. People usually talked to her fora reason - whether it be small or large - and the constant barrage of people who wanted something from her could be a bit exhausting. This woman didn't appear to have put together who she was yet, however, which likely meant she was not in the town that often. That wasn't all too unusual, as Genosha received a great many travelers who were looking for a change of pace.
Tilting her head and lifting an eyebrow at the other young woman's comment, Wanda wondered how fast she would backtrack if she knew who she was talking to. "I suppose that's true enough, if you ask him." Wanda knew better than to believe every sugar-coated thing that her Father attempted to pass off as fact, though she knew that he did mean the best with his words. He was her Father, after all.
"Wanda," she introduced herself with a smile, shaking the other young woman's hand as it was offered. Perhaps it wasn't all that great to hold conversations with someone who disliked your family, but Wanda was not the type to hold that against someone all that badly. Her family was an acquired taste, after all.
Post by Megan Hopkins on Jan 15, 2017 11:36:01 GMT
Wanda, where had she heard that name before. She wasn’t extremely knowledged about how Genosha was made up, but she knew for certain that the name Wanda was one of importance. But this girl couldn’t be that, there were plenty of Wanda’s out there.
’Nice to meet you, Wanda.’ she returned with a broad smile, leaning on the side of the building.
It felt good to just learn new people without any ulterior motives being present. In this world there were just too many people that were like that, that wanted to get something out of any and all sorts of relations, whether that was money, power, or all other sorts of things. Being able to strike up a conversation with a random person, with no other reason than to just be able to have a conversation, it almost felt liberating.
’So, are you from Genosha yourself? Or visiting just like me?.’ she pondered out loud. ’I mean, I’m from the SP originally, and whilst it’s no Metropolitia, you still feel like you’re sticking out like a sore thumb.’ It also didn’t help that she tended to get herself into trouble at every turn, and then needing to burn off that heat by having a little Genoshan holiday.
’And somebody gotta prevent those idiot thieves playing with fire by doing their thievery in a nation filled with powered people.’ she shrugged, letting out a small snigger at the fire-pun she accidentally made.
Seriously though, messing around with powered people was a quick way to get your head blown off by some head-blower-upper with a short fuse. Whoever was that foolish had to have reached the point where stealing something was more important than their own life…
"It is nice to meet you, too," she smiled back, glad that the other young woman at least seemed pleasant. It was a blessing to be able to deal with people that were positive, especially when she had a brother like Pietro, who was a complainer at heart. Of course, they had little to complain about anymore, but that did not change the fact that he still did so. She always marveled at his ability to find things that weren't to his liking, although she supposed that when one could count the things that they liked on their two hands, it became easier.
She shook her head in reply to Megan's question. "No, I'm originally from Wundagore," she replied, "It is far better here than it was there." Of course, she was sure that plenty of others would not share that belief, as it mostly came from the racism against the Romani people that her family had been subjected to throughout her childhood. She was glad now to have found her new family - or her original one, she supposed - and to be able to live without the fears that she had grown up with.
Laughing a bit alongside the other young woman, she nodded in agreement. "Very much so. I'm glad that you were here to stop it." It was always good to have kind-hearted people on the streets of Genosha, and she would be grateful for anyone that assisted her people.
"So what brings you to Genosha? Did the weather in Shadow Province not agree with you?" She was not sure how it agreed with anyone, as it could get frighteningly cold there and the few times that she had been had been rather unpleasant. In addition, it was not friendly with her Father due to his past.
Post by Megan Hopkins on Jan 20, 2017 19:23:13 GMT
’You can say that again, The cold’s the worst’ Megan followed with a laugh.
The cold truly was the worst, they messed with her powers big time and made her tire all the quicker. The hotter things got, the better it was for Megan, she’d imagine being in a desert would even be ‘comfortable’ for Megan, if she ever was to end up there.
But the most ironic part of it was, when she was young and didn’t have her powers, she loved the cold, she loved spending wintertime in the snow and playing around. Wintertime always had a special meaning to her, but ever since undergoing Terrigenesis she simply hasn’t been able to enjoy it as much as she really wanted to. Not having her parents or sister around didn’t help either.
’But Wundagore, that’s a long way from Genosha. Glad you were able to find a safe space.’ she added with the knowledge of the rampant anti-powered racism still going on in those areas of the world. ’Genosha has its issues too, but what place doesn’t, right?’
Genosha had plenty of problems, but aggression and hatred towards the gifted had never been one of them. This was a place that everyone could go to and find a sympathetic ear that would listen to your plight. And whilst Megan could easily get lost in the masses everywhere she got, there were other mutants and inhumans that didn’t have that luxury, that were regarded as freaks of nature in the ‘civilized’ parts of the world. Who simply lost the genetic lottery and never had a choice.
’So what do you do in Genosha? I mean, I assume not everyone is a thief or a ‘vigilante’ in this place.’ she queried.
Wanda joined in with the bright laugh that the young woman offered. She had bad memories of the chill that settled into one's bones when there wasn't enough warmth during the winter and she certainly wouldn't enjoy living in that kind of weather almost year-round. She was glad that she didn't have to visit. Sure, she could do with seeing Vision more often, but that would simply be a bonus. It wasn't necessary for her life. They kept in contact in other ways.
"Me, too," she agreed with Megan, "And there isn't a place without issues, I don't believe. Genosha is better for me and my brother. We... growing up it was difficult for us to fit in. Here, that has never been a problem. It's... like a weight off our shoulders."
She supposed that she might feel differently if she was not the daughter of the man that ran Genosha, but Wanda was comfortable here. Even when she had lived with her parents - the ones that had raised her - there had been worries about the people around them. While she had been happy with her family, there had been an underlying thread of fear that had kept them from being completely comfortable in their homeland.
The woman's next question made Wanda hesitate for a moment. Most in Genosha knew who she was, but this woman didn't; not yet. She supposed that she couldn't really hide who she was forever. Any acquaintance would have to accept her as she was.
"I'm... well. I assist with many different charity organizations," she replied, as that was what mainly filled her time, "I suppose I am part of the government, due to being Magneto's daughter, but my passion lays in helping others. I attempt to get my siblings to join in as well."
How did she not even realize that this Wanda was actually the Wanda that was part of the royal family that ran the entirety of Genosha. It wasn’t like the Maximoff’s were reclusive, or hid behind masks.
Looking around for a second, she finally realized why people had been staring at the two of them ever since they had started talking. They were looking at the princess of the nation, talking to an ordinary pleb in Megan who was too oblivious to put one-and-one together.
Her face had immediately turned cherry red, knowing what she had said about her father earlier… ’Oh shit, I look really really foolish right now, right?’ Megan stammered out in shame, biting her cheek and trying to find words that could make her words seem less… harsh.
’I just, I didn’t mean what I said about Magneto personally. It’s just, he… well, I think I totally need to stop talking now…’ Megan finished, closing her eyes and wanting to punch herself in the gut for her stupidity.
And it wasn’t even like the words she said about Magneto were truly meant, the guy had his dictatorial traits, but Megan would rather be stuck in Genosha than with nutcases in a place like Metropolitia, or be mugged at every step in Madripoor.
’I mean, I just called your dad a dictator. So what the hell can I even say that would make it better…’
If there was a chance, she’d totally would run away to hide in a corner and die of shame, because she just knocked it out of the park when it came to making the ultimate faux-pas…
She nodded, watching as the other woman seemed to start working herself into a panic over not realizing who she was. Wanda wondered how she could stop the process or if she should just let it play out instead, but then the other woman seemed to be rambling and blushing and Wanda went wide-eyed as she tried to keep up. She was used to Pietro moving faster than anyone else, but with strangers that she barely knew it was difficult to grasp even normal rushing, perhaps a hold-over from the fact that English was not her native tongue.
Reaching out to place a comforting hand on the Megan’s shoulder, she gave the other woman a smile. “It is fine, don’t worry,” she replied, “My father is… an acquired taste. He cannot be liked by everyone, no matter what he claims.” He was a grandiose man, prone to exaggeration, but he was family and Wanda would always love him.
“I have heard far worse things about my father, or about myself,” she added, patting her shoulder gently before pulling her hand away again. “Please, do not beat yourself up over such a small thing. People are allowed their opinions. You have not done anything to harm anyone, so there’s no reason to be angry with you.” Perhaps she was too lenient on people sometimes, but she did not believe this was such an occasion. After all, it was refreshing to hear someone that wasn’t sucking up to her because of her position. It was nice to have a frank conversation for once.
She frowned slightly as a thought hit her. “You are not… perhaps we could be friends. I have enjoyed speaking with you, however brief it has been. If you are amenable to the idea,” she offered. Wanda wasn’t sure that someone who wasn’t her father’s biggest fan would want to spend time with her, but it was worth asking, was it not?
As Megan was beginning her slow descent into shamed self-destruction, it was fortunately cut short before it got bad enough for her to slink away crying like a child. Instead, luckily for Megan, Wanda Maximoff didn’t take the slight towards her father in a bad way and instead could smile about it all and relativize it.
’Really? Thank god, I really didn’t mean it personal.’ she continued to stammer lightly, her face as red as Wanda’s clothing.
The suggestion that followed from Maximoff caught Megan completely off-guard, and after a moment of confusion her smile returned and she could already feel herself get as giddy as a small child that just woke up on Christmas morning.
’You’re serious? You want to be friends, after being such an idiot?’ she wondered out loud, really not being sure whether Wanda was being genuine, but from the way she spoke it left little doubt in Megan’s mind about the woman’s intention.
The request of ‘being friends’ was a weird one to Megan, because normal people didn’t exactly just state that they were going to be friends with each other, all that stuff happened naturally. But Megan could imagine that the life of Wanda had been all but natural, and that genuine social occasions were few and far between. Knowing how protective Magneto was towards other unrelated mutants, Megan could imagine how that protective mentality would equate towards the man’s own flesh and blood.
Perhaps Wanda could use a friend just as much as Megan could use them, she thought.
’I mean, I can’t say I’ve ever befriended a real life princess. So I guess that’s something I can scratch off my bucket list, now.’ Megan sniggered with a happy smile, feeling all her earlier worries fall right down her shoulders again.
"I've certainly heard worse," Wanda assured the other woman, "And much as he wishes otherwise, my Father cannot control other people's thoughts and opinions. He must put up with people not liking him. Especially given his... history." Which was likely one of the biggest understatements in existence. He had done much in his life that was not exactly positive, but he had also done a lot of good. Wanda preferred to think of him in a positive light.
She shrugged slightly as the woman responded with skepticism. "Is there a reason that I shouldn't be?" she questioned, "They are simply words; and an opinion you are entitled to. If you had attempted to kill one of my family, it would be different, but as far as I know all you've done is stop a thief and make some jokes at their expense." She gave a light laugh at the end of her sentence.
This seemed to help the other woman calm down a bit as she responded and Wanda smiled and laughed along with her. "I wouldn't really call myself a Princess, but I suppose it is technically correct," she replied, still smiling. She was glad that the other woman seemed to not be freaking out anymore - it would have been awkward to have to deal with that. She was not good with strangers, usually, as she still wasn't sure how to behave around them. This was far easier to deal with for her.
"Let me buy you lunch, or at least a coffee?" Wanda offered, "It is the least I could do for someone who is new in town and still finding their way. I can tell you about some of my favorite places here so that you know where to visit and the like." One hand fell to play with the fringe on her purse as she spoke, wondering if the other woman would take her up on the offer.
Post by Megan Hopkins on Feb 19, 2017 21:21:56 GMT
Laughing with a slight stammer still on her voice, she felt a bit overwhelmed by how open Wanda was towards her, completely brushing off the stupidity that Megan seemed to exhume at all times.
’Coffee, or lunch, that sounds great!’ she excitedly exclaimed, with a slight bounce in her stride. She really was like a hyperactive puppy whenever she got excited about things, and this was the prime example if there ever was one. ’I’m starved, delivering justice to candy thieves really works up an appetite!’ she added with a laugh.
But then again, who could claim Wanda Maximoff, daughter of Magneto and princess to Genosha wanted to be friends with just an ordinary person like Megan. It almost felt like grade school all over again, making new friends, but this time she was an adult. Although it didn’t seem to make a different in how she acted at the thought of it all.
’But please, let me foot the bill. It’s the least I could do for my stupidity.’ Megan added with a kind smile, feeling she had to return some form of kindness towards Wanda. ’It’d be great to hear all about Genosha from the person that probably knows everything about the place.’
She’d be an even bigger fool than usual if Megan had the bright idea to say no to a day out on the town with someone like Wanda, and what better way to learn about Genosha than through the lips of the daughter of the boss.
’Please, lead the way, Miss Max… I mean, Wanda.’ she cut herself off, trying her best to act ‘cool’ and ordinary towards her, and not getting mired in being starstruck by the ‘Scarlet Witch’.
Wanda smiled widely at the enthusiastic response she received from the other woman. She didn't really have many friends - at least, not outside of those that lived in her Father's house - and it would be nice to expand her social circle, even if only with one person. Laughing along with her a bit, she nodded in agreement. "There's a wonderful little cafe a block down we could visit. The food is great, but its the desserts that really set them apart. I'm sure you'll love it?" she offered, motioning in the direction of the cafe. She visited fairly frequently and they had even wound up naming desserts after herself and her brother because of it.
She felt a little uneasy at the other woman's offer of footing the bill - she had been the one to offer lunch, after all - but she nodded anyway. "If you insist," she replied, "Though I'd be happy to pay for my own meal at the very least." She wanted to be gracious, but she also wanted the other woman to know that she didn't expect that kind of thing. Wanda liked to pay her own way, now that she could. She always tried to go above and beyond, as well. It was her way of giving back for the things that her and Pietro had had to steal to survive when younger, and for the things that they had been given by others.
"I'm sure there are those that know the city more than me," she replied lightly, "But I'd be happy to share the knowledge I do have with you. Being new to a place can certainly be... intimidating." Especially when she had been expected to be in a position of authority over it. An odd position to be in, to say the least.
Smiling, she turned down the street so that they could make their way towards the little cafe. She didn't bother to ask why Megan had come here - most people had the same reasons - but she didn't want to simply let things lapse into silence either. "How long have you been in town?"
Post by Megan Hopkins on Mar 10, 2017 21:13:55 GMT
Moving through the historical center of the city, Megan took some time to truly enjoy the classic architecture that Genosha was known for, one of the cities that had made sure to not let the history of itself fall by the wayside.
’I arrived a few days ago, came over from Manhattan.’ she replied to Wanda’s inquiry. ’I’ve been to Genosha before, but I never really took the time to see the sights… To just be a tourist for a change.’
Honestly, her life was so dedicated to trying to find the truth behind her sister and all that came with that quest she barely took the time to actually live a little, to think about herself and take it easy for a while… Even now she had thrown herself headfirst into messing up petty crooks, rather than just accepting that sometimes she didn’t need to force responsibility unto herself.
’It’s crazy, really. This place is so beautiful, and I never even gave it a better look.’ she commented, glancing at a flowers stall with beautiful yet unnatural flowers, the type that could only be made by a gifted person with a supernatural affinity for botany.
Standing still for a few seconds, she attempted to take in the undoubtedly amazing fragrances, but to her dismay her sense of smell was still less than optimal, her powers protected her against airborn agents, which sadly also included smells.
Despite her lack of smell, she grabbed her wallet anyways, even if she couldn’t smell them she could always admire the beauty of them. ’What about you Wanda, I know you’re the princess, but what keeps you around?’
Royalty or no, Megan knew from herself that even near-perfect homes would invoke a wanderlust in people. And she wondered whether being on a pedestal grew tiring, whether someone like Wanda would want to be around people that didn’t recognize for who she was.
