#ofpolarity

The mood around the mansion was something inexplicable; putting it into words was quite frankly impossible. For Erik it was strange on a whole multitude of levels. Being back at the institute, once again roaming the halls that he’s known for so long, and now without the one person who was supposed to be there-- nothing felt right. Nothing was right, for that matter.

Magneto wasn’t exactly a popular name around the school, but he chose not to return back to his own base. The lines of division between groups who normally did not see eye to eye were still blurred, so he took advantage of that fact. Their species had been weakened, fractured apart, and now they all had to learn to adjust. That struggle stretched across all groups and ideologies, and it did not listen to invisible boundaries between the individuals taking refuge in these walls. Erik felt that his place was here-- but for how long, he was not sure.

Putting aside the consideration of mutants as a whole, Erik had selfish reasons for staying. Lorna was here, and she was still recovering. He couldn’t leave her.

It was common knowledge that he and his daughter never quite clicked. They both had their demons, and Erik knew that a huge part of Lorna’s hurt was his fault. For so long he tried to push that fact aside and do anything he could to simply get her on his side. Perhaps that greed was still in him, but it wasn’t controlling him any longer. Lorna truly was important to him, and recently he began to give in to the idea that he wanted her around because his heart wanted it, plain and simple. That was a dangerous game to play, but he couldn’t fight it.

Emotions ran deep inside him. They were both his strength and his weakness, and when it came to the people he loved it became explosive. With Charles gone and Lorna healing, Erik was exhausted. He barely left Lorna’s side, as he himself needing to recover right along with her. He did his best when they went head to head with their abilities, but he knew that she had every right to hate him after everything she had been through. But that didn’t matter. All that mattered was that she was safe now and hopefully on the path to recovery.

there’s a person crouched down in front of one of the slabs, but he isn’t close enough to get a good look at them. he would assume they were someone in mourning, but who came out in the middle of the night for that purpose? it’s possible they’re just wandering around, the same as him, but that’s all the more reason to be cautious. if they’re confident enough in their abilities to come out to such a desolate place for no real reason at night, then he needs to stay on guard.

he carefully approaches, alerting them of his presence with a simple ‘hey’ in hopes of getting them to look up, when he suddenly stops dead in his tracks. as they come into view, he feels his eyes widen, a shiver crawling up his spine. they don’t have to show their face for him to recognize them, but it should be impossible.

locks of red cascade down their back, past a shield he’s gone up against, familiar gold accents glimmering in the moonlight. it’s unmistakably her, but it couldn’t be. he didn’t hear the full story. there was no way cinder would divulge everything about her crushing defeat, after all. he got the gist of it though, knew through her anger that that hooded brat had unleashed some sort of power on her, the same one he bore witness to during the battle at haven -- because she had turned her friend to ash. a friend he had fought once, who he hadn’t been overly impressed with in spite of others deeming her invincible. 

perhaps she was though, if she was truly here. he considers the possibility that she’s an illusion, a trick of the eye, even an apparition in spite of rejecting the very idea of ghosts, but when bright viridian’s meet his gaze, he knows she’s real -- and he’s on the defensive in an instant. boosting himself a generous distance away from her through the use of his prosthetics, he raises his arms.

❝ you -- you’re not supposed to be here --

        how the hell did you survive?! ❞

         but as a glint of reflected light shines into her vision, blinding her temporarily, she winces, raising a hand to block whatever it was. fingers spreading hesitantly as one eye opens to peer through -- a sight all too familiar is painted in front of her. with the other’s back turned, silvers eyes widen in disbelief. could it really be? there was... there was no way. ...how? all questions she was afraid to have answered. nose tingling as she attempts to stop her bottom lip from quaking, ruby takes a few steps forward, slowly leading into a run until she stands right behind her -- pyrrha nikos.

Would it ruin the reputation of Wisteria Square? Probably. But Tsurumaru laid down the last faux rat, proudly looking at his work of dozens upon dozens plush rats made to look like the normal ones before quickly hiding in a nearby tree. He got a bunch of satisfactory reactions from passerbys, a few children even taking a rat home after the initial shock. It didn’t bother him, after all others gained something from the surprise as well, but he was a bit disappointed. none of the reactions so far were enough to rattle him out of the tree with laughter, and the sun was climbing lower. Well, he supposed the surprise would work better at night. A young lady was coming across, the tachi paying close attention as she got closer to the display, eagerly waiting to see if such a sight would spook her. 

things to be sent anonymously ( or not )

“Thank you! I do intend to keep trying my very best.”

Ashe was confident in his goals, but it was always a nice thing to hear, someone else being supportive of them– and someone he’d only just met at that! His dream of knighthood was one he was determined to follow no matter what, and the reassurance that his perseverance would pay off helped to ease that little nagging doubt in the back of his mind that fussed and fretted over whether or not he’d truly see that dream achieved.

“Oh, but what about you? Do you have a dream you wish to achieve, too?”

[Meme]

Alex was nothing if not confused as hell after the events that had transpired at Stark’s Christmas party. Still gently icing the black eye Remy had so kindly gifted him with, the blonde mutant was currently holed up in his room at the X-Mansion.

Footsteps echoed outside his door a few moments later, and Alex decided they weren’t necessarily welcome, regardless of their origin. Realizing it was Lorna, however, Alex figured a chance to explain things was well deserved.

“What do you want---” He sighed, swinging his legs over the side of his bed.