#xiprompt

The TV droned endlessly on, murmuring vapid unintelligible nonsense. Iridescent closed eir eyes to its glare. E knew e should go to bed, instead of laying on the couch half-watching reality tv, but e didn’t. Behind eir closed eyes, Iri could still sense the hum of the screen. If e focused just a bit, e could make out what they were saying-

“Elora.”

Iri jumped, turning to face the disapproving desk nurse. “Sorry, I um. What did you say?”

The desk nurse sighed, tapping her pink nails on the plastic desk. “We were discussing your continued stay with us here at Centennial Peaks. Please sign on the dotted line.”

“No, I, um, I shouldn’t...be here,” Iri moved to leave the desk, but eir feet were stuck to the ground.

“Let’s not cause a scene, Elora, we wouldn’t want to have to call security,” the desk nurse said, two large men appearing next to her and grabbing Iri’s arms. E struggled for control, trying to use eir powers, blind them, burn their hands, something. Dr. Evans was walking near em holding a needle.

“Don’t be like that Elora, we were making such progress,” He clucked in disapproval. Iri struggled harder. As he stepped closer he inserted the needle into eir arm, hot fire coursing through eir veins with a ferocity that made e cry out.

“NO!” Iri screamed. With a jolt e awakened, now sitting on the Institute’s hard wooden floor. The couch had completely disintegrated beneath em, the TV flitting in and out of service. Through eir hazy vision, Iridescent noticed a person standing by the doorway. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?” e rasped.

Prompt #3--Aftermath

Following the unexpected intrusion at the school from Juggernaut, how is your character dealing with it? Were they injured at all? Was the experience at all jarring for them? Are they questioning the safety of the school? Are they feeling at all proud of themself for their part played? Did they help any others, or did they look out for themself? 

Write a self para, a journal entry, or form a face-to-face starter where your character can share where they’re at, mentally &/or physically, following Juggernaut’s appearance at the school. Whatever you end up doing for this prompt, be sure to tag your post ‘xiprompt’ so it’s easy for others to find/read!

Prompt 2–Summer Plans

School’s out for the summer! Or perhaps for your character, it isn’t. For this prompt, get inside your character’s head and show what they plan to do for the summer. Will they be lounging as much as possible? Looking for a job/working in the nearby town? Do they have supportive friends or family that they can go home to visit? Are there classes they have to re-take in summer school?

Share your character’s summer plans in a self para, a journal or diary entry, or through some sort of interaction with another person (a call, a text, a Skype session, etc.).

The final date to post your prompt response will be Sat. June 23rd. Be sure to tag your post ‘xiprompt’.

Prompt 1--Mother’s Day

With Mother’s Day approaching, there’s a possibility that moms/motherly figures are on the minds of your characters. Your prompt is to give us some insight into your character’s relationship with their mother/maternal figure. This can be the reality of the relationship they have with that person/those persons, or a fantasy of what they would like/would have liked with their mom or mother figure.

Your prompt can be responded to in the form of a solo/self para, a journal entry, &/or a letter your character writes. Please use the tag ‘xiprompt’ on your prompt post! Monday, May 14th is the deadline!

Iridescent sat on the floor of eir dorm room, back against the bed. A few items were spread in front of em: a photo of two people in front of a backdrop of Chicago, a tea set, and a small hand-decorated box containing a brooch of the Virgin Mary. Iri was pretty sure e wouldn’t be disturbed. Eir roommate, Wanda, had seemed rather apprehensive whenever Mother’s Day was mentioned, and her nightmares seemed to be getting worse as the day approached. E imagined she was probably somewhere with her brother, away from all the emotions swirling around today.

Iridescent took a deep breath. E picked up the teapot and shakily poured Cream Earl Grey into the two cups- one by em, and one across from em. “Milk?” e asked into the silence. E feigned a chuckle. “You absolute heathen,” e said, pouring a bit of milk into the cup across from em. Tea poured, e clutched the brooch in one hand and picked up the photo. Eir face stared back at em. Eir mother stood beside em, arm lovingly and protectively around eir shoulder. “I miss you mama,” Iri whispered. “I really screwed things up, didn’t I? I wish I could send you flowers, a card, something.” E sighed; any attempt to contact eir mother would alert Sentinel Services, and they could take her into custody. Eir mom had suffered enough. She didn’t need the law after her. But...damn if e didn’t miss her. She had not only accept Iri when e changed, but fully embraced em, supporting em, listening to eir rants, and learning all she could about mutant rights. When...when e was taken, it was eir mother that had contacted the Mutant Underground and fought to get em free. And she had supported eir going to this school. “I’m so proud of you, Elora,” she had said, kissing eir head, “This school is going to be amazing for you. You can finally be yourself, all of yourself. I’m gonna miss you, sweet pea.”

“I’m going to miss you too mama,” e cried into her shoulder.

Anne Marie took her daughter’s face in her hands. “No, you’re not. You are going to have a great time and barely even think about me. You’re gonna meet some cute girl who loves you for you, and you are going to be happy. You got this, Elora.”

To commemorate the start of a new school year and a changing world, the staff and I have decided to to bury a time capsule here on the grounds. We would like each of you to take part by adding something special and significant to this capsule. It does not need to be an item you don’t wish to part with. You may also write a letter or take some photos of yourselves, with friends, or of the scenery around the grounds. Please submit your contribution to myself or any other staff member no later than Saturday. If you have any question, you may contact me at any time.

Prompt #4--XI Time Capsule

A reminder of this event will be posted on the staff blog this coming weekend, but here’s the gist of this prompt:

Write a solo para of your character choosing an item, or writing a letter as contribution to the school time capsule. As time capsules tend to work, it will be sealed and not opened for some time from now, so it’s important that what they choose to contribute be something meaningful to them now. 

The parade filtered by, people grinning and waving flags and dancing in outrageous outfits. Iridescent cheered as each one passed. E had never been to a big city Pride before. The ones in Manhattan were small; a few vendors and a long litany of drag queens. Here, well. Iri hardly knew where to look first. There were people selling flags, rainbow suspenders and ties, jewelry, face painters, social justice organizations for every identity possible, alcohol and turkey legs and coffee, all set to the tune of cheers and a heavy bass remix of Beyonce. Iri whooped loudly as the Gay Mutant Alliance went by, accidentally bumping the person behind em. “Sorry!” e shouted, turning around.